The owner here seems to be quite racist. Despite having a huge sign saying they do catering, when I asked the man said they didn't. Also, he kept telling me that they don't sell American goods. I wanted a few Russian and Eastern European treats and would have bought some had the owner not been so off putting. I still willing to keep shopping since Polonia is a bit out the way but once he started following me I was done. I can see why they are empty. read more

Golden Grain - Imported Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

We enjoyed looking at all the stuff from Russia and Europe. My wife and I picked up a few chocolate bars and wafer cookies. The chocolate was very good. The wafers were stale. We'll be back for more goodies. read more

Golden Grain - the front entrance of a restaurant - Imported Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

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For nigh on two decades, this small general store owned and operated by an older Armenian couple has mainly served the Russian and Eastern European community in Houston. From its quiet location near some residential complexes out past Meyerland, Golden Grain sells all manner of preserved goods, wines, deli meats and cheeses, fresh pastries, and more from over 25 countries including the Balkans, Armenia, and Georgia. It is a hobby of mine to track down and sample traditional foods from foreign lands, so my search for Armenian cuisine in Houston led me here. When we walked in near closing time, the owners were initially a bit gruff and terse; but after I explained that I was interested in trying Armenian fare, they lit up and made some recommendations. Upon Svetlana's suggestion, I tried Noyan brand Eggplant in Ajika (a tangy red pepper dip), which is originally a Georgian dish but apparently very popular in Armenia. This cold dish was not my favorite as I found it to be overly bitter and tangy, but I'm sure the home-made rather than canned version is much better. The Tolma, cabbage rolls stuffed with minced beef and rice luxuriating in a thin tomato broth, were excellent and quite filing. Even microwaved, they made for a juicy, savory, and pungent experience similar to a heftier version of the grape leaf-wrapped dolma you'll find at most Mediterranean restaurants. Next, I had Blinchiki, which are oily dumpling-like crepes stuffed with beef and onions. These had a lovely unctuous flavor underscored by a dull bitterness, though I do think the microwave made them slightly soggy. Finally, the home-made Medovik honey cake with layers of sponge cake and cream was on the dry side - it had probably been sitting out all day--but the subtle flavor was bright and not-too-sweet, which I appreciated. Excited to explore more of what they have to offer in the future! read more

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I'm a bit torn on this review because I absolutely loved this little Russian store but there was a hiccup with one of their desserts (last paragraph). The owners were extremely nice and if you frequent Russian grocery stores, you'll know that the staff can be standoffish at best and downright rude at worst. Svetlana was so sweet to me and really took the time to show me around and answer all my questions. Her husband was really nice as well and offered to help me with my bags (I'm almost 8 months pregnant). The service was quite possibly the best I've ever received in a Russian grocery. I'm sure it's a bit challenging to visit these stores when you don't speak Russian but I think the owners would be kind enough to help orient you. Svetlana also makes a lot of their offered items such as the desserts as well as the pelmeni. She seems to really care about their business and the food they serve. You should be able to find most of the Russian staples here but I will note that some of them will be frozen. They don't sell fresh bread (I was told that there are no bakeries in the area that make rye bread so they have to import it). Same with blini (Russian crepes). I bought a frozen set and thawed it. It was still a hit with my friends (you toast it with butter in a pan then serve it with red caviar) but the texture was slightly different than fresh blini (more prone to breaking). Not a huge deal and not the shop's fault. It doesn't seem like there's a huge demand for Russian grocery supplies in the area as I haven't been able to find any restaurants. Also, I'm only aware of one other Russian grocery store and it's nearby. All these factors might make it tough to move merchandise. That being said, I really enjoyed a few of my purchases. The red caviar was pretty tasty (sold by weight, in jars, and in cans, priced accordingly). Also, really enjoyed the herring. Great kvashenaya kapusta (Russian saurkraut). Additionally, bought some of Svetlana's homemade Siberian pelmeni (beef and pork) and they were tasty. Finally, the Medovik (honey cake) was yummy. This leads me to my one disappointment. I bought 2 slices of Medovik cake and 2 slices of Napoleon cake. I drove home and immediately refrigerated both. The next day, I pulled them out and let them thaw for a brief while. The Medovik was delicious but the Napoleon tasted off (I've had good Napoleon before). When I was cleaning plates afterward, I noticed that one of my guests left some of their Napoleon uneaten and there was a splotch of blue mold on it. Cue my shock and embarrassment. I took a photo but I won't post it here because I don't want it to dominate the photos section and turn people away. I was honestly unsure whether I should even mention it and I'm certainly not doing it to hurt the business. I just want to warn people that this shop might not move their product as quickly as they'd like so it's best to pay close attention to expiration dates, etc. I still highly encourage you to support this little business and its lovely owners, just be aware. read more

