Treasure Island Foods

Could Treasure Island be the greatest grocery store in Chicagoland area? Uh hard YES.
I’ve lived from Humboldt Park, Logan Sq, the Loop (yeah actually the Loop, Wabash and Lake) and stayed from Oaklawn to Kenosha WI (life related stuff) and for all the markets, local spots and corp. spots (jewel, whole foods, Mariano’s) I’ve had to shop at, this is by far the best place I’ve been too. EVER.
Yeah its not all glitzy and brand new but they have fair trade stuff, ACTUAL local farm milk and produce, amazing choice of produce and literally everything else you need. Health food alternatives, vegan choice things and all the name brand stuff you always get caught buying. your love for Doritos and fake plastic American cheese you always seem to eat can be met here.
The deli has deals on Boar head and other choice meats and bakery made bread and baked goods. By far more affordable than Mariano’s.
Maybe I’m a little jaded by old produce at the local Mexican markets and then shocked by the overpriced bananas at whole foods… but this spot has given me hope for Chicago.

This is my favorite grocery store in the area. Never crowded, unique products, and friendly employees. Yes, some items are more expensive than what you would get at a chain grocery, but they have great sales, and I’m ok with paying a little bit more because I actually enjoy grocery shopping when I’m here. I still go to other grocery stores for my bigger shopping trips and tend to use treasure island to fill in the gaps or when making a unique recipe, but this is just a more pleasant shopping experience. Abundant samples don’t hurt either.

It’s amazing what this store could be. Lack of «ready» meals, poor pricing in deli, poor product placement. Poor management. No sliced fresh bread! Poor selection all around. Lake view deserves better.
Move over jewel, this place will get a lashing from the greatly needed customer service Mariano’s will bring down the road.
Run to Mariano’s!

My favorite grocery by far in the city!!!

Treasure Island used to be my go to store for my Christmas meal shopping, I went for the meat (the butchers were meat experts) the chopped Chicken Liver, the Greek cookies (kourabiedes) imported oils, ethnic specialties, special beer etc. The chopped liver and Greek cookies used to be fantastic. My guests mouths would water for the liver and the cookies would melt in your mouth.
Over the years, I’ve changed up the menu a bit, but still returned for the liver and cookies. Sadly, this year will be the end of our very long relationship. I went to TI, on Tuesday, December 23^rd. I headed to the deli counter looking for my liver only to find it missing from the case. I was directed to a small case where it was pre-​packaged. That alone should have set off alarm bells, sadly, I picked up two containers. Next I headed to the bakery for the cookies and picked up two packages. I wandered the store picking up more items and headed to the check out.
My poor rating is not intended to be a reflection of the service, I have always found the Clybourn associates to be friendly and professional. This visit was no exception. My beef is with the inferior quality of products that used to be stellar. The liver had no flavor and a very poor texture, I ended up tossing both containers (my dog even spat it out).
The cookies which melted in your mouth were dry and certainly not mouthwatering or tasty I wasted a significant amount of money as well as time in my visit. For next year, I will be sourcing new suppliers and it breaks my heart to have to end a 25 plus year relationship.

Treasure Island is a bit «spendy» for me. But they roast a pig out in front of the store every Saturday and then sell the pulled pork off their hot foods bar for $ 5.98/lb. Smashing good deal for the convenience of it! This is also where I source raw cashews, Three Twins ice cream, import cheese, fresh guacamole and quality balsamic vinegar.

This store is gorgeous since the remodel! I agree, it;‘s not my daily store — but my specialty store for those unique items no one else has. I love how they keep the shelves PERFECT at all times — they look untouched! The staff is pleasant and helpful. Easy parking upstairs. Frequently has samples to try new things. Produce looks amazing. Some people complain about the prices — but come on — if money was not an object, would you rather shop Jewel? or Here?! No contest. TI is pretty amazing. Plus the owner is super hot!

The closest grocery store to me is Trader Joe’s and I will still drive here to shop.
As others have said, the staff is always friendly. They are also very conscious of the fact that if there are even 2 – 3 people queuing to check out, they will run to open another register. Is it a little bit more expensive? Maybe a little bit, but not insanely expensive or anything. I mean, if I walk out spending $ 5-​$ 10 more, I really don’t care, because…
The produce section is fantastic! And they have, hands down, the best tasting chicken you can buy… Amish Chicken! That stuff is so good… I can’t go back to eating the normal brands anymore. They also pack quite a bit of variety in a store of this size… Definitely recommend you stop in for a shop !

