Been here several times. Food is wonderful. Casual atmosphere. Decent service. Usually crowded, reservations recommended.

You can't beat the food here, or the eclectic decor. This is a very popular place for good reason but I wish the service weren't so slow. Also, there seems to be an attitude among some of the staff - is it so difficult to be kind? I know the restaurant business is brutal but there are other busy places in town where food is served with a smile. read more

One of our favorite standbys. Stopped in for lunch today, for Moroccan Lamb Stew, the perfect cold weather anecdote.

Absolutely delicious! We came for lunch and enjoyed mahi mahi and lentil stew - both were fresh and very flavorful. We will definitely return to try other items on the menu - so many yummy choices. The vibe is casual and fun and the owner and his staff are extremely friendly. All tables were packed and there was a steady business of take-out orders yet we were waited on promptly. Such a refreshing change from typical Santa Fe fare. Asante sana! read more

As per our curriculum connecting environmental science with lifestyle and culture, we determined that we would host a feast for students to explore African cuisine. We knew early on that we wanted to cater this event versus have a potluck, due to prior experiences at Jambo Cafe. We worked with Peter Walsh and his suggestions allowed us, with our budget, to successfully provide tastes of four dishes most representative or African cuisine, including rice and roti, to 76 students . The students (high school juniors) were so pleasantly surprised by how much they loved the food. As an educator, I was so appreciative of the professionalism included in planning, and execution. All was on time, labeled, and directly delivered to my car. No matter whether you are hosting an event or seeking a place for a social or romantic evening, Jambo Cafe in no way disappoints. I truly believe that we have some absolute converts. Thank you, Jambo Cafe! read more

The absolute best ethnic food in Santa Fe! The most friendly chef/owner I've ever come across. The coolest website =) Love it! Love it!

Wow. Yes, I agree with everyone who gave 5 stars to this place. The food is excellent, the service is outstanding, and it's clean and well decorated. Don't let the strip-mall location fool you! Anyway, I was assuming that African food would be spicy, but everything was pretty mild. Whether you like spicy food or not, the food has excellent tastes and is presented very neatly on cool dishes. read more

A gem, a true find. Imaginative, tasty food, kind wait staff, charming folks in the kitchen. There is nothing like this near me at home. Would get 4 stars at twice the price, but the value is amazing. Very reasonable prices for what you get. read more

Outstanding place at a mind bogglingly low price. Hummus was just good but the Jerk chicken and lamb stew were out of this world---followed by the excellent guava sorbet. Wait staff was incredibly friendly, ambiance is comfortable and spot on as well. Particularly given the price, which I had a double take about how low it was, this place gets my highest recommendation. I'll being going back as soon as possible. read more

Diamonds, Emeralds and Jambo. Yup Yelpers: three gems. The latter gem so much more reasonable and easily mined in Santa Fe. For equipment bring an appetite, very little money, and a smile. The appetizer soup was a sweet potato and black bean yummy blend. Served with pita bread for dipping, it made me want a bowl instead of the generous cup I ordered. Nancy had corn and seafood chowder as a main course served with a nan type bread, while I had the goat stew with Africa bread. While the goat stew was excellent, I made the mistake of tasting her soup. It wasn't the 7000 ft altitude that made me giddy. It was the taste of that soup ! Full already, we shared a delectable " brownie fudge pudding sunday" for desert. ? Que Pasa. Great food, friendly service at a budget price with easy parking at the Jambo. That's what. read more

I am a creature of habit, so I was really going out of my comfort zone by going in... never had this "type" of food before, but son wasn't hungry, so I figured we'd go somewhere MOM wanted to try for a change. 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and we were greeted and seated within 2 minutes. The prices were so reasonable, and I'd heard soooo many good things about their soup... so I splurged on the jerk chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries and a cup of sweet potato-black bean curry. Even though my son wasn't hungry, we ordered the grilled cheese on pita and french fries for him. The curry was ah-maze-ing! The waiter told me it would be "medium heat", and I'd never had a curry base before, I thought I would bite the bullet and try. Perfect heat! The main course came out before I was finished, very timely... and I would be amiss to my son if I didn't mention they gave him a LARGE side of ketchup, which won him over immediately lol. The jerk chicken had a kick, but just enough not to completely kill the tastebuds. Sweet potato fries are hard to keep from going soft, and these were cooked to perfection! I would say the only downfall is no "commercial" soda pop, but there's the creature of habit sneaking back in, lol We were both impressed with the ambience (laid back, SLACKR radio in the background, no loud talkers, just enough decor to keep the eyes busy, but not overwhelm). I get the feeling I will most definitely be back! I think this would be an impressive restaurant for date night, family night, or to bring any out of towners tired of the 'chili-cheese-something-so-hot-it-kills-your-taste-buds' scene. read more

Very nicely done. Service was outstanding. The goat cheese, curry, pistachio dumpling over the salad was superb. Red curry was flavorful, though mild. Goat stew was excellent, with the bread for dipping. Prices were reasonable. read more

