Metro Spice Mart

Most Indian grocery stores in Chicago go by the name “Metro,” and they’re well stocked. Visiting one of them, you’ll likely find all the essentials and more. A convenient one-stop shop for Indian cooking needs!

I recently shopped at Metro Spice Mart and was extremely impressed with the store. The layout was easy to navigate, and the aisles were well-stocked with a wide variety of Indian Grocery products. I was able to find everything on my shopping list, and the prices were very reasonable. One thing that really stood out to me was the customer service at Metro Spice Mart. The employees were all very friendly and helpful, and they went out of their way to make sure I had a great shopping experience. They answered all of my questions and even made suggestions for products that I might enjoy. In addition to the great customer service, I was also impressed with the cleanliness of the store. The floors were spotless, and the produce section was well-organized and looked fresh. The store also had a wide selection of organic and natural products, which I appreciate as a health-conscious shopper. Overall, I had a great experience shopping at Metro Spice Mart and will definitely be returning in the future. The store had everything I needed at reasonable prices, and the customer service was top-notch. I highly recommend Metro Spice Mart to anyone looking for a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience.

They had everything you could think of from cook wear to frozen and fresh vegetables. Spices and ghee, snacks, nuts, yes everything for cooking delicious Indian food.

Very expensive. The guy at the counter was on the phone all the time while scanning items for billing and carelessly double charged me for an item. When i went back to the store to get the amount refunded, he is questioning if i really purchased just one item. Pls check the receipt against the items purchased in this store.

Lovely Indian market i didn't realize was in my neighborhood; had everything I needed.

Has everything you need for Indian groceries and has a great cafe/restaurant upstairs. The food reminded me of what I used to eat when I was younger! Will definitely bring my parents to the restaurant!! Best Indian food I’ve had in Chicago

Snacks items here are worst. Blend or too salty or no salt or eggy or smells like fungus. Thought it was rusk then read it’s a rusk cake taste like having raw egg. Jackfruit snack , other mixture packets too whatever snacks I bought from here everything taste worst . Only grocery were good. Give a second thought while buying packed snacks here.

Great henna, international chocolate, and samosas. It's real henna

Metro Spice Mart is in my condo building, so it was very convenient in a pinch or when I needed some ingredients that were harder to find in Marianos. Their spice and snack selections are particularly impressive! Prices are a little high, but that is the cost of convenience. The service here is not really great. I don't find the employees to be very friendly and they always only have a single cashier so the line gets very long and moves very slowly. This is not a place I'd go for my weekly shop, but it is nice to have around and I appreciated having it nearby.

Everything here is great! Plenty of tasty frozen options to keep on hand for when you're exhausted after work. Staff is always friendly too. Ambiance is standard grocery store.

The store was super organized and clean. Everything was decently priced and I didn't feel like the prices were all that different from the Indian grocery stores out in the western suburbs/ Little India on Devon Ave (at least for the items I bought). Like other yelpers, the customer service was not the best, but it is what it is! Also, the store moved to 125 S Jefferson street Chicago, IL 60661

They have all the goods to make an Indian food. I'm a total novice at cooking Indian food. I can't pronounce half of the ingredients but the staff here are super helpful and helped me find the things on my list. The meal that I made was pretty amazing btw. So important to have access to authentic ingredients when making a meal from another ethnicity. No more store bought packets of store bought dumbed down tikka sauce for this girl. I can make the real deal with real ingredients - thank you Metro!!

This well sized Indian market was great! I went for some spices and left with $60 of food. The selection is ample for a city market. They have dry goods, spices, produce and a large frozen food selection. This market has lots of street parking available, which is very convenient. I will definitely be returning and not having to drive to Devon Ave to shop.

We have been buying stuff from Metro for over 8 months now and have noticed a significant degradation in quality. Samosas and Wada Pav we purchased made us nauseous and water purchased yesterday off-gassed of plastic. If you do buy, make sure it is cooked fresh and the stuff is well sealed. We will write to the manufacturer of the water to check on the bar code and check if it is being filled illegally.

I didn't find the prices too high, because I was shopping there as a special treat, but from the other reviews it seems it is pricier than other markets further away. It's very convienent and even though it's in west loop there is plenty of street parking! Employees are not very friendly and always very busy, so don't expect it to be somewhere like that. But it has plenty to offer and well-stocked!

This grocery store carries all of the essentials and considering it's size, has a great supply of items. The produce is very fresh - the Thai chilis I bought were very plump and spicy and the cilantro I got has lasted over a week in the fridge. The prices are higher than most stores on Devon, but you have to factor that they are paying downtown/west loop rent. For the people that work or live in the area, this grocery store is good for a convenient place to shop.