I like treasure island. I wouldn’t say this is the place to shop for your daily needs and wares — this is more of a specialty grocery store, to me, similar to Trader Joe’s or even Whole Foods — where you come to get unique or international items or food you just can’t get anywhere else. Like most uncommon or trendier grocery stores or markets: the prices are definitely not what I’d call cheap. I find it rarely packed which is nice.
Final Verdict:
Their selection of candies, breads, crackers, and cheeses cannot be beat! Also LOVE the salad bar — great variety! Really good place to shop for unique food gifts. I come here anytime I’m having a craving for something I just can’t find anywhere else — like sea salted chocolate drops!

Anybody in the neighborhood will tell you that this Treasure Island is a gem. The staff is helpful over and above any grocery chain in Chicago. Within two visits, you’re a regular. The produce people will tell you what to buy and what to avoid. The meat/​fish people will carefully explain how to cook just about anything. The deli people hand you enough samples to make a meal.
For the health conscious, there’s more organic than you could eat. For gourmets, TI offers weekly cooking classes. For the lost and confused, TI staff patrols the aisles, ready to guide you to your imported pasta, your kishke, your duck confit. Prices are dramatically less than Whole Foods, so think Jewel prices and Fox + Obel selection.

I like this place. Selection is great and the deli is not overcrowded and with offerings aplenty. Wish they’d bring back the seeded rye bread.

I work a half block away and come here often to pu fresh sushi for lunch. always frsh and tasty and they usually have 1 selection on special for unde $ 5.

All I can ask is why? Why did I pay $ 39 for one bag of ‘emergency’ groceries? Why did I pay $ 1 for a lemon, and almost $ 4 for 4 slices of turkey from the deli? Yikes.
Treasure Island, you might be good for some things i.e. pretzel rolls and flowers, but that’s pretty much it. I get it, I am in Lincoln Park and shouldn’t complain, but you are a bit too pricey to keep me coming back. Sorry!

I really like this store. I walked in and immediately sighed relief and said, finally! As a Californian I have been spoiled by year around fruit and vegetables and a wide variety of international foods. I haven’t seen anything close until I walked into Treasure Island.
It’s not cheap and they don’t seem to offer a lot of specials, but the variety of foods make up for it. And the store is huge. I didn’t get any of the prepared foods, but they have a nice selection to choose from. In addition, they have a nice cheese selection. Nice artisan breads. Nice seafood selection. Nice beer selection. You can see what I find important!
There is a cooking classroom on site and I will probably find my way to one of the classes soon. Fun!
I probably won’t shop here weekly, but if I am having a dinner party or making a special dinner this will be my go to store because I know I will be able to find everything I need in one place. All in all I’m a fan.

It’s funny how people give bad reviews for something sorta like «the special, out of season apples I bought here was expensive,» or «They are not nice to me,» wha-​whaah. It’s a good grocery store. It’s a damn good one. What kind of vapid person bases their grocery shopping decisions on which store is the most «updated» and «modern» it sounds like you’re shopping for a house or spa. Who cares what it looks like. Y’all think it’s expensive? And so is Whole Foods. And Jewel. And the sky is blue. What else?
They have some great samples in there. I like grocery stores that do samples. I like Treasure Island because I have fold memories of coming as a child, and watching the peanut grinder make peanut butter, buying fresh squeezed orange juice. Seeing exotic food items, like escargot and the shells that go with them, bison meat, Asian imported foods I’d never seen, exotic fruits and vegetables. That was the Treasure Island on Wells.
Now, for the past 9 years, I have shopped at this store on Clyborn. It isn’t too busy, I don’t like crowds. The bakery is great, the produce is good, the meat section includes some free-​range products, the deli pre-​prepared items are good, they have pizzas you can bake yourself at home, herbs, quiche, and a decent fish counter. I like the bulk items of nuts and candies they have, or whatever you call that when it has their own labels on it and is in a plastic container. The one thing I think is over-​priced is the cut-​up fruit and some of the pre-​prepared products. I cannot justify paying like $ 7.99 for a coke-​can sized container of cut-​up cantaloupe. Overall, it’s a small-​feeling business, European supermarket I love.

