Key Food Supermarket

This Key Food looks nicer than the other Key Food by Ditmars Blvd. Personally I’ve found the people working there to be nice and helpful.
In terms of products and quality, they are about the same. The produce section is decent, but you could probably get better buys at the fruit stands across the street. However, they have a solid selection of staples.
While waiting on line, I noticed that the woman behind me got sushi. She says it was good, but I have never tried it. There are also some decent Japanese restaurants on 30^th Avenue.
Unlike the Keyfood by Ditmars, this one has no parking, and it is on an intersection that is mostly crowded.
If you live in the area, this is good place to shop.

This place used to be better but as of late, the deals are hardly worth it. Plus the butcher shop won’t give you thin sliced anything even if you beg them and finally, they used to have a lot of sugar free options but they reverted to just putting out absolute crap on the shelves. They definitely don’t belong in this neighborhood anymore

This store is just ok. It’s clean and the staff is friendly. They have a good deli but not a dedicated butcher or fish market. The quality of the poultry is low, depending on the brand you buy it’ll have a lot of gristle. The biggest drawback is that it’s not unusual to purchase a product only to find it has expired. I’ve had this happen with everything from jared olives (so old that the little button seal on top didn’t pop up) to produce, baked goods and most recently, chocolate candy. I know sometimes expiration dates are not set in stone but these items were stale, spoiled and inedible. I shop at this store a couple times a week because it’s close to my home but I’ve learned to check the dates on everything.

Their fruit is always rotten within two days and it’s always packed to the brim with smash holes. Looking for your eggs to be gently bagged separately? Best of luck to you. Don’t even get me started on the self checkout. Other than that, I guess everything else is fine if you’re a masochist.

This is your standard neighborhood grocery store, but it’s nothing special. They rarely have good specials/​sales, and when they do, people wait like vultures around the area while the poor workers restock as quickly as they can. I call this the Lurk-​and-​Swarm, because once the workers walk away, that’s what happens.
They have a very limited selection as well. You’re better off buying fruit across the street, and consider buying your dairy products elsewhere. I’ve had yogurt, milk, and cheeses go bad well before their expiration dates, and even within a day or two of buying them.
Tip: No lie, the Rite Aid across the street tends to have more specials & 2-​for1 deals in their snack/​food sections. Check there for your snack options first!

This is the best Key Food location in Queens. I trek here from Long Island City when I don’t want to venture into Manhattan.
First, this location is only 2 blocks from the 30^th ave train, and across the street from TWO fruit & veggie markets — so you can easily get everything you need at once. I can always find the name brand products I am looking for, and they have good weekly sales. Make sure you sign up for a shoppers club card in order to get the discounts. If you happen to misplace it (like I do) they will gladly give you another one.
Second, this is one of the only key foods with ROTISSERIE CHICKEN. And it’s always fresh.
Third, do you need to buy a large quantity of food? delivery is $ 4.95. That is cheaper than using your metro-​card.

Stopped in to buy some diet iced tea with a TM patient of mine. Solid selection.

Environment: ⁵⁄₅
Employees: ⁵⁄₅
Produce: ⁵⁄₅
Cost: ⁴⁄₅
Accessibility: ⁵⁄₅
Total: ²⁴⁄₂₅
Synopsis: I have been living in Astoria for almost 6 months and have frequented here for grocery shopping on many occasions. Let me tell you, I can almost find everything I need and it doesn’t require double-​checking to determine if the produce is expired. However, such a convenience does come at a higher price in comparison to the produce across the street or Trade Fair.
Environment: I felt every time I have been here, produce has been well stocked on a daily basis and the store very clean.
Employees: The sense of customer service here is at a higher level, in comparison to the other groceries stores in the area. In particular, the deli section. The cute guy behind the counter realized I was there on a weekly basis purchasing honey turkey. This time around, he gave me a few slices to consume and said, «Because you are consistent customer.» What gives him even more brownie points is the fact that I was starving. Yum, yum, yum!
Produce: Always well stocked, I never leave without getting what I want and need.
Cost: The prices are higher definitely, but not as much that will deter you from cooking your own meals at home.
Accessibility: Walking distance from my apartment and really close to the N/​Q, a block away. Easy breezy!

This supermarket is fairly priced with or without your key food card, I don’t think the card gives any sort of discounts whatsoever. My biggest complaint is the quality of the food in the deli, it’s just not consistent. Sometimes I will buy cold cuts or chicken cutlets that are definitely fresh, and other times the food seems so old it should have been thrown out a week prior. I only shop here because of the close proximity to my apartment.

