I love this place, it is our go-to Indian food place in Albany/our neighborhood! The staff/family that owns the place is so welcoming, they always offer hot chai milk tea, the portions and quality are awesome, the chicken vindaloo, tikka masala, chicken curry, and butter chicken are all very yummy. They always give us free rice pudding, so good! read more

Love this place! Friendly service and great food -- what more could you ask for?!?! My favorite dish is the Bhindi Masala -- fresh and well-prepared, so delish! I appreciate that the okra was fresh instead of frozen (though it may just be because they're in season). I've tried other dishes that are good too, but the bhindi is what I dream about. And perhaps some rose lassi! read more

One if the worst Indian food in Albany, and this is considering most other places around suck too. This takes the cake though, the paneer tikka masala like you have never had before. Powdery and tasteless. The food had two small stones, poor quality ingredients? The kheer was tasteless too. Do not recommend read more

I wanted to like this place so, so badly. They're open later than most restaurants, the parking is extremely easy in the later evening hours, and (important) they serve banana-flavored lassis. They're also extremely friendly and welcoming. They have your standard Indian curries, and they'll let you customize them by spice. However, in all the times I've come here, I've never had a curry that I liked. I'm not new to Indian food, and I've tried a variety from their vegetarian menu, searching for one that was good enough to order a second time. The last curry I ordered, the vegetables korma (I added paneer), was my standard curry wherever I go. When I got it, it was about 95% broccoli. I don't mind broccoli, but this was really excessive. The sauce was OK, not bad and not great. I do like their appetizers and naan, but I also don't like the biriyani (vegetarian) very much. They have a really good pickle to go with everything. I sometimes come here, but I avoid their curries and stick to appetizers (the onion pakoras are really good) and naan, and a lassi. read more

Very patient with us. Heat on so hot, like a sauna in there. Very accommodating with our large group, even kicking other patrons out of their table. Sorry! Chicken tikka masala - very good - tender chicken. Lamb masala was yummy spiciness. Also got the mixed vegetable curry, prawns masala (slightly sweet), and chicken vindaloo - fair, but not really memorable. Need only order 4-5 curries for a party of 6, as the stuff can be heavy. A bit miserly with their slightly overcooked naan. Samosas pleasant - green sauce better than red sauce. Love the rose water lemon drink (nimboo pani)! For the baby in our group, it was like crack. read more

This would be a five star restaurant but the service was so incredibly bad that it can't score above average. They brought someone else's food to our table. They brought the wrong dishes for the wrong people. They never brought my friend his second beer. They screwed up the check. Wow. Looks like their waitstaff chose the wrong week to stop using black tar heroin. They were SO disorganized, it was too frustrating. Though the food was delicious, we won't return. read more

Quiet place with very friendly server. Good place for late night eat... You can hardly find good restaurants open this late. read more

Cafe Raj is so good it makes me angry at other restaurants. Hey, other restaurants (and YES I am looking at you Zephyr Grill and Bar of Livermore and Buca di Crappo): The proper division of thought, time and care = 5% decor and shit, 95% DELICIOUS FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I just thought you might want to know. Everything here is really, really good. If you like Indian desserts, order the kheer, and if you don't, then come to dinner there with me so I can order some "to split" and not feel like such a pig. read more

It was my first time trying out Indian food, and let me tell you this.. it was absolutely delicious! especially the Chicken tikka masala and the garlic naan i tried. such outstanding flavors, great quality food, and good customer service! the wait takes awhile but besides that really love this place abundantly. read more