My first experience with Treasure Island was the Broadway location in my old neighborhood. The store was a little rusty around the edges — the staff was rude and the store was dated and seemed dirty. I came to this location to attend the cooking school, which is held about once a week for $ 18. The class was great — each week a local chef instructs the class (a demo) and you get to bring a friend for free. TI doesn’t have a liquor license, which means no byob, although the cooking class offers wine samples with each course.
This Treasure Island was much improved from the other location. The store was clean, bright, and seemed much modern. And of course the prices are fairly high for ingredients, but I kind of think about stores like TI and Whole Foods as more specialty stores. I can’t really afford to do all my shopping here, but if I have a special ingredient/​s that I’m looking for, this would be a good place to go. For drivers, there is a parking lot, big plus in this area.

I too give it more about 3.5 stars.
On the up side they have plenty o’ parking, many hard to find items (like schmaltz — seriously the only store I can find it at) and lots of unique stuff that’s fun to look at if you’ve got time to stroll around even if you do hate grocery shopping like I do.
On the down side, holy hefty price tags folks. Jeez louise. Stuff is hard to find around the store. The meat and produce do leave a lot to be desired. Did I mention the prices? Pretty up there.
The conclusion: a specialty shop that’s way out of my way but will stop for something specific, after I’ve saved up all year to buy it.

3.5 stars.
I’ve been a semi-​regular shopper at TI since its inception, way before Clybourn Avenue turned into Naperville. Back then, this was one of the only places one could find so-​called «exotic» ingredients such as parmesan cheese that wasn’t in a can; baby new potatoes, as well as various ethnic products not found anywhere else. You get the picture — this place was unique.
Not so much anymore. Nowadays, you can find many of these hard-​to-​find items at Jewel, Dominick’s and the like. Heck, even Trader Joe’s sells upscale and ethnic foods that rival Treasure Island, at a sweet price point to boot.
I don’t get here much anymore since it’s out of my way, but when I do come here, I still buy way more than I need and when they have sales, their prices are quite reasonable. Even at regular price, I find their prices on par with Jewel for most items.
The people that worked here used to be really miserable, save for a few people. I came here a couple of months ago looking for boneless, skin-​on chicken breasts and inquired of the butcher if they had any and he looked at me as if I asked him to sacrifice his first-​born child in the name of poultry.
I came here last Saturday intent on making a mixed-​berry shortcake for a dinner party and TI had all of their berries on sale so I stocked up. The employees were much friendlier this time. I was on crutches and they even helped me to my car without asking. That never would have happened in the past.
While I’ll likely still not be a regular customer, I do enjoy shopping here every now and again. It reminds me of the early days when I was a newbie cook and how far I’ve come since then.

okay, so treasure island is overpriced, ill be the first to say it, but i do love it. id recommend coming here for specialty items… because chances are, if you’re looking for it, they’ll have it. i mean, it IS americas most european supermarket.
i personally like the layout of this store better than the lakeview store and appreciate their extensive selection.
i also enjoy the olive bar, the cooking classes offered on the 2^nd floor (i have yet to try them, but i would like to some day)…and the chicken salsa. BE STILL MY HEART. if im going to TI for something, youd better believe im leaving with some chicken salsa. that stuff was the best accidental drunken purchase my roommate ever made. EVER. TRY IT. (with donkey salted chips… you wont regret)

There exists a place outside of WF where you can obtain fresh free-​range (as much as you can get in IL) chicken for the same price. This means I don’t spend my whole paycheck browsing the rest of the too-​expensive aisles at WF and instead can buy what I need and maybe have enough left for something special. They also stock Boar’s Head lunchmeat and have a fresh bakery.
What used to be a 4 store trip for me can now be completed in one stop. The produce is USUALLY great — vegetables more than fruit. Sometimes the fruit isn’t as great, but the vegetables almost always hold out a week for me. They have a good selection of fresh herbs and peppers/​chilis. Sometimes not as fresh as others, but that’s pretty much the same with every grocery store.
Of all the TI’s I’ve been to, I like this one the best. It took me a while to get used to having my produce weighed in the produce section, but it doesn’t bother me now. The décor is a little dated, but I don’t really care as it is well lit and clean. Stock up if something is on sale, they do not have a shopper card program (thankfully). A lot of people claim the prices are high, but I don’t buy many boxes or packaged foods so I didn’t think the prices were that different from the other chain stores in the area. They do have some specialty import items — of course there is a tax! Anyway, if anything, try the chicken salsa.