The vibe we were greeted with right when we came in was friendly & very enthusiastic! The employees were clearly happy to be there and talk about their products. They have TONS of different hot sauce with unique flavors. I really love how they let you sample everything first, plus they have a buy 3 get 1 free deal that we had to take advantage of. read more

Pepper Palace - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

Although it is not palace-sized, this narrow little shop stocks more sauce per square foot than you can handle! I'm not familiar with the brand, but it kinda looks like everything in this place is unique to the shop/chain itself, which is a nice change from simply rehashing the same popular hot sauces you can buy just about anywhere. We picked up a couple bottles of King Habanero, a Serrano Lime, and a fourth one that I can't recall, but my life seems to love it! Free samples available of just about everything in the shop to help customers find a flavor they like, at a heat level that matches your tolerance level. Very recommended! read more

5 stars, I didn't buy anything but I had to buy ice cream next door after trying their Purgatory sauce. 10/10 would go again - very good spice level read more

This place was awesome!!!!! Not only were their selection and products great...you could sample almost everyone of them before you bought it!! I love super hot sauce, I also love sauce that is reasonably hot with great flavor. This place has them all. The staff was laid back and had no issue with me sampling like 100 sauces. Their garlic Buffalo is awesome and I think it is kind of their signature sauce. But idk, there are so many u could spend days trying them all. Don't touch your eyes after trying the sauce!! Even if you're confident your hands didn't touch it...it just isn't worth the risk!! read more

Pepper Palace - a display of wing sauces - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

we travel from Santa Cruz to get products there. More than 3 times we have been unable to purchase anything because card reader is down or cash register wont allow any sales. They have the doors open and after walking around finding what we want to only find out can't buy anything. They should just close or notify at door read more

My sister-in-law and I we're excited about going here and the hours indicated they were open. To our disappointment they were NOT open. While we were still at cannery row that Monday I called many times. No answer and no explanation as to closure. I've been there before and was hoping to replenish some of my pepper sauce and spice. read more

The staff was super friendly and helpful. They had so many sauces and salsas and seasonings to try. I never felt any pressure to buy. I ended up getting 3 bottles of crazy good hot sauces and 1 ghost pepper wing sauce. They are online too for when I need a refill. Shop here. read more

Pepper Palace - Front - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

Cute shop with lots and lots of spices and salsa! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. The shop is inside a mini-mall building next to Bubba Gump restaurant. A neat perk is you can sample all the sauces with tortilla chips! It's located on the busy Cannery Row. There are a couple parking structures close by. However, if you don't mind a nice walk, there's a bunch of street parking a couple block away that are free. Enjoy! -Sushiwhisperer read more

Pepper Palace - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

This place rocks !!! I love all the hot sauce including the flatline and for a killer price. David was very nice and knowledgeable about the hit sauces. I am a San Francisco native and visiting here before I join the army. I definitely had lot of fun trying all the different hot sauces and will be back in the future. Thanks David for the fun times ... good vibes only read more

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I got the best salsa here last week and it was gone that night (don't worry, I shared). They have plenty to sample here and everything is seriously so good, you just gotta know your heat tolerance. I grabbed a sweet garlic salsa and a bag of their chips and i was set. This is conveniently located in the heart of Cannery Row and all salsa and hot sauce lovers NEED to visit!!!! read more

Pepper Palace - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

We walked in and immediately were greeted by Eric. He was very knowledgeable about the different sauces and spices they had. We wanted a good recommendation for a green spicy sauce and he asked what dishes we cooked to better pair the options. With a lot of Peruvian food at home he made a very great pairing with an Aztec sauce. In addition we mentioned the Hot Ones show and he explained how those sauces are meant to burn and not have much flavor. In comparison their sauces had multiple flavors that built up and the heat did not overpower the flavor. Overall great experience and will come again. read more

Awesome store with a huge selection in a great location. Got the spiciest thing I've ever had here: Death By Salsa, highly recommend if u wana die lol (not kidding). read more

Pepper Palace - 3 words: Death By Salsa. Literally the spiciest thing I've ever had. U can try it in store too, hella good but beware u don't need a lot. - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

Have a hard time not driving down to Monterey for a day or weekend trip and stopping at the Pepper Palace. They have tons of flavors and varieties of hot sauces, salsas, rubs, and more. They sell drinks too in the likelihood you sample something out of your heat range. I always find one or two bottles to bring home and share, most recent being the Sardine sauce (lol, I just liked the name). $9.95 for a regular sized bottle, kind of a vinegar base with habanero peppers. Really tasty and pretty hot! Stop in and sample some in your in this area! read more

Pepper Palace - So good! - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

This place claimed to be open from 10am to 6 or 7pm, but it's a huge lie!! Some random dude came up to me and said he'd open up in 30 min after a family emergency, but then opened it right then and there at 3:30pm. He kept on about this family emergency and the employee that didn't show up, but I'm pretty sure it was him that didn't show up to work on time. The place had been closed all day until that point. The dude wanted to know if I knew what I wanted, in a place I hadn't been to. I walked around and tested a few products and the dude got mad at me for doing so. He is rude AF. Avoid this place. read more

Free samples of most hot sauces here but sauces are made in house. Sauces did not have a huge variety. I look for a unique, thick , spicy, hot sauce. I did not find it here. Sample kit made this place awesome. I wish I could have found a sauce that fit me. It seemed the labels were the draw here. I may have become a hot sauce snob, so I don't want to take it out on the Pepper Palace for the legitimate try. read more

If you love hot sauce, you will love this place. I stopped by after visiting the aquarium. Sooooo many different hot sauces, salsas, bbq sauces and seasoning. A marine was checking out in front of me, the owner/cashier noticed his military ID and offered him a (very generous) military discount - very kind to do so. I will visit this place again next time I am in the area. read more

Pepper Palace - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

This place is so much fun! They have tortilla chips for you to try them with their salsas, sauces and dips. Everyone is very friendly and the place is very clean and organized. This place is a must if you like spice in your life! read more

This is my kind of place!!! I love hot sauce and they have everything. Hot sauce, salsa hot sauce for wings. My kind of place! The best selling sauce is the black rose hot sauce. Very tasty and hot but not too hot. I tried the hottest sauce, when I read it, it says The END!!! I tried a small drop on a tortilla chip, oh yes they have many free samples . Tried the hottest sauce and I think to my self not too bad... I started sweating and tearing up, my face was turning red. A store next door sell water and ice cream! Best remedy. Caution if you do not like spicy food do not do the challenge, you might end up in the ambulance and to the hospital. read more

Pepper Palace - Best selling hot sauce on the store - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

One of my favorite places to go...Had a chance to visit THE PEPPER PALACE in Monterey this weekend..the same upbeat kool vibe here like the palace in San Francisco & Arizona ya diggg...so many hot sauces to choose from...great location here in Monterey... read more

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This place was great! My family and I went to Monterey to the aquarium and after, we went on a walk down Cannery Row. While there, we ran into this shop of hot sauce... And it was awesome! They had so many sauces to choose from. They have a hot sauce called "The End" which, like most other sauces, you can sample. For this one you do have to sign a waiver. You are given a tiny spoon on which they serve you some of the sauce. They have a TV where they have some of the pictures with people and their reactions to the sauce. Definitely not for everyone. They have a few tables where you can sample Most of their hot sauces on chips that they also have on the tables. This is great becuase you can taste any sauce before you decide to purchase. When you do decide to purchase, they have a buy five items and get a 6th free. And they will also throw in a 7th sauce for free as well. So, you pay for five sauces and walk out with seven! Works for me. But wait... There's more. You also get a nice reusable bag with your purchase. And for those who do try the "The End" hot sauce... You get a sticker! Yes, a sticker that says "Wall of flame survivor". From the moment we walked to the moment we walked out, there was about nine people in there and only two of us tried the "the end" hot sauce... So yeah, we get to brag with our sticker! So, if you're a fan of hot sauces and are in the vecinity, stop by and check this place out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Pepper Palace - Not all will survive... - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

If you love all things hot and spicy this is the place for you. I stopped in for some hot sauce and WOW! There was shelf after shelf to choose from, most of them made locally. They also stock salsa, spices, rubs and more. They have a tasting bar so you can try before you buy, as well as gift sets! If you have a lover of heat in your family stop in this shop. I left with two local hot sauces as a gift for my husband. read more

