A magical store filled with inspiration for cooks, grill masters, bakers and adventurous eaters. I had a specific list and a salesperson was efficient in tracking down 5 items and explaining the difference between two kinds of mustard seeds. The store has cute boxes made for four bottles if you want to put together a theme as a gift. Prices weren't out of line with what I'd expect to pay in a supermarket, maybe a dollar more per bottle. read more

Ordered online from the Spice house and was so thrilled to see they are Chicago based- so when I visit family I could come! We spent so much time in this store sampling spices (which is a great perk of going in store), and getting to try the different varieties. The spice merchants were also super nice and helpful in having us try ones we wouldn't have thought of based on our flavor palettes. read more

First, I have to say upfront that I have always ordered online and not actually gone into the store, which looks amazing from the photos. But I had to write a review of The Spice House since it's my go to for all my cooking. Now having tried a few dozen different spices and blends, I have my goto's and those that I use more rarely. I'm going to limit to some favorites in something of an order of how frequently we cook with them: 1. Fajita: So perfect. Great balance on spiciness vs flavor. And easy to adjust for different folks depending on how spicy they like it. Sprinkle on chicken before grilling or work up with onions and bell peppers for that traditional Fajita veggies dish. 2. Cajun: Definitely in a similar directions as the Fajita seasoning, but with that Louisiana flare. 3. Crystallized Ginger: Ok, I'll admit I just ordered this. But wowza, delicious on it's own. So gingery without being oversweet. 4. Back of the Yards, Gateway to the North: Love both for burgers. It's a tie. 6. Lake Shore Drive Shallot & Herb: Have exclusively used on omelettes. Terrific, but use sparingly. Shines through a bit brighter than you'd expect. 7. Peppercorns Royale: Bought this along with The CrushGrind Pepper Mill. Highly recommend both. The pepper mill is itself a joy to use. And love this blend, which is more complex than your straight up ground pepper. As one last thought, highly recommend The Spice House for gifts, particularly for the holidays. read more

Our favorite store in Old Town! If you need any type of spice, this is the place to go. We have been getting our spices there for almost 10 years and will gladly pay extra for the fresh and inventive spices they have. Our go-to is always Gateway to the North. This has a great mix of spice and sweetness that goes well with almost any meat or vegetable. I have recently been buying the Italian Steak Seasoning which is amazing for grilling. Great taste that doesn't overpower a well BBQ'd piece of meat. Finally, the service here is impeccable. There is always someone to assist and answer questions. Love this place! read more

The Spice House - Gateway to the North, Italian Steak Seasoning, Garamond Masala - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm a little embarrassed to admit I never knew about this store until recently! If you like to cook at all, or even want to explore leveling up anything you cook or bake this store is a must visit. I was able to stock up on some staple seasonings/spices as well as expand my pallet a bit. The spice merchants were able to help make recommendations and let us sample a few spices so we felt confident in our purchases. While this was my first time visiting I surely expect it won't be my last! read more

Unfortunately what I'm about to say seems to be happening with increased frequency around Town. This store used to be a special and cool place to shop. The selection was excellent as were the availablilty of various amounts of product. The prices also seemed fair. last time I was here everything was pre packaged, the assortments had shrunk and the prices had shot through the roof. Might as well get what i want at an ordinary grocery or the NET. BTW I went out of my way to go to your Evanston store only to find a note on the door saying you were closed for the day to support your employees in some kind of special event. Unfortunately the Net mentioned nothing about your being closed. If you're going to use the NET to advertise and communicate with your customers, you need to make sure your shopping times are spot on correct! read more

Nice selection but I hate that they add unnecessary crap in their spices. Read labels carefully Sugar is added to their vanilla extract & MSG in others & sulphur dioxide in ginger read more

