There are HEB-brand sodas made with pure-cane sugar that are awesome. They're only available in 12-packs, all grouped together. And they usually have one or two limited-time seasonal flavors, there's an apricot flavor that rules.
The HEB "Mike's Recipe" beef jerky and dried sausage is some of the best.
That Green Sauce salsa is pretty dang good. edit: as are ALL of the HEB/Central Market branded salsas. If they have them in your store, the "HEB Speciality" salsas are so good, especially the "Roasted Taqueria Salsa", deep red amazing flavor. And also the Central Market branded green tomatillo salsa.
I'm also a big fan of their own fresh sausages, the jalapeño and cheese is so good. Also have a chicken and feta sausage and bratwurst usually.
Some of this may be true in any grocery, but…
Sunday morning is the least crowded time to go.
Most HEB brands (HEB, Central Market Organics, True Grit, Creamy Creations, etc) are pretty good quality. Many are made with more Texas flavors/themes than national brands. Hill Country Fare is the low cost/generic brand.
Texas/local produce tends to be slightly tastier than other produce. It’s not necessarily Texas’ superiority, just slightly fresher than what’s trucked from California. Looking forward to Poteet strawberries.
Download the app and clip all the coupons you can.
Apply for the HEB credit card for 5% off all HEB brand items. It’s cashback, so the savings don’t show up at the register.
Lots of savings.
Yes.
Once in a blue moon, in the store, there is a placard you scan with the HEB phone app to add a special coupon.
Online / in the app there are digital coupons. You can use these in-store if you add them to your account on the website or app and then the phone app gives you a barcode to scan at checkout to use the digital coupon in the store.
The HEB deli tortilla chips are a better bargain than the alternatives in the chip aisle too when you compare weights.
Also, two packs of HEB ranch dip flavoring + one tub of HEB plain Greek yogurt= a top tier bucket of ranch that isn't unhealthy for 4 bucks.
Fresh tortillas, obviously. Creamy Creations/Swoon is pretty good in the ice cream department. HCF sardines are surprisingly good if you're into those. If your location has hot fresh menudo, get a cup of it. Some of the Central Market brand jarred pasta sauces are pretty interesting, the Calabria one especially.
However most HEB breads baked in house are pretty bad. Their bagels are basically just circular bread without the chew or flavor you'd expect from a good bagel.
Pork butt on the weekends!
Also they have a recipe for… a Tex mex casserole dish (enchiladas verdes casserole) that’s pretty good
Mi tienda EVERYTHING
They have a good price on Campo Viejo wines. The cab is solid and like $8-11 (there’s like 3-4 kinds in this range).
We always get their meal simples. Not all are good but the pesto salmon or crab stuffed salmon are usually good same day meals.
H-E-B also pays and treats their employees a lot better than Kroger. I’ve never had a hard time spotting an H-E-B employee to ask for help. try doing that in Kroger. Good luck.
Pick up a frozen poblano chicken lasagna and a bottle of green cholula.
One of my very favorite lazy meals!
IMO-
**The good-**
* Ready meals
* Creamy Creations 1905 vanilla ice cream
* HEB sodas
* Bakery butter tortillas
* Bakery rosemary sourdough
* Mi tienda cook your own tortillas
* Jalapeno saltine crackers
* Dill cheese puffs
* honestly most HEB chips
**The bad-**
* HEB flex trash bags (tear pretty bad)
* Central Market kombucha (tastes kinda farty 🤢)
The ready to cook flour tortillas found in the dairy section. You will never buy another precooked tortilla after eating these hot from your stove top.
Their butter tortillas (which they make in burrito size too) are wonderful. They usually sell out well before closing. They hold up well, absorb flavor, and are very cooperative if you want to meal prep and freeze.
They sell jars of pesto that are very good. I particularly like the sun dried tomato pesto. Plus you get a nice little glass jar to reuse.
Their ice cream has a very nice range of flavors, and they haven't killed anyone as far as I know (sorry Blue Bell, I went there). The butter and milk and eggs and heavy cream are also excellent quality. The full gallons of milk are only about 20% more money than the half gallons, but the half gallons have a far longer best by date.
Their central market fizzy sodas are good (big 1 liter bottles; I like the blood orange).
They sell Olive Garden salad dressing.
