Coming here I had no idea what the expect. The restaurant is located in a residential area but has a great atmosphere. They have both outside and inside seating and is very well decorated with some pretty good views. The atmosphere itself was definitely a 5/5. We ordered a couple different items and I have to say I was rather disappointed in the food. The menu itself was limited which was okay since it's focused. We got a plethora of apps but most of them were very mildly or not well spiced at all. The best was probably the creamed feta but the others were just not up to par. The bread itself looked good but the texture was not exactly what I was expecting (almost too crunchy to actually use with the dips). The dessert was pretty good and pretty creative as well. I did really like the drinks they had and would probably come back for that. The service was pretty good. We made a reservation beforehand which helped and food came out quickly. Parking was not bad since they have a lot a couple buildings away or street parking. Staff was also helpful and friendly. Overall, I would come back for the vibes and drinks but probably not the food (unless there are new items to give a try). I would probably give this place a 3.5 mostly bc of the food but if you want a place to just hangout and vibe this is def a good place. read more

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Amazing. Contender for my favorite place in Raleigh. I think I have eaten here 4x in less than a year, always on the patio. Service always great. Everyone ina good mood bc the food is so great. Tonight I had the lamb tagine and coffee roasted carrots. WOW. read more

Had a great experience at Ajja. The ambiance of the place is incredible. Very good use of lighting, subtle music, and interior design. A very cozy, yet modern setting. We came without a reservation, and they were still able to accommodate us and get us seated. Our waiter was very nice and gave us great recommendations on the menu. The food was spectacular. Ajja is a place where you come to experience and to try new flavors. Each dish was something new and an interesting take. Like many others, I do think that the portion sizes were rather small. They sort of pushed the food to one side of the plate, which made it feel even smaller. Overall great experience, come for the taste and vibes, not to have a large meal and leftovers. read more

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I loved the ambiance here! I love what they did to the back of this building. It really is quite the vibe. Also loved all the signage telling you where to walk to get in. The service was super friendly and efficient. I started off with a glass of wine and the pour was so tiny. I never finish a whole glass before appetizers even hit the table, but this time around I did. I ordered a second glass and the pour was double the size of the first. I originally just thought maybe they had small pours. The menu had a ton of variety and it is an great spot for vegetarians. We started off with the pull apart bread, it was a nice classic start. We also got the stuffed squash and the tomato salad. The tomato salad was the favorite of the group, super flavorful and beautifully plated. We also got the spare ribs which were good. The lamb was the only dish we didn't like, the meat was super chewy and tough. To end the night we got some fresh mint tea! I look forward to going back and trying other dishes. read more

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Ajja is a cute, trendy Mediterranean option. The dining area inside is small but the patio is a bit larger. I tried two cocktails, the happy tears (tequila) and lucky cat (rum), and my husband tried the house-made ginger beer. For food we split the ajja baba, stuffed summer squash, chicken kabab, lamb seekh and mango & saffron posset. It's expensive for the portions but the drinks and food were good. It's a good spot for a date night or night out with friends. Reservations are recommended. read more

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I went here for a date valentines weekend. It blew my expectations away and I had a really memorable and joyful time. Our server was lovely and knowledgeable about the menu, always recommending various things to us! My favorite dish was the chicken, it was succulent and rich in flavor and probably the best thing I've ever had so far in life! The ambiance is very pleasing, low lighting, intimate and romantic! The sticky date pudding was magnificent and a wonderful end the to the night. I could rave about all the dishes but I encourage anyone and everyone to go try them for themselves, everything we had was amazing. 10/10 and my favorite restaurant so far here in Raleigh and I've been to quite a few. read more

Tucked away on a side street in Five Points East, Ajja offers a remarkable culinary experience featuring a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. We've dined there four or five times since the restaurant opened last June, and have never been disappointed. Favorites include the soft shell crab, whole fish, warm Moroccan hummus, chicken kabab, lamb seekh, eggplant dolma and the broccoli raab. The fusion of flavors and textures is extraordinary and delightful. Cocktails are inspired and average $15. As long as it's not too hot, I recommend you ask for seating in the covered patio area. Don't worry about parking: plenty of spots are available in front of neighboring businesses and on the street. I'd give Ajja ten stars if I could! read more

Ajja - Middle Eastern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Fun and interesting restaurant off the beaten path. We started with an old fashioned, espresso martini pickled season vegetables and the warm Moroccan Hummus which was a huge hit! For dinner we enjoyed the King Trumpet Mushrooms and Chicken Kabobs which was the better of the two. The service was just ok especially since we were few of the first patrons for dinner. Definitely a unique dining experience with a good neighborhood vibe! We will return for more Dips and Spreads. read more

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Great experience last night. Food, atmosphere, vibe was excellent. Server was kind and knowledgeable.

