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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Category: Ethnic Food [Edit]
1036 University Avenue
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High quality items from extremely friendly people!
I needed a lot of different spices to make some curry dishes that I found online and figured that I should go to an Indian market for the best selection. With that said, I was pretty satisfied with my decision and experience!
They have many items, many of them are imported but there are also locally-produced ones. Spices, snacks, teas, dry mixes, flour, fruits, rice, silverware, chutneys, pickled goods, instant foods, house-baked sweets, freshly brewed chai tea, and frozen items....all can be found in this tiny supermarket!
The people working there were really friendly and helpful.
Besides street parking, there's a "parking lot" for their customers...but it's actually 2 parking lotsor with only 8 spots that are dedicated to their customers (I think they have to share them with other shops too.) The shopkeeper came out to assist me, actually, because it wasn't very clearly marked. And man, the lot is TINY.
This is one of those local businesses that I want to support forever.
P.S. Be sure to check the expiration dates on some items...
I've been taking classes that require me to go in search of items for Indian or International grocers/market.
Ended up in Bombay spice house after going to Milan International and I was happy I found this store. Clean, organized, pleasant staff.
I got what I was looking for at a lesser cost than what Milan wanted for the same item.
I be doing my shopping here for sure. Great selection and quality products.
I no longer have to buy my ayurveda hair product on line!!
Just to be politically correct, shouldn't this place be called Mumbai Spice House? Since it is India we're talking about and not Iraq, I think I can safely say without offending anyone that this place is the BOMB!!
They're so helpful here and I always walk out with more than I intended to. It's crazy they sell hair dye. I heard it's hot with the aunties. Personally, I love the freshly brewed chai and the smell of incense burning.
When I'm here I like to role play and pretend I'm in one of those crazy Bollywood love stories. I hide behind a spice aisle and peek out to see my boyfriend reveal himself and the man he is behind the jars of sauces, slowly walking towards me at a steady pace -- eyes filled with intent. I let him get close but then I playfully bounce away secretly wanting him to chase me further down the aisle, all the while preserving a sense of mystery covering my face with the mesh pink scarf I kept tucked in my pocket. His strides are faster and longer keeping me in his sight. He grabs my shoulder with one hand and whips me around to face him. We pause for a moment. Eyes locked. Our faces somehow start to lean in towards each other. Eyelids slowly closing. We are just about to kiss it seems when all of a sudden I hear... "Ma'am, your total is $11.39."
Dammit. I didn't even have time to break out in song and dance yet.
Listed in: Indian/Mid-East
I don't know how my mom knows about this place but it's been her go to place for hair dye for YEARS! The owner knows my mom very well and through English tainted Indian and Chinese accent they are able to communicate and have become good friends.
My mom has recommended who knows how many white haired Chinese ladies desperate for healthier hair dye products here. People have always complimented my mom on her hair and how healthy it looks, she always is willing to drive to Berkeley and bring them a bag back to sample. She writes down her "secret" recipe and shares the knowledge.
I remember roaming around the isles in high school looking at all the different interesting things they had. My first taste of samosas where here when I saw a woman leave with a bag full and tugged at my moms jacket to get me one to try.
Today my mom bought THREE bags home...for three different friends.
Going here makes me happy. They always have everything I'm lookig for, and the staff are welcoming, helpful and friendly. I wouldn't go anywhere else for Indian spices and other necessities.
5 enthusiastic happy stars because not only were the spices organized and fresh, but...the owner was so kind, friendly, helpful, and thoughtful.
I will not mention the name of the OTHER spice store that I was in before this, where I was followed from aisle to aisle, and my friend who was with me was watched with eagle eyes.
then I walked into Bombay Spice House, and it was like an oasis of goodness in the middle of my spice journey. We chatted and laughed with the owner, then he left us alone to explore after asking us if we needed help. I did go to him whenever I needed help, but I felt free to roam the store as I pleased.
They had every spice I was looking for, they were organized, cheap, and fresh.
thank you Bombay Spice House!
Let me preface this review saying I know practically nothing about Indian food.
