Smart & Final

Bigger than a few other S&F’s I’ve been to. Pretty well-​organized, huge variety of household stuff; cleaners, beverages, produce, snacks. It’s a bare-​bones kind of place, but definitely has got a lot of goods. Have even found some decent wine are reasonable prices.
Massive parking lot, with other stores and services nearby. It’s pretty straightforward, and provides a good service. There’s not a lot of staff walking around — unless they’re restocking. Still, I’ve usually been able to get in, find a bunch of needed items, and get out pretty quickly. I’m a fan.

Five stars because this WLA location has some items that I love, that most of them (including DTLA by Staples Center/​South Park) doesn’t have! I think that is the only reason I’m giving it a good rating.
Other than that, parking lot is congested — like one other reviewer stated, all the cars parked there are not all the shoppers. Another observation — panhandling exists here, but the few times I’ve gone, they were just there hanging out and not being pushy. One man in particular one evening asked us if we get him a candy bar. I got him 4 candy bars and when we went outside to give it to him, sadly he was gone :(There’s another gentleman there that sits in front of entrance painting, so that was cool, he was actually trying to earn tips, and sharing his talent.
I’m not going to mention what they sell that I love buying and usually have a hard time finding this item — freshest at that and at a bargain price that appears to be the regular price. (if I say it, word will get out and it bought out). It’s WLA, so I’m sure the demand for this item is popular — Yay for me!
Another one — Don’t forget to bring your own bags, I kept forgetting that almost all the stores out there in WLA charge for bags and I just have way too many, from purchasing in DTLA.

Reasonable prices! Good discounts! The staff is constantly stocking the shelves! However be prepared to look for particular items you want! Also be ready to bag your purchases your self! It also seems some homeless people hangout and ask for money.

Big fan. Great prices.

Come here at lunch sometimes to buy a soup or salad. Smart and Final you need to be Smart and add more cashiers at around 12pm. It is ridiculously packed at that time

Good grocery place to grab some things if ur in a rush. Good customer service.

Awesome location was located steps from my office.
I used to stock up on office bulk goodies to keep at my desk like grape soda, candy in bulk, protein bars, corn tortillas and more.
My boss used to send me here on occasion to buy some bulk produce.
They also stopped requiring a shoppers card for discount — now it’s automatic.

I shop here for three items that are the best price: 1) Silk Soy 2half gal. pack ($ 5.69; $ 5.49 on sale), 2) 750ml Torani flavored syrup ($ 3.99 ea. when 6 are purchased) and 3) a hard-​to-​find, 10 pack of «Flame Grilled» Gardenburger ($ 12.95). I buy produce and orange juice when on sale but the first 3 items are dependable staples! Staff is overworked but almost always pleasant.

I did a big annual shopping trip here today for mostly cleaning supplies.
I love this place as the prices are good and its so much easier than going to Costco in terms of parking and how long it takes to get in and out.
They had everything on my list. The store was clean, organized and staff was helpful and friendly.
This location has been remodeled so its not as dumpy as it use to be.

Produce is decent, they even have affordable organics. Greens are def cheaper hear than Ralphs. I guess I am trying to stay away from processed foods so I don’t buy a whole lot of other stuff from here but if you are in a party pinch it’s a good place to pick up beer, chips, paper plates/​cups and of the like. Overall, is a nice option when you have odds and ends to pick up or if you forgot a staple on your regular shopping trip.

Pretty decent Discount bulk retailer right in the middle of West LA. Park behind location in the private lot. Parking is a bit tight because many people park here that do not shop at the location. They should police up their parking a bit so customers can park here and not wait for the few spots remaining after people park in their lot and walk down the street. Selection and prices decent. Relatively clean and staff helpful and polite.

As a person who just moved to LA, I get why people might call this place ghetto. I do. This is not a place to come for an «experience.» They do not have only organic food or cage free animals where the animals were raised by Native Americans, trained to do circus tricks, and babied until they were ripe enough to slaughter and sacrifice to the Gods for your palate. The aisles are not spacious enough for you to drive your BMW down, and you definitely will never spot a celebrity here unless it’s the apocalypse and this is the last remaining grocery store on earth.
And that is exactly why I come here. This is a no frills grocery store with great prices and a pretty wide selection. If you’re hungry, you need food, and you don’t feel like paying an arm and leg for just a couple items, then I highly recommend you come here. It’s cheaper than a lot of other places in town, and almost everything comes in BULK. Think Costco or Sam’s Club, but without the membership cost.
It’s not bad. My only real complaint is the meat selection is lacking, and the people who work and shop here are not very friendly. I think my cashier MIGHT have smiled tonight if she had had more teeth than a Jack-​O-​Lantern. Maybe. I’m not too sure, though.
But that’s okay. I don’t come to the grocery store to meet and become BFFs with people so we can get matching necklaces and keychains. I’m good, thanks.
Oh and bring your own bags. They give you only one tiny bag. Tiny is an understatement. You will barely be able to fit a bag of oranges in that fucker.

The wife and I have become big fans of Smart and FInal. You can’t not love this place upon entering and seeing an extremely nice produce section… with excellent prices! The store is stocked with everything and the prices are very competitive!

I used to live 2 blocks away from here and would go often although I never really liked the layout or the tired feel of the store.
Since I moved further, I had stopped going here over the past few years, but the other day I dropped in for shopping as I was in the area, and wow! They’ve remodeled it and its nicer than a lot of Ralphs or Vons locations!
Very nicely redone, great selection, very organized. I wish I was in the area more often, as this is one of the best S&F locations I’ve seen.
Only downside is the cashiers… they are so slow and unhelpful. But at least they have enough of them so the line wasnt too bad.

