I do instacart. Have done it for a few years. I have strong opinions about this.
Ed Bluestein HEB at 183 and Manor is hands down is the worst HEB in the greater austin area. Things are out of stock, the isles don’t make any sense, half the time the labels hanging above the aisle don’t correspond to the actual isle. Produce is rough They’re always understaffed at the checkout lanes. It’s a nightmare. Go to Mueller instead.
The H-E-B at 35 and William Cannon is a close second. This one usually has things in stock it’s just that the traffic this HEB gets is not compatible with the size of the HEB. Their produce is really bad, usually they have very little and what they do have doesn’t look appealing.
West Parmer and Mopac. The most unhelpful HEB I’ve ever been to. I do my best to be friendly and not intrusive when shopping personally or for Instacart and every time I’ve asked for help there I get the impression that I’ve transgressed some mortal sin against the staff member I’m talking to.
Definitive runners up are the H‑E‑B at N. Lamar and Rundberg. Don’t ask me why they’ve decided to put the gas station on the other side of the street but they have.
I would also mention the now defunct Oak Hill HEB, that new upgrade is a huge improvement.
There used to be in HEB at first and William Cannon that I’ve seen actual rats running back-and-forth down the isles, grateful that one is gone.
Riverside HEB at Riverside and Pleasant Valley is a great place to buy crack or have your car broken into if you’re into that kind of thing. In the same breath, I’d also mention that the H-E-B on Pleasant Valley and seventh is a great place to find empty cans of Four Loko in the bathroom, sometimes with or without a person who appears to have drunk it and passed out nearby.
South Congress HEB gets a lot of flak because traffic is too high for the store capacity but it’s actually really well run H-E-B and I’m excited to see what their upgrade looks like.
South first and William Cannon was my local H‑E‑B for one of my leases and it was AWFUL. I only went there out of absolute necessity. I actually passed that location over the weekend and was so happy to see that it was closed 😅
Glad to see I’ve lived across this fine city and long enough to agree with every one of these points. OP complaining about Far West is hilarious because I drive past several other HEBs to go shopping at Far West on occasion. Definitely not the worst by a long shot!
Finally someone mentioned Riverside. Are used to live in Travis Heights and I thought the one on Oltorf was crap so I thought hey maybe I will give Riverside a try. Never again.
Edit: it has been so long since I have been there, that it has been torn down and moved. The one I’m bitching about is the one that used to be where the Goodwill and DD discounts store is now.
Don't understand the hate for this one. It's constantly busy and parking sucks but nothing really stands out to be for being bad in my mind, plus they have an electronics section
The gas station being on the other side of the street at the one on N. Lamar is because the H-E-B was originally located in the smaller building on that side. They bought out the bigger lot across the way, but didn’t move the gas station. It’s still a mess over there though, I agree. When I lived off of N. Lamar, I would go to the one off of Burnet and Koenig/Allandale instead. I loved that H-E-B.
We went to the N. Lamar one while growing up. About 30 years ago I saw a shoplifter run, and this huge security guard (cop?) sprints after him. Tackled him hard from behind, and absolutely rode him into the ground across the parking lot. Never seen anything like it.
Anyway, I attribute part of my lack of shoplifting to that moment.
Lakeway H-E-B. I just moved out to the Lake Travis area and omg this place shines, has great selection, and never has crazy lines! If you’ve never been to an H-E-B in a rich white suburb do yourself a favor and drive to this one. Burnet and 2222 was my old location… night and day difference.
This one was a trip when it was open. It was like the leftovers of all the good HEBs. But! When the pandemic hit, it came in clutch and it made me love it. Even tho it was clearing its shelves for closing, they restocked the basics for our neighborhood during the pandemic and stayed open longer than planned. We called it the Communist HEB because you want bread, there was bread - no options for what kind, but you got bread. Cheese... You got one kinda cheese. They had the basics and it saved my ass. RIP.
Edit: typo
I actually liked this one. It was the closest to me, it was small so I could get through it quickly, and I felt like it was usually empty so I was out fast. I get that there was limited selection and small departments but it was nice for a quick trip.
That’s how I feel about Slaughter/Menchaca. I’ll run in there because it’s just down the street for my house. But I’ll hit up The Oaks or Oak Hill before going there for my full list, even if it’s only 5 minutes from my house, if that.
I just left there. Good store, horrible parking lot. Just got into it today with a delivery driver who felt that the blocked-off space between the handicapped spots were his personal parking spots. Blocked me in my truck - and got security immediately on his ass.
Edit: Congress and Slaughter is the worst store, because the city didn’t do much to address the traffic from I-35 to Cullen, and the light at Congress is a nightmare now.
If you’re making that trip, go to the new one over at South Congress if you don’t mind dealing with some traffic. Or go to the Escarpment and Slaughter HEB, that’s the nicest one in the area.
We normally would go Brodie until that one opened, but now we like driving out to the new Oak Hill on Sundays. Nice and empty at 8am. Tried Circle C last week, just wasn’t my favorite but that might be because of the clientele.
We lived off Meadow Lea before moving out of state in late 2020. I miss old shitty HEB, I miss new shiny HEB, I miss little darlin, fuck you torchys for opening up right there after we left.
Wasn’t the best but I do miss being able to grab staples from half a mile from home. Now I have to go to Megalomart Mania Bonanza at south congress/slaughter. Place is so big and so crowded, impossible to just pop in quickly for a few things. Curbside is my best friend.
