The Souk

This place has quite a few things that are really hard to find other places. I stop in every couple of months to get new things to experiment with. I was beyond thrilled when I found out that they have fresh halva! A wonderful store full of suprises!

Surprisingly good selection. I was looking especially for barberries but couldn’t find them out anywhere, so I finally asked for help. They were behind the counter, so no amount of searching would’ve turned them up. Glad that I asked (when help was offered)! They were quite expensive — 3 oz for $ 8.49 — but they were exactly what I needed.
Also picked up some pomegranate molasses (10 oz bottle for $ 5.99) and a jar of tahini (16 oz for $ 5.99).
I’m cooking my way through the amazing Jerusalem cookbook, so between this place, Market Spice, and Frank’s Produce, Pike Place Market is my one-​stop-​shop.

Every time we go down to the «market» we always stop in here to pick up a few things. He stocks a few blends of spices for some northwest African dishes that are not easy to find elsewhere. The shopkeeper is very knowledgeable and friendly, the spices are always pungent and fresh, lasting longer than anything that can be bought in a regular grocery store. The store also smells so wonderfully aromatic which makes the visit that much more pleasant.

I went here based on the reviews and I was very disappointed. The place is a tiny little dump. Maybe because I am Indian and know a decent grocery store and also need more things that are sold at this store. And the owner was so RUDE! I asked him if he had a 5 lb bag of rice and he started yelling saying «It dont come in 5 lb! only 10lb!» And then we went to pay and he started yelling about he doesnt take credit cards. We said your door displays that all credit cards are accepted. He then took a visa and complained about he gets charged 32 cents every time he uses a credit card. He was awful and rude and mean and this store is the crappiest little store I have ever seen. God only knows how old the stuff is in there. Stay away. Make the trip to a proper Indian Grocery store. You will find better quality stuff and more stuff.

I recently wanted to try cooking North African food. There are a couple spices that come up in a lot of the recipes that I couldn’t find anywhere. I happened to be at the market for something else, saw this place and went in. Five minutes and 7 bucks later I had a 6 month supply of each. Simple as that.
Before you spend a ton of money ordering a specialty ingredient from the internet, check this guy out. He probably has it.

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed the Souk yet. I have been coming here for years and am always happy with what I walk away with. I get cumin, cardamom pods, cinnamon, red chili powder, coconut flakes, and other spices and staples at The Souk.
Prices are great. Buying spices here is very cost-​effective and they last a long time. This is a great stop for someone who cooks with a lot of spices. The man at the counter is always kind and helpful when I’ve been in and gives advice if I ask. I go every time I’m at the Market!

Great place for spices, inexpensive pita bread and delicious sweet treats. Always as pleasure to shop there.

I felt after my research this would be the best place to find the middle eastern spices I needed for a few recipes… having traveled in middle east I was excited to find treasures from that area of world, food wise. I found the person there to be very helpful, a bit hard to understand, tad of language issue… I usually come w/​few questions about product and how to use it… He was helpful. I do wish there was better explanation on product, what ingredients area in the spice blends the store makes themselves and that you could taste it before you buy. I went with intention of buying spices to make my own Garam Masala, but instead I bought the one they make and thought will try theres first then get ingredients to make my own. I bought few types of lentils. He gave good ideas and suggestions how to make a few yummy dishes I am excited to try, so I bought a few more spice blends to try… and found a tea that was suggested here on a review. I will go back, it is not the cleanest store, reminds of markets in Israel, tight, cramped and a whole lot of stuff cramped in small space. And not so clean, things need dusting and some new containers for there fresh spices would be good. Overall a good find.

The Souk is a tiny wonderland of Indian and middle eastern spices, snacks, and affordable trinkets. The person working was quiet, and I’m quiet so it was a little awkward looking around, but this is a great place to stop in, perhaps overlooked unless you know where you are going.
A must visit in the Pike Place Market!

neat store. handwritten signs and jars filled with bulk spices. prices were a little high, but it’s right downtown, so i wasn’t surprised.
the shop in shoreline lacks the atmosphere, but makes up for it in prices (and i found fresh okra there).

I love to cook. In the past year, I have come to particularly love cooking East Indian food, and North African (Moroccan, Tunisian, Egyptian) and Middle Eastern food. About a month ago I «rediscovered» this place. This is supposed to be a Middle Eastern/​Pakistani/​East Indian store, so when I saw it, I was thrilled because I hate having to drive so far for groceries and fresh spices. When I tried to make polite conversation with the shop keeper (not sure if it was the owner) and ask about merchandise, he was incredibly grouchy. That’s okay, I thought. Everyone has their days and moods, especially if stressed out or over worked. But it ended up being more than grouchiness. He made racist statements about Punjabis and why should anyone (most particularly himself) learn or know «PUNJABI» when it wasn’t (a language) worth knowing. He was very quick to point out that he was in fact NOT a Punjabi. He knew 3 – 4 other real languages – why need to?! I was so offended that I have never gone back and would not recommend this place to Indian friends or friends of other ethnicities. I can’t believe he was so openly racist against Punjabis – and right in front of me, to my face.

