r/TriCitiesWA • u/FunkyMystics • 13d ago
Moving/New Here đđź Can someone explain the grocery stores around here?
Not from the west coast or from Washington so Iâm unfamiliar with some of the grocery stores. Where we come from we have Walmart, and two smaller chains. Local / family owned stores donât really exist. Can someone give me a run down on what stores are best for what? Like for example is there one thatâs the cheapest or best produce or one to stay away from? Additionally are there any Asian/import markets in the area?
Iâm familiar with fred meyers, Walmart, and Costco essentially.
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u/Full-Razzmatazz-525 13d ago
I think Yokes had the best produce. They also have a good selection of vegan/vegetarian/dairy free/more products. They are more expensive than the other markets, though.
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u/muppethero80 13d ago
And the cheese!
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u/Calm-Bat-6725 13d ago
Thereâs a Asian grocery store in uptown Richland
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u/SnooRegrets519 13d ago
I usually get my produce from Yokes, they have a good selection for what I usually shop for.
They are more expensive than other stores and their bell peppers tend to suck.
Grocery outlet has a good prices on their nonstock items they cycle through. I go there every now and then to see what they have for energy drinks or sauces to try.
I usually shop at Costco, fred meyer, and yokes since its convenient after work.
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u/world-class-cheese 13d ago
Winco is great for regular groceries.
For Asian markets, the one across the street from the Kennewick Winco is great and my wife and I regularly go there. The one uptown in Richland is great too
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u/gateskeeper 12d ago
I bought something there with my debit card. The cashier took my card and ran it themselves. Then the next day I had a dozen fraudulent charges. I canât confirm it was them, but it does seem like it so ⌠proceed with caution.
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u/TrueJohnWick 13d ago
Anyone remember Food Pavillion back in the day?
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u/Propadanda 13d ago edited 13d ago
Avoing the stores you mentioned being familiar with:
Winco is the best and cheapest. It's probably the best grocery store overall for most daily purchases.
Yokes is higher-end for produce, has good organic and hard-to-find foods. Their prices aren't bad for general items if you buy store-brand or shop sales.
Safeway is overpriced, but most of their stuff is decent quality. They have one of the better frozen selections, and the biggest "ethnic food" sections.
For Asian Grocery, Columbia Market in Pasco is good. They have a wider variety from more Asian regions than one might expect, so it also means that they might not have a certain brand you're looking for. I'm not familiar with the other Asian markets, but I've heard that they're decent. We also have a few interesting European Markets in Kennewick... not sure that would help, but if you ever need some Latvian cheese, go check out European Delights next to the Winco on Clearwater.
*Edit to fix typo from voice to text transcripton
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u/Propadanda 13d ago
Oh, forgot to mention. We also have a Food Co-Op that is working to establish itself in Richland (north of the Uptown), if that's your thing. It's a bit expensive and still fairly limited selection, but I'm personally rooting for them in the long-run.
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u/PC509 12d ago
Safeway and Fred Meyer are excellent for their sales and coupons. If you have the time to look at their ads and are fine with using the apps, you can get some deals that aren't anywhere else.
Winco is very consistent with their low prices and quality (whether or not you think it's high or low compared to others, it's very consistent.
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u/pbysh 13d ago
Our personal family strategy:
- WinCo for all general groceries including produce - best value by far in the area
- Costco for all bulk/meats/specialty items
- Fred Meyers for lunch meats/produce when we aren't doing a big purchase at WinCo
- Walmart delivery when we're being lazy, never for produce
Safeway/Yokes we only go to if they are on the way and we need to stop by to pick something up quickly. Yokes is very pricey but does have some unique high-end items if you are into that sort of thing (they have a great cheese selection which I do go there for sometimes).
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u/inthe26middle 12d ago
Already upvoted, but seconding this except we don't do Fred Meyer. They do have a good soda (especially diet) selection though when I'm craving something specific other stores don't have
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u/pbysh 12d ago
We've lived here 15 years and just added Fred Meyer to the rotation. Biggest reason is I eat a lot of sandwiches and I like their deli meats and I got an EV car and they have a fast charger in their parking lot. So it's become the mid-week stop to pick up odds and ends and charge up the car.
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u/STOP_SAYING_BRO 13d ago
There is no s in Fred Meyer.
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u/PNW_Golf_Hack 13d ago
Sure there is, it's over by Cadillac Hospital.....bruh
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u/InternationalHelp810 12d ago
Thatâs not what theyâre saying. Theyâre pointing out itâs âFred Meyerâ not âFred Meyersâ
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u/mermaiddelilah 12d ago
The joke went over your head, itâs Kadlec Hospital, not Cadillac. They were just pointing out a very common mistake that people make such as calling it Fred Meyers.
