Jambo Cafe

A great show of East African cuisine in Santa Fe. I really enjoyed the strong flavors present here, and the variety of food available. There are some Caribbean dishes should you also want those. Service is pretty simple, however. It took us a while to get seated and the staff largely ignored us

This place has some amazing food! The oxtail dish was our favorite by far! The sauce has a nice deep meaty and savory(but not overpowering) taste, the texture of the oxtail was absolutely perfect (cook to just on the precipice of falling off the bone but still retaining a good chew). The only downside of the dish was it didn’t come with enough things to eat the sauce with so we ordered extra roti. The jerk chicken wings were also really lovely. Their jerk chicken season was also on the same level of flavorful as the oxtail, but a few of the wings were dry. The beef kebab was also really well done, it was splashed with this slightly sweet sauce that paired perfectly with the decently cooked beef. Their curries were good but definitely not on the same caliber as the rest of the dishes above. Overall this restaurant is great, and they have a fun little shop to visiting while you wait.

I had a nice lunch here. All servers are quite attentive and friendly: couldn't ask for better service. Butternut squash soup was pretty delish and I liked their stuffed phyllo app, too. For my combination platter, I chose lamb stew, chickpea stew and chicken curry. Flavoring was spot on but the meats weren't particular too fresh. Also their rose wine was more on the cheaper side of things. Coconut cardamom flan was a nice touch and a fitting way to end my meal.

I saved this for my last night in Santa Fe and I’m Glad I did. I arrived around 6:30. The place was full. I was promptly seated and greeted by LeAnn. She was so wonderful and kind. Her son was a gem also. I started with the crab cakes and mango ginger lemonade! Superb! Then i tried the jerk wings! Another wonderful dish. The curry pineapple Sauce was a great addition. I finished my meal with the curry pistachio encrusted goat cheese salad. Man!!! That was my fave! Everything was sooooo delicious! Service was great and timely!

Stopped here on our way through. I ordered the combination plate. The coconut curried lentils were one of the best things I've eaten in forever. My wife really enjoyed the jerk chicken salad with habanero papaya dressing. Excellent roti. One thing that stood out was the staff all seemed happy. Definitely will come back if I'm ever in Santa Fe again!

Absolutely amazing experience. The food was amazing. My spose and I are from minnesota, and our food is typically very bland back home. The chicken kabobs and Mahi Mahi were perfectly seasoned. The flavor was super prevalent and didn't blow our pallets. The meat was cooked perfectly, and our plates were gorgeously plated. Couldn't be happier. The table next to us travels all the way from Paris multiple times a year to enjoy the dinner experience. It's a must if you're passing through. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

🏵️ very good. Lunch 06-26, host was very pleasant accommodating and intuitive also hard working. Service is always good. Napkins are large, water was clear, dishes were sufficient and tasty. I had the Jerk Chicken Sandwich... With sweet potato fries. Didn't need to add any salt or pepper but I did put on hot sauce because I'm a spicy kind of guy. I still have memories of this place from years back, it is in a convenient location. Sometimes they bring a food truck to music shows too. I like their soups and salads in the restaurant as well. They have several teas and a variety of good drinks, with some beers available also. They have Jambo Bazaar to the left side inside which has a great selection of miscellaneous items like African masks, wood carved animals, necklace pieces, metal art, wall art, clothing exedra. I will include some pictures. 🏵️

Combination plate 100% recommend but I would have preferred some salad to take balance the whole plate , the bred roti is my favorite. Mago lemonade ginger click mix. Thanks you

The first time I've had Jambo was 14 years ago on my first trip to Santa Fe, I remember having the combination plate then. This was before Yelp days and I didn't get a chance to document my experience but thankfully I still had the photos. We came back for another taste this time visiting Santa Fe. Nice decor! Ooof it is soooo good! We had the oxtail, the mahi mahi, another combo plate and the Kenyan beef kabobs. Everything was so tasty!! My favorite was the oxtail stew! The service was great but I just can't stop thinking about how tender the oxtails were! I have never made African food but I was so intrigued that I went back the next day to buy the cookbook and a packet of the curry spice. Unfortunately for me the chef wasn't there to sign my copy, but that just means I have to come back when he releases the next cookbook later this year.

