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Oaktown Spice Shop

4.7 (12 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

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shelves of various spices and condiments
Aubany G.

One can go WILD in a specialty spice shop! Oaktown Spice is the best of the best. I'm so excited they now have this shop in the city. They've always been great with online orders (shipping and customer service) but now I can just pop in whenever I need something. If you're looking for a great spice blend or tea blend or random chili variety- check here. Right now they have some amazing gift sets in preparation for the holidays. The staff were super helpful when I couldn't find the refill bag of a spice blend I love (even though everything is in alphabetical order and in categories). They even have bottles for you to smell the spice you're interested in. My main purpose for this trip was for a gift card for a friend, but naturally "needed" some spices for myself. I'm proud to say that my spice cabinet is almost completely full of Oaktown Spices. - I've been obsessed for years!

Chris B.

Probably the best spice selection I've ever seen and definitely one of the best in the city. The chili spiced and exotic Asian spices are definite stand outs! Friendly staff and great prices. Could probably easily drop a quick $200-300 on way too much stuff! The goat horn chili is definitely my new fav

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John G.

My new favorite store on Filmore Street. I was hanging out in the store just looking at all the different seasonings and spices. Seriously - there are so many choices for example - the salt section ... you can't just go in and say " Let me look at a few options." They have over 25 + options just for C salt. Don't get me started on the pepper. Whatever cuisine you want to make... they have your spice. When you go ... send me a message.... I'm sure you will love it.

Inside S&P section

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7 months ago

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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Erica P.

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San Francisco Herb

San Francisco Herb

4.6
(152 reviews)
1.7 mi
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The Pros: Massive Variety: Truly a "one-stop shop" for tea…read moreenthusiasts. Low Pressure: The staff greeted me and then stayed hands-off until I had questions. The Price: Easily some of the best values in the city. The Con: Sealed Packaging: Everything is pre-sealed in 1lb plastic bags. Because of the sealing, you can't smell the tea before buying. I'd love to see them implement scent jars in the future to help with the selection process. Neutral Observations In-House Packaging: All the tea is packaged identically in 1lb bags, which suggests they likely process and bag everything in-house. Labeling: I didn't notice any specific organic labels on the packaging, though I didn't explicitly ask. If this is a deal breaker, you may want to ask. Review If you're looking for a genuine loose leaf tea source -- your search ends here. I stumbled upon this place after endless online searching (blogs, search engines, etc) and it was well worth the effort! Just a heads-up on navigation: G-Maps is slightly off. If you rely solely on that, you'll be a few doors down. Look for the Volvo mechanics and the shop is located just on the other side. The exterior is unassuming, no windows, just a sandwich board on the sidewalk and a door. Looking inside it's a bit of a mysterious vibe, you'll see a stairway to the left and a hallway ahead. Go for it. Ignore the single pane glass, bank-teller-style window to your right (which directs you to the main door) and just head in. Also, keep an eye on the clock because, per the phone tree, they close for lunch from 12:30 to 1:00. I arrived right after 1pm and was able to park right in front. There was also plenty of other parking spot around at that time. IDK why, but before walking in, my imagination had prepared me for an old-world San Francisco opium den. I was thinking there was going to be this lingering aromatic smoke, plush floor pillows, people lounging, sipping tea, and the soft, ambient melodies of an upscale spa. I had also pictured rows of heavy, whiskey-style wooden barrels overflowing with loose leaf tea, topped with clear lids and metal scoops. The reality is much more utilitarian. This is not a den or a spa. It's clean, straightforward, and focused entirely on their product. The selection is robust and incredibly diverse. While they claim "wholesale to the public", I can't verify the industry margins, but I can tell you the prices are very good for the quality you receive. The employee greeted me and then stayed hands-off while I browsed, which I appreciated. When I did ask specifics, they had basic foundational knowledge. Honestly with the diversity and sheer quantity of products offered, it would take forever to earn a Tea Master badge. No harm no foul. The only real bummer here is that everything is pre-sealed in 1lb plastic bags, so there is no way to smell the product. I'd really appreciate scent jars in front of the bags. Since they seem to be doing the packaging in-house anyway, it makes me wonder why they haven't set aside a small amount of each batch for scent jars. It wouldn't require a change in their supply chain, just a few ounces and a glass jar to help customers navigate that massive variety. That aside, I absolutely loved this place. I've been searching for a spot like this for a long time. I'm just glad I finally found it. If you're at all interested in loose leaf tea, I'd suggest giving these folks an honest try.

I needed dried lavender for simple syrup and ice cream and found this place online. Prices are very…read moreaffordable and they have so many options! I'm not able to post all my photos but this is some of what they offer! Will definitely come back.

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San Francisco Herb
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Perfectly Seasoned

Perfectly Seasoned

4.6
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2.6 mi

Love this local gem…read more I'm slowly replacing all my seasonings with their products (with the exception of some Persian food seasonings like sumac which I still get from Sadaf). Friendly and helpful people working here and a nice bottle recycling program. If you are anywhere near 24th St. enjoy cooking, I do recommend stopping by. Both their standard seasonings and special blends have been great.

Stumbled upon this neighborhood shop and now I'm completely hooked. Perfectly Seasoned is one of…read morethose places that reminds you why shopping local matters. From the thoughtfully crafted small batch spices to the warm, welcoming feel of the space, you can tell how much care goes into everything they do. One of the owners I've met always remembers me, which instantly makes each visit feel personal and genuine. I also love that they offer two different spice sizes, which makes it easy to try new blends without committing to a large jar. Over the holidays, their spices became my go to gifts and they were a huge hit. Another favorite is their San Francisco series, a collection of curated blends inspired by nine of the city's most iconic neighborhoods. They also create and share recipe cards for many of their blends, which makes it easy and fun to actually use them at home. Everyone I've interacted with has been friendly and knowledgeable, and it's clear the people behind this shop truly love what they do. This is exactly the kind of local business I enjoy supporting and recommending.