You’d think with the boat loads of money this Key Foods location rakes in every minute, they’d be able to spruce up the place a little more. Overall very boring inside, super cramped, over priced on TON of things, and not enough food options.
Avoid at all costs during the rush hours. There is literally no room to walk around or at check out. Not nearly enough registers for such an influx of people. Those checkout lines then easily block the isles.
They’re open till midnight which is nice for a last minute beer or snack food run, but Rite Aid across the street is open 24 hours. The Rite aid is also cheaper for beer and snacks surprisingly, when it should be the other way around.
My biggest problem with this location is that the meat and seafood section is horrible. They always seem to be out of things and carry very little in stock. The seafood section for example, carries about 4 packets of salmon. Four. Even so, it doesn’t look all that fresh/​high in quality in the end. I understand the lack of space, but I’d rather see more seafood/​meat options then the gigantic refrigerated cheese section in the middle of it all.

When I was a kid, every other week my parents took me shopping to our local Key foods but they ended up closing down by the time I was in my teens. Last week, I was looking for a deal and I was feeling nostalgic so. I found this key food in a neighborhood I normally visit. I decided to try it out However; I must say I was disappointed.
Pros:
Before getting into the cons, I would like to say the pros first. The aisles were small but fully stocked and very clean. The deli and fruit aisles had fresh food. I even found the worker nice and helpful. Its location’s a block away from N/​Q line.
Cons:
The store is kind of small so, the selection was limited. I had trouble finding some items, even items that were on sale. The store gets crowded quickly so, it’s hard to move around in the small aisles. Then there’s the prices, anything not on sale is very expensive. I don’t mind paying for something if I need it and it it’s reasonably priced. But it seemed like everything not on sale was marked up. The Trade fair a block away is a lot cheaper.
In the end, I think it’s a good store but only if you buy items that on are sale. However, if you’re on a budget, try the Trade fair a block away.

Pros:
— Excellent location on 30^th Ave.
— Clean, organized and well stocked.
— Self checkout is convenient if you don’t want to waste time waiting on line.
— Open until midnight!!!
Cons:
— Horrible prices.

They’ve come a very long way… They are across the street from two very large fruit markets but their diverse produce section is very competitive and reasonably priced. For example, Hass avocados (for that perfect guac) were 3 for $ 5. At the fruit markets the same size Hass avocados were $ 1.99 each. Many other similar differences.
The shelves are always neatly stacked and full. There’s a new cheese and charcuterie section. I’m also very partial to their meat section because they offer USDA «choice» grade meats (Choice is one step below USDA «prime» — Marbling (intramuscular fat) is the intermingling or dispersion of fat within the lean. Graders evaluate the amount and distribution of marbling in the ribeye muscle at the cut surface after the carcass has been ribbed between the 12^th and 13^th ribs. Degree of marbling is the primary determination of quality grade. And so endeth the lesson on meat grades.)
I also love their long hours (open on some days until midnight. In a nutshell while Key Food on Newton and 33^rd Street in Astoria isn’t Whole Foods, it is one of the best independent market around.

This is my favorite grocery store in the area. It’s clean, spacious, and there’s actually employees around that you can ask for help. They have so many seafood options, and they also have meals already prepared for cheap. I bought the roast chicken tonight for just 3 dollars and it was pretty good.
I don’t understand why people make a long line for the check out machines when the line for the regular check out is so much shorter and probably faster. I always have an issue with their check out machines and always need assistance which slows down the process.
Anyway, for a quality grocery store that isn’t selling expired food (unlike other places nearby) come here!

Prices aren’t THAT bad, considering it’s NY, but some prices are definitely inflated.
I enjoy the variety of food they provide– they have quite an extensive ethnic food section, gluten free section, etc. Also, they have a ton of ice cream varieties, which I love.
The negative? Their workers really don’t seem to even understand their rewards system, and don’t try and promote helping out their customers. I’ve been over-​charged here twice, after only starting to come here for groceries one month ago. It’s annoying because I asked them specifically about their weekly deals and they try to convince me that they know best, but I still get overcharged… Definitely going to be needing to check everything prior to leaving the store on EVERY visit.

Key Food on 30^th Ave and Newtown seems to have a love hate relationship with Astoria. Some love the convenience and pricing. Others seem to detest the location as well as the name. Me, we have a friendly working relationship. I see you when I need you and your always there with what I need.
Produce
They seem to have everything I need and if I do not like what I see, I go across the street to United Brothers or Elliniki Agora. Everything seems fresh. Fruit and veggies firm with bright colors. No outdated product that I see. Fair pricing.
Beer
Large selection of international, domestic, craft and everyday beers. Probably a selection of 50 or so beers. Lots of specials. Installed a new frig to keep larger selection of beers cold. Yes I know their are other stores with larger selections, but I have no issues with the 15 or so beers I rotate in my purchases.
Meat, Chicken, Fish
Again bright, firm product here. Lots of choices and pricing is reasonable. I found the top round steaks at $ 2.99/lb. very cheap and quality is good. This is my go to steak for BBQ and very tender at medium cook temp. Bought some salmon steaks, outstanding. Bright pink, firm and was very happy after cooking. Ahi tuna looked very nice, but $ 14.99/lb (seems to be market price) a bit pricey.
Deli
Very standard. Nothing special, but again lots of deals. Roast beef always rare. Turkey selection 3 or 4 styles. Same with ham selection. Baked ham very good when it comes out fresh. Cheese selection also very standard. Nothing outrageous, just your basics.
As you can see this Key Food is a very standard market with fair pricing. I know it is my go to store when I need the basics. When I need bulk items I go to Costco. Would I like a Whole Foods near by, YES, but I also like reasonable pricing. Being a member of this community I have the advantage of some of the best specialty stores in Queens. I have go to places for olives, cheese, bread, meats, but Key Food offers the convenience of shopping near by with lots of fair pricing.