I came in here shortly before closing. I had no idea they were closing; it seemed very early and there was a mob scene on the street so I don't know why you would close your store while there are crowds around. This guy was so rude. He seemed like the owner. He was very rude at the door. Rushed us through. It was a situation where if he had been talking to me instead of the male friend I was with, I would have definitely left and not gone in. My male friend is talkative and friendly. The owner guy didn't lighten up his mood. The guy didn't have any information about his paprika. He was condescending about it. I actually had a specific idea about what I needed but the guy reframed my questions back at me as if I was unfamiliar with paprika. *There were no samples out to smell* which is reason enough to never go back. I actually had wanted to shop for quite a few spices including a new fancy pepper grinder. I'm actually thinking about throwing away the paprika I bought because it has such a bad memory around it because of this emotionally dysregulated man. There are a few other spice stores around. I will definitely go elsewhere and never here again. Bad vibes. Bad experience. read more

We've shopped with The Spice House online, or when they had their store in Geneva, IL, so it was great to finally stop at their Chicago location. We were driving through the neighborhood, and I realized this location was nearby so we stopped. The spices inside are fresh, and often milled and packaged in-store. They previously had "loose" spices where you could have someone scoop them into a bag for larger orders, but now it is all prepackaged or jarred. Fantastic selection of high-quality spices and herbs means pricey purchase but it is worth it. read more

From the moment you walk in, you are hit with the spices. Everything smells so good; sweet, spicy and savory. Walked in looking for something to kick up my french toast game. I found maple sugar. Cant wait to try it. Everyone was so nice but Jason stole my heart having such a genuine interest in my needs. He also explained some of the events the store has. I will return. read more

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Wowwww.. the spice room is beautiful!! I have seen their spices in grocery stores but I had never visited the store before. The store is stunning and the service is unreal, very friendly staff and an incredible selection of spices!! We purchased three difference spices. I was however very impressed by the array of vanilla extract choices.. will return!! read more

Love love love this place! Super clean and organized. Super well stocked. Smells amazing. And great bonus buy deals. If you're looking for it, they have it. If you didn't know you needed it, they have it. As a person who cooks for heart patient it is always great to find someplace that has amazing salt-free spice blends too. read more

The Spice House - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had been to the one in Wisconsin but hadn't stopped in this one. We came across it by accident walking around after we saw the King Tut exhibit. If you love to cook, or if you love to want to cook, this spot is worth a visit. They sell spices, spice blends, sugars, salts, gift sets, and probably a bunch more that I'm forgetting. They're reasonably priced and come in jars as well as flat packs. I highly recommend the Greektown blend- it's my favorite! read more

Totally in love with this spot! The staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, suggesting spices that will complement your tastes. Gateway to the North is a maple garlic seasoning that is their signature spice and I can't get enough of it. That salty-sweet combination is fantastic on just about anything. I'm not gonna lie, I couldn't imagine regularly spending this amount on spices, but its worth it because you can taste the difference in your food. Whatever spice you need, you can likely find it here. They got a repeat customer in me. read more

ugh this store- could have spent hours. left with some saigon cinnamon (more potent/spicier than regular cinnamon), guajillo-chili powder, and ranch seasoning- because MSG makes the world go round. this place smells incredible (!) by the way, and with the best service. read more

The Spice House - cinnamon, cloves, cloves, anise, and anise - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Thank you so much for shipping flatpacks for free. It's so hard to get a "big" order in for spices (because I adore free shipping). We use them, but we don't use a lot. The flatpacks are the perfect size and with the free shipping, I can keep my jars full of fresh spices! I was quite happy with how many of my friends also shop with The Spice House. One couple used to be able to walk to your Evanston store. Most recently, I placed an order and a friend wanted a flatpack of a spice. They were out of flatpacks, but they had jars. ... but she didn't want a jar. This morning, the flatpacks said they were back in stock. I poked at customer service who said, no ... we're really out of flatpacks until at least mid-December! She asked if she could swap out the jar for a different flatpack spice. I asked customer service if we could cancel the jar and put in a different flatpack. ... and customer service made the swap! ... within an hour of my email ... around 9 pm MST. Now THAT is some awesome customer service. We are both very impressed! Keep up the great work! read more

I love this place. It has everything you'd ever want and their mixes are great. I am planning on doing a pepper tasting just to be able to try all the different kinds of peppers that they have! They're sure to meet all of your spice needs. And their gift options are also quite nice. read more