I had a nice lunch here. All servers are quite attentive and friendly: couldn't ask for better service. Butternut squash soup was pretty delish and I liked their stuffed phyllo app, too. For my combination platter, I chose lamb stew, chickpea stew and chicken curry. Flavoring was spot on but the meats weren't particular too fresh. Also their rose wine was more on the cheaper side of things. Coconut cardamom flan was a nice touch and a fitting way to end my meal.

Jambo Cafe is a FAVORITE in Santa Fe NM who is owned by an incredible chef - Chef Ahmed Obo. I remember when he first started, the small restaurant, seating was sparce! The FOOD was amazing and only increased in mouthwatering (imaginary) dishes, with specials each afternoon/evening. Jambo's was a place I could NOT STAY AWAY FROM. And on my birthday, he set up a delightful celebration at the bar, with all kinds of specially made veggie dishes; Who goes out of their way for a customer when owning a restaurant. AS Chef Ahmed Obo grew, he extended the restaurant next door to the closed beauty shop and STILL STAYED OPEN IN THE ORIGINAL RESTAURANT. Most did not know Ahmed was expanding; and what a delightful surprise, more people more DELICIOUS FOOD. Ahmed started a Food Truck and still to this day, both expanded beautiful decorated with exemplary service are all going strong. Was this enough? NO!! Ahmed opened a shop several doors down in the center in College Plaza Shopping Center Address: 2010 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505 All African clothing, drums, musical instruments and more. Ahmed's journey is one of Heroism, Valor and daunting courageousness!! Nothing would stop him. Ahmed had some parties to celebrate his 4th to extended years where I met his two children, the most polite well mannered and spoken of children; Ahmed expect superlative not only in his food, work also the highest degree in his family. This emulated in his children as they gleefully smile about their schooling and for coming careers. The next time I will take some more recent photos, for Yelp was not a primary "commenting" venue and knowing Ahmed and his imaginative mind, he has grown exponentially and there will be much more to share in story form, and delicious food. If you perchance are in Sante Fe NM, make Jambo's a MUST GO AND EAT several times while visiting and do walk 50 feet to his African store. Ahmed "might share" his incredible life story with you, who supported his entire family by fishing, and then coming to the USA!!!

This place hit on all levels. Tasty food. Excellent service. Friendly patrons. Ok, it is in a strip mall, and so a bit lacking on ambiance. All three stews that I got had distinct flavors, and all were quite tasty. Our server was there when we needed him, always with a great demeanor. Note, we arrived fairly early on a Wednesday night, and it was already filling up. There was a bit of a line to get seated, but only a couple of minutes. However, I suspect that 6pm on a weekend might result in a wait. We ordered cardamon coconut flan for dessert. Quite good and tasty; definitely some coconut flavor in the custard and some cardamon flavor in the caramel. Our waiter comp'd the flan, because I guess our food was delayed. Still seemed to be fast service to us! If you are looking for something other than Mexican/New Mexican/Fancy, this is a great alternative! Oh, and the roti is simply spectacular!

I've heard really good things about Jambo and was very excited for the opportunity to check them out. You'll find them in an unassuming strip mall area, but once you walk in, you're definitely not feeling like you're in Santa Fe anymore. They have a gift shop conjoined with the restaurant. The menu is rather expansive with lots of options and lots of flavor. I started off with the cinnamon dusted plantains, which were amazing. we got some of the jerk chicken, which had some very flavorful beans and rice and also topped with a few plantains. Overall, the food was very good. I would've had room for dessert because they have a couple very interesting options. Service wasn't the best, we never got refills and it felt like we were constantly having to flag people down after long periods of waiting for things.