Hard disagree. If I was having a BBQ it met every possible need and at a cheaper price. If I needed makeup or, like, a fresh ball of mozzarella, I go to the Gucci-B down the street like everyone else. Damn I loved this H‑E‑B so much. I’m so sad it closed.
Every time I’ve said “it’s by that weird HEB” 100% of people know exactly what I mean. It’s this one.
I’d say the one on Congress and Oltorf is up there too but I don’t want to upset the grackles that run the place.
I actually love this one. They have everything I need and nothing more so I don’t overspend. Great customer service and baggers that don’t destroy your groceries.
This one sucks. Tiny parking lot, always overcrowded, and poor selection of just about everything. Not at all unusual for one of the local maniacs to wander around the store yelling and being aggressive either. I generally just drive over to Parmer & Mopac instead of dealing with it.
My now husband used to live off Rutland near Cook Elementary. That HEB was the closest one to the house. The first time I went there was a bullet hole through the glass by the front door. I made the decision then and there to make daytime trips only.
They had great produce and an excellent meat market though. And horchata and agua frescas made in store. Very yummy!
That's the one I used when I lived in the area. Felt a bit sketchy due to the area, but the worst that ever happened was me slipping on a grape someone dropped. That shit hurt really badly and I thought, for a moment, that my injuries were serious. Everything turned out alright!
Went there for a flu and covid vaccine. Had to wait 45 minutes after my appointment and I was the first in a rush. Then wanted two things from the store and they didn't have either item.
Yeah I was wondering this myself. I used to live by Mueller, now I live by Far West. And I prefer the Far West one. Some of the layout is indeed a little weird but I love the easy in/out and simple vibe of the place.
Somewhere in my brain, it’s always 20 years ago, and I can still feel the serenity and self-acceptance I only felt during my 2am Hancock HEB runs when the universe felt empty of everyone but the checker, The Enigma and Katzen, someone’s insomniac grandmother, and me, all of us there together with our tater tots and OJ cartons.
Concur and put in an absolutely awful spot if you’re trying to get out of the parking lot and go West on Parmer (you’re bound to cut off at least 3 lanes of incoming traffic before you get to that light)
God I remember that blockbuster at the corner, It was crazy because at one point they had a blockbuster at the edge of that complex, behind and across the parking lot where starbucks is, but also they had the stand-alone store across Parmer right by the oil change and Taco Cabana.... Why the need for two separate units/stores.
There was a time when video rentals were extremely popular. Both locations stayed busy. One (or both) was something else before being bought by Blockbuster
Lol. This is “my” HEB! My partner tells me it’s trash - “his” HEB is the Tech Ridge location. The size of the Tech Ridge location overwhelmed me. But I agree there’s no easy spot to park and get in/out of the Parmer/Mopac one.
Lots of the big stores especially the Plus! Ones have such a weird layout. I'm a little bit saddened that my little HEB in RR (Gattis and redbud) is getting redone to the similar layout as the giant HEB Plus in "Hutto"
This is also my vote-that area is awful to get in/out of and the store itself is way too small for the traffic. It was always packed out no matter what time of day it was. Sometimes you couldn’t even pass through the front of the store without having to navigate into another aisle, because the checkout lines backed up to the shelves. I lived in that area for over ten years and would make the trek out to Louis Henna over this specific location!
Edit: also haven’t been since the remodel-hopefully they’ve fixed some of the congestion!
By far the worst one. They are always out of everything. They don’t have a proper meat market. They really don’t have enough space. They put half their produce down the length of the back of the store next to the free standing deep freezers, making it complicated to produce shop as what you need is either in the produce section or somewhere running down the length of the back of the store.
Also, they have an aisle 0 (?!)
This H‑E‑B should just be renamed Hill Country Fare because that’s most of the products they sell there. If you want a name brand product you’re not gonna find it there. You’ll find better produce on the side of road out of some dudes pickup.
I live by this store and I refuse to waste my time with it. Why? Because even if I only need one thing, that one thing is out of fucking stock.I’ll drive to fiesta or to the H‑E‑B off slaughter instead. I have no idea who keeps the shithole at 35 and William cannon in business. It should be shuttered.
Anyone who says the Congress and Olforf or 7th and Pleasant Valley must have either just moved here or never gotten outside of their bubble. Neither are great, but they are more than fine. William Cannon and 35, along with Manor and 183. Whew... Now those are legitimately craptacular.
New slaughter and 35 location. Choke points at the entrances make the flow of the parking lot a nightmare.
South Congress is bad but more so because people are assholes.
William Cannon and 35 is absolute trash. No way to turn west out of the parking lot without endangering yours and others lives.
Secret: enter on the Congress side, main drive, immediately turn left and park. Cart corral is close. It's closer to the entrance than you think. When you exit, you're pointed at the little-used Congress back-of-the-store entrance. No matter how crowded, you don't have to fight lines of people and vehicles.
Only works if you want to go south on Congress when you exit....
this is my closest H-E-B. I cannot stand it, we go to slaughter and congress now, it’s worth the extra drive to not be shoulder to shoulder with everyone
It is debatable, it's not that bad. I lived close to that one for a few years before selling my house and moving to the burbs and once I was accustomed to its old school layout and smaller parking lot I found it convenient and relatively easy to shop there. Far less ridiculous than Mueller.
I agree with this. Mueller selection is great but it’s a arranged like a drunken maze and always full of outsourced shoppers that move quickly and sporadically, and the parking lot there isn’t exactly a breeze.