More than 5 stars for this store.
The owner (I assume) is very friendly. He is always eager to answer ANY questions — with genuine smile. I’m very particular about my curry so I only buy it here. Same thing with other spices.
The smell of the store is so good. Exotic spices…
Pike Place gem.

The Souk is a family run, postage-​stamp sized specialty grocery store in the Pike Place Market (well, technically across the cobblestone street from the Market). Beautiful Middle Eastern and East Asian jewelry hangs in its window, giant glass jars of spices line its walls, and near the register, bags of the world’s best dates. I head in to pick up Pita, Sheep’s Milk Feta, my favorite dates, Paprika, Dried Mint, Henna, Kohl for my eyes, and anything else that strikes my fancy.
And, I just love the smell of The Souk. Sometimes I go just to take in the bouquet of the spices, but I never leave empty handed. I guess that’s sayin’ something.

You just can’t make some dishes properly with average grocery store goods. I walked away from the Souk with a bag full of powders. Packets of hot curry, cumin, & masala waifed out of my bag, putting me in a very good mood.
Well priced, exotic, and full of jewlery, food product, and culture. This tiny store right in the heart of touristy pike place is a must go.

Homemade Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine seems very exquisite and expensive, but believe it or not… many people are fond of the flavorful seasonings.
The Souk is not just for the aristocratic strangers. More and more people are starting to enjoy an ethnic twist on the traditional flank steak, grilled chicken and/​or firm tofu. Partly because spices give food zeal. And I’m sure there are some phenomenal health benefits too.
You don’t always have to make world cuisine to enjoy the health benefits. Just be yourself and relish the fact that it’s not hard to become gourmet. Make a cake with besan (chickpeas) flour instead of the well-​known white. Or keep some mint chutney around for grill sandwiches. And how long has it been since you’ve relished the taste of dates or figs?
The Souk is small specialty store in Pike Marketplace. So the selection is limited. But without question, there’s something for everyone.

1 large bag of yellow lentils
1 large bag of couscous
1 medium bag of dried chickpeas
2oz of zatar blend
Grand total: $ 14
The man who is behind the counter here has been serving costumers for as long as I can remember — my parents have been shopping here since they came to Seattle — and he is always helpful and kind.
This is a good place to come if you are looking for some new cooking inspiration, or for middle-​eastern staples at a low price.

Seems like everyone that came in here was looking for some spices while I was checking out the random goods! I had been walking by when some miniature statues caught my eye. I didn’t realize until I walked in that it was primarily a food store.
This place is small and the gift section is even smaller but I liked what they had. I even bought something for a friend. I know I know, it says made in India but I wasn’t about to get them Space Needle pasta (which I. well let’s just say my mind was in the gutter when I first saw that…). Plus everything seems to be reasonably priced and the man working (who I saw a few times) was very friendly.

I was stoked when I stumbled upon this place. Took my sister to the market and she wanted to check it out because the the Indian jewelry on display. I on the other hand was stoked when I discovered that the owner carried Pomegranate Molasses, something that I love to cook with. I haven’t found any since I moved up from Olympia a couple years ago. I also snagged a bag each of ground coriander and ground cumin. I go through these spices pretty quick, and he had them for a great price. Oh and also a bag of dates. I think my total came to $ 13. I was happy.
Now I have a go-​to spot for my Pomegranate Molasses, yay!

Whenever I need to give my senses a jot and to clear my sinuses I walk into the Souk for a few minutes and just inhal deeply. Between all the incenses and aromatic herbs and spices I can feel my sinues clear and my senses go into overload.
If you ever want to venture into some authentic Indian cooking you’ll find everything you need here.

The Souk is essential to me because the guy has Lipton’s Yellow Label tea there, and Yellow Label I do without only with the utmost of reluctance. But not only is the Yellow Label there (most of the time – two Saturdays ago there wasn’t any), it is often tantalizingly unreachable. (Elusively Oriental, you might say.) Once I got there just as the guy was adjusting the movable clock hands on the «I’ll be back» sign, locking the door, and slipping away. More often, when I arrive he’s already gone, and I look wistfully past the clock sign and through the glass door at the shelf across the way, where the Yellow Label sits podgily in its big fat yellow box, maddeningly indifferent to my desiring gaze.
Just occasionally, I get to the Souk and the door is open and there is my Yellow Label there, and it is amazingly gratifying. And I can buy cardamom, too, to go with the tea.