The Spice House - The variety of mustard seeds - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A stalwart Chicago spice store that competes with one of those famous online spice retailers. Going in the store is fun, but it wasn't until the pandemic that I realized how great it is to order spices from them online. If you pay for expedited shipping, they will return the favor and process your order very quickly. And they have a terrific selection, with some nice things (like dried hibiscus flowers) I needed for a special cooking project and couldn't get from the famous online spice retailer. And you get to support a local business too. I might just be making them my usual web resource too. read more

Update, I haven't been back to Chicago since. But great news is that you can order line from the spice house! I highly recommend that you try it out. I order the flat packs regularly!a read more

I don't know why they changed their way of selling their products . I don't know why the spend their money on packaging their old way was more cost effective for the consumer . I have been a loyal customer for over twenty five years. However they lost me after my last visit . I will never shop there again they have become a commercial supply of spices and the hands on approach is gone. Their off the street employees don't have a clue anymore and their hiked up prices are a joke. It's a shame that they have gone in that direction I hope it works out for them however I think they over played their hand. You can get the same quality at a much lesser price ordering on line. I used to look forward to my visits to their stores and talking with their staff and sampling different blends sadly they cut that out now everything is prepackaged and sadly over priced. I will never recommend another chef to visit their stores anymore. read more

I hope this review "spices up your life!" This is one of four locations: Chicago Evanston (2) in Milwaukee AND one coming to NAVY PIER! If you do not see the sign it is because there is construction going on, but no worries-you will see the amazing window front with all of the exotic spice offerings. I came for: * Sumac to make a Turkish Shepherd Salad *Za'atar-which is considered "Arabic Thyme" to make a yogurt dip It was quite overwhelming with so many offerings, I felt distracted and wish that I had taken "more time" to "explore." Some interesting finds were: Peri-Peri Spice Himalayan Salt Pink Peppercorns Sweet Curry Hot Curry Morroccan Star Anise Sichuan Pepper Garam Masala Vietnamese Cinnamon Tumeric Vadouvan-Indian Spiced Curry Powder and many, many more! VERY COMPREHENSIVE. For FUN! I did notice that when I left the store my clothing and hair smelled like exotic spices. As Kramer on "Seinfeld" would say, "Stick a fork in me-I'm done!" read more

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Absolutely OBSESSED with this place. I come in for one thing and leave with 10. The place has an extensive collection of good quality spices. Some are cheaper or a little bit pricier than grocery stores but it's worth it since the quality makes your food taste amazing. If your glass jar gets empty, I recommend just buying the spice in the plastic bags and refilling it (the glass jar is an extra $1 so this saves you money). The people are always so helpful and super nice! I recommend this place to everyone and even my family back home! read more

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Always delightful. Great and creative options for both baking a savory cooking. Awesome gift boxes; perfect for holiday guests or in-laws. Staff is always nice and ready to answer any questions. We stock up only once or twice a year and have found some of our favorite spices and rubs. Thank you! read more

One of a kind place. This funky shop is like a spice bizarre out of a dream. They make most of the items themselves and have a totally unique selection. They are a little pricy, but totally worth it. I Personally recommend trying the smoked paprika, and the sriracha spice. Come here on a date to have some interesting experiences, and walk around. There are plenty of free samples to try. read more

The Spice House - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a special place! I walked in and was greeted with a beautiful smell and a friendly staff. What a selection of spices and their own specialty mixes. I did but a few! Can't wait to use them. The staff was helpful as well. Try them and cook and season away!!! read more

The Spice House - Bloody Mary Mate, Saigon Cinnamon, Mediterranean garlic and herb, Peri peri mix and Lemon Zest!!!!!! - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great customer service, my online order was lost (still lost in la la land). Nathan's correspondence has been quick and very polite. We tracked the missing package for a few days and without hesitation or initiation from me, he refunded my shipping fees and shipped out a replacement. This purchase was a birthday gift and my brother-in-law and sister were so impressed with the packaging, very nice display gift box WITH a hand written personal birthday note. Impressive, I knowww! Thank you very much for going above and beyond. I support you and your business. Sincerely, Victoria S. read more

