If you are looking for a great out If the box meal then Jambi cafe is for you! The menu is really vast with a lot if options. The flavors are unique and cooked perfectly the way we asked. My kids were a little hesitant to have pomegranate chicken but they devoured it! Even the French fries were amazing, they have options to make them unique. We will definitely be returning read more

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There are so many southwestern Mexican restaurants that we decided to try this African/Caribbean food. We tried one night to make reservations, but they were all booked up, so we made it for the next evening. We were not disappointed. The ambiance was very comfortable with soft music and the overhead fluorescent lights were covered with colorful material which gave it a soft glow. My wife had the All Natural Jerk Chicken. The rice was a little spicy for me but my wife loved it. Chicken was fresh and cooked just right. I had the Kenyan Style Beef Kebab, medium rare. It came out perfectly cooked on a bed of their sautéed haricot verts and herb saffron potatoes. The sauce balanced the dish perfectly. When we come back to Santa Fe, it will definitely be a place to dine at again. read more

Jambo Cafe - Kenyan Style Beef Kabobs - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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The food was so BOMB. chicken curry: Bomb. Jerk Chicken wings: Bomb Oxtail: Bomb Pili Pili Shrimp: Bomb but it was only 6 pieces of shrimp Lamb: I liked it but my friends didn't. It had a medicinal/herb taste Peanut chicken: both me and my friends thought it was ok. Roti: we think it was better than pita bread. Although pita bread wasn't bad either Pineapple sauce; BOMB. it was my first time having this sauce and it was so good I asked for extra ones to add to my lamb. overall everything was really good. Service was perfect. Would definitely come here again if I ever visit Santa Fe again. read more

Jambo Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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I was in town from Portsmouth NH and my coworkers recommended Jambi cafe. So glad they did I got the savers stuffed phyllo and the curry encrusted pistachio goat cheese salad. I will be back tomorrow night to try the curry. Best dinner I. Over a year. read more

If I could give this place more than five stars I would. First, it is so well decorated. Every detail was thought of from the floor to the ceiling. They completely transformed the space, placing red fabric over the ceiling rod lighting to create a dimmed effect and hanging intricate lamps over the tables. The bathrooms were immaculate, super clean and stocked and decorated with real furniture and wall murals. I was thoroughly impressed. Our server, Kyle was AMAZING! I absolutely cannot rave about him enough. He was so friendly and welcoming, and he presented himself so well. He was clean and put together, had an awesome energy, and took great care of us. Every time he came to the table he made us smile. Excellent service!!! Seriously, whatever he's being paid should be doubled. Thank you Kyle!! And to top it all off the food was incredible. They had so many vegan options, and we tried almost all of them. Every single thing I tried i literally said out loud, "this is the best thing I've ever eaten." The jerk tofu sandwich was so good I almost started crying. Jambo Cafe is definitely going on our list of must-have restaurants every time we visit New Mexico from now on. WOW! read more

Jambo Cafe - Soup Of The Day Coconut Organic Tofu Curry Ethiopian Chickpea Berbere Stew East African Coconut Lentil Stew Jerk Organic Tofu Sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

For a cool autumn evening in Santa Fe, this is the place to eat cozy food. Fried plantains, crab cakes, mild lentil stew, and lamb stew filled the tummy and stuck to the ribs. If you can't abide a table full of brown food, be sure to order a salad. Courteous and efficient service. As a committed foodie, I give this a very solid 4 stars. read more

Jambo Cafe - Fried Plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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I honestly can't explain what a perfect experience this place it. I flew in from Denver the person to my left and to me right said JAMBO. After landing I realized I had no charger.. the staff (Sherniqua ) gave me her charger while I ate one of the top 5 meals in my life read more

WOW WOW WOW!!! Me: Caribbean Spiced Slow Cooked Ox Tail w Mafongo and Collard Greens - Perfectly tender tail, al dente collard greens, mafongo to die for, and all w pleasant jerk bite to it. #1 She: Lamu Coconut Pili Pili Shrimp in an E African tomato hot spice sauce w rice and slight jerk bite. #2 Young gentleman waiter, Kyle, was on point w recommendations and also Check out the Bazaar for unique African keepsakes and gifts. read more

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Great food, wonderful ambience, fantastic service and reasonable prices. A very diverse menu as well.

