I went to Phoenicia Specialty foods for the first time ever and realized I have wasted the last 8…read moreyears since I moved to Houston having never been here before, because wow! I mean my pocket book is probably better for it because I want to buy the whole store but honestly I've been missing out. The place is cute and welcoming from the corner sign on the building to the moment you step in- bright, inviting, great displays so you know where to go. You can't get lost in here with the signage, but you can't definitely get lost in the aisles with all the great, unique choices. The ready food display has so many Mediterranean treats, some I've had before some I've never heard of and everything I tried was amazing. We got the cabbage rolls and Armenian veggie dolmas. Great flavor, both specific items I haven't had before. Nice citrus, spiced flavor to these. I'd say they're have to try items. Not only found jarred tomato paste, which I've been on the hunt for but they had choices in this category and that's another first for me. Will have to go back and try the others. Also got the cured Serrano ham -amazing. And I thought the prices were going to be insane having a spot right in the middle of the city and nope- pleasantly surprised for my goodies, great prices even less than some of the other stores I frequent in the suburbs. I'll be back again and again and again until I try the whole store lol. Definitely give them a try, you won't regret it

My niece and I checked out Phoenicia's for lunch, which was surprisingly delicious…read more My niece has simplistic tastes, so she opted for the chicken burger, which I tried of course. Perfectly seasoned, crispy exterior. The sweet potato fries were equally delicious. I got the Hill Country salad. Same tender but crispy chicken on a bed of greens with berries. So good. Definitely bookmarked as a return option.

My father and I were both a little confused when we walked in because we were expecting what would…read morebe a moderately sized grocery store, and this is nothing more than what you'd find at a convenience store at a gas station (which it isn't, it's a store in a strip mall). Nevertheless, it had most of what we were looking for, basically just drinks and snacks for our 2-day stay in Houston. My father wanted bakery items for breakfast and settled for the usual Hostess and Hostess-like choices you'd find at, again, a convenience store. However, the gentleman behind the register was pleasant and helpful. A customer came in and while checking out casually mentioned he had a close friend die the day before in a car crash. The cashier was very sympathetic and listened to the guy without interrupting or trying to hurry him along. In all, the store has the basics. But if you're looking for an actual grocery store like what you'd typically find in the downtown area of a large city, this is not it.

A nice little gem near downtown! They do have nice wine…read moreselections and some stock for essentials. Their wine selection is fantastic, which reflects the owner's good taste :) Have to say their daily essentials like mouthwash water saved my life! It's fantastic to find such convenience store near downtown with a few things, but everything seems to hit the point. Bravo for the owners for the great selection of just everything!

I can't get enough of sprouts. It's always such a laid back shopping experience. We're huge fans of…read morethe ready to eat food options, so far everything we've had has been shockingly tasty. You really can't go wrong with the variety.

Genuinely, I was looking forward to having a place near work to treat myself to a fun lunch every…read morenow and again. The line was not terrible and much appreciated to have space to wonder inside. The squash soups texture was not it guys. The lemongrass or root in it was unsettling to me. And the tenders taste like flattened citi field tenders dipped in sawdust. I'll be back to try the Chinese chicken salad and hope it's more my speed

SOOOO MUCH TO SHOP AND CHOOSE FROM! The store itself is clean and relatively stocked neatly…read more I tried to start taking pictures of the place, but I figured I'd fill up my camera roll by the time I took pics of the whole place! There are language barriers, but the employees are all smiling to help and willing to try and figure out what you need. This is out of my way, but I will be back. Some prices are high, some are fair, and some are cheap! Whatever you're in the Asian Market for, they've got you covered.

H Mart is one of those places that hits you the second you walk in part grocery store, part…read morecultural crossroad, part late-night lifesaver. The produce is sharp, the seafood counter is alive, and the aisles stretch out with everything from Korean staples to snacks you didn't grow up with but suddenly need in your life. It's not just shopping it's wandering. You go in for a few things and somehow end up leaving with dumplings, instant noodles, kimchi you didn't plan on buying, and something sweet you'll try later just because it looked interesting.

Ordered a German Chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling for a work event and everyone loved…read moreit! I kept getting asked where the cake was from. It was moist and the chocolate fudge was not overly sweet. The bakery recommended the chocolate fudge inside glad I trusted her opinion. If you need a cake give them a try! Clean, well stocked, nice looking store and there's always parking. There do be homeless people outside some times.

This Randall's is always giving "sketchy-but-convenient" energy…read more Pro tip: if you're driving, park in the garage. I know it seems backwards, but you're way less likely to get approached by someone asking you to buy them something. For the record, the store doesn't feel unsafe--homeless unsafe--but sometimes, you just want to grab your groceries in peace. Now, something that never fails to annoy me: one of the entrance doors is always locked. Every time. So you're forced to walk around to the main entrance. Minor, but annoying. Thankfully, the elevators from the garage always work, so silver lining there if you park downstairs. Today I was reminded of another classic Randall's feature: the smell. I stopped in on my bike to grab some veggies and, like clockwork, was hit with that signature aroma, somewhere between a porta-potty and a city park at noon in July. I think it was coming from outside this time... but I've definitely caught a whiff inside before too. Is it overpriced? Yes. Is it so conveniently located that I keep coming back anyway? Also yes. To be fair, the prepared food section and the bread game are on point. If carbs are a love language, this place is fluent. Bonus points: they've added EV charging for our green-driving friends. But I think they shrank some of the parking spots. I watched a jacked-up truck on stilts struggle to park in a handicap space. Waiting for the driver to hop out onto the hood of the next car over.

I was a bit surprised by the service and my experience. I was at the deli counter for a while…read morebefore I was acknowledged and provided service. A Hispanic gentleman approached and before she could finish with me she was taking his order. Yes the lady was Hispanic. Not making any allegations just describing what happened. This was at 5 pm on Tuesday September 1st. As I continued shopping in the store I was approached by a young woman with a child and food in a shopping cart asking for money. After asking her a few questions and another young man lingering near by I concluded it was a scam. I offered her some resources where she could go and get food right away and not have to walk around the store asking for money. She did not take me up on those resource's. I picked up my remaining items and at the check out I reported to the cashier that there is a lady walking around the store with a child and food in the basket asking for money. The cashier looked at me as if I were crazy and then the young lady putting my items in the bag thanked me. Unfortunately, I did not get the impression it was going to go any further.

So, I usually do curbside at the HEB on Alabama in Montrose, but ever since their construction…read moreproject turned the whole process into a slow-motion nightmare, I decided to give Buffalo Speedway a try. Big mistake. First off, I get that Houston was bracing for a snowstorm (crazy, I know), so I wasn't shocked that a lot of my requested items were out of stock. Fine, not their fault. But what was their fault? Not actually giving me half of the things I did manage to order! I got home, excited for my stash of groceries, only to realize I had basically made a charitable donation to HEB. No cheese. No sour cream. No coffee. NO MAPLE SYRUP. The donuts? Trash. Stale, lifeless, and the long john with "cream" filling? A cruel joke. Either it never got filled or the cream evaporated from old age. Tried calling the store--no answer. Couldn't go back because the entire city was frozen over for two days. At this point, I just accepted my fate. Maybe they were overwhelmed that day. Maybe it was just bad timing. But I won't be back to find out. Until Montrose finishes its never-ending construction, I'll be looking for another HEB--or honestly, another grocery store altogether. Buffalo Speedway, double-check your curbside orders and throw away the old donuts. You saved me some calories, at least.

Thumbs Up: This is a nice neighborhood H-E-B that serves Montrose and the surrounding areas…read more Thumbs Up: The landscape at this particular H-E-B is much nicer than at most grocery stores in the city. Thumbs Up: It's very close to the Houston gayborhoods and tends to be quite cruisy. I've noticed that shoppers often look for "meat" between the hours of 4-6 PM.

Boooo, I'll goto Macgregor, the staff at Alabama have been super meh my last few visits, then 3 of…read morethe 8 self checkout open at noon on a Friday? And then the cashier gets shitty with me? Nope.. try harder....