Ajja offered us a very unique and romantic evening. We explored new foods and great cocktails. And the service was very friendly and welcoming. We started with drinks and warm olives and seasonal pickles at the outdoor bar (both covered and heated). Then for our reservation we chose the indoor bar. Here we tried hummus, stuffed savoy cabbage, hasselback squash, and beets. Each dish was delicious as the next. My favorite was the squash. I'll be craving another or may even try to recreate it at home. So yummy. If you're in the Raleigh area you will not go wrong stopping in for a drink or dinner. read more

Ajja - Happy Tears and Rosy Negroni. Both were super tasty. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Told my sever my allergies and she brought out an item with that allergy in it. Thankfully I didn't eat it.

Great cocktails and the haloumi and eggplant was amazing. Great ambiance and service.

Tiny itty bitty portions. Odd proportions. I came for my birthday. We got the chicken, which was essentially a third of a cup of chicken in a little pile with a lot of salt and some spices. There were no vegetables or rice. We also got the lamb, which was similarly just a small pile of overly salted meat without vegetables or rice. This was $29. Their house made ginger beer has no spice or carbonation for $5. They charged a 3% fee for credit card processing cost. Total with tip was $78 for two tiny piles of spiced salty meat and some sugar water. No thank you. read more

My wife and I enjoy our visits here. The food and drinks are always exquisite, with great ambiance and service. Looking forward to visiting again soon! read more

Excellent food, friendly service, off-beat location! Everyone to whom I have recommended Ajja have been very positive about their experience. read more

Decided to try out Ajja after it was named one of the best new restaurants in the US. I sat outside on their heated patio which was pretty cozy even on a cold-ish night. The patio is beautifully decorated so props on pulling off a good vibe. The bartender was friendly and gave tons of great recommendations. I got the lamb croquette to start, the whole trout with farro tabbouleh (totally worth it - the fish was fried perfectly) with the pull apart bread which was great! I got the sorbet to finish the meal. Wouldn't say it's the best meal I've had in Raleigh as of late but definitely a solid option if you're looking for something nicer in the Five Points area read more

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Overall really solid. Not amazing but really quite good. Service was stellar, pretty neat ambiance (especially the outdoor area, though we ate inside). Would definitely return, though nothing we had was so good I would order it again. As to the food: 1. Pickles -- pretty good but measly portion. Did especially enjoy the daikon. Overall a pass; 2. Lamb croquette -- pretty measly for 11 bucks and I didn't try it but my wife loved it; 3. Citrus salad -- fantastic. Hard to go wrong with fresh greens and citrus. Love the combination of castelvetrano olives and pecorino with citrus!; 4. Beet borani -- kind of one note -- just shredded beets and yogurt. I love beets and still thought it was boring. Least good dish of the night; 5. Whole trout -- fantastic. Definitely on the pricey side but really really crunchy and tasty. Absolutely our favorite dish And 6. Posset -- I don't like possets and I didn't like this one. The texture was as runny and unappetizing as I remembered. Why not just firm it up and make a panna cotta? My wife likes possets and really liked this one but again I hate possets. Yuck. Maybe a bit of nitpicking but yeah overall I liked it a whole lot!! read more

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The food here is amazing! Everything we had was on point. After just getting back from Portugal, we were surprised to see Fried Sardines on the menu. We had fried sardines several times in Portugal, and even went on a tour at a sardine factory! These were every bit as good, (and I might say even better) than we had in Portugal. We also loved the seasonal pickles, the Lamb Seekh and the couscous. The atmosphere is colorful and cozy and our service was top-notch. We can't wait to go back! read more

