Spice Ace

Like this place for its interesting variety of salts. We got Alaska Pure Spruce Sea Salt and Tamarind Power on our first visit. We like to cook and experiment a lot with different spices, so for example the sea salt was added to the grilled rosemary red potato the other night. Some of the varieties there are not that novel, and the décor feels more like a lab rather than a homey kitchen. Well, those kinds of style preference are always biased, I admit.

Love this place. We ordered 16 gift boxes created with spices from our travels around the world as Christmas gifts for friends and family. They treated me with the highest level of customer service. The spices are great quality and I will certainly be ordering more to restock. Thank you Spice Ace for creating a memorable gift.

stop double parking to unload your merchandise! it is inconsiderate and entitled…

I just bought the Pacific heights blend. I can’t wait to try it on some fish or chicken! I’m so done with buying spices at the supermarket. This is my go to from now on. I was expecting some jacked up price like $ 15 for my spice blend but it was under $ 7. So happy

This nice little shop moved into my neighborhood a while back and it took me a while to get there, but once I did… woo hoo! I am a HUGE cook and love to experiment with exotic flavors and french baking so having good spices is really essential. Most spices can be found in upscale food shops like whole foods or real food company, but having a local spice shop that has REALLY special options is so much better.
Also you can taste everything which is a cooks dream! I love the fact that I can try different things and essentially educate myself on many spices and the owners are so nice and helpful. Hands down this place has so many high quality spices and is one of the best spice shops I have seen ever. I have been to the spice bazaar in Turkey and the high end shops in Paris and this is actually just as good and even better. I am so lucky that this is only blocks away from me.

I just ordered a gift box to send to relatives on the East Coast and they loved it! It arrived in just 4 days and each spice was individually wrapped and super cute! (it doesn’t show this on the website, but my folks loved it!)

Never again will I think… Wow. That’s a crazy spice, I’ll never be able to find that… :((ITS HERE AT THIS STORE.

This review in LONG overdue!
Let’s begin by saying I love to eat. I love to cook. I experiment in the kitchen and am always trying new recipes.
But you know when you start a recipe and it asks for something uncommon like galangal, or Keffir? Maybe hibiscus powder? Or zahtar? Ancho chile powder?
WELL…SpiceAce is the place to complete your recipe!
I can’t even count the number of times I’ve gone in here and spent time tasting (a nice way to decide if you want a certain spice and to know what it tastes like!) and perusing the spices and blends they sell. I always walk out with what I need as well as a few extras. :) I simply love opening my jars and smelling how fresh their herbs are! The fact that I’m using better quality spices/​herbs/​blends has elevated my cooking. My baking has changed and I know it’s the vanilla, cinnamon and others that I’ve used from SpiceAce that have made a palatable difference!
SpiceAce has incredible prices – I would say everything I’ve purchased ranged $ 4 – 12. That’s including the basic herbs de Provence to fancy Vanilla. If you compare the price and quality, you get significantly more for your money. They sell 2 sizes, one smaller and one larger. Great to have options if you only need a little of something rather than buying a large bottle/​jar and having it go to waste.
Don’t waste your time at grocery stores buying your spices. Chances are, they have been sitting there for months.
They also do online which is great! I’m leaving the neighborhood so am devastated but am happy to know I can still get my SpiceAce!

I really love this place. So many great blends. Two of my favorites are Bavarian Seasoning and Vadouvan, but there are so many more I want to try. They must have the best collection of salt blends in the Bay Area.
The staff is really helpful. It’s fun to look at everything and I always try something new. The prices are good and it’s hard to not walk out with a whole bag of spices whenever I visit.

AMAZING GEM of a shop! Splendid assortment of salts, chilies, vanillas & spices. Some organic too! Variety of blends made on site. Reusable glass jars. Staff was super friendly. Shop is clean & bright. You’re encouraged to smell & taste all the goods.
Will be ordering more online!

Spices spices in your hair
Spice spices everywhere
Spices spices up the wall
Spices spices, your senses do call
Taster spoons, for everything
Staff is helpful, just give them a ring
Herbs, extracts, and oils galore
With affordable prices, how can I not want more.

Wide variety of spices, herbs, salt, sugar, extracts and other blends!
I wanted to find some herbs and extracts for baking. After searching online I found Spice Ace. I suggest you to check out their website first to know what they carry. They also have online ordering which is great if I can’t go to the store.
Excellent customer service. Staff was helpful and explained to me the categorized products on the shelves. They placed samples of the products so you can smell and taste (grab a disposable spoon placed nearby).

