A worker-owned natural foods cooperative market established since 1976. Housed in a 25,000 square feet location, this all vegetarian store features very extensive selections in nutritional supplements and vitamins, body and beauty care products, household products, books, fresh organic vegetables and fruits, bulk staples section, chilled and frozen foods, natural pet supplies, raw food, organic products, eco friendly products, grag n go food, children's toys, cooking supplies, and much more. Bag your own grocery. Open Mon-Sun 9:00am-9:00pm.
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1745 Folsom St (at 13th St, northern Mission District), San Francisco, California, USA, 94103
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 23 Dec 2011 by Guest
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37 Reviews
First Review by Yell
SarahEAW.
Points +755
You can find almost everything - Edit
This place is the "it" location for all things vegan & vegetarian. It carries harder-to-find items and pre-packaged meals from all over the Bay Area. The bakery selection is pretty impressive too. Their Amys frozen selection is the largest I've ever seen.
Read moreGuest
Gopala108
Points +3227
Awesome all vegetarian worker owned cooperative - Edit
I have been vegan for nearly two decades & during that period have always kept a love of natural food stores. I have been to heaps of natural food stores near & far yet Rainbow Grocery is probably the closet heavenly natural food store I have set foot in.
Read moreWhat do I mean by heavenly natural food store, what I mean is it is the best natural food store. There are countless varieties of spices in bulk, fermented foods, & produce along w/ the usual products you would find in a natural food store. You get everything you ever could want & a lot things you didn't know you would want here. You can even fill up your own containers w/ shampoo, natural soaps, & even essential oils.
If you are a fifth level vegan, raw vegan, paleo vegetarian who is gluten-free, or anything in between they got you covered. While I thought they were fully vegetarian, they are mostly except for some fish oil I discovered here once. I don't know why there is fish oil as those looking to get their omegas can simply have hemp products, chia, flax oil, or vegan DHA.
Heaps of organic produce are here, nearly all vegetarian, & lots of local produce along w/ packaged goods. While it could get expensive here it depends what you buy, compare buying oats in bulk vs buying triple sprouted certified raw organic almonds dusted w/ Himalayan sea salt.
If you are 60 years old or older you receive a 10-percent off senior discount at Rainbow Grocery every day. For bulk items you receive a .05 cent discount per item you purchase when you use your own container so bring your own mason jars & old soy yogurt containers as a package-light diet is wonderful to live. Believe me I have saved countless nickels shopping here as I reap the package-light lifestyle.
In order to receive a discount for bringing your own canvas bags you need to purchase three or more items. Remember this is CA & if you don't bring your own canvas bags prepared to be charged a small fee so if you aren't shopping w/ canvas bags already....why not?
They have many beautiful flowers available in the store & if you have a green thumb you can pick up some seeds to plant your own garden or use their potted plants to start small.
They also have a good selection of books from natural living, cooking, & even yoga props.
You might want to call first as Rainbow Grocery is closed on some holidays including: International workers day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. B-day, New Year's Day, & during Pride Parade.
Updated from previous review on 2023-09-12
Pros: awesome bulk section, dulse and goji berries, Discount membership program
Cons: a bit costly
Guest
joanna240
Points +325
Veg must-see - Edit
Rainbow is not just my favorite grocery store, it is my favorite place in San Francisco. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or just someone who likes to try new/different grocery items, Rainbow will blow you away with a myriad of options, including products from small local companies.
Read moreThey have a ridiculous number of bins for spices (spices you will find nowhere else) flours (ditto) beans and grains (again ditto) plus olive oil on tap, coffee beans, fermented foods, teas, and that's just the first aisle.
Best selection of vegan products anywhere, plus all kinds of vegan personal care products and ethically produced housewares. A staggering number of products, at competitive prices and top quality.
Only downside: the wait to get into the tiny parking lot. It's generally brief (and we just went there -- the Sunday afternoon before Thanksgiving) and there is also street parking if you're lucky.
Guest
traveling_vegan
Points +392
Long live rainbow grocery🌈 - Edit
Rainbow grocery is an absolute staple in the mission district. So many vegan options, a large bulk section, aisles of supplements, plenty of home goods, a cute gift section, and lots of locally made items. For the most part, the staff is friendly and customer service has been helpful when i’ve needed them!