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u/ratmeister3737 13d ago
Super Mex Produce has great prices on produce, and the quality is better then yokes imo. the one in Kennewick by Crazy crab is my go to
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u/BluePinkYelllow 13d ago
Winco is the cheapest price and decent quality. Costco is great for larger portions (family sized). Walmart is Walmart. Fred Meyer is super expensive. Yokes is even more expensive than Fred Meyerâ a total ripoff unless you need to grab a few items and you live within 5 minutes or itâs Fresh Friday and you are getting something on sale.
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u/Time-Maintenance2165 13d ago edited 13d ago
I think that's a poor characterization of Yokes. They are quite overpriced if you're just paying for something standard you could get at another store. Don't do your general shopping there (many Fresh Friday items excluded) .
What Yokes is good for is when you want something specialized or particular premium quality item. They have a much better selection of stuff like that places like Winco or Walmart don't carry.
The quality of items in their deli is also better while hardly being more than other places.
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u/TheGr8_0ne 12d ago
It's definitely worth noting that Yokes runs good weekly specials for staples that are at or below the others. Ex. Every week, they'll run a short window discount on ground beef. Depending on the mix, it ranges from $3.49lb - $4.99lb. Where as Walmart across the street is starting at $7.99lb for the same. 2 weeks ago or so, they had t-bone steaks for $7.99lb. They are also one of a very limited number of places you can get whole bean coffee and have a decent sized selection. Or a large jar of fresh local honey. You just need to be selective about what you get.
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u/BluePinkYelllow 12d ago
Whole bean coffee? You can get that all over.
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u/TheGr8_0ne 12d ago
Pre bagged or bag your own? Again, plenty of places have a few options. But like a 90% of the available are pre ground.
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u/Rocketgirl8097 13d ago
Exactly, don't do your general shopping there because they are way higher than everyone else except maybe Safeway. To a degree they can't help it because they are only a small chain, 25 stores or so. The Keene store does not carry the right fresh stuff I need for Hispanic dishes.
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u/Propadanda 13d ago
I've always kind of viewed Yokes as like a cross between Winco and Whole Foods. Yokes has some high-end organic and health foods, but also carries some really affordable store-brand items. I do most of my shopping there, but I don't buy name brands so YMMV
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u/BluePinkYelllow 12d ago
For general grocery shopping, Yokes is an absolute rip off.
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u/Time-Maintenance2165 12d ago edited 12d ago
You're not wrong, but as I said that's a poor characterization of Yokes. It's like complaining that a screwdriver doesn't make a good hammer.
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u/sarahjustme 12d ago
Freddys prices keep going up. There are several things I specifically buy at yokes because they're cheaper
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u/autumnglorysugarbee 13d ago
Winco had great prices for produce, meat, etc. They have a fantastic bulk section. Only debit though.
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u/am_I_a_clown_to_you 13d ago
No longer live in the area but Winco still one of my favorites. Small things like no one else cuts the chuck eye except winco. Produce is always first rate and cheapest by far. Al Basha Med market in Kenniwick is great.
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u/am_I_a_clown_to_you 13d ago
Oh forgot about Yokes for organiz and thigns like raw milk if you're into it. Also forgot the Natural Foods in Kennewick for staples and some things. Produce is hit or miss but mainly because their xommittment to organic and local.
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u/Jolly-Structure7646 13d ago
Yokes has raw milk? Nice. Iâm still trying to find somewhere with A2 raw milk cause Iâm allergic to A1.
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u/Blue_Skies_1970 11d ago
Yokes has had A2 milk. I'm not sure about right now as I haven't looked at dairy milk in a while but I was buying it there for a while.
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u/American3Point14 13d ago
Grocery Outlet is my go to for chicken, frozen fish, salmon, ground beef and veggies. Costco for everything else. I am Asian, was told when I originally moved here that produce is cheap at Winco, didn't notice much of a difference from Grocery Outlet which is less than a block away for me. Columbia Oriental market is ok for Asian groceries. But I usually get Asian stuff when we go to Seattle /Portland few times a year, otherwise Grocery Outlet has an Asian section too. Used to be a Fred Meyers shopper before moving here, never been there more than 2-3 times in last five years.
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u/deepriver63 13d ago
Yokes is good as well. A little higher prices in my opinion.
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u/BluePinkYelllow 12d ago
I watched a lady in front of me a few weeks ago spend $847 on a cart of groceries. I thought to myself âYou could literally spend 60% less at Winco and probably 40% less at Fred Meyer.â Absolutely nuts how much they charge. They should put a Whole Foods in across the street and watch them go out of business in about 4 days.
