After breakfast in Pasadena, I decided to get a lunch carry out from Namaste Spiceland in the same area. It is an Indian Vegetarian mini restaurant and grocery store chain, similar to the India Sweets and Spices franchise in the SFV and environs. The grocery selections are vast. On the restaurant side there is both North and South Indian fresh food, some of which is made to order (say the Masala Dosa). What is lacking here is air conditioning. It was a really hot day. How can you eat spicy food while being so uncomfortable? I was still full from breakfast, so I ordered a medhu Vada with Coconut chutney, for dine in. The Vada was soft mildly crispy on the outside and delicious. The coconut chutney was fresh, with a strong chili kick, almost like it was tailor made for me (as I have said, "Life without spice is no life at all"). For my lunch carry out, I chose the two vegetable item combo. For the vegetables, the lentils and the Potato with green pepper. Selected flavored rice and Poori for the bread option. It also came with Raita and Pickle. I had this take out later in the evening. One thing is clear. In most Indian food outlets of this sort, there are the standard dishes and where ever you buy them, they taste almost the same. What I found with the food here was that it was markedly different. There is more depth of taste and flavor. Sliced cinnamon quills, black round pepper corns, whole curry leaves and other spices that enhanced every component of my lunch. This does not come cheap. Their small take out curry containers are $4.99, the large is $17.99. Seems to be the standard, for this brand's branches. No doubt, they are the highest prices for Indian fast food, if you compare them with the current existing competition anywhere in this vicinity. Service was caring, attentive and well delivered. read more

See all

I came here looking for some henna hair dye products. Sometimes it's better to pick up the box & read the directions, labels then choosing which one is best. This was the first time shopping at an Indian market so I didn't know what to expect. There was a small food shop serving Indian food and all of the customers were Indian - that's a good sign of its authenticity. It wasn't lunch or dinner time so I didn't get anything but made a mental note to go try it next time. The aisles were in disarray, there were unopened boxes & opened boxes of merchandise on the floor of each aisle. Wasn't clear on what most of the merchandise was. I really want to go back with one of my Indian friends to explain what things are & show me what I should get. The henna hair dye that I purchased turned out to be WAY better than what I got on the popular online store. The prices of items seemed fair. The produce seemed tired & old. There were lots of frozen & refrigerated items & I wish I knew what's good. The cashier wasn't the friendliest of people but it is what it is. Next time, I'm going to do some research before I go so I know what products I should. read more

See all

I ordered the 3‑item combo here, and unfortunately the whole experience was disappointing. The food itself wasn't great, and there weren't many choices to begin with. The worst part was the chapathi/puri situation. I was told puri would take 15 minutes, but chapathi could be made quickly, so I chose chapathi. I waited more than 15 minutes, finished my rice and curries, and still no chapathi. The person who was supposed to bring it out was on their phone the entire time, not paying attention at all. After waiting far too long, I finally just left without it. This was my first visit, and it will definitely be my last read more

The food is hit or miss, and that's fine but what really grinds my gears is how the staff at the counter are rude as hell all the time. Owner, if you read this get your act together or change the name of the restaurant. You don't live up to "namaste". Try Bhenchod Spiceland or something like that. read more

Probably the worst masala dosa I've had in my life. The potato stuffing tasted awful (as though repurposed from North Indian samosa stuffing!), and the dosa itself was thick and fluffy, not crispy. Sambar was too watery and not authentic in flavors. Never again! Avoid this place like the plague. read more

Namaste Spiceland - Masala dosa - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

The place was so filthy that I had to request the table to be cleaned twice and it was still gross. I'm surprised that this place is open. I used to come here and it was much better and somehow it has become super dirty in the dining area and the food area. I will not be buying any food from there anymore. read more

Great desserts! I always love to pop in here for a few grocery items and some freshly made naan and desserts. They have a great selection and regularly have a fully stocked case. There is also a fabulous lunch menu and seating inside to grab a quick bite. read more