Very rude employees who have zero customer service skills. Prices are high and they don't appreciate your business. I know this is how it goes in India, but this is not India. Customers deserve courtesy and respect. Avoid this store if possible.

Little pricey but have good selection of Indian food , snacks, utensils fresh vegetables

This place has everything ! saves the trip to devon . The only downside is sometimes they run of out things fast . Friendly staff and street parking right in front .

Great grocery store! Beware that some places have the address listed wrong, I sad confused outside of a foot doctor for a while before I saw in another review that they had moved down the street. Def worth finding

Convenient location for downtown desi groceries ..,well stocked , a bit of a premium but saves locals the hassle of going up north to Devon. Best kept secret of the store is their snacks from the famous Grand Sweets in Chennai!!

Tiny market in a convenient location (for anyone living or working in the Loop/West Loop area), which has almost all the culinary essentials of a desi household. Prices are about a dollar more expensive than the larger stores in Devon Ave, but the ease of access makes it worth the markup. They also offer online delivery for certain neighborhoods in Chicago, over a certain order minimum ($50-$60, depending on delivery location). As the store is on the smaller side, they don't have a wide variety of SKU - you'll definitely find whatever you're looking for, but it might not be in your preferred brand. Spices (peppercorns, cumin, etc) are so much cheaper to purchase herein bulk than at Mariano's or Whole Foods. They also have a refrigerated section with paneer, dosa and idli mix, curd, and Indian sweets. You can also find some desi kitchen essentials like lemon squeezer, small steel bowls, tongs etc. Customer service is not their strong point, and the staff may come across as a bit curt, but the market is always busy, so they might just be a little frazzled. Online delivery times are not reliable, so stopping by in person is your best bet.

So convenient, and well stocked. The owners do an incredible job in regards to precautions for COVID. The owners are very helpful and so courteous and always willing to help.

Pretty much an authentic spice merchant located in the heart of the West Loop. Store packs a lot in a very little space. Sells mostly Indian / Middle eastern-themed foodstuffs and spices - think: cumin (ground and also whole seeds); black peppercorns; turmeric; curry powder; cinnamon; coriander (ground and whole seeds); mustard seeds; lots of legumes and a variety of lentils. Also an area of fresh veggies and some fresh herbs. That's just the tip of the iceberg and I know there was much, much more. I didn't see more Americanized seasonings, such as dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, Italian seasoning or the like. This is by no means a complaint, just an observation. Prices are insanely reasonable. I purchased a 7oz packet of whole peppercorns for $4.99. Contrast that with Mariano's - a 2oz packet costs $4.19. So, for a mere .80¢ more, I got more than 3 times the product. Fantastic deal. Similarly, a 2oz packet of whole cumin seeds at Mariano's is $2.49. At the Metro Spice Mart, A 7oz packet of whole cumin seeds was only - $2.99. So for only .50¢ more, I got slightly more than 3 times the product. I'll eventually need coriander seeds and will not hesitate to come here to buy them. Very pleased with this merchant and will definitely continue to frequent when the need arises.

I was looking for an online delivery service for Indian grocery. Found Metro Spice mart and thought of giving it a try. They showed a good selection and I placed an order online at 4:38 pm. At 7 pm, I called them and encountered a very rude person on the other end who told me that the website clearly says the cutoff for ordering is 4:00 pm and that delivery is not necessarily that day. I was shocked as to how rude he was. I told him, I clearly understand that you may have this policy but it should be mentioned when I have placed or am Placing the order. He kept on talking rudely and saying That is fine you'll not get delivery today and ultimately ending the call saying "go to someone else". Next day, I really thought I should check the website and if I am wrong, I will apologize. Here's what I find on the website: "SERVICE: METRO MARKET delivers grocery on daily basis.If you place your order by 4.00pm,delivery will be in your kitchen by 8pm.You always can call before 6.00PM if you have any emergency walk out,we definately will work-out another option for you. " So I reach out to them via whatsapp (as they have mentioned on their website) "Hi, I spoke to you yesterday and you mentioned that your website clearly says that the order should be placed by 4pm. I checked your website again and found it to be incorrect" I put screenshots of my order time and their website Here's the response "Sorry but We will not deliver to you," I asked why? His response" Got it but Still we are definitely not interested doing business with you! Sorry for any inconvenient. Thanks." I have never come across such rude, arrogant people who would not accept they were wrong and even when I was ready to ignore what happened, they continue to be rude.

I love this place. If you're an Indian household or just like cooking Indian food, you'll find all the essentials you'll need here. It's a small shop but it really packs a punch, I was pleasantly surprised with the variety of items available here. Definitely more than you'd expect just by looking at the shop from the outside. The location is awesome, it's so nice to not have to trek all the way up to Devon for Indian stuff. The prices aren't as cheap as Devon, but their prices are actually very reasonable when considering the higher cost of doing business in the West Loop. The staff is also super friendly and helpful. All in all, this is a great place and highly recommend it if you need Indian stuff and aren't near Devon.

This has become a weekly grocery stop for me ever since I discovered it. Conveniently located near the blue line, which I usually ride twice daily, I initially came here in search of reasonably priced spices. What I found was that and so much more. I knew Jewel Osco was ripping me off with $6.99 emaciated Bay Leaves in a tiny canister, but this was reinforced when I came here and found a bag full of robust Bay Leaves for $2.49! You'll find every spice your heart desires here at a comparable price. Stop buying McCormick. They are THIEVES. In addition to spices, I've also found many items essential to any Indian household (Desi yogurt, Amul butter, MAGGI), and they have fresh produce. Anyway, I find everything I need here, it's clean and well organized, and the staff is friendly.

So happy to find a store in the city with everything Indian! Haven't gone to Devon since finding this place and not planning on going either. Really great service too! The lady in the store is super helpful and nice! You may pay a dollar more for spices but worth it if you factor the time and expense you will incur if you go to Devon! If cooking an indian meal is on the agenda I would definitely go here!

This store in the loop has a lot of variety in a small store area. Has a great selection of samosas, and naan. Highly recommended if you working downtown and need to grab a couple of things for a quick dinner

Don't trust their online delivery claims. Their customer service skills are below-grade. It's advantageous for them to not care about having trust for those customers that are not in the west-loop or for individuals who are looking for online services, because right now they seem to be the only real Indian grocery store downtown. Eventually that will change. Opening a business is one thing, but retention of customers is where the skills of success are.

The lady there is very arrogant and don't greet people. Also they open the shop very late though it's stated as 11:30am, they come only by 12 to open the shop.

The items here aren't as good as Devon in terms of price, quantity and variety, so why am I rating this 4 stars ? Because it's not in Devon Having this store so close to the loop and river north, i.e. walkable distance is so convenient and worth the extra few cents. It has all the basic needs to make Dhokla or Dosa with Sambar. My point is you can buy all the groceries you need here to cook authentic North Indian or South Indian cuisine. I buy Dahi (Low Fat and Regular varieties), Dals such as Toor and Urad, Green Chillies and Curry Leaves almost every week here.

We chanced upon this jewel of a store on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, en route to meeting our daughter arriving from college for the holidays. The store owners could not have been more friendly and helpful, as they pointed out and described many of their products - old and new to us - in their cozy store off the beaten path. We bought many cherished spices that are unavailable in the major stores, and the prices are so reasonable, that the value just cannot be matched. Please be assured that we have not been paid, nor are we relatives of the owners. We're just pleasantly surprised and truly grateful new customers. May they prosper in their business endeavor there. If you are in the area, you owe it to yourself to stop by and see what's in store for you. ...from The Miles Family

The only Indian store in Chicago downtown area. And I am thankful for it. Its a small convenient store type of place. You will find 90% of the essentials that you need at home and you will not find lot of different SKUs as its a small store. There is a refrigerated section where you can find Indian curd, paneer, idli batter, variety of frozen indian parathas, sweets etc. Prices can be 0.5c to $1 more than usual. They keep few types of fresh Indian vegetables (may be more during weekends). And ofcourse variety of spices. All in all thankful this place exists and I dont have to drive 40 mins to find a well stocked Indian store. Does meet requirements really well.

I got my first delivery today. Perfect 5-star. Delivered in blistering cold weather, packed in its best shape. Super impressed with the delivery and Card on Delivery, wish I knew of this service earlier. Good job guys!!

This small shop has a great selection of spices, samosas and naan. Very organized very straight to the point in regards to presentation.

Finally an indian grocery store in the loop. I was impressed by their large selection of dry goods. They also had small sections of frozen goods and fresh vegetables. All of the veggies looked to be in good condition. The cashier was friendly with a lovely British-Indian accent. The hours stated that the store closed at 8pm, but we exited the store at 8:15pm...and they were still letting people into the store. I look forward to stopping by this mart on my way home to pick up goods for cooking yummy meals.

Great ready made dosa batter. Its so convenient and way more closer than devon. They maybe charge a dollar more for some items, but serioulsy totally worth it. Its great for one off items you may need. Will make it more encouraging to make more indian food when i know items can be found here instead of waiting for a huge trip to devon or my parents to visit to get indian groceries from their pantry!