Read morePros: Fully vegetarian store, Organic produce, Lots of vegan options
Cons: Typically on the more expensive side
Guest
TobieTusing
Points +65
Dream co-op grocery - Edit
No meat, worker owned. bulk items. Lots of great stuff, can get quick items for lunch as well as bulk and specialty stuff
Read morePros: Bulk section , No meat, Worker owned
Cons: Expensive if not using bulk section
Guest
stephaniefroebel
Points +995
The love of my life - Edit
I love the bulk section with bring your own containers. There are so many vegan options everywhere which is so nice. It is very expensive though, but for some things, it’s definitely worth it
Read morePros: So many vegan options , Bulk bins , Delicious produce
Cons: Expensive
Guest
Aniseed
Points +4913
Co-Op with Awesome Vegan Products! - Edit
Awesome vegan products at Rainbow! Loads of vegan meats, vegan cheese, vegan milk, vegan ice cream! Also excellent produce offerings including Oyster Mushrooms & Maitake Mushrooms (both are a great meat substitutes if you know what you're doing!). Great selection of health products and supplements. They also have items in bulk and soap & detergent refill stations!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-09-19
Guest
Vegang12
Points +719
My fave - Edit
I love this Co-op vegetarian/vegan grocery store! It’s on the pricier end but good to know I’m supporting such a great Co-op!
Read moreGuest
misabella
Points +3407
Fantastic Vegetarian Market - Edit
It's so wonderful to go into such an extensive supermarket and know that you can pick up anything on the shelves! Great selections of vegan meat substitutes, have never seen so many in one place before.
Read moreGuest
tonyakay
Points +3496
Best I’ve ever been to - Edit
It could only be better if they were vegan. But vegetarian is admirable and no-waste is [censored] heroic. Half the store is bulk - I’m talking bring your containers and small plastic bags for: teas (brilliant blends and single medicinals), oils, vinegars, aminos/sauces, sweeteners, flours, powders, dried fruits and berries, nuts, snack mixes, instant soup & hummus powders, antipastos, organic produce, shampoo, soap, body lotion, body oils - and more. All bulk! No bags at checkout so bring your own there again. Or grab a reuse box. Huge selection of everything including prepared raw foods and life is great!
Read morePros: Vegetarian supermarket, No-waste lifestyle is possible with Rainbows bulk, Mural at checkout
Cons: Go all the way - go vegan
Guest
klawil
Points +197
Awesome bulk store - Edit
A great selection of food, most available in bulk which makes having a smaller carbon footprint easier.
Read morePros: Lots of options, Mostly bulk foods
Guest
alicexyl
Points +564
Amazing local co-op vegetarian supermarket - Edit
Such a huge selection of bulk items, including all kind of spices, grains, flours, nuts, teas, butters, pickles, condiments, etc. They have a good collection of personal care and household products too. Prices are great compared to other markets in the area.
Read moreStaff members are very friendly. It's pretty easy to return or exchange items. There's a great sense of community.
Recently they added arrival times for 12 bus near the checkout counters, which is pretty convenient.
Pros: Comprehensive bulk section, quality products, Friendly and neighborly staff, Thoughtful interior design
Cons: Sometimes lines could be slow
Guest
taiwanesetexan
Points +9433
Favorite supermarket in SF - Edit
Rainbow Grocery ranks number one in my book among supermarkets in San Francisco. It's not crazy expensive like Bi-Rite Market, it has a much better bulk section than Whole Foods Market, and they don't package every little thing in plastic like Trader Joe's. They're also vegetarian, so you won't encounter carcasses here. I do wish they did a better job of labeling the day-old bags of pastries since I would only want to buy one that was filled with vegan pastries. What amazes me is that you can even get soap and shampoo in bulk! It's a little bit of a walk from the nearest BART station, and the buses are somewhat reliable. A rideshare will always be the most convenient option if you don't have your own car and have way too many bags to carry on public transit.
Read morePros: huge variety, vegetarian, bulk section
Cons: public transit access
Guest
Rech
Points +72
Paradiso vegano - Edit
Cerchi un prodotto particolare? Da Rainbow lo trovi!
Read morePros: Vasto assortimento
Cons: Prezzi alti (proporzionati però ai prodotti)
Guest
AnthonyBravey
Points +667
Best Supermarket Ever! - Edit
This place is incredible and is a must visit if you're in San Francisco. Full of healthy whole food, vegan snacks, treats and everything else you could ever need.
Read moreI bought a cookie, oat cake and cinnamon buns here, cheap and delicious.
