Ditch the McCormick's and see what real spices are all about at Penzeys. Everything from Aleppo pepper to Zatar and everything in between is at your fingers. The staff is super knowledgeable and if for some reason the don't have the exact spice your looking for they know where you can find it,( in my case I was looking for Bonito flake which they didn't have but the gentleman knew of a small Asian market that kept it in stock). This place is awesome and you get top quality spices for less then what you would pay in your local market. Oh and a little insider tip, they have a small parking lot in the back off of the alley if there is nothing on the street. Better not take my spot though :) read more

This place gets me every time! I walk in, with out really needing anything, then end up leaving with some ridiculous $40.00 spice grinder, or something that I barely ever use. What can I say...they've got it going for themselves! read more

Stopped in the Hennepin store while on a trip to MSP. Picked up some Penzey's garlic (so strong and good - and rehydrates uber-quickly) and Garden Salad blend. I have almost everything I need from Penzey's - but I can't wait to send the new Holiday 2013 gift sets (8 little spice jards or seasoning blends) to teachers for Xmas this year. Great customer service and wonderful products as always! Much love to Penzey's! read more

Disclaimer: There is no cooking here. Yours truly makes nothing but gas. Eggs? Sometimes. Pasta? Maybe (mostly just to throw it at the ceiling). Salad? Occasionally. Field trip to Penzey's? HELL YES. Do I know what the crap it is I'm sticking my face into? Do I know what foodstuffs said mystery powders belong in/on/around? Do I care? Pshhhh, naw. All this guy cares about is that they smell good, they feel nice and they're orange. The cards with recipes, pictures, and uses for corresponding herbs seem pretty handy as well (this is pure speculation, obviously). Were I to be visiting this store for any actual purpose, I would love them as a helpful feature. Now, looking too closely at recipe cards is like straying into a terrifying future of bundt pans, souffles and the conversion of litres to ounces. Just some hot cocoa mix, please. read more

I have shopped at Penzeys for a couple years now and I have never had a bad experience the employees are always so kind and helpful they also have the best prices and best quality I would definitely recommend. read more

I was first introduced to Penzeys a couple of years ago. My now husband and I received a box of spices as a shower gift. We were immediately hooked. Everyone should try the Fox Point seasoning - its good on EVERYTHING, but especially potatoes! I apologize for the generic comparison, but it's like the Target of the spice world. You walk in needing one or two items, and you walk out with a half dozen other items. They get better and better. I will say the one disappointment is the hot cocoa mixes, I think they lacked flavor. If you're ever at a loss for what to get someone for a gift, Penzeys it is! read more

Penzeys is my go to for spices. They offer much larger variety and higher quality than can be found at supermarkets. I am always greeted and asked if I need help when I enter. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable about their products. The only downside is parking in Uptown. There is a small parking lot behind the store but it is often full and sometimes the entrance alley is blocked by other cars or trucks. Alternatively you can pay the fee to park at Calhoun Square and browse Kitchen Window as well. read more

Even if you're not a foodie or a spice gourmand, it's worth checking out Penzeys Spices just for the experience. The minute you step through the door you're transported to a far off place, with exotic smells and barrels of every kind of seasoning you can imagine. While some offerings are not cheap, the quality here is excellent and it's certainly worth purchasing some of the more aromatic spices (cinnamon, turmeric, etc.) for cooking, as you and your family will notice the enhanced flavor and freshness of the ingredients. The staff is knowledgeable about their wares, so don't be shy about asking them for new suggestions. read more

I feel brilliant after coming up with one of my best birthday present ideas ever! I printed out a wonderful recipe for yellow split pea stew with sweet potatoes and kale and needed some good curry powder. I saw that Penzeys had a gift box of Indian spices and decided it was perfect. The ladies at the store were wonderfully helpful and supportive in helping me put together a mini version of the box since it was over my budget. I had to go with the Maharajah Curry Powder, the saffron mix made it worth it! While there I picked up a few other pre-made gift boxes and checked off everyone on my Christmas list! It can be a bit pricey, but well worth it for such a quality product. Don't appreciate the hours though; with traffic after work, I barely have any time to shop. read more