Namaste Spiceland - Great desserts! - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Service is the worst. This is for service only. NOT the food. I used to love this place for their Sev Puri and ready to serve combos. The last two times I've gone, they didn't have it or was unsure if they had the sev puri. I went on 3/5/25 about 5pm, it was raining that day. Server #1 was helping customer ring up food. I patiently waited behind. A father/son customer came in, waited behind me in line. Server #2 walks from behind the scenes and goes straight to father/son duo to serve them. Completely ignoring me. Cashier #1 finished the transaction, looks at me, then proceeds to walk to server #2 to assist. Server #1 looks back at me and I grab his attention. I said I wanted to order (1) sev puri. He said...no, we don't have. I asked.. you don't have? No more for today or you don't sell it anymore? He looked confused. I repeated myself as I wanted to know for future. He just said let me check. Then he just told me to come back tomorrow WITHOUT checking. I just told server#1 to disregard, Nevermind. Now for the 3rd time, not having the sev puri, leads me to think this dish no longer exists or maybe too complicated to make? Btw... I checked their online ordering on the website and it was available. But it was also $1 more on the online ordering than on the board menu. Sorry. read more

Namaste Spiceland - Menu 3/5/25 - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

I just loved how there was a local Indian supermarket that I was not aware about until after my dentist appointment across the lot, and had to come in after! You will get positively lost in the amazing variety of authentic Indian goods that this store has. I was especially happy to see them having Indian mangoes, which are notoriously sweet and delicious! Not only do they have many varieties of groceries, they also have hot foods made in house! Along with groceries I purchased such as Indian tea, mango lassi, and snacks, I went ahead and got samosas with sides. SO delicious!! I will definitely come again to buy more groceries and more hot and ready food! read more

See all

Half grocery store and half restaurant. The grocery store side has lots of different selections for Indian cuisine essentials. The restaurant is vegetarian only but offers amazing and authentic Indian food. The flavors are intense and delicious. The portions are quite good and you get a lot of value. The 3 item combo is the best deal and every item tastes great. read more

See all

Awful experience as someone who is familiar with and genuinely enjoys dosa--the delicious combination of rice and lentils that's meant to be a flavorful and satisfying dish. Unfortunately, none of that was experienced here. The service was frustrating. The server at the stand asked for my order 3-4 times but refused to write it down, despite my kind encouragement to do so. As a result, I had to remind him of my order repeatedly, and we never received the samosas we ordered. By the end, we no longer wanted them. The dosas were thick, bland, tasteless, and held a strong odor of whatever oil continues to be reused on their pan. The Mysore masala dosa, Rava dosa, and poori with garbanzo beans were incredibly bland and completely lacked salt. My friend and I were so disappointed that we barely touched any of the dishes. The lassi was overly sweet and unbalanced, while the bhel puri was passable at best. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking authentic, quality Indian food or caring service. read more

See all

I didn't think Indian food could be so bland and boring. Like no flavor or spice. Would not recommend to anyone.

As an Indian, I can attest their food is sub-par at best and their grocery prices are high. Placed a food order for a party on a Friday for a Saturday pickup. Called to confirm on Saturday. Show up at my pick up time and was told my order was given to someone else and it would take 10 minutes to make. 37 minutes later..... read more

I love this location since they provided me the friendliest , attentive service while I was there ~~ family vibes I got from this cute eatery and mini market. The server and cashier here are both kind and helpful . They took their time to recommend me the lunch combo I was hopeful to get & I absolutely enjoyed the food here ! Quality , efficient and reliable ! I'd recommend Namaste Spiceland read more

Food bar not open until 11am. Very tasty foods. Clean. Friendly staff. Friendly explanations of hot foods offered. read more

Finding it: easy to get to, but be careful when approaching from the north (fwy) SERVICE: Super friendly staff will help you through tough decisions about what food to order today. Also helpful for grocery questions. SEATING: Simple tables. Clean. comfortable. Inside and outside. This is not a "restaurant" setting, but an area you can sit and eat inside the store. Very casual. Great smells of spices while you eat. FOOD: This was all good. Good price. The Mongolian Gobi - cauliflower was a little hard (?) (in a dried out way) - but the Paneer was DELICIOUS. All of the spices were so well balanced in both dishes. Not too oily. I hope to see some very spicy curries or saag on the menu some day. Plain rice was well made and delicious. I would definitely order both main veg dishes again, but I want to try the entire menu at some point. Naan - Got the plain naan. It's oil grilled instead of oven baked. Dense. Nice. I still used a spoon for the last of the sauces tho. Chai. Nothing fancy. Simple, but low price. Worth it! Shopping: I bought so many jars of chutney and pickle. Instant prepared spices for marinades too. And enough McVities and Hobnobs to fill an entire bag. read more