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Came here for dinner after seeing it make the national spotlight. Overall I admire what they're aiming for, but the portion sizes and relatively mild and safe flavors at that price point wasn't for me. My favorite dishes were the king trumpet mushrooms. Umami and charred perfectly. We also had the carrot houriya, tear bread, kuku sabzi, spare ribs, lamb seekh, and chocolate souffle cake. Carrot houriya - the carrots were lightly sweet and minced. The contrast of the yogurt (which seems to provide the contrast in a lot of their dishes, it got a little repetitive) was great, and the goat cheese flavor was wonderfully creamy, almost like cream cheese/sour cream. But the carrot part of the dish was too mild to make an impression. Kuku sabzi - The tomato notes came out well, and lots of delicious herbs including a light hint of dill. The puck of frittata almost reminded me of haggis, in a good way. Although there were many herbs, the flavors were not very strong but I appreciated veg-forwardness of this dish. Again, a dollop of yogurt for contrast but I wish there was something a little more. Lamb seekh - Grilled lamb was a little tough in places, and the spread was over-salted. Portion size was super small for the price (and I've been/lived in major metro areas too with expensive costs). Spare ribs - Ribs lacked flavor but were cooked nicely. There wasn't a lot of meat. The cabbage slaw was a nice tangy pickled contrast but a bit plain. Herbs were not super prominent. The pick of ribs and sparse meat made this another dish that did not deliver in value. Trumpet mushrooms - Mushrooms beautifully charred and very juicy and meaty. Sauce was decent. Salad was a nice complement and thrown with a very light vinaigrette. Chocolate souffle cake - There was a mix of cinnamon, light caramel, and oats with cherries soaked in amaretto syrup. This was the dish where their use of yogurt - a light tangy cream with slight yogurt notes - made a lot of sense, and loved the rich chocolate taste of the cake. It was light in texture and a decent end to the meal. The cocktail we had was amazing though. There was a salt rim with cumin, and provided a beautiful and deliciously savory pairing with the mezcal base. It was probably one of the most inventive and tasty cocktails I've had all year, and it was perfectly balanced between cumin, umami, and smokiness. Overall, I like the fusion concept they're going for here. It seems rooted in Middle Eastern flavors with a milder flavor profile/Southern spin - maybe it's suited for the neighborhood, but I found it to be lacking in flavor. And they need to focus on delivering quality and choice meat selections in some of their dishes, which fell short of the price point. read more

We arrived on time for our 7:30 pm reservation on a Thursday night. It was busy and we waited for about 5 minutes while our table was cleaned. There were four of and we ordered these items to share ( two of us are pescatarians): 1. Ajja platter - the three dips (tiny portions of each) that night were whipped feta: very good, sweet potatoe: not spicy and too sweet for our taste, the hummus: very good and the oil with sesame seeds and zataar: loved it. The platter is apparently generally served with three pieces of bread but they gave us four since we were a party of four. The server brought another piece of bread but don't know if we were charged for extra bread. Note that the bread is a roll and not anything like naan or pita. We all would have preferred naan or pita with the dips. 2. Roasted coffee carrots: did not taste any coffee and the carrots should've been roasted more. Flavors were nice, but the coffee was definitely missing and they would've been better with more of a char on the carrots. 3. Fried sardines: too fishy and the toppings weren't complimentary flavors. Do not recommend them. 4. Trumpet mushrooms: all of us loved them. 5. Chicken twook : perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The two meat eaters recommend this dish. 6. Shrimp: very good but not stellar. 7. Autumn salad: all of us really enjoyed this salad. Recommend. 8. Apple Kanafe: nothing special at all and difficult to cut/eat. Do not recommend. 9. Squash flan: tasted sort of like a pumpkin pie. Nothing special. Do not recommend. Total bill was just over $275 (and we didn't have any alcohol). We agreed we would not want to come back since the experience and the tiny food portions just don't make the cut at that price point particularly given the inexpensive ingredient cost. . read more

Unique and attractive ambiance matched by delicious inventive food. The vibe is creative and welcoming. We especially enjoyed visiting with Paul. read more

Thank you for an absolutely amazing dinner here! Mia, was outstanding making several pairing suggestions that were all delicious. The whole experience was special. Every dish was wonderful - the trout, beets, and sweet potato masabacha with bread perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. And the Kanafe for dessert was the perfect finish. Highly recommend for a memorable dining experience! Five stars***** read more

