Russian General Store

This store has everything Russian-speaking people love — sausages, buckwheat, candy, dumplings, pickles, and many other nostalgic treats. It feels like home when you walk in. The average purchase is around $100 per visit, and you leave with a full bag of goodies. Highly recommended for anyone missing the taste of home!

A unique little grocery providing products from "home" for the Russian and Central Asian ex-pat community. Excellent selection and quality of food.

nice store for russian products with a good selection and prices! mainly came for ingredients but i got some nice biscuits and snacks for gifts too :)

I like shopping here for mostly everything EXCEPT dessert. The sweets here are SO bad I threw them in the trash every time I bought something sweet! Please stock quality dessert!

Love this place because you can find a lot of foods from my childhood and prices are definitely better than another alike store!

The food and quality is amazing. However, I’m not sure if they bamboozle me with high prices because I speak English or what. Because every Russian review states cheap prices but I can’t walk in and out of this store without spending over $250-300 with only a handful of things. Being born in Russia but raised in America I want to support my country but it’s hard when I know how I’ll be treated unfairly when it comes to price each time I go there.

Great store but a little bit of a language disconnect if you do not speak any Russian or Ukrainian or whatever... That said, they have a fantastic collection of foods, t-shirts, wines etc

Absolutely love this store, they have great tea, chocolate, everything! Me and my mom have been looking everywhere for that sheep cheese. Brings back good memories

I like their bakery. Yummy! I liked their cakes. It's just like the small shops you find in other countries for quick groceries, gifts, and yummy snacks. Has nice little gifts too.

Everything was amazing. Felt like I was back home. Employees were very helpful and food was great.

I've been visiting the General Store since I was a kid ! It's definitely a nostalgic place for me, and still a great place to visit for all my favorite Russian food items. Despite being a small place, their food selection is huge ! They have a wide variety of candies, pre-packaged goods, drinks, etc. They also have a fresh baked goods area which is great for getting treats to take to friends. The deli counter is amazing ! They have a huge selection of meats and cheeses. Definitely make sure to check out the freezers too - the pelmeni variety is amazing. The store also has a large collection of Russian books, movies, gifts, medicines, etc. The shopping center it's in isn't too exciting, but that's great for parking! There's a lot of places to park and it's never overly busy.

Sweet employees, they have everything you need and it's cheap too! I bought some smoked Moscow Salami and it was the best thing ever, they have Cheburek and Pierogi they can heat it up for you. They also have European beer, I bought a single German Pilsner for $2. Many people visit this general store to do their shopping it's never empty whenever I go in.

I really liked this store for all things Russian. I felt it was well-stocked and organized in a way that made finding everything easy. A lot of their items were easily accessible in refrigerators which is nice for anyone who doesn't want to wait in the deli line or is worried about communication issues. Additionally, they had a large section of gifts (matryoshkas and much more), interesting liquor bottles/wines (we got a Georgian wine in a unique clay bottle for only $20), novelty T-shirts, and a ton of Russian books. Cool. Ultimately, everything I bought was fresh, delicious, and good quality. A heads up to anyone who does not speak Russian and isn't familiar with Russian foods but wants to try. You're not going to get a warm welcome with a tour/intro to our cuisine. Just not how it works. Customer service is just not a priority -- it's not just this store, it's the case at most of them (I've been to quite a few). I will say that Golden Grain (another Russian store nearby) stood out in this respect and the proprietors were much friendlier than usual. However, Russian General Store seemed to have more to offer in terms of variety and their products seemed fresher (moving faster). That being said, I'd love to see Golden Grain get some more love since Russian General Store seems way more popular. If you want more of a warm welcome, try Golden Grain. Anyway, if you're totally new to Russian cuisine, do not speak the language, and want to sample some stuff, I can try and help. I'd recommend getting: -Pelmeni (first fridge by the door) -- traditional Russian dumplings. Serve with butter or sour cream. -Red caviar (fridge by the back) -- great on some rye bread with butter or cream cheese. If you're feeling adventurous, pick up some frozen blini ("crepes") from the first fridge. Thaw, pan fry in butter on each side, fold twice and flip until each side crisps up. Spread caviar on top and enjoy (so good). -Smoked white fish ("butterfish") -- same fridge as the caviar. Delicious fish that melts in your mouth. -Taramosalata -- while this is a Greek-style caviar spread, it's always available in Russian stores. I haven't really seen it in any grocery stores aside from Phoenicia. Find it by the caviar. -Pickled herring -- same fridge as the caviar. Goes really well with chopped red onion. -Rye bread -- across from the canned fish, middle of the store. I like the darker varieties personally. Goes well with caviar or smoked fish. -Halva -- the Russian version of this dessert is made with sunflower paste. Find it in the dessert area, they have it by weight in plastic containers. -Pryaniki -- glazed gingerbread cookies, sort of. Find them in the dessert area, they have ones with filling, but I prefer them plain. -Buckwheat -- not a wheat, but actually a seed. It's hard to find in conventional grocery stores but is tasty and nutritious (great with butter or olive oil). Find it across from the Russian candies (the ones sold by weight). I'd start there. There are other traditional foods I'd recommend but I didn't see them when I stopped by (I'm sure I just missed them) so I can't point you to them. Overall, a great store for Russian food as well as unique gifts. Easy parking in a shopping plaza.

