Lucky

I live 3 blocks away from Lucky’s and 2 from Trader Joe’s. T.J.‘s is my choice of markets over Target and Lucky’s. There are times Lucky’s is convenient and there may be some items they have that T.J.‘s does not. But I had a bad experience today. My wife and I used the self checkout line, there was no waiting. I didn’t count how many items we had and didn’t notice the sign way above our heads that the limit was 15. The lady at the podium admonished us that the limit was 15 and do not use this line in the future. We explained we didn’t know and she retorted that this was the reason they reduced the size of the bagging area like we were supposed to know that. Her attitude was surly and very disgraceful towards us. We then mistakenly coded one tomato incorrectly and she locked our screen and scolded us for putting in the wrong code.
I’ve had problems with this store in the past and it always has to do with customer service or lack thereof. I will make an all out effort NOT to patronize this store again.
T.J.‘s is diametrically opposed when it comes to how they treat their customers.

This grocery store is A-​OK. Prices are relatively cheap, probably on par or slightly lower than Trader Joe’s up the street. You can find most national brands here, along with a decent selection of specialty international items (reflective of the Bay Area in general). Produce is generally fresh, although certain items may not always be well stocked (eg mangoes). Probably my biggest gripe is the deli– not particularly varied or fresh-​looking. Staff are generally friendly though!

Poor show of service for the community overall. We need a grocery store but this plave has some painful disappointments. Service, it can be okay sometimes. It’s unfortunate, a checker you’ve known for years can have one bad day, say somethings and it cam never be the same. Alienation comes at a high price.
I really check the dates, I missed checking the dates and purchased some pork that was 3 weeks past is date. No joke, 21 days past. In the past I’ve actually purchased quite a few things that were really bad, only to find out after I got home and started cooking.
Some of the checkers are really really not fast. I’m not trying to be a jerk about it, I just hate standing in line while the checker makes small talk with customers. Maybe I’m a bit uptight bit I do have things to get done, seriously, like coming back to return month old pork.

Came here today since I was in the area to pick up a few things for dinner.
The store it self is really nice, clean and organized.
I was lucky to find parking on the street right in front.

Consistently fucking terrible. Every single member of their staff are incompetent. My bar for grocery clerks is low, but geez louise! These guys take the cake.

Refused to accept my North Carolina driver’s license due to not having the same type of barcode as CA, I guess? Manager was rude and condescending about this, but only explained it as saying my license «doesn’t have the barcode to scan on the back.» …except that it is the same as every other NC license in the world.
This was probably the tenth time I’ve bought beer there, and though they’ve taken it to the customer service desk to check it before, I’ve never had an issue.
Also they have lots of expired products — check dates!
I would have stopped coming here ages ago if they didn’t at least have a self-​checkout, but now I’m done for good.

I have to say that this market is such a stress free environment. Unlike the Trader Joes up the street with its massively long lines of cars along Masonic any day of the week and extremely small parking lot, this place ALWAYS has parking underground! I thinks it’s pretty natural of San Franciscans to automatically think of TJ’s or Whole Foods for their shopping needs but i would implore you to consider this place as the top contender for your grocery needs.
This place is clean, has wide aisles, isn’t crowded, a fairly decent organic food section, Angus beefs, a Pharmacy, Chase ATM, Redbox, and more. The prices I say are fairly reasonable especially if you’re up to date on your weekly mailers and couponing.
There are like 6 self-​service checkout stands and the manned checkouts have a «there’s a crowd» rule to call in reinforcement checkers.
Overall, love the easy parking, stress free, crowd less shopping with decent prices.

Been here about 400 times (literally). 95% of the people are super nice. Selection is great. Can’t complain.

I would complain about the customer service, but usually it is a reflection of management. Stay away.

This is the best super-​market chain in SF! After moving to the US 4 weeks ago, close to my first place there was only the Safeways and Trader Joe’s. As an European I was surprised how limited variety of products at extremely expensive prices those two chains have. Just yesterday I moved close to this Lucky and I am very happy for that! First of all variety of food is at least 50% better that Safeways and TJ combined. Prices are on average 20−40% cheaper. I like the staff very much, they are very friendly and smilling. Food is fresh and delicious. I am really happy I moved here and thanks to the Lucky for being here nearby.

I think Lucky’s on an uptick.
I’ve definitely had my experiences with them. Once a plainclothes security guard followed me to the beer cooler and asked if I was going to pay for the six pack I had picked out. I was wearing pants that day, so I know it was blatant racial profiling. I swore then that I’d never go back, but eventually I needed laundry detergent. Sometimes there are sketchy people hanging out at the front of the store. Sometimes these people seem to work for the store. But the other day I popped in for some affordable aluminum foil, and a store employee SMILED at me. I hadn’t even bought anything yet. Keep it coming, Lucky, and I might even try buying food at you someday.

Usually a fine place to shop but today I was struggling to carry a small load of groceries and despite my MULTIPLE and LOUD cries for assistance I was ignored. Heaven forbid an elderly or challenged person would need help as Lucky personal, even after I had asked, didn’t help with ANYTHING! I was told to get a cart for myself, and that the manager had 86’d hand carts so they were unavailable. WTF?!! Yet you want my business right?!!

