Excellent selection of exotic and international snacks with a thoughtful variety. Drinks are also part of the offerings, and include sour sodas and other things you may not have experienced previously. It's worth a visit if you're nearby, and as a tip you can order a snack bag from the Too Good to Go app which will include a nice variety for a great price. My bag had five items of high quality. The value was high for the price paid. Service was very friendly and helpful. Answered questions thoughtfully and completely. Also mentioned that some special offerings were coming soon, which influenced me to want to come back. The inventory is well-organized and displayed in an efficient manner. It's easy to select from the shelves, and there are treats for all kinds of tastes. read more

Exotic Snacks R US - International chip offerings - International Grocery Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

My friends and I came here the other day because we saw tons of Tik Toks and IG reels about it. It is a unique store that sells a bunch of snacks and drinks from around the world, including from America, Belgium, Germany, Poland, China, Korea, Japan, Turkey, and more. It's pretty cool, but many things can be found at other stores, too, even mainstream ones. When walking in, it was extremely busy with a lot of people. The store is small, and the aisles are not wide, so it's important to know that going in because you will most likely have many people in your way if you look at something for a while. I honestly felt a little rushed because of everyone there and walking up and down aisles in front or in back of me. Because many of the snack bags are in a different language, it's important not to rush when buying anything, especially if you are allergic to any specific ingredient. Many of the snacks do have pictures of what flavor they are, just as snacks in America do. For example, if it had a picture of a watermelon, it's watermelon flavor. If there was a picture of a chili pepper, it's spicy. You get the point. Everything sold has the original packaging as it would in the country of origin. The cool thing about this store is that since different countries sell different flavors of common brands we know in America, they sell them in one place. For example, if you love oreos, they have tons of different flavors that are from different countries that they don't sell here in America. Same with KitKat and different brands of chips like Lay's, Cheetos, etc. I ended up buying the Waffle Cone snack and the matcha Pocky. As you can see in the photos attached, the Waffle Cone snack is a product of Turkey, and the Pocky is a product of Japan. I bought things that I'm sure you can find elsewhere, but they do have cool items that you most likely can't. As I said before, TAKE YOUR TIME when walking around the store because you can walk around the store 6 times and will still miss something. There's so much! Just a tip: The prices didn't seem too bad for what I bought, but not everything seemed to have labels, which stopped me from buying certain items I found. I also found some products that were expired, so just check everything just in case. Not many things I found were expired, but I check dates no matter where I am. The owner is very nice! He was our chekout person, and he told us that they are opening a new location soon in Harwood Heights and that they get new items all the time. If you follow them on IG before purchasing, he also gives 10% off your order (at least he did that when we came). read more

Exotic Snacks R US - International Grocery Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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Wow! This little store is just full of snacks from around the world: chips/crisps, candy, chocolate, penny candy, pop and other drinks. I will say, I go to a lot of different international grocery stores, and while there were many familiar products and brands to me, there were just as many I had never heard of, which is exciting! The lady at the counter was extremely friendly, said they sell more items online, and if you're looking for something that they don't carry, tell them and they can try to get it. So far everything I have tried (black pepper ribeye chips, a dark chocolate hazelnut chocolate bar, a Nutella cookie, and the "all dressed" Doritos my boyfriend bought) were really tasty! The only criticism I can offer is that some items have prices that were clearly marked and some don't. Not sure why, but it would be better if everything was consistent. Overall, this store is definitely worth a stop to check out all the offerings if you're a snackaholic who wants to put some stamps on your metaphorical foodie passport. You're guaranteed to find something new, exciting, and yummy! read more

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The concept is cool and they have a nice selection of food, snacks, and drinks. However, just know that some of the snacks are drastically overpriced. For example, you can probably get those Mexican and Asian snacks cheaper elsewhere. Some of the products don't have prices listed, so be careful with that. As for the customer service, the guy was on his phone when we came to the register. I know it's slow but be a little more professional than talking on the phone at work. read more