It's time we all upgraded our spice game. Seriously, are you particular about your choice of wine, beer, cheese or bread? Then why is there 365 Organics or McCormick's pepper in the cabinet?! :-) - Variety/Quality: They have everything you need AND a few additional options for you to expand your repertoire. Quality/freshness is great b/c they are so popular. - Price: Similar to supermarkets (really) and if you're just trying out a spice for a recipe, it's easy to purchase just the amount you need for a few bucks. - Staff: Couldn't be more helpful, knowledgeable and polite - Education / Inspiration: Each spice bin has recommended pairings and you'll find plenty of recipes available. read more

Excellent selection of spices - also a great place for a gift! I bought the Lakeshore Drive Collection (highly recommended) as a Christmas gift for a family member who loves to cook and she was very impressed. The quality and style of the packaging looks and feels expensive and the 4 spices in the collection are varied so that it covers a lot of bases. All in all, so happy I picked up the Lakeshore Drive collection. I plan on going back for spices for myself! read more

I realized after I placed a big internet order that I made a mistake, my bad, in the order. I called their service dept to make the correction. They stated the order had been sent to be filled. They did NOT say it had palletized & said it had not been shipped. EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOT BEEN SHIPPED, they refused to make the correction. They did offer to make the correction if I wanted to put in another big order. Be very careful when ordering. Once they have your money they won't lift a finger to help you! read more

These guys are wonderful. They sent my order quickly, and when I had made a mistake on the address, it was shipped to the wrong place. I contacted them and they were super understanding. They sent me a new order without charge. I was so impressed. So, quick ship, very responsive, and when I made a mistake, they took care of it immediately. read more

The service was excellent. The employees were very accommodating & helpful. The spices were plentiful. I WILL go back for more spices

A great place that anyone who enjoys cooking should check out. There you can find a wide variety of different spices from around the world. They are organized quite well and even have gift sets of spices to give as gifts or buy just as a set. There is a selection of Chicago spices which for someone not from here I found very interesting. The have a lakeshore spice, Ukrainian village, Chicago pizza, and many other neighborhood flavors. If you are a Paprika fan then here is your place as there are so many different ones. As someone who has been living in Asia i enjoyed that there were some red curry powder and masala. I also loved that they have Kampot pepper and Vietnamese cinnamon. I just wish they had a bit more of a masala type section, more curry powders, and Vietnamese white pepper. It is nice though that you can try or smell the different spices before buying read more

I always buy my spices , in person, at the Spice House. I can purchase small quantities of fresh ground spices. It really makes a difference when you cook. Recently I ordered a gift box for friends in Florida I chose the cheapest option. They received their gift in 2 days! They loved this special gift. Instead of wasteful materials, boxes are packed with fresh bay leaves and other fresh spices. What a nice treat. I cannot recommend this place enough. Prices are competitive. Service is always good. And most importantly, they sell a superior product. read more

I went here the other day specifically for some loose leaf chai tea, but before even going there I called beforehand to confirm they had the individual tea in stock and not just a bundle of chai spices on their website. But once I get their the clerk informs me they don't carry any any teas in stock! A real disappointment, so I didn't have a great impression of the Spice House to begin with. But since I was already there I made the most of my visit and looked around at their various spices and and was guided along with the help of a very knowledgeable clerk. I chose two, the Saigon cinnamon and the maple garlic. But when I tried both of them at home that night I thought they were just okay, with the cinnamon being the best of the two, and the maple garlic one way too mild for my taste. I guess I was expecting them to be more robust, and for the price, approx. $10.00 each (the saigon cinnamon a little less) I wanted more than just smart looking bottles and friendly customer service! So for now I'll just stick with the spices from Middle Eastern Bakery which IMHO are way stronger (and cheaper) and go elsewhere for my chai tea. read more