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Pepper palace is great! They used to be located on the main strip of cannery row but now they're inside on if the buildings. Still right off of cannery row you just can't see the storefront from the street. It's totally worth going a little searching. I'm no hot sauce connoisseur I just started leveling up my spicy, but this place is delicious! They let you sample they're salsa and hot sauces and rubs using tortilla chips! Which is really awesome of the store! There's also a hot sauce challenge here that looks painful so I wasn't about to try that. Haha anyways they're super friendly and I didn't talk to the person working in the store but he sounded pretty knowledgeable about spicy and what ingredients were being used in the products! read more

Must Visit place in Monterey... Loved the pepper challenge and all the other hot sauces here. The lady here was absolutely amazing and super friendly... Before you take the pepper challenge... keep some candy or icecream with you... you will definitely need it... I took the pepper challenge with 10 drops and it was super hot... read more

Pepper Palace is always a fun stop whenever my boyfriend and I see one while sight seeing. Since there aren't any locations where we are, it's always a neat treat seeing what inventory they have. We've gone to the San Francisco location prior to this visit, but what set this one aside was the amount of space and the free chips you can use to dip them with! SF allows you a use once spoon, but I preferred the chip much more! :) Here they have a variety, being dried spices, bottled, liquid, shakers, sets, all under the sun and just as hot as it too! Since I'm not an avid spice fan, my boyfriend always takes the reigns and tries a variety of their samples before I dive in. You've been warned- SOME ARE HOT! Best idea would be to buy an icecream or milkshake nearby before coming here- it gets very hot. One of the biggest mistakes made was my boyfriend trying the triple X sauce with a skull and bones on the warning. At the time, we didn't know it had a Scottsville level of 1.3million, but with his shrieks and him chugging down both of our water bottles- I knew it had to have been bad! The milk here is $2 for a small pint which is a bit expensive but they definitely know their market. Normally we pick up a bottle before leaving, but the sample lived up to its warning so we left to find some peace. He ended up feeling better soon after, but don't try that if your stomach is on the weaker side. Or in general. read more

If you wanna close 10 min early and prevent people from sampling things, just close the door rather than pretending to be open but telling everyone you're "just finishing changing out the caps so you can't let anyone sample." No point in saying you're open til 6 at that point... read more

This one is closed but there is a new location it's right next to bubba Gump shrimp restaurant in that mini mall area hope yelp updates this as possible thank you and pepper palace is still an awesome customer service is great and friendly just wished they didn't move there new location is a bit smaller place but it's still good read more

Pepper Palace - This location is gone I took this photo of the inside of the pepper palace - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

Love this place!!!!!! There are all kinds of sauces from bbq to hot sauces and rubs. Even novelty gifts!!! They carry siracha and tobasco too the usual. We walked in and the lady at the front was amazing! She gave us the tour of the spicy sauces and which were on the mild side. So many things to see you could be in there for hours. We loved that you could try everything. So many things to try. But beware it can get steamy hot from all that habanero. read more

Hot pepper sauce galore! Shop provides opportunity for unique gift ideas...salsas, rubs, spices, jellies, dips, even peppered hot chocolate mix. Many samples are available so you can taste before you buy but beware everything is spicy. read more

Pepper Palace - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

I was in Monterey and stopped in to check out Pepper palace. I accidentally grab a spoon without the tongs and the kid behind counter yelled at me. Then he got a major attitude and put on his gloves and dumped all the spoons in the trash can. I love hot sauce but I would never waste my time or buy anything from this store. read more

Walking into the Pepper Palace (PP), I had no trepidation at all! I live for hot sauces, mustards and various peppers. Wow what a selection they have!! Everything from mild to XXX hot and the grandaddy of them all: Flashbang! I tried a few tastes of hot sauces as they have tons of things available for you to taste test. Lots of great items here from salsas to sauces! Up front they have a display for Flashbang, the hottest sauce they carry. So I had to sign a waiver ( I'm not kidding!) making PP not liable for any issues just to try this hot sauce! I signed away, tasted ok at first, then the heat exploded!!! I had to run to Starbucks and drink 2 bottles of water and eat 2 bananas and it was still burning. Sweat was dripping down my back and the weather was cool. WOW! Crazy!!!! I could not believe that a little eye dropper sized dot of this could make me sweat bullets! After about 20 minutes, I cooled down sufficiently enough to feel I was back to normal but man!! Wow! Great store and staff but if the hot sauce comes in a package shaped like a grenade that requires me to sign a waiver, I may have to wimp out next time! read more