I love coming to this little shop every few months or so! I first found them on TikTok, but could never really justify going to just get a bunch of random snacks. I finally took the drive and Exotic Snacks R Us is actually a super nice, well kept shop. They have soooo many different snacks, salty, sweet, drinks, even ice cream. While they have lots, it's not so much that you feel overwhelmed. I always crave my good old Canadian Ketchup Lays, which they finally had! There are a ton of other Lays flavors - I definitely recommend starting there. It's been the same guy at the front of the store each time, he's super nice and helpful when I had questions about certain snacks. The prices are a little on the higher side, but that's the price you pay to find snacks from around the world. Absolutely recommend if you're looking for an adventure in snacks. read more

A fun experience to walk through the store and scope out new snacks. Nice variety of items from ice cream to pop, chips and candy. Easy to browse and pick out some new things to try! The ambience was fun and the employee we encountered was friendly and nice. This store can be a bit pricey and not all the prices are clearly listed on the items, but we otherwise had a good experience here and it's worth trying out if you enjoy unique snacks from around the world. read more

Get ready to be adventurous! It's is small, this is true. But when you just want to experience a snack or drink other than the what you find in every grocery store in America, this is your destination. I grabbed Chinese versions of strawberry Oreos, apple soda from Mexico, Indian snacks and much more. I had to ask about whether they carried TimTams and they did not. The good news is, she looked. The service overall is good. Regarding the ambiance, this is the only downfall... the colorful LED lights and graffiti style signs make it visually interesting, but with people wanting to read the ingredients of snacks, you can feel a bit rushed to move along. With the skinny isles, this is the only issue I see with this place on a Saturday. read more

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Exotic Snacks opened a few weeks ago and I was curious what it was all about. On a Saturday afternoon the small store was very crowded. We were immediately greeted by the owner and he shared with us how the snacks were organized and all the countries they represented. There were items from so many countries and so many unusual items. Their prices are so reasonable. We asked him how he came up with this concept and he explained is small children often wanted treats when in a convenience store and the items had so many ingredients. He said snacks from other countries often do not have as many artificial ingredients. This is definitely a family business , his wife and children were in the store with him. They are open until midnight, for those late night munchies. I wish him much success. read more

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I stopped in to check it out and found that this place is good if you're looking for Asian sweets. If you also shop at international markets, you could find whatever type of food you want there. It was great to see so many companies represented, but I was hoping to see a better selection for Middle Eastern candies and sweets. There's also a great selection of Mexican candies and sweets. Lots of things to find, something to new to try from countries you didn't think about when it came to candy. read more

This is a fun little shop that has snacks from around the world. I wouldn't call them "exotic" exactly -- mostly chips in different flavors -- and many of these you might find in an Asian grocery. When I visited, the store looked in need of a restock -- the shelves were not full and some of the chip bags looked very crumpled (I suppose due to the novelty that merchandise is handled a lot). Nevertheless it is fun to peruse the shelves of this small shop -- Kit Kat cereal, matcha-strawberry (?) Oreos, fire-flavored (fuego) Takis... to pick up snacks for friends. I would like to see a greater variety of beverages and some truly eye-popping stuff. Still, this store has to make money so I assume these snacks have to be palatable. I did purchase the matcha Oreos and some coffee. I was really tempted to buy the Frosted Flake cereal milk to continue the gag in our office fridge but I really wanted it to be in a can. read more

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Small shop but lots of items. No telling what they will have when you visit. Everything I saw was about $7 each. Pretty cool spot but call first if you're looking for something specific. read more

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Stopped by this new addition to Arlington Heights; any snack lovers dream! Inside the store is nicely organized by country with sweet treats, snacks, specialty chip flavors, and cold beverages. There are stickers on the back of most products translating what items are in english. All items I picked up had at least a 1-2 year timeframe till expiration. All prices were neatly posted on shelves and some had deals associated! Perfect spot to get a unique treat you cannot find in the US! Tip: Store is offering 10% off if customer follows them on instagram! read more