See all

Love this place for all the great spices--they have lots of goodies. I found the best frozen garlic naan here, and now I always keep it stocked at home. And the basmati rice I picked up? Never seen that brand anywhere else. It's now my favorite--fluffy, fragrant, and with a low glycemic index, which makes it even better. There's also a little restaurant inside that serves really good samosas--crispy, flavorful, and super satisfying. Great spot for a quick bite and a pantry refill! Love the culture and music. CONS: The aisles are a bit tight, they're often low on baskets, and the produce section isn't like a typical supermarket. But if you know what you're coming for, it's totally worth it. read more

Loved it. The masala dosa was incredible. Fast service, quick seating, and easy parking for midweek lunch. for Highly recommended.

#Patels AMAZING!!! The best home cooked vegetarian Indian food from a restaurant!!! I got the combo with 2 vegetarian dishes with rice, chapati, samosa, yogurt, and rasmalai. The shaak was aloo bhindi and saag paneer. Honestly, there was enough food for 2 people. I also ordered the mango lassi. The green chutney and tamarind sauces are amazing too. Best samosa I've ever had! read more

Namaste Spiceland - Aloo bhindi, saag paneer, rasmalai, yogurt, samosa, mango lassi, chapati, rice, and sauces. - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Looking for a place to eat after I went gun shopping at turners and my friends and I wanted something with rice and we decided with Namaste Spiceland. All I can say regarding the food is if you ever decide to go vegan or vegetarian then Indian food is the way to go I don't know what specific region this is but either way the food was just right with spices and very flavorful! You'll never have a dull moment with your taste buds! The service was great they were very trusting and a little too trusting in my opinion lol cause you pay after you eat and you could easily not pay but I hope people didn't do that but yeah the ambiance in this place was great not too many restaurants mixed with a grocery so it was really something special! read more

Namaste Spiceland - Store front - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

The Vegan/Vegetarian hot food section here looks amazing! During lunch and dinner time it's packed. However, I occasionally stop by Namaste Spiceland for fresh herbs, peppers, coconuts, mangoes (green and ripe ones) and dried spices. I wanted to make Thai Massamun curry and this market had all the dry spices I was looking for to make it from scratch. Prices are pretty reasonable, but for some stuff a tad overpriced compared to other Indian markets I been to. Overall I find Namaste Spiceland well stocked on spices and condiments. It's always clean when I shop here. Parking is available and street parking on Locust Street vs Hill St is available when the lot is full. read more

See all

Be Aware!! The owner sells doubled refried samosas and pakoras. They were many unsold old and refried samosas and pakoras on the display already. He took them and had the kitchen double refry it!! The samosas shell was brittle and filling looked over fried and dried. This is so unethical. Why sell old food to customers. How cheap can you be. At least sell it at a discount price. This place used to be so good over 5 years ago. Do yourself a favor and go to next city over, Duarte and visit India food and spices. Every food item there was delicious and they were super clean. read more

The hot food quality has really slipped, and the prices have gone way up, too: the #2 special comes in at $15 as of this writing and except for the rice and the samosa it's pretty bad. The only taste you get is salt and it's really greasy, too, a big disappointment. The market and the people are still really good but I don't think I'll be buying hot food here anymore, since it tastes nothing like real Indian food, which is a shame. read more

The market has some hard to find products. Like seasonings, and sweet treats. They also have a good selection of frozen Indian meals, snacks and sweets. The shelves are kind of messy but not so bad that I couldn't find what I needed. Now for the restaurant part. Like an Indian deli. The mango Lassi is one of the best I have had. I ordered a Masala Dosa, and it was the absolute worst I've ever had. Not seasoned well. Didn't taste like any other Masala Dosa that I've ever had. The Samosas was edible barely. I will go back for the groceries and the Lassi, but not for the hot foods. The service was friendly and fast. Parking was easy and plentiful in the lot. read more