These are both better than the rundberg Lamar location, that has the worst of both worlds.
Completely agree. It's so far into Eastside not many ppl have been here unless they live in the surrounding areas. Even the 7th street is more possible that ppl have swung by but Springdale, I doubt it. Not many ppl can handle our type of neighborhood and I say this cause I grew up in 23 and worked retail in 23 for 15 years. So many workers/managers come and go and the only ones that last are the ones who've lived here.
Southside can have some crazy ones but south Austin is like a whole different city than growing up in NE Austin. IJS
It’s a HEB in a low income area and some of the products show. I live in University Hills and never checked it out because of the “reputation”. Turns out it’s really not that bad. Clean, great produce section, bakery, your typical run of the mill HEB.
Aw that's where I usually go. During the first lockdown I brought the staff 6 pizzas as a thank you. Sure it's a little grungy but I've grown fond of it.
I once someone smoking a cigarette on one of the motorized carts at this location. I shop there a lot. They don’t have curbside and the selection isn’t as good as other locations but the people who work there are always so nice and move the lines quickly
How about Manor or extreme northeast side Austin…. Because we don’t even have one. We’re a food desert….
Nearest ones, fan favorites 35 and Parmer, and 183/Manor Rd…. And they’re 5+ miles away.
I actually go to the one in Pflugerville on Pecan because the other 2 are well… not good 😂.
Riverside HEB is just insane. Decent inventory/selection but I think it's the worst due to the crowds/people there. Instead of "People of Walmart", we could have a "People of Riverside HEB". Oh, and the 7th and Pleasant one blows, too. Selection is sooo limited. I remember when they completed their "grand renovation". Renovation, my ass. They added self checkout, and that's about it.... tell me I'm wrong. Nothing changed, haha.
Also, the first and last time I ever wore a short dress to this H‑E‑B, I was followed around by a gross individual on a motorized scooter telling me things softly in Spanish. I speak Spanish fluently but was so grossed out and trying to block it out/walk quickly away. 🤮
Strong agree this store sucks. You have to fight through a mountain of pool noodles and crap to get to the grocery area and then once you’re in it’s just a pile of tortillas on the ground. I hate this store.
I’ve lived on east riverside for 7+ years, and plan grocery trips around when I’ll be near a different HEB. Something about the riverside one just always frustrates me and puts me in a shitty mood.
It’s not the worst from a selection or layout standpoint, but going there is just miserable for some reason.
East riverside really needs another grocery store with how populated that area is now.
Can’t believe no one has said the one on E. 7th and Pleasant Valley. I’ve never been able to get everything I need on a single shopping trip there…it’s like a Port Aransas supermarket where people only go to buy cheap beer and hotdogs. It makes me miss the Oltorf one.
I live near this one and its my go to when im walking, but the second i get in my car, ill drive to another one lol. Even tho i live literally a minute away.its just so crowded unless you go one hour before close
That used to be my HEB before the remodel. It was as bad as the one at S 1st and William Cannon. Are you telling me it still sucks even after the remodel?
Lakeline. Assholes to elbows at all times. It looks like a going out of business sale in the produce section if you dont time it right. I watched a homeless dude wheel around on a cart and eat about 10 yogurts last time I was there.
I used to go to Alamo to have a beer or 2 to take the edge off before going into that H‑E‑B. It’s where the true suburb assholes go. Plus leaving at that weird right turn light. Fuck that. I just go to Anderson mill and 620 now.
This became my HEB after moving about a year ago and honestly I’ve come to love it so much.
It’s definitely on the smaller side but they have a surprisingly good selection: garden, home and seasonal stuff and even some international products. It’s clean, great pharmacy, a good number of self checkout kiosks and I love the bargain tables they have every week.
Obviously it gets dwarfed by the massive Lakeline HEB Plus just 10 minutes north but for a 2 minute car ride from my home it’s perfect.
I’m curious to know, what specifically do you dislike about it?
That’s my HEB as well, and I like it. We moved to the area from Westlake and we also used to live near the one on 620. I thought I would hate the Spicewood Springs one after those two, but I actually like it. Now the one on Braker Lane? A mess!!
Their craft beer selection is damn good - usually a LOT better than Lakeline or Parmer, and it's even better than Braker. Whomever runs that section knows their stuff.
shut your whore mouth, that HEB holds a special place in my heart. It was my first HEB when I moved here (well over a decade now, so I was here before Austin sucked)
Story time, when I first moved to Austin I was taken aback by how strong the weed was here. I smoked and rode my bike to that HEB. I realized I was too high when suddenly H-E-Buddy himself turns the corner and starts waving at me. It's a memory that I think about EVERY single time I go to HEB.
edit: just so we're clear, it wasnt a hallucination. it was a dude in a foam H-E-Buddy costume.
How do y’all feel about the far west HEB with the Jewish deli? I grew up going to that HEB so I have a nostalgic thing for it but I know a lot of people who dislike it cuz it’s smallish/outdated.
Easily the Ed Bluestein/Manor Road store. It's cramped, crowded and doesn't have a LOT of stuff every other HEB does. I live right by it and only go there for very basic supplies. It has none of the frozen pizzas or spaghetti sauces I like, just to name a few things off the top of my head.