Central Market is such a fun grocery store and easily one of the best places in Houston for finding…read moreinteresting, unusual products. I feel like every time I go, I discover something new that I didn't even know existed. The selection is incredible, the store feels very upscale, and the staff is always extremely friendly and helpful. That said, Houston desperately needs another two or three Central Markets because this one is almost always a madhouse. The parking lot is crowded, the store is crowded, and the sandwich line at lunch can be ridiculous. The layout is also basically a maze designed to make you walk past every department before you find what you're looking for. Somehow, though, wandering through the maze is part of the fun. I do wish the Central Market app worked more like the regular H-E-B app. You can search for an item and see what section it's in, but it doesn't give you a useful store map showing where that section actually is. In a store this complicated, that would be incredibly helpful. It's definitely expensive, and if you fall in love with some small niche product, I wouldn't necessarily count on it being there forever. But overall, I really enjoy shopping here. Even when I only need a couple of things, I inevitably end up wandering around just to see what interesting new products I can find.

I've been here several times each time to get different things and have a different experience…read moreeverytime always great This is like the ultimate grocery store especially if you wanna prepare a specialized meal. I love the floral section and the olive bar. Also, the sandwich, soup and salad are phenomenal. They have many dry spices and seasonings to take home and you can get just as much though as little as you need. I really enjoy the store. They have alot of samples on the weekend and it's a cooking class (scheduled) upstairs They have an extensive wine and champagne selection. Everyone is very knowledgeable and helpful a lot this place so much highly recommended.

My family wanted to try some Texas BBQ while they were visiting and a friend recommended this…read moreplace, and I'm glad I gave it a go! I like how low-key and chill the vibe was. Tasty food, friendly staff, and a welcoming atmosphere, what more can one ask for? We had two plates of brisket - half and half (lean and fatty) and chopped. Mac & cheese, potato salad, and creamed corn. And both types of puddings! The brisket was so tender and fell apart easily, which also went very well with the spicy bbq sauce. The chopped brisket was tasty too and went great with all the sides and the piece of bread. Everything was so good and to the point, which made it such a comfort food. If I really had to nitpick, I felt the potato in the potato salad was slightly underdone and crunchy, but not a big deal. Mac & cheese hit the spot and wow, the cream corn came out hot and was such a hit! The surprise standout for me was the banana pudding. It was perfectly sweet, delicious, and somehow didn't feel too heavy at all! I'm still craving it and wish I lived closer to this area just so I can swing by anytime. They also have a great assortment of beverages and a cute little souvenir stand. Definitely recommend!

Food: Food tasted different. BBQ smoking flavor and seasoning tasted unique. Not good or bad but…read moreits own flavoring. The garlic green beans was ok. The Mexican pinto beans was salty. 3 Stars Service: Friendly. 4 Stars Ambiance: Vintage feel. Store front with restaurant, similar to Cracker Barrel. 5 Stars Overall: 4 Stars

This is the closest location to me and I'm in La Porte. I have now made the trip twice just to pick…read moreup a couple things. I plan on making the trip at least once a month to try all the things I want without breaking the bank every visit. The workers are very helpful and the store is always clean and well organized. The check out is a single line like many other reviewers have mentioned but even when the line was long it went really fast. They have several cashiers open at once so it goes quickly. I'm looking forward to my next visit because I want to make a Bouquet and they have a great flower selection.

Subject: Complaint Regarding Inconsistent Treatment During Tote Bag Purchase at Trader Joe's…read moreAlabama Theatre I arrived at 7:15 AM and waited over 30 minutes in line for the recent tote bag release. After making a purchase, my mother who had just traveled internationally for nearly 24 hours to visit me wanted to buy another bag as a gift for friends back home. We waited in line again, but the cashier refused the sale because they recognized us from our earlier purchase. However, we saw other customers rejoin the line and purchase additional bags without issue. There were no signs explaining this policy, and it appeared to be enforced only against us. As Asian customers, this left us feeling singled out and questioning whether discrimination played a role in how we were treated. What made the experience even more upsetting was the way we were spoken to. The employee's attitude felt rude and accusatory, as if we were doing something wrong or trying to steal, when we had simply followed the same process as other customers and spent a significant amount of money in the store. We left feeling embarrassed, upset, and unwelcome. I would appreciate an explanation as to why the policy was applied differently to us than to other customers.