Whole Foods Market - San Mateo, California

Murali

It’s a very, very good place to shop for nice and varieties of vegetables fruits grocery items. The store is very clean. The items are of good quality. You can use Amazon prime member like prime membership for some discounts. There is underground parking facility near the place.

They also sell fresh salad, hair, hand and body soap, lotion etc.

Haku M.

I shop at this Whole Foods 2–3 times a week, but the service at the meat counter has become consistently rude. Even around 6:30–7 PM, when the counter is still clearly open and not busy (sometimes I’m the only customer), staff show visible impatience over simple requests—like asking for a fresher cut when meat appears discolored.

It’s not just one person or one day—many employees across departments seem burned out and openly unfriendly. Since the pandemic, it has become increasingly rare to meet an employee who simply speaks politely. Sometimes I feel like I’m being treated as if I owe them money or came to start a fight—just for asking a normal question. It’s exhausting.

Once, I asked about clam chowder at the hot bar around lunchtime, and the response was a blunt “NO.” That moment stuck with me—not because the soup wasn’t ready, but because of how dismissively it was said.

I understand life in the Bay Area is hard, and maybe this job doesn’t allow these workers to truly live. But when employees are clearly unhappy, unprofessional, and feel unsupported, the burden quietly shifts onto customers. And frankly, that shouldn’t be our weight to carry.

To be fair, the store is relatively clean and doesn’t smell bad—one of the only two good things I can say.

If management wants respectful service, they might start by creating a respectful workplace.

Wei-Ai T.

Great place to shop for high-end groceries and specialty food items. Fresh vegetables, fruits, seafood, meats, and baked goods. Large selection of hot foods, soups, and salads. Expansive selection of wine, beer, and spirits. Large free parking lot, but since it’s shared with several other local businesses, it can be a busy parking lot to navigate during peak hours.

Judy M. C.

A great grocery store with large selection of products, produces and poultry. There’s their popular 365 brands and many other mid-end to hi-end products. I would trust Whole Foods quality considering their more expensive prices compared to other stores.

Of course, the downside is their prices.

Lo

Clean, well stocked, has a lot of options for fresh food to go. The bakery section, always looks great. Big parking lot. I got the croissant toast to make breakfast, the very last bag. And a pound of apple wood smoked bacon by the fresh meat section. Our breakfast was wonderful. Closes at 10pm which is great.

Update- got the kebabs from the meat department. Chicken and beef Kentucky bourbon sticks, broil high 5 minutes on each side. Use a thermometer to make sure chicken is at 165 and pair with a salad and enjoy!

2025 - I bought the salmon filet from Whole Foods. I’ve never seen it sold so long before, it was so so good. It was fatty, so fresh, and beautiful color. I’ve been to other Whole Foods and the salmon here is by far the freshest salmon I’ve seen. I paired it with broccolini and baked russet potato. All from Whole Foods.

Uliniquer S.

Whole Foods is a fantastic store with fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats available at all times. The store is well-organized with clear guidance signs, making it easy to navigate. The self-service checkouts and smart shopping carts help speed up the shopping process, which is very convenient. One of the best things is that they offer free fruit for kids, which is a thoughtful touch. The store also has two restrooms available, adding to the convenience. Overall, it’s a great place to shop for quality groceries!

W

Pretty convenient location, though parking is tight, at least on the ground level. Store seems well stocked and staff helpful. Very busy at 9am on a Monday, but ventilation is good. (~640ppm CO2)

Jeremy O.

I’ve lived here for two months and I can say for sure that this is by far the worst Whole Foods location in the country (and believe me when I say I’ve probably been to half of them coast to coast), it’s even worse than Akron, Ohio which isn’t even a full-sized store. They’re perpetually out of half of what I need, and the hot bar and cake sections (which are the main reasons for even going to a Whole Foods to begin with) are never stocked, even during main meal times. This evening at 6pm there were empty hotel pans and in several places just open steam baths. Exactly once in two months have I ever seen a pan of mac and cheese with enough to make a single serving portion, the meatloaf is full of gristle and usually has been sitting there so long it’s a wonder they don’t get a health violation (I mean seriously, the sauce on top has literally evaporated), I’ve only once ever been able to get a slice of the tres leches cake, and on and on it goes. So help me god I will never waste my time looking for parking to visit this location again. The entire management staff should be summarily fired. Maybe the produce people can stay, that section is always good.