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All kinds of hot sauce! Name it and you'll find it here. Even the ones you've never heard before. LOL! Great lady staff too. She let us taste the jellies too and it was all spicy good! :) Bought the garlic parmesan wing master and blueberry BBQ sauce. Thumbs up! read more

Awesome experience, a must stop for a Monterey visit! The employees will give you recommendations that you will like, not just what they like. Great opportunity to sample a variety of hot sauces, BBQ sauces, spice rubs and salsas. Start mild and work your way up. read more

This place was awesome! If you love to BBQ, or have a love for hot sauce and bold flavor this place will suck you right in. I really thought it was great that they let you sample the sauces to ensure you like em before you buy em. The cashier (I think his name was Phillip since that is what it says on the receipt but we can't be sure.) I wish we would've asked because he had a great attitude and you can tell had a real love for his job. He seemed to really enjoy watching people fall in love with the sauces. He was friendly, happy, knowledgeable, and fun! Even after buying all of these amazing sauces he was our favorite part. I'm sure that will change though as soon as we try our new wing sauces lol. (Sorry Phillip) :) overall amazing experience! read more

This place makes me laugh and be amused. You can sample basically all the different salsa and sauces. They clearly mark all sauces on the scale of mild to extremely spicy. There's actually some pretty tasty sauces! Would recommend just stopping by and checking out this place. It was filled with other people just checking it out and doing their spicy challenge. read more

I really dug this place, finding a variety of hot sauces, salsa, rubs etc is hard to find in your every day store. I enjoy the hot sauce just about on everything and being able to taste 90% of them before you buy them its great. Tasting bar for salsa and sauces even rubs. The employee knew her hot sauces suggested many different kinds after telling her the kind of ingredients I like the most normally. After trying to many my tongue was on fire in a tasteful pleasant way. The only thing was the price I made a pack of 6 which you give your 6th for free was still semi expensive but you are getting what you want. Look forward to coming back and buying some wing mix, more sauce and some queso. read more

So fun! Chips everywhere to sample all hot sauces. You even have to sign a waiver to taste the hottest sauce. Employees very fun. read more

Pepper Palace - Hot sauce options - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

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I am such a big fan of hot sauce and spicy things that as soon as I saw this store I knew I was done for! I walked inside and was immediately blown away by the selection of hot sauces they had to offer. The store seemed to go back so far that for a minute I thought it went on forever! They had every kind of hot sauce, spice rub, salsa, and pepper extract you could think of! If I didn't already have such an extensive hot sauce selection at home, I would have walked out of there with a lot more than 2 bottles. After a good 20-30 minutes of browsing and sampling (yes! They have lots of different sauces to sample just in case you're having trouble deciding what to get or find something so unique that your taste buds are quivering at the thought of trying that particular sauce) I finally narrowed it down to a southern peach and vidalia onion hot sauce and a pumpkin panang thai chili sauce. Next time I'm in Monterey I will definitely be back to pick up a couple more hot sauces! read more

Pepper Palace - My come ups - Southern peach and Vidalia onion hot sauce and pumpkin panang hot sauce! - Specialty Food Near Me - Monterey, California

Anything you can put on a chip or steak, these guys have it. If you're in Monterey drop by and grab a few samples. Awesome and unique.

Stumbled into Pepper Palace while visiting here in beautiful Monterey, my husband is a bit of a pepper perfectionist and this place did not disappoint. We spent some time in this this store because there was a large buffet of tasting to be had. The store owner, a very sweet man was a pepper buff for sure, educating us on the various peppers and tastes. We picked up several bottles of sauce, salsa, and delicious mustard blends. But there was more than these if you like pepper jellies and marinades to name just a few more. Love this store, coming back again next visit read more

Tanya is the best! Thank you for helping us today !!!! THE END!!