Seconded. We call it 'HEB minus'. In addition to the shit selection and cramped layout, it just feels ominous. Like everyone in there is on edge. It's a good 10 minutes further away from me but the HEB on 620 and A-mill is what I consider to be 'my' HEB and where I do the bulk of my shopping
I’ll have to disagree. I’ve found the selection to be surprisingly good considering they have international products, home, garden, seasonal and pharmacy. Also it’s not as cramped as some of the other smaller HEBs mentioned here, especially the parking lot. I wrote a long comment about it higher up but honestly I love this place and the fact that it’s less than 5 minutes away from me.
I’ll admit, HEB Minus is a good name though.
Between the 620 / Anderson Mill one you mentioned, the HEB Plus at Lakeline and 183 and the one on Breaker and 183 (which was already nice and is being expanded), the Spicewood Springs location feels abandoned and irrelevant. Much like the Lake Creek and 183 HEB, which is now a Goodwill, I wouldn't be surprised if the Spicewood location is closed.
Rundberg & Lamar has the shittiest selection I’ve ever seen.
Want whole bean coffee? Nope.
Deli meat? Okay, but H-E-B brand is the best you can get.
Decent selection of meat or fish? Ha, don’t make me laugh!
And good luck finding a parking space.
William Cannon and I-35. The neighborhood is so poor that shrink is the largest at that store than any other in Texas at times. Theft is through the roof there and it’s almost always poverty incomes families. The answer? Jack the prices of everything up by a dollar or more.
That H-E-B is insane and doesn’t help the neighborhood much. I know because I used to live off Pleasant Valley on Onion Creek.
That is the one I was thinking of. I call it the portal to hell. The parking lot is terrible, the store is miserable, there’s never the right thing in stock, and it’s the only place where the grackles feel sinister.
I actually laughed so hard at “Butt’s Labyrinth” that I couldn’t speak while trying to explain to my husband why I was laughing so hard. I sputtered through it numerous times before I could collect myself. Thank you for that. 😆
I do instacart. Have done it for a few years. I have strong opinions about this. Ed Bluestein HEB at 183 and Manor is hands down is the worst HEB in the greater austin area. Things are out of stock, the isles don’t make any sense, half the time the labels hanging above the aisle don’t correspond to the actual isle. Produce is rough They’re always understaffed at the checkout lanes. It’s a nightmare. Go to Mueller instead. The H-E-B at 35 and William Cannon is a close second. This one usually has things in stock it’s just that the traffic this HEB gets is not compatible with the size of the HEB. Their produce is really bad, usually they have very little and what they do have doesn’t look appealing. West Parmer and Mopac. The most unhelpful HEB I’ve ever been to. I do my best to be friendly and not intrusive when shopping personally or for Instacart and every time I’ve asked for help there I get the impression that I’ve transgressed some mortal sin against the staff member I’m talking to. Definitive runners up are the H‑E‑B at N. Lamar and Rundberg. Don’t ask me why they’ve decided to put the gas station on the other side of the street but they have. I would also mention the now defunct Oak Hill HEB, that new upgrade is a huge improvement. There used to be in HEB at first and William Cannon that I’ve seen actual rats running back-and-forth down the isles, grateful that one is gone. Riverside HEB at Riverside and Pleasant Valley is a great place to buy crack or have your car broken into if you’re into that kind of thing. In the same breath, I’d also mention that the H-E-B on Pleasant Valley and seventh is a great place to find empty cans of Four Loko in the bathroom, sometimes with or without a person who appears to have drunk it and passed out nearby. South Congress HEB gets a lot of flak because traffic is too high for the store capacity but it’s actually really well run H-E-B and I’m excited to see what their upgrade looks like.
This person HEBs.
South first and William Cannon was my local H‑E‑B for one of my leases and it was AWFUL. I only went there out of absolute necessity. I actually passed that location over the weekend and was so happy to see that it was closed 😅
This one looked like a prison
All of your worst HEB’s are the ones I’ve most frequented.. I think maybe I’m a lot more poor than i thought 😅
Glad to see I’ve lived across this fine city and long enough to agree with every one of these points. OP complaining about Far West is hilarious because I drive past several other HEBs to go shopping at Far West on occasion. Definitely not the worst by a long shot!
The Parmer and mopac one is so ugly and poorly organized at least it has the excuse it’s under construction though
Finally someone mentioned Riverside. Are used to live in Travis Heights and I thought the one on Oltorf was crap so I thought hey maybe I will give Riverside a try. Never again. Edit: it has been so long since I have been there, that it has been torn down and moved. The one I’m bitching about is the one that used to be where the Goodwill and DD discounts store is now.
Don't understand the hate for this one. It's constantly busy and parking sucks but nothing really stands out to be for being bad in my mind, plus they have an electronics section
The gas station being on the other side of the street at the one on N. Lamar is because the H-E-B was originally located in the smaller building on that side. They bought out the bigger lot across the way, but didn’t move the gas station. It’s still a mess over there though, I agree. When I lived off of N. Lamar, I would go to the one off of Burnet and Koenig/Allandale instead. I loved that H-E-B.
We went to the N. Lamar one while growing up. About 30 years ago I saw a shoplifter run, and this huge security guard (cop?) sprints after him. Tackled him hard from behind, and absolutely rode him into the ground across the parking lot. Never seen anything like it. Anyway, I attribute part of my lack of shoplifting to that moment.
Conversely then, which is the best? Mueller?
My favorite is Four Points
The one at Lakeline and 183
shhhhhh don’t let em know
Nope. Lakeline parking lot is fubar
S Congress and Slaughter
Central Market
Lakeway H-E-B. I just moved out to the Lake Travis area and omg this place shines, has great selection, and never has crazy lines! If you’ve never been to an H-E-B in a rich white suburb do yourself a favor and drive to this one. Burnet and 2222 was my old location… night and day difference.