I asked a friend to buy me red caviar at "Golden Grain", he brought it and I was shocked to say the least, I began to be surprised by the appearance, it looked like porridge, not caviar, when they opened the lid we saw dry caviar on the inside of the roof and the same porridge instead of caviar, I decided to try it and then I had to brush my teeth, the taste was terribly bitter, I decided to return the money or exchange the product, but the elderly woman was very rude, called me a liar and told me to feed my children this caviar and nothing would happen to them , before buying from this magazine, think carefully about whether you are ready to get a distraction for your own money and then listen to a lot of bad things addressed to you read more

Golden Grain - a hand holding a jar of jam - Imported Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

The home made food and deserts were very good. I found a lot of yummy food in this store that reminded me of my childhood. The owner Svetlana is a very nice person, she was very friendly and showed me around. read more

Golden Grain - Home made desert and Russian traditional salads - Imported Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have been going here for years EVERY time I pass through Houston. Food was fantastic traditional cuisine. Owners are two elderly wonderful and kind people. The mood is definitely traditional Eastern European style. Great variety of goods. Definitely a go to store in my opinion and I will continue to go. Everyone has a bad day, so don't let the bad reviews sway you. Great people. read more

Very great place with kind owners. Their prices are very fair too and they have a wide variety of items.

Got caviar, blini, sausage and honey cake from this hidden gem owned by a lovely couple. Highly recommend! read more

Golden Grain - Medovik cake made by the owner. Even better than the one I had in Mari Vanna. - Imported Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

I traveled the world a lot. I lived in post Soviet countries for a couple of years. I've never seen such a bad service and such old and outdated products. The lady at the entrance is very rude. She yells on her language at almost every visitor. She refused to take my US credit card. She demanded to pay cash. The store is dirty. All the products are packaged in the packages that are not used in post Soviet countries for many years. The design of the packaging was changed like a couple of years ago. The products I bought were frozen 2 and more times, the taste of them was destroyed completely. I will not recommend this store to anyone. read more

I've lived in Houston for over 13 years and have never heard of this store but finally got to check it out. They do have competitive prices and a lot more variety of items than competing stores but customer service is terrible. You can't go around the store without the owner walking behind you and looking over your shoulder thinking that you're stealing or pointing out everything that she has in the store. And if you don't shut the entrance door properly, you'll get shouted on. Overall, not the most pleasant experience. I'd rather pay a few cents more for everything and have better customer service. read more

This is a lovely family-owned Russian/Eastern European market. They have homemade Russian desserts like honey cake and napoleon and savory prepared foods like borsch, Olivier salad, etc. The owners are friendly and welcoming. read more

To start this Russian grocery review off right on Tchaikovsky's birthday, pick your favorite music (I suggest Piano Concerto No. 1) from http://www.lala.com/#album/937030197557925316 You would never guess that tucked among the surrounding apartment complexes near Belden's is this gem of a store run by Svetlana and Robert, who are very helpful, even to non-Russians looking for something different to eat. I heard from a good authority that this is the best Russian grocery in town, but this is the only one in which I have bought food. I understand that she makes the pastries and cakes and prepares some of the packaged meal items. There are many prepared meats to choose from, and some unique cheeses. Candies are unusual Russian ones. I bought the layered pastry & cream dessert, since she said it was the most popular. It indeed is quite good, especially with a good cuppa. If you like herring, like I do, they have a few varieties of preparations here (smoked, pickled, etc.). Now I know where to get the Russian-style blinnies, too. read more

