Market Hall Foods

Market Hall Foods is the heart of Rockridge and the most vibrant food marketplace in Oakland or perhaps the entire East Bay.Let's get it out-of-the-way: you don't shop there for bargain eats. You shop there is a substitute for traveling the world for yummy food.For more than 30 years Market Hall Foods has imported some of the best sweet and savory foods from Europe and other countries as well as being famous for their locally made pastas, which are sold in other stores as well.Market Hall Foods is a great place to go to pick up salads or other deli food, cheeses and charcuterie for lunch or a picnic. They also try to find the most interesting and delicious food gifts from local, small producers as well as artisan food makers from around the world.Unlike most reviewers of this very special food store, which is across the street from BART, I am delivering you "insider" knowledge as someone who has worked there in the grocery department helping customers pick out perfect foods.

Iconic Rockridge establishment! It's right across the street from Rockridge Bart, and is a Rockridge staple. There's always people crowding in here, which is wonderful to see, as decades of thriving business has kept Market Hall Foods around. I've been here many times, and the gourmet selections, which pricey and bougie, are nice little treats. I once popped in for lunch and got a chicken turnover and a salmon, leek, & fennel tart. I forgot to ask to heat it up until after I paid, and asked if they can heat it up. They did anyway. Great customer service!During holidays, it's absolutely slammed with everyone picking up holiday goods. I was VERY tempted to pick up an $8 gingerbread man, but had to resist. We did get a beautiful pear and almond tart for Christmas Eve dessert.Always happy to see this Rockridge staple thrive here!

I bought some melting chocolate chips here (Valrhona passionfruit-flavored) hoping to use them for baking. For better or worse, I decided to taste one first... In my entire history of eating chocolate AND having Valrhona at that, I have never felt so ill after eating a small chip of chocolate. First, it tasted very funky -- in an old/decaying/musty "antique furtniture" kind of way. (Nothing you eat should taste like that!) Layered on top of that was how "chemical" and strong the passionfruit flavor was... Even after I tried washing this out of my mouth, my stomach ended up feeling sick through at least the following day. On the package, it said they packaged it the day before. But to whomever is in charge of quality assurance... packing a bad or rotten product recently defeats the purpose of a "packaged on" date. For a $27 bag of chocolate (this chocolate was apparently over $50/lb!!) this is not acceptable.

There's a reason why I liked the location on 4th street in Berkeley. It was nice and compact and had all of the basics. This place is a bit larger and cramped in a different way which isn't cute when you are looking for something specific. I never found the pasta we wanted, but I know that they have it. I didn't want to spend my whole day looking for it. The cheese section isn't huge. The people working there are fine, they are so busy that they don't have time for things such as greetings, but it's all good.This isn't a destination spot, like their late brother, however, if in the area and in need of something specific, I'd probably drop in.

Playing tourist to buy artisan pasta at the Italian grocery.This market reminds me of Italy.Got the fresh spinach fettuccine and sauces. The fettuccine was in sheets and they cut them when you place an order.Nothing is better than cooking and enjoying fresh homemade artisan pasta at home.

It's a fancy grocery store. I loved walking around but it's not easy for every day needs. I think it would be great for shopping for a fancy picnic or dinner.

My favorite is the butcher shop. The crew there are so nice and always ready to help. I have met great people there. Louie is my go-to guy. The place is always clean, meat is so fresh and taste so good. I highly recommend this place to anyone. If you are in the area, check this place out. Tons of variety here.

This place has a wide variety of food options. Groceries, butcher, deli, produce, and household items. Tons to choose from and very high quality. Do you enjoy fresh fish and lean quality meat? This place has it all. Unfortunately, the prices are far more higher than the standard grocery store or even independent grocery stores. Bring a fat wallet !

I love this busy market! The deli is expensive but the food is worth eating which for me is so rarely the case elsewhere. I especially recommend their rotisserie chickens, little gem, curried chicken, and cabbage and almond salads, chilli rellenos, quiche, chicken enchiladas, beef turnovers, egg salad sandwiches, seeded cheese twists, salad dressings, and chicken stews. I'm not partial to their fresh pasta which is not as thin and silky as l like, but their sauces are excellent. Their catering is really dependably good, and has saved me many times. The bakery is also really good. I agree with someone else that the pizza is a bit too oily but otherwise great. The produce market has not as many organic items as I'd like and is expensive, but I like the quality and knowledgeable staff. The meat, cheese and fish markets offer excellent quality for a price. If only I had more money!

This is not because of the food, place or all the amazing employees. This is just about my experience today with a person at the main cash register and a manager on duty (Ali or Holly not sure exactly). In any case, the manager needs some coaching on customer service and patronage retention. I came in today with a gift card ($300) balance. I asked the lady at the register if she could please break the 1 gift card into 5x60 for convenience. My wife and I have lost our jobs, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and we have a 2 year old. This gift card was given to me from a friend. I did not ask for it but am appreciative. I frequent market hall but never spend more than $50 at a time and wanted 5 cards instead of one to know the exact balance to make it easier when I buy food items for my household (family). If I have 5 cards I can use 1 at a time and just throw it out when done. Also, not risk misplacing 1 card with an unused large balance somewhere in the house. The woman at the register did not seem to appreciate my request but reluctantly, she went and asked the manager - came back and told me NO. The managers rationale - we don't want to waste 5 cards. How is it a waste I am using them and also it's only wasting the original 1 for $300? Also, I am spending $300....the combined cost of gift cards to be printed is probably $2.00 if that. Very disappointed today with market hall management. I may re-consider shopping here after the card is used up. Hopefully, another senior manager reads this and has a coaching session with the manager on duty 11/13/24.