4Star for a first dining experience Food enchants with varying spices. Lots of Ohh! Good! Were heard. Prices moderate. Noise level High Place was packed Clean Parking is in a mall and is adequate. I hope to return read more

Love the food and the atmosphere, kind of a low-key hole-in-the-wall, tucked away in a strip mall, nice alternative to the oppressive sameness of downtown Santa Fe restaurants. I'd describe the food as Afro-Caribbean comfort food, nothing too fancy but interesting combinations of flavors and very filling. Everything I've tried here has been delicious. read more

Remarkable flavorful food. Everything that we tried was truly delicious. If there's any flaw it's that much of the luscious flavor comes from the high fat ingredients. Spa food it isn't. The service was professional and attentive and the space is charming. Jut be judicious when ordering to avoid possible queasiness later on due to the richness of the food. read more

This is a very different restaurant. The food is exceptional.....carefully prepared by a chef who is dedicated to his profession! The way our orders were plated showed care and attention to detail. I especially liked that the different foods were divided with rice....keeping the flavors of each item from mingling. We definitely plan a return visit! read more

The real deal! Goat stew, Jerk Chicken, plaintains ------ YUMMO

My husband and I were passing through Santa Fe on our way back to LA, and needed some easy food near our hotel (read: motel). Not expecting to find anything spectacular, we were lucky to stumble upon Jambo-- I mean, it's right next to a Hobby Lobby so who woulda thought it would be so INCREDIBLE. You walk in and the atmosphere exudes warmth and smells like an orgasm of spices-- which is my second favorite kind of orgasm by the way. Artfully decorated in simple yet homey African and Caribbean style, soft reggae plays in the background. For lack of better words: "it's cozy as f**k." The grub: The soup of the day was black bean curried sweet potato. Let me say that I don't think that it's fair to even put this soup in the same category as other soups, which may include things that come from cans. This was Heaven in a bowl. Literally, I wanted to bathe in it. I wanted to lick it from the spoon while uttering moaning noises like dining pornography... (oh wait, I did do that.). My advice: Keep a roti or pita to soak up every last drop, or else you will be caught with your tongue in the bowl. If food makes you want to eat like a heathen, you know it's good. The cinnamon dusted plantains: great. The combo plate: (with lentils, goat stew, and chicken curry) was predictably good, but the stand out dish was the beef kabobs. Imagine this: hanger steak so tender and cooked to perfect medium rare, melting in your mouth. Now imagine that steak is cooked with intoxicating herbs (rosemary?), and topped with a delectable pomegranate sauce so balanced between sweet and savory it gives chocolate pretzels a run for their money. Seriously. This sauce was TO DIE FOR. Then imagine that the vegetables underneath the steak are almost as good if not equally as good as the steak itself. I'm not even a huge green bean fan, but these green beans were so good (again, I give credit to the sauce), I could have eaten them and just been happy. Okay, I exaggerate-- The kebabs were too good, and don't even get me started on the freakin soup again. The service: With food that good, I would have left grinning if the service had been slower than Sarah Palin on horse tranquilizers, but, alas, the service was amazing too. Both the waiter and the manager/ waiter were super friendly, funny, and charming (and the owner was also there working). They gave us the sort of experience that felt as if they had just invited us into their own homes. I don't think you can ask for any more than that. Don't miss the Jambo Cafe. read more

We loved this place the atmosphere was excellent. We tried the goat stew it was great and also tried the mahi mahi it was fantastic and the service was nice and it was amazing wish there was one my town. If we come again to Santa Fe we would come back. read more

Service was friendly and prompt. Atmosphere was pleasant. Food was third rate. I had the goat curry which was mostly bone and gristle and tasted of cumin with very little else in the mix. My date had the lamb stew which had far too much fat and again was not very interesting, tastingly heavily of tomato paste. For dessert I had the mango cobbler which was indistinguishable from apple except that there was hardly any cobbler. Over priced third rate food with a lot of hype. read more

Really good. Not the cheapest, but well worth it. The lamb stew is killer, after multiple visits nothing has let me down at all. The restaurant is cozy and has a great relaxed vibe. Unique cuisine for this region, and done well. Thanks read more

Such a delight! My husband and I are both picky and we were really impressed! The jerk chicken wings were so flavorful and fell off the bone. I got the Moroccan lamb stew and I loved it. My husband thought it was a little sweet, but I thought it was perfect. He got the goat stew and he liked it a lot. The roti is a must! I have had roti in Trinidad and liked this better honestly. So add it to your order!!!! read more

Wonderful home-style, brilliantly executed Carribean and African food. A real treat.

Love this place! Everything is tasty and perfect every single time. I often get food to go after work, the to go boxes are sturdy.