I love Cafe Raj! The paneer tikka masala (my favorite dish) is delightfully done here. The sauce is smooth and always has the right amount of heat. The paneer itself is never skimped on, and is yummy. Plus even the to-go orders have the toppings of slivered almonds and golden raisins! It is so good and quite flavorful. The pakoras have always been fried hard and were accompanied by yummy sauces. The chutneys are smooth versus chunky, the mint sauce is quite good but could be a bit brighter, and the raita is always fresh. I love the naans, especially the garlic naan which is SUPER soft. They are worth the value, you get quite a big piece for a great price! The rice is never over/under cooked, and you get a fair amount for your meal. I have not personally tried the meat dishes but my babe says they are delicious! The usually gets chicken tikka but occasionally orders lamb dishes and I have never heard anything other than good reviews. He raves about the keema naan which has ground meat inside! Mango lassi's are refreshingly good and they are always fresh and never too sweet, perfect! The owner is so nice and has even offered/given me kheer to take home, Let me tell you, the kheer is so good! The pops of green cardamom seeds are just so bright and bring a great element. Plus they are open on the later end (closes at 11:00pm) which works well for me. After learning how to make some of my favorite Indian dishes, I truly do respect how much work and effort go into making them. The use of spices and labor of making your own paneer and layering flavors. Cafe Raj hits the note for me every-time. Definitely utilizing each flavor! If you are in the area stop by and order anything, they will take care of you. They always take care of me. Side Notes: - Parking has never been an issue, plenty of open spaces along Solano. - Ordering has always been easy and they are on time with wait times. - The staff are always warm and welcoming, I never leave without a warm to go chai read more

Cafe Raj - Paneer Tikka Masala - so delicious and flavorful! I love how they top it with golden raisins and slivered almonds. - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

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By far my favorite place for Indian food. I loved it the first time, and it has not ceased to be delicious. The service is wonderful- mom and pop style, very attentive, and very pleasant. Tonight I went their in a group of 11, and they were quick at getting our orders & food out. all the food was hot and tasty. Maybe next time, just a little spicier :). read more

I have mixed feelings about Cafe Raj since my last visit and I found a STRAND OF HAIR in my naan. :( Had it not been for this experience, I would have no problems giving this place 5 stars -- the food is always great, service is friendly, portions are good, and pricing is very affordable. I also like that they know how to kick up the heat when you ask for it. But alas, finding a hair in your food is traumatizing and unforgivable. Sadly, I don't think I'll ever come here again. read more

Yelp reviews seemed to like Cafe Raj and non-Yelpers have recommended it to me but I just wasn't impressed. I wondered whether it was because I requested the butter chicken to be mild. Though the chicken was tender, there was just no flavor. For appetizers, we ordered the vegetable samosa. No complaints there. Husband ordered chicken tikka which i tasted. He liked it. I thought it was ok. Service and prices were fine. Overall, I just wasn't impressed with the food. It's a 50/50 chance that I'll return. read more

I threw up all night - was the rice bad? I'm very familiar with vegan and spice - something wasn't right with that order

Update 01/07/08: The service sucked. We walked in to a full restaurant. That's fine, it's prime time, we can wait. But no one even acknowledged our presence. When two tables were emptied, they STILL waited before I finally asked if we could sit down. (By now there was another party waiting behind us which is almost impossible since it's so tiny and cramped.) The food was ok. Nothing to rave about. Even though it's not traditional, I like that the chicken is white breast meat. It might contribute to the mild lack of flavor/kick that's typical of good Indian food. However, just because it's breast meat doesn't mean it can't be cut into reasonable bite-size pieces. Especially since Indians eat with their hand. C'mon now. Our service was pretty lame. I can't even count how many times they came to the table to ask if we were finished. It wasn't even that late, there were plenty of other people eating, and they were trying to rush us out. What gives? No water refills. I'm really liking this place less and less. --- 3 star original review: Cafe Raj is okay. The lamb rogan josh and butter chicken were tasty. Samosas and mango lassi were good as well. Nothing horrible to say, really, except sometimes the service could be better. Oh, and be forewarned: Do NOT (I repeat, DO NOT) have the kheer--worst I've ever had. It's ice cold and gross. Where are the raisins? There are raisins everywhere except where they're supposed to be. BOOOOO! read more