Love Penzeys!!! I was fortunate enough to be able to start my Penzys love affair by being a customer of Penzeys at their original location in Milwaukee, and have been faithful ever since. Their quality is amazing, and though their prices are higher than standard grocery store fare, it is definitely worth it in the long run. After moving from Milwaukee, I have ordered online, but nothing compares to looking around and trying new items. This location is closest to me, and is typical to locations that I've frequented in other cities I've lived in. As to the hours, those of us with a Penzeys love affair have the hours memorized, and we plan our visits accordingly :-) read more

The hours are ridiculous. It's the holiday season and they still close at 6pm?! Not cool. You lost a customer tonight.

Happily Penzey's opened a location near my place in Boston. But until that, this was my first and only experience with the whole Penzey's operation, and without fail we visit nearly everytime I visit Mpls. This is especially true around Christmas, because frankly their gift boxes are awesome presents for someone like me to buy for others. To be honest, my kitchen is stocked with their stuff read more

Being as how I am a HUGE lover of everything food, and I do a ton of cooking, this has to be my favorite shop in Uptown! A few years ago I was actually dating a chef and one of our favorite places to go (no not on a date) besides the grocery store was always Penzeys! For Thanksgiving we made 15 pies, and using all of the wonderful and unique spices and ingredients I don't think I have ever gotten that many compliments on my food! I bought a $150 cooking kit after we broke up from here... I wanted the spices that I had learned to love and incorporate into my foods! I still can't believe how bland American cooking is when I go out, or when my friends have dinner parties! When I cook, I love to have flavors, and scents. Mmmmmm, my mouth is watering for some of my Mole' Chile Sauce!!! In case anyone doesn't want to fight the uptown masses, there is a parkinglot behind the store, but there are limited spots available! read more

My only gripe with Penzeys, is that they're not consistent in taking their coupons....sometimes if I forget to bring my freebee they take care of me, and sometimes they give me the "sorry you must have it" routine..... With that said, I absolutely love their prices and selection....not only are the base ingredients 2nd to none, but the all-in-one combinations take the thought process out of a self declared home chef like myself.... If you have any inclining more than using just a little bit, get yourself the bag option as it's very much the best deal!!!! read more

I am truly impressed by the level of customer service here! I came by to buy some spices, and asked the question regarding spices stick together. A couple months ago I bought the shallot salt. I asked the question regarding this. The wonderful lady inquired what spices I was talking about and I mention specifically shallot salt. After completing my purchase as I was leaving the stor, she caught up to me and gave me a replacement bottle! I didn't want a replacement bottle, however she insisted. forever a customer! read more

A wonderful spice shop with amazing variety. Helpful, knowledgeable staff. Great gift boxes, too.

It was my first time shopping at Penzeys looking for a gift for my father who's a chef. Nobody greeted me or offered me any help, all employees were huddled behind counter talking. I found spice kit myself and walked up to buy it, the employees behind the counter didn't stop their conversation to acknowledge me. Nobody said a word to me, they just carried on conversation while scanning my item. When I turned to leave, nobody thanked me, or said have a nice day. I work retail as well, and have minimum expectations, but to spend $50 on spices and be treated like that is astronomically stupid. I will not be returning. read more

I've shopped at a handful of specialty spice stores, and Penzey's is the best. Their selection, price and friendly staff make it an enjoyable experience. And their quality makes their spices, herbs etc the perfect partner for any serious cook. Make sure to sign up for their magazine- it comes 4 or 5 times a year and is filled with interesting stories and recipes. And most issues come with a coupon good for a free jar of something in the store. This particular location does have a few parking spots available off the alley on the back of the building. read more

Penzeys has a great selection of spices. I always shop there when I am looking for the freshest spices. I took some friends here who are from NYC and they were very impressed with Penzeys. If you're feeling adventurous, print out a new recipe and buy your spices here! read more

I have been coming to this store since 2012 and I couldn't be happier to have such a cool shop in town. The more I come here, the more I learn about spices and cooking and what good quality ingredients can do for your food! I recently purchased their pickling spice for my first attempt at pickles. It turned out perfect! read more

