Welcome Food Center — Attraction in Houston

If I can give a zero star I would. I have an extremely negative experience at the check out counter at the store. She is a Cantonese speaking cashier who was wearing glasses during 4 pm today’s date. When I asked her to give me an extra bag to separate the scallions from the carrots to prevent them from being mushed due to the weight differences several times , she said that I was being greedy in Cantonese, not knowing that I actually understood the language. I used to work cashier in HEB, we want to make sure fruits and vegetables of major weight difference are separated to protect them from being damaged, this is because we don’t know how long our customers may have to keep them. Nevertheless, such attitude is very disrespectful and not customer service focus at all. There are a lot of other Asian supermarkets in the area with comparable prices and quality of produce, not counting other supermarkets in the area such as Walmart and HEB. I want to raise awareness to customers regarding such disrespect attitude of this worker to avoid coming to this store as we all have a lot of good choices in the area. We do not deserve to be treated especially we are the customers that are supporting the store’s business.

I also just briefly saw other reviews online. It appeared that multiple customers have posted their negative experience resulting from their encounter with this same staff member. Yet, the company continued to allow this staff to behave in such a disrespectful way to customers who she believes that do not speak Cantonese. This shows me that Welcome Food Center is in a way reinforces and perhaps share the same mentality as this staff, that is, quality customer service experience is very low on their...

Don't expect Welcome to look like Super H Mart or 99 Ranch Market, you'll be highly disappointed. Both stores are like the HEB Central Market to Asian grocery stores and Welcome, more like a Fiesta and that's not a bad thing.

Welcome has nearly everything you're looking for to prepare a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, ect. meal. Lots of produce and items that are considered specialty items elsewhere are common place and at home here. A somewhat frequent shopper at other Asian markets, I've found Welcome to be one of the few to have lower prices on many items and brands sold at similar stores.

When I'm not looking for "exotic" items I can't locate at my nearest grocery store, I take a detour into Welcome's meat market and bakery. The meat market as nearly every cut of meat from a chicken, cow, and pig, are packaged for sell. To get the best bargain, look for the sticker that says "special". Meats with those stickers are the money savers: a large bag of beef bones, whole chickens, and more for under $3.25 (and that's not per pound either).

The bakery is located near the end of the store near the check-out lanes. It's no where as big as other stores, but you can get so much for less. Huge shredded pork buns, taro buns, hot dog buns, and more are $1. Cupcakes are huge and are only $1.25. Skip the egg tarts and go somewhere where they're better looking for the same price as it's sold in Welcome. Excellent bargains all around even in their "deli" department, where you can order a 3 item rice plate for $3.99.

Pros: inexpensive, a wide selection of items

Cons: doesn't appear to be the cleanest of places,...

UPDATE 1/2023:

WOW, they have really spiffed up the place! It's a whole new store. I may miss the old Chinese store smell, but the delicious aroma of Chinese food wafting over from the deli to greet me was a welcome smell. Everything looks more organized and feels more spacious. There are big neon signs to make finding areas like the butcher counter or natural foods easier. Yep, this is even more so my favorite Chinese grocery store!

I have to say that Welcome's renovation a year or so ago has improved its appearance and cleanliness.

I like seeing a security officer when I enter. When I make Chinese jerky, I always go to the meat counter as they say their meat, like pork, is local.

Welcome is a true Chinese grocery store. I find things here that will not be at the Korean HMart or at California-based Ranch 99. The staff may be mainly Chinese-speaking, but to me it gives an authentic vibe. Yes, you have to make sure things aren't expired and certain areas may smell, but that adds to the cultural experience.

It's so easy to swing by the deli area and scoop out of the pot of soaking tea eggs just one for a quick snack.

My very, very favorite prepared food item is the leaf-wrapped, string tied guongdong rice "tamale." It has at least half a dozen delicious, savory ingredients that have been boiled in rice for hours! I remember devouring similar homemade doong that my mother used to make in my childhood. There are other doong there, but this one is flavorful and filling. The last one I bought was still warm, so I sat in my car and straightaway...