Pros: Huge store, Vegan shoppers delight, Good prices
Guest
dktahara
Points +34
Best grocery store for the socially conscious - Edit
Best bulk store in San Francisco. They let you bring your own containers and trust you to tare them. No meat or non-vegetarian products to be seen. Good selection of organics and socially conscious brands. Workers paid well and we'll treated.
Read morePros: Buy in bulk with your own containers, No meat, Workers paid well and good benefits
Guest
·X·
Points +21078
Rainbow Grocery - Edit
This is the most amazing grocery store on Earth, and it's 100% vegetarian! I enjoy each visit here, as I am always finding new, different vegan products to try. They also offer basically everything in the bulk section (e.g., tofu, nutritional yeast, beans, pasta, soup mix, tea, etc.) and carry a large variety of spices.
Read moreRainbow offers tons of delicious vegan items in the bakery and prepared food sections, and tons of vegan products throughout the store. I especially love that they carry products to make tea leaf salad (my favorite!).
If you need any vitamin, herb, supplement, I'm pretty sure you can find it at Rainbow. One day, I'd like to plan to spend two hours at Rainbow and get lost in this section and the body care product section and see what new wonderful products I find. :D
Guest
Zombiecynthia
Points +5507
Great Experience, Plethora of Options - Edit
Ran an errand, hadn’t previously entered or known about this gem in the city; glad to have gone today for a business related matter. Overall, my experience with the staff was friendly, they were most helpful. Word to the wise, it also helps if you’re super duper nice yourself- and realize anyone can have an off day. Great selection of KOMBUCHA!!! Oh and the produce section looked awesome! I also found my favorites on aisle 4 (chips on chips!).
Read morePros: Vegan snacks, A TON of kombucha without being super overpriced , Friendly staff and worker owned
Cons: Not all vegan... but it’s got a great selection , Parking is small... may have to wait
Guest
AynaMeredova
Points +50
Horrible customer experience - Edit
I've come here weekly for the past 2 years and now left at a loss as I certainly don't want to spend another dime after being treated like a criminal for trying to use a coupon. Considering that it's a worker owned co-op and I go to great lengths to ensure only the best companies get any of my money, I just can't justify spending anymore after the awful experience. If the workers own this place and treat people the way I was treated today, I want no part in supporting them and their inhumane activities.
Read morePros: Great options in all departments.
Cons: Awful customer treatment. If you're a minority, ex
Guest
Pedropod
Points +174
LOVE this store!! - Edit
Went there today and just felt blown away by the range of wholesome, organic, packaged, food, convenience and personal items and kitchen supplies. Such a wonderful and big store and feels like a mix between Trader Joes and Whole Foods but more economical. Got a delicious udon noodle sushi roll for lunch and some kombucha. You must go here if you enjoy browsing wholesome foods.
Read moreGuest
alexandra_vegan
Points +1549
Vegetarian supermarket - Edit
This market is quite big! It's a vegetarian store, sadly not a vegan one and they put a lot of focus on specialty cheeses :(
Read moreThey have a great variety of vegan foods, including loads of tofu (including smoked, basil tofu and other assortments you can't get anywhere else), they have all cheeses by Myioko's, all versions of Tofurky salami and other vegan foods that are not so common and hard to find.
Some products are pricier than at major health food stores but not by much, maybe 10-20% depending on the product.
I love that they have a huge section of bulk products including spices, nuts and seeds, grains, nut butters.
They started allowing selling meat on the premises. Please let them know you're not supporting this !
Recently they started subletting what used to be their outdoor café to a place that sells meat
Seed The Commons ( an association working for the creation of small-scale, sustainable, animal-independent food systems) has been gathering a petition to ask them not to allow selling meat on the premises.
When delivering the petition the management refused to speak with them and called the police.
This is the statement by Seed The Commons posted on their Facebook page on 22/06/2016:
"Today, a few of us delivered the 786 signatures to our petition to Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, to ask them not to allow meat to be served on the premises of their store.
Some members of the Board of Directors came to the front desk, said that they would not discuss the issue with us, asked us to leave, and called the police.
We were simply there to deliver signatures and speak with them about an issue that they ignored for months. It was not a protest. We had no signs or banners, nobody raised their voice, nobody addressed the shoppers or got in the way of their movement.
All of us were Bay Area residents who have often given Rainbow our business and encouraged others to do the same. We brag about our local vegetarian coop when we leave the Bay Area. Many of us have friends who work at Rainbow and we considered it a very real part of our community.
