Best place in NYC (or nearby) to buy spices

[Fat Guy]

Is where?

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[weinoo]

I like Kalustyan's and Penzey's.

[baroness]

I like Kalustyan's and Penzey's.

Me, too!

[slkinsey]

Yea, this seems like a no-brainer to me. Kalustyan's and Penzey's.

[Fat Guy]

What about the place on Lex near Kalustyans? Over the years a couple of people have told me it's better.

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[weinoo]

What about the place on Lex near Kalustyans? Over the years a couple of people have told me it's better.

Actually, at one point Suvir told me it was better. Or at least he felt that some of their spices were fresher. But, I think we're nitpicking now. I don't know if you've been to Kalustyan's lately, but their selection of spices and dried herbs is overwhelming. They're not the cheapest kids on the block, but it's one-stop shopping.

[Moopheus]

What about the place on Lex near Kalustyans? Over the years a couple of people have told me it's better.

Foods of India/Sinha trading; it's right next door. My recollection is that it is also less expensive than Kalustyan's, though it also smaller. Certainly, between the two of them, there is very little you won't be able to get.

[Mjx]

To Kalustyan and Penzeys I'd add the Integral Yoga shop on the south side of 13th, between 6th and 7th Avenues, because they sell from bulk, which means you can get really small amounts of things you are curious about, but not necessarily committed to. You can also save the little bags, and reuse 'em. You just have to give things a quick sniff to make sure they haven't lost the fragrance, which can happen with some of the less popular selections.

[patrickamory]

What about the place on Lex near Kalustyans? Over the years a couple of people have told me it's better.

Foods of India/Sinha trading; it's right next door. My recollection is that it is also less expensive than Kalustyan's, though it also smaller. Certainly, between the two of them, there is very little you won't be able to get.

I'll second this. I shop at both all the time (I live a few blocks away). Foods of India - directly adjacent to Kalustyan's on the right - is your go-to for anything Indian. The spices are often fresher, and the prices can literally be 50% of Kalustyan's.

They don't have much that isn't Indian - some Mexican chiles etc. - so for anything Thai, Persian etc. I tend to buy at Kalustyan's.

Also compare their prices on rice, ghee, chiles etc. - a fraction of Kalustyan's. Don't get me wrong, I love the big K, and it's a much easier and more comfortable shopping experience (the spices are alphabetized for one thing), but Foods of India has a lot to offer, both in freshness and price.

[SobaAddict70]

I like Kalustyan's and Penzey's.

+1, although I should give honorable mention to the place next door to Kalustyan's (Foods of India?) esp. since I think they have slightly better quality although their range isn't nearly as broad or varied as their main competitor.

It's been a while since I've been down in that neck of Lexington Avenue. I'm making an excursion later this week as I have a sudden craving for homemade chaat.

[Yojimbo]

Don't forget Sahadi's in Brooklyn, and the two other Middle Eastern groceries on the South side of Atlantic, especially for Middle Eastern mixes like ras el hanout, ground mahleb cherries, and even mastic gum!