The 9 Best Grocery Store Chains For Prime Rib

A good prime rib practically begs to be roasted low and slow. This holiday staple brings people together, helps us celebrate, and tantalizes taste buds with every juicy, tender bite. To find that perfect, generously marbled prime rib, you don't need a butcher or specialty meat shop. Grocery store chains ranging from Texas' H-E-B Central Market to Costco carry prime ribs that rival those from specialty markets and butchers. As it turns out, you don't need to make an extra trip for the perfect roast.

When it comes to grocery store prime rib, you have to consider the whole picture — not just meat quality but also the available options and service. Despite the name, prime rib isn't always USDA Prime, which is the highest grade of meat with the most marbling. Since only about 11% of all U.S. beef hits that standard, additional factors like how and where the cattle were raised become important. Beyond that, some grocery stores set themselves apart by offering butchering options or specialty services.

Here, we've rounded up the best grocery store chains for prime rib. We based our assessment on the quality of the beef sold, available services, prices, and customer reviews. Whether you're making prime rib for the first time or it's one of your holiday season staples, we think these stores will have whatever you need.

Many shoppers in the Southeast, mid-Atlantic, and Washington, D.C. areas swear by Harris Teeter's meat selection. Founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, this grocery chain's butchers market buys from suppliers independently verified to conform to high animal welfare standards. The prime rib is USDA Choice Angus beef, so while it may have less marbling than Prime grade, it still has a generous amount of fat — just what you need for a juicy, tender roast.

At Harris Teeter, the Angus beef rib roast typically retails for a very reasonable price. It's not labeled "prime rib" but "rib roast" – which is still sourced from the rib primal section of the cow. Prime rib refers to a smaller portion of it. Regardless of what it's called, Harris Teeter's entry is rated highly by customers, many of whom buy it for Christmas.

This store also made our list because of its butcher services, which can make all the difference when you're looking for a prime rib. Each location has an on-site meat cutter and prepares personalized orders. Yelp reviews across multiple locations rave as much about the staff as they do the selection.

With over 900 locations, including Western states like California and Washington, as well as others like Virginia and Maryland, Safeway has cemented its position in the American supermarket landscape. It has a wide selection of fresh meat, including multiple high-quality prime rib options available in different sizes. The affordable prices don't hurt either.

Unlike many other grocery stores, you can choose from USDA Choice, USDA Prime, or a 100% grass-fed beef option. The USDA Choice bone-in rib roast ranges from 9 to 11 pounds, which is a more standard size, but you can also opt for the smaller, 3-pound bone-in roast.

These prime rib options have a following and customers rate them highly on the store's website. You're also in good hands at Safeway, which has been praised for its superior customer service. Each location has a dedicated meat department, staffed with butchers who are happy to help you select and customize your choice.

Wegmans ticks every box for the prime rib shopper: good-quality meat, multiple options to choose from, personalized service, and affordability. Its beef offerings are solid, USDA Choice cuts. We were impressed to find that a significant amount of the grass-fed beef at this supermarket chain comes from small, local farms.

Another thing that makes Wegmans great for prime rib is its in-store butcher shops. For a more traditional prime rib, try the whole, store-cut, bone-in rib roast. If you prefer a roast that requires less prep and cooking time, try the whole boneless option. Its prices are also hard to match and are lower than those at many other supermarkets. Overall, the reviews highlight that these roasts are both delicious and affordable. 

However, it's the in-store meat-cutting services and extras that truly put Wegmans in rare company as a grocery store for beef. Here, prime rib pros and neophytes alike can get personalized service and can request specific cuts. On Yelp specifically, many customers were often blown away by the meat departments at their stores.

For Southern Californians, Stater Bros. Markets has become a well-loved fixture in the regional grocery store landscape. Despite having only 167 locations — or perhaps because it's a bit smaller and more personalized — it's gained a reputation as a great place to shop. Yelp reviewers think that the in-store butcher's extensive selection and service make it an absolute go-to for meat. On Reddit, users agreed, rating Stater Bros. one of the best spots for a holiday roast in Orange County. With helpful staff, customizability, and high-quality products, Stater Bros. has earned every bit of its reputation.

Prime rib at this store is sold as Stater Bros. Choice bone-in beef ribeye roast. Typical cuts weigh about 10.2 pounds. 

While Costco doesn't cut meat to order, it offers high-quality pre-packaged prime rib options at competitive prices. If you'd like a traditional roast, choose the D'Artagnan antibiotic-free bone-in beef ribeye roast. It typically weighs 17 pounds. Wanting a deboned option? Try Rastelli's USDA Choice Black Angus prime rib roast. 

For top-shelf beef, there are 12-pound packs of Japanese A5 Wagyu boneless ribeye roast. Wagyu beef is prized for its marbling and is especially pricey, so expect to pay $900 or more for this specialty roast; still, it's a bargain. Prices for the same cut in butcher shops we checked were significantly higher. Across foodie blogs, Reddit, and in product reviews, shoppers loved the prices and appreciated the quality of Costco's prime rib. 

