H-E-B

Let me first say this, I love HEB. I always buy my groceries at HEB. But this location just doesn’t cut it. Which is a shame because I live nearby.
In all of the times I have shopped here I have never, not once left with every item on my list. They are constantly out of things and seem to never restock the shelves. This forces me to make extra stops on the way home just to get home with everything on my list. Most of the employees are just not friendly. After an extremely awkward situation where a cashier accidentally dropped a bottle of wine and tried to blame us I vowed to never come back. Its sad because this store is so close to me but when I grocery shop I want to get what I need in one store. Not have to make multiple stops just because HEB doesn’t have anything in stock. I will say that this store has a decent beer and wine selection.
The other HEB near me isn’t as nice, but they have bigger selections and the employees are extremely friendly and happy to help. Unfortunately, we probably won’t be doing our shopping here anymore.

It is an OK HEB. Yes, it old and worn out, but it does its job. It could use a lot of cleaning, but there are some things out of the ordinary, and that is cool. I was looking for fresh squeezed OJ, and they did not have that, but they did have a great selection of hot sauce. What was really interesting is listening to two employees talking to each other about how much they loved their jobs there that they have had for several years (while they were rapidly stocking shelves). That alone makes it a solid 3 alone.

This place is going to need to buy up it’s entire shopping center! Apartments are going up EVERYWHERE in the immediate neighborhood. Yes, they did a prior expansion. But It’s still way too small. They did not do anything really substantial with the seafood counter. I am still curious how you could get away with that. Okay Austin is landlocked, And eating/​health habits were different in the 1950’s (when people smoked indoors!). But HEB needs to understand this neighborhood GENTRIFIED and big time. You’d figure they’d know how to renovate a store to appeal to a predominantly health conscious crowd.

I’ve been shopping at this HEB for 20+ years. It’s a smaller version of their other stores, which I love. They carry a decent selection of gluten free items, organic produce and meats. The check out folks are typically fast and bag my groceries according to how I like them packed. I usually avoid shopping on Sundays, but in general, it’s never super crowded and overwhelming.

Favorite HEB in town, the only improvement I would give would be to add the fresh fish deli here. Fantastic staff and clean open layout. Bitchin’ discount section.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ would shop again.

HEB is the best. This one is older, but they’ve updated it to keep up with the mega HEB’s around town. The parking lot is scary, but that’s just Burnet. The staff is great.
A few things I wish they had: more ethnic foods, better seafood department. That’s about it. I’m not too picky. I feel so spoiled, in general, by the diversity of food available to me that it is hard to complain.
The bathrooms are immaculate. Also, the customer base is great due to the area that its in. Lots of young students, kind older folks and diverse cultures represented.
It’s not the Round Rock mega HEB super hyper-​plex, but it does the trick if you’re a regular person going grocery shopping.
Tip: 10pm+ on weekdays is the magic hour.

That’s $ 32.34, Chief.
«Chief»? I think to myself. Why is this cashier addressing me as Chief? Am I in a Native American headdress? Maybe I woke up the CFO of some corporation over night? Let me check… NOPE!!!
Next time just say my total if you are going to say anything or I’m calling you out on your piss poor attitude. I will be the Chief and kick you out of the damn tribe!

This use to be my HEB and was very excited about the remodel. However, I believe that they are done now and it makes no since! Parking is terrible, there is a giant flower department but no seafood section. Does this make sense to anyone? You also have to manage your way through the check out lines just to begin shopping. The arrangement of the store seems disorganized and it makes shopping very hard!