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Perfectly Seasoned
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Golden Way Trading Company

Golden Way Trading Company

5.0
(2 reviews)
1.5 mi

I needed some chili oil asap and didn't want to wait on a delivery from Weee! or Yami plus have to…read moremeet a minimum spend threshold, so I explored the Chinatown supermarkets and ended up here after a couple other options didn't yield results. They have a lot of options in stock here, so I loaded up on spicy chili crisp, chiu chow style chili crisp oil, and some mala red oil chili sauce by the classic Lee Kum Kee brand. I also bought a bag of chewy 陈皮糖 chénpí táng that I saw next to the cash register while I was at it. Altogether after the 3% credit card fee, my total came to $18.08. Such a bargain, I will be back.

Quick stop at San Francisco Chinatown, during this recent weekend trip and needed to buy the some…read moreAsian goods, the kine I don't see back home on Oahu. hehe. Luckily my other half happen to find a parking spot right in front of Golden Way. I had plans to go to the other store, I went last time but this works out perfect. The jumbo dried shrimp right in front of store caught my eyes. Stopped by real quick and got everything I needed, wish I could grab more but I had to limit myself since I didn't bring an extra luggagge. Golden Way, a great name, Lets go shop the Golden Way, reminds me of a store here at Chinatown, although very small cramped store it's very organized. Owner does a great job at storing everything and making use of all the spaces. Lots of Asian products here but no fresh produce or frozen products . Credit cards accepted as well, which is great! I ended up using my credit card for my entire purchase since usually cash is preferred in Chinatown. My co-worker wanted a specific soy sauce but no luck in finding it. What did I end up buying here at Golden Way, a LB of jumbo dried shrimp ( I think it was $24. or 25. lb) dried salted fish, dried scallops, long rice noods, pickled veggies, siracha, sauces, condensed milk, preserved eggs. Why on some of the products, Prices actually lower here. The only thing I wish Golden Way does is have prices on some of products, I had to ask how much?! The owner is nice & patient with me. I will be back again! I can't wait to use all those goodies, it made it safely back to Oahu.

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Golden Way Trading Company
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Other Avenues

Other Avenues

4.1
(295 reviews)
4.3 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
50 years in business

Amazing co-op grocery store with tons of specialty food items and more! They have produce, pantry…read moreitems, frozen foods, snacks, home and body care, and a huge selection of things you can pay for by weight. From herbs & spices, dried foods, olive oil, soaps, shampoos and more, they have everything. The prices are reasonable and there's less plastic waste. They also source locally which is nice. They also carry some gourmet food items like sambal from Azalina's, and locally made curry paste. I need to come here more often.

I don't live super nearby to this Co-Op grocery market but my good friend does and she brought me…read morehere while on a walk, and I was blown away by the whole place! Firstly, it was my first time shopping at a co op and I really really really love that aspect of it. Anytime I can support a business like this, I want to! But beyond that, I was skeptical that the prices would be outrageous and was fairly surprised that they really weren't! Ok sure, some items were pricey, and that's true for any small store in this city, but for the bulk items and dry goods, the pricing was incredibly reasonable! I even found the same scones I buy at my local box box grocery store for cheaper here!! What?! I was also just blown away by the variety of choices.. they've got everything here.. produce, condiments, dry goods, chips, snacks, bulk items, tea, medicines and supplements, and a section of boutique handmade goods that was so awesome to look through!! I don't live close by but I will be back anytime I go to see my friend (which is often).

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Bulk food section
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Rainbow Grocery

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4.1
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1.7 mi
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I actually did not know about this place until very recently…read more I recently read a book, Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge by Gordan Edgar. The author has worked at this grocery for decades, and is in charge of the cheese department. Naturally, when I visit SF, I have to come by for a visit. I was a bit worried about the parking situation, but glad to find that they have their own parking garage. I thought it would be a more hippy kind of grocery store, but I was actually blown away when I walked inside. First, there were jars and jars - I mean shelves and cases of jars - of teas, and different types of herbs and spices. Some I had a hard time finding, like butterfly pea. Besides the variety, the quality is excellent. I got so excited, as if I were a kid and those jars were candies, that I kept finding more and more stuff I wanted to buy. Then the bread - okay so thisis SF and great bread is to be expected, but I was surprised again at the wide variety of selection on offer. Well, I don't want to repeat myself, but I love their chocolate selection too - so many interesting flavors and brands to try. Finally I made it to the cheese section. I didn't see the author there by the counter, but I was not disappointed with the selection they have. The cheeses also have little cards with useful information, that helped me pick up a nice variety of cheeses from different countries and different parts of the US to try, including some award winners. I most certainly love my first visit and look forward to the next time I will visit SF. It's an awesome place that is truly employee owned and managed, so most certainly worth supporting.

If I made more, I would shop here almost exclusively. But alas I can only come here on occasion…read morewhen I cant find it elsewhere. Best place fir supplements!!!! They have the best, wholistic, hippy foods and items ever! I love this grocery store so much & its very well stocked & a great part of SF for years! It has everything a earthy, health consciousness, green person would want. brands that are non toxic and ethically correct. ugh they are the best store ever for supplements and prices are fair basically the same as whole foods... Bulk stuff its wildly overpriced but worth it. I only get a few items here ...Its a co-op which is super good but kinda means employees are free to do whatever they want & they are sometimes helpful sometimes not with questions.

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Oaktown Spice Shop - herbsandspices - Updated July 2026

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