Man I was so hyped / proud to find an African cuisine spot while researching for my first time visit to NM. This place popped up and so I added it to my itinerary. Walked into the place and the impression that it gave me was "a hole in the wall vibes" type dining. From then on I tried my best to NOT be so critical or judgmental but, from there it kept getting WORSE! I was really indecisive as to what to eat so, I asked the waiter and he suggested the Curry Coconut Chicken. The price for the dish was $19.99 and I thought boy it must be good if it's that much; so I ordered it. When my food came out I was not happy because of the portion for that amount of money. I began tasting and let me tell you it DID NOT taste anything like coconut and nor did it have any flavor! The chicken used was thighs (which had nasty chicken fat attached), the temperature was luke warm, and it was sooo watery!! I was NOT the least bit happy as I felt I got robbed but, instead of being boilsterous I stopped eating the food. I kindly let my waiter know that I wasn't happy with the quality or value and his demeanor was "sucks to be you.". At that moment I paid my bill and left. In summary I think it's shameful that the AFRICAN food quality / portions are being misrepresented in NM. However, I think it's peculiar that this place was featured on triple D?? Maybe this is a complacency issue here and the locals don't know any better. ChopNBlok in Houston,TX puts African cuisine on the map for sure!!! I don't recommend...‍

Tried the lamb burger with the mixed fries basket today for lunch, plus a cup of the soup of the day. Everything was seasoned to perfection! Waitress was sweet and very helpful. We love the atmosphere here.

Thanks to a recommendation from a friend, we ended up here on our visit to Santa Fe. The ambiance was quite chill. The light was soft and dim. The music was energizing. The decor was intriguing. The service was quick and very pleasant. The food was absolutely tasty and delightful! We ordered the sweet smoke paprika hummus plate, the Kenyan style beer kebabs, and the Moroccan spiced beef brisket wrap. The hummus was quite tasty and smooth. The meat from both entries was tender, well marinated, and nicely seasoned. The portions were good as well! Definitely a spot we can count on when we make our way to Santa Fe again.

OVERALL In search of something unique and that I had never tried in Santa Fe, NM, I found Jambo Cafe scouring Google Earth like I usually do. From their Yelp page, they pride themselves in offering "Pan-African and Caribbean cuisine in a vibrant, spacious setting." Definitely add this place to your bookmarks. RATING BREAKDOWN Food: 4 | Service: 5 | Ambiance: 4 | Price: 3 PARKING There was ample free parking in the plaza lot. LOCATION/AMBIANCE The Jambo sign was easily visible from Cerrillos Road. When I walked in I noticed a podium so I waited for the host/hostess. The restaurant was at about 75% capacity at around 8PM. I was immediately guided to the back to the takeout area which was viewable from the entrance. Splashes of African & Caribbean decor accented the walls and ceilings. Takeout orders aren't announced when they set them on that back counter. You just have to keep checking the tickets to see if it's yours. THE GRUB Kenyan Style Beef Kabobs (kebabs) were just under $23. This dinner entailed "marinated beef tenderloin tips with herb garlic saffron potatoes, sauteed haricot verts topped with a pomegranate sauce." They threw in a couple of bone marrow pieces in my to-go box. The tanginess of the pomegranate sauce was a bit intense alone, but it complemented the tenderloin cuts extremely well. I'd definitely go back to try other dishes unique to Africa. LITTLE YELPER'S CLUB I don't recall seeing a kid's menu or any children in the dining room for that matter. SERVICE The crew was all very welcoming & friendly when I walked in to place a takeout order on 2/16/2024. MY FAVORITE PART... The beef kebabs dinner. NOT SO FAVORITE PART... They would not answer the phone during my three attempts. TIP Definitely order the kebabs medium rare or rarer as their beef is very lean.

