I moved here from MD in 2019. The two main grocery stores in my area are H‑E‑B and Kroger. 95% of our shopping is at H‑E‑B. I especially like their meat dept. You can purchase some really nice steaks there. And I prefer their deli over Kroger.
Is you like to do the budget shopping thing, a combo of HEB and Kroger will get you the best prices on whatever.
As an IT professional, gotta say, HEB has their IT game on point: Android app is actually good, reports actual stock availability, even on produce! Has actual accurate in store maps with correct pin placement for finding items, etc.
I just go to Heb.com and add all my products to the cart and delete as I go. They show it higher on the site bc they’re assuming it’s curbside or delivery so there’s that up charge but you shopping in store will spend less than what it says bc of that.
I was speaking to a cashier and the decision was made to give the employees a raise instead of offering Apple Pay. Personally, I like the choice and will happily pull out my card.
That’s not the real story. The real story is customer tracking. Digital payments can more easily obfuscate the customer data.
There’s a reason you don’t have an HEB rewards card…. They track you by your CC.
I know it’s trendy to downvote this guy, but he’s 100% correct. HEB uses old fashioned data mining to track customer purchases, by CC numbers. They have NFC terminals installed, Walgreens uses the same ones and accepts NFC payments.
The fear is that Apple and Google Pay along with a bunch of banking apps use “virtual cards” that are not trackable for data mining. They’re ready to go, it’s just waiting on HEB. They’ve even piloted it in Mexico.
On the similar note. I actually prefer the Kroger app for integrations with third party apps
I use Samsung Foods (formerly Whisk) to make my shopping plans for the week. HEB doesn't link well with the app for pickup orders, but I can do it with Kroger.
Make my meal plan, output to a shopping list and export to Kroger. Replace any items as see fit, and pick it up through their ordering system 👌
Honestly heb is better than Publix, especially now with the stories that I’m reading about Publix becoming increasingly experience. However the pub sub sets it apart and i haven’t found an equivalent in Texas. That being said there’s so many food options in Houston and barbecue in Texas that I haven’t missed the pub sub.
Agreed, wish hebs had a place to order a sandwich like Publix. After living in Florida for a couple years and going back for a Disney trip, only thing i truly missed about Publix
I know that but it’s not the same. Worked at central market for 6 years. They have a Cuban sandwich that is awesome but not much of a fan on their other offerings
A sub from Publix is just different. The bread that Publix uses to make the sandwich makes all the difference and when combined with boars head meats or chicken tenders, there’s just something that sets it apart from other sandwiches. That being said, next time you’re in Florida, definitely give them a try
I like Publix as well. We used to have Safeway in Houston and they had a similar sandwich. You basically went to the deli and got fresh sliced meat, several bread choices, and 10ish toppings. It reminds me of what Mikes Subs is now.
OP Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the world. We have many large communities with their own markets and restaurants. It's just a matter of knowing where to look.
Check out Phoenicia! It’s a specialty middle eastern grocery store, and Trader Joe’s just for the experience for both!
But as a Texan the main will be HEB!
I moved to Dallas and often miss Phoenicia
I moved from Fla about 4 years ago. HEB is the store that I found is closest to Publics. Their store brand items are great! Once you learn a few Hispanic recipes you will love the meat markets everyone on here has listed. We get all our ingredients from those because the selection is great. I also use Aldi's a bit. I hate to tell you though...I have not found an equal to Publix sandwiches/subs or Publix fried chicken sadly. I still hope lol WELCOME!
Don't sleep on the cultural markets such as Phoenicia, or the South Asian, East Asian, Halal, or Latino markets that are everywhere. Some items such as spices are so much cheaper there.
Yeah some things are definitely more expensive. They're still good for veggies and international ingredients. Some locations also have really good seafood and meat, and some have amazing bakeries. It just depends. They're not a great one stop shop place though.
The first rule of La Michoacana marinated meats, is we don’t talk about La Michoacana marinated meats! You want hipsters pushing up your 2.99/lb pastor up to 10 bucks? Shhhhhhhhhh. And don’t talk about the bulk salsa either.
I split my time between Puerto Peñasco, SON MX and Houston. There's a chain of ice cream shops here called La Micoacana. I was so confused when I first got here 🤣
La Michoacána marinated meats seem to be more dye than actual marinade. The last time I tried cutting up some marinated fajitas, my fingers were red for at least two days.
Their natural marinade is good and seems free of artificial coloring.
Having said that, I've moved on to Costco's RYC "Arrachera" (that's what they call Fajitas in Mexico). It's very tender and has a better taste than any marinade Michoacána uses. It's also slightly cheaper per pound.
For bulk, just go buy your own marinade and go to Amigos in the Northside. They're open to the public and that's where Michoacána sources their meats.
I’m an immigrant (been in TX for 14 years) and I normally get my spices from my mom when she visits. I don’t know why I didn’t think about exploring the spices at cultural markets. Awesome suggestion; thanks!
For spices and specialty foods Phoenicia and Fiesta. For meats and specific exotic fruits latin foods Michoacana works great. The carrots there are big, they have plantains and nopales to eat.
You are in for a treat. HEB and Central Market are brilliant, the Super Kroger's are pricier but also really great stores. Trader Joe's, multiple Whole Foods and Fiesta round out the opportunity to find anything you are looking for regularly; there are several specialty grocery stores as well. It's an embarrassment of riches - I didn't realize until I had to move to another state how fortunate I was!
Others will have to chime in, but caninos had a pretty badass farmers market. Idk if it's still there. My only issue with it, is that the kids of the vendors can be persistent.
Lol and I have a soft spot for kids so I always ended up with way too many fucking papayas
Houston has the best grocery stores. I'm not just saying this...every time I travel, I remember other places aren't as lucky.
* HEB is a pretty large grocery store based in Texas. They have the best produce selection around, deli, bakery, butcher shop, fresh seafood, etc. They also have a higher end store called Central Market which is like Whole Foods but priced better. Depending on the store, especially out in the suburbs they might have a nice selection of cookware or even electronics.
* Kroger - It's a national chain though it has different names in different parts of the country. In Seattle they have QFC where your Kroger card still works. I think Ralph’s and Fred Meyer are also the same.
* Randall's - It's part of the Safeway family of stores and it's pretty much dying in Houston but if that's all you got in your area then that's all you got.
* Fiesta - large chain catering to the Latino community but every Houstonian has gone there.
* Phoenicia - They have just the two locations but the one on the west side is the main store that has the bigger selection and they cater to the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean community. They have the best fresh baked pita and Persian breads you will find. Plenty of really hard to find things too.