Namaste Spiceland is located in an unassuming block, and is part of the Indian grocer. There's plenty of folks shopping there during the time I was eating there. There's a variety of sides to choose from, and despite not having meat options, I really don't feel like I'm missing out. I highly recommend getting the combo so you can try the wide expression of South Indian food. The prices are fantastic, I'd highly recommend getting a few samosas, the dips are great, especially that sweet one. They really pile on the rice/sides so it's an incredible deal to be satisfied in stomach, mind, and wallet! read more

Namaste Spiceland - a variety of food items - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

The place is like going to Panda Express the food is there for you to choose and how many items. Don't ask if it is chicken everything here is vegetarian. Honestly indict know why I got but the cheese one was really a delight. I like the texture and flavor profile. The lemon was rice was good but I honestly did not taste the lemon. I would have liked more sauce. Next time. The best was the garlic naan!!! They grilled on the garlic paste. So yummy yum yum! It's also a market with so many variety of items here. Parking is convenient. You can bring your own water even though I bought mines. read more

See all

I was in Pasadena today for a meeting. Afterwards, I called my coworker to join me for lunch at Namaste. He agreed. We met at noon and I ordered my usual dish - Masala Dosa. It comes with chutney and sambar and soup. The Masala Dosa was $10.97 including tax. A bargain during these inflationary times. Coming back this coming Friday with all my coworkers. DJ's rating: 4.75/5.00 Would I come back? Definitely Yes. See you again on Friday. read more

See all

We had a great experience at Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena! Affordable prices for delicious food. The staff were very friendly. Free parking lot. Bathrooms available. Indoor and outdoor seating. It's half restaurant half grocery store, so you can get some shopping done after your meal. I ordered the Do #2 combo, which comes with 3 veggies, your choice or mint or white rice, a samosa, chapati or poori (chapati is similar to naan bread but a bit thinner), papadum ( a thin, crispy, almost chip like texture), and pickled vegetables & raita (yogurt). For the veg options I got the chana masala (chickpea), the paneer tikka, and the mixed veg korma. All of these were hot and flavorful!!! We both got a Mango Lassi to sweeten the meal. It's a lot of food! We left feeling so full and happy. Thank you for a fantastic lunch! read more

See all

Really like this place for a quick bite. This place is an Indian restaurant and grocery store in one. The North Indian food is decent but south India is very good. Get the uttapum and the idlis! The service is great and the store is super clean. Easy parking outside. They often carry Kent mangos too! read more

Hi , went tonite , haven't been in few years. But they didn't have what i normally like to order ( curry paneer ) i think its called that. What i ordered was little too spicey for me. And the naan wasn't fried/cooked well done , i guess i like it little crispy on the bottom. But it was still tasty. When i go again , will ask to fry/cook it little longer. read more

See all

Grocery store, restaurant, market and deli, whatever you want to call it, Namaste Spiceland has been an anchor of mine since moving to the area a few years back. In fact, we picked up food from Namaste the very first night we moved to Pasadena, and I've never looked back. It's solid, good food. I love that they've got stellar Indian vegetarian and vegan cuisine plus a grocery store. I can place an order and shop around while my fresh naan is in the works. Yes, they have tables to dine-in, but this is mainly a quick food eatery. I'd guess most orders are to go. You know the type, all the food options are already made on a hot bar, and you just need to make some choices. Pick a combo, pick your rice, pick your dishes, pick your bread, and you are minutes away from a hearty, satisfying meal. You don't have to go the combo route, items can be à la carte. Plus, they have samosas, pakora, and a hell of a lot more. Vegan mango lassi, you say? Yep. They make the most wonderful Indian pickles, in house daily, that come with the combos. I buy extra because they are fantastic with just about everything. One observation worth mentioning is that the food isn't always consistent. It's always tasty, but I think the chefs have their own interpretations. Sometimes I'll get the green bean dish and it's nothing but savory, comforting, and mellow. Then the next week, the same dish might be so spicy I'm sweating my ass off on the couch while eating it. Again, both are good, but wildly different. Some chefs are a little heavier on the salt too, which I'm not a fan of, but that's rare. Ask for a quick taste of anything you're not sure about unless they're crazy busy. Even the pickles are different every time, but I'd never turn those down. Namaste Spiceland is just one of those go-to spots that every neighborhood needs. It's not fancy, it's not going to win awards for innovating the next generation of Indian cuisine. But the food is damn good, and it packs flavor into every single bite. read more