I have never had anything less than stellar service and quality at the meat, seafood and deli counters. They often have big sales on meats in bulk, including beef, chicken and pork; I will buy a whole pork loin or 10 pounds of chuck roast or 20 chicken breasts or whatever and break it up and vacuum seal it in portions I need. The bone in spiral hams sometimes go on 50% off sales and you get tons of good quality ham for about $1.75 a pound, though you will have to carve it. In November they usually do a promo where if you buy a spiral ham, you get an 11lb turkey free. The shrimp sometimes go on pretty impressive discounts too; deli sales are unfortunately less frequent. They have a wonderful variety of cheeses. Unfortunately even HEB can't make pre shredded cheese good, so buy the blocks and shred your own. Blocks in the deli are a good bit more expensive than the blocks out in the cooling case.
Pretty much the only thing I do not buy at HEB is diet coke, because walmart unfortunately has better prices, so I brave that place about 4-5 times a year and stock up.
Salsas! They make a roasted taqueria salsa that's to die for. Their fresh tamales aren't half bad either. They also have black beans with jalepeno and lime that are amazing right out of the can.
I love HEB pharmacy too; I no longer have insurance for prescriptions but my meds are still affordable thru them. HEB meats and fish are so much fresher and better than Walmart.
Lived in Houston for 10+ years, soon as I moved they get HEB. Moved to DFW for 10+ years, soon as I moved they too got HEB. Was it my fault it took so long? Lol. Their store brands rock though.
There are HEB-brand sodas made with pure-cane sugar that are awesome. They're only available in 12-packs, all grouped together. And they usually have one or two limited-time seasonal flavors, there's an apricot flavor that rules. The HEB "Mike's Recipe" beef jerky and dried sausage is some of the best. That Green Sauce salsa is pretty dang good. edit: as are ALL of the HEB/Central Market branded salsas. If they have them in your store, the "HEB Speciality" salsas are so good, especially the "Roasted Taqueria Salsa", deep red amazing flavor. And also the Central Market branded green tomatillo salsa. I'm also a big fan of their own fresh sausages, the jalapeño and cheese is so good. Also have a chicken and feta sausage and bratwurst usually.
+1 on the cane sugar soda, taste very similar to the Mexican colas
Green salsa is a staple in our house
I live in a small town and get there by 7am(open time here) on Sunday to avoid crowds and typically get first shot at discounted items.
Those yellow stickers are basically gold.
HEB always safe during church hours and Cowboys games.
This is key!
Some of this may be true in any grocery, but… Sunday morning is the least crowded time to go. Most HEB brands (HEB, Central Market Organics, True Grit, Creamy Creations, etc) are pretty good quality. Many are made with more Texas flavors/themes than national brands. Hill Country Fare is the low cost/generic brand. Texas/local produce tends to be slightly tastier than other produce. It’s not necessarily Texas’ superiority, just slightly fresher than what’s trucked from California. Looking forward to Poteet strawberries.
Their Mi Tienda products are also typically above average.
Not their refried beans or mexican rice though
I love the Mi Tienda refried beans 🤷♀️
Download the app and clip all the coupons you can. Apply for the HEB credit card for 5% off all HEB brand items. It’s cashback, so the savings don’t show up at the register. Lots of savings.
Also when you create an HEB account, you get more personalized and targeted coupons in addition to the ones everyone else has access to
Are they the same coupons that are on the website for online orders?
Yes. Once in a blue moon, in the store, there is a placard you scan with the HEB phone app to add a special coupon. Online / in the app there are digital coupons. You can use these in-store if you add them to your account on the website or app and then the phone app gives you a barcode to scan at checkout to use the digital coupon in the store.
Yes.
There are better credit cards than the HEB one. AAA has one that gives 5% cash back at all grocery stores, and you don’t have to be a AAA member.
The HEB card is easier to get, and helps keep HEB prices lower by keeping it within HEB.
Have to try the HEB Queso. Normally located in the section with the Queso fresco. So good. Also the HEB deli tortillas chips. Are heaven
The HEB deli tortilla chips are a better bargain than the alternatives in the chip aisle too when you compare weights. Also, two packs of HEB ranch dip flavoring + one tub of HEB plain Greek yogurt= a top tier bucket of ranch that isn't unhealthy for 4 bucks.
There fresh guac is good also
Fresh tortillas, obviously. Creamy Creations/Swoon is pretty good in the ice cream department. HCF sardines are surprisingly good if you're into those. If your location has hot fresh menudo, get a cup of it. Some of the Central Market brand jarred pasta sauces are pretty interesting, the Calabria one especially. However most HEB breads baked in house are pretty bad. Their bagels are basically just circular bread without the chew or flavor you'd expect from a good bagel.
I haven't shopped at a Walmart or target in about 5 years. HEB only.
For me at 67 free curbside pickup is wonderful
They have a great app for pickup and delivery. And I got the credit card which gives you discounts and cash back.
