All States Best Foods

I am born and raised around Potrero Hill area fully aware of all the changes that area has made over multiple decades. Changes are all positive, with the exception of over building of very pricey singles only condos which are not pet nor family friendly. And this neighborhood was intended to be a a middle to comfortable middle class family oriented residential neighborhood with family friendly retail and commercial range of services. I predict, as the economic pendulum swings from affluent consumer spending to long lines at the unemployment office, those new condos may have to become Section 8 housing to avoid mast vacancies which, then lowers, real estate values wherever there is a glut of vacant pricey condos. But I digress as I suspect a few steadfast neighborhood merchants will continue to survive the ups and downs of a economically mismanaged city.
One of the most reliable, friendliest, impressively diverse inventory of groceries in comparatively compact space is All States Best Foods grocery store. It often gets a health rating of 100%, almost unheard of for most restaurants and even major supermarkets. The owner brothers are considered an indispensable niche in the neighborhood on so many positive levels. They are perpetually re-​evaluating their customer’s needs and make pragmatic renovations and inventory changes. Of all the local owned family owned grocery stores in the neighborhood, this one is a gem because the guys running it are conscientious and take pride in being relevant fixtures in the neighborhood. Obviously, for many items, their prices cannot compete with chain super markets. But I have bought items that i have not found in those bigger stores, Also, the chain store clerks have no incentive to remember customers. At our smaller neighborhood stores, especially at All States Best Foods, even after a couple of purchase visits, you know you are appreciated as a customer.
We all need to do our part to preserve and boost the perpetuation of local owned small businesses in our neighborhoods. Big deal if we spend a few cents more on a grocery item even if cheaper at a chain supermarket. Walking to a neighborhood store is still cheaper than the amount of gas spent to save a few cents at a chain store for a few items. We also have the responsibility to invest in maintaining a safe family character in our residential neighborhoods. Patronizing stores as this one is a good investment on our part as consumers.

The other night a colleague of mine had recommend this place for their wide variety of food and alcohol beverages. Along with their huge selection, the place was neat and well run, the owner was extremely kind and helpful. He has full knowledge of what is on his shelves and was able to guide me with what I needed. This will definitely be my permanent go-​to place for beer, wine, liqour and food.

Wow, has it really been 2 years since my first review? I am long over due! When I saw the «People love us on Unilocal» sticker today in All States I KNEW it was time for an update.
I am a weekly regular customer now. I try to make it a point to visit All States every week on the day I am in San Francisco. I have got my Mom hooked too. We can always find great deals here on produce and other goodies and always love to visit Mo and his brothers who help run the store. We love these guys. They honestly treat you like family. Their kindness alone will make you want to come back and shop.
Seasonal fruits and veggies are coming in fast. All States has some really awesome promotional sale prices on fresh produce. They are constantly restocking and sometimes you can even pick right out of the box they picked up that morning during produce haul. I have got some GORGEOUS asparagus right out of the box, super fresh and on awesome sale (.99 cents — 1.99lb «a bunch» depending on sale — any figure in that range is a super good value). Today we scored some gorgeous plump and ripe seasonal figs and berries as well as other great produce finds. I am happy to see my Mom buy so many fresh fruits and veggies there when we go. Today she made herself a nice little picnic with some of her All State scores: fresh figs, cheese, cashews and personal sized avocados and Mo hooked her up with utensils and an area to wash some of her fruit she planned to go eat. He is so sweet.
This family really takes pride in keeping up their business, keeping well stocked and keeping their customers happy. This family and store is truly a gift to San Francisco.

Very friendly people, easy to talk to. Much friendlier than another grocery store on the street. Good selection and prices. They have a lot of staples, including an array of spices. They also have a decent selection of flowers. It’s so nice to have them up on the Hill.

Such a wonderful convenience store with everything you could want in a neighborhood establishment. Wonderful service and super owners!

FINALLY! A market where people actually care about the customer and treating you right. I go here for all my needs. Check it out… you will not be disappointed

Love this place!!! Couldn’t agree more with the other reviewers. This place has the best employees/​owners. So nice and helpful. This really is what a neighborhood convenience store is all about. They are even open to suggestions about what to stock in the store. Flowers are gorgeous. One time I did get some buns that were maybe past their prime, but i’m sure if I had mentioned it next time they would have credited me, but I just couldn’t do it as they are always so helpful. Support local stores if you can.

Love this place for all the reasons in the other reviews — über friendly, great flower gift wrapping and perfect selection of food!