The wholly excessive and dismissive reaction to our request for dialogue was shocking. To refuse to speak with us is bad enough, but to call the police within a few minutes of our arrival shows that Rainbow not only has no sense of proportion, they have also lost all connection to the local community.
Sadly, our boycott of Rainbow Grocery stands."
Updated from previous review on 2016-07-17
Pros: loads of vegan foods hard to find
Cons: sells dairy :(, allow selling meat on the premises, no parking
Guest
Curiosity Saves Cats
Points +89
Mind blowing! - Edit
What can I say, if I had created a grocery store in my mind - it would have been this one. Amazing.
Read moreSo much choice! I could find anything here. and the fact is employee owned and stuff, just makes it even better.
If I loved in San Fran, I would most likely spend half of my time in this store ;)
Guest
CBeng
Points +86
Restores my faith in humanity... - Edit
... somewhat :)
Read moreAll vegetarian, worker owned, huge selection especially bulk and supplements.
This place is the best!
Pro tip: park at OfficeMax next door
Pros: Quality, Variety
Cons: Parking
Guest
tina x
Points +63
Hands Down, the Best Market on the Planet - Edit
These folks have it going on! Thousands of vegan and vegetarian options, and the staff is informed and helpful. The bulk bins are astounding. The sheer variety of bulk rice, grains, and miso bins will blow your mind.
Read moreI cannot say enough good things about Rainbow!
Perhaps they should call it "double rainbow".
Pros: Helpful staff, fair prices, committed to right-on ideals
Guest
AshleyLorden
Points +1254
Love Rainbow. - Edit
One of my favorite stores ever, if you're veg or just health-conscious and need groceries in SF, you must go to Rainbow and experience its wonder.
Read moreAll-vegetarian (I believe with the exception of pet food; I know they do offer V-dog vegan dog food), with many specialty vegan items, they have the widest variety of organic, healthful ingredients. They also have a large vitamin and personal care/beauty section, along with small areas of books/gifts and home goods (mostly cooking implements). I especially love their candle and soap sections :)
They have a fantastic bulk section where you can find all the spices and dry goods your heart desires. They have lots of both dairy and non-dairy gourmet cheeses, along with an olive bar and fresh pasta selection. Their produce section is thoughtful -- organic and local as much as possible. I do find that while most of the store offers competitive prices, the produce is on the expensive side. They do have a sale section I love -- after the bulk bins on your left entering the store, there's a whole area for items on sale, which is fun to explore and try something new.
They also have a small garden area with some fresh plants and potted herbs seasonally available.
I've tried to describe it so you won't have to take my word for it -- Rainbow has everything you need or want, and you will probably want everything they have after a visit.
It's a truly hippie place, where most people remember to bring their reusable bags but no one's pretentious about it if you didn't. You might ask to use an extra cardboard box to carry your things if you don't want to buy paper bags.
They have a parking lot but at busy times there's a line to park, so it's best to try to come at an off-peak hour. And you will want to drive here, or plan on getting a friend to take you and your armfuls of amazing treasures home.
Updated from previous review on Sunday April 06, 2014
Pros: So many vegan things, Sale section, They have all the things you need
Cons: Might be overwhelming at first, Waiting to park
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3027
What an awesome store! - Edit
I didn't have quite as enough time to peruse this place as I would've liked, but I can attest to all the great reviews here - this is truly a wonderful store! The variety of their selection was mind-blowing. I was looking for a hand cream so that's where I spent most of my time. They had many smaller brands that I had never seen elsewhere. Testers were also plentiful, which is always appreciated. I was a bit pressed for time, so I could only walk quickly up and down the aisles scanning the shelves. Too much good stuff but too little time... Finally I arrived at the bread section and couldn't help but be drawn to all those amazing looking artisan loaves. I picked up a banana barley and a sprouted seeds. Both were organic, vegan, gluten-free, yeast-free, made with whole grains, and oh so tasty! I would definitely come back whenever I visit SF again!
Read morePros: fantastic selection
Guest
RecipesForCompassion
Points +22
The BEST Co-op in the Country! - Edit
I've lived in lots of places and this is the best co-op I've found, ever! It's rows and rows of every Vegan, healthy, yummy food products you can imagine. The bulk section is amazing, as is the produce -- fresh and diverse and seasonal. I've been shopping here for 10 years and never get sick of it. Rainbow gets an A+ from me, all the way!
Read morePros: They have everything you can imagine! , Great staff, Gorgeous and inspiring
Cons: Pricey, Only workers get a price break, Urban location, parking can be tricky
Guest
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