Great choices of Indian vegetarian food. Couple of combos to pick a couple veg dishes, rice and bread. Great prices and a large amount of Indian dessert offerings. Full Indian supermarket as well with so many staple and gourmet imported items. Plenty of parking and small seating area to dine inside. read more

See all

Yum!! If you're craving Indian food, this market/restaurant is perfect. They have a variety of vegetarian curries to choose from and I opted for the #2, which comes with your choice of three curries, rice, naan, samosa, and additional sides for just under $15! The serving was very generous and I really enjoyed all the curries. They all had great flavor and a bit of heat to them. Their garlic naan is heavenly. Also, the workers here are very friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back here when I'm craving Indian food. read more

Namaste Spiceland - #2 Combo Plate (choose 3): lentils, paneer masala, and eggplant curry - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

First time here and ordered samosas and 2 Dosa's - Paneer and Masala. Both were absolutely delicious and spiced perfectly. The staff is also helpful and kind. Food came out hot and fresh in a timely manner. Parking was a breeze and tables were clean. There was a steady flow of people around noon time on a weekday. I also noticed the diversity of customers. Different nationalities of all ages. Couples, families, group of friends and solo diners. There's something here for everyone ! Will definitely be back! read more

Namaste Spiceland - Paneer Dosa - Indian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super cute! The food is really good , very friendly staff. It's nice to be able and find spices needed for cooking

Good grub with a good spice level. All vegetarian and great customer service. Its also a good spice shop. Smells like home. Prices are reasonable. read more

Vegetarian Indian food plus a market, a one stop shop! Even though the food is vegetarian it was very filling, neither of us could finish our dishes! Line up (the place gets really busy around dinner time even on weeknights), and choose from the vegetables they have on the buffet line. We went with the combos that come with 2 veggies, rice, yogurt, pickled veggies, and bread ($1 to upgrade to naan). There are 3 types of combos you can order, the 2nd comes with a samosa on the side! ---yellow daal and potato curry: yummm ---naan: made fresh to order NOTE: they have indoor and outdoor tables for seating read more

See all

Devious characters; best to stay away. When they ring up the food at the counter, they do not show the tax and state how much it is and that it is separate. That is odd to begin with. Next, the guy owes me $.80 in change but walks away and so I let it go. About four minutes later I went to pay for a friend's food and the same guy was there so when it got to be something with $.30 over the dollar, I just said take it out of the $.80 from before and he did not say anything but accepted the transaction! Additionally, the food was not that good and basically they just piled a bunch of rice into a large section of the plate and two tiny little sections had lentils and whatever else we chose. P. S. The tables were filthy. read more

Two times I've been here. The first time I got the two veggie dish and it was good with the best naan I've ever tasted in my life (that's a lot). It was soft, hot and fresh!!!! The second time I had the naan, it was a complete disappointment with burnt garlic and dry like paper. The veggie dishes were fine but definitely not coming back. The samosa was a ball of dough that's been sitting out for quite a while. It was terrible at best. Tables (thanks to dining in available again post covid) were so dirty and no one bothered to wipe them. Good selection as a market but the food was 4 out of 10. Won't be coming back. read more

See all

Honestly there is nothing, i can say that is negative about this grocery store. The family that owns the grocery are so nice, and explain everything when you have questions. the options for fresh food us amazing. The Masala Dosa, Paneer Paratha and Samosas are awesome. Actually all the hot food is great. The food is vegetarian which is a very nice change. All the combos come with the Indian rice, which I love. Very good prices, and good amount food. The grocery part has a wide variety of spices, and fresh herbs, peppers, coconuts, mangoes (green and ripe ones) and dried spices, items that are not easy to find. Definitely a place to come and try good food, home made. Dragon Egg Approved! read more