The store is open from 10 am to 8 pm every day. huge selection of sausages, cheeses, canned food, fish, cakes. Polite service.

Great selection, we found everything we wanted. Clean and organized. Would recommend to anyone

Ran into this store completely by accident while in the area. I've been meaning to go for a good while. I found the Armenian apricot preserves I'd been searching for and my mother picked up some cornelian cherry preserves. For a small store there were lots of interesting foods for sale that I hadn't seen since I was in New York. I'm going to have to return because I completely missed the taramosalata. Hope to head back next Sunday to take a closer look for that, the cheese and the fridge with the plemini. If you're looked for Georgian and Romanian wine, you might find what you need. They have some on the shelves in the front and in the back of the store as well. As far as Armenian wine they had one bottle of pomegranate dessert wine. I didn't check out the Russian media area in the back of the store because frankly my Russian language skills aren't up to speed. As far as toys and trinkets, there were many cute matryoshka dolls and they even had some shaped like Santa from Christmas time.

Our son took us here to scope out all the goodies. We bought and shared a tasty Russian ice cream sammich....the sandwich part was like a thin waffle cone layer with a really thick ice cream layer....chocolate, they had other flavors too and different kinds of frozen treats. They have a meat counter with different cuts and sausages. We picked up a few kinds of cookies, I even found some sugar free coffee candies. Everything we've tried was really good. Lots of different kinds of bread. We'll be back for more goodies.

So glad I found this store. It's a quaint little shop with almost exclusively Russian goodies. From produce, wine, chocolates, sweets, books, to general care, it was easy to feel like you're in Russia for just a few minutes. Prices were good, and quality was great. I will be back next time I'm in town. (Heads up that the word "Russian" is off of the signs. "General Store" is this place ;-))

I enjoy buying unique foods at the Russian General Store. I don't always know what they are, but it is an adventure to try new things. There are similarities with many Middle Eastern canned vegetables and meats. They also have a huge selection of deli meats and fish as well as European style breads and pastries. They carry Russian and eastern European beers and wines. Don't expect a Cici's Pizza welcome when you walk in. These are real Russians. They can be dour. You'll be okay.

They've taken Russian off their sign. I suppose because of the current situation. But this is still a great place to shop for Russian food and cultural items. Great people. Don't be intimidated by the language barrier. Most of the people working and shopping there speak English.

I live around the area and always pass up the center Russian General Store is in. However I have never seen it all the way up to this weekend. Like many of the reviews, the staff at this place is less than friendly. However, it may not be a bad thing. Probably d/t a cultural thing. Don't expect smiles and small talk as many folks expect, but do expect a working family that is trying to run a business without too much bells and whistles. Since its a general store, you'll find produce, frozen foods, precooked foods, preserved foods any other snack/processed foods I have never seen before. They do stock a good selection of other European country's flavors as well. I elected to get their Pirog that run $2.00 for a big piece. I also got frozen pelmini's and blini's both of which run for around $6 a bag. Overall for your Russian food needs, this local store will suit the need. If you're out for an adventure and new things to see and taste, this place can hit the spot. However don't expect friendly faces or service. Get in, point at what you want, pay, and then leave. Simple.

