I discovered Rancho Gordo beans a few years ago when I found the heirloom beans inside a salad at Cheeseboard pizza in Berkeley. I started buying Rancho Gordo beans online and they were the best beans I've ever had. Beans I have never seen or heard of before. A whole new world was discovered. Their website is beautiful to look at and informative. I also bought their bean cookbook. I subscribed to their emails and recently got the important news that their new store opened on Main Street and only a few blocks away from the Napa farmer's market. The store is very modern with wood floors, large windows and lots of light. They don't carry all the beans online but they do carry a good amount. I got some special black beans (Frigik Negro de Vara), very pretty green split peas and a new rare variety that goes bad fast (Flor De Junio bean) and a special fresh tumeric spice (see photos). I'm excited to try the new items. It is nice that they have dried Porcini mushrooms and morel mushrooms you can use in their bean soup. The porcini mushrooms are the brand that Rancho Gordo recommends and you can get 1.43 Oz for $19. They have interesting high quality spices and I bought a tumeric. They had samples of cooked beans. The ladies were friendly at the counter. I'm definitely returning to get more products! read more

See all

My first time to the Rancho Gordo store, if your into heirloom beans, lentils, spices and grains from Indigenous americas this shop is worth a visit. If you cant make it to the shop then check out their web store front www.ranchogordo.com. As for the store front I really liked the way they have the shop decorated and how they have their products on display. When i was there they had some really nice mellow latin music playing and were selling fresh tortillas so the shop smelt really good. While the selection can be a bit intimidating they have people that can answer your questions while you look. For example i explained the beans and lentils i liked and they were able to recommend the Heirloom equivalent. Also they have recipes for many the different beans & lentils as well. Overall was a very fun trip to visit the store front and cant wait to go back the next time im in Napa. read more

See all

My sister loves the beans she gets from this company. She's a member of the Bean Club and has it delivered to her house in St. Louis. I'm lucky I can go to the store outlet. Great staple for vegetarians. read more

What fun we had picking out beans here! They have an amazing selection! Staff is helpful and knowledgeable. They are moving location shortly read more

Rancho Gordo - Specialty Food Near Me - Napa, California

This place was a happy discovery and completely worth the drive. A casual conversation at Trader Joe's led me here, and the next day I made the 45-minute trip to Napa. From the moment I walked in, the staff was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. I mentioned it was my first visit and asked for a few beginner recommendations, and they took the time to explain their favorites without making it overwhelming. I left with a small, well-chosen selection and can already tell I'll be back. If you enjoy quality ingredients and great customer service, this is well worth a stop. read more

We live in Minnesota but were in the area visiting our daughter. My wife has several Rancho Gordo cook books and was eager to visit the store. Honestly I didn't expect much but I was wrong. The store has a vast array of beans as one would expect but also spices, bean cook books, wooden utensils such as beautiful wooden serving spoons. Veritable bean heaven. The staff were extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. We bought a lot of beans - but they offer free shipping for orders over $ 50. If you are into healthful organic products Rancho Gordo is worth a visit read more

Great staff. Amazing beans. Fun cooking tips. Not a big store but it seems to have everything in the Rancho lineup. Sometimes homemade tortillas. Just wish they were open on Sunday. read more

Rancho Gordo is the epitome of IYKYK. Those in-the-know KNOW that these heirloom beans are simply LEG-EN-DAR-Y! There's a four year long waitlist to join the bean club, but no worries, as you can still procure your precious beans without being a part of the club that includes quarterly shipments. If you are leaning into the Mediterranean diet or just trying to reduce your animal protein consumption, these heirloom beans are especially clutch. (Also, they're really pretty in your pantry!). I'm such a fan of these gorgeous beans. You will be too once you "join the club" of those of us in the know! read more

A Napa resident took me here as she knows I love Latin food and wears. This place says family when you walk in. Beans everything. Daily samples, cookbooks, spices, popcorn, sauces, jewelry, and cooper pans and textiles. An explosion of color. Very friendly staff eager to help and explain their products if needed. Treat your self and give a visit. read more