* Trader Joes - They don't need any introdcution
* Whole Foods - same as everywhere else
* Costco/Sam's - don't forget about them....
Plus there are a lot of smaller ethnic grocery stores around. You'll eat well here.
Fiesta is great. The jalapeño’s are huge. The carrots are comically large. My favorite candy is strawberry hi-chew and Fiesta is one of the few places that sells the individual flavor packs rather than the big mixed bags. Theo one I go to on Wayside also has a decent liquor store in the same building.
If you're inside the loop, go to Central Market. It's HEB's upscale offering, kind of like Whole Foods, only with much better pricing and selection. The only down side to Central Market is that they have a very limited selection of things like paper products and other non-edible, non-drinkable items, so you'll have to go elsewhere for those. [https://www.centralmarket.com/](https://www.centralmarket.com/)
One thing nobody's mentioned that I've seen is how good HEB's app is. It is just so efficient and organized, it tells you if coupons apply, and it can make a grocery run go so much faster if you do curbside pickup (which is free, btw). It also still codes as grocery for any credit cards you have with a points bonus.
I do agree with other folks that you should check out some of the international markets, though, too. They have some great items you can't get anywhere else.
I moved here from Florida many years ago. Still have family there. Gotta say nothing will ever beat the deli sandwiches from Publix and it’s one of the first spots I hit when I visit. That being said, H-E-B is your best bet on groceries. As other said there are also a lot of cultural supermarkets that will give you a variety Publix never had.
I prefer Kroger because it’s comparable in quality and slightly less expensive than HEB, but has a smaller meat and seafood selection. HEB is also more “popular” because they lean into the “Texas pride” thing, so they’re usually busier. The one by me is always a madhouse and it always takes forever to pick up one thing.
Ymmv. I order weekly groceries online and do pickup so it’s easy to build a side by side cart and compare. Kroger is always cheaper for me. I mostly buy raw ingredients though, not a lot of boxed and processed stuff.
Same with ours. Even with the curbside upcharge on stuff, HEB is almost always cheaper for our stores, the only exception for us so stuff like ground beef and chicken breasts.
Lol I just left Texas and HEB is probably the only thing I truly miss. They treat their employees well and their employees are fantastic at their jobs.
Don't be afraid to try the "off-brand" products. My LO is struggling because the name brand stuff we buy here doesn't cut it compared to the hill country fare or central market brands.
Also... There is a Serrano Ranch in the cold salad section - definitely a must!
H-E-B has their own tiers of store brands:
* Central Market - Premium products
* Organics - Organic products
* H-E-B - Middle of the road products, still a lot of times better than name-brand
* Mi Tienda - Specialty Latino products
* Hill Country Fare - Budget products, even still sometimes better or on-par with name brand, but doesn't compete with non-budget brands
When my wife came to Houston and first started shopping at H-E-B, she was pretty hesitant to buy store brand stuff until I got some stuff and showed her. She is a true believer now. Especially with the Creamy Creations stuff.
Mi Tienda is pretty good too. Its Mexican HEB haha. Their little food court is awesome and I always get chicken wings, potato wedges and and Aguas Frescas on the way out. Their Mi Tienda brand sauces are good too
We have great diverse grocery stores here in houston, everybody in the comments named awesome stores!
Yes Trader Joe's is fun and there are 2 in great locations. Heb is nice, can be pricey. Central market is HEBs rich cousin. Hong Kong market, find your Asian goods here. Thang hung market, small Vietnamese store in NW Houston, also a great store for Asian finds.
I have my main grocery stores, which are Kroger's and HEB.. then Trader Joe's is my side ho, I go to her every now and then. Central Market when I'm feeling boujee.
Safe travels to houston, reach out if you need any other advice!
I spend about 25% of my time in the Orlando area. I think you're going to be shocked by how much better the food selection is in Houston overall. If you are looking for a variety of actual groceries, HEB beats Publix in so many ways.
Publix has some better options for ready-made food, but I don't even think of that as the purpose of a grocery store. I admit that it's very nice to have a completely empty kitchen, drive into town, and "one stop shop" a Publix when I can get groceries and an immediate already made meal. But we like to cook most of out meals so it's just a convenience more than a need.
HEB is a bit chaotic.
Other Locals are Krogers and Randall’s and Whole Foods.
H MART and 99 Ranch market are awesome Asian groceries and I highly recommend going.
We personally prefer Aldi due to its smaller stores and ease of getting in and out quickly.
Trader Joe’s is a great place as well but there are not as many around town.
HEB is likely the choice that you and everyone will suggest and go to. I have a very nice Kroger near me that I shop at, I like their coupons and gas savings. There are some items I like going to HEB more though, like seafood, some meats, olive oils, etc.
Don't sleep on cultural markets, we have a great Latin scene here, and their meat markets tend to have killer deals on produce and BBQ meats.
For some reason every one like HEB. I agree their produce is good but I much prefer Kroger. I feel they have a better meat selection and prices are better. Also HEBs can get really crowded, I prefer my shopping without cart bumping. I do realize it may depend on what HEB and what Kroger, in my area it’s Kroger all the way.
Honestly heb gives me anxiety because it’s always packed. The aisles to grocery cart ratios make it difficult to pass through the aisles at mine . Kroger is much more peaceful and their prices are the same in my opinion
HEB - most common you’ll hear people shop at
Kroger - older people shop at these cause it’s all that was around, until HEB moved into the neighborhood
Whole Foods - organic/fancier foods
Central market - organic, very fancy, owned by HEB (I go here if for fresh fish)
The two main ones are HEB and Kroger. People like HEB more (prices, produce, pre-made stuff, local), but if you hate crowds, Kroger might be a better option.
There are other grocery stores around for different purposes:
- Central Market (HEB, but with fancier, different stuff)
- H-Mart (Asian groceries)
- Randalls (dying, expensive Kroger, nothing special, don't go here)
- Whole Foods (everyone knows this one)
- Sprouts (slightly cheaper Whole Foods)
- Trader Joe's (California chain, has its own brand stuff mostly)
Seriously better prices than HEB at times. Which just baffles me since they are the same company. The stores are more warehouse style, like Sam’s, so maybe with less overhead they can offer better prices.
I’m personally more of a Kroger guy than HEB. I like the fuel points and digital coupons even though my grocery bill might be a touch higher. Kroger also tends to be less crowded since more people prefer HEB. I think we can all agree that Randall’s isn’t worth the time or money.