This is a place in a strip mall that came recommended by some friends who had been there before. We were a table of four who did not have a great experience though. Our service was so slow and it took so long to get our food that I am pretty sure it was probably forgotten. I tried to order the coconut shrimp, but they were out so I had to go with something else. Not a place I will be going back to.

We have had several friends recommend and we finally got up to Santa Fa to try it! Service was quick and very friendly and helpful with recommendations! Love the vibe of the inside, the chairs we sat in at our table were very comfortable or at last I thought so. We got the coconut tofu curry and the East African coconut lentil strew. We got one with rice and one with roti! Both were delicious, enjoyed the roti and the rice side and both complement either dish. We also go their Jamaican rum pecan pie, yum!! The flavor was amazing my husband also said they gave just the right amount of ice cream too. Overall I would go back again and would like to try more things!

For a town that already is already blessed with a slew of eateries serving great versions of the native New Mexican cuisine and a number of superb higher-end restaurants of various sorts, Santa Fe is almost piling it on with this excellent pan-African place. Jambo Cafe is off the beaten tourist path in a nondescript shopping center on teeming Cerrillos Road, its storefront sort of looking like another big-box store along with Office Depot and Burlington Coat Factory. Inside, though, is a pleasant and convivial--and quite large--restaurant doing great things with a wide range of equatorial and tropical cuisines. (The chef is a native of an island off the coast of Kenya, which evidently makes for a stew of influences.) Given my relative lack of familiarity with much of this cuisine, a combination plate made good sense: Chickpea berbere stew (Ethiopian) and Island Spice Chicken coconut stew were both fragrant, tasty, and hearty. To be honest, though, both could have used a modest flavor bump. But the Caribbean goat stew absolutely crushed it and kind of left me wishing I'd ordered that as my sole entree. The goat stew had deliciously concentrated flavor and was among the two or three best things I ate in a great week-plus of New Mexico eating. Served with delicious roti. We also had the Savory Stuffed Phyllo appetizer, which seemed high at $14 but was a massive portion--a couple of big spanakopita-like numbers filled not only with spinach and feta but also black olives, red peppers, and chick peas, and served with a little salad. That was pretty great also. There are some nice bottled hot sauces on the table to spice things up even more, if you are so inclined. Highly recommended.

Absolutely devine, very large space with beautiful decorations. Attentive staff and friendly service. The food was presented well and delicious. If you are in town give this place a try, you will not be disappointed.

I grew up eating African as well as Caribbean food in Jersey City, NJ. I heard that Jambo is "amazing" and "out of this world". I honestly thought it was okay. Something was missing in the food. It didn't pack any punch of complex flavors that I was used to growing up. I tried Jambo three times, but each time I was a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, Jambo is not bad. I think it is a good introduction to African cuisine. So if you've never had African food before this is like the mild version that's a nice and easy intro to the cuisine. Try it out for yourself.

Wow wow wow! Amazing flavors, huge portions, superior service, easy parking, reasonable prices, comfortable setting. My wife and I were in Santa Fe for a couple of days and wish we were there longer so we could try more entrees at Jambo Cafe! She was not quite sure about African and/or Caribbean flavors, so tried the BBQ Chicken Sandwich and said it was great. I had the Lamb Sandwich with mixed fries, and both were excellent. The lamb portion was huge with nice flavors, and my "mixed" fries were sweet potato and also harissa lemon, which were very tasty. We also ordered the cinnamon-dusted plantains appetizer but for dessert, and it was very good also - but had to eat it the next day since we were too full from the entrees. A must stop if in Santa Fe!