I go to Key Food for some of the basics (produce, dairy, occasionally the frozen section), and I shop their sales.
I regularly shop at all the markets and stores nearby (Trade Fair, Sai Organics, United Bros., Euro Mart, Rite Aid) and also hit up Trader Joe’s in the city to get all the various products our little household requires to get by. We are very health conscious, have a gluten allergy to consider, and like to keep ourselves on a budget, so we bounce around to find the best deals. This review is going to bounce around a lot, too. Bear with me — one of you will thank me for this later.
Organic Foods — Key Food is more expensive, I’ve found, and they have a meager selection of these healthy options. Lunchmeats (Applegate brand) are more expensive by about a dollar or two. I usually just go to TJs for veggies and fruits and other organics because their prices are better. Sai is my local go-​to though. They may be similarly priced to Key Food, but at least it’s going to a mom and pop place instead of a chain.
Non-​Organic Produce — I compare Key Food and United Bros. and go for the cheaper, fresher selection. Key Food is usually good for bananas, avocados, and such. United is better for herbs.
For Bob’s Red Mill products, Trade Fair has the best selection and prices.
The tea selection at Key Food is depressing. Try Trade Fair (Yogi Tea is cheaper here), Sai Organics, or somewhere else entirely for a quality selection of teas (no loose leaf though.)
Gluten Free breads — Key Food has them, but they are about a dollar or so more than everywhere else. I usually just buy them at TJs.
Gluten Free Cereals — The stores are all the same. If there happens to be a price difference, it’s mere cents. Key Foods selection is meh. Actually, they’re all meh.
Beer: #1 is Euro Mart, #2 is Key Food #3 is debatable.
For paper goods and other household items, we mostly wait for sales at Key Food or Rite Aid.
Key Food keeps moving their produce section around — and the changes have been for the better. The new layout makes more sense and has a better flow to it.
As for customer service — good luck getting a smile or hello out of any of the cashiers, but a few of the stock clerks are friendly fellas. They’ll help you out without hesitation, and give you a nice smile, too.
I really hope all this random info helps somebody new to the neighborhood out.

I have mixed feelings about this place. It is always clean, there is much more space here, they do have more expensive groceries, but you get the quality along with the price hike, and the circular usually has awesome deals to help you save a buck. The guys in the aisles tend to be very helpful when you need assistance finding items. The shelves are nearly always well-​stocked. And there is usually a nice variety of products from which to choose according to your needs and budget.
But the cashiers are beyond hit or miss! I have received assistance from a few good ones. But there is one guy who does nothing but overtly comment on female customers in a disgusting, degrading, offensive way (I’ve only ever seen him in the self-​checkout or on cart duty). It just turns my stomach to have to witness that when I’m giving your company business. Many of the younger ones are more interested in talking to each other than in doing their jobs. And one of the older ones, while helpful in one area, fought me over an obvious circular deal. I have had some who were very helpful, checked the shelves when things didn’t come up properly, and were quite nice and efficient. But I tend to dread check out when I come here.
It’s better than the market down the street, but I’d rather haul groceries from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods some days than have to deal with the checkout issues here.

I think the prices are too high, the produce is often inedible, and fruit is close to rotting.
The store seems clean upstairs, but it is not.
I had the most disgusting experience in this store the other night, and i think Key Food should be appalled at the state that it keeps the bathroom in for employees and guests alike to use.
View the picture i post. Tell me if you want to be shopping here?

I feel like with Key Food, it’s like a game of pick your poison.
Do I really want to step inside Trade Fair? Of course not.
Do I want to drive out of Astoria or take the train into Manhattan and go to a real grocery store? On most days, no
Do I really want to make separate trips to Euro Market, United Brothers Fruit & Produce Stand, Akropolis, etc. for each specific group of groceries? Unless I’ve pounded a few Red Bulls, no.
So — this leaves most of us native Astorians in the area with Key Food. The prices are criminal, but the store is clean and well organized. The beer selection is surprisingly good (Anything from Brazilian to Croatian beers are always stocked) and the employees are pretty helpful when looking for something, compared to Trade Fair, where hardly anyone speaks English.
When I can, I make it to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, but when I’m lazy and just want to walk a few blocks to pickup the essentials, you’ll find me in here.