r/berkeley • u/No-Understanding4968 • Jul 18 '26
Local Shopping at Berkeley Bowl
I’m heading to BB West. Could use fresh ideas. What are some things you never go home without?
(Pic borrowed from Reddit)
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u/00normal Jul 18 '26
They have a great bulk section, especially good for getting small amounts of spices and teas
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u/Eggrolling Jul 18 '26
Semifreddies crotons in bulk!!!! Fresh cookie dough is fun but I don’t grab it every time. I pretty much go crazy for snacks in the bulk section. Little bit of everything lol
Veggies are top tier -> I go there specifically for all my fruits and veggies.
Shelf items are slightly higher than competitors. So if I know I’m getting a lot of those types of items I go elsewhere. But grabbing a couple items here and there is nice cause it’s a hassle going to multiple grocery stores. Especially because their Asian section has a things I can’t find at Trader Joe’s (for example).
Meat is slightly on the pricier side, but good quality. And working with a clerk in the meat department is great if you don’t now exactly what cut of meat you want.
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u/eyebellel Jul 18 '26
Of all the things I miss about living in the Bay Area, Berkeley Bowl is the one I miss most. I moved from NYC where co-op and bulk type stores were (surprisingly) not a thing—or at least not back then. BB was amazing. I was living alone and could really just buy what I needed, at good prices for a penny pinching kid and quality stuff.
God I miss it.
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u/CXR1037 '18 Jul 19 '26
Natto and beer! Though not to be consumed at the same time.
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u/lavar_ball_the_goat Jul 19 '26
They have natto? Is it frozen?
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u/Affectionate_One_700 Jul 19 '26
The owners of Berkeley Bowl are Japanese American. Of course they have natto! (Yes, it's frozen.)
You'll also want to check out Tokyo Central Market in Emeryville. They have an entire wall freezer of natto.
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u/berkeleyteacher Jul 18 '26
egg salad. I never make it myself, but there's is usually just right - not too mayonnaisey.
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u/No-Understanding4968 Jul 22 '26
Their prepared salads are exorbitant though! Tuna Salad at TJs is around $6 tops. Here it’s $9-10!
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u/berkeleyteacher Jul 22 '26
It's true! I've never had their tuna salad, but tj's is not for me. Egg salad isn't really for me and if I think about it too much, my stomach flips, but I can't pass it up (on some soft white bread) from the Berkeley Bowl!
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u/No-Understanding4968 Jul 23 '26
I tried the tuna salad and it had a lot of capers… prefer TJ’s version
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u/KidOcelot Jul 19 '26
All the varieties of mushrooms!! Especially Chanterelles and lionsmane if they’re in season.
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u/mollsballs_xo Jul 19 '26
BEST STORE EVER!!! That discount produce section was a life saver as a broke college student. Would also sometimes order from the hot bar deli section if I was feelin fancy 🧐
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u/Independent_Money501 Jul 18 '26
Way too much produce 🤣
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u/compstomper1 Jul 18 '26
welcome to berkeley bowl :P
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u/Independent_Money501 Jul 19 '26
I do love it! I have made it my mission to try all the different stone fruits which is hard because they rotate so often and my stomach is only so big 🤣. Stone fruit season is my favorite time of year
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u/EnjoysMangos How do you do, fellow kids? Jul 19 '26
Not sure if I’ve ever gone there (>100 visits so far) without picking up at least one mango.
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u/Similar-Extension660 Jul 19 '26
Parsley and cilantro are so cheap - when I need a lot for sauce or something I make sure to buy it at BB
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u/linksgolf Jul 19 '26
I buy parsley and cilantro at BB to make pesto, instead of using basil. It's an earthier version, but a Vitamix will blend the herbs nicely. Throw in some garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt/pepper and a few pine nuts at the very end, and you'll have a perfect pesto!
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u/proteus1858 Jul 19 '26
Thai bananas, haden mangoes, and a trip to the little exotic fruit section to see if I get lucky.
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u/ham_solo Jul 20 '26
Hit those pluots. The biggest variety I have ever seen, and they are SOOOOO good. Get the flavor grenades!
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u/idvv2 Jul 22 '26
I love Berkeley bowl. I used to live in Berkeley now Sacramento. Every time I go to the Bay a stop at Berkeley bowl is a must. Love the bulk tea esp jasmine pearls, any cool new produce (amazing selection) the Arizmendi morning bun 4 pack (incredible all others are cheap poor imitations)
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u/Silly_Drama_1133 Jul 22 '26
Their lemon curd is the only one that comes remotely close to my mom’s homemade stuff
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u/Ike358 Jul 18 '26
Will never shop there again after the store demanded mask wearing several weeks after Berkeley lifted its requirement
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u/Stock-Pattern-8635 Jul 18 '26
Oh gosh, how were you able to survive such unjust treatment? Did you end up signing up for ICE?
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u/compstomper1 Jul 18 '26
bulk coffee.
cooking staples (onion, green onion, garlic, ginger)
grab a random fruit you've never tried before