The food was AMAZING!!! It is a must when in Santa Fe.... Very busy so be prepared. Cute and simple dining area. read more

Jambo Cafe - Caribbean Goat Stew - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Quick Summary 5 stars all around. Fantastic food and service. A must-try Food- 5 stars jerk chicken wings- the wings were good but the entrees are at a whole new level. I would recommend trying the drinks as it really did a great job of washing down the heavy and flavorful food throughout the meal lamu coconut pili pili shrimp- the sauce is the main seller here. shrimp was cooked perfectly and the sauce was so so good with all the carbs around it. Caribbean spiced slow cooked ox tail- similar to the shrimp, the sauce was so good on this dish. The ox tail was so tender and fell off the bone, as expected for slow cooked dishes. You will not go wrong ordering the shrimp or ox-tail Service- 5 stars Our server was phenomenal. Really helpful with food recommendations and very attentive. Even got a visit from the owner, who was helping as a server. Very friendly and awesome staff Value- 5 stars Large portions, fantastic food, at a decent price. I would eat here at least once a week if I lived in Santa Fe Bottom Line A definite must-try if you're visiting Santa Fe. Just try to avoid peak hours as there was a long line when we were done with our lunch read more

The food and service was fantastic. When we first walked in it smelled so good and the wait was short.

Dined here while visiting Santa Fe and was very satisfied. First off, when it's a Monday and the place is packed and there's a line, you know you found something promising. They have four seats at the bar so my group opted to sit there instead of waiting. "The bar" wasn't really what I expected, it was just a counter that surrounded where their drink dispensers and register are located. It wasn't a big deal but just wasn't very interesting to look at during the meal. Our server recommended either the jerk wings or the combo plate that comes with a little bit of everything. I opted for just the goat stew since I wasn't feeling chicken curry. The others got either the combo plate or jerk chicken. The food was pretty delicious overall I gotta say. Probably different from the usual food offerings where you're from, and that's a good thing. If you're really sensitive to spice then be aware and ask, but it's not overly spicy in my opinion. I'm glad we ate here and would definitely come back if I'm ever visiting Santa Fe again. read more

Jambo Cafe - Goat stew - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Delicious food and excellent service! The atmosphere is totally unexpected from the outside. Elegant and welcoming. Enjoyed the Ethiopian stew and the cinnamon plantains. read more

Cleanliness is not their strong suit. Food is good, but I was informed by someone that actually was in the kitchen that it was not up to their standards. And if it's not up to there standards than it's definitely not up to mine. read more

Love this place! Would definitely visit again if we are in the area! I might have tasted combination plate somewhere else or something similar but the jerk chicken is so special! Chicken thigh was tender and flavorful. Rice was blended with red beans and it's so deliciously flavored (perhaps by chicken oil while it cooked?) it's also so soft that it melts on your tongue. Banana was sweet and sour and also cooked to its perfection. A great distraction when you want to take a break from the dominant flavor. I miss it already as I type it out! read more

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Everything was amazing but I will be dreaming about the cinnamon dusted plantains for years. They were perfectly soft but thin and crispy on the edges. The curry dipping sauce was perfect. The chicken curry was superb. We got it to go and I was kind of worried because it looked like a small container at first but it was jam packed with chicken. If you're in a hotel like we are, it was kind of hard because the rice and curry came in two different soup like containers. It was nice that they have kid options so we didn't have to go two different places because of a non-adventurous kid. We were told 30 minutes and it took about 45 but the chef brought the food out himself. That was nice. read more

Okay... do NOT sleep on this place if you are in Santa Fe! I wasn't sure if I would make it here since I was staying in the center of the city with no car but am so glad I had the opportunity to catch a ride out to Jambo Cafe to grab some lunch. My colleagues and I arrived to the restaurant around 11:10am which was early for lunch, but I am so glad we did because by 11:45am, the place was FULL! And this is a big restaurant. And it was a Thursday afternoon. That just goes to show what amazing food they have. Definitely not just a tourist place. I started with the drink that was recommended by the server. I think it was a mango/ginger drink?! It was amazing! It was the right combination of sweet and bitter. I could have had like 3 of them but that would be excessive... As a warning, the menu is quite extensive with lots of delicious looking options. For my lunch I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich with the harissa fries. The jerk chicken was delicious (and had a bit of a kick!) as were the fries. The meal was $13. I would 100% order what I had again. It was that good. read more