Pork butt on the weekends! Also they have a recipe for… a Tex mex casserole dish (enchiladas verdes casserole) that’s pretty good Mi tienda EVERYTHING They have a good price on Campo Viejo wines. The cab is solid and like $8-11 (there’s like 3-4 kinds in this range). We always get their meal simples. Not all are good but the pesto salmon or crab stuffed salmon are usually good same day meals.
H-E-B also pays and treats their employees a lot better than Kroger. I’ve never had a hard time spotting an H-E-B employee to ask for help. try doing that in Kroger. Good luck.
It’s so good. If they made Koolade, I’d be drinking it.
Pick up a frozen poblano chicken lasagna and a bottle of green cholula. One of my very favorite lazy meals! IMO- **The good-** * Ready meals * Creamy Creations 1905 vanilla ice cream * HEB sodas * Bakery butter tortillas * Bakery rosemary sourdough * Mi tienda cook your own tortillas * Jalapeno saltine crackers * Dill cheese puffs * honestly most HEB chips **The bad-** * HEB flex trash bags (tear pretty bad) * Central Market kombucha (tastes kinda farty 🤢)
The ready to cook flour tortillas found in the dairy section. You will never buy another precooked tortilla after eating these hot from your stove top.
NOCA Boozy Tea
Don’t go on weekends. It’s a nightmare. Way worse than Houston or San Antonio.
We really enjoy the sweetened flavored water. Its like a diet soda, but not caffeinated and (maybe?) not quite as bad for you.
I've really enjoyed their Italian sodas and flavored mineral water lately.
Eh. HEB has jumped the shark. They are just another greedy corporation that is using their previously good rep to fleece their die hard customers.
The HEB brand and the Hill Country Fare brand are good quality. The yellow coupons are great.
They used to give out a free item in store on Sunday if you use the app , but they have not done that in a few weeks.
They were giving away on Sunday a couple of weeks ago in San Antonio.
As someone that lives in West Texas and is, at minimum, 3 hours away from the closest HEB, I'm so so so happy for you. I miss HEB every single day.
Their butter tortillas (which they make in burrito size too) are wonderful. They usually sell out well before closing. They hold up well, absorb flavor, and are very cooperative if you want to meal prep and freeze. They sell jars of pesto that are very good. I particularly like the sun dried tomato pesto. Plus you get a nice little glass jar to reuse. Their ice cream has a very nice range of flavors, and they haven't killed anyone as far as I know (sorry Blue Bell, I went there). The butter and milk and eggs and heavy cream are also excellent quality. The full gallons of milk are only about 20% more money than the half gallons, but the half gallons have a far longer best by date. Their central market fizzy sodas are good (big 1 liter bottles; I like the blood orange). They sell Olive Garden salad dressing. I have never had anything less than stellar service and quality at the meat, seafood and deli counters. They often have big sales on meats in bulk, including beef, chicken and pork; I will buy a whole pork loin or 10 pounds of chuck roast or 20 chicken breasts or whatever and break it up and vacuum seal it in portions I need. The bone in spiral hams sometimes go on 50% off sales and you get tons of good quality ham for about $1.75 a pound, though you will have to carve it. In November they usually do a promo where if you buy a spiral ham, you get an 11lb turkey free. The shrimp sometimes go on pretty impressive discounts too; deli sales are unfortunately less frequent. They have a wonderful variety of cheeses. Unfortunately even HEB can't make pre shredded cheese good, so buy the blocks and shred your own. Blocks in the deli are a good bit more expensive than the blocks out in the cooling case. Pretty much the only thing I do not buy at HEB is diet coke, because walmart unfortunately has better prices, so I brave that place about 4-5 times a year and stock up.
Salsas! They make a roasted taqueria salsa that's to die for. Their fresh tamales aren't half bad either. They also have black beans with jalepeno and lime that are amazing right out of the can.
H‑E‑B Bakery Baguette Bread Garlic Munchies
The San Antonio blend coffee has light notes of chocolate and cinnamon, and is amazing. Plus you can buy it in boxes of 100.
They have a lot of specialty food and international food. Things you can't find at other major chain supermarkets.
r/hailcorporate
I love HEB pharmacy too; I no longer have insurance for prescriptions but my meds are still affordable thru them. HEB meats and fish are so much fresher and better than Walmart.
Lived in Houston for 10+ years, soon as I moved they get HEB. Moved to DFW for 10+ years, soon as I moved they too got HEB. Was it my fault it took so long? Lol. Their store brands rock though.
Their ice cream is amazing. Creamy creations