ROAD TRIP (AGAIN): Our wives join Tom Neiman and Jim Tritten as we venture north to the City Different (Santa Fe for you east coasters). Jambo is a culinary delight featuring authentic Swahili dishes and African-Caribbean fusion. If that isn't enough, Jambo offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Impeccable service and an astonishing interior complement your dining experience. Most highly recommended. Join Chef Ahmed at Jambo as they celebrate 15 years in business on August 11th at 4:00 PM. Click on the following YouTube link to see our complete report and Chef Ahmed himself. https://youtu.be/KScIlKZ2w2M?si=RbbgyY26_BdZHoFV

I was blown away by my first experience at Jambo Cafe when I ordered the lamb burger. The lamb was very tender (medium!) and tasty and the bread was very light. The flavors just melded together super well! I got salad instead of fries and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and ingredients of the salad since it included feta, chickpeas, olives, tomatoes, and red onion. This dish was ~$18. More recently I tried the jerk chicken salad, a soup of the day (crab coconut), and the island spice coconut peanut chicken stew. I was disappointed in the soup (no crab pieces and no crab flavor) and let our waiter know, so it was taken off our bill. The jerk chicken salad was a great portion and delicious with a decent amount of chicken. The peanut chicken stew was not as complex as expected, and very peanut-forward and rich. I thought it was tasty enough, although I would've loved a vegetable to go with it. Service is alright and friendly, although sometimes slow. This spot gets busy! I think the prices are a bit high though, with most entrees close to $19+. All in all, I think this is one of the better restaurants in Santa Fe and would definitely go for the lamb burger again!

If you want to taste some unique different flavors stop by Jambo. My daughter and I are exploring Santa Fe and trying new tastes. We had been to Jambo many years ago and wanted to try it again. We started with their crab cake and plantain appetizers. The crab cake was full of crab. It had a nice cornmeal crust. It was delicious. I had the cinnamon dusted plantains. They were awesome. They were cooked just right with a light dusting of cinnamon. They were good plain or dipped into the pineapple curry was amazing. I had their special garlic marinaded ruby trout. It was perfectly tender and full of flavors. It was on top of a rice cake and covered in bok choy. It was delicious. My daughter had the Moroccan spiced beef brisket pita. The beef was so tender and delicious. The fries were very interesting. She had the combo sweet potato fries and cumin fries. They were delicious plain and with the harissa sauce. So many unique and different flavors. The restaurant was an African theme with muted lighting. It was fun and unique. Our server was great. She was friendly and checked in with us. She let us take our time and enjoy it all. The bathrooms were fine. They only have 2 single use bathrooms.

Everything about this restaurant is AMAZING!! From the service to the food to the owner .... The restaurant is clean and very welcoming I've been going for many many years .... Just consistent 10+ service !

Wow amazing- everything was a hit. We got the goat stew, jerk chicken, and braised oxtail - everything was soooo well seasoned. Definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area.

My family and I love Caribbean food. Due to high yelp ratings, we tried it. We were so happy that we did. Both my dad and I had the goat stew. It was finger lucking good! My husband had the jerk chicken. Unfortunately that didn't meet his expectations. It was more like stewed chicken vs grilled or baked. I had the mango ginger lemonade. It was very delicious and refreshing. The service was great. The restaurant was clean. We were traveling from out of the area. I would have definitely looked forward to trying other things on the menu.

We've had wonderful meals at Jambo Cafe, but somehow I had never left a review. Time for that to change! This restaurant has a wide variety of flavorful dishes from several African countries and the Caribbean. My husband had their fantastic lamb burger with a side of lemon harissa fries. I chose the combination plate; it was difficult deciding what three dishes to include, but I went with the chicken coconut curry, the Caribbean goat stew, and Moroccan lamb stew. A strip of rice separated the three entrees, and a lovely fresh roti went with it all. So, so good. The restaurant was busy but not noisy, with friendly servers. One even took the whiteboard with the day's specials off the wall and brought it over to a table of older women so they could read it. You just can't go wrong at Jambo Cafe.

MUST TRY!!! Warm welcome upon entry the owner/kitchen lead makes a point to check in to see how satisfied you are so the service is impeccable! Food wise my partner had the plantains (he prefers them well done) he also had the chicken curry omg all over the country and the flavor was immaculate!!! I had the kabobs the flavors extremely tasty I only wish it was filet meat. Plate presentation was nice the environment gives off the ambiance of Africa again a must try.