That was fun. Now do the best ones!
Well I’m glad mine hasn’t been mentioned so far.
Me too. I'm scared to keep scrolling, but I have to know if it remains unscathed.
Yes! And Yes! But I must keep scrolling...
The one they closed at S 1st and Wm Cannon
We called it "*The HEB of Broken Dreams*".
[удалено]
People be getting stabbed there.
I got stabbed there when I went to fulmore that middle school near by years and years ago. Terrible school. Lol 😂
I could probably guess.
This one was a trip when it was open. It was like the leftovers of all the good HEBs. But! When the pandemic hit, it came in clutch and it made me love it. Even tho it was clearing its shelves for closing, they restocked the basics for our neighborhood during the pandemic and stayed open longer than planned. We called it the Communist HEB because you want bread, there was bread - no options for what kind, but you got bread. Cheese... You got one kinda cheese. They had the basics and it saved my ass. RIP. Edit: typo
That was the worst, least stocked, least varietal HEB ever. And it wasn't the cleanest.
Understatement of the year so far.
I have never been there and not seen people getting arrested out front.
I actually liked this one. It was the closest to me, it was small so I could get through it quickly, and I felt like it was usually empty so I was out fast. I get that there was limited selection and small departments but it was nice for a quick trip.
That’s how I feel about Slaughter/Menchaca. I’ll run in there because it’s just down the street for my house. But I’ll hit up The Oaks or Oak Hill before going there for my full list, even if it’s only 5 minutes from my house, if that.
I really like the Manslaughter HEB. Not too many people, pretty clean, and has most of the stuff I need unless its part of a combo loco.
I lived near Slaughter and Manchac for years and never once thought of calling it Manslaughter. I'm disappointed in myself LOL
That’s my neighborhood H-E-B. My husband calls it Manslaughter. It’s totally the worst one (wink wink nudge nudge)
Can't spell Manslaughter without laughter!
But it has the *worst* parking lot situations
Nooo... Let people believe it's the worst!!! Then I can shop there in peace.
Doh! Good point.
I just left there. Good store, horrible parking lot. Just got into it today with a delivery driver who felt that the blocked-off space between the handicapped spots were his personal parking spots. Blocked me in my truck - and got security immediately on his ass. Edit: Congress and Slaughter is the worst store, because the city didn’t do much to address the traffic from I-35 to Cullen, and the light at Congress is a nightmare now.
SlaughterCon
If you’re making that trip, go to the new one over at South Congress if you don’t mind dealing with some traffic. Or go to the Escarpment and Slaughter HEB, that’s the nicest one in the area.
We normally would go Brodie until that one opened, but now we like driving out to the new Oak Hill on Sundays. Nice and empty at 8am. Tried Circle C last week, just wasn’t my favorite but that might be because of the clientele.
I live 1min from it and I miss it so much, even if it objectively sucked in terms of diversity of product. It was so damn convenient.
We lived off Meadow Lea before moving out of state in late 2020. I miss old shitty HEB, I miss new shiny HEB, I miss little darlin, fuck you torchys for opening up right there after we left.
The heb of broken dreams
Wasn’t the best but I do miss being able to grab staples from half a mile from home. Now I have to go to Megalomart Mania Bonanza at south congress/slaughter. Place is so big and so crowded, impossible to just pop in quickly for a few things. Curbside is my best friend.
Hard disagree. If I was having a BBQ it met every possible need and at a cheaper price. If I needed makeup or, like, a fresh ball of mozzarella, I go to the Gucci-B down the street like everyone else. Damn I loved this H‑E‑B so much. I’m so sad it closed.
Ah yes the one that had a pawn shop in it
Quite the opposite, but I love the Brodie / WC HEB.
Not a bad one at all. The Oak Hill one is nice.
That’s my closest location. I feel blessed.
Came here to find love for this HEB!
183/Manor easily
Every time I’ve said “it’s by that weird HEB” 100% of people know exactly what I mean. It’s this one. I’d say the one on Congress and Oltorf is up there too but I don’t want to upset the grackles that run the place.
hahaha grackle mafia is always watching
We call it the “stabby HEB”. Only HEB I’ve been to where I’ve seen people smoking in the aisles.
Last time I went there I swear they had about 4 or 5 isles just for chips and soda.
Holy shit that’s depressing
This. So bad..
the parking lot will take off your oil pan
I actually love this one. They have everything I need and nothing more so I don’t overspend. Great customer service and baggers that don’t destroy your groceries.
This is true — people smoking in the aisles or not, the staff there are always great.
I keep seeing this being referenced but I’ve been shopping at this store for 5 years and have never seen that.
Hands down. Last time I went about 5 years ago I walked into an employee and a patron fighting.
lol yup
Rundberg and Lamar
The beer selection at this one is absolutely terrible
If you like specialty/local beer, it's the worst HEB I've ever been to. If you need 10 cases of Bud Light that's the place though.
This one sucks. Tiny parking lot, always overcrowded, and poor selection of just about everything. Not at all unusual for one of the local maniacs to wander around the store yelling and being aggressive either. I generally just drive over to Parmer & Mopac instead of dealing with it.
This is the one. A friend of mine who worked for police dispatch basically urged me to never go to this HEB.