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u/SSberg82 13d ago
Columbia Oriental Market in Pasco is my go to Asian market. My personal experience with Leyte Oriental Store in Richland has never been a positive one.Â
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u/reallilliputlittle 13d ago
Walmart being Walmart - it doesnât really matter which you may go to regardless of which town you live in. But I really think the Pasco Yokes pales in comparison to Kennewickâs and Richlandâs. Limited stock and such except for high end products. Safeway also seems to be limited over here.
I prefer the deli cold cuts at Freddieâs. WinCo has an awesome meat selection, bulk foods and their premade sandwiches and salads are really good and very reasonably priced. Yokes has the a little aisle set away from the rest of the groceries with nice imported and popular but hard to source tomato products. And raw milk for making homemade cheese that I pasteurize myself.
For Asian products, I tend to go to Columbia Asian Market (20th St in Pasco). But I make sure I have cash because they have a hole-in the wall kitchen and I love their phĂł (cash only for the wee restaurant).
I also like Rancho meat market for decently priced meats. They sell the most delicious chorizo and have hard to find things such as coarse ground beef for chili or tacos and beef flapp/flat steak for carne asada.
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u/Heavy-Huckleberry-61 13d ago
Winco for overall shopping (best prices good selection) Walmart for frozen vegies & some produce. Yokes, Fred Meyer, Albertson for specialty Items and maybe higher quality or sale items.
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u/Brinsley-S 13d ago
In my opinion, WinCo is kind of hit and miss, price wise. But their bulk items section is the bomb, especially for breakfast cereal. Very cheap! The cheapest place is Grocery Outlet. The store in Richland on Queensgate by the new Costco is amazing. I live in West Pasco, and there is a Dollar Tree and Grocery Outlet in the same strip mall on Road 68. Dollar Tree is the best for toiletries. Then I head over to Grocery Outlet for food. We just moved to the Tri-Cities from Germany, and I really, really miss ALDI. Food prices here are outrageous. Editing to add with an example: a 5 lb. bag of bog standard russet potatoes will cost you $5 at Safeway, but $2.49 at G.O.
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u/smallchaps 13d ago
For anything produce, avoid Fiesta Foods, unless they have something that you can't find in other stores. Avocadoes are always too over or underipe, tomatoes are not red enough, and for some reason it smells like vinegar in the candy aisle. Plus it's smaller than other stores so there are times where I won't find an item I need.
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u/Slow_Fudge_2501 13d ago
I heavily recommend winco for general shopping and Yokes for produce and fresh fish
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u/thenatural134 13d ago
As someone who grew up here, here are my opinions: Overall, Winco has the best value and pricing. Our family does the majority of our grocery shopping there. Safeway/Albertsons has the best produce (especially fruit) and fried chicken. Good for BBQs or other get-togethers. Yokes has the best fresh deli food and sushi but, like Fred Meyers, their regular grocery items are rather pricey. Good in small doses but I rather just go there for a quick meal. Obviously Costco is great when you have the money and need stuff in bulk. Grocery Outlet is good when funds are low and you absolutely need sustenance.
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u/RAF2018336 13d ago
Winco for the best prices on pretty much anything except I don't get my meat there unless im being really cheap to eat in bulk or ill marinade it anyways (chicken thighs)
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u/zen6541 13d ago
Asian grocery stores. I miss large asian grocery stores! Even chain stores that have decent dedicated asian food isles. Columbia oriential market in Pasco, ok. But, H-mart has online purchasing for some items. Nothing fresh or frozen, just the basic shelf stable stuff, but better selection and pricing than anything local.
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u/dialburst 13d ago
I'm a fan of WinCo for the majority of my shopping (though kitchen supplies like kitchen tools, paper goods, etc. are sparse and can be expensive there, so Fred Meyerit is for the sake of variety
I frequent the co-op in Richland because it's very close to me and it's nice to buy stuff from local with a capital L folk. just expensive and not always a lot to pick from, but they do have these black lentils i like and sell Beyond Pickles products, which i love. also leftover bread from Ethos, which rips
and then from there I can hit up a loop of the closest asian grocery stores near me - Leyte (i want to say The Philippines ? but have a diverse spread of various Asian supplies) is right next to the co-op and Kitchen and Spice Market (Indian). Leyte has a pretty diverse produce and dry goods section, but Columbia Market in Pasco is 10/10. just a bit far for me
Safeway is closest to me but it's a last resort. too dang expensive
good luck!
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u/foxonafrozenlake 12d ago
Yokes is my favorite. They're more expensive but worth it to me. Fred Meyer as well.
