Kalustyan's Orient Trading

This is a very interesting and unique shop. It's infinite! It has an unassuming entrance but once you step in, it's a multi floor labyrinth filled with many obscure powders, sauces, cookware, chemicals, tea and what-not from many different cultures! Definitely a place one should stop by for some fun, occasional shopping. Two caveats: - many of these products don't have expiry/mfg dates so you can never be sure how old they are. (Also given the massive inventory, I'd be worried about how long the items have been left on the shelf.

Some other reviews have pointed out issues with stale items.) - the items are fairly (or VERY!) expensive. Their 16 oz ice cream is 16 dollars! I didn't notice this until I bought it and was taken aback by the bill. I got the rose flavor, but I've found equally good and interesting flavors (like rose, cardamom etc.,) in Indian shops (like Vadilal brands). In fact, I'd suggest buying Indian items from Indian shops as they are much cheaper there. I'm not sure about the other items.

Wow, this is such a wonderful place. They carry all kinds of spices and more. I can't believe I never visited. I got some ice cream here that I had never seen at any other store in the City, though it was pricey at $15 a pint, it was so delicious. The quality and flavor was way ahead of most brands. I expect that I'll come back often.

Really like this place. Be careful you can get lost in the 3 floors of never ending spices. LOL Never seen so many different spices in my life. From dried fruits & nuts to on the go meals. This place is really great. The people that work there are so helpful.

The place a lot of products but it is dirty, it is dusty and I almost chocked coughing from all the sneezing because of my allergies to dust. One of the workers asked me to stop coughing although I was wearing a mask. The place is also not disabled or stroller friendly. I was insulted by a client there for having my 7 month baby on a stroller, which I tried to put on the side as much as possible. The manager did not ask the lady to behave or anything. The place is expensive and the service is awful!

Quite simply, THE place for buying spices in NYC. If they don't have it, good luck finding it. Also lots of great Middle-Eastern/sub-continent prepared/frozen foods. Best variety of rices around. And don't forget to check out the second floor for 1000 different teas and dried flowers. This is a GREAT place to bring and amaze visiting friends or family who love to cook!

When I truly think of the Things/experiences/places I'm grateful living in NYC for this is in top 5

Heaven on earth with everything you can imagine! I first came here when a recipe for a dinner party called for some unique Egyptian spices, but I keep coming back because it's a treasure chest. The staff is so friendly and helpful, which is necessary with the massive variety the store offers. I'm a couscous fanatic and they have so many options I love trying something new each time.

Really great if you're looking to bulk buy nuts, grains, etc! Last time I visited, the person behind the counter gave me a free sweet for the road. Love when I'm in the neighborhood and I just pop in to wander the aisles for delicious surprises.

The workers know everything and are so helpful and smart. I love the Sadaf products and really enjoy the food that I make with the Sadaf mixes that I buy. This place feels like Willy Wonka's for exotic cooking! Keep shining.

A visit to this store will transport you around the world. They have products from several different countries. If a recipe calls for an obscure ingredient that you can't find anywhere else, chances are Kalustyan's will have it! I went to several supermarkets looking for sumac and none of them had it but Kalustyan's sure did. The staff is more than happy to answer your questions.

They have prepared items such as hummus and babaganoush, frozen snacks including samosas and bourekas, an extensive selection of legumes and grains, tons of dried fruits and high-quality nuts and spices, henna and other cosmetic and skincare items-- the list goes on. Today I picked up pistachio halvah ($14.99 per pound), Turkish delight for $7.99 (I tried the hazelnut flavor), and 6 ounces of sumac for $6.99.

The halvah is certainly special! The Turkish delight was authentic and imported from Turkey. I can't wait to go back and spend more time looking through the aisles and trying more of their offerings.

I'm not sure you can beat the selection. I like to stop by whenever I'm in NYC and need to stock up on spices that I have a hard time finding anywhere else. The staff are always helpful in finding what I need, and the prices are good.

This is my go to for anything and everything. I even get my cordials for my cocktail recipes to pair with dishes. One stop shop. There is something for everyone. hard to single out any one item. This place is International. Shopping here since the 90's. Definitely worth a trip if you haven't already, you will be back!