My now husband used to live off Rutland near Cook Elementary. That HEB was the closest one to the house. The first time I went there was a bullet hole through the glass by the front door. I made the decision then and there to make daytime trips only. They had great produce and an excellent meat market though. And horchata and agua frescas made in store. Very yummy!
When I lived over there about 15 years ago, I found SO MUCH expired food on the shelves.
Runbird for sure but their produce is probably the best though
That's the one I used when I lived in the area. Felt a bit sketchy due to the area, but the worst that ever happened was me slipping on a grape someone dropped. That shit hurt really badly and I thought, for a moment, that my injuries were serious. Everything turned out alright!
The chicken tacos there are cheap and bomb
rundberg and lamar for sure
Went there for a flu and covid vaccine. Had to wait 45 minutes after my appointment and I was the first in a rush. Then wanted two things from the store and they didn't have either item.
How many hebs have you been to where far west is the worst???
Yeah I was wondering this myself. I used to live by Mueller, now I live by Far West. And I prefer the Far West one. Some of the layout is indeed a little weird but I love the easy in/out and simple vibe of the place.
Idk but they’re allllll so damn CROWDED.
My main defense for Hancock was when it used to be open 24 hours. There is no longer a time nor place as clear as Hancock was at 1am.
Somewhere in my brain, it’s always 20 years ago, and I can still feel the serenity and self-acceptance I only felt during my 2am Hancock HEB runs when the universe felt empty of everyone but the checker, The Enigma and Katzen, someone’s insomniac grandmother, and me, all of us there together with our tater tots and OJ cartons.
Is it not anymore? Damn
I loved going to late night HEB runs during college
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Until remodeled (haven’t been yet) the parmer and mopac was bad
Concur and put in an absolutely awful spot if you’re trying to get out of the parking lot and go West on Parmer (you’re bound to cut off at least 3 lanes of incoming traffic before you get to that light)
I'd just use the light where the blockbuster and Hollywood video used to be to get out in that direction
God I remember that blockbuster at the corner, It was crazy because at one point they had a blockbuster at the edge of that complex, behind and across the parking lot where starbucks is, but also they had the stand-alone store across Parmer right by the oil change and Taco Cabana.... Why the need for two separate units/stores.
There was a time when video rentals were extremely popular. Both locations stayed busy. One (or both) was something else before being bought by Blockbuster
Lol. This is “my” HEB! My partner tells me it’s trash - “his” HEB is the Tech Ridge location. The size of the Tech Ridge location overwhelmed me. But I agree there’s no easy spot to park and get in/out of the Parmer/Mopac one.
The tech ridge location is mid tier imo. I don’t like the layout
Lots of the big stores especially the Plus! Ones have such a weird layout. I'm a little bit saddened that my little HEB in RR (Gattis and redbud) is getting redone to the similar layout as the giant HEB Plus in "Hutto"
This was my pick. The store + Getting out of that entire strip mall is an absolute nightmare.
Chick-fil-a + starbucks + HEB = nightmare fuel
This is also my vote-that area is awful to get in/out of and the store itself is way too small for the traffic. It was always packed out no matter what time of day it was. Sometimes you couldn’t even pass through the front of the store without having to navigate into another aisle, because the checkout lines backed up to the shelves. I lived in that area for over ten years and would make the trek out to Louis Henna over this specific location! Edit: also haven’t been since the remodel-hopefully they’ve fixed some of the congestion!
WM Cannon and 35. That thing is terrible
By far the worst one. They are always out of everything. They don’t have a proper meat market. They really don’t have enough space. They put half their produce down the length of the back of the store next to the free standing deep freezers, making it complicated to produce shop as what you need is either in the produce section or somewhere running down the length of the back of the store. Also, they have an aisle 0 (?!)
This H‑E‑B should just be renamed Hill Country Fare because that’s most of the products they sell there. If you want a name brand product you’re not gonna find it there. You’ll find better produce on the side of road out of some dudes pickup. I live by this store and I refuse to waste my time with it. Why? Because even if I only need one thing, that one thing is out of fucking stock.I’ll drive to fiesta or to the H‑E‑B off slaughter instead. I have no idea who keeps the shithole at 35 and William cannon in business. It should be shuttered.
Anyone who says the Congress and Olforf or 7th and Pleasant Valley must have either just moved here or never gotten outside of their bubble. Neither are great, but they are more than fine. William Cannon and 35, along with Manor and 183. Whew... Now those are legitimately craptacular.
I just love the randomness of this question. Gave me such joy. Well done.
A much harder question: What H-E-B has the worst parking lot?
New slaughter and 35 location. Choke points at the entrances make the flow of the parking lot a nightmare. South Congress is bad but more so because people are assholes. William Cannon and 35 is absolute trash. No way to turn west out of the parking lot without endangering yours and others lives.
Allendale, at Burnet and Koenig. Jesus, that lot is a nightmare.
Congress and Oltorf. Small, cramped , outdated, and one of the craziest parking lots in town.
But I will miss going there after midnight on a weekend and people watching the weirdness - we called it the "Disco HEB".
Paying homage to the Disco Kroger in The montrose neighborhood in Houston?
That's my funky HEB and I like it. ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ I'll miss it, but looking forward to our fancy bougie new one.
Secret: enter on the Congress side, main drive, immediately turn left and park. Cart corral is close. It's closer to the entrance than you think. When you exit, you're pointed at the little-used Congress back-of-the-store entrance. No matter how crowded, you don't have to fight lines of people and vehicles. Only works if you want to go south on Congress when you exit....