HEB is gonna be as close to Publix as you can get, but it's deli and fried chicken is dog shit compared to Publix, you're not gonna pay $15 for a sliced watermelon though, 😐
Texas grocery stores have an entire aisle dedicated to salsa, not just a few choices like Publix.. Seriously - there isn’t a “Mexican aisle”, the whole damn store is a Tex Mex cornucopia. Unfortunately, our sunscreen selection is terrible here in Houston
HEB and Kroger are solid, pick the best store in your area based on where you live.
I grew up in a Florida beach town and much prefer the grocery stores here.
HEB is good on selection/variety but you really have to know prices of stuff before buying it there. some stuff Extremely overpriced/not good value. We mix our shopping between H-E-B and Costco. I know buying in bulk isn’t feasible for people with a small amount of storage space but if you freeze meat and vegetables, it can really keep down the cost of groceries in long-term. They have a lot of basically ready to eat meals too that come out to pretty cheap and high quality.
HEB used to be our best friend here but they drove everyone else out of business and have raised their prices so I’m not super happy with them, I hear Publix has done the same thing
Can't stress that enough, knowing the prices and the typical sale prices of the stuff YOU typically buy. I agree about HEB 100%, a lot of people seem to think that place is a be all for everything, but a good amount of stuff is actually pretty expensive there vs other stores.
I find most of my shopping is pretty split between Kroger and HEB, with a bit of other places like Walmart, Aldi, etc. Used to be a little heavier towards HEB, but in recent years, Kroger seems to have taken the lead for me as they simply just have had more and better sale prices and/or digital coupons on what I typically buy.
HEB is Publix on steroids. If you enjoyed Publix, you'll like HEB. The next biggest would be Kroger, there are some Randall's around, food lion, While Foods, Trader Joe's.
I save close to 20-30 dollars in Aldi every time I restock the fridge from fruit like grapes, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, apples, etc. I have kids that eat tons of fruit since I found out Aldi existed, I only go to heb for other purchases like meat since it’s a little more pricey in Aldi. The rest of the household stuff I get at either heb or Walmart.
A small HEB is like a big impressive grocery store for any other chain.
A big HEB is MASSIVE and loaded to the gills with most of everything you can think of, aside from very niche stuff.
A HUGE HEB is crazy big.
The HEB app is amazing.
(Also, HEB is sort of like a weirdly significant component of Texas disaster response.
And that's not a joke.
Like you might expect the Texas government to do that, but the Texas government is run by inept corrupt scumbags.
HEB, on the other hand, is run by weirdly benevolent and effective people who choose to do a TON to help communities after hurricanes and stuff - donating money, raising money, feeding thousands of people, distributing water, etc.
Seriously, it's kinda crazy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-E-B#Charitable\_activity)
Central Market is the fancy branch of HEB with higher end stuff.
Central Market offers an organic and international food selection, including a European-style bakery and extensive wine and beer selections
Joe V's Smart Shop is the smaller discount branch of HEB.
(It's HEB's version of Aldi.)
Mi Tienda is HEB's Latino branch. Tons of Latino specialty foods.
Kroger is our average basic normal grocery store.
Randall's is our slightly nicer basic normal grocery store.
Whole Foods is the fancier more organic stuff.
As far as I know, everything they sell is free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Walmarts all have a regular grocery store equivalent built in, as far as I know.
Aldi is the tiny basic super cheap grocery store with surprisingly solid quality (probably because it's German).
Trader Joe's sells discount storebrand versions of a lot of namebrand stuff (like a lot of times it's literally the same exact product made by the name brand, just with a different label slapped on it.)
and they also sell a bunch of weird inventive niche specialty curiosity items.
It's a tiny store with like 1/9th as much stuff as a regular grocery store.
99 Ranch Market is a big Asian grocery store with tons and tons of Asian specialty stuff.
H Mart/Super H Mart are Asian specialty grocery stores, a lot like 99 Ranch Market.
Phoenicia is an awesome international gourmet specialty store, absolutely LOADED with niche international foods.
Hong Kong Food Market is a huge Asian specialty grocery store.
Fiesta is a semi-Latino grocery store. It's like Houston's ORIGINAL big awesome grocery store.
It's like a regular big grocery store combined with a Latino grocery store, and then it expanded into more and more types of international stuff.
Then there's Sam's Club and Costco for bulk stuff for cheap (and Costco has bizarrely phenomenal store brand stuff).
And then there are like a gajillion OTHER little grocery stores and specialty food stores.....
You have options.
So so so so many options.
I use multi stores for prices and options, heb Kroger Walmart Aldi cost Co, we live in a part of town where it's easy to hit them up all together. Also like joev for some items. Whole foods and sprouts too. We have a lot of great options
HEB, Aldi, Walmart, Kroger, and there is a place in The Woodlands area called "World Market" which you should definitely check out, it's my favorite store it has furniture and other items too, but omg 99% of the foods and any other items are gorgeous, awesome, and really enjoyable. Also it's not really a grocery store, but there is also a store called "At Home" I highly recommend. We also have some Sam's Clubs and Costco's. Hope you have a safe and easy moving experience!
HEB is a step above Publix. My parents lived in FL and I’ve been there many times.
Central Market (owned by HEB) is amazing.
Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are here.
Ethnic Matkets:
Middle Eastern - Phoenicia
Hispanic - Fiesta
Asian - Ranch 99
Dude Publix sucks balls compared to Houston grocery chains. KROGER is usually where I would shop. HEB is nice but it's not all they make it out to be. But HEB's Central Market is pretty cool, expensive but cool.
Moved from out of state and all I heard about was heb. Was odd to hear about such loyalty to a grocery store out of all places. Been here a year and ya I get it 100%.
My local grocery store is Fiesta. Have been going there since I was a kid. Our local HEB closed years ago. The only other go to stores for me are El Rancho and Aldi
Here is a secret…..you can ask H‑E‑B to get whatever you want, even if they don’t normally carry that item. Just call their customer service number and ask for what you want. There may some things that they can’t get, but most things they will be able to get for you. They got me some special salad dressing recently. They are very accommodating.
Fiesta is another grocery store in town, they have very inexpensive produce and some of their stores have a fish market.
Randall’s is a great store, but they have expensive prices.
Welcome to Texas!
Moved from FL in 2015. IMO HEB is not better than Publix but it’s close. ‘Central Market’ is a better ambiance HEB (it’s the same company) so if you’re moving close to the only Central Market, I recommend that. HEB will have more options overall and cheaper priced meats (similar quality).