Jambo Cafe is a must if you're visiting Santa Fe and are tired of the abundance of Mexican options. Every single dish we had was prepared with so much love and flavor. The restaurant owner was constantly walking around and talking to the customers. He even has his own cookbook for sale in his shop next door. AND he said that he's been talking about expanding and building a restaurant in Denver, which would be amazing. Cinammon-Dusted Plantains. I love me some good plantains and these are the bomb. Coconut Chicken Curry. So much curry for the price, I only wish I got more rice. However, the curry was spectacular, and I loved the fresh spinach and sliced cherry tomatoes. Brilliant! Pomegranate BBQ Chicken. I'm kind of kicking myself for not buying the pomegranate sauce from the shop because this stuff was next level. My sister, who is the pickiest eater I know, really enjoyed the concoction and raved about it. The entire experience was so authentic, from the atmosphere to the service to the food and anyone would be lucky to dine here.

Jambo Cafe offers a mix of African and Caribbean flavors. The food was off the charts delicious. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant has a nice vibe. I spoke to the chef/owner briefly and you can tell he's someone absolutely loves what he does. We will be back next time we're in Santa Fe.

Incredibly delicious food! This was our first restaraunt stop on our trip to Santa Fe. The place was lively but not noisy at 2pm on a Wednesday. The food was delicious - we will most likely make another stop on our way back home!

Came back for a second try and I'm glad I did. The restraint felt like it has substantially improved since I first came in 2018. Really enjoyed the Coconut Chicken Curry and the Roots Drink. Would recommend to anyone. Lamb and Goat stew were both good, but not excellent.

Came for a quick solo lunch and boy was it quick. I sat down and ordered the Coconut Curry Chicken and just a few minutes later it was served. Loved the lunch portion size and flavors were excellent. Price was a bit high in my opinion, around $20 before tax, but I suppose that's Santa Fe. The place was rather full and it was clear a lot of people do take away.

I love this restaurant! Love the jerk chicken, plantains and GF chocolate cake! Friendly staff and easy parking. Thank you!

Wow! The oxtail is so delicious. Layers of flavor, spicy collards, and sweet potato cake. I always get 3 sides of roti because it's so good, and an extra side of the collard greens. Fresh and flavorful. The fresh ginger lemonade is super refreshing.

I know this place comes highly recommended by Guy Ferrari, but I have to admit it was good, but it was different. I'll touch on that under the Food side of things. Good: I got the ox tails, and this is where I mentioned they are different. I'm assuming the way these were made were more on the African fusion side of things. The flavor of the ox tail those kind of like Mexican mole. I'm wondering if they use some of the same seasoning. Kind of had a spice to it. The type of oxtails, I'm used to have more of the Caribbean style flavor. However, for what they were, they were very good. Pretty tinder as well. The plantain was probably the best plantain I've ever had in my life. It was Fried and tasted simply amazing. My girlfriend got a curry dish with. She really enjoyed as well. It was pretty good as well. I tried it. The customer service here is top notch. Everyone here was extremely helpful and very nice. They got us in and out very quickly. The customer service is definitely five star rated. No doubt about it. The owner is there and he stops by the table to talk to clients. I will definitely come back in and try different things up their menu the next time I'm in New Mexico.

While staying in SF for work we decided to try something new and we're very pleased with our choice. The ambiance was amazing and the food was perfection. I tried the South African pinot noir and it was lovely. We started with a hummus plate-best hummus I have had in years! It was perfectly portioned for an appetizer. I had the chicken pomegranate bbq wrap with the harissa fries and was over the moon. Hubs had beef kebabs and was very impressed. Service was attentive and prompt. Don't skip dessert! We had the pecan pie and the key lime. Highly recommend.