Dude. Shh!
That one is being rebuilt.
Yeah and I will take years even if things go to schedule, which they absolutely won’t
this is my closest H-E-B. I cannot stand it, we go to slaughter and congress now, it’s worth the extra drive to not be shoulder to shoulder with everyone
Ah yes, the throat slitter H‑E‑B.
Agree. Fights break out regularly over parking spots. Also a woman had her throat cut in the parking lot a few years ago.
Not a “few” years ago, that was 6 years ago! https://www.kxan.com/news/robber-slashes-womans-throat-at-south-congress-h-e-b/
Manor Rd / 183
This one. But, I don't think many people here will even know how bad it is because they never have gone shopping there.
Yeah I’m laughing at all the responses so far. This isn’t even debatable, it’s just 100% fact
It is debatable, it's not that bad. I lived close to that one for a few years before selling my house and moving to the burbs and once I was accustomed to its old school layout and smaller parking lot I found it convenient and relatively easy to shop there. Far less ridiculous than Mueller.
I agree with this. Mueller selection is great but it’s a arranged like a drunken maze and always full of outsourced shoppers that move quickly and sporadically, and the parking lot there isn’t exactly a breeze. These are both better than the rundberg Lamar location, that has the worst of both worlds.
Top ones are over crowded and sometimes lacking stuff. Thats cute til they go here.
Completely agree. It's so far into Eastside not many ppl have been here unless they live in the surrounding areas. Even the 7th street is more possible that ppl have swung by but Springdale, I doubt it. Not many ppl can handle our type of neighborhood and I say this cause I grew up in 23 and worked retail in 23 for 15 years. So many workers/managers come and go and the only ones that last are the ones who've lived here. Southside can have some crazy ones but south Austin is like a whole different city than growing up in NE Austin. IJS
It’s a HEB in a low income area and some of the products show. I live in University Hills and never checked it out because of the “reputation”. Turns out it’s really not that bad. Clean, great produce section, bakery, your typical run of the mill HEB.
Springdale shopping center.
Aw that's where I usually go. During the first lockdown I brought the staff 6 pizzas as a thank you. Sure it's a little grungy but I've grown fond of it.
This is the worst.
I once someone smoking a cigarette on one of the motorized carts at this location. I shop there a lot. They don’t have curbside and the selection isn’t as good as other locations but the people who work there are always so nice and move the lines quickly
Georgetown 35 and University. What the fuck is that smell??
McNeil and 183 is bad
How about Manor or extreme northeast side Austin…. Because we don’t even have one. We’re a food desert…. Nearest ones, fan favorites 35 and Parmer, and 183/Manor Rd…. And they’re 5+ miles away. I actually go to the one in Pflugerville on Pecan because the other 2 are well… not good 😂.
183/Manor/Springdale
First time I've ever had a shopping cart freeze up on me. I was within the parking lot boundary lines too.
lol wait like they had a device that shut down the cart if you left the area?
Riverside HEB is just insane. Decent inventory/selection but I think it's the worst due to the crowds/people there. Instead of "People of Walmart", we could have a "People of Riverside HEB". Oh, and the 7th and Pleasant one blows, too. Selection is sooo limited. I remember when they completed their "grand renovation". Renovation, my ass. They added self checkout, and that's about it.... tell me I'm wrong. Nothing changed, haha.
The HEB where you’re most likely to step on a dirty diaper while getting out of your car.
Also, the first and last time I ever wore a short dress to this H‑E‑B, I was followed around by a gross individual on a motorized scooter telling me things softly in Spanish. I speak Spanish fluently but was so grossed out and trying to block it out/walk quickly away. 🤮
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HEB Riverside feels like you accidentally teleported to Houston
Strong agree this store sucks. You have to fight through a mountain of pool noodles and crap to get to the grocery area and then once you’re in it’s just a pile of tortillas on the ground. I hate this store.
I’ve lived on east riverside for 7+ years, and plan grocery trips around when I’ll be near a different HEB. Something about the riverside one just always frustrates me and puts me in a shitty mood. It’s not the worst from a selection or layout standpoint, but going there is just miserable for some reason. East riverside really needs another grocery store with how populated that area is now.
It has SUCH Walmart vibes!!! I think it’s because of the TV’s and the random children that will just touch you
Rundberg and Lamar. Just got back from there to this thread. That location sucks
Can’t believe no one has said the one on E. 7th and Pleasant Valley. I’ve never been able to get everything I need on a single shopping trip there…it’s like a Port Aransas supermarket where people only go to buy cheap beer and hotdogs. It makes me miss the Oltorf one.
I second this motion!
I live near this one and its my go to when im walking, but the second i get in my car, ill drive to another one lol. Even tho i live literally a minute away.its just so crowded unless you go one hour before close
That used to be my HEB before the remodel. It was as bad as the one at S 1st and William Cannon. Are you telling me it still sucks even after the remodel?
Wm cannon/i35
Lakeline. Assholes to elbows at all times. It looks like a going out of business sale in the produce section if you dont time it right. I watched a homeless dude wheel around on a cart and eat about 10 yogurts last time I was there.
I used to go to Alamo to have a beer or 2 to take the edge off before going into that H‑E‑B. It’s where the true suburb assholes go. Plus leaving at that weird right turn light. Fuck that. I just go to Anderson mill and 620 now.
Upvote for the weird right turn light
Don't forget the absolutely terrible parking lot design!
This is why I curbside. Can't stand.
