Van Dorn Gourmets

Great prices and amazing selection on spices. Will never buy spices at the grocery store again.

I’ve discovered that Van Dorn Chipotle Blend makes everything delicious.
Leftover chicken? Stir Chipotle Blend into some mayo, toss with a chopped apple and the chicken and it’s chicken salad to rival any at Lemonade.
Mediocre chili? Add C.B. and everyone will rave.
After my discovery I stopped in to buy a bunch to give as Burbank-​centric gifts for family who lives elsewhere. Inexpensive, personal, local and fun.
Oh, and the folks who run the place are really nice.

The best herb and spice store I’ve ever been to. Spice blends, gourmet foods, holiday items, and gift baskets — they carry a little bit of everything! I highly recommend this store for anyone looking for a great gift idea or a special treat for themselves.

VDG’s is probably the cutest little shop in all of Magnolia Park. Brian, the owner has truly outdone himself. The shop is rustic and insanely adorable. If Bear Grylls & Martha Stewart had a Shopchild, this shop would be it.
Just walking into the store and being able to see and smell all of his wonderful creations is so inspiring for any aspiring small business owner. Brian creates and packages all of his spices, seasonings & rubs himself. I’ve only ever seen him working here so he might run the entire place on his own as well.
Unlike the other shops in Magnolia Park, he doesn’t follow you around the store asking you if you need anything every five minutes. He is available when needed but not overbearing, which is a HUGE deal to customers. No one likes being harassed or feeling obligated to buy something. Brian is VERY knowledgeable about his spices and is always happy to answer any questions.
His Santa Maria seasoning is incredible on Tri Tip or when mixed with Lebni or sour cream to create a dip. My boyfriend loves the Key West seasoning on his eggs.
If you are unsure about what to get, just ask Brian! He has most of his creations available to sample.
Parking is available on the street and they is also a few lots around the corner.

My girlfriend and I were dining at Luna Vine Wine bar when we stumbled across this place. I hate to repeat what other Unilocalers say, but it truly is a hidden gem! We both fell in love with their Coconut Almond Butter. I bought a seasoning rub for my boyfriend and we both enjoyed it very much! I can’t wait to try some of their other rubs. My favorite part about stopping in was the olive oil tastings they had out. They were all very delicious! The garlic one was my favorite. A great place to keep in mind when you need a gift.

My favorite place to buy great spices at a really fair price, and I also dig the infused olive oils and spice rubs. A great local find!

I was walking down the street in Burbank and stumbled across this little gem. It is a small store that is hidden in Magnolia Park that has every herb you could possibly need, plus a few you don’t need but will be happy you tried. I bought a spice just to try it out and It was great. Bought the African Bird Pepper which is 150,000 HU. What that means is it is very HOT. I went home and made a dry chicken rub with it and OH BOY! It was hot but had a very nice taste. It had a woodsy flavor and really brought on the rest of the spices I used in the rub.

What a fantastic hidden gem in Burbank! I was lucky enough to stumble upon this adorable little store. But don’t be fooled by the size of it. This place is packed with a wide assortment of exotic spices and handmade mixtures specially created by experienced owner Brian. I tried his espresso spice rub on a porterhouse steak and the results were mouthwatering!
In a car dominated culture as we have an LA, it could be easy to miss this tiny store, so I encourage you to make a point going to visit Van Dorn Gourmets. You will be rewarded with a fantastic sensory experience!
Luciano Palermi

Great spices! Yummy popcorn! Friendly owner! Make sure you check this place out! It really is nice to see a shop like this around! I had a wonderful conversation with the owner and a great time try all the spices! I ended up buying some Mayan chili chocolate popcorn and great rosemary garlic seasoning!

Great little spot with unique seasonings. Bought five seasonings but just the help given to what you want and or cook makes this a good lil spot for great seasonings

This place is great. I feel so fortunate to have found this little gem in my neighborhood. Great selection of spices and accessories. The owner was wonderful and very knowledgeable. My husband and I love to cook so this is the perfect pairing for our culinary needs in regards to spices and seasonings.

I come here for my harder to find spices and then started to come for every spice day to day. We like it and Brian is a very nice man. We discuss cooking and it’s lots of fun.

I LOVE, LOVE these spice blends, seasonings and dip mixes. My favorites are the Seasoned Pepper, Espresso Spice Rub, Dill Dip and Onion Dip. The blends are done well and have very clean, robust flavors. They make anyone feel like a chef.
If you live in the Burbank area, do not walk, RUN to the store and make your next meal fabulous. You are so lucky to have this gem in your neighborhood.
I live in Wisconsin but I can’t live without Brian’s spices :)

I was walking by and I am so glad I came inside to this hidden little gem. They have so many fun spices and of course I had to buy some and now I cant wait to go back and buy more.