This is a pretty underachieving supermarket by my highfalutin’ standards. They really need to carry some nicer stuff.
Awesome
— Magnolia ice cream
— Chocolate babka
— Asian and South American goods
— Basic non-​food products and pharmaceuticals that we all need
Good:
— Produce. They have it.
— Egg prices and varieties
— Dairy product range and quality
Meh:
— Meats. Plenty of cheap meats, not enough organic/​clean meats
— Beer selection. Plenty of industrial beer, not enough craft brews
— Store hours. I’d really like them to be open until midnight
Horrendous:
— Store-​made bakery goods
— Rotisserie chicken
— Readymade sandwiches

With the Fulton store reorganization almost complete (better flow, more products) and the launch of the new «Lucky You!» program that promises great rewards, I felt it was time to update my review.
In those three years since I last reviewed Lucky, I’ve trained myself to become a very good cook, kitchen mistress of the quick prep and easy, delicious, varied meals.
And, I’ve put a bigger emphasis on healthy habits and eating cleaner food so I try to buy only organic and non-​GMO products.
And my primary grocery store is Lucky.
Here’s why:
The store has greatly expanded its organic produce and added Harris Ranch beef, Rosey’s organic chicken and my favorite, their Master Cut chicken.
They have an extensive array of quality name brands in every department so if I’m in the mood to make pozole or pressure cooked short ribs, I can pick up what I need without heading to the Mission or a special butcher for the top-​notch ingredients I want.
Lucky frequently runs the «Pick 5 for $ 25» sale and that’s when I stock up on quality proteins from Angus beef to huge packs of chicken.
I cook dinners (and my child’s school lunches) for a lot less money, often sharing my dishes with neighbors. I can share the joy of cooking with friends without breaking the bank.
On top of Pick 5, you can always find great BOGO deals and Manager’s specials. I bought Swedish shelving for my kitchen to fully take advantage.
Need a special order, like I did with four Max Packs of chicken drumsticks for a potluck? Their meat department will place it for you. It was pretty magical how easy it was, totally turnkey.
I’ve been shopping Lucky as my primary store for almost 6 years and I and my little boy know all the staff by name.
(My then 2 year-​old used to freak them out because he could read their name tags — and never forgot a name. The staff would play a game and hide their tags as we shopped the store and they were never able to stump him!)
Betty, Patrick, Sherman, Cindy, Alina, Silvio, Diane, Dilip, Maurice– all the staff –are so friendly and service-​oriented. If you need something, they’ll search for you and they always offer *every* time to help you to their (free and secure) underground parking lot to load your car.
(I usually don’t need the help but isn’t it nice they offer?)
The store is super clean, airy and open and easy to navigate.
With all of these benefits, I’ve made Lucky on Fulton my primary grocery store. I estimate I spend 80% of my grocery budget at Lucky.
Once you shop their store, you will too. I’m spoiled for the rest!

If you want to get cat called by Lucky’s male employees, shop here.

Dear Store Manager,
Please stop advertising food and products that are about to expire! I dont understand why a business can do that to their neighborhood! I completely stop shopping here. Staff by the meat counter is really nice and so is the pharmacy staff.

Came here a few times later in the evening, and went to the only cash register open. Two times the register was this middle aged brunette lady who was incredibly rude, it was not even funny.
Just real snippy, with attitude and even rolled her eyes at my girlfriend and I for things like asking for our groceries to get single paper bagged instead of doubled responding with «…okay if you say so *eyeroll eyeroll.» Then had the audacity to ask me if I drove to the store so as to justify her criticism of my decision.
Lady its none of your business whether I drove or walked to the damn store. If I ask for single bagged then just shut it and single bag my groceries for me.
It’s too bad, because otherwise I think the grocery store is a decent spot due to its parking lot. Anyway, I won’t be back.

As a USF student, this place is super convenient for my last minute needs. It’s clean, the staff are friendly, and the prices are affordable. I also love their selection of beers and liquor bottles.

Now this is one of those reviews where I only post it because I am angry, but I have to vent. I go to this luckys a lot. It has some good specials and the prices are decent. Tonight, I went in with my girlfriend to buy dinner. We got a couple of steaks, some veggies, and some beer. At the check out they asked for my ID, which I gave to them, they then asked for my girlfriends ID. She didn’t have it. They told me they couldn’t sell me beer because the whole party needed to have their ID (lets be clear that this isn’t a legal requirement. It was Lucky’s refusing to serve me) I should of asked for a manger but I walked out in anger. For reference I am 25 and my GF is the same age. The women was completely rude and shocked I would be offended. I won’t be returning here.

Being an USF student, Lucky’s has become a go-​to place for me to grab a quick lunch. Their deli is convenient and they also have pre-​packaged sandwiches. I would usually get their Greek wrap, which has chicken, lettuce, tomato, feta cheese, and a Greek style dressing and then I’d also buy a banana or some other fruit. That being said, my last experience here left a bad taste in my mouth.
While I was eating my chicken wrap, I bit into a huge piece of bone. Da fuq!!! This is something that really shouldn’t have gone unnoticed and after that I was just done with Lucky’s altogether. Why should I pay $ 7 for a chicken wrap with BONES in it? While it’s a good sized wrap, it’s just not worth it.
It may be super convenient and at times affordable in comparison to eating lunch in the cafeteria, but the deli has been inconsistent and it’s just not worth the money.

So, it took me a giant move to the Mission to realize how awesome I had it living so close to Lucky.
Compared to Safeway, Lucky is a godsend.
It may not be the natural foods store I wish it was, but there’s one of those on Divis and McAllister which isnt THAT far away.