If you're a "snacker" (and who isn't?) you'll enjoy this retail outlet selling snacks from around the world, many with brand names that are very familiar to you, but versions that aren't. The store is chock-a-block full of salty, savory, and sweet snacks, as well as some beverages. Whether your binging habit is made up of chocolate or potato chips, you'll find a flavor fun to explore here. I hope they have great success. read more

Eager to explore this store based on positive reviews and curiosity about its snack selection, our group of five friends was disappointed when an employee suddenly prohibited us from taking pictures. Subsequently, we overheard the owner on the phone stating, "no videos/pictures; you're welcome to buy something, though," as the employee informed us that the owner had been monitoring us. Surprisingly, there was no signage indicating a restriction on photos or videos. The experience felt awkward and rude. read more

Cool place they had lots of interesting snacks. The service was excellent, the young lady at the register brought me a basket to load up on the snacks. My kids were so excited to see all the amazing sweets and chips. Getting to the store was tricky, the parking lot was small and tight. The store was small as well but they have a good selection of items. Everything was 50% off when we went. read more

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I love it here! I've always had to get my snacks online and finding out this place is kind of close by to where I live I don't have to buy online anymore. Honestly though they have snacks from all over the world and each section of each aisle is by a certain country. I was able to get chips from India to ritz from Japan. And they also have a freezer section with ice cream and coolers in the back for all the different drinks. You can't go wrong here and there is literally anything for anybody. And the girl behind the register was so nice as well. It seems a little crowded but I don't. And they are always stocking up as well. Can't wait to come back! read more

Great store for all kinds of international snacks from all around the world! They carry truffle potato chips and other interesting flavors I have never seen before. The owner is super kind and gave me a piece of Turkish chocolate that was delicious! Definitely a fun spot to check out. read more

Super crowded, made it stressful to shop and look around. Selection was ok, honestly not many things I haven't seen elsewhere- just not all at the same store. It's a fun outing if you are looking for a short activity. Prices are generally not marked-- and had to wait a long time at register to find out price. Please mark prices on shelves- you will get another star. read more

Finally got to try this place. They definitely have a bunch of different snacks from different places. Very small store so it can get crowded pretty quick. Lady at the counter was very friendly and nice. Best thing is if there is something you want but they don't carry it, you can let them know and they will try to find it. Love that. I do agree with some of the other reviewers thought that some of the snacks can be found in other stores here. read more

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I found out about this spot on Tik Tok and I don't live too far so I'm glad I checked it out with my girlfriend. The place is great and I'm stoked that it exists. My only issue with it is that when I went it was crowded (not something you can control really unless you have people wait outside), and that the selection was very limited. It seemed like the shelves had been raided a bunch by a lot of people who had already been through it. This seems like a situation where the shop is growing too fast and is trying to adjust accordingly to that growth. Happy for the shop! But the shop needs more staff stocking the shelves and marking prices on everything (at least one more person in the store). That along with a second register would really help move things along faster. It's a cool shop and if you get a moment you should definitely check it out. The staff were really nice and helpful, just they seem so slammed due to the sudden spike of interest. I hope to see this shop expand into a bigger store in the future with more staff. I absolutely love the idea. However, with Mitsuwa Market down the street, you definitely need to up your game on some of the product selection. I really do hope this place gets the opportunity to expand because I would love to see more of this in the future! read more

Wide variety of snacks from all over the world! Reasonable prices, they have some cute anime keychains! Super happy to find one of my favorite candy bar from UK! Owners are very sweet and generous! 10/10 will come again! read more

Exotic Snacks R US - Big snack haul! - International Grocery Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

They have a very good selection ! But I missed out on the chamoy pickles they were sold out read more

Exotic Snacks R US - International Grocery Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

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The family that owns the spot is so sweet! And they have so many good options I will be making my way back!