Wow, what an incredible experience at Jambo Cafe! We called ahead of time because we heard the place had just reopened for dine-in service and that it was always pretty busy, but after a short wait at the restaurant we were seated by the very friendly hostess. Now, onto the food. To start we ordered the plantains with a pineapple curry dipping sauce, and they were supremely savory and perfectly cooked! There was even a stray fry on the bottom of the stack of plantains which was a nice surprise! Next, the main course: a combo plate with the three vegetarian entrees on the menu, all in one convenient and delicious package! The tofu curry was creamy and well seasoned and the East African lentil stew was just as good, but the standout dish for me was the Ethiopian Chickpea Berbere stew. This was one of the most flavorful dishes I have ever eaten; slightly spicy, very rich and full of hearty ingredients. For dessert, the mango cobbler with ice cream was a delicious way to finish the meal, and I left the restaurant bursting at the seams! Another quick positive: the chef, even though the restaurant was packed on a Saturday night, would occasionally leave the kitchen and chat it up with guests at tables throughout the restaurant as well, which shows his care and attention to customer service. They also have a small shop inside the restaurant where you can purchase spices and even the chef's cookbook if you're so inclined. Bottom Line: this place is absolutely worth the wait, the drive, whatever. Do yourself a favor and try this incredible food, you won't regret it! read more

Jambo Cafe - Combination Plate (Coconut Organic Tofu Curry, Ethiopian Chickpea Berbere Stew, and East African Coconut Lentil Stew) - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Interesting unique tasty food. A little spicy for some friends I've brought there. Sometimes too busy for good service.

The food was delicious and service was wonderful! The staff was very kind and gave me great recommendations. I had the combination plate with tamarind juice to drink. For dessert I had the coconut cardamom flan. I highly recommend this place if you're in town read more

Jambo Cafe - Coconut Cardamom Flan - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Unreal delicious food and the flavors were near or closely matched as if we were traveling through Africa again. The only downfall would be the odd decor considering that they have a fabulous bazaar of beautiful decor items adjacent to the restaurant. Odd disconnection because this restaurant could be a beautiful atmosphere with award-winning food. What a knockout combo that would be!! read more

Jambo Cafe - Moroccan Spiced Marinated Chicken Kabobs... - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

The price for my carry out dinner was a good bit higher than what's on Yelp ($19+ vs. $13+), but I had a super yummy vegan chickpea stew with rôti. I'll be back! read more

A delicious spot with a fun and comfortable design. Our waitress was very helpful and knowledge about the food. I can't wait to go again!

The food at Jambo is consistently delicious and imaginative. It is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Fe.

I first went to Jambo Cafe while passing through Santa Fe many years ago. I was immediately blown away by the food. I've been back many times and it never disappoints. I am a big fan of the stews, especially the goat stew! This time I tried the peanut chicken stew and the chickpea stew. They were all amazing! The flatbread can be addicting. We had some tropical iced tea that was delicious unsweetened. We also had the hummus plate as a starter and it was so good! Maybe the best hummus ever. The stews, the sauces, the kebabs, everything is so rich in flavor! It's truly good medicine for the body. read more

Jambo Cafe - Combination plate - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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I looooved this place! There was no wait on a Friday evening, but it was still busy. Both my pal and I got combination plates to try different things. I loved all the different flavors! The lamb stew, peanut chicken stew, and the chickpea berbere stew were my favorites. The chicken curry was also reaaly, really good. The food was served with roti which I also enjoyed. I'd definitely come back to try more. I wish a place like this existed where I live! I guess it just gives me another reason to come back to Santa Fe! read more

Authentic African cuisine - fabulous meal. Unassuming location. Neat little shop of African housewares, clothing, and decorations.

Wow! What a place. Found this on Yelp while on a trip. Needed some comforting filling food after a long day of driving and this was just that. Ordered the Hummus plate, Moroccon spiced chicken kebabs, Caribbean goat stew, coconut tofu curry and the coconut cardamom flan. Everything was so well seasoned and well made. The goat was cooked perfectly and fell off the bone. Will drive 9 hours from Dallas just to eat here! read more

Jambo Cafe - Moroccan Spiced Marinated Chicken Kabobs - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Had the most amazing meal at Jambo - the food was truly fabulous and the staff were warm and welcoming. We knew we were in for a treat when we walked in on a Wednesday evening and saw most tables full with clearly happy customers, and soon we became one of them. Highly recommend!!! read more

Consistent, terrific food! Weather eating in or taking out, always a delicious meal. Great, Friendly service. The cumin / mixed fries are a delightful treat with the dipping sauces. Miss the Veggie Sandwich , but love the Jerk Tofu, and as a Vegan, wish there were even more options available with tofu. I'd be here more often!! read more

Delicious. Haven't had a bad meal in Santa Fe. Ordered the three item combo with the coconut chicken, chickpea berre and goat stew. Goat stew was big chunks of meat and vegetables. A friend ordered the oxtail and that also look like a savory delicious plate. read more

Always a great meal here. I love the combination plate where you get to pick and choose what you'd like. Everything is always so delicious. I really enjoy the chicken curry. I love goats stew and find it to be the best in town. It can't be a little noisy at times. But you still gonna have a conversation with your company. read more

This literally happened just now. We walk in for a table of 6 and was told wait is 30min. We come back to the restaurant after 30 min, and was told will need to wait for a bit longer. We asked the front desk at about 6:45, was told we are very close. Wait till 7 told we were next. Another 15 min past still no table. We end up walk out at 7:15. So this review is not about the food or the service. It is about the lies they told customer and wasting peoplea time. If we were told it's going to be 1hr wait then it would be a easy decision to start look for next place. If there were something change during the waiting process it would be reasonable to tell people that you will need to wait longer instead of keep telling people you are really close, you are next. All the whole we still see 3 to 4 smaller group gets seated during the wait. I don't know how good your food is, I am not demanding not having to wait. But at least don't lie to your customer about wait time, and waste everyone's time and evening please? read more

Following the reviews from Yelpers about the Island Spiced Coconut Chicken Stew ($13.95), I picked this for lunch today. Man, this is a hearty, tasty lunch dish! There is nearly three cups of tender chicken-rich stew, accompanied with flavorful basmati rice. Really a treat! The restaurant is very relaxed and casual and is relatively quiet, even in spite of the bustling dining room. Although this restaurant is in a strip shopping center (next to Office Depot) the decor and vibe makes you feel like you are thousands of miles away. read more

Jambo Cafe - Pepper sauces at each table - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Man, the lamb and chickpea stew. Worth a trip. So lovely. If you are within several hundred miles, the stew is worth the drive. The jerk chicken wings, also yummy. read more

One of the best in Santa Fe. Very possibly my favorite restaurant in this city. Killer, amazing food. Probably not the first good choice you'd think of if you visit here, but it definitely should be. Absolutely worth going out of your way to eat here. Great imported art from Africa and the Caribbean (some for sale in their import store next door, along with spices). Nice place to hang out. Always have had friendly staff and good service, too. read more

Passing through Santa Fe, on our way home to Phoenix from a 13-day road trip, always looking for something local and delicious, we stubbled upon the Jambo Cafe. So glad that we did! The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was impeccable. We first noticed the aroma from the kitchen as we were promptly greeted and show to our table. The menu is full of delicious choices and frankly, you can't go wrong with any of them. We enjoyed three full courses of some cuisine prepared with love. I purchased the cookbook written by Owner-Chef Ahmed Obo and while checking out, he noticed my excitement and gladly dedicated my copy with a heart-felt message! Such a great experience. read more

The food is amazing. And the service is top notch. Everyone was so friendly and it smells so good. One of the best meals I had in Santa Fe. read more

In town for just a few days and decided to go with some trusty Yelp reviews to find this place... It was SO GOOD. As in, I really wish we had them in Denver! We shared the following entrees: *Today's Special - An almond-encrusted Mahi-Mahi with Peri Peri Sauce and Vegetables with Garlic *Combination Plate, consisting of Goat Stew, Chicken Stew and a Curried Lentils, served with Rice and Roti Everything was delicious and really really good. I have spent months in East Africa and the flavours brought me back there. More importantly, Chef Ahmed was able to create dishes that universally catered to everyone's diverse palates! We sat by the door and heard consistent praise for the food as people walked by. I had to knock off a star for some shenanigans with my entree. I asked for an extra vegetable to replace the starch and our server said this was fine but then significantly upcharged us without telling us first. When we said it's ok, we can cancel (minutes after we ordered) he said he already put it in and was uncomfortable asking the chefs to fix it, as they get grumpy... Ok then! Lol. He offered to bring us a drink instead and although we declined, my husband was eventually presented a Mango Ginger Lemonade. Unfortunately, this gave him a stomachache later. He didn't finish the drink because it tasted "Like pure acid." Oops. And the dish that eventually came had totally different sides than what was described or ordered. Overall, it was still a good experience. The entrees were delicious! Our server was still overall funny and personable and did a good job afterwards. I don't recommend making any changes to dishes here with confidence but we'd be willing to try it again, maybe without the Mango Ginger Lemonade. read more

Jambo Cafe - Nice ambience. - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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