I wanted to chime in that their flower selection is also great and they wrap it (brown paper and ribbon) very tastefully, so this makes a great place when you need to bring flowers for some occasion and you don’t want to just hand them over in a dripping wet, tacky plastic wrap.

The guys that own this place are great, always super friendly. I love that they remember who I am even when I’ve been gone ¾ths of the year.
They always have what I need when I’m mid dinner and realize I’m missing one key ingredient.

All States has a huge selection of spices… anytime I need a spice and don’t want to trek over to safeway, I can bank on the fact that they have it.
Best part of All States is that they are so warm and friendly. What a great place to have on the hill.

I really like this place and lately I don’t have a car so I have to do my grocery shopping either here or at the Good Life. This place is open later so, by default, I have found myself here a couple times. It doesn’t look as cute as Good Life on the inside or outside but it is just as friendly if not more and it has everything you might need at prices that I think are better.
I live within a short walk of this place. I will be back.

These guys have been a great neighborhood store for a long time. As other have stated, they are very friendly and it isn’t fake. They act like they actually want your business.
Stock could have a little more variety but I guess that’s always the case. Definitely check the produce before buying as sometimes it can be mushy … but I do that everywhere.

I’ll join the chorus in saying the gentlemen who run All States Best Foods are making the world a better place. In fact, my girlfriend and I call this «the nice guy store.»
And they totally get what a corner store is all about — ice cream, chocolate and beer. They have the absolute best ice cream selection in San Francisco. In fact, my girlfriend and I sometimes call this «the ice cream store.»
I didn’t even know its real name until today, but it’s absolutely worth knowing.
I will say I wish it was open after 8pm.

As every reviewer has pointed out, the guys who run this place are dolls. You don’t feel like they’re shining you on to keep your business, you feel as if they’re genuinely kind people. They take pride in their store, in the quality and variety of the stock, in their relations with their neighbors.
Anyone who thinks immigrants are dragging this country down need only pay a visit to All States where they’d see intelligent, attractive young men working their asses off every day of their lives to make something good for the neighborhood.

I try to stay on the hill for groceries and other necessities because I don’t want any of these independents to go out of business to corporations. I live two blocks from here and this is my default local grocery store to shop on the hill. I really think that they do a good job, always friendly, very friendly, and personable. Also, for most everything, much less expensive than Good Life across the street – they don’t really carry much in the way of organic food like Good life however and the produce is lacking a bit, but if you are desperate for produce –again there is the Good Life across the street. Carry pretty much everything but alcohol, the flowers are beautiful and wrapped with much care.

I could not agree with Jeff P more. I live on the hill and the chaps who run this place are archetypical nice guys.
The store has good variety and groceries are very reasonably priced, for a local store. Plus the local produce section always seems very fresh.
I also think it is a nice touch that they wrap the flower bunches and add a little colored ribbon (which make zero difference to me, but the worked to my gf)
Im giving 4 stars, only cos its got to be pretty GD special for a local groceries to get 5 in my book. I hope this doesn’t dilute their current 5 status though.

The guys that own/​run/​work at this store make you feel like just what you are — their neighbor. Always friendly, they always remember what you usually buy. They always greet you in a familiar way letting you know that they appreciate your business and recognize you as one of their regular customers. I no longer go to any other local market because these guys have truly earned my loyalty. At Christmas, they even gave me a bottle of wine which meant a lot. If I didn’t know that I lived in a big city I would think this was small town America.
Update: And, they got a 100 on their DPH inspection:

This is what a local market/​convenience store should be. They have a great selection of everything you might need (they have a great selection of Vitamin Water).
The best thing about this place are the people who work there. They’re incredibly friendly and helpful. It seems like a family run place and it shows. I like this place so much that I will walk uphill rather than go to the New Potrero Market on 18^th, which has a rude staff and poor selection.

Your typical neighborhood convenience store, everything from frozen entrees (sometimes you just NEED a HotPocket) to my staple hangover cure of a quart of Lemon-​Lime Gatorade washed down by an Odwalla Superfood.
But they also have a little produce section for the essentials and have fresh bread delivered daily along with some specialty ethnic sandwhiches in the fridge, I’ve had a Chicken Tikka Masala and a couple of Naanwhiches that were quite good.
I’m giving them an extra star because they’re been known to give me credit when I wasn’t packing my wallet and they always toss me a dog biscuit for Sonny.
My one complaint is they don’t stock enough Sunday NY Times… so I have to hustle up there by noon or they may be gone.