This is one of my favorite spots in town. Great food and the best chocolate!! Highly recommend them. Everyone is friendly and they're being careful with covid and limiting capacity since it's a small store. Will definitely be returning. I don't even mind the hour drive from my house!

If you're a foodie and into international food I highly recommend stopping by this shop. It's located in the Meyerland area in a strip mall, the store itself is fairly small. Inside it's filled with foods from all over Eastern Europe. There are lots of canned goods, but also fresh items such as baked goods and meats. If you go further into the store they have a room with home decor items, art, Russian fabrics and clothing. I really enjoyed looking at the beautiful Matryoshka dolls they had for sale. Unlike other reviewers, the experience I had with customer service was excellent. Everyone was very friendly.

It's an amazing place! You can find the best Russian cake ever! They also have all the products with the best quality!

This is a great place to shop and eat when you're on the run. ! , , . , ! . ! Please help support this business and businesses like this. Thank you.

Great selection and customer service. We're happy to live close to the store. Lots of people drive pretty far to visit the store. Their selection is great and will expand your taste buds if you are adventurous.

A very peaceful place with a variety of goods from Eastern Europe. I love the sweets that are offered in the store.

Not fresh , expired bologna but the worst customer service from the owner that will do nothing about it. If you want food poisoning this is the place. Owner. !

Drove an hour out. Read some of the reviews before I went there. Was a little nervous about all of the comments about expired products. Was disappointed when I found out they were true. Almost bought a product that was expired but checked the date before. Also bought some bread. I came home and wanted to try and piece, only to find out it was stale.

I live far away from the store, so I end up coming here at least twice a year. I don't like the people who work here, they don't seem welcoming. Also buying kolbasa yesterday was a bad experience, I asked for one thing and ended up getting another. Of course I only realized she gave me the wrong thing when I got home. Also some old products are there on the shelves, even with the right expiration date my guess that the store management doesn't store them correctly. I paid for the product that I cannot consume since it doesn't taste right. Overall the store is ok and gives Russian people the opportunity to eat some Russian food in Houston.

Very traditional best Russian store in area ! Small but not all products have the expiration label on them, so make sure you check ! But have all the goods you craving ! Come check it out don't miss out !

There are enough goods, but the prices are very high. They are often rude As if you come to Russia again.

I love this store. The best, everyone is friendly and the products are good. Definitely worth it.

Location was flooded in Harvey and I'm glad they're back. Nice selection of cheese, salami, cookies, candies, etc. for such a small store. Don't expect smiling faces, pleasant people or small talk. Ladies working inside just don't have level of customer service that Americans are used to get in other stores. If you look white- they will tell you your total at check out in russian :)) Not accepting american express. Not accepting credit/ debit cards for less that 5$ charge.

This store is my go-to for foods from the Russian empire. Why "empire"? You'll find wares not just from Russia, Ukrainian, or Byelorussia, but from Georgia, the Baltics, and beyond. I particularly recommend the shuba ("herring in a fur coat"), the pelmeni (frozen dumplings), and the cheese and salamis, and pick up a bottle of Georgian wine -- excellent, and different from French or Argentinian varietals. This store is one of the gems in Houston.

What exactly do you buy in a Russian General Store? I'm usually always up to try something new. If you're the same, then the Russian General Store is for you. First up, I must qualify this review and say that I know very little about Russian food or groceries, but that's what made my little trip to the store all the more interesting. My first impression when I walked through the door was that it was one of those cool deli/grocery stores you find in the Northeast. It is full from wall to wall (high up, for that matter) of just about anything a Russian or Eastern European might want. It's obviously the place where Russian ex-pats go. Natalya G's review only touched on the surface of the variety that is packed into this place. It has a full meat counter full of various unusual coldcuts, cheeses and sausages. Nearby is a counter full of cured/smoked fish and other products. Pickles, sauces and desserts abound. There's even a little bookstore and some general goods in the back. On the recommendation of the staff I picked up some delicious frosted ginger bread cookies filled with orange preserves, potato & mushroom stuffed pierogues, russian country bread, some dark beer and an popular malt based soft drink called Kvass. I'm looking for a little more guidance before I try the specialty fishes and their huge variety of Eastern European wines. Maybe with enough beer (and maybe some vodka), I'll take a chance on that dried salty trout that Natalya G. recommends.