I’ve been coming to this HEB for about two years now, almost every day. We use HEB for pretty much everything. I used to love it. It has everything, the workers were nice, so forth. I go to school right by here, so it’s easy for me to pop on over after class and pick up stuff to make food for my family. The last six or seven months things have become steadily worse. They don’t have as much stocked at night, which is unfortunate for them, since there’s an HEB by where we live, and the new employees have a shit attitude. Some of the old crew (the ones that were actually good at their jobs) are still around, but some of the new ones really need to remember which side of the counter they’re on. Today, this one girl (her name tag said «Sam» but they don’t wear the right tag sometimes) got kind of shitty when I tore the receipt off myself. I know, sorry, I used to be a cashier and I forgot what side of the counter I was on myself. Also, I have a concussion right now, no joke. But then I remembered that I needed cigarettes, and apparently it took everything in her to look at the bagger until he went and got them for her. It pained her so much that she had to chunk my change at me without saying anything. I still like this HEB better than the one by my place, so instead of losing my business, what I’m going to do is that everytime I see «Sam» working, I’m going to stand in her line, I’m going to wait until she has everything all rang up, then I’m going to ask for a pack of cigarettes, just to piss her off. I spend too much money on this company to be treated like shit.

This is probably one of my favorite HEBs. It has a nice balance of inexpensive and quality ingredients. The biggest problem with this store is that they do not have a butcher counter, and all you can get is pre-​packaged meats, and the availability of cuts varies throughout the week. I have bought several packs of chicken that spoil before the sell by date. Produce is OK. Overall, there are worse HEBs to go to, and this is close to my house. If you want higher quality ingredients, obviously go to Central Market or Whole Foods.

I really like the H-​E-​B. It’s my favorite generic local grocery store across all the places I’ve lived. The produce is decent, the prices are good, there’s no loyalty card, and it’s about the right size.

Had a few basic essentials to pick up so I, of course, went to this HEB. Was in the checkout line and had a young gentlemen say he was open at the express lane. Probably THE best experience I’ve had with an HEB cashier. He was easy to talk to and had such a positive attitude (said he was called in to work, even though it was fathers day, him being a father. he still said he was going to play basketball with his kids when he got off and never said anything negative about being there on fathers day). It really made my day that I had such a great experience with someone like this.
My other experiences with the cashiers have been OK (some other times annoying due to young cashiers just complaining about being there). Sadly, I didn’t get the guy that made my days name but he should definitely be a trainer for a good customer experience.

This is my HEB. Because it is close and I have been going there for nine years so I know where everything is (though the remodel threw me for a loop for a bit there).
Closes at 1am, decent parking, avoid 4−7pm weekdays, and all day weekends, blah blah blah — it’s HEB. You get it. A grocery store. Nothing too exciting. Not that grocery shopping is ever or should be exciting. You know, food n stuff.
What ticks me off is the pharmacy. The older pharmacist there is so rude. Once, my doctor prescribed an antibiotic and a yeast infection medication (Diflucan for those who care) just in case. I go to pick up my meds and this older male pharmacist is doing the consult, explaining the meds to me. When he gets to the Diflucan, he starts smirking and acts like he can barely contain his laughter. ?! Dude, are you 12? The word vagina should stop being giggle-​inducing around 16 or so (though for some men, the giggles will last into their mid-​20s. But still.)
But the next time I came in, I dealt with a nice young man and was re-​won over by his friendly professionalism.
Then the next time, my doc gave me a script but told me to call around first since most pharmacies had yet to carry it (it’s new and, in the end, I couldn’t find any pharmacy that carried more than a few units and had to get something else) But I am calling around. Called my friendly Allandale HEB. Was put on hold A LOT. Then, the older pharmacist gets on the phone and wants to know if I have the physical script. When I tell him I do, he says he can’t discuss it with me until I have brought it by. When I ask, do y’all carry this medicine or can you get it, he starts yelling, like seriously going off that he is not going to order this medicine and lose money because I changed my mind. Changed my mind? Okay, crazy. Later found out from the Hancock HEB that the Allandale HEB rarely carries this medicine and that is why I was on hold (I guess. As opposed to just telling me they were out of it).
Oh, and there is nice young lady there. So, two nice young pharmacist techs, scary/​creepy old pharmacist. And it would be so convenient to get my meds where I get my food, but alas… no.