Friendly ppl but there is no way I am gonna spend 3x here. Everything is inflated big time. If you are looking for Asian snacks, just go to Asian market, your wallet will thank you. read more

Great place for snacks! Although i came at 11 pm since it says open till midnight and i was so excited to fulfill the munchies, walked to the door opened it and it was closed please update the hours read more

Stopped in while staying in Palatine for a couple weeks. Definitely a go to place for international AND unusual snacks. Got lucky as no one else was in the store. Lots and lots of snacks I have never heard of. It was interesting to see what our snacks look like when produced for other countries. Loved the choices but had two issues with the shopping. Many of the items did not have prices as others have written. And buying items with foreign descriptions on them makes for a challenging shopping trip. You have to pretty good at guessing what the picture is describing or just willing to go for it and see how it turns out. We have not tried everything yet so I can't pass that info along. I know they plan on opening a store in Milwaukee and Houston. Plans also include one in Miami and Orlando in the more distant future. I am pretty sure I will go back the next time I am in the area. If you are near one you have stop in and look around so this is a go to place in my book. read more

Small place. Not that many crazy food items. Very expensive and 90% of my food was already EXPIRED. Wasted money. I did not notice until I got home. Wanted to try this place and was very disappointed. read more

This place has some of the best snacks from many different countries. It is a good place if you want some really good international snacks, I got the smoked barbecue flavored Doritos from China and it was amazing. The service and ambience are also amazing. read more

Super cool little shop with an incredible selection of items. A little on the pricey side but a fun place to check out. They add new items on a regular basis. Owner was amazing and made everyone that walked through the door feel welcomed. 10% if you follow on Instagram. Open until midnight! read more

This place slaps hard. Insane selection of snacks. Both domestic exotics and foreign Delights. Owner is a super nice guy with extensive industry knowledge. Burn1 and and have your mind blown with his selection. read more

So fun! We got to taste a tonne of fascinating things and they had munchies from all over the world. It was a pleasure working with the staff. Checking it out is definitely recommended. read more

They obviously don't read these reviews. Stopped in today and 2/3 of products have no prices anywhere. It's a small store, so how hard could it be to have a system for pricing? They need to address this. It's a retail store, not a garage sale. read more

My husband is a snack fiend and had been wanting to go here forever, so we finally made the trek to the northern burbs to check it out and it did not disappoint! Every snack from around the world, grouped by country, we could have spent a bazillion dollars here. Stuff is PRICY - make sure you check the price tags because some stuff seemed just wild ($20 for a burger gummy candy?). They had a great selection of drinks as well. The staff were helpful and kind, and we got 10% off of our order for it being our first time there. We'll definitely return for more international snacks! read more

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!! Prices are more expensive then concessions at a sporting event or concert. Most of this stuff you can find at grocery stores like Tony's, Valli Produce, Caputo's, and specialty ethnic grocery store. read more

ordered a bag through the Too Good to Go app, first, couldn't find the place, it's in the back of an office building with no sign on the directory, no sign on the door and the windows papered over. I walked into a chaotic mess to puck up my "surprise bag" which consisted of three past dated snack bags of Canadian Ruffles chips and a bottle of flavored Sprite. Even though this is supposed to be a bargain, the price was as much or more than I would've paid in a store. A total waste of a trip, and totally inconsistent with most Too Good to Go offerings!!! read more

First time checking out this store. Middle aisle was completely blocked off with employees stocking the shelves, so we couldn't even look at 1/3 of the store. NOTHING had prices. I need to know the price before choosing an item. Left without purchasing anything. Hope they take the time to put prices on their merchandise in the future. read more

Owners are absolutely amazing! super humble and nice to absolutely everyone. they are willing to explain every single snack that they have and they enjoy making customers feel super welcome!!!! read more

It was very welcoming was greeted when I walked in the Store. They had variety of snacks from different countries in which I look forward to returning store. Owner of the store was very enthusiastic.. read more

This place was a complete rip off. I purchased 4 small items and my total was over $20. Half the products I bought I found way cheaper online. The guy does not provide a receipt or list his prices. Extremely dissatisfied, would never spend another dollar there spend your money anywhere else. read more

Very good selection of interesting snacks from all around the world. It is truly fascinating, I would love to try everything there. The young man working was very friendly and welcoming. read more