A trifecta on one block. No wonder people are obsessed with living in Uptown. Everything is right here. And so much is in this one area. This location of Penzeys has to be my favorite. It's so roomy, and being surrounded by glasses of spices and herbs, you want space. The Grand ave. location in St. Paul, although handy is in a pretty closed in space. A great spot for gift ideas. There is something all cooks should have, and that is their cookbook How we became One. It's a compilation of their now out of print magazine, though they carry several copies here. Not only a collectors item, but a very useable book, loaded with pictures and stories. It's easy to find things at this store, because items are so spread out. I stumbled upon some freeze dried shallots, very strong so a little goes a long way. It comes in a huge jar, and a normal 3 oz. one. I also found the blue poppy seeds interesting. You can sign up for their flyer that you get in the mail or pick it up there. I always manage to make at least one thing from each copy. My latest is a vegan version of a potato soup using the vegetarian soup base. You don't even need extra salt with their soup bases. They are that flavorful. read more

While I really don't enjoy cooking, this store might make me change my mind! I always stop in on my stroll down Hennepin. I purchased a gift box for a wedding and have now made this my traditional gift! I have purchased at least 10-15 on their spices myself and have always been impressed with the flavor and variety! read more

Great Place! I stopped in here and was really surprised at how reasonable the pricing was for the spices. I was expecting to see prices higher than those in a grocery store but it seems to be the exact opposite. So in my eyes they have great spices and sometimes half the cost of grocery stores so why buy them anywhere else? And it is also fun to go over and smell the apple pie spice blend they have. read more

If you are a die-hard foodie, a wannabe foodie or just a casual cook, I would highly recommend buying your spices from Penzeys. There is a clear difference between the spices at Penzeys and the ones from your local grocery store. They are fresher, stronger, taste better and last longer. Yes, they are a little more pricey, but its totally worth it. My sister was the person who turned me to this place and I'm a convert. As I run out of spices, I am replacing them all with Penzey's brands. Be sure to sign up for their catalogs because they include great recipes, coupons and helpful hints about how to use some of the lesser-known spices. The staff are always friendly and helpful and they know their stuff. My favorites are: ANY of the black peppers/peppercorns, granulated garlic/onion, smoked paprika, Chili 3000 (a citrus-tinged chil powder blend), Hot Chocolate Mix, Sunny Spain (lemon pepper) and the Ancho Chili Powder. They offer a wide variety of sizes, so you don't have to buy a big jar if you don't want to. Inevitably, I go in for 2 things and come out with a bag full. Also, they have great gift sets ranging from $13 and up. I have used these are Secret Santa gifts, Hostess Gifts, Housewarming Presents and donations to local food shelves (spices are rarely donated). Go in, check it out...you won't be disappointed! read more

I'm not sure how I lived in Minneapolis for 9 months before I knew about Penzey's. I went here for Smoked Paprika and came out inspired...and with about $40 worth of spices and a Paella party floating around in the back of my mind. In addition to an excellent selection of high-quality spices and spice blends, you get a free catalog with recipes and the bumper sticker you see all around that says something about loving people and making food for them. Repeat customer right here! read more

I could spend hours in this store, smelling all the different spices. The Vietnamese Cinnamon is AMAZING, tastes great in recipes (I made a snickerdoodle cake with it that was outta sight) and sprinkled on oatmeal or toast. The spices make great gifts for foodies. read more

Do yourself a favor and skip the spice aisle in your grocery store and head over to Penzeys instead. Not only do they have a wide assortment to choose from but the prices are the about the same (and sometimes cheaper) than the crappy McCormick's brand you can buy everywhere. Their taco seasoning is one of my favorites as well as the Forward! spice which is great on chicken. Because it's located in the heart of Uptown, finding street parking can be tricky. If you're willing to walk a few blocks park in the neighborhoods south of the Hennepin -Lake Street area as there's usually adequate street parking. read more

Oh, I just noticed Sofia K's review come up in reviews near me, and realized I completely forgot to review this place. And I really love it! I, too, have used Penzey's as a great gift idea on a few different occasions, and will keep doing so in the future. Of course, I'm getting spices for myself as well. I have a pretty healthy life style, and spices are a life saver when it comes to creating tasty meals that are still good for you! I'm not sure how it works, but it seems that the more unhealthy something is, the better it tastes?! read more

If I could, I would probably buy some of everything they have!! I love the straight spices but their mixes are always so perfect. North Woods is a household favorite. Smoky, a little spicy and great on meat or eggs. read more

Service is so poor, and even when helped sullen, that it's just not worth buying what could be great spices from a terrible environment. Looking for a supplier who wants me to be their customer for life! read more

I'm from New Mexico and struggle to find good spices that taste like home. I always find them here though. It can be a bit pricey, but it's always well worth it. The only thing that would make it better if it were possible to park in uptown. read more

This place has the most amazing selection of spices! The prices are much more reasonable than grocery stores and the staff is so knowledgable and helpful! read more

I remember when the Woolworth's closed in my hometown, and it was replaced first by an indoor children's playground, then by Penzeys. I thought, "How in the hell is a freggin spice store going to survive?!" Well, 15 years later it's still there. And I can see why. Penzeys is awesome! The spice selection is, of course, amazing. Who knew there were so many blends of pepper?! This is my go-to spot for wedding and shower gifts, as there are great gift-box selections, and people are always impressed with the cool spices they get to supplement the million cooking gadgets they registered for. Sign up to be on their mailing list, and you'll get coupons throughout the year for free stuff. Today I picked up my normal taco seasoning (awesome), and left with a free bottle of ground pepper. The prices are a lot more reasonable than one might expect. You can buy in mini-bulk (I just made that up), and fill your jars at home. read more

The staff here is top notch always helpful and eager to share spice knowledge. I'm blown away by the great variety of spice and spice blends. Make sure to sign up for their monthly catalog, that's really more of a magazine than catalog, with it you'll receive special coupons for free jars of new blends or featured favorites and readers share their recipes. Buying in bulk bags, allows you to refill your jars at a great price. I can't say enough about the California Pepper blend, Greek, 5 S seasoned salt, buttermilk ranch dressing mix and so many others. Never buy spices at the grocery store again! read more

Super awesome customer service. The employees were VERY knowledgeable, were polite, patient and kind of made me feel like I could make anything in the world. Fine...not anything, but at least I could make something with the high fat cocoa powder. Double fine, not me, but the Hubs can. read more

Penzey's is how you take ordinary food to the next level. I got introduced to Penzey's when I lived by Uptown. Luckily for me, they opened one in Santa Monica (CA) just months after I moved out here! I recommend novice and professional chefs alike to check this place out! read more

We like cooking and this is one of the places we went to get spices on this trip. The different sources fro each spice was good, along with the explanation of each type help us make up our minds. Yes we got some spices, and yes we will come back for more. read more

I have been buying from Penzey's catalogue for years and was pleased to visit this store and see the whole range of spices. I appreciated help from the friendly staff, and enjoyed the aromas of spices I wasn't familiar with. I prefer their Vietnamese Cinnamon to any other kind, and will gladly pay the small shipping fee as their hot curry power, turmeric and ground cumin are superior. I thought the" Raspberry Enlightenment" was a fun experiment but will stick to the spices from now on. read more

loved the uptown location. they had pretty much everything on my list except the dried mushrooms - knew where i could get them but not there. selection in store limited. catalog shows much more. what they had there they had lots of. would return. much like Spice Houses in milwaukee and chicago - same name on some spice mixes. ?? read more

Penzey's is the best place around for cocoa, spices, extracts, herb mixes and dry rubs. The uptown location is "closest" to our suburban house (30 miles away) and is always worth the trip. (Although I confess most of our purchases are on-line since we have been customers long before a Minnesota store opened.) I highly recommend their cocoa and vanilla if you are a baker. My friends "rave" about my wonderful baked goods. Frankly, it is the high quality ingredients from Penzey's that make all the difference in a recipe. Grocery store ingredients are not nearly the same quality. When I purchase wedding gifts/shower gifts and am confident it is a gift the couple will use and will not receive multiples of the same gift. Even non-foodies appreciate the great gift boxes with bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and whole nutmeg. read more