This store is clean and organized. I love the hand rolled sushi and seaweed salad in the grab and go cooler.

This has been my neighborhood HEB for over 25 years and it gets the job done. They did a remodel a couple of years ago and doubled the size of the store. The result is a much wider selection. It is not a superstore, but it is the next best thing.
One really pleasing point is that the aisles are wide and they are arranged on a sensible grid pattern rather than the confusing circular pattern of some of the larger stores. Staff is always friendly, parking is ample, and the facility is well maintained.
About the HEB chain in general: they do not do the two-​price bait and switch keep-​records-​on-​the-​registered-​customer scam that Randalls does. Prices are almost always cheaper than Randalls and are consistent over time. Occasionally, I am obliged to visit a Randalls and I am always aware that I am paying for glitz and low lighting. HEB stores don’t fool around. Their aim is selling groceries (and NOT using customers as marketing guinea pigs) and they are good at it.

This store is always a little on the sad side. It’s been remodeled, but the remodel is no where near the quality of some of HEBs built in the last 5 or so years. It still feels in desperate need of a make-​over. Always surprising given the swanky neighborhoods that flank this store on all sides.
The best part of this store is the pharmacy. I really love all the staff that work there. They are super helpful and they remember who you are. I’m glad they’re on my way home from work so I can easily stop in.
Second best is the wine selection. It’s pretty amazing! I’ve been surprised at vast selection!
Overall the store is OK, but not stellar.

The Allandale HEB gets 5 stars not because it’s perfect, but because it’s perfect compared with the other HEBs nearby. B– for selection, A+ for ambiance. It’s an oasis of calm in a desert of crappy, crowded HEBs.
There is never anyone in this store even at peak hours, and I love it. The lines are ridiculously short, and I always park right in front like I own the place. I BROWSE in this HEB like it’s the goddamn National Gallery. There’s so much space I’m like, did a grocery store engineer lay out these aisles? Probably. Shopping here is a very zen experience. Do I want to sample an IPA or a Mahi Mahi fish taco while I shop? Yes. Yes I do.
I wish they had more vegan/​vegetarian-​friendly foods, but whatever.

New neighborhood, new HEB.
Am I really reviewing an HEB?
I like this one because it’s smaller than it’s cousin over on Red River. Everything seems to be a lot more organized and put together. It isn’t nearly as busy here too, which is nice. It makes for a less stressful and annoying grocery shopping experience. For whatever reason, the workers here are a lot friendlier too. maybe that’s why they’ve been serving Allandale since 1950?

Hey HEB, you’re okay and I’m okay.
I like your beer. I like your snacks. I even like your fruits and veggies. You have some real nice melons, HEB.
I see you all the time, and I keep checking for the things I need. Come on, baby, you know I’m into vegan cheese. I know it’s not real cheese, but I know you can bring it.
I like your low prices, and that you don’t talk back. I don’t wanna have to slap a bitch, girl.
I don’t want to have to go see other stores, HEB. I just like you. But it turns out, I have to. You just don’t have everything that I need, girl.
I wish you would have more vegan friendly items. I’ll still shop with you, as you’re on my favorite corner.
Aww, HEB, don’t be that way, just do what I say, and we won’t have no problems.

This is one of those old school HEBs. You know what I’m talkin about — flat room, brown brick, cramped aisles. Or at least it was! Their expansion late last year turned it into a much bigger, brighter version of itself.
And that’s a good and a bad thing. Great because there’s more selection, it feels open, clean, filled with endless possibilities… and bad because I have to walk .5 mi to get to the milk in the back corner in the typical and annoying marketing ploy to get you to walk through the store.
The produce is always plentiful and fresh, they’ve got a good variety, it’s typically not super crowded and people are helpful. As far as HEBs go it’s not super remarkable but then, I have a soft spot for HEBs and unless we’re talking abut the super ghetto ones on Lamar or Oltorf, I’m probably going to love it.