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Live in Houston about 2 years and never have been to a Russian store (what a shame since I'm Russian ). So I had to fix it. One of my Russian friends recommended me this store and I'm very thankful for that! The owners are so nice and welcoming. Svetlana introduced us to the store - she went through the aisles with us and told what has better quality or better taste. As it turned out everything I bought was very good and very fresh! My favorite chocolate candies Romashka were sooooo soft and fresh (which is really hard to find even in Russia). Red caviar (which they sell by weight - not canned ones) was super super good!!! Siberian pelmeni tasted delicious as well! Didn't try the other groceries yet but I bet I'll not be disappointed read more

Golden Grain - Just brought a little piece of Russia home yum - Imported Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great selection of Russian and Caucasus products and the owners are very helpful! Got a few Georgian spices, some preserves, and homemade cabbage rolls (golubtsi) that were delicious. read more

I'm not Russian, but I love this store. I love the homemade deli items like borscht, mushroom soup, beef biryani (I'm sure that is not what they call it) and fresh pickles. Of course, the have a huge variety of meats and sausages and dried fish. They have Russian and eastern European beers and wines that are always good for a change as well as delicious and unique fruit juices. The older couple make it an enjoyable shopping experience and help describe some products whose labels may be only in Russian. read more

As noted in several of the previous reviews, most Russian stores do not thrive on customer service, but to be fair - it is far worse in Russia! I find that the owners are very nice and as I don't speak Russian well, they always help and are patient with me. My mate is Russian and enjoys Svetlana's salads and cakes very much and enjoys speaking with her. I noted that one person thought that they were being followed for fear of stealing something, but I think that it is to offer assistance or answer questions. I always struggle to find something specific, such as buckwheat flour and of course, they always point me in the right direction. The store is not extremely large, but I always find what I am needing to prepare Russian dishes at home. Overall, I find the prices very fair, the Pelmeni is always fantastic and I am told that the salads are very original by Russian standards. The meat and sausage has always been fresh and enjoyable. I will return many times in the future. read more

The owners may seem standoffish at first, but they are very kind and amused if you don't speak Russian. :) great selection of preserves, teas, and in the refrigerated section there are some tasty items to go like soups, cabbage rolls, cabbage salad, and salad olivier (mmmm so good.) frozen pelmeni available. I love the smetana. They also prepare cakes (layers cakes like napoleon not american style) and dumplings. There's a very small collection of produce like dill. I like this place a lot. I'm not Russian, but having spent a little time in Russia, I really love it there and this store reminds me of the wonderful things I experienced there-like borsch, smetana, dill, black bread, kasha, sour cherries, blini, kvass, etc. Great place. !! read more

The store is unassuming, situated in a strip center that seems to have seen better days, but the businesses have all been there for years. I thought to check this place out because it's a few doors down from Irma's, who gives quite decent haircuts for men at rock bottom prices, and has the gentlest touch of anyone. But on to the subject of this review, the Golden Grain. Hint number one: if the owners tell you something is good, trust them. The are proud of what they offer, and know it well. I've had their soups, salads, pasties, salamis, and preserves. The soups and salads are made fresh all the time because they sell fast. OH MY GOD, their soups are to die for. Their salads are finely chopped, gently spiced, and satisfying. Add some hearty Russian or Ukrainian bread and you you have a filling meal. Hint.number two: try their Russian Beers. Better than fresh German Beers. Fahget about getting Baltika #5, because I just cleaned them out. Hint number three: the Gypsy salami is better than their Moscow salami, but there are over thirty other types. Take your cholesterol meds, and then come in and try some. I've just known them for three weeks, and expect to be a regular. read more

This place is awesome and like stepping into a little bit of Russia! The lady who runs it, Svetlana is very kind and helpful in a very Russian way. She has fresh borscht and other Russian staples that she makes from scratch. There's also pretty much anything else Russian you could want, from caviar at good prices to smoked fish. It's a destination in and of itself that can't be missed. read more

