Cook Books

There are too many bookstores in the area. I went in to browse for a book and maybe support a small neighborhood business and the old lady in there I’m assuming was the owner was a bit weird and standoffish. Not really being helpful or engaging me in conversation I felt a bit uncomfortable so I just gave a smile and said thanks and left.
Probably won’t go back.

I knew that this place existed by word of mouth but never had an opportunity to go looking for this place. Decades we have scrounged through used bookstores looking for pearls. So many of these shops have gone away because of ebooks and Amazon so finding any used book store feels like we have won a minor lottery.
To be a foodie with my own bookcase full of just cookbooks this was obviously going to be a WIN. This is a quintessential used book store experience w a plus in that the owner knows in a zen master fashion just what inventory she has on hand. I’ve been making fresh milk cheeses for over 5 years and I was able to find a treasure of a technical book from the 1920’s.
The owner is very helpful but non intrusive hanging back to allow the shoppers the time with the books. She had her little dog in the shop who came by for a friendly sniff and then returned to his blanket nest.
Please visit this shop and become a patron as this place is a treasure!

This is my first ever Unilocal review, and I, too, would give the shop zero stars if I could. My husband, 13-​month-​old daughter and dog were out for a walk, and I decided to pop in to buy a book I’d seen in the window a couple of days earlier. As I was walking toward the back of the store to talk to the owner, she and another lady rushed passed me. «I think someone just came in,» said one woman. Yes, that would be me, although neither of them acknowledged my presence. «No, it’s that stupid dog outside,» the owner hissed. «Oh, that’s my dog,» I said. No response. She marched outside and told my husband to leave. Told him to leave. Wow. Apparently she was upset because my dog put his feet on the windowsill when her cat wandered up onto the window seat to investigate him through the glass. By the time she walked outside and told my husband to leave, my dog had four feet on the sidewalk, was calm and had redirected his attention elsewhere. I watched from just inside the door, a bit confused. When she walked back in, I very politely asked her about the book. She just glared at me and told me it had been sold. It was very clear that I was not welcome. Had I known she just been so horribly rude to my family, I would’ve walked out without a word. This was my first and last visit to this store.

Amazing collection of used, rare, vintage first edition cookbooks. Can spend all day here!

We’ve been collecting cookbooks for over 54 years and have been doing business with Janet for over 30 years now. She is definitely the one to go to for anything epicurean… she knows the chefs, authors, establishments and who’s who in the cooking world and Hollywood in addition to being honest. She has a clean and delightfully organized store to shop in… although you will be blown away by the inventory she carries the first time you enter the store… she’s got it all.

Been all over town looking for a GREEK cookbook as a last minute gift. Much more difficult than I originally expected. Then BAM… I remembered driving by this place in the past. They have a whole section of solely greek cookbooks! Not only that — they only sell cookbooks! Can’t wait to come back when I can spend more time in the store. Just at a glance I saw a bunch of recently published books I want to pick up.

I had heard Janet ran this cookbook store, so when my brother expressed interest in getting a tollhouse cookie recipe, I asked Janet to find a cookbook that had one. She found a terrific original recipe, and sent the book to my brother in Texas. She also recommended a good low-​calorie cookbook for my daughter. With the demise of local bookstores on the rise, I recommend Janet’s store as a nice local Pasadena spot.

The selection is amazing, categories are very helpful. I could spend hours in there… except that it smells bad… I love animals and do not have allergies, but it was not enjoyable to be in there.

If I could give this no stars I would. I have been waiting for weeks and the book I ordered has not arrived. I have called numerous times and emailed. Janet has gotten back to me once and said the book was going in the mail at express shipping. Still no bool. Called and called and emailed again no answer. Not a very good business in my opinion. She could at least get back to me and let me know what is going on with this order. She also took my credit card number again when I called. I put it in online and then also gave it to her on the phone.
I am very upset at this point. I just want the damn book already or just give me the courtesy of letting me know why it is not being shipped out.

I collect cook books, so I visited Janet’s even when she was in Burbank.
I appreciated lauren k.‘s suggestion to visit the website:
it’s a fantastic website, very searchable and gives you an idea of what’s in stock.
David K. does have a good comment about the animals in the store, if you have allergies be aware. to me, cats and books seem to go together. Not so sure about the litter boxes.
Janet knows her stock. If you are looking for a particular book, she can tell you immediately if she has it. The store itself is fairly well set up, so it is condusive to browsing. I think Janet’s prices are reasonable compared to what I have paid elsewhere for used books.
If you’ve lost a favorite cookbook, or you’re looking for a recipe you thought you had, but can’t find, this is the place to go. There are places to sit and thumb through the books to your heart’s content. You can’t do that on

There is parking to the West of the store and on the street.

Small Bookstore specializing in cook books next to Archives Bookshop (The same building) on the south side of Washington Blvd in a building on the south west corner with Hill Ave.
Quite a large number of cook books here, most of which seem to be out of print or at the very least old, they are all over the store everywhere, but they are organized fairly well into the different easy to understand categories. I think I heard there are over 30,000 books in the store, and with the shear volume of stuff in there I believe it. The prices seem reasonable for what you can get. Also I was greeted by a very tiny Chihuahua dog that came up and sniffed me, and there was a cat sleeping near the door under a table as I left, I think the cat is bigger then the dog. I figured there must have been a cat there too cause there is bags of cat litter in there and it turned out there was, I bring this up in case anyone has allergies.
Over all its a very interesting yet specialized book shop, probably totally worth checking out if you like to cook, are a foodie, enjoy cook books, or are in or learning to be in the culinary arts.
Parking is located in a lot to the west of the building.

This store sells only cookbooks and some food fiction (MFK Fisher, etc.) It specializes in rare and out of print cook books, so it’s a little expensive. What is has is AMAZING! Its huge and well organized. you can get a good idea on the website, but seeing it all in one place is pretty cool. the staff is also super nice.
great for browsing, great for buying. if you like cook books, and hey, who doesn’t, run on over.