What impressed me most about this market was the super friendly and helfpul owner. And the samsoas by the door were delicious. The aroma of spices was overwhelming. I was able to smell them crossing the street while approaching the storefront.
The only downside is some of the prices seemed a bit steep (McVittie's Digestive Tea Biscuits were $4.99 for a large package). In all fairness, this is something I find for dirt cheap at 99 Ranch so my expectations may not be releastic. Some of the condiments my friend was searching for, in particular, mango and ginger and mango and lime, were not in stock
This small blip didn't stop us from filling two baskets with those lovely ready to eat foil package meals and other goodies. I'm cooking a batch of basmati and lentil rice as I type. The rice selection was small, unless there was another section in the store.
The more I learn about Indian food, the more I love it. I'll definitely return to Bombay Spice House for guidance from its pleasant owner. Thank you, Deepak.
I have been here several times when I was in the area and it never disappoints. They always have what I am looking for. From sweets, groceries, to sometimes produce.
Well actually the first time I was here, the owner of the store and I ended up dancing to this cute Indian song. So not only I became a fan of this store but I made a cute lil friend. Haha!
One thing I didn't like about this store was parking... you either get a very narrow window to shop or you gotta drive around for a bit. Ehhh!
Again, they have a nice, clean, organized store. Good energy (music). Its easy to find what you're looking for and prices are pretty fair.
Enjoy!
I love this place! Hands down my favorite Indian grocery store because they are ALWAYS very nice and extremely helpful. Nice selection of fresh sweets, all the Indian spices you could need, and numerous items to purchase for home altars. This place is great and the items are very reasonably priced. I look forward to running out of rice and tumeric so we can stop by and pick up more supplies!
It smells amazing when you walk into Bombay Spice House - could be the samosas in the case by the register, or the smell of incense, or the combination of spices all around the store. They are well stocked in everything you need to make Indian food - they sell ghee by the bucket, they have a huge array of spices, chutneys, pre-made roti and paneer, and a ton of other things I couldn't recognize (since I don't really know squat about making Indian food from scratch).
The store is cramped but it's all about quality, not quantity, you know? They are very helpful and friendly and don't look at you strangely when you try to describe what you are looking for but can't think of the name.
Listed in: Berkeley Is Not Just For…
I stumbled upon Bombay Spice House when out on a walk around Berkeley last year and I always feel the same way I did the first time I walked in the door - welcome and well taken care of.
They have great prices -better than Berkeley Bowl - when you're stocking up. The owners are always friendly and help me find items in the store and are always up for answering questions about ingredients in the incredibly yummy indian sweets they sell as well as about recipes and how best to prepare dishes that I am still learning to make myself.
When I came in with my incredibly long list of ingredients that I needed for my wedding food, the owner walked me around the store personally, helping me find everything on my list and advising me where to get the best prices on things she didn't carry in the store. Everything I've purchased here has been fresh and flavorful. Even my wedding caterer, perhaps even more of a hard to please food connoisseur than myself, commented on the freshness and quality of the ingredients I brought back from Bombay Spice House.
They are THE place I go to for my newly budding Indian food cooking habit.
Loved this place for its customer service and the sweets. The besan ladoos were really yummy. In terms of variety of spices...they have it all!
I don't know much about Indian markets, but hubby and I were searching for tandoori paste and they had it. The person I spoke to when I called ahead--the owner, perhaps?--was helpful and friendly. He also helped us choose what to buy when we got there.
A great shop for Indian goods and I've found the staff to be much friendlier than at other local markets. My boyfriend loves their tea selection. They've recently expanded their spices to include organic items from India...if you're into Indian cooking this is the place to go!
Listed in: Berkeley's Best Foods
Really nice small Indian market. Produce is good, got amazing okra from them. Also carry nice spices, curry leaves. Lots of pickles and chutneys, rice, cooking oils, and even frozen foods and breads. Really good sweets. Try the white firm milk cakes, square reddish carrot halwa (amazing!), gulab jamun, and these tasty yellow rich balls of some sort of flour, I think chickpea. Really good! Mouth waters writing this, I wish it was closer to home :(
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA
If I ever decide to stay in Northern California,…
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