I had the best experience with Svetlana that i could've hoped for. We were in a holiday rush, trying to prepare 120 gifts for kids for the New Years party - she worked day and night with us, counting chocolates, weighing the bags, updating us on the costs and having everything ready in a day! I would've given her more stars if they were available! Way to go - we would treasure our business relationship for years to come! Happy Holidays! -Maria Bondarenko - Russian School of Austin read more

WHAT A GEM. I bought a Napolean cake for a work party from here. My coworkers loved it. They have a wide selection of Russia and European delicacies. What I enjoyed the most was the hospitality of the owners. I will be coming back for more cakes and maybe some beer in the future. P.S. Russian beer is superb. read more

Lots of great, interesting and natural foods. Try the Armenian preserves--they are amazing, GMO, and organic!

Awesome little Russian grocery! Please give them your local business! The BF and I stopped here on our way back home after a weekend in Houston- we'd specifically planned this stop so we could stock up a cooler full of Russian food to take home with us. We were pleasantly surprised by the warm and helpful man who helped us- the husband of the owner. Though we found more than enough food to take home with us, we were a little disappointed that there were not more ready-made foods available, as the wife is typically the one who makes them fresh each day and she was out sick. As it is, we were able to get malt beverage, plenty of olivie, fresh cuts of meat and cheeses, a few sauces and jars of pickled vegetables, and some soups to take home with us. Customer service was great and the gentleman and my boyfriend bonded over chat about eastern Europe- from what I gather, the wife is Russian like my BF but the guy we worked with was not but had grown up all over. We worked up quite a bill and took quite some time here chatting- for which I was rewarded with a free candy bar thrown in the bag for being a good girlfriend while the guys chatted about the motherland. Wish this place wasn't so far away- they are far superior to our lone Russian grocery in SA! read more

I wound up here because I was in a search for Georgian wines. (Georgia was the birthplace of wine and is known for some interesting wines.) This place is a small grocery store that looks to be operating on a shoestring budget. Once inside, I was greeted by the owner and she is delightful as can be. She gave me a quick overview of the store and then walked me over to specific items that she thought I might enjoy. Most of what I bought was prepared foods which she makes herself. I'll start with the borscht because it's such an iconic Russian dish. Generally I'm not a fan but hers was quite good - rich and hearty. I also bought some blintzes which I have yet to try and a salad which contains beets, potatoes, sauerkraut(?) among other ingredients. It reminds me of a potato salad more than anything, but with the deep ruby red color of beets. One thing is certain is that the salad requires considerable labor. I also bought two slices of her cakes - one a Napoleon and I'm not sure about the other. Those were stellar! Those could be sold in a high end bakery or restaurant and no one would suspect that they're made by a 70ish(?) Russian emigre. And of course I bought two bottles of Georgian wines. The prices on the wine are great! I've lived within a few miles of this place for all of its 19 years and never knew it existed. If you enjoy trying new foods, love unique cultural experience, or just want some seriously decadent desserts then I urge you to try Golden Grain. They have a "commercial" now! Made by their son but featuring some really sweet dance moves. https://youtu.be/_nu_tPib71c read more

Golden grain is my newest little exploration and I got more than I imagined. As a self-proclaimed foodie to enter into foreign grocery stores is a real treat. Nothing was in English which leaves a chance to really dive in blindfolded. However, the owners were incredibly helpful and friendly. I learned a little about #Russian dumplings! The traditional way to eat them is to boil them just like you would all the others, boil for 2 1/2-3 minutes, stir a little to make sure they don't get stuck. It's then laid upon some melted butter and given a dollop of sour cream on top. Occasionally people will substitute the sour cream for ketchup. I've yet to try it but I bought the #potato #mushroom ones. They also make #homemade #dumplings! I'm really curious about that cottage cheese one to be continued for the next trip. This place is so wonderfully cozy and full of possibilities. An adorable European universe is waiting for you. read more

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Pretty decent Russian store, assortment is good, slightly overpriced compare to other stores, but if none of stores are available in your area and you have to buy online, prices are pretty even. Service is excellent they go beyond to meet your needs. read more