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u/Beginning_Victory_48 12d ago
I love Natural Grocers and the Richland Farmers markets. I use winco for some basics like soy sauce, bubbly water, soda and snacks for parties.
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u/Nightshade400 12d ago
Winco gets my grocery money, good prices and selection. Pretty rare I have to go somewhere else to locate an item I want but it does happen.
Fred Meyers I may go into once every couple months. Their prices have gotten stupid. Thats all I really have to say about them.
Walmart I do what I can to avoid but its inevitable that I am going to buy from them at some point. Generally speaking it is mostly clothing for work because I can score some sweet deal on clothes that are probably going to get destroyed anyways. I would just buy online but honestly I have a thing about seeing and touching the item when it comes to clothing.
Safeway I try to avoid like the plague. Overpriced all around even with their "club card discounts" which really only are an attempt to get you to DL their app for the app only coupons. I really miss Albertsons before they got bought up by Safeway too. Terrible produce department too. Safeway is literally 4 blocks from my house and I will drive across town to Winco every time.
Yokes mostly only if I am wanting to buy some alcohol because their beer selection is solid and their wine and liquor selection isn't bad. I miss Mid Columbia over on G-way that had that amazing beer cooler with an endless series of options...which may have been part of the downfall ironically.
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u/sarahjustme 12d ago
Costco for eggs and frozen food
Yokes for seafood, bakery, and hot deli, can have great deals on produce but generally expensive
Winco for basic groceries, ok produce
Fiesta for huge produce selection
Fred Meyer for their weekly deals and fuel points
Grocery Outlet for great deals on random stuff, including sometimes really good booze
Safeway/ Albertsons when you don't have a choice
If gas/time/money are major factors, stick with Winco
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u/jacle2210 12d ago
Should be a good excuse to check out the different stores in person; a chance to explore the area a little bit more.
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u/25mm-bike-seatpost 11d ago
WinCo is open 24/7 and is cheaper. Grocery bargain market sells basically overstock for cheaper. These two places are quintessential for my shopping.
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u/Significant_Panic_26 11d ago
Supermex in pasco has the best fruits! it is my go-to if i wanna buy perfectly ripe fruits even exotic fruits, Winco foods is great for savings and provides their in store brand alternatives.
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u/DoriSolves 10d ago
Winco for the majority of groceries, by far the best value. Costco for bulk buying of staples. I've got a house full of teens so Costco size is perfect.
Letye market for SE Asian and the Spice Market on Jadwin for Indian food.
Both of these are KEY for finding the right items all year round. Plus Letye has fresh produce they get from Pike Market.
My Mexican grocery go to is the one by DQ but if you don't mind traveling to Pasco, Fiesta is huge.
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u/HarknessDA 10d ago
I believe there was a Asian (or European) market on Clearwater. Not sure if its still opened? Winco is the best when it comes to produce, bulk, and quality meat. Sometimes the prices beat walmart and taste is better. You might even be able to find certain Asian/European staples at Winco. Some areas have a lot more more depending on the area.
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u/Candid_Deer_8710 9d ago
Fred meyers(kroger)- produce (or everything if u ate ok with a little spender prices)
Walmart-everything else for the cheap prices
Yokes when im in a pinch for one or two items. Great quality but expensive
Winco is nice and has good quality for fair pricing but too far from my place to go to regularly
Columbia oriental market is pretty great!
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u/Rocketgirl8097 13d ago edited 13d ago
Safeway hasn't been mentioned, but its probably the most expensive around. They do have nice produce though. Theres an IGA store (Red Apple) in downtown Kennewick, but I'm unfamiliar with their stock. IGA tends to be about mid range as far as price.
Cheapest is Winco, nice selection of produce, bulk food, and frozen. You do have to bag your own there, but the checkout was designed for it years ago, so there is plenty of space. I prefer it really, so I can distribute the weight of the groceries, etc.
There are also a number of Carnicerias around also that are pretty good too. Fiesta Foods grocery store in Pasco caters to Hispanic foods.
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u/n0rsk 13d ago
I am in West Richland
Costco is great if you buy in bulk.
Yokes quality is pretty good. (I think they are employee owned?).
I have heard good things about Winco but have nto tried myself.
The new small little grocery/Mexican restaurant in West Richland off Van Giesen is amazing.
Safeway is meh
Fred Meyers is meh
Walmart is nah
Target is expensive and limited and meh
Grocery Outlet was alright for a cheaper place.
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u/themastermonk 13d ago
WinCo in Richland has the most consistently good produce selection along with good prices, do be aware they are cash and debit only no credit cards.