HEB for everything, HEB Plus for everything else you didn’t know you needed, and HEB Central Market if you’re feeling fancy. The wine selection is incredible.
HEB is the Publix of Texas. Not as overly friendly as Publix workers are, but good prices and good deals. Randall's is expensive, but when they have sales, they are great sales. Kroger is, well, Kroger. Central Market, only one I know of is on westheimer, but that's HEB version of Whole Foods. A little better proces than Whole Foods
I’m from Miami and moved to Houston a year ago. For some reason I never got into the HEB love. I rather shop Kroger, it reminds me more of Publix and I feel like it has better deals and prices. There’s also a lot of Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and other markets I hit up for certain things. If you like Asian food and live by the H mart then that’s a cool place to shop.
None of them have anything like the pub sub unfortunately 😭
HEB is it unless you are close to Whole Foods or Central Market. If you have a nice Kroger by you that's ok in a pinch.
Randall's is trash and seriously like 10-20% more expensive than everywhere else for some reason.
HEB is the best but it’s expensive, do a combo of Kroger and HEB for maximum savings. I tend to get my meats/dairy, fruits etc at HEB and other groceries at Kroger. Get the store card at Kroger for even more savings
H‑E‑B is kind of like a cheaper Publix. Fewer bogo deals, but great produce and store-brand items. Instead of the famous Publix subs or deli plates, they make a lot of fresh “heat and eat” options. (Your closest to a Publix deli plate will probably be Randall’s.)
I get most of my fresh items from H‑E‑B and then fill in on box items from Kroger. I usually get meat from local butchers but find quality meat at both H‑E‑B and Kroger.
Go to HEB, if you want elevated stuff and willing to spend a bit more money on certain items got to Central Market (same owners as HEB, higher end, way better than whole foods)
I lived in Florida for 4 months as well, grocery stores here are better and more variety. Enjoy
I moved here from FL 10 years ago, I can tell you that you'll miss Publix. That being said, there's a lot of choices here but HEB is the best. If you don't mind spending the money, check out central market.
Publix reminds me a lot of HEB, but the higher end Publix market? (It's been 10 years so I can't remember) Would be closer to a Whole foods, Trader Joe's or Central Market. Unfortunately for me, the closest grocery store is a HEB, so I predominantly go there. Second I usually go to Trader Joe's and/or Whole Foods. When we lived closer to an Aldi, we were frequently there. I NEVER go to Randalls, occasionally Walmart (never for meat or lunch meat). And Kroger when I was closer (over the years some older stores are depressing, but they're still good quality, good sales and good fresh ingredients like meat).
My fave places to go is H‑E‑B (I prefer their produce over Kroger’s) Aldi and Joe V’s bc it’s a lot cheaper. My parents live in that high rise downtown attached to the Phoenicia which is great. Can get huge bottles of spices and their fresh food is very good.
I moved here from MD in 2019. The two main grocery stores in my area are H‑E‑B and Kroger. 95% of our shopping is at H‑E‑B. I especially like their meat dept. You can purchase some really nice steaks there. And I prefer their deli over Kroger.
Okok cool so it sounds like HEB is the place to be
Is you like to do the budget shopping thing, a combo of HEB and Kroger will get you the best prices on whatever. As an IT professional, gotta say, HEB has their IT game on point: Android app is actually good, reports actual stock availability, even on produce! Has actual accurate in store maps with correct pin placement for finding items, etc.
You can also sort your grocery list in the order of the store you’re shopping at to make your shopping trip easier and more efficient
The only thing missing from the list is adding up the prices, so I can actually shop a budget. They've got all the info, just tell me!
I just go to Heb.com and add all my products to the cart and delete as I go. They show it higher on the site bc they’re assuming it’s curbside or delivery so there’s that up charge but you shopping in store will spend less than what it says bc of that.
This! I also wish you could easily add the items from your regular in store list over to a curbside list. Otherwise it’s great
The HEB app slaps
Except they have yet to get their card terminals to Apple Pay or other nfc payment.
I was speaking to a cashier and the decision was made to give the employees a raise instead of offering Apple Pay. Personally, I like the choice and will happily pull out my card.
If they had to make a decision on where to invest and they picked their employees salaries, I am super impressed.
That’s not the real story. The real story is customer tracking. Digital payments can more easily obfuscate the customer data. There’s a reason you don’t have an HEB rewards card…. They track you by your CC.
I know it’s trendy to downvote this guy, but he’s 100% correct. HEB uses old fashioned data mining to track customer purchases, by CC numbers. They have NFC terminals installed, Walgreens uses the same ones and accepts NFC payments. The fear is that Apple and Google Pay along with a bunch of banking apps use “virtual cards” that are not trackable for data mining. They’re ready to go, it’s just waiting on HEB. They’ve even piloted it in Mexico.
Lol this guy is right. I worked at H-E-B for 5 years and that was always the reason
Ok. Wonder how much of a raise they got? Are the terminals through another bank/processor or does Heb have their own bank of sorts?
On the similar note. I actually prefer the Kroger app for integrations with third party apps I use Samsung Foods (formerly Whisk) to make my shopping plans for the week. HEB doesn't link well with the app for pickup orders, but I can do it with Kroger. Make my meal plan, output to a shopping list and export to Kroger. Replace any items as see fit, and pick it up through their ordering system 👌
Oh, they have an API? I'll have to go looking ...
Kroger app has in store maps locating each item? Because HEB does, and it’s epic.
Honestly heb is better than Publix, especially now with the stories that I’m reading about Publix becoming increasingly experience. However the pub sub sets it apart and i haven’t found an equivalent in Texas. That being said there’s so many food options in Houston and barbecue in Texas that I haven’t missed the pub sub.
Agreed, wish hebs had a place to order a sandwich like Publix. After living in Florida for a couple years and going back for a Disney trip, only thing i truly missed about Publix
Not H-E-B, but H-E-B-owned is Central Market, which does have a place to order sandwiches. Never eaten them, so I cannot vouch.
I have eaten them, and they are quite delicious.
I know that but it’s not the same. Worked at central market for 6 years. They have a Cuban sandwich that is awesome but not much of a fan on their other offerings
Good to know.
A sub from Publix is just different. The bread that Publix uses to make the sandwich makes all the difference and when combined with boars head meats or chicken tenders, there’s just something that sets it apart from other sandwiches. That being said, next time you’re in Florida, definitely give them a try
Will definitely try to remember that. Thanks.
I like Publix as well. We used to have Safeway in Houston and they had a similar sandwich. You basically went to the deli and got fresh sliced meat, several bread choices, and 10ish toppings. It reminds me of what Mikes Subs is now. OP Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the world. We have many large communities with their own markets and restaurants. It's just a matter of knowing where to look.
I get excited anytime I’m going to Florida or SC so I can go to Publix. Yes, I’m simple, lol
Check out Phoenicia! It’s a specialty middle eastern grocery store, and Trader Joe’s just for the experience for both! But as a Texan the main will be HEB! I moved to Dallas and often miss Phoenicia
Take a trip to HEB Central Market. It’s pricey but you got to check it out.
Don’t go on during the weekend though, unless it’s much later in the day. It can get ridiculously busy.
HEB will find a similar place in your heart as Publix. Central market for sandwiches tho.
HEB is actually an out-of-state myth that we use to lure non-Texans inside the state borders to help satiate our thirst for human blood, FYI
I moved from Fla about 4 years ago. HEB is the store that I found is closest to Publics. Their store brand items are great! Once you learn a few Hispanic recipes you will love the meat markets everyone on here has listed. We get all our ingredients from those because the selection is great. I also use Aldi's a bit. I hate to tell you though...I have not found an equal to Publix sandwiches/subs or Publix fried chicken sadly. I still hope lol WELCOME!
I’m a Houston transplant and a frequent Florida visitor who’s delighted by Publix; HEB is my choice too.
Plus HEB has a far superior produce section when compared to Kroger
Don't sleep on the cultural markets such as Phoenicia, or the South Asian, East Asian, Halal, or Latino markets that are everywhere. Some items such as spices are so much cheaper there.
Fiesta also has a really large ethnic food section. You can get genuine imports and spices in bulk.
Fiesta is pricey for a lot of stuff though. Its good for fruits and veggies but usually overpriced for a lot of other foods.
Yeah some things are definitely more expensive. They're still good for veggies and international ingredients. Some locations also have really good seafood and meat, and some have amazing bakeries. It just depends. They're not a great one stop shop place though.
I like going to La Michoacana for their marinated meats.
The first rule of La Michoacana marinated meats, is we don’t talk about La Michoacana marinated meats! You want hipsters pushing up your 2.99/lb pastor up to 10 bucks? Shhhhhhhhhh. And don’t talk about the bulk salsa either.
Bro the fajitas are already 5 bucks a pound wtf is going on 😭😭
Hipsters are not going to appropriate all that heavily dyed meat.
😂 oops 🫡🤐
I split my time between Puerto Peñasco, SON MX and Houston. There's a chain of ice cream shops here called La Micoacana. I was so confused when I first got here 🤣
La Michoacána marinated meats seem to be more dye than actual marinade. The last time I tried cutting up some marinated fajitas, my fingers were red for at least two days. Their natural marinade is good and seems free of artificial coloring. Having said that, I've moved on to Costco's RYC "Arrachera" (that's what they call Fajitas in Mexico). It's very tender and has a better taste than any marinade Michoacána uses. It's also slightly cheaper per pound. For bulk, just go buy your own marinade and go to Amigos in the Northside. They're open to the public and that's where Michoacána sources their meats.
taking notes
Ssshhhhhhhhh. Let’s keep this one between me and you.
I’m an immigrant (been in TX for 14 years) and I normally get my spices from my mom when she visits. I don’t know why I didn’t think about exploring the spices at cultural markets. Awesome suggestion; thanks!
Phoenicia, Hong Kong on Bellaire, and Indian grocery stores has some really good spices and bulk items.
There are whole spice shops!
Airline is also awesome for bulk spices and herbs.
For spices and specialty foods Phoenicia and Fiesta. For meats and specific exotic fruits latin foods Michoacana works great. The carrots there are big, they have plantains and nopales to eat.
You are in for a treat. HEB and Central Market are brilliant, the Super Kroger's are pricier but also really great stores. Trader Joe's, multiple Whole Foods and Fiesta round out the opportunity to find anything you are looking for regularly; there are several specialty grocery stores as well. It's an embarrassment of riches - I didn't realize until I had to move to another state how fortunate I was!
Yes, Central Market is very cool. lots of different recipes. I used to work for an Australian company and they fell in love with Bacon 🥓 jam.
Best answer.
H Mart
For niche Asian products.
And great vegetables and fruits too!
Only place I find that doesn’t have sad, flavorless ginger
Asian stores in general seem to have prettier produce, but yeah I think H Mart is the champ.
Yeah, my suggestion was just as much produce as Asian products. They have everything.
And really good music on the intercom, no joke.
I love the raw duck and quail eggs, great produce and frozen options
I liked sprouts while I was there
I’ll check this out too thanks
Others will have to chime in, but caninos had a pretty badass farmers market. Idk if it's still there. My only issue with it, is that the kids of the vendors can be persistent. Lol and I have a soft spot for kids so I always ended up with way too many fucking papayas
Adding that to my farmers market list 📝
the greatness of randalls ended the cold war
Back when Randalls was great, now there a a dead husk of their former self. Safeway killed them.
This isn’t a joke. https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/When-Boris-Yeltsin-went-grocery-shopping-in-Clear-5759129.php
Houston has the best grocery stores. I'm not just saying this...every time I travel, I remember other places aren't as lucky. * HEB is a pretty large grocery store based in Texas. They have the best produce selection around, deli, bakery, butcher shop, fresh seafood, etc. They also have a higher end store called Central Market which is like Whole Foods but priced better. Depending on the store, especially out in the suburbs they might have a nice selection of cookware or even electronics. * Kroger - It's a national chain though it has different names in different parts of the country. In Seattle they have QFC where your Kroger card still works. I think Ralph’s and Fred Meyer are also the same. * Randall's - It's part of the Safeway family of stores and it's pretty much dying in Houston but if that's all you got in your area then that's all you got. * Fiesta - large chain catering to the Latino community but every Houstonian has gone there. * Phoenicia - They have just the two locations but the one on the west side is the main store that has the bigger selection and they cater to the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean community. They have the best fresh baked pita and Persian breads you will find. Plenty of really hard to find things too. * Trader Joes - They don't need any introdcution * Whole Foods - same as everywhere else * Costco/Sam's - don't forget about them.... Plus there are a lot of smaller ethnic grocery stores around. You'll eat well here.
Truth! Houston’s grocery stores are like palaces. I would add H-Mary and 99 Ranch for Asian-focused groceries.
I get my veggies from fiesta because it's so cheap! 10 limes for a dollar? Yes please
Fiesta is great. The jalapeño’s are huge. The carrots are comically large. My favorite candy is strawberry hi-chew and Fiesta is one of the few places that sells the individual flavor packs rather than the big mixed bags. Theo one I go to on Wayside also has a decent liquor store in the same building.
It used to be 20 limes for a dollar!!
The cost of limes are too damn high!
Mi Tienda has two locations and are Latino H-E-B stores.
If you're inside the loop, go to Central Market. It's HEB's upscale offering, kind of like Whole Foods, only with much better pricing and selection. The only down side to Central Market is that they have a very limited selection of things like paper products and other non-edible, non-drinkable items, so you'll have to go elsewhere for those. [https://www.centralmarket.com/](https://www.centralmarket.com/)
One thing nobody's mentioned that I've seen is how good HEB's app is. It is just so efficient and organized, it tells you if coupons apply, and it can make a grocery run go so much faster if you do curbside pickup (which is free, btw). It also still codes as grocery for any credit cards you have with a points bonus. I do agree with other folks that you should check out some of the international markets, though, too. They have some great items you can't get anywhere else.
I moved here from Florida many years ago. Still have family there. Gotta say nothing will ever beat the deli sandwiches from Publix and it’s one of the first spots I hit when I visit. That being said, H-E-B is your best bet on groceries. As other said there are also a lot of cultural supermarkets that will give you a variety Publix never had.
Seems like central market could be a good contender for amazing subs: https://www.reddit.com/r/houston/s/to9dHureiI
Yes I came across it when it was posted and been meaning to try it out. I’m gonna have to go this weekend!
I prefer Kroger because it’s comparable in quality and slightly less expensive than HEB, but has a smaller meat and seafood selection. HEB is also more “popular” because they lean into the “Texas pride” thing, so they’re usually busier. The one by me is always a madhouse and it always takes forever to pick up one thing.
The Krogers near me have very frustrating layouts. It takes me forever to even find something.
I use Kroger app and there's a map that tells you where everything is.
This is wild. Kroger is wayyyy more expensive than H‑E‑B in my experience
Ymmv. I order weekly groceries online and do pickup so it’s easy to build a side by side cart and compare. Kroger is always cheaper for me. I mostly buy raw ingredients though, not a lot of boxed and processed stuff.
This is my experience as well. I have heard people say that Kroger is more expensive but usually for me the price is comparable.
Same with ours. Even with the curbside upcharge on stuff, HEB is almost always cheaper for our stores, the only exception for us so stuff like ground beef and chicken breasts.
Just go to HEB. It’s the main one and the best one.
Definitely will everyone says they love it lol
Lol I just left Texas and HEB is probably the only thing I truly miss. They treat their employees well and their employees are fantastic at their jobs. Don't be afraid to try the "off-brand" products. My LO is struggling because the name brand stuff we buy here doesn't cut it compared to the hill country fare or central market brands. Also... There is a Serrano Ranch in the cold salad section - definitely a must!
H-E-B has their own tiers of store brands: * Central Market - Premium products * Organics - Organic products * H-E-B - Middle of the road products, still a lot of times better than name-brand * Mi Tienda - Specialty Latino products * Hill Country Fare - Budget products, even still sometimes better or on-par with name brand, but doesn't compete with non-budget brands When my wife came to Houston and first started shopping at H-E-B, she was pretty hesitant to buy store brand stuff until I got some stuff and showed her. She is a true believer now. Especially with the Creamy Creations stuff.
The feeling of missing HEB never leaves. I was somewhere they only had Safeway and King Soopers for a few years. It was awful.
HEB > Publix
The Pub subs though 🙌
Mi Tienda is pretty good too. Its Mexican HEB haha. Their little food court is awesome and I always get chicken wings, potato wedges and and Aguas Frescas on the way out. Their Mi Tienda brand sauces are good too
We have great diverse grocery stores here in houston, everybody in the comments named awesome stores! Yes Trader Joe's is fun and there are 2 in great locations. Heb is nice, can be pricey. Central market is HEBs rich cousin. Hong Kong market, find your Asian goods here. Thang hung market, small Vietnamese store in NW Houston, also a great store for Asian finds. I have my main grocery stores, which are Kroger's and HEB.. then Trader Joe's is my side ho, I go to her every now and then. Central Market when I'm feeling boujee. Safe travels to houston, reach out if you need any other advice!
I spend about 25% of my time in the Orlando area. I think you're going to be shocked by how much better the food selection is in Houston overall. If you are looking for a variety of actual groceries, HEB beats Publix in so many ways. Publix has some better options for ready-made food, but I don't even think of that as the purpose of a grocery store. I admit that it's very nice to have a completely empty kitchen, drive into town, and "one stop shop" a Publix when I can get groceries and an immediate already made meal. But we like to cook most of out meals so it's just a convenience more than a need.
HEB is a bit chaotic. Other Locals are Krogers and Randall’s and Whole Foods. H MART and 99 Ranch market are awesome Asian groceries and I highly recommend going. We personally prefer Aldi due to its smaller stores and ease of getting in and out quickly. Trader Joe’s is a great place as well but there are not as many around town.
HEB is likely the choice that you and everyone will suggest and go to. I have a very nice Kroger near me that I shop at, I like their coupons and gas savings. There are some items I like going to HEB more though, like seafood, some meats, olive oils, etc. Don't sleep on cultural markets, we have a great Latin scene here, and their meat markets tend to have killer deals on produce and BBQ meats.
For some reason every one like HEB. I agree their produce is good but I much prefer Kroger. I feel they have a better meat selection and prices are better. Also HEBs can get really crowded, I prefer my shopping without cart bumping. I do realize it may depend on what HEB and what Kroger, in my area it’s Kroger all the way.
I LOLed at your username.
Honestly heb gives me anxiety because it’s always packed. The aisles to grocery cart ratios make it difficult to pass through the aisles at mine . Kroger is much more peaceful and their prices are the same in my opinion
My H-E-B sucks and I'm trying to switch to Kroger but it's twice the distance from my house.
HEB - most common you’ll hear people shop at Kroger - older people shop at these cause it’s all that was around, until HEB moved into the neighborhood Whole Foods - organic/fancier foods Central market - organic, very fancy, owned by HEB (I go here if for fresh fish)
The two main ones are HEB and Kroger. People like HEB more (prices, produce, pre-made stuff, local), but if you hate crowds, Kroger might be a better option. There are other grocery stores around for different purposes: - Central Market (HEB, but with fancier, different stuff) - H-Mart (Asian groceries) - Randalls (dying, expensive Kroger, nothing special, don't go here) - Whole Foods (everyone knows this one) - Sprouts (slightly cheaper Whole Foods) - Trader Joe's (California chain, has its own brand stuff mostly)
Joe V is an HEB store and they have some pretty sweet prices as well.
And honestly have good prices on meat.
Seriously better prices than HEB at times. Which just baffles me since they are the same company. The stores are more warehouse style, like Sam’s, so maybe with less overhead they can offer better prices.
I’m personally more of a Kroger guy than HEB. I like the fuel points and digital coupons even though my grocery bill might be a touch higher. Kroger also tends to be less crowded since more people prefer HEB. I think we can all agree that Randall’s isn’t worth the time or money.
HEB is our big one we also have Fiesta
H‑E‑B and H-Mart all day baby
HEB is gonna be as close to Publix as you can get, but it's deli and fried chicken is dog shit compared to Publix, you're not gonna pay $15 for a sliced watermelon though, 😐
Texas grocery stores have an entire aisle dedicated to salsa, not just a few choices like Publix.. Seriously - there isn’t a “Mexican aisle”, the whole damn store is a Tex Mex cornucopia. Unfortunately, our sunscreen selection is terrible here in Houston HEB and Kroger are solid, pick the best store in your area based on where you live. I grew up in a Florida beach town and much prefer the grocery stores here.
H-E-B, Aldi, fiesta has good deals on Wednesday’s for fruit and veggies
HEB is good on selection/variety but you really have to know prices of stuff before buying it there. some stuff Extremely overpriced/not good value. We mix our shopping between H-E-B and Costco. I know buying in bulk isn’t feasible for people with a small amount of storage space but if you freeze meat and vegetables, it can really keep down the cost of groceries in long-term. They have a lot of basically ready to eat meals too that come out to pretty cheap and high quality. HEB used to be our best friend here but they drove everyone else out of business and have raised their prices so I’m not super happy with them, I hear Publix has done the same thing
Can't stress that enough, knowing the prices and the typical sale prices of the stuff YOU typically buy. I agree about HEB 100%, a lot of people seem to think that place is a be all for everything, but a good amount of stuff is actually pretty expensive there vs other stores. I find most of my shopping is pretty split between Kroger and HEB, with a bit of other places like Walmart, Aldi, etc. Used to be a little heavier towards HEB, but in recent years, Kroger seems to have taken the lead for me as they simply just have had more and better sale prices and/or digital coupons on what I typically buy.
HEB/Phoenicia are the main ones we use in my house. Kroger or Costco as backups, but really HEB is so good it's hard to justify going there anymore
Yes. From Daytona and now in Austin. H‑E‑B is like Publix in Texas.
As a longtime houstonian who visits orlando a few times a year for work(Also my gf is originally from there) I like Publix way better than HEB.
HEB/Central Market is my #1 goto. Followed by Kroger then Sam's and lastly Wally World.
Shop the sale ads at heb and Costco, you’ll be good.
HEB is Publix on steroids. If you enjoyed Publix, you'll like HEB. The next biggest would be Kroger, there are some Randall's around, food lion, While Foods, Trader Joe's.
HEB is the greatest grocery store in the entire USA #changemyview
Heb is like Publix but 1000x better. Except their deli sandwiches.
I save close to 20-30 dollars in Aldi every time I restock the fridge from fruit like grapes, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, apples, etc. I have kids that eat tons of fruit since I found out Aldi existed, I only go to heb for other purchases like meat since it’s a little more pricey in Aldi. The rest of the household stuff I get at either heb or Walmart.
A small HEB is like a big impressive grocery store for any other chain. A big HEB is MASSIVE and loaded to the gills with most of everything you can think of, aside from very niche stuff. A HUGE HEB is crazy big. The HEB app is amazing. (Also, HEB is sort of like a weirdly significant component of Texas disaster response. And that's not a joke. Like you might expect the Texas government to do that, but the Texas government is run by inept corrupt scumbags. HEB, on the other hand, is run by weirdly benevolent and effective people who choose to do a TON to help communities after hurricanes and stuff - donating money, raising money, feeding thousands of people, distributing water, etc. Seriously, it's kinda crazy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-E-B#Charitable\_activity) Central Market is the fancy branch of HEB with higher end stuff. Central Market offers an organic and international food selection, including a European-style bakery and extensive wine and beer selections Joe V's Smart Shop is the smaller discount branch of HEB. (It's HEB's version of Aldi.) Mi Tienda is HEB's Latino branch. Tons of Latino specialty foods. Kroger is our average basic normal grocery store. Randall's is our slightly nicer basic normal grocery store. Whole Foods is the fancier more organic stuff. As far as I know, everything they sell is free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Walmarts all have a regular grocery store equivalent built in, as far as I know. Aldi is the tiny basic super cheap grocery store with surprisingly solid quality (probably because it's German). Trader Joe's sells discount storebrand versions of a lot of namebrand stuff (like a lot of times it's literally the same exact product made by the name brand, just with a different label slapped on it.) and they also sell a bunch of weird inventive niche specialty curiosity items. It's a tiny store with like 1/9th as much stuff as a regular grocery store. 99 Ranch Market is a big Asian grocery store with tons and tons of Asian specialty stuff. H Mart/Super H Mart are Asian specialty grocery stores, a lot like 99 Ranch Market. Phoenicia is an awesome international gourmet specialty store, absolutely LOADED with niche international foods. Hong Kong Food Market is a huge Asian specialty grocery store. Fiesta is a semi-Latino grocery store. It's like Houston's ORIGINAL big awesome grocery store. It's like a regular big grocery store combined with a Latino grocery store, and then it expanded into more and more types of international stuff. Then there's Sam's Club and Costco for bulk stuff for cheap (and Costco has bizarrely phenomenal store brand stuff). And then there are like a gajillion OTHER little grocery stores and specialty food stores..... You have options. So so so so many options.
We have Aldi here. Their prices are lower than HEB or Krogers on meats and chickens if there are no sales going on.
Never seen a Publix. HEB, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s are the grocery stores around me here in Montrose (neartown Houston).
H‑E‑B is probably some of the better quality, we have Aldi, Randall’s, Kroger, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s.
HEB or the spanish HEB are great, personally, i prefer kroger. definitely skip randall’s tho, place is over priced
I moved to The Woodlands from Chicago, and I am obsessed with H-E-B, and price-wise I think it’s better than Kroger
What part of town are you moving into?
When we've visited Florida, I found Publix to be more expensive than HEB. It was more like a Randall's here.
