The first thing you will notice is that supermarkets are open late, open on the weekends and some are even 24-hour stores! They all have large parking lots and there is always plenty of parking. Some even offer parking for pregnant women near the entry of the store. Grocery shopping is very easy and convenient in Houston. Bags are provided free of charge and packed by helpers at the counter. There is a large trend towards using reusable cotton bags and you can bring your own or purchase them at the store. You can also ask for assistance with taking the bags to your vehicle; in that case, do not tip the employee as they are not allowed to accept gratuities.
Each of the supermarkets listed below sell a wide variety of foods, fresh and packaged. Another perk of supermarkets in Houston, each of them offer an international foods section.
Whole Foods – http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com (8 am – 9 pm, daily)
Whole Foods stores specialize in fresh, organic and unique foods and are very popular with expatriates as they have a large international foods selection, such as Quark, many herbs and spices, all sorts of grains, breads and cheeses. Whole Foods also offers a very large selection of gluten-free groceries, vitamins and health care items, natural pet supplies and non-chemical household cleaners and other household items. A few markets are located inside the Loop with a couple more on the west side. Whole Foods Market’s prices are a little higher than average supermarket prices.
H-E-B/Central Market – http://www.heb.com (different hours, depending on location)
H-E-B and H-E-B Central Market stores are very popular for their fresh fruit and vegetables and large assortment. HEB Central Market stores are specialized in unique and organic foods. These stores also carry seasonal items such as school supplies and household items such as bulbs, coolers, photo frames, as well as pet supplies, etc. They have a bakery and a meat/seafood department and a flower shop inside. Many new H-E-B stores have been built around Houston with a very cozy atmosphere and expanded their bakery and meat/seafood department to also offer exotic and foreign foods, some include cooking counters and offer cooking classes. Prices are competitive with Kroger, Randalls and Walmart and you can sign up for a card to collect points for discounts. To sign up for a customer card, fill out a simple form at the customer service desk.. There are many locations in Houston and some HEB stores are open 24/7 but not the Central Market stores.
Kroger – http://www.kroger.com (different hours, depending on location)
Kroger stores have a large selection of international foods and in newer stores also have a great selection of organic and natural foods. These stores also carry seasonal items such as school supplies and household items such as bulbs, coolers, photo frames, as well as pet supplies, etc. Many have a bakery, a meat/seafood department and a flower shop inside. Prices are competitive with HEB, Randalls and Walmart but a valued customer card is required to take advantage of discounts. To sign up for a customer card, fill out a simple form at the customer service desk. There are many locations in Houston and some stores are open 24/7.
Randalls – http://www.randalls.com (different hours, depending on location)
Randalls is an average supermarket with a small selection of organic and natural foods. Some Randalls stores have a sandwich store inside with excellent sandwiches. These stores also carry seasonal items such as school supplies and household items such as bulbs, coolers, photo frames, as well as pet supplies, etc. Many have a bakery, a meat/seafood department and a flower shop inside. Prices are competitive with Kroger, Randalls and Walmart but a valued customer card is required to take advantage of discounts. To sign up for a customer card, fill out a simple form at the customer service desk. There are many locations in Houston and some stores are open 24/7.
Walmart Supercenter – http://www.walmart.com (different hours, depending on location)
Make sure to enter a Supercenter as regular Walmarts are simply a department type store. Besides groceries and household items, Walmart Supercenters carry seasonal items, pet supplies, clothes, camping supplies, automotive supplies, smaller furniture, and more. Prices are very competitive with Kroger, Randalls and HEB. There are many locations in Houston and some stores are open 24/7.
Costco – http://www.costco.com (Hours are M-F 11 am – 8:30 pm, Sat 9:30 am – 6 pm, Sun 10 am – 6 pm)
Costco Wholesale is a large supermarket warehouse with larger size packaging but lower prices than the other supermarket stores. Costco has a very competitive assortment of organic, fresh fruits and vegetables. Besides groceries, Costco carries pet supplies, seasonal items, clothes, smaller furniture, etc. It requires a membership card for shopping which must be paid annually for renewal. There are three locations in Houston, two in west Houston with one in the Galleria area and the third in NW Houston near Willowbrook mall.
Fiesta- http://www.fiestamart.com (different hours, depending on location)
Fiesta specializes in a large selection of Hispanic and Mexican foods and is cost competitive with the other major supermarket stores.
Convenience Stores
There is also a large selection of convenience stores located throughout the city at literally every block or within a range of a few miles; many are located inside gas stations. Commonly, convenience stores carry a small selection of groceries, automotive supplies, pet supplies, personal care items, and household items such as laundry detergent, and so on. The prices are higher than the prices of the supermarket chains. Many are open 24/7 but it depends on location; major intersections in highly popular areas have the highest number of 24/7 stores. Some of these convenience stores are:
- Valero
- Texaco
- Shell
- Chevron
- Also look for diverse independent stores, often referred to as ‘mom and pop’ stores.