Every single time I visit my former home town, I stop by The Spice House, normally in Evanston, but yesterday, in Chicago. There are no other place where I can find the selection and quality. Well I suggest you keep visiting the Evanston shop. During my visit in Chicago yesterday, I was given an extra bag-full of attitude by one of their staff. No idea what this tart's problem was. read more

Lacks customer service. I placed an order for pick up this week - critical spices for the weekend. Upon arrival to retrieve my order, I was told it had been shipped stating that I had placed the order that way. Even though I had two emails to show the order was for pick up. Customer service told me I could come in AGAIN and send back the order when it arrives by mail, with no concession for their error and inconvenience to me. What a shame for a small business to treat customers this way. read more

I used to LOVE this place. So many great seasonings that were so fresh and such friendly and helpful service all at a reasonable price. Have tried twice recently to get my spice on. You can't enter the store. I get being Covid safe but how do you shop? Only online which you don't know until you get there. So I go online to order and try to do my order as a pick up but there is no way to do that. So I knock on the door and say I'd like to pick up. She says to do a shopping order but enter the address of the store and they will know. Great that they will know because there is no way to figure that out on your own. I thanked her. I checked the prices and they have gone up like 40%. I'm. Business owner and am struggling but a 40% increase is insane. Finally I asked when I could pick up my order as I was standing outside. I wanted some nutmeg and ginger. I was informed it would be several hours. I'd be notified. Problem is I'd be home by then. The staff is not very friendly or accommodating. I can get my spices elsewhere. I wanted to support local but not when it was this painful. read more

This was our sixth stop on the Gold Coast & Old Town Food Tour so I got to visit The Spice House. It's a cozy place filled with all kinds of different spices. The place is supposed to smell amazing since you can try the spices and dust it on the floor if there are any remaining spices that are left over. However, the smell was a bit strong for me and I didn't enjoy the smell too much, but that is just me. But everyone else seemed to love it. Anyways, this is the place to go to get all your spices to cook a lovely meal. Personally, I think they make great gifts as well. I would recommend this place to anyone that loves cooking or just exploring and trying different kinds of spices that are out there. There were spices that I never even knew existed and I got to try it so that's pretty cool. read more

My daughter didn't think a spice store was something we should go visit on vacation so instead of taking this in first hand, I bookmarked and was left to drool on-line when recently placing my order. The hardest part was deciding what I really "needed" and then justifying a few extra purchases by tossing out spices that were currently occupying space. You know, "hmmm.... I know this expires in 2013 but the month is smudged. Probably January. Time to purge." When my box arrived, I must have looked like a heroin junkie getting their fix. I cracked open the box, sat on the kitchen floor and then took the time to first smell, then taste, everything that was ordered. Gateway to the North is a great maple-garlic blend that is going on everything that I can think of, Quebec Spice will be on my next steak and the Ratatouille Seasoning will be a staple in soups and on veggies. However, the lavender vanilla sugar is cheaper than crack and more addicting. I added it to hot chocolate, made cinnamon sugar toast even turned my finger to a dipping stick to make sure none would be wasted going on food. Even with the shipping costs (my box was 8 pounds) it was still cheaper than buying a lesser quality mix/blend from your local store but the difference will be huge in your cooking and baking! read more

The Spice House - Great customer service with mail order too!! - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Screw Jimmy John's, Spice House should steal the slogan "Free Smells." I mean JJ's smells like...nothing and Spice House smells amazing with scents and spices that evoke emotion and memory. In recent years I've taken a greater interest in cooking, but that's not what got me through Spice House's door the first time. What got me in the door was their lovely gift sets. If you're looking for a handpicked set, a set focusing on a type of food (like poultry), or a neighborhood-themed set - this is your place. Or, if you're simply looking for some fine spices for yourself, this place has got it going on. I recommend asking, if you're looking for something in particular, there are jars everywhere and it would be frustrating to hunt it down. Fortunately, there are plenty of staff with aprons ready and willing to help. If you think going to a place like Spice House is too fancy or pricey for you, it's not really. Since the spices are kept in bulk jars, you can buy amounts you actually need instead of buying a grocery store bottle you might never use again. TIP: If you have you own spice bottles, ask for them to bag your spices. read more