I use multi stores for prices and options, heb Kroger Walmart Aldi cost Co, we live in a part of town where it's easy to hit them up all together. Also like joev for some items. Whole foods and sprouts too. We have a lot of great options
HEB will BE your holy grail. My friend who moved back to Cali misses HEB. Usually store brand stuff is trash, but HEB products are great!
HEB, Aldi, Walmart, Kroger, and there is a place in The Woodlands area called "World Market" which you should definitely check out, it's my favorite store it has furniture and other items too, but omg 99% of the foods and any other items are gorgeous, awesome, and really enjoyable. Also it's not really a grocery store, but there is also a store called "At Home" I highly recommend. We also have some Sam's Clubs and Costco's. Hope you have a safe and easy moving experience!
HEB is love. HEB is life.
HEB is a step above Publix. My parents lived in FL and I’ve been there many times. Central Market (owned by HEB) is amazing. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are here. Ethnic Matkets: Middle Eastern - Phoenicia Hispanic - Fiesta Asian - Ranch 99
I try to buy as much as I can at the farmers market. I’m a big fan of Central Market (owned by HEB) and Trader Joe’s.
HEB is all yours u need to know. They're great. Have wonderful variety and are very generous in their community involvement.
Houston is the largest grocery store market in the country. Go to central market.
Dude Publix sucks balls compared to Houston grocery chains. KROGER is usually where I would shop. HEB is nice but it's not all they make it out to be. But HEB's Central Market is pretty cool, expensive but cool.
Agree 100%.
Moved from out of state and all I heard about was heb. Was odd to hear about such loyalty to a grocery store out of all places. Been here a year and ya I get it 100%.
Being from where Louisiana, I was obsessed with rouses. Not anymore HEB for life 🤠
My local grocery store is Fiesta. Have been going there since I was a kid. Our local HEB closed years ago. The only other go to stores for me are El Rancho and Aldi
Krogers, HEB, Randall's, Aldi - these are the 4 I see in my area. HEB feels like the superior experience.
Here is a secret…..you can ask H‑E‑B to get whatever you want, even if they don’t normally carry that item. Just call their customer service number and ask for what you want. There may some things that they can’t get, but most things they will be able to get for you. They got me some special salad dressing recently. They are very accommodating. Fiesta is another grocery store in town, they have very inexpensive produce and some of their stores have a fish market. Randall’s is a great store, but they have expensive prices. Welcome to Texas!
HEB is definitely the closest to Publix. but Publix has those subs I miss.
Sing On Grocery has the best boudain in town. The spicy will light you up!
HEB for sure and don’t sleep on their HEB store brand foods. Kroger’s is good too and their Nolan Ryan beef is top notched.
Moved from FL in 2015. IMO HEB is not better than Publix but it’s close. ‘Central Market’ is a better ambiance HEB (it’s the same company) so if you’re moving close to the only Central Market, I recommend that. HEB will have more options overall and cheaper priced meats (similar quality).
HEB for everything, HEB Plus for everything else you didn’t know you needed, and HEB Central Market if you’re feeling fancy. The wine selection is incredible.
There are so many grocery store options! We love to eat
HEB is the Publix of Texas. Not as overly friendly as Publix workers are, but good prices and good deals. Randall's is expensive, but when they have sales, they are great sales. Kroger is, well, Kroger. Central Market, only one I know of is on westheimer, but that's HEB version of Whole Foods. A little better proces than Whole Foods
Ranked: HEB (regional chain like Publix or Wegmans) Kroger Randall's Unranked: local cultural shops, butcher shops, HMart, Hong Kong Market, etc
I’m from Miami and moved to Houston a year ago. For some reason I never got into the HEB love. I rather shop Kroger, it reminds me more of Publix and I feel like it has better deals and prices. There’s also a lot of Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and other markets I hit up for certain things. If you like Asian food and live by the H mart then that’s a cool place to shop. None of them have anything like the pub sub unfortunately 😭
I've been here since 2015 from Fort Lauderdale. HEB is great but I do miss Publix Subs.
H-E-B caters to its area. You may like some in other areas than your own.
HEB is it unless you are close to Whole Foods or Central Market. If you have a nice Kroger by you that's ok in a pinch. Randall's is trash and seriously like 10-20% more expensive than everywhere else for some reason.
Heb is the Goat. Nothing else even comes close. You will learn when you get here, fresh local sourced food.
HEB is the go to in Texas. After going a couple times, you might want to try curbside because the parking lots are ridiculous lol
Also try HEB Mi Tienda markets for a Latin/Hispanic focused grocery store
HEB is the best but it’s expensive, do a combo of Kroger and HEB for maximum savings. I tend to get my meats/dairy, fruits etc at HEB and other groceries at Kroger. Get the store card at Kroger for even more savings
H‑E‑B is kind of like a cheaper Publix. Fewer bogo deals, but great produce and store-brand items. Instead of the famous Publix subs or deli plates, they make a lot of fresh “heat and eat” options. (Your closest to a Publix deli plate will probably be Randall’s.) I get most of my fresh items from H‑E‑B and then fill in on box items from Kroger. I usually get meat from local butchers but find quality meat at both H‑E‑B and Kroger.
Go to HEB, if you want elevated stuff and willing to spend a bit more money on certain items got to Central Market (same owners as HEB, higher end, way better than whole foods) I lived in Florida for 4 months as well, grocery stores here are better and more variety. Enjoy
H-E-B is GOAT
I’m from FL. HEB >>>>> Publix.
I moved here from FL 10 years ago, I can tell you that you'll miss Publix. That being said, there's a lot of choices here but HEB is the best. If you don't mind spending the money, check out central market.
HEB is god
Publix reminds me a lot of HEB, but the higher end Publix market? (It's been 10 years so I can't remember) Would be closer to a Whole foods, Trader Joe's or Central Market. Unfortunately for me, the closest grocery store is a HEB, so I predominantly go there. Second I usually go to Trader Joe's and/or Whole Foods. When we lived closer to an Aldi, we were frequently there. I NEVER go to Randalls, occasionally Walmart (never for meat or lunch meat). And Kroger when I was closer (over the years some older stores are depressing, but they're still good quality, good sales and good fresh ingredients like meat).
My fave places to go is H‑E‑B (I prefer their produce over Kroger’s) Aldi and Joe V’s bc it’s a lot cheaper. My parents live in that high rise downtown attached to the Phoenicia which is great. Can get huge bottles of spices and their fresh food is very good.
Yeah its HEB or bust in texas. there are other options but they all suck in comparison