Oh my god. Just go here. Seriously just amazing food, great drinks, cute patio, and did I say amazing food?!?? The ONLY thing to nitpick about is our server was a little slow but it's inconsequential. The menu is seasonal, the food is fresh, and the flavors are so innovative and bright. Everything I ate was unique and just a complete joy to eat. One of my favorite dining experiences in a while, possibly my new favorite restaurant in Raleigh. I can't stop telling everyone I know to go here. If they still have the whole trout, you need it in your life. read more

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Great food, friendly service, good vibe. Cheetie has brought many new recipes to Ajja.

The vibe of this place is really cute but it is really over priced. It cost $18 for a GLASS of wine and they charge $2.50 per roll, so if more than one person wants bread... it's gonna get pricey. The service was also not great. As soon as we mentioned that the bread pricing was a little steep, especially when we ordered 6 dishes off the app and share menus, our server got a little standoffish. The food is good but comes in very small portions and again is very expensive. It's in a nice neighborhood so maybe that's the target clientele but it isn't practical for everyday consumers! read more

Was very excited to try this place after or making a top new restaurant of 2023 list. The atmosphere and service were excellent. Definitely try to get a spot in the dining room if possible. The food itself felt a bit small for the size. My favorite dish was hands down the king trumpet mushrooms - a must try here. Everything else was not bad. I was surprised by the lamb though as our server said this was one of the most popular dishes. Not sure if it was an off night, but it was not evenly salted with some bites being crazy salty. It was also very dry / tough, and did not love the plating style of half the plate being empty. Ribs also did not have much meat - something I had higher expectations for since it's the south. I would recommend this for a nice dinner, but more for the ambiance rather than all the food itself. read more

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So excited to finally try this place! Husband and I reserved a table on the patio. Even though it was June the patio is covered and the temperature was perfect with fans. I ordered the Happy Tears cocktail which was absolutely perfect. Not too sweet, good size. Husband ordered the caipirinha and enjoyed it. We ordered the Toor Whip to start. It was a creative twist on hummus made from lentils instead of chickpeas. Very creamy and the tomatoes were blistered perfectly. I liked that for a slight upcharge I was able to have gluten free bread with it. Second appetizer was the chard and eggplant dolmas. It was absolutely fabulous. Slightly nutty texture and flavor from the wild rice and walnuts. My only complaint was that there were only three. It was really hard to split that third one with husband -- four would have been nice. Our final dish was the lamb. I'm honestly not a lamb fan so it wasn't my favorite but husband loved it. Loved the relaxed outdoor vibe. I'd definitely sit outside again. Do be aware that it is close to the train track so you may hear some loud trains. read more

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Such a great spot! One of the best spots in Raleigh! All the food was really outstanding, the cocktails were also delish, and the vermouth flight is fun! Quick service. And the decor is so fun and cute! Fun colors everywhere and really great ambiance. read more

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Came here for our date night and I will say the food was quite good! We started with the toor dip and lamb croquette. The lamb croquette was out of this world delicious. We could've eaten 10 but it just comes with one. The toor dip was pretty good, kind of similar to dal, if you've ever had dal. The blistered tomatoes on top added a good pop of freshness. I was also in love with the bread. We also got the Kuku sabzi which is in the sweet side and I loved it. For entrees we got the lamb seekh and spare ribs. I thought the ribs were really great and the lamb was good as well... a little tough for my partner but tough meat doesn't really put me off. Overall, we just docked a point because we felt service was a little slow and we didn't love our drinks. We felt the drinks didn't taste much like the descriptions but otherwise the food was delicious! The ambiance here is very nice and colorful! We do love the seating and colors of the restaurant read more

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Everything was perfect! The food, drinks, ambience, and staff were all so amazing! Our new favorite spot! Definitely recommend! read more

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Great hidden gem in Five Points neighborhood that is getting more attention. The menu is small, which we enjoy. We had the Ajja platter and pickles to start, followed by the asparagus for my fiancee and lamb seekh for me. It was the best lamb I have ever had. It is a little pricier but I felt that the food was worth what we paid for. Our server, Jordan, was excellent and attentive. Ambience is really cute, sort of mediterranean/middle eastