Grocery stores around Boston, rated

These are my grocery store ratings, evaluated by me, just for fun. No particular criteria for evaluation besides my personal opinions lol. I’m only mentioning spots I have personally shopped at.

Hopefully this inspires someone to find a better deal or check out new spots. I would love grocery recommendations! I welcome disagreement in the comments but please don’t be mean to me 🥺

General groceries:

Trader Joe’s: 5/5 - fave grocery store for basics and snacks - produce and basic items like rice/beans/proteins/milks are notably cheaper than at other spots in the city - the tiny Trader Joe’s on Boylston is my personal idea of hell, go to the big one closer to the common - fr much better prices here, check it out if you haven’t already

Whole Foods: 3/5 - higher quality produce than most places around Boston - excruciatingly expensive - I am a victim of spending too much money here

Star market: 3/5 - genuinely think this store is such a rip off, prices are artificially inflated IMO - great variety/selection - I do not shop here anymore

Target grocery: 2/5 - also a rip off - I shopped here freshman year and haven’t been back since because I can find stuff elsewhere for much cheaper

Convenience:

Wollastons: 4/5 - so convenient on campus - surprisingly great variety and some fun and unique items - sort of expensive - can we subsidize wolly’s sandwiches🙏

College convenience: 4/5 - big fan for snacks - close to campus - I think it’s kinda expensive but I’m not actually sure

Symphony market: 4/5 - 2am closing time is amazing - pretty good options for basics

The market (in curry): 2/5 - they have pretty good sushi - terrible variety - genuinely only including this because sometimes I crave sushi and this is so convenient

Giovanni’s Market: 3/5 - Giovanni is the nicest dude ever - minimal selection - comes in clutch for late night ice cream cravings

Asian:

H Mart: 4/5 - specifically the Cambridge one because i haven’t been to the other one yet - rlly good produce section for stuff you can’t get at most supermarkets - lots of variety and good prepared foods section - not too expensive but also not particularly good deals

Ming’s Supermarket: 5/5 - recently discovered this place, big fan - really good for East Asian food - pretty good prices, lots of options, like seriously so much variety - randomly they have good deals on Chinese style dishes (mugs, plates, bowls, etc)

Maruichi: 4/5 - I really like these stores in Brookline - lots of Japanese and other East asian stacks/foods - these are two stores across the street from each other owned by the same people, one is a fancier side and the other is a more normal side - great prepared food/restaurant in the store - a little bit expensive but not too crazy

Latin/African/Caribbean:

Tropical foods: 3/5 - produce from here rots really quickly, like insanely quickly - community owned which we love!! - really good spice, grains, beans, and frozen food options - spacious af

European:

Eataly: 4/5 - comically expensive - really high quality items - great for food-related gifts