The magical land of nearly every spice or item that you need! Kalustyan's is a paradise in its truest form for every type of chef. You really can find just about anything here! A quick review doesn't cover what range and depth of what's going on in this wonderland. So, for those who might be looking for the same things I am, here is the list of items that I always get when I come through: 1. Saffron and Rose ice cream (those who have been to place in LA are screaming for joy) 2. Preserved lemons in saffron and olive oil.

I probably buy this every week or so. 3. Greek honey and other Grecian spices/cheeses. I don't have to go out to Queens to get some staple items. 4. Vietnamese and Jamaican curry powder. While sold separately, these powders are a staple in my pantry for fish, meats, etc. 5. Frozen staples like roti and samosas 6. Szechuan peppercorns of every variety There's so much more that you can find here! It's worth a visit!

I had forgotten about this shop as I had not been in that section of midtown Manhattan for more than six year's. But when a friend of mine asked where she could get a variety of spices, I immediately told her about Kalustyan's, so we went there on a Saturday afternoon. OMG, it is one of those diamonds of NYC. a vegan/vegetarian, foodies paradise. It is now my go to place for herbs, spices and specialty food's.

I found out about this place as "where you go when you need that one obscure ingredient" and it's SO TRUE. The first time I went I literally texted multiple people saying "I need adult supervision" (I'm 29) because I could not be trusted with my wallet in this store. Literally every slice, pepper, herb, grain etc you could ever need. I love that the pepper section comes in whole peppers, powder, and flakes.

They are definetly overpriced for items you can find elsewhere so definetly don't come here for your average staples but if you love to cook then you are going to die of happiness in these aisles. My go-to buys: guajillo pepper, Aleppo pepper, curry powders, Mediterranean orzo, aji Amarillo paste, & masala chai

Incredible place. Has everything you might imagine. Most spices come in different quantities and the prices aren't that high, though they are not cheap. I recommend this place so much.

This place is amazing! I love going here. Has hundreds, if not thousands of spices. Basically nearly anything I can think of (and I like to cook in a wide variety of cuisines). I can spend hours here just exploring everything while getting inspired to cook new dishes. which is a good thing and bad thing :P I have to resist the urge to get more than I can possibly use before the spices start to expire. I wish it didn't take me an hour to get here from home, because I'd go here all the time if it was closer.

I always have an obsession with salty yogurt drinks, like ayran or lassi, so when I found out they sell ayran here I was so happy and got all the bottles in the fridge. They also sell dried fruits, middle eastern and Indian sweets here and I got some baklava. Overall a decent place for middle eastern produce.

Trying to find a speciality ingredient and wondering if you should order it on Amazon? No need, Kalustyan's has got you covered! This place is a treasure trove for anyone who loves to cook or bake. The first time I went, I easily spent an hour just wandering around the store. Staff is friendly and helpful as well if you are looking for something specific.

Hundreds of thousands of spices not only from India but from around the world. One of the staff (she seemed white) was super knowledgeable about where the spices are and what dishes they can be used in cooking. I also heard that she spoke multiple languages and was the translator for the Indian staffs there. Out of our expectations and was a good experience.

You could spend an hour here selecting different spices. The prices were relatively expensive compared to other places, but you know, they got varieties and everything you need here if you want spices.

This place can only be described as a magical wonderland for spices, treats and Mediterranean staples. I finally found a very had to find Indian (Bengali) spice - Radhuni! Even google doesn't compare/describe this accurately. They have aisles and aisles of every spice and dried herb possibly known to mankind. They also have snacks, freshly made hummus, baba ganoush, many varieties of labneh, olives, even Asian groceries like gochujang. If you are in a cooking rut, let this place inspire you! Couldn't resist picking up a treat for myself - pistachio nougat and it's perfect!

I fell in love with this market and will be back. All the herbs, spices, mushrooms, rices and many other amazing foods and spices. You can find is in this store. Order with cornershop/uber for delivery, so I can give you the best delivery service in nyc that you can find. My name is Richard

I should be punished for not coming here in the 11 years I've lived in NYC. It's truly a crime against my cooking. But damn, what people say is true. So much good stuff here, no reason to describe it all. But here are some suggestions: 1) Come with a plan of things you want to hunt for. Spice, ingredient, a type of rice (you need their basmatti rice). 2) Expect to get lost and not be able to find something so ASK 3) Unless you're just coming for one thing, expect to get a few things you didn't plan on. I came out with some lemongrass, fresh feta cheese and giganti beans. They weren't on my list 4) Grab some dried Mango, it's the bomb. 5) Have fun!