They have big assortment, but some products are expired. I bought cheesecakes today which was expired 6 months ago!

Cold Smoked Mackerel was fantastic, nice selection of fish, meats, cheese, and sweets. Beer wine liquor and soft drinks too. Friendly staff but not overly. Prices are very reasonable. Fresh veggies as well. Souvenirs in back and books. I'll be back when in that side of town for sure

I have never been to Russia but recently stayed with a Russian friend in Dubai and fell in love with the honey. I didn't find the one that I was looking for (I could have just picked the wrong one) but I did find a really neat little General Store. It's located a long way from me, but I'll stop by again in the event that i'm in the area.

Ok, I know it may be wrong to have preconceived notions about ethnicities. I went in wanting to buy crazy vodka's ( I know ). However they did have a huge range of Baltica beer's (0,4,5,6,7,8,9) which are imported from Russia! They did have meats and cheese from east Europe, and had some sweet hats (see pictures)

That's right, variety of meat and cheese is huge. I'd recommend ham-it is not honey sweet as American, i am totally not used to sweet ham, Russian and Polish people would probably understand what it is like :) ; smoked sausage (brand - New Servelat)-very good for sandwiches; Teli Salami-Hungarian brand; beacon is very good too. As for cheese, I personally like Maazdam - semi sweet, and Holland cheese. I was surprised to find there different types of herbs and medicine! it is awesome. let me explain a little. Long time ago when medicine wasn't that developed as now, people used to cure themselves with herbal teas. The knowledge of herbal treatment still exists, we just prefer to take a pill as it is faster. However I'd rather give some natural not harmful for body tea to a child or pregnant woman rather then a chemical pill. I asked for an assistance, just for curiosity sake, and was given a full consultation by Russian pharmacist (with med degree). Pickled veggies like mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage are homemade and always fresh. But wouldn't recommend fresh veggies, cause they are not always fresh :( nothing to be sad about as lots of other stores have plenty. You should definitely try pelmeni (dumplings), they have all kinds - with beef, chicken, cheese, cranberries, etc. I call it - food for lazy people :) 5 min and healthy and delicious meal is ready. Lots of all types of sweets! almost all of them are good, especially organic honey, chocolate and Russian candies (try Red Hat, Grilliazh) As for a salty trout :))) be prepared, it has not a very pleasant smell (eat somewhere outdoors). I call it smelly fish. But it tastes very good. Especially with Baltika #9.

This store is amazing, don't let its small size fool you. It carries an eclectic mix of foodstuffs from the former USSR as well as a wide array of Israeli brand products (for Houston's Russian Jews, I guess). They also have a wide array of wines and beers from not only Russia, but from eastern europe as well.. In addition, you can find imported spices, teas, coffees, smoked fish, breads, sausages, cheeses and frozen foods. In the rear of the store, they sell Russian-langauge books and imported russian toiletries. If you are a "foodie" or are interested in Russian culture, this place is a *must*....I have not encountered anywhere else like it in Texas.

i live across the bayou from the Russian General Store but before i moved to the neighborhood, my boyfriend & stumbled across this little gem on one of our night bike rides that we take along the braes bayou trail & have since frequented this store...we both have always been pretty adventurous when it comes to culture & food so we decided to check out what this store had to offer since we both have never dabbled in the Russian & Eastern European cultures...we have really broaden our horizon & appreciation in the food, people, & culture :) they offer such a huge variety & i don't think it even compares to other Russian/E. European store in Houston, if there are any others...the only other one i've heard of & have only been to once is Golden Grain by N. Braeswood & Chimney Rock & their selection is nothing compared to the Russian Gen. Store, although i hear they have great food in their deli/restaurant i LOVE how much they are creative & utilize EVERY little space in the tiny storefront...such a HUGE selection all jammed packed to the brim with awesome goods from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Germany, Austria, Latvia, Czech Republic, Jerusalem, etc. : -LOTS of beers, wines, champagne, & some liquor -awesome selection of Kvas (& the ONLY place that makes their own!) -soooo many different candies, sweets, cookies, & even ice cream :9 -specialty & gourmet foods & snacks -their own deli w/smoked meats, fish, sausage cheese, salads, pickled goods, etc (my personal fave & recommendation is the Jerusalem salad) -an array of frozen Pel' Meni (Russian style dumplings) YUM! -CHEAP & random produce (i once got a big watermelon here for $1.99) -imported & fresh breads -lots of health & beauty goods -nice selection of pastries & cakes -a BIG library in the back usually manned by someone -lots of little gifts & treasures from the homeland such as nesting dolls, Fabergé eggs, Russian Orthodox relics, amber jewelry, keychains, magnets, wooden toys, native clothing, scarves, hats, etc. -and MUCH more! so don't be shy & if you're up for trying something new, the Russian General store is the place for it! you may feel like you're setting foot into Soviet Russia but it's very much quite the experience! i still get excited when I make a visit in the hopes that i come across something new to give a try.

