Fatboyslick

Hi

Bit of an open question, but can anyone in LA advise on the best/large supermarkets equivalent to the main UK ones e.g. Tesco, Sainsburys.

We've so far been to a Gilson's (Century City) but their product range is limited in comparison to the UK. Not sure if this is the norm (our first week here) or whether there's bigger stores with more variety/choices I've not come across yet...will be checking a nearby Ralph's today and there's a Walmart in Culver City i could try.

We're in the Western side of LA: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City area.

Thanks in advance

Pulaski

US supermarkets are generally smaller than their UK equivalents. I can't think of any where I live (in NC) that compare in size to the Sainsbury's or Tescos in the small city where I grew up. Most are a good bit smaller, but then there are several locations dotted around the edge of the nearest town to where I live, whereas in the UK there is just one large Sainsbury's and a smaller urban one, one large Tesco, and a handful of tiny convenience locations.

scrubbedexpat091

Wal-Mart will probably be the biggest, they are in most city's, I have lived in.

Ralph's, Von's, Albertson's etc. are all about the same normally, just different prices, but even Wal-Mart doesn't have much better selection, just more space for the same stuff.

N1cky

After 8 years, I still find myself having to go to 4 different stores for different things. Drives me crazy. I'd love to have a Sainsburys here.

Don't bother with Walmart, they can't sell fresh food in California, so it's a total waste of time.

kimilseung

Which weird initiative was that?

scrubbedexpat091

Wal-Mart has their own grocery chain in parts of California, Neighborhood something or other.

Saw a bunch when in San Diego last November.


I am almost think their normal store by my mom has produce and fruit that is fresh, I swear I bought some food there. Heck even the 99 cent stores sell fresh produce/milk/dairy stuff...

Looking on yelp of photos taken in some San Diego area normal Wal-Mart Super Stores, they do have produce, fresh meat, milk and normal fresh grocery stuff.

http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/walmar...er-chula-vista


I thought I was going crazy thinking I got the California stores confused with WA....lol


Maybe your local area has a size restriction on stores or limits what they sell?

Pulaski

Says who/why? I picked one at random, happened to be in San Jose, that stocks bananas.

Pulaski

My guess is that Nicky's local Walmarts are not "Supercenters". The original Walmarts had only packaged groceries, but most Walmarts round here have been replaced with Walmart Supercenters, which have a full range of fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, and a deli counter for cured meats and cheeses, etc.

sir_eccles

Thing I've noticed here, supermarkets are very neighborhood dependent. Go to the ghetto Walmart and you'll have ghetto selection, head to the Walmart in the other posher side of town you'll get a posher selection.

Pump62kin

Gilson's ?? I think you mean Gelson's...which is slightly more 'up-market' than the average SoCal supermarket. So the range of goods will be a bit limited, but the quality will be there.

If you want a wide range of food, then you need a larger branch of Vons or Ralphs. These are akin to Asda or Morrison's.

N1cky

You might be right. Last time I went was at least 5 years ago, it was so woeful that I've never been back. It was in LA though, where the OP is asking about.

Looking on the website, there is no mention of any fresh food, deli... Although the photo they are using has some kind of greenery poking out of the top of the shopping bag.

http://www.walmart.com/cp/976759

Pulaski

Same in the UK, you just probably didn't realise it. If there were US expats in the area, Sainsbury's had groceries to match, such as Oreos, and canned and even fresh "pie" pumpkins, in other areas such products were missing. I will eat my hat if it isn't the same for other immigrant communities, and regional variations across the UK.

sir_eccles

Perhaps but there didn't tend to be three Sainsbury's within a few miles of each other.

N1cky

I could walk into any Sainsburys/Tescos/Asda... in the UK though, and buy Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, products. Here I have to go to stores serving those communities, it's a little easier here, but LA especially was bad for that, and even going 5 miles could be an extra 30 minute journey.

Fatboyslick

Yes sorry, Gelson's....should have paid more attention to the shopping bags! So that's more up market....well some of the produce was definitely akin to Waitrose and it was pricier than UK Supermarkets.




This is the case - The Asda near Moss Side in Manchester certainly caters for the more diverse customer range than say the Sainsbury's near Wilmslow. Ironically for your post, most UK supermarkets do now sell canned Pumpkin Pie and Oreos....there's regularly a "US Aisle" now with Fluff, Lucky Charms, Goober etc



Thanks all, will have to check out the larger Ralph's and Von's and then shop around for the remainder