How have I not yet reviewed this place?
I love to cook. I am a spice freak… also an olive oil freak, seasoning freak… well I just love all that stuff. This is the fanciest-​looking spice store I’ve been to! They have pretty much any spice you can think of, including a good selection of organic. I went about 6 months ago, so I’m hoping they’ve gotten more organic choices since then, because there weren’t as many as I’d hoped. But the prices were great! And I love, love, love the reusable containers the spices come in!
I was thrilled when I found sumac. I had recently tried it and was on the hunt for it, but it’s not one you can find in a regular grocery store. I was already carrying a few other purchases (I was on foot) so I could only buy a few. But I’ve been using my spices, and they are all fresh and delicious! The service was just awesome! They are very knowledgeable and helpful.
To sum this up: If you’re looking for a certain spice, check them out. You’ll probably find it here (go online too!).

I happened to stumble into this gem of a place while walking and almost running into their chalkboard sign. Honestly, the quality and amount of spices here are MIND-​BLOWING. They have testers for every one of their spices and they’re all freaking amazing. And the prices are really reasonable as well. There is no way I’m going back to buying supermarket spices anymore! I bought their Lavender Sugar and it’s so lush — I sprinkle some in warm milk or on top of vanilla ice cream!
The employees here are all lovely people, too, and will help you if you need spices for a particular dish. Again, I highly, highly recommend! Definitely a spot you need to check out if you’re into cooking.

haven’t had a spice i couldn’t find.
staff is extremely friendly and owner is VERY nice. everyone is able to speak to the differences of each spice family (e.g. subtleties btwn the diff salts, why a flake version is better than a fine version, etc.)
street parking is… difficult

Holy crap. I walked in here and my inner chef got wide-​eyed and gripped my credit card with excitement. Over 200 different spices and blends, priced so well that I wouldn’t dare purchase spices from a major supermarket EVER AGAIN. The salt selection alone would keep me entertained for hours.
I can’t believe it took me this long to find this gem (literally blocks from my house) but now that I have, I’m hooked. I can’t go in to just «look», I inevitably walk out with a few jars of something. To all of you who haven’t heard about Spice Ace yet… YOU’RE WELCOME.

SPICE ACE how I love you; let me spell the ways:
Asafoetida — sublimely savory, it makes my diced chicken and eggplant sing.
Basil — whether in a sauce, sprinkled on roasted veggies, it’s fantastico.
Cape Cod Seasoning — gives a kick to grilled shrimp, a little goes a long way!
Dill — on a salad, an omelette, stirred into potato salad, adds a bright note.
Epazote — I need to try! For chorizo, bean, pork and cheese dishes.
French Market Seasoning — perfect on fish, great for brining chicken.
Ginger Sea Salt — I love it on grilled salmon.
Herbes de Provence — toss on chicken with lemon slices then grill.
Ilocano Asin Sea Salt — another sublime finishing salt (salt before serving).
Jerk Seasoning — try it tossed over some chicken drumsticks before roasting.
Kaffir Lime Leaves — the reason my Pad Thai tastes so amazing.
Lemon Powder — made from 100% ground lemons, it’s great in pancake mix.
Marash Chile Flakes — soft and savory but not hot, a nice touch in chile.
New Mexico Hatch Chile Flakes –my «secret» ingredient in baked enchiladas.
Onion Powder — both sweet and savory, I go through jars of it.
Parsley — sprinkled over an omelette, tossed in a crockpot, a must-​have staple.
Q — questions on how to use any herb, blend or sugar? Check the label for ideas.
Raspberry Powder — 100% raspberries, try it stirred into Greek yogurt.
Shichimi Togarashi Blend– make into a marinade with olive oil, rub on chicken.
Trinidad Scorpion Sea Salt — gift for a neighbor who said «nothing’s too hot» ha!
U — If the world has an herb or spice that begins with U, Spice Ace will find it.
Vadouvan — a complex curry blend, I love it in orzo with sliced chicken & almonds.
Wasabi Powder– stirred into creamy mashers, it’ll wake up your taste buds.
X marks the spot, your dishes need some Spice Ace love!
Yuzu — beautiful stirred into ponzu and brushed on chicken-​veggie skewers.
Zahtar –mixed into olive oil and brushed on bread, it’ll elevate your bruschetta.
I own all but two of these (Epazote and Trinidad Scorpion Sea Salt) fine blends, spices, herbs, salts and sugars and so many, many, many other magical jars from Spice Ace.
It’s inexpensive yet makes such a difference in home-​cooked meals. And, you can taste everything before you buy it (very often for under $ 3 a jar).
Don’t be intimidated and think this is a store only for excellent/​gourmet cooks. It’s not.
I learned to cook well (and quickly) after discovering Spice Ace. Their helpful labeling on every jar tells you how to use the ingredient making it very simple.
Parents marvel my child eats everything I make with no fuss and I’m always the mom who brings the best potluck dish to school and people ask,
«How do you make this TASTE SO GOOD?!»