I dont often write reviews but this place needs to go into the DDD hall-of-fame. My wife, on a recent trip through New Mexico, brought me back (im in Colorado) some goat curry and spicy chicken. To say it was amazing is an understatement. I havent had food this good since I left South Africa some 20 years ago. Im still licking my lips. Wish you had a sister restaurant in Colorado. read more

Excellent service, even more excellent food. Absolutely must try the black bean sweet potato curry soup. Could have ordered another just for a solid meal. Combo platter is enough for two meals and offers popular favs. Jerk was very good, lentils and we'll as rice and beans top notch. So much food we had to get our three desserts to go. Good value and great location. read more

Jambo Cafe - Visiting from Maryland - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Love everything about Jambo! I've had the jerk tofu sandwich and the Mediterranean vegetable sandwich both were very tasty. I loved the plantains and Saudi as well. If I could give more than 5 stars I would! read more

Felt very comfortable and like my business appreciated. Food was exquisite...nicely spiced, fresh, plentiful, varied, hot, interesting. They were very busy but we we were served rather quickly and attended to regularly. Looking forward to next visit! read more

Oh my. We had been on the road for an hour we were looking for something a little special for dinner. Boy did we find it. When we walked in on a Monday night and there were only about two tables available we knew we had found a good spot. I had lamb stew and my wife had the combination platter and each was special and it's own way. The wine list is simple and delicious. The word Jambo is such a joyous Swahili word anyway (Hello). This is a must try for anyone who has mist it up to this point. The spices were exactly what they should be with each of our dishes. read more

One of my favorite places in town, the Afro-Caribbean menu has delicious food for every palate, with Chicken Curry for the neophytes and Goat Stew for those who don't mind navigating a few bone fragments or the sake of flavor. When people talk about Santa Fe as a food mecca, this is the kind of place I think about. Not the fussy, overpriced and earthtoned establishments downtown, but little places like this, tucked away in food trucks and strip malls, quietly turning out culinary magic for ordinary people. It's a version of this city that will likely be swallowed up completely as the real-estate market recovers, but for now places like Jambo are there to remind people of the funky, open-hearted vibe that was once an even bigger draw than the sure-thing property investments and retirement villages. read more

Such a good place to get food when you want a break from standard Santa Fe New Mexican cuisine. The curry is amazing.

African food, simply delicious! The food is well prepared, piping hot and scrumptious. Mind the goat stew, though, it comes with bones still in. The meat skewers are delectable. What is even better, a LOT of the money made goes to fund a children's clinic in Africa! You can eat like royalty *and* make a difference to impoverished people overseas. It isn't often that you can treat yourself to hearty wholesome food and do something good at the same time. Go get it! Don't believe me? Check out the other reviews! read more

The entire experience was one of the best ever in a restaurant. The ambiance, the waiter, the taste of the food along with the presentation were amazing. Our waiter was very good, patient with us newbies and very efficient. The 2 appetizers we had, stuffed feta and hummus with paprika plate were amazing, each of our meals was equally fantastic. Out of the 7 of us, we ordered 4 different dishes and we taste tested each others. We had the mahi mahi, goat cheese salad, shrimp pili pili, and combination plate. The big surprise were the 2 soups..a black bean and sweet potato and a butternut squash. Both exceeded our expectations. The only thing that I have to say negative is that we did not have room for dessert and did not think to get one to go for later. read more

One of my favorite all time places. I eat here once a month at least. The coconut shrimp is a must. I adore the lamb stew, and the hummus sandwich (which is only 8.95:)). When I'm going for a fancier dinner I get the shrimp or fish entree, both to die for. The chocolate cake is also heavenly. The owner is so nice and a huge community supporter. He's always lending a hand to local charities and events. The staff is great, very kind and even though it's busy they're always on point. You gotta try this place! I'm a good cook, and I love going somewhere that feels like it would be hard to duplicate at home. Love you Jambo! read more

Wow. What a unique and satisfying meal. Delicious crusted fish. For once the hype is exccded by the reality. What a delight.

Great place to eat. African cuisine that is out if this world. Goat and curry, count me in!

Given all the excellent reviews, our experience was very disappointing. Service was terrible. We were ignored by wait staff for 10 minutes after sitting, and then it took another 40 minutes for us to get our food - all of it - appetizer, salad, and main - at once. Beyond that, the food was pretty bland and boring. Nothing we ordered was anything beyond mediocre and under-spiced. With so many good restaurants in Santa Fe, don't waste your time in this one. read more

Had a thoroughly enjoyable Luncheon with 7 friends yesterday (July 25th, 2018) and rate the entrees as superb. I guess I'm an ol' guy but the bill for myself and two others in the group had a 20% Gratuity already included and clearly highlighted but it went right over my head and I included an additional $15.00 cash tip thereby making my total tip over 35%...I was completely oblivious! We are regular restaurant goers upwards of 2 to 3 times a week and this is the very first time in Albuquerque that I have stumbled over a Gratuity. Watch your step! Again, the service and the food were great + we enjoyed the gift shop as well! David Chamberlain read more

If you take reservations for 8 pm do not kick your customers out at 9 pm by blaring loud music. Especially when you make us wait 20 minutes after you told us we'd be seated. Horrible service throughout, on top of it, by a sever who couldn't care less. Won't be back. And trust me, it shows you don't care. read more

I'm a sucker for the goat stew and the atmosphere. It feels like I'm being hosted by a good friend in their home. I can't say enough about how great this little place is. read more