See all

No organic beans Shocking none of their beans are organic. When I asked they mentioned they don't use Roundup but they do use pesticides. Cause for great concern read more

Great beans. We have been eating them for about 15 years and rely on them for a good portion of our diet. And the people there are very friendly and helpful read more

Largest selection of beans in one store ever. Nice informative staff. Will definitely be back. read more

I received a package from a family member that contained Rancho Gordo Cranberry and Rancho Gordo Jacob's Cattle beans. I cooked up a bag of the cranberry and was shocked at how good they are!!! Very clean beans right out of the bag. Very few split, broken beans. Much plumper than any dried bean I've ever cooked/eaten. I'm a convert to these "heirloom" beans and I'm not going back!!! read more

Rancho Gordo - Cranberry beans and Jacob's Cattle beans....HEIRLOOM!!! - Specialty Food Near Me - Napa, California

Love love, love love love you, Rancho Gordo beans. I can't believe there is a location in Napa with all the beans that I couldn't get online, but I'm very excited to have found you. I'll be sure to stop by whenever I'm in the area. their stuff are really nice too and help me pick a few varieties and gave me a few recipes to try. Fabulous spot! read more

Rancho Gordo, where you bean all my life? Anasazis (which they call Vaquero beans) are a life-changer, and they come clean...no more picking through supermarket bags for stones, moldy specimens and mud lumps. High protein, high fiber, mild, nutty taste. Vaqueros are a bit darker than the traditionally heirloom, but they're basically the same...RG calls them "a close cousin to the Anasazi." read more

Highly recommend Rancho Gordo. They have a wide selection of dried beans and lentils, many of them heirloom. They always offer you a sample of whatever beans/lentils they've prepared for the day. It's always delicious! They will give you the recipe along with the beans you buy. They also have a cookbooks, linens, and other cute things for sale. Please support this business. I want them to stick around for a long time! They're also very nice and provide great service! read more

I think Rancho Gordo is most known for their heirloom beans, but I've discovered their crimson popping corn and now I can't get enough. I received a bag of it as a gift last year, and since then I've ordered more a few times through their website. I am a HUGE popcorn lover and make it often with my foolproof stovetop method. If I could eat popcorn at every meal as an appetizer, I totally would, and I definitely have eaten popcorn for dinner on many occasions. I've tried many varieties of popping corn in my lifetime, and Rancho Gordo's crimson corn is by far one of my favorites. It pops up super crisp white with small kernels, which is my preference rather than big fluffy kernels. These kernels are almost hull-less, which means less stuff gets stuck in your teeth. Unfortunately, it seems that the word is out about how great this popcorn is, as it's often sold out on the website. Luckily you can sign up for an email alert for when it's back in stock, which is super helpful and has gotten me my popcorn fix in the past. This popcorn is sold in 1 pound bags, which is a nice amount for me (but I usually buy at least 2 bags at a time). If you like popcorn, I highly recommend trying Rancho Gordo's crimson popping corn! read more

Just the best place to get a huge assortment of beans (who knew there were so many variations) I joined the Rancho Gordo Bean Club. It's such a wonderful, positive and great group of people. Their store has an assortment of spices, cookbooks and special cooking pots, etc. read more

Cute shop with lots of beans and things! The ladies that work there are very nice and the place is very tidy. They also have some cute culinary gift packs. Beans, the new thing! read more

It was an honor to visit the mothership and get a new bean cookbook. They gave me a sample of some delicious flageolet beans which taste a lot better than when I make them. As a member of the bean club, they gave me a neat bandanna. Very cool. read more

Excellent. Even got a sample of cooked beans. Beans were well laid out with descriptions.

What a wonderful seed saver and entrepreneur. So proud to be a customer of this environmental and mindful company! And by the way the best beans I have ever eaten and I am originally a native of New Mexico, so in my opinion that says something about beans read more

I love their beans! It's very hard to find these exotic, heirloom beans, but Rancho Gordo has them. And the are fresh. Yes "fresh" dried beans. It's important that they've been picked and dried fairly recently. There is such a thing as "old" beans, which don't get tender, and are less flavorful. It's a lot of fun to peruse their catalogue, learning about the different beans and their roots. I love getting their emails updating me on new products, recipes and events! What don't I love so much? How long it takes just to even begin shipping the product. How long does it take to put beans in a bag, put the bag in a Fed Ex box, and have it picked up? read more

I've been getting these beans by mail order for several years now, and I'm still not entirely sure that my cooking methods do justice for the beans themselves, but I can't say enough how much I enjoy the great variety of offerings we've seen. When I get a new order of Rancho Gordo, it's better than Christmas. We were lucky to have ordered a big batch a month before the onset of the great quarantine of 2020, and while there is a bit of a premium cost to these special varieties, it's a small price to pay next to the joy and perhaps even the mental health boost we got in return. Please, oh please, bean gurus, keep unearthing (literally) legumes in the name of biodiversity or food history or what-have-you. And I'll keep eating. #ThankYouThursday2021 read more

Rancho Gordo has such great products. Their heirloom beans are unusual and tasty. They provide recipes and there are a couple of books from Rancho Gordo with recipes that explain more about the nutritional content and origin of the beans. read more

The beans are great but the owner is not. After being a long term customer and bean box member I complained... yup once. I was told to go buy my beans at Walmart. Steve later apologized but the damage was done. My complaint was that my much delayed bean box had things left over... yup not the normal great selection but rather the only things left on his shelves after a pandemic run on beans. I too was desperate, had just ordered those same things a few weeks before... I was told I should have known what was going to be in my box... I ask you how??? Sorry but hurling insults is not the way to run a business. I'm still miffed months later and each time I see or hear his name. Yup it stung. And there was no need to be so nasty. So support these beans if you can discount character. read more

I first learned of Rancho Gordo products from an article in the March/April 2022 issue of "Cooks Illustrated" magazine. Besides reviewing heirloom beans in general, they featured 12 types and listed a top choice for each. Rancho Gordo products dominated the list. When I went to their website, I was able to find stores in my area at which I could buy some of the beans. Unfortunately, the easiest store for me to visit only carried a few of their most common ones, but I was able to order others from their website. If you do use their website, be sure to check the "out of stock" page, as some of their more popular beans may be temporarily sold out. When I placed my order, I had several options for shipping, and my order arrived in about a week. My early favorites include their Mayocoba beans (a yellow bean) and their black and brown eyed beans. I appreciate the availability of their recipes too. I have nothing against canned beans, but when I have the time to reconstitute some, I will definitely prefer these. read more

Rancho Gordo - Early favorites - Specialty Food Near Me - Napa, California

GREAT BEANS and many other items. DEFINITELY worth a visit. Just go! Nothing more to add.

We've been eating Rancho Gordo beans for years but have never been to their store in Napa. Well that's all changed now and I won't be going anywhere else for beans. Aside from beans they also carry different herbs, chocolates and crockery for bean cooking. The sales staff was incredibly helpful in giving ideas as what to cook using their beans. We were also lucky enough to sample some beans they had simmering in the back, so creamy and luscious. They also sold us a pack of their heirloom corn tortillas. I can't wait to make these into cheese and guacamole tacos! read more

Rancho Gordo - Heirloom tortillas (you should smell these, amazing) and a few packs of beans. I'm thinking there is going to be cassoulet soon. - Specialty Food Near Me - Napa, California

Uh, so I have this weird fantasy that one day I'll make a pot of beans and Jen will love them. I've been experimenting with legumes on and off for two years or so but it hasn't happened yet. This is a bean store. It's a lot cooler than it sounds. The beans are quite pretty - I've got one striking variety (Black Calypso) that reminds me of a black-and-white cow. Also, every package of beans has a little blurb with a serving suggestion, which is a genius piece of marketing (but seriously, what *wouldn't* be good with pancetta or bacon?). The woman working the store had an insane amount of bean knowledge. I got four packs of beans and a few other goodies - bean salt (didn't realize that was a thing), vanilla, and chili powder. So far I've made one pot of Good Mother Stallard beans. Didn't soak, just slow-cooked in water all day with a sauteed onion and some bacon, added some kale 20 minutes before dinner. I really liked it. Jen said they were pretty good (better with some crispy bacon), so I think I'm getting closer to impressing her. read more

Rancho Gordo - touching beans - Specialty Food Near Me - Napa, California

See all

I've purchased or ordered beans from RG since 2020. They're unsurpassed in quality and selection and I've never had a "fail". I promised myself I would visit their storefront at headquarters when I went to Napa. The people were friendly, helpful and offered a sample taste featuring the freshly made bean-of-the-day. I appreciated being able to try condiments I was curious about but might not have ordered in case I didn't like, or know what to do with it. Just ask for what you'd like to try. This is a corporate storefront, not a restaurant or boutique. It's tasteful and not designed to draw in pedestrian traffic--but the product selection is awesome! read more

This place is the Mecca of beans, for anyone really but especially vegans. Whenever we're near by we stop in and fill up a box of their ultra delicious beans and spices. Rancho Gordo has changed how we cook at home and how we think about the source of beans. They've become the leader in this category with their innovation and procurement of heirloom beans, hands down. The staff at this store are always so helpful. They know beans and what spice goes with what beans, how long to cook a particular been, endless helpful suggestions - incredible knowledge here! We love seeing their products at little places here and there around the bay area and make a point to support them and that store by buying their products. Supporting a company like this is super important! RG, you have our undying support for life. Thanks for the "life" plant based foods you produce and offer. We're big, big fans. read more

Rancho Gordo - Gorgeous bags of Gordos - Specialty Food Near Me - Napa, California

What's that you say, you can't find any heirloom dried beans, well your wait is over. This great shop that is filled with all kinds of amazing dried beans and spices will give you dozens of new meal ideas. All of the beans are so unique and the people that work there are very helpful in selecting beans, describing them, offering cooking tips, and just being generally sunny and helpful. My son even picked up some chocolate and a recipe for champurrado, something he likes, but doesn't find often. It's on a quiet street with plenty of parking, so the next time you're in Napa, pop in and let your next meal pair with an amazing bean dish. read more

I love food, but I didn't think I'd be this excited about a little ole bag of beans. I stopped by the Rancho Gordo stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market on Saturday. I had been wanting to try these heirloom beans for awhile, but it wasn't really at the top of my "to do" list. It's a great stand, right in front, key for me as I get easily frustrated by the crowds. I didn't even realize that I was talking to Steve Sando himself, until I went home and checked out the website. He was personable with no hard sell, and tossed in lots of tips and cooking ideas while I browsed. And he gave me a sample. Yum. I have to admit I have always been a little intimidated by the whole bean-cooking process - rinsing, soaking, cooking. (Oh, and by intimidated I really mean "lazy"). Dried beans never seemed as good to me as *gasp* canned beans - they always ended up too dry or too hard or tasteless or whatever. Not worth the effort. Now I know this is because most grocery store beans are OLD. Like, up to 10 years old. Eeeeew. Rancho Gordo beans? Fresh. BIG DIFF. Trust. So last night I cooked my bag of Runner Canellini beans. Rinsed them, then soaked them for 4 hours (they soak for less time than the grocery store beans because they're fresh!), made a mirepoix of sauteed onion, garlic, carrots and celery, added the beans and water, and let them cook for a couple of hours. It was very easy, I just had to watch to make sure there was still enough water in the pot, but nothing more complex than that. While small and wrinkly during the soaking process (like pruny fingertips after too long in the tub), the beans plumped up and cooked beautifully. I wanted to try a recipe from the site, so I made the Runner Cannellini Salad. So easy and SOOOO good. The combination of flavors is perfect. If you try it, use Fig Balsamic Vinegar as the recipe suggests as an alternative. The beans are wonderful. Plump, tender but not mushy, and dare I say, meaty. At first I thought that $4 a bag was a little bit pricey, but it makes a good sized portion and the taste and quality put them in a category by themselves. I can't wait to try the other varieties and recipes. UPDATE 3/4: I tried the Good Mother Stallard beans which were also excellent. They were great in the burritos we made for dinner, and would also be wonderful on their own, or with eggs. I was told that they would have a beautiful and flavorful pot liquor, and they defintely lived up to this. Fresh, local, easy, nutritious - it doesn't get much better than that. If someone tells you that stuff doesn't amount to a hill of beans, they're wrong. It amounts to a beautiful, delicious, GORDO hill of beans! read more

See all

Rancho Gordo first appeared on my radar screens which it was featured in many of the upscale restaurants by name. This piqued my interest and after perusing their website I made some small purchases and was enthusiastic about their featuring heirloom beans that you probably would not know about let alone being able to order! Since I was going to have dinner at Ad Hoc later that day, I made sure I had time to visit Rancho Gordo on my way there. My trusty Garmin GPS took me to a light industrial area boarded by older residential area. They have a mixed office and retail space with curtains that hide what I would assume the larger storage and distribution area from public view. I really wish they would wall off the two areas since I felt I was intruding on their work space. Awkward. A very young Hispanic lady energetically answered my questions and was surprised at my detail knowledge of cooking beans, native Mexican and New Mexican dishes, and I even taught her a thing or two about Mexican cuisine. A trip to their main store may be worth wile as some to the selections are not available on line due to either their seasonality or limited availability. She brought out cooked samples of their beans from behind the mysterious curtains. She also urged to fill a bag of their chips from a large bowl, which I reluctantly did not knowing how many other hands had clawed through the open bowl. After my purchases of heirloom beans, dried corn and such and she gave me a free calendar to take home! read more

See all

Wonderful assortment and excellent Covid protections. Beans are wonderful and good selection. Would always buy my beans here. Website is easy to navigate. read more

As with most items and services you get what you pay for. I have enjoyed the quality and uniqueness of Rancho Gordo beans for years. Best quality and value for your money. read more

I've been ordering Rancho Gordo beans online since November and I've received four shipments. I've been quite pleased with the quality and variety of each package. I'll continue to order for a long time to come. read more

I ordered a bag of Desi Chana beans at $23.90. then ordering online I was told they would be delivered before Christmas. They were not. They were delivered on 1/2/2020. This was going to be a Christmas present for my wife. I told her a present is on it's way. I hope the beans are as good as advertised unlike their delivery system. read more

I'm just the taste tester and IT guy. My wife writes all the cool stuff. Rancho Gordo is a specialty bean store. Yep, you heard me, beans. You're probably asking, why would one want to buy specialty beans? Beans, so plain and humble, that often we forget all about them. Well, a few reasons come to mind (or should I say mouth) -- taste, texture, flavor, freshness and variety. Many of the dried beans in stores are old and lack flavor. Yes, while a pound of dried beans at a Safeway is less expensive then a pound of dried beans at Rancho Gordo, the Safeway beans don't taste like much. I found I would buy beans at Safeway, knowing they were good for me and inexpensive, but actually dreading cooking them, because it meant I would have to hide their poor texture and make-up for the lack of flavor. Not so with Rancho Gordo beans. In fact, I boiled up some Scarlet Runner Beans from Rancho Gordo the other week, and was munching on these salted beans, as I prepped the onions and spices to coat them. I was running out of beans for my dinner. Good quality beans have a wonderful taste and texture, each unique to the bean varietal. And, Rancho Gordo has many to choose from. As for cost, cup for cup, Rancho Gordo beans cost about the same as canned beans from the supermarket. One pound of dried beans will make about 6 cups of cooked beans. While you need 4 to 5 15oz. cans of beans to get about 6 cups of beans. Plus, Rancho Gordo has bean varieties not sold in cans. Rancho Gordo also sells popcorn, posole , dried chiles and chile powders, wild rice, quinoa, amaranth and herbs and spices. Here are a few recipes I've made with Rancho Gordo Beans: Red Nightfall Beans with Celery and Onions Scarlet Runner Beans with Caramelized Onions Black Beans with Onions and Andouille Sausage Maple Baked Beans with Bacon Cranberry Beans - a great introductory recipe on boiling up dried beans Cook Ahead Dried Beans Rancho Gordo has two store fronts in Northern California, as well as an online store. You can also visit the website to find a retailer near you. Rancho Gordo New World Specialty Food 1924 Yajome Street Napa, California 94559 www.ranchogordo.com read more