Oh wow. I was totally impressed with the food here! We walked up and down Solano feeling out different Indian places. This is the only one my belly said yes to. It's cute that a bunch of women run the show here. I asked if they are relatives and found out they're friends. I want to work here too. ;) So, I had chicken vindaloo and it came with big chunks of chicken, a good amount of potatoes and yummy sauce. The nan tastes homemade and was great too! The meal wasn't over the top expensive like some of the other Indian restaurants in Solano. The chicken was around $8.50. And, the chai is free. I now know why they are busy all the time. read more

Yum! Expensive but the food is delicious. None of that vegetarian garbage, these Indian folks serve meat. Lamb, chicken, beef. Not sure about the beef. If you order spicy, it's really spicy. Like "you'll pay" spicy. Be a man. Try the spicy. We order the Chai Tea. It's a rip off but we still love it. My favorite dish is butter Chicken. Doesn't taste like just butter & chicken. They put almonds and ... I think masala sauce all over the thing - great. I would eat here more often if I made more than minimum wage. Actually, no I wouldn't, it's a pain in the ass finding parking around this area. Anyway it's great. If you're not satisfied afterwards you can visit the tennis store across the street. P.S. This place has THE CLEANEST bathroom I've ever found in an Indian restaurant. I would not mind using the bathroom here if I was a girl. The toilet seat cover doesn't stay up when you pick it up (for guys) so watch out. I guess girls should watch out too because guys might accidentally pee on the toilet seat cover when it falls down. I'm SERIOUS!!!! read more

As far as I am concerned, this is the best Indian restaurant in the Bay Area. The entire dining experience is pleasurable and sensual- their lassis possess that rare holy trinity of sweet, sour and salt simultaneously and with balance. I once ordered out here and was allowed to stand in the kitchen. I watched the chef work effortlessly with dozens of silver bowls filled with multi-colored spices. It looked like he was painting. I order their vegetarian entrees. They are all very good- even the simpler dishes like daal are elevated above the simple tomato puree and cooked lentils treatment they receive at lesser restaurants. One of the best overall dining experiences available in the East Bay. read more

It was time for lunch, so i thought I would try this place out, Indian food YUM! I was greeted by a very friendly waitress, she recommended the lunch special. Chicken curry with potatoes. You have the choice between white or brown rice. I went with the brown rice. I thought the chicken was a little bit dry and the sauce was a bit bland. Brown rice, well its brown rice. I wasn't overly impressed with the dish. However I would try it at least once again, because the price was right $5 95 lunch special. The place is clean and neat the restrooms were in great shape. read more

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The service was amazing, the food was so fresh! I am very picky and have to put this as my FAVORITE Indian spot in all of the West Coast. The Dal was beautiful. The menu was full of vegan and veggie options. The rose lassi was a delight. read more

Cafe Raj is the healthiest Indian food I have ever eaten. The oil factor is low and the flavor factor is high. Well actually, the flavor factor could be a little higher, but it is totally tasty for such health conscious fare. The Vegetable Korma was chock-full of chunky veggies (broccoli, carrots and peas) but lacked a spiciness that I expect from Indian and Pakistani cuisine. And while the korma sauce was delightfully creamy, it was just a little too bland for my taste buds. The chicken tikka was generous in portion but was a tad on the dry side; nothing a little raita, which was thicker and creamer than most raitas, wasn't able to fix. Dishes come with your choice of rice, naan or chapatti, and the prices are not inflated to account for this generosity. The chapatti was seriously yummy and moist. And as far as the specialty bread from the back of the menu are concerned, the garlic naan packs a deliciously potent punch. But the veggie pakoras won my heart. They were not the least bit oily, you could taste the vegetables with clarity, the accompanying cilantro mint chutney took the flavor dimension to another level and it was only $2.50 for six huge pakora. This place is seriously reasonable. Plus, you can enjoy post-meal drinks at The Ivy Room (one block away), The Mallard (two blocks away) or The Hotsy Totsy (four blocks away) to round out an afternoon or evening of fun. read more

This is how dumb I can sometimes be: I ordered my food "spicy plus plus" thinking it was the middle option on a three-plus spiciness scale. In reality it's closer to a nine out of a possible ten. This is how dumb my friend can sometimes be: he ordered his meal spicy plus plus because he didn't want to be showed up. In between the resultant fits of internal bleeding and my face catching fire, we enjoyed a great Indian meal. I hear from Indian friends that the average Indian dish around here is too oily, but Raj takes pains (and says so on their menu) to limit the oil and ghee they put into their meals. Dishes are supposedly made to order, and some healthier options are available, like basmati rice. The samosas may have been a little dry, and my friend gave the spinach and lentil soup a subpar reception, but the saag and vindaloo were excellent. Great lassi too. Not much ambience in here -- no real separation between kitchen and dining area -- but the waitstaff were very friendly and the food came quickly. read more

Been many times and have never been disappointed. One time I ordered really spicy hot and it was too much. They take spicy hot very seriously. The only thing I don't like, are the lines for a table in the evening. read more

I love this place. I order take-out so often that all I have to do is say my name and they know my "usual" order. They are always friendly, welcoming and genuine. What I like best about Cafe Raj is the consistency. Every time I order from here, the food is delicious and exactly how I order it. We regularly get Chicken Tika Masala, Butter Chicken, both varieties of Daal, Chicken Vindaloo, Lamb Masala, plain naan, garlic naan & cheese naan. They are all delicious and I'd recommend them to anyone. We like ours on the spicy side, so we ask for Medium Plus and it's just right. read more

Came here last night for dinner with a friend. It wasn't our first choice, but it opened earlier than the one we had planned on meeting at. Here is the breakdown: 4 Stars - their hours. For those of us who like to dine a little earlier, it opens at 5:00 p.m. rather than some others that open at 5:30 p.m. for dinner. 3 Stars - food was okay. We ordered the Lamb Vindaloo and Aloo Gobi with naan and shared both dishes. I thought there was too much sauce and although we asked for it medium spicy, I didn't think it was spicy enough. 2 Stars - the gnats. Ick...flying around our food. Fortunately my friend had good reflexes and caught some...and he was ever the gentleman to suggest that I not continue eating when one landed in my food :-p There are a lot of Indian/Pakastani restaurants in the Albany/Berkeley area. We intend to try some others as this area is ideal for us to meet mid-week since my friend lives in the City and I live in the East Bay. read more

Incredible service, phenomenal food, felt like we were a part of the family. Samosas were crispy, everything was warm, would certainly be back! read more

Just ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan The Chicken Tikka Masala was very bland and had no flavor. The naan also didn't have much flavor. read more

With so many Indian restaurants in the area, I made a mistake. My friend Charlie and I ordered the Chicken Masala and my favorite Saag Paneer. Both were just okay. The texture of both dishes were good, but the flavors were just okay. Service was quick and efficient, but lacked warmth. Perhaps it was the night, but I don't think so. read more

I have to admit, we were hesitant coming in here - never having tried an Indian restaurant in the area and never having heard about this before - to top it, we were crazy hungry! In short - this was everything we had hoped for and a lot more. Between me, my wife and our little one, we ordered Chicken Vindaloo, Chhole masala and an extra bread and we could not finish any of it!! That's how much the quantity was!! Everything was perfectly flavored (although the Chicken Vindaloo oddly had potatoes) Service top notch - entire staff is friendly and warm - and the open kitchen appeared clean too. Free samosa at the start and kheer on the house at the end were perfect icing on the cake. We will definitely return to this place that has already become our favorite Indian restaurant for North Indian food in the Bay Area (caveat here is that we have only tried about 20 so far in our 6 months in the Bay Area) and the 25$ for the 3 of us with a lot -to go' isn't a bad deal either. I highly recommend it. read more

It isn't the WORST I've had... but it isn't the best either. The curry was bland and the naan was meh. I wouldn't have gone here otherwise if it hadn't have been for my friend who dragged me here. read more