After trying to achieve home-​made popcorn nirvana with my whirley-​pop, and exhaustive research, I discovered that the two key main ingredients to movie theater popcorn at home are Falavcol and Coconut Oil with beta carotene. Smart & Final seems to be the only local store that carries these dirt-​cheap, but key ingredients, so that’s what lead me in the store. That also lead to the realization that I can buy huge-​ass quantities of stuff at cheaper prices without having to find a wholesale membership store.
Great find, can’t believe I passed this place over a hundred times and never stopped in until I realized they were the only store stocking what I needed for perfect popcorn. I’ll be back.

This store is so much more convenient and has a quicker in n’ out process than Costco but that’s where the comparison ends. They have what they have and if you like it — it’s great! I have my certain things that I buy there on a regular basis and the entire transaction is fairly quick.
That being said, there are 2 things that I must say.
1. Whomever designed this particular store failed in «grocery store layout 101» It is so a** backwards it’s not even funny. You now enter at the produce and end where the bulky items (cases of water etc) are, which should be at the bottom of your cart — not the tomatoes! And the doors to get in n’ out of the store are back over on the produce side. This absolutely makes no sense at all. Zero!
2. The checkers are like non-​speaking zombies. I guess I can’t lump them ALL in that zombie pile but more are than are not. No eye contact, no hello, no thank you and no good-​bye. I’m not asking for a best friend here but a simple common pleasantry among human beings is not too much to expect. AND one of them being a business that if not for my money (and the money of others, obviously) you would not be in business. I think the girl I had check me out last night was late for her blood transfusion. She was breathing. My groceries did move across the scanner but a pulse — I dunno… She’s the one that tipped the scales into me writing this review.
3 stars because the rest is good enough to keep coming back. Just not quite as often.
Oh PS Purchasing in bulk is not always the cheapest. Think before that 40 gallon tub of mayo goes into your basket. Do you need 40 gallons of mayo in this or any other lifetime =)

There are a lot of universal dad-​sayings. When you grow up, you realize that EVERYONE’s dad used to say «pull my finger,» «if you’re bored, I’ll give you something to do,» and all the rest. It’s like they get a list of phrases and jokes when they take new babies home from the hospital. That being said, did anyone else’s dad always call this store «Fart & Smile,» or was mine just a weirdo?
I went here over the weekend to find it beautifully remodeled. It seemed to be in a perpetual state of renovation for a while, so it was a nice surprise to find everything completed and looking great. Everything is well-​organized, clean, and easy to find. The checkouts have moved next to the side door so that you can now enter through the main doors.
I love this store for parties, for their cheap entertaining supplies and restaurant supplies. Free parking, too!

I love their selection. All of it.
After their short renovation, I walk in and they now have a produce section. Yey!
I was looking through their candy selection and chocolate and other snacks for my toddler’s upcoming birthday party (candy buffet!) and it’s pretty darned good. I still have to visit another store for other specialty candies but no biggie.
They also have restaurant equipment and storage containers which Costco does not have.
They open early and close late. Unlike Costco as well.
And let’s not forget that you don’t have to buy a pallet full of stuff to get a good price here.

Costco is off limits for a recovering, compulsive shopper like moi. So, Smart & Final is my go-​to «smaller warehouse store». Yup, smaller quantities at can’t be beat savings, especially on store brand disposables is my ticket.
Recently, my fave, non-​alcoholic beverage, Chrystal Light Lemonade has been MIA. «Out of Stock» posted at the location I usually frequent. Withdrawal looming and time on my hands I hit this store yesterday in hopes of stocking up on a package or two that makes 32 quarts for under $ 8 at only 5 calories per serving. No luck; empty shelves.
Associate, Anthony who sensed my beverage aisle confusion, suggested I talk with store manager, Juan to save another trip to yet another store.
Juan confirmed my fears that this item is permanently discontinued to be repackaged with fewer servings per package and in stock again soon. Boo! Also asked him if they carried Bushmill’s (giftie for an Irish friend’s B-​day on the 17^th; cool huh?). Nope.
Although I didn’t get the items I wanted, I got the service I needed. Thanks Anthony and Juan!
P. S. Best, ample, S&F parking lot in LA!

When I just don’t have the energy to contend with the Costco crowd or if I need bigger packages of some stuff, but not the GINORMOUS size, Smart & Final is where I go!
Their meat prices and selections of cuts and sizes are decent (Turkey Store ground turkey, chicken parts or wholes, Turkey Store sausages, different cuts of beef, marinated beef cuts, ground beef, whole racks of ribs, pork tenderloins, frozen stuff too) and they have frozen TGI Fridays snacky things like artichoke dip and other brand boneless hot wings and all those yummy bad-​for-​you things.
The produce area lacks a variety of organic stuff, but they do have lemons, limes, apples, bananas, potatoes, onions, green onions, carrots, zucchini, organic baby field greens, tomatillos, tomatoes, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, etc. — the basics.
It’s a great place to get cases of water, drinks, etc., a ton of condiments and spices, a big package of TP and other paper goods, and big blocks or bagged shredded cheese, and though I don’t know what the prices are like in comparison to other places — I see lots of colorful bottles of wine and liquor.
Plus I also find fun stuff, like a big red Chinese takeout-​box-​style container of chocolate covered fortune cookies over Valentine’s Day, or Peeps during Easter, or varieties of Brie and duck and pork pâté with truffles!
This location is NEVER packed, so when I’m feeling frazzled it makes me happy when I can in and out of here and not have to go to any other store!
Oh, and the people who work here are very friendly and helpful — AND parking is a breeze! Now if they would only widen their selection of organic produce and start carrying my favorite Blue Diamond unsweetened almond milk!!!