Amazing restaurant with attentive staff, good decor and a store next to it. Tired beef brisket burger and bbq chicken burger. Instead of a bun they use flat bread but it didn't impact the flavor. You cant go wrong with either - harissa fries or cumin fries. Tamarind drink is delicious. Mango ginger lemonade was more of a gingerly. Meat is from grass fed, sustainably raised animals- halal which is a plus. This place is packed even on week days. Will definitely be returning to try other curries

I had the jerked chicken salad. It was amazing! The chicken was sooo juicy and tender. No overcooked or dry chicken here. I will be back! The service was very good. The woman who served me was so nice and helpful. The decor was funky Jamaica and fun. It was a dark and intimate atmosphere.

You don't know what you don't know... and once a discovery is made, the epiphany is extraordinary. Having a palate for curry, and some fringe experience with African fusion cuisine, I was drawn towards Jambo. Just entering the place is magical, aromas all savory and enticing, with a hum of clever conversation. Nafisah was warm and generous with her time, which is rare when stopping in for a busy lunch. The Mango Ginger Lemonade is as rich and refreshing as it sounds, appertif and cordial in one. As I'm passing through, I wanted to sample a variety, and The Combination is perfectly designed for that. I played it a little safe, asking for the chicken curry as 1 of 3, then venturing towards Moroccan Lamb and Ethiopian Berbere Stew (with Nafisah's guidance) for my other 2 choices. Their Roti is the most incredible African flatbread - somewhere between a crusty/doughy tortilla and Naan, it scoops and soaked up every last drop I could gather of the Berbere Stew (vegan - UNLIKELIEST of my preferences), but I'm dreaming of the next time I can visit Santa Fe for this meal. Had I been traveling with friends, I would have enjoyed the Jamaican Rum Pecan Pie (or my typical indulgence - the flourless chocolate cake), but felt fully satisfied by drippings of curry and lemonade while spying my neighbors' options for next time. Looking forward to the return!

I loved this place on my second visit many years after my awesome first one. Here's what I tried: Coconut shrimp -- uses shredded coconut and it's nicely crispy Banana leaf wrapped mahi mahi -- great flavor, tender fish Combo goat stew, lamb stew, and coconut Island curry lentils over rice and with roti -- perfect if, you like me, want to try a few different dishes. I do wish there was a little more heat in each of the dishes. The lentils may be my favorite, though I also really enjoyed the other two stews. There are a lot of dishes to choose from. There's also a gift shop next to the restaurant. It's nicely decorated, has a lively atmosphere, and the service is fine though a bit on the slow end when it's packed.

My friend and I were in a road trip just stopping in New Mexico and we found this place randomly. When we walked in, the ambiance felt very authentic. It was crowded so we knew that the food had to be great! Our server was so nice and even let us try a sample of the mango ginger lemonade to make sure we liked it, which we did! We didn't get dessert but their options seemed like they would be really tasty. I would recommend that people try this if you're looking to try a different cuisine from the typical American cuisine.

WOW. Absolutely blown away. This was my first experience trying this particular flavor of fusion cuisine and boy howdy, I am hooked! I regret not buying the cookbook while I was in town. I came on a Friday night and the spot was bursting at the seams! Always a good sign. I didn't have a reservation but didn't have to wait long. It was nice to be able to peruse the adjacent shop while I waited and doubly nice that they had additional seating in the shop, as the entrance to the restaurant is pretty small. For beverages, I went with their house made mango ginger lemonade, which really hit the spot. A tasty mix of sweet and warming spice. For food, I started with the cinnamon dusted plantains (which I happily inhaled) and because everything looked so good, ordered the combination plate, where I picked the peanut chicken stew, chickpea berbere stew, and lamb stew. I slew of heavenly stews! Everything was beyond delicious but if I had to pick one favorite, it would be the chicken peanut stew . I was open to dessert but nothing caught my eye that evening, though a few sounded interesting. If there's any chance to ever open a sister shop in Denver... Please please do it. I'd come here every week!

The restaurant had great reviews and we only had one day in Santa Fe, so we knew we wanted to try it. It exceeded our expectations! We discovered the Zia sparkling drinks here, which the prickly pear flavor was so yummy we went to a grocery store to buy more the next day. The chicken curry peanut stew was so good. Similar to an Indian curry but the added peanut flavor gave it a sweet twist. The beef kebabs (Kenyan style) was delicious, the meat was so tender and came right off the stick.

This was hands down my favorite restaurant I've been too. The smells as soon as you walk in make your mouth water. The service is fast and the food is to die for. I got the coconut chicken curry, my boyfriend had the combo plate with chicken curry, goat stew and lentil curry with roti. Just absolutely amazing everything. If we ever find ourselves visiting here again; this will always be a stop for us. They also have a shop attached with items made from artists back in Kenya, that help those artists back home which we thought was amazing and bought a souvenir.

I haven't had much African food and thought this would break up all the tacos while on vacation in the southwest. I'm so glad we stopped in. I got a sampler including lamb stew, chickpea berbere stew, and curried lentils. It was delicious but I didn't get a good photo. My 9y/o got the banana leaf mahi, which I tried and enjoyed. We wandered the connecting shop while waiting on our food, which was good for the kiddo. Lots of interesting things. The service was lovely. The worst part is that I live in a different state so can't go back to try something else!

Insanely fire, first African (-Ethiopian) food I've tried. Plaintain Cakes: Quite sweet but went really well with the sauce. Only two were given for $12 Shrimp: The sauce was the best part of this experience. Extremely flavorful while maintaining a light body. I licked the plate C L E A N. Ox Tail: Was Nadira's but I got to try and it was awesome. A little cartilagey(?) but so tender and flavorful.

We were in town for a short visit and this place looked intriguing. And we were right! The ambiance in the restaurant is casual but innovative - lots of African influences. My wife and I enjoyed an appetizer of Hummus - with fresh vegetables and warm pita. Very good. Then we each tried one of the house-made beverages. I had the tamarind drink, which was tart and refreshing. My wife had the ginger-mango drink, also very tasty, although a little bit sweeter than she wanted. We then tried kebabs - Moroccan chicken for me and Kenyan beef for her. Both really flavorful and served with sides of green beans and a starch (potatoes with the beef, couscous with the chicken). They were spiced just right and just the kinds of flavors you're not going to get anywhere else. If you like a taste bud adventure, try Jambo Cafe!

Wonderful unique food. The "special " is always pretty much exactly that, special, I recommend it. The owner is very friendly and comes around to visit. My wife and I have been to Africa on safari. Jambo Cafe is worth a regular repeat visit on your schedule.

This restaurant rocks the food is excellent. The ambience is great. I've had the jerk chicken and the lamb sandwich the french fries the coconut rice and black beans are delicious as well. I wished I lived closer. I'd come more often.

Everything, from entering to leaving, went exceptionally well. The menu was exciting, and our meals were perfect. We will return again and again because of the unique surroundings, the caring service, and the tasty entrees.

Really great experience here. I got the combination plate -- CURRY CHICKEN mmmm. Incredible. Honestly wish I would have just gotten that as my meal. Hubs loved his kabobs and was satisfied with the plantains and sweet potato fries. He indulged in some South African cab sav - said he really liked that as well.

Jambo makes traditional African cuisine and it is always packed because of how good the food is. Portions are a good size, the decor is authentic with a store next door to purchase items you might want to take home. Jambo is a Santa Fe staple and has become so popular over the years, I wish that the Albuquerque location had stayed open but when given the chance to get food here, I will choose it. Funny enough I come many times before going to Meow Wolf.

Wow!! Amazing food!! Fall off the bone chicken wings. Best chicken wings I've ever had and they come with a delicious sauce. The combination plate is great for tourists to try multiple curries/stews but my favorite was definitely the peanut chicken stew. Fresh made roti was delicious and goat curry was beautifully spiced-cinnamon and clove maybe? Excellent all the way around!