They say that girls are made of «Sugar and spice and everything nice». Well, ditch the sugar part because I am much more into the spice. In fact, I revel in my spice cabinet which is filled with endless bottles of both common and exotic spices and herbs. One can imagine my delight when I noticed the new spice store in Burbank, Van Dorn Gourmets.
Van Dorn Gourmets is a family-​owned business which began as an internet venture and now progressed into a brick-​and-​mortar storefront. The shop is teeny-​tiny so don’t expect hours of browsing time or enough room for your kids and mother-​in-​law. Despite the cramped quarters though, the shop makes efficient use of its space and presents its goods in a sort of artsy, hipster-​esque way (meaning, Van Dorn Gourmets would fit into the dynamics of Silver Lake or Los Feliz). In fact, the shop even has a WORKING cash register from the early 1900s! Very cool!
So, what can you find at Van Dorn Gourmets? Packets of spices from paprika to ginger and cumin to rose hips and everything in between. If sodium is more your thing, then you will be well satisfied with the selection of salts such as smoked salt, black truffle salt, white truffle salt, Himalayan salt, etc. Van Dorn is also known for their seasoning blends and rubs such as the killer Espresso Spice Rub (coffee notes which cook off leaving a smoked flavor) and is also the home to some jams and balsamic vinegars. All of these items can be sampled before purchase with a little sprinkle on your hands.
The great thing about Van Dorn Gourmets is the quality. First of all, Brian, the owner truly knows his seasonings and spices and created all the mixtures himself. If you talk to him, he can describe flavors and notes akin to a sommelier with wine. The ratios of the rubs and seasonings are perfect while the quality of the «usual» spices are also tip-​top (I have purchased mustard seed, smoked paprika, black truffle salt, and vanilla beans). By the way, I must note that the black truffle salt is OUT OF THIS WORLD and a MUST for those who love truffles.
The highlight of Van Dorn Gourmets are the prices. Brian is able to cut corners with packaging and cutting out middle men so he can offer goods at lower prices. Mustard seed packets at 99 cents and smoked paprika at 2.70 keep wallets in tact while TWO vanilla beans at $ 5.00 are a steal! One vanilla bean is $ 11 even at Ralph’s!
My only qualm is with Brian’s social skills/​customer service. I’ve been in the shop twice now and was a bit let down with customer service. Don’t misunderstand: Brian is friendly once you begin to talk to him, very knowledgeable, and kind. However, he doesn’t really raise his eyes from his laptop unless you seek him out and never walks around the shop with you. In a small neighborhood store that is about the size of my apartment bedroom; I expect hands-​on service and hard-​core selling tactics. Again, Brian is not a bad guy (maybe shy?) but I just expect a little more than he gave on either of my visits.
Despite my complaint, Van Dorn Gourmets is a cute shop and a solid choice if in the area and seeking great prices on spices or a unique rub/​seasoning. One can’t complain about the quality or the great prices in an artsy environment. Ask Brian to show you the antique cash register!

I am obsessed with this place!!! I can’t even express how amazing not only the spices are but how nice the owners are. I am a person who is AWFUL in the kitchen and now I feel so confident when I have guests over or we’re throwing parties because I just run down to Van Dorn Gourmets and buy the Cajun dip mix, add it to some sour cream and mayo and I get tons of compliments on the dip! It’s sooo good!
Another time I was there, the owner, Brian, gave me this seasoning called Santa Maria, and I am putting it on EVERYTHING! It turns normal things you eat everyday into gourmet foods! I have tried it on popcorn, fettuccine alfredo, and a few other things. I’m always looking for ways to use it.
And the last time I was there I grabbed a bag of Chipotle pepper he recommended to me. I wasn’t sure how to use it, but Brian said to try adding it into the cajun dip which I did and it was amazing! I put it on stuff to give it an extra kick. I even mix it into sour cream for my tacos and taquitos to spice it up.
I’m so excited to go back and find something new to try!

Has fantastic seasoning rubs that make it really easy for a beginner chef like myself to add great flavor to poultry and fish. Just tell Brian what you’re cooking and he’ll lead you towards a great spice rub. Also a huge selection of spice and salts and the prices were very reasonable.

This company is what America is all about, start with a dream/​idea, work hard and never give up. This boutique store, nestled in the upcoming hip/​trendy area of Burbank’s Magnolia Park, is a true gem. Great addition to the area.
The owner creates everything, meticulously, from scratch. I discovered this company through a friend, years ago, when it was only online. I started with a small sampler pack. I quickly became addicted to the seasoning salt.
Top three picks:
Seasoning salt
Espresso rub! (OMG so good)
Southwest rub
Must try… Cajun or Key West blend on shrimp, or corn. Mmmmmmm
Stopped by the store last week. Picked up Brian’s special blend of olive oils. I look forward to topping salmon, chicken and veggies with the different varieties. Next time, I want to try the balsamic vinegar.
Getting to know the owner over the years, I became impressed with his passion for food, cooking and helping others cook. I suck at cooking fancy, elaborate meals. Brian has helped me spice up my boring meals. My husband couldn’t be happier.
I hope one day, this man has his own restaurant.

A tiny storefront owned and operated by the inventor of seasoning blends, spice rubs, dip mixes, … there are little packets of spices for about a dollar and then the larger containers for the fans like steak and chop seasoning, tomato basil, rosemary garlic, southwest, Santa Maria, Key West, crab and shrimp boil, milling spices, rubs for BBQ, and the dips… as well as tea.
Their web site says «Our products also focus toward the health conscious consumer. Some of our herbs are organic, many are salt and/​or sugar free, and none of our blends contain MSG.»
I say Welcome to Burbank and friendly shopping!

If anything it’s really cool place to just check out. The owner Brian works there and was friendly.