I've been coming to this place since 1998 when we moved from Amsterdam to here. We were terrified of American processed food stuffs and were trying to find a taste of home - the bread here (in the US) sucks, don't even get me started on the dairy products... FYI: There's actually another Russian general store (Golden Grain) in this place's original location at 5406 Birdwood... What do I get here? Super cheap produce. We're talking cheaper than Fiesta and Sellers Brothers! The produce shipments are extremely random, sometimes they'll have cherry tomatoes other times not. One day I came in and to my joy found that they had dug up some Jerusalem artichokes, they were out in minutes... HOT smoked mackerel! DO NOT mistake this with COLD smoked mackerel which is not as buttery and soft as the hot smoked version. Cold smoked is tough and rubbery like, yiech! I like spreading mackerel like butter on toasted bread, versus chewing salty rubber like fish... Deli meats/cheeses. Cheaper than most supermarkets, you NEED to try all the bacons, cured hams and salamis. Polish sausages are good, especially the kabanosy and the Krakowska They have good quality farmer's cheese which I use in a Polish version of mac 'n cheese, that also involves cream (they sell homemade sour cream!) A couple Polish cheeses (Podlaski) and fetas, and your usual selection of Provolone, Swiss, etc. Kefir - fruit flavored yoghurt/buttermilk like drink Tea. Lots of fruity ones. WINE! For such an itsy bitsy store, they sure do have an amazing wine selection and it's freakin' cheap! I kid you not, go see for yourself! Lots of Armenian wine (personal favorite) and wines from the eastern parts of Europe (Romania, etc.) They also sell mead, honey wine like in Beowulf! There's some interesting beers. Baltika and other Russian brewskis and I have found chocolate stouts as well (the British kind!) The store is organized by country of origin, there's a mini Polish section, a pretty big Israel section (a lot of the Russians in this area are Jewish!), Hungarian, etc. They also sell Russian dolls, folk costumes, samovars (which are beautiful) and jewelry (lots of amber!) There's even a library at the back of the store! This place is sort of cramped and they should have stayed at their original location where Golden Grain is now located, thus the 3 stars...

I'm impressed! I didn't expect such a selection! I bought , , , , , . But what came there for was - they even had fat free! Lots of meats and cheeses - I didn't buy any because they didn't have what I was craving - / , which I by the way found at Golden Grain. For those who say that selection isn't as good as Brooklyn - well, I got news for you, it's not effin' Brooklyn, it's Houston. They also had smoked fish (cold smoked mackerel that I was craving - yum!), caviars, frozen , breads, candies ( I wanted but no one seems to have it - bought ) Anyway, it was very well worth an hour trip and I will be back!!!

My family and I have been shopping with them for years. Recently, I bought a box of Kras napolitanka. When I opened it at home, I found out it was stale! I bought it back to the store immediately, the clerk at checkout allowed me to exchange it. Nevertheless, this replacement was also stale! Oh well, I headed back to the store once again and this time it was this Russian lady who carries an unhappy face at all times at checkout (I believe she's the owner). I confronted her and she rudely replied, "There's NOTHING WRONG with this box of napolitanka! My girls eat them all .... no refund will be offered!" Heh ... quite frankly she was lying!!!! If you read other reviews, some other customers also had issues with them selling expired products and refused to refund them. From this point on, I will just shop at Phoenicia on Westheimer! At least they have a bigger management team in case I need to make any complaints they will do something. Stay away from this "liar, liar pants on fire" oriented store!!!!!