This is the best Indian/Pakistani restaurant in the East Bay in my opinion. The environment is beautifully decorated and everything is extremely clean. Their silverware always looks brand new, with no dishwasher streaks or residues. The bathroom is very pristine, which is rare for all the Indian restaurants I've been to. They also play well-made instrumental ethnic Indian music instead of that poppy, sitar-techno garbage that so many other restaurants drum down your ears with. The all-female wait staff is very nice and attentive. Personally, when I find a dish I enjoy, I'm hesitant to try anything else. My dish of choice is almost always their Chicken Vindaloo. They always ask how spicy you'd like it, which is very good for us who haven't obliterated our taste buds with Indian spices yet. They actually have great coffee as well! What would make this place absolutely perfect would be if they made naan like Chaat Cafe in Berkeley (best naans ever!). read more

This is the closest restaurant to the new place I am living...a mere half block, and I have come to love it as much as everyone else. I usually find that different restaurants of the same genre will make one or two particular dishes better than the other restaurants making the same thing. For me, the non-veg mushroom curry (with chicken) is what stands out to me at Cafe Raj. Large chunks of chicken, a very savory sauce with deep flavors, and loaded with mushrooms that soak up the wonderful spices...WOW! Staff is great, and there's always an attractive young female handling the money...go girl! I would give it 5 stars if only the dining room was a bit more versatile, and felt less like a .... Cafe! read more

Overall the food was good. The only thing is that the tandoori was over cooked. And they did not give me any of the naan I ordered.

Where was I yesterday? Did I eat Indian food? Did the dishes taste like anything? Was the server nice? Did I get free chai, or did I have to pay $2.50 for it? The most memorable thing about my dinner at Cafe Raj was the soap in the bathroom, which made my hands smell like lye for hours. And I rinsed well. But other than that, the experience was very forgettable. The food was bland, averagely priced. The service, though prompt, was bare minimum. The chai was NOT free. Mehhhhhh read more

AAAH! so good. can't get away from it. the rose lassi was really good, and i don't think it was bland at all. the spinach cheese stuff is good, along with their tandoori. service is ok, sometimes it takes a while for the food to get to your table, but that's a good thing because it means that they aren't reheating frozen foods and that they are making it fresh!!!! Very nice family resturant. read more

Great food. Reasonable prices. They give freebies which mean a lot. Excellent service. Humble crowd. I always feel good when I go there. I love the cheese stuffed naan bread. It's super delicious. read more

The food here is great and the pricing moderate. The curry dishes are delicious and if you ask for extra spicy - they deliver. Everything was fresh and tasty. The staff are friendly and the vibe is pretty chill. It is a good sign when you have to wait a few minutes to be seated on a Tuesday night. Highly recommended. read more

Our order consisted of: veggie samosas house salad saag paneer veggie curry garlic naan with brown rice, a snapple and rose lassi. The salad was the only thing worth trying again. Seriously? Not coming back! read more

I've eaten at Cafe Raj a couple of times and have slowly realized something: the food simply isn't as great as I thought it was. Let me start of by saying that my usual choice for Indian food during my years at Cal is House of Curries because it's open late, has free chai and is a good sit down place to hang out and eat. So I was accustomed to the buttery oily curry served there. The first time I ate at Cafe Raj I was surprised because the curry wasn't oily at all. Rather it was nice and filling and had a good, thick consistency. They topped off the dishes with sliced almonds and some raisins which were a nice touch. I think it was this initial surprise that caused me to overlook one thing about the food: that it was kinda bland. I crave Indian food for the tons of spices that are used in the cuisine. But when I eat at Cafe Raj, the curry mostly tastes like tomatoes, cream and sugar. Even ordering the food spicier didn't do much for the flavor. I've ordered the Kofta Mahlai, Chicken Shai Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Vindaloo and they all seem to fall victim to this blandness. On a good note, the Naan is generously large and has a nice fluffy texture and the pakora is light and crunchy. I've enjoyed eating at Cafe Raj but it just doesn't satisfy my craving for Indian food anymore. read more

Place was on point af !! Definitely haven't been to all the spots around but was definitely impressed by the flavors and quality of the food. Simple place with good service. read more