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February 2024 by Will Y.
Classic mom and pop. A institution to cv and has a old school charm. Produce is super fresh i like that they have collard greens kale and chard. What really makes the market is thier butcher shop. Its unrivaled, can not be beat, best quailty.
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February 2024 by Joie R.
I come her because I usually get quick service so often times it is worth paying the higher prices. Today, I am frustrated. I bought wine, the sticker says 10.99 and I got rung up for $13.99. Was going to make a salad, the cashier failed to give me my cucumber and my ranch dressing. It could be worse but it is what it is
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December 2023 by Donna Mastronarde
I love Al's. It's convenient, staff are friendly and the meat department is fabulous!
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November 2023 by Suzanne A.
Stoe is always super clean, and staff very helpful. Wonderful meat department. They always seem to have what I need.
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October 2023 by Rudy R.
Good place to have in a pinch! Good produce too! And meat department also! The people that work there are very cool and helpful.
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October 2023 by Randy Eldridge
Expensive as hell.Small store. But dam like 3x-4x the price of other stores.Meat counter and wine area.Like almost $2 for a arizona tea.Across the street from our lady of grace.
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October 2023 by Moby Davis
Great neighborhood market. Staff are always friendly and helpful.
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June 2023 by Family of Pickers Reed Josephine (Auntiejoie and Unk)
The prices are much higher but if you can afford it their lines are fast.
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June 2023 by John K.
Great store with a real butcher and great meats that are no more pricey than your average Safeway. Very nice produce as well. Prices for other things are a little high but I highly recommend getting your meats there. Will do special cuts for you!
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March 2023 by Mollie Powell
Al’s is a great, old-school local grocery store. It is small but densely packed and I can usually find everything that I need, with convenient location, parking, and quick checkout. They have a proper butcher counter which stocks the best meatballs I’ve ever found! They have an impressive selection of local wines and craft beers as well, plus some interesting specialty items. Cost for produce, dairy, and meats seems pretty comparable to the supermarket, while processed goods tend to run a dollar or two more. For most grocery trips, it’s well worth it for the convenience and to support a local business.
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February 2023 by Laura Concha
Me and my brown mexican husband came here for some soda, the lady at the register had a very different attitude with the two white customers in front of me, very NICE attitude. As soon as it was my turn she seemed extremely uncomfortable, did not talk to me at all (i always ask how a cashier day is going) and she flat out ignored me. Great to know Castro Valley is alive with racism!
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February 2023 by kerry p.
Charming local market with a proper butcher, great wine selection and produce. Will be back!!
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January 2023 by Declan G
Wonderful local grocery store. The staff is helpful and nice. The store does not allow backpacks on unaccompanied minors to prevent theft. But totally great place to send kids for a snack.
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January 2023 by Janet S.
I've been going to Al's forever and I used to walk past everyday as a teenager (think 80s kid.) Back when Larry was a younger old guy who everyone called AL because we all thought he owned the store. He used to bag my groceries and was always helpful with a friendly face. Welp, those days are long gone...I always knew that Al's didn't allow unattended teenagers. But now the attitude it seems no teenagers at all regardless of how respectful they are and if they are accompanied by a responsible adult which is arguably illegal in a court of law. But, if you do enter with a bunch of teenagers about 5 trailing behind you like hungry cats. You do remember to mention to the nice man behind the butcher counter these teens are with you. He generally says, "Just keep track of them," and you're generally like, "I got you, bro." You think all is well in the world. Healthy communication is good, Amen. But you forgot to mention it to the other teenager in the front, the cashier. You figure she doesn't mind because she is a teenager. But you're mistaken. Because gf has angst, perhaps she saw something on Instagram that caused her to feel and believe that all teenagers except herself (of course) are hellish and to be avoided at all cost. But she forgot one, all important, life changing reality, she is actually a teenager too and a human. I, myself was once a teenager and still a human. Can you believe it? We are all human. So perhaps, choose kindness, but the universe said no (again.) And when a mom with teenagers tries to buy snacks at a small "Mom and Pop" store she is met with not only the stink eye from the teenage cashier, but argument. I heard words like, "Those aren't all your kids," "You're not from the same family," and "Yeaaaaa, right." I initially tried to explain that we got the okay from the guy. But gf cashier ignored me, continued with her argument and then awkwardly turned it into which kids were mine and which weren't. Like I had to show proof of DNA or something and her behavior was just discriminatory. My point was always they were with me, a responsible adult, a mom. "They are mine," was my response. Like I'm going to pick and choose which teens had to leave because they were not a blood relative. Ridiculous!!! I am responsible for them. They were doing nothing wrong. They wore proper clothes and were behaving respectfully. They were just existing as teenagers standing in front of the cookies deciding which ones to buy. Some were staring at their phones. Anyways, there was no longer any point. There was no healthy communication. Reason had left the building as quickly as my teen kids did. I eventually laughed because there was nothing left to do. It was all so silly (so much anger for what, a mom trying to feed a small group of respectful, large children.) I finished shopping for snacks and gf just glared at me with her righteous indignation as she bagged my groceries (thinking how dare I have the audacity to bring accompanied teenagers with a responsible adult into Al's. She was personally offended.) Anyways, I just hurried out of Al's with my chips, ice cream and bagel bites. And sadly, from now on, I will have to take my hungry teens to the Safeway Corporation for the good snacks. And on the road home, I also had to explain to a group of teenagers, that a few teenagers ruined it for all teenagers at AL's Food Market (even though they have no problem hiring questionable teens.) And how they shouldn't worry because it was nothing personal. They just hate teenagers now even if they are one (joking...kinda.) There's nothing you can do. Through it all, I'm still giving 3 stars because of the real AL, I mean Larry and the many good snacks and BBQ I used to enjoy at Al's when it used to be a friendlier place. Forever the optimist, I still believe that one bad apple doesn't ruin the bunch. As should you, even if they are a teenager who deserves 2 stars for bei
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January 2023 by Kioko Asia P.
Very friendly and great costumer service. Easy parking and stocked with a variety of imported products . Fresh fruits and vegetables. And they had pies and great scones. Meat products look great and they had a variety products from Harris Ranch.