Been shopping here for years and just saw these people leaving bad reviews and it's very unfair. I've never had anything less than exceptional customer service and authentic experience. They offer a verity of European goods and the pricing is very fair. Highly recommend this gem.

Great selection of eastern European food! I absolutely love farmer cheese or "tvorog"! They have the best Latvian "tvorog" in town. However did not like their frozen pirogies "vareniki" in Russian. There is also a drugstore in there, and I got the medicine I needed for just $20 without a prescription! I felt like I was back in my home country there, the same people, Russian language, a bit rude and strict Russian people with no smile.

I have been going to this store for all 20 years I have lived in Houston. I love all the products here, especially sausages and salamis. Always fresh and tasty. We joked today with another customer that it's good that Americans do not know much about it, or it would be always crowded.

Bought a box of saltfish (seld v masle). Brought it home and put in a fridge. A few days later I went to open it and the immediate smell was unbearable. I checked for the expiration date and there was none. I'll give the store the benefit of the doubt and give it 3 stars rating since I have bought this fish before without issues. We'll say it was bad before they received it, but regardless a product should not be sold without an expiration date or a date of production! Needless to say almost $8 down the drain.

It was like stepping back to a time before the big grocery chains took over. This place reminds me of the old general stores i knew growing up in East Texas back in the late sixties and seventies. The cashier didn't follow us around asking if we needed assistance and i'm glad she didn't. Most of the patrons were polite not overly friendly but hey, it's a RUSSIAN store. The selection of wine is impressive ( even though i'm not a wine drinker), their beer; Baltika is some good brewed stuff. Can't wait to sample all of the blends. My wife and I definitely will be going back....repeatedly. On a personal note, even if you don't speak the language, learn to say thank you in Russian. Even if you don't say it right it is appreciated.

My wife, who is Ukrainian,was so happy to find a little bit of home at this store! Hunters Bacon, never reaches home, we eat it raw in the car on the ride home! Absolutely fabulous! We have come to know owner , Alex Kogan, what a JOLLY SARCASTIC OLD GUY he turned out to be! But nice as can be! Helpful in every way! my wife gets her Russian movies from there, of course I have to sit there and pretend I'm loving it! Oh! What I do for love! They have the best and FRESHEST salmon caviar in Houston, so when I go out , I've learned NEVER to order salmon caviar sushi! Great Baltika #9 beer, wife drinks #4, [Good luck to her, tastes like crickets PEE!!] We always buy pickled herring, generally I can't wait for to her say, "let's go to the Russian Shop!" I get my biggest credit card out and off we go! As for the lady complaining about salty sausage! Ever heard of boiling it a little before frying it! That'll solve everything! Must be a hell of a cook if she didn't know that! Salt is what preserves it to give it a longer life!!

Not worth the trip...small overpriced store...very few prepared items....what we had, except the russian champagne was decent but still a disappointment. If you've been to any stores with prepared food in Chicago and of course New York you will be very disappointed.

The yelpers before me have already said enough. So, I'll simply say it's a great store for all things Russian and their deli is both fantastic and inexpensive.

My dad works in same strip so I've found myself coming here often over the years. Lately though I've been coming more so my Romanian beau can get some goodies. They have the largest selection of Romanian wine I can find in the area. Phonecian has a few too if you are looking. Overall while this shop is small they are wall to wall goods. I picked up some mushrooms last trip that were almost the size of two of my fists. The only thing I've gotten there I haven't liked is their potato dumplings. My guy also likes that they have sunflower sead halva. It's not my thing but his family seems to really like it.

It's quite a driver for us coming from Tomball, but when you have a craving for Russian food - it's forth the drive. Would be awesome if there was another location in the NW of Houston area. Moved down here from New England - was really surprised that huge city like Houston only has one small Russian store.

Is packed with lots of Russian and some Eastern European Food and Sundry items. I brought a small ice chest to buy refrigerated items like ice cream and cold items. Pickles, Jams, Grains, Sandwich/Round Breads, Salami, Cheeses, Fish, Chips, Candy, Cookies, Sauces, Fresh Veggies, lined the shelves. Even items like Toothpaste, Shampoo, hair care products, personal items were there. They have a small library of books to purchase in the back including kid's books and magazines. They have gifts like Beaded Necklaces, Nesting Dolls (matryoshka doll), birthday cards. Found some Latvian food items that made the trip worthwhile!