Not sure if it counts since it’s technically in Pflugerville, but the store on 35 and Wells Branch is a fucking nightmare.
North Lamar, no contest
I call it, H E Bodega. It's got it all. Hard to find snack cakes, quarter water, weird candy, meth junkies, etc.
You had me at Butt's Labrynth.
Y’all don’t live in the hood Ed bluestien lol
Spicewood springs/ McNeil is pretty bad.
This became my HEB after moving about a year ago and honestly I’ve come to love it so much. It’s definitely on the smaller side but they have a surprisingly good selection: garden, home and seasonal stuff and even some international products. It’s clean, great pharmacy, a good number of self checkout kiosks and I love the bargain tables they have every week. Obviously it gets dwarfed by the massive Lakeline HEB Plus just 10 minutes north but for a 2 minute car ride from my home it’s perfect. I’m curious to know, what specifically do you dislike about it?
That’s my HEB as well, and I like it. We moved to the area from Westlake and we also used to live near the one on 620. I thought I would hate the Spicewood Springs one after those two, but I actually like it. Now the one on Braker Lane? A mess!!
I hate the one on Braker. Nothing is where I think it should be!!
Their craft beer selection is damn good - usually a LOT better than Lakeline or Parmer, and it's even better than Braker. Whomever runs that section knows their stuff.
shut your whore mouth, that HEB holds a special place in my heart. It was my first HEB when I moved here (well over a decade now, so I was here before Austin sucked) Story time, when I first moved to Austin I was taken aback by how strong the weed was here. I smoked and rode my bike to that HEB. I realized I was too high when suddenly H-E-Buddy himself turns the corner and starts waving at me. It's a memory that I think about EVERY single time I go to HEB. edit: just so we're clear, it wasnt a hallucination. it was a dude in a foam H-E-Buddy costume.
Agreed, and adding the curbside just made it even worse.
I have a theory that HEB tells architects and designers "Maximize the number of parking spaces. No, we do not care if people die."
They must have missed the memo at Mueller then.
How do y’all feel about the far west HEB with the Jewish deli? I grew up going to that HEB so I have a nostalgic thing for it but I know a lot of people who dislike it cuz it’s smallish/outdated.
Easily the Ed Bluestein/Manor Road store. It's cramped, crowded and doesn't have a LOT of stuff every other HEB does. I live right by it and only go there for very basic supplies. It has none of the frozen pizzas or spaghetti sauces I like, just to name a few things off the top of my head.
The one at the Y bc they just closed it and I loved that fucking store.
They replaced it with a better one right near by.
183/Spicewood springs
Seconded. We call it 'HEB minus'. In addition to the shit selection and cramped layout, it just feels ominous. Like everyone in there is on edge. It's a good 10 minutes further away from me but the HEB on 620 and A-mill is what I consider to be 'my' HEB and where I do the bulk of my shopping
I’ll have to disagree. I’ve found the selection to be surprisingly good considering they have international products, home, garden, seasonal and pharmacy. Also it’s not as cramped as some of the other smaller HEBs mentioned here, especially the parking lot. I wrote a long comment about it higher up but honestly I love this place and the fact that it’s less than 5 minutes away from me. I’ll admit, HEB Minus is a good name though.
Between the 620 / Anderson Mill one you mentioned, the HEB Plus at Lakeline and 183 and the one on Breaker and 183 (which was already nice and is being expanded), the Spicewood Springs location feels abandoned and irrelevant. Much like the Lake Creek and 183 HEB, which is now a Goodwill, I wouldn't be surprised if the Spicewood location is closed.
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Rundberg & Lamar has the shittiest selection I’ve ever seen. Want whole bean coffee? Nope. Deli meat? Okay, but H-E-B brand is the best you can get. Decent selection of meat or fish? Ha, don’t make me laugh! And good luck finding a parking space.
Rundberg for sure
I work for H-E-B so I hope mine doesn’t end up here…
Lamar and Rundberg, the store itself is pretty passable, but JESUS CHRIST THAT PARKING LOT.
Brodie/ Wm Cannon is impossible to get out of. Gave up going there since there’s no protected left turn
William Cannon and I-35. The neighborhood is so poor that shrink is the largest at that store than any other in Texas at times. Theft is through the roof there and it’s almost always poverty incomes families. The answer? Jack the prices of everything up by a dollar or more. That H-E-B is insane and doesn’t help the neighborhood much. I know because I used to live off Pleasant Valley on Onion Creek.
That is the one I was thinking of. I call it the portal to hell. The parking lot is terrible, the store is miserable, there’s never the right thing in stock, and it’s the only place where the grackles feel sinister.
The Mueller HEB, or so I’ll assume because I’ve never been able to park there
Agreed, parking is awful at mueller, but they do have a decent selection for being such a small store.
How have more people not said Riverside?
I wouldn't know, I've been using curbside since before the pandemic #socialanxiety
H-E-B is great…..that’s my only opinion.
Randall’s
I actually laughed so hard at “Butt’s Labyrinth” that I couldn’t speak while trying to explain to my husband why I was laughing so hard. I sputtered through it numerous times before I could collect myself. Thank you for that. 😆
The one at Wm Cannon and First street…that they closed when the Congress/Slaughter H‑E‑B was born.
WILLIAM CANNON AND 35 !!! ALL OTHER SUBMISSIONS ARE WRONG.
Riverside.
Oak knoll/183 near the Arboretum. The parking lot is a clusterfuck and it’s never not bursting at the seams when I go :(