Once a while we buy food from this store, mostly preserves or icecream from Russia or Eastern Europe, it was very good. Few weeks ago we bought Vareniki- it's sort of Raviolli with sour cherry, thats what we were expected. It has to be preserved cherries, but it real life it wasnt. It was some kind of compote from sour cherries, I'm sure full of preservatives and chimicals, it was really disgusting, we through everything away. This product you can not check unless you cook it. We been lied about real cheriies and this food cost us 24 $, total waist of money. We decided never buy food from that store. read more

Food is not fresh here.I was going to buy Russian dumplings here and saw through the clear bag the dumplings were very yellow- must have been old. No expiration date on this and many other perishable items in the store. Bought some Russian chocolate candies and most of them were stale - a mix of old ones and fresher ones. The prices for the same items are generally higher here than in General Russian store. This store also charges tax on every food item which I find ridiculous and not even sure if it is legal. Going back to General Store - was a mistake, not worth saving 5 min extra time driving. read more

This a gem of a store. Very clean and tidy. The owners are precious and attentive. Our children our learning Russian, so we thought it would be fun to visit an authentic store. The owners were patient and spoke Russian to our kids. We are already planning to visit again. read more

The costumer service in this store was horrible I will never go back, the lady was super rude with us. Apparently she had two others costumers and she didn't care about us, I was wanting to ask her question and she was making some faces. She was even rude with my daughter because My daughter was touching some things. She was yelling at my daughter don't make me a mess, I don't have time to clean. And then she said something bad in her Language to her. I have never had someone treating us like that. I will not recommend this store to anyone. read more

The owner makes excellent desserts in the store - try the Napoleon! Plenty of other interesting things to find and try, as well.

This is one of my favorite places in all of Houston! Robert, the owner, helped us out when he noticed us wandering around kind of lost , we were, and helped us get the right products we needed and put back the things we didn't need! We have been back on numerous occasions and we will continue to patronize Golden Grain! read more

Was feeling adventurous and wanted to know what Russian food tasted like...unfortunately there are no Russian restaurants in Houston so here I went with my equally curious mother. Best idea ever!! We were greeted in Russian and we meekly said hello and browsed around....Svetlana realized we did not speak the language and immediately introduced us to her shop in English, showing us around, telling us what was in each aisle, and what products she prefers most. We were pretty clueless so this helped! She also gave us samples of some deli items and her homemade potato salad-which we bought two of! We also bought some of her cabbage rolls and Siberian dumplings which we must try soon. We were going to get some of her cakes but it slipped our mind as we got distracted with other goodies haha...next time! I soon felt very welcome and at home, we also met Robert who helped us with items as well while Svetlana helped other customers. Can't wait to come back again and try new items. I'd love to visit Russia in person someday but I am fine with Golden Grain for now! This is a totally cute and hidden gem of a place! :) read more

The food was great. The lady cooked red beet soup, Russian salad, and cabbage-wrapped meat for us, which all turned out real well. The place is actually a store with a wide variety of Russian products. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about Russian culture and cuisine. read more

We love this store, the owners work very hard and we are happy to support their business.

We've been coming to this little grocery for many years, and will keep coming. Love it.

Sveta and Robert won over "Russian General Store" !!!! Sveta was open past 10 p.m. to make her customers (our family) HAPPY !!! I We brought a huge box of European FOOD (including home making pickles ) to home !!! We declare Sveta and Robert the WINNERs ! GOD BLESS YOU !!! Sincerely , INGA and JIM CHAPMAN. read more

The food was good. I ordered cup of soup (borsh) and my husband had a mushroom soup. For an entry I ordered rise pilov with beef and my husband ordered "pelmeni "(dumplings with beef). We also shared salad "Olivie" and we had a drink each (Russian kvas). The whole meal cost us $ 43.22, before the tips. The store did not have a menu, so the lady working at the counter lead me to a refrigerator and showed what they have for today, the items that we ordered were straight from the refrigerator. She took the containers with soup and warm them up in the kitchen. Over all it was an interesting experience. The lunch was VERY expensive for a store. read more

Very good place. Good variety of food and people who run the place are very nice. One of the best Russian Stores I have been to. Strongly recommend. read more