The experienced Unilocaler in me is quite disappointed in myself. How did I not know about Spice Ace sooner?! Imagine all the money and troubles I could’ve saved. I am a firm believer in preparing food outside my comfort zone. Often, that requires herbs, spices, and salts not easily available in your local bodega/​grocer. Some are certainly in stock in «ethnic» markets, but it’s not always easy to find nor are some stores within reach. Spice Ace is truly a lifesaver for the adventurous cook.
I went in the other day for some very specific spices and spice blends. I needed za’atar, dried mint, sumac, and ground cardamom. I ran out of za’atar, and it was lovely to know that Spice Ace has two kinds. One is your «traditional» za’atar and they also have a Jordanian za’atar which is fantastically sour and added extra «oomph!» to my dish.
The selection is truly out of this world. They have fenugreek, nigella seed, mahlab, carrot powder, Vietnamese cinnamon (gorgeous smell by the way!)… clearly, you won’t find these at Safeway or even Whole Foods! Aside from spices/​spice blends and dried herbs, they sell an array of extracts, dried chilis, salts, peppers, and even gourmet chocolate. They also have mortar and pestles for sale. The pricing is absolutely reasonable (they sell most things in ¼ and ½ cup portions) and because of that, I’m certain they will have (or already have) a steady and loyal customer base. On top of that, the service is wonderful. Seconds after I walked through the door, I was approached by a woman with a charming demeanor. She was knowledgable about their products and gave me a great idea on how to use ground cardamom.
Thank you Spice Ace. Because of you, I don’t have to fret anymore about spending $ 12 on a big container of pink peppercorns that I’ll only use once… or spending hours calling grocers or sifting through market shelves hoping to find mace. Spice Ace is truly the real deal.

I am somewhat addicted to spices/​herbs/​salts. Hey, you never know when you’ll want to throw together a garam masala, Thai curry, Italian sauce, or Chinese five spice (…etc, etc…) from scratch. So I need to have all of ingredients on hand. Spice Ace is the place to go to get inspired or pick up any of your essentials. They have pretty much everything. They have little sample jars so you can taste everything before you buy. The prices are reasonable.
The people are friendly, the spot is cool, and the spices are awesome. Go to Spice Ace and get cooking!

I’ve been obsessed with fresh exotic spices since the early days of Bobby Flay. I absolutely love to buy exotic spices, grind them in my spice grinder and create a spice rub. In recent years I’ve gotten lazy and so have most markets. The Mexican stores have a decent variety of dried chiles but they’ve likely been on the rack since the late 90’s. Not real excited about stale spices.
I was in the city and wanted, strike that NEEDED to find a spice store and I found Spice Ace on Unilocal.These folks are clearly cut from the same cloth as I was. As I entered the shop, I noticed an extremely sterile environment. The floor was spotless and it was immaculate inside. Great start. I headed directly for the chiles and noticed tiny spoons and samples of each and every item. I started off with a vengeance and tasted the Trinidad scorpion Chile. Beyond hot and was about as spicy as anything that’s ever touched my lips. The kind lady came over to chat, gave me the rundown of the spice that caused the sweat to drip from my brow. Yeah nice start for sure.
Everything under the sun can be found on the shelves and this is by far the best selection of spices, herbs, sugars, salts and extracts I’ve ever seen. What could be better? Cost effectiveness. I purchased small jars of Harissa spice, smoked serrano Chile powder and Ancho Chile powder for under $ 13!
I love this place and I can’t wait to come back to sample some more and add more spices to my ever growing collection of exoticness.