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    Oaktown Spice Shop

    4.8 (72 reviews)
    ModerateHerbs & Spices
    Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Oaktown Spice Shop Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Oaktown Spice Shop

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    Kevin F.

    Run, fly, dive -- whatever it takes to get here ASAP! They have versions of the ordinary spices and such that they will happily explain! I can't wait to come back!

    Vadouvan Cauliflower & Red Lentil Soup
    Lisa K.

    We have been going to Oaktown Spice Shop for years! No matter which shop we visit, the staff is always knowledgeable, helpful, and interested in our purchases. Vietnamese Cinnamon and Whole Nutmeg are always on our re-buy list. I use them daily in my oat milk lattes and breakfast bowls. Our latest favorite spice is Vadouvan. We found out about this necessity when Oaktown Spice Shop posted a recipe for a vegan Vadouvan Cauliflower & Red Lentil Soup. It's delicious! We have made it at least 3x since we saw the post and everyone enjoys it! They offer a number of vegan recipes on the site! The Albany store is spacious and brightly lit. The shop also carries a great selection of cookbooks and sells gift boxes for the baker, chef, or bbq-r in your life.

    Liz B.

    Was just going in to "browse" but we all know what that means... I love this little shop in Albany. Adorable store with such friendly workers there. So much to look at in here too. I ended up buying a vanilla sugar shaker, some teas, one of the customers there even raved about how much she loved the tumeric spice blend, and a cute tiny gold stirring spoon that I spied at checkout. Teas tasted great, just know that they're loose leaf so you'll need a tea ball or strainer to make it. Highly recommend this cute shop for your baking and hobby browsing needs!

    a view of the inside of the store
    Thomas B.

    Kitchen heaven. What an absolute pleasure it was walking through these doors these doors yesterday.. It was another Thursday for me dropping off mail at the Post Office when I decided after the last couple years of passing by their front door to finally go inside and have a look. I consider myself a better than average cook not quite a chef but I know my way around the kitchen. I'm no stranger to spices or to adventurous eating. And this place has always peaked my curiosity. The 1st thing that happens when you enter their door is you are overwhelmed by the essence of spice floating in the air. What a beautiful thing to walk into. Their products look clean fresh and and well displayed with recipes that will assist you in using the specific products you're looking at. That's a brilliant piece of marketing marketing what you sell. And it was also apparent that they do their own blends there and I found out that they will do a blend for you. As I walked around the shop I was reminded how minded how little I know about the spices that I've been using for years. There are so many spices I've never seen before or never used and this is a great place to discover and elevate your culinary experience. Upon entering I was immediately greeted by a nice young lady who's been working there for a few years and she walked with me through the store explaining their concept and talking about herbs and spices. She was extremely charming. There was another young lady at the Counter who is creating up an announcement board to I'm at board to talk about an upcoming I believe ghost kitchen event. It's a great tie in for a shop that sells spices. Because their host is is someone who makes sausages and cured meats. She was also very very receptive and open and friendly. I felt like I was at home with these 2 young ladies that helped introduce me to this business. I could go down a long list of spices that would probably not mean too much to you without The knowledge.So I recommend that you take some time in your day to drop into this shop and see this extremely well organized array of fresh fresh fresh herbs and spices.Their in house packaging is very elegant and functional and the display is so nice to see these seasonings with recommended recipe cards that you can have for free. Put this place on your to-do list before you go shopping for spices next time. And if you have any questions these young ladies are very knowledgeable in their product. They will direct you to what you need or would you don't know that you need until you ask.

    Ray U.

    Oaktown Spice Shop is amaaaaaaazing. It smells of fresh spice, and is cute, modern, and hipster-y. They give you tastings of anything if you ask! Jars of amazing spices and spice combos fill the shelves - Umami sea salt, truffle sea salt, all sorts of hot peppers, an entire section dedicated to vanilla, and any and every spice you can think of from 'round the world. Prices are actually quite steep (see photo) at $9 for a tiny 1/4 cup jar. They have great gift packages - one for meat-grillers, one veggie-eaters, and others for everyone else inbetween. They have pepper grinders, mortar and pestles, tshirts and aprons, and even jars of local honey in case you're looking for gifts. The space is clean, bright and spacious, and customer service is super polite and prompt. You can bring your own spice bottles, or refill the one you bought last week. They also offer classes - pie baking with pie spices, kombucha-making, and other fun community events. Street parking requires a bit of luck and patience. This place is a great addition to Solano Ave!!

    Bahar R.

    Gorgeous shop with a vast selection of spices, salts, and other cooking necessities. Downtown Albany is the friendliest and most precious neighborhood to stroll around. The staff is very kind and helpful. I will definitely be back to enjoy the welcoming store and great products.

    My salad tonight. Grand Slam Home Run

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    Business owner information

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    Erica P.

    Hi Alma, thanks for the review. Did you mean to give us just 1 star?

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    2 years ago

    The standard for a spice shop. An important jumpstart for culinary adventures. Keep your pantry stocked with the basics in fresh packages.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Oaktown Spice Shop

    Review Highlights - Oaktown Spice Shop

    Leaving a 5 star review because EVERY time I come to this store the people who work here are so friendly, kind, and helpful.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    3.8(357 reviews)
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    Lunch Special $22 Chicken Satay appetizer and Cashew Nut with Tofu. $6 Thai iced tea with coconut…read more Tofu was well seasoned and surprisingly more delicious than the chicken satay which was already pretty decent. Really nice flavor profile with plenty of umami, spices, and oil to provide fullness. Thai Iced Tea tastes like the premade stuff I'm familiar with at many restaurants. Good food but not necessarily worth going out of your way to try.

    Normally we really love this place but last night we were planning to eat there and arrived at…read more8:35. Their hours say that they close at 9 pm. In the past, while there, we've known them to stop taking orders at 8:45. We were ready looking forward to eating there and really disappointed that they didn't seat us. For people looking to eat here, make sure you arrive at least 35 minutes before closing and for the restaurant, you might want to be more clear on your listings what time you actually stop serving. We did however find a really good Thai restaurant alternative that we wouldn't have tried otherwise and they are open until 10 which is nice., We don't normally eat so late but last night we had some unavoidable delays. We wish they had been more flexible and clear on the hours of operation.

    Photos
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    Of All Places - i miss Camino . . . and The Kebabery

    Of All Places

    4.9(16 reviews)
    0.9 miEast Solano Ave, Berkeley Hills

    This compact specialty market has been open for over a year, and I really like how the merchandise…read morereflects local purveyors with no corporate brands. Starting with an arresting blow-up of Italian movie star Monica Vitti behind the checkout, it's a visually pleasing emporium because it's not overcrowded with idiosyncratic products. The wine collection is particularly interesting with labels unknown to me. I've been tempted by the delectables in the Grab & Go section, but I've demurred for the sake of discretion. In fact, having almost no knowledge of any of these products, I only recently bought something here because I want to support them. I got a box of Rooibos tea and a jar of Hawaiian masala (Photo 10). I look forward to buying more in the future, though one thought I had was that this store would benefit from samples. On a previous visit, there was a bakery pop-up in front (Photo 8), and I think more of that activity could encourage more in-store traffic. It'll be interesting to see how this business evolves. RELATED - Exploring Solano Avenue? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/eyjAJU1VZv

    I LOVE THIS STORE SO MUCH!!!…read more It's so lovingly & carefully curated with yummy items. I come in every week or so to check out new items. Great selection of gourmet goodies-- I regular go in for snacks, cooking sauces from around the world, ice cream, canned drinks, honey & condiments. Appreciate they have plenty of vegan options. They also have a good selection of wines. The owners & staff are super friendly. They love to chat & answer any questions you have. It's a small but mighty space. Very clean & cheerful (not sure how else to describe it? I always smile when I enter!) SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT OUR WONDERFUL SMALL BUSINESSES

    Photos
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    Of All Places - Photo 1: Montage of images from Of All Places

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    Oaktown Spice Shop - herbsandspices - Updated May 2026

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