Albertsons, one of the largest grocery store chains in the U.S., is a staple throughout the Pacific Northwest. It sources beef from networks of family ranchers like Washington-based Double R Ranch, and carries the wide selection you'd expect from a grocery giant. Among the stores we looked at, Albertsons had one of the widest selections of prime rib roasts. 

Looking for extra marbling and the most tender, top-shelf roast? Try the USDA Prime bone-in rib roast; since cuts range in weight between 5 and 7 pounds, you can find the size you need. For those wanting less prep time, there's a 9- to 11-pound USDA Choice bone-in beef rib roast that's herb-crusted with salt, spices, and garlic. Like Safeway, Albertsons carries Open Nature grass-fed Angus bone-in rib roast.

Albertsons' prime rib options are affordable and highly rated customer favorites. On Reddit, customers gushed about the prices, with many excitedly sharing when roasts went on sale at their local stores.

Sprouts Farmers Market, which has stores clustered in California, Texas, and the Southwest and other locations cropping up across the country, has tapped into the growing market for natural foods.  A lot of the beef here comes from producers committed to sustainable practices, and there are grass-fed, hormone-free, non-GMO, and antibiotic-free options of many cuts, including its grass-fed prime rib.

The store carries two types of prime rib, including a reasonably priced USDA Choice premium Angus standing rib roast. A standing rib roast is a type of prime rib (the bones hold it upright while cooking), so it's essentially the same cut of meat. For a more premium option, you can choose the aforementioned 100% grass-fed Angus beef bone-in rib roast. Both roasts come oven-prepared, which cuts down on prep time. This means on-site butchers debone and trim away fat, cartilage, and membrane before retying the meat to the bones. 

In Yelp reviews of locations from California to Pennsylvania, customers raved about the friendliness of the Sprouts meat counter staff, even shouting out specific associates. As for the prime rib itself, the 100% grass-fed Angus beef rib roast is a customer favorite and was rated highly on Sprouts' website. 

Prime rib lovers in eight Southeastern states have Publix to turn to when they're looking for the perfect cut. This grocery store purchases fresh and frozen meat from reliable, reputable producers.  These include White Oak Pastures, a family-owned ranch in Bluffton, Georgia. The store's meat departments will cut and customize your roast, ensuring you get exactly the cut you want.

As far as the quality of the beef, Publix holds its own. Its GreenWise labeled roasts are raised without antibiotics, and there are both USDA Prime and USDA Choice Angus beef standing rib roasts to choose from. For a thriftier option, there's a USDA Choice house label standing rib roast, well priced and typically weighing between 3 and 6 pounds.

Publix's prime rib and meat counter have garnered a dedicated following, especially around the holiday season. Whenever its rib roasts go on sale, Facebook and Reddit erupt with posts sharing the news. Yelp reviews also highlight the delicious options and exceptional service at Publix's meat counter. 

In Texas, Central Market, the high-end division of H-E-B, attracts foodies and those seeking a more European-style shopping experience. Its full-service meat department includes hormone- and antibiotic-free Angus beef. This company sources much of its beef from sixth-generation family ranchers based in Chalk Mountain, located southwest of Dallas. 

You can pick between a USDA Prime or a USDA Choice standing bone-in rib roast. These are going to be a little pricier than others on this list. Still, with both cuts aged at least 14 days, you're practically guaranteed a tender, juicy roast no matter which one you decide on.

There's also the shopping experience to consider, and in this regard, H-E-B Central Market truly shines. The butchers and counter workers here are knowledgeable about what they sell, and you're allowed — even encouraged — to be a food geek. Time and again, Yelp reviewers praised the staff and the unique, enriching shopping experience. Come to Central Market for the prime rib; stay for spot demonstrations of butchering techniques, seasoning mix ideas, food pairing recommendations, and more.

As rewarding as it would have been, we weren't able to shop for and taste each of these stores' renditions of prime rib. Since we weren't able to judge them directly, we relied on several factors to determine which stores offered the best cut.

First, we learned as much as we could about the quality of the beef. This meant checking if stores sold USDA Prime or Choice cuts, or if there were grass-fed, organic, or any other options. Other questions we asked had to do with the producers: Did the meat come from family ranches? Were stores transparent about the meat's origins? Was it local or organic? How were the cattle raised? In addition, we looked at each store's service and options. We determined whether they had in-house meat cutting or other counter services or just pre-packed cuts, and if they offered extras like pre-seasoned or boneless options. Though it varies by region and location, we also considered either the per-pound or unit price of prime rib roasts in each store. In particular, we looked for outliers: very affordable or higher-than-average prices.

We also wanted to know what customers thought and whether they were satisfied with their purchases. To gauge shoppers' experiences and opinions, we relied on product ratings and reviews on the stores' websites, Facebook, Reddit posts, and Yelp reviews.