Heavenly shop with every spice imaginable. Came here to pick up some garam masala and came out with yellow curry powder as well and a desire to buy/ try everything in the shop. Kalustyan's has many sections, each with the widest range of spices that you can imagine. All spices are alphabetized within the section, making it pretty easy to find anything you want.

It can be overwhelming, so I'd recommend knowing what you want to get before coming here. It's a bit pricey, but there are honestly some spices here that I just can't find anywhere else, so having them all in one location is amazing. The aisles are a bit narrow and not great for social distancing, so I'd also recommend that you know what you want so you can pop in and out rather than loitering. I will definitely be coming back and using the place to inspire my next dish!

I was in search of herbs and this place is awesome. There are tons of herb blends, teas, sauces and dried fruits. I didn't have a chance to peruse the tea floor but I will definitely be back for more of everything.

I'm kicking myself that I've never written a review about Kalustyan's because honestly it's such a magical place with so many spices, flavors and cultures being represented (including some Armenian cuisine!) Once you step foot you'll understand exactly what I am talking about. When I didn't see Mante in the store, a friendly staff member took down my name and number and remembered to personally call me when it was back in stock. Beyond the selection, the customer service is excellent although the store can be overwhelming with the abundance of delicious options.

Kalustyan's is the to go place if you want to pick up spices and all household basic items for south east asian and middle eastern food. Prices are quite good and their collection is enormous. They all have fresh and delicious baba ganoush, falafel and deserts such as halwa, baklava, lebanese rolls etc. Their frozen food aisles also have a ton of goodies like puff pastry and indian and middle eastern sweets. Finally, paying with cash gives you extra savings as they give 5% discount for orders between $10-50 and 7% for orders above $50, much more than credit card cashbacks.

I first learned about this food wonderland on a TV show, as a place chefs and home cooks rely on to get hard to find ingredients. The maze of packed shelves offer treasures from 80+ countries, an overwhelming variety of colors, textures, and cultures (with a focus on Indian and Middle Eastern). It's like walking into a very large library and realizing you'll never get to read all the books. Spices and candy, dried fruit and incense, cheese and frozen meals, teas, condiments, sauces, pastries.

Some of my favorite items: Their handmade spicy bread - a simple, soft flatbread with red pepper and tomato sauce, I love to top it with eggs and whatever else I have lying around for breakfast. Nutymax - (great name). Airy, light wafers filled with pistachio cream. Dried roasted seaweed to add to instant noodle soups. Pistachio gelato that's deliciously creamy.

I also stumbled upon cucumber ice cream - can't wait to buy more for the summer. It's so refreshing, there are real frozen chunks of cucumber that crunch between your teeth. They also have gift cards- it makes such a great present for a foodie friend. Go and try something new!

The Spice is Right at Kalustan's. located in the Kips Bay/ Murray Hill area, this multi-leveled store is neatly packed with aisles upon aisles of shelving. the interior may feel a little cramped but it super duper clean. it is brightly lit. if you have not shopped here before and are looking for something, ask an employee as it is easy to become lost in the sheer amount of things to buy here. Kalustyan's is a mecca of herbs, spices, bulk items (nuts, dried fruits, and some candies) and specialized grocery items. as i mentioned before, if you are looking for something then talk to the staff. there are tons of items to buy here from the bulk items (serve yourself) to the endless shelves of spices (they are all pre-bagged at a variety of weights, so you cannot serve yourself), there's a refrigerated section towards the back.filled with a ton of prepackaged food items. mostly from the Middle East + South Asia. shopped here recently for some spices and preserved lemons. a little pricy, but it is one stop shopping for more obscure as well as better quality dried spices. unless you're cooking heavily and frequently every day.the spices do last a while and are a cut above your typical supermarket's. Kalustyan's offerings will make your dishes taste and smell so much better--again, the quality is quite good. staff are a little curt, but helpful if you ask. i recommend shopping here during the week versus weekends as it is less busy. drops mic cuz this spot has flavor i out zzz

I've walked past this place for years not knowing really what it was, until now. I am amazed by this place and how many spices it has. You can literally get anything you every wanted that you can not find at any grocery store here. They have everything! Once you go inside you might be in there for a while, just browsing all the aisles. It seems small from the outside, but its quite big inside. I'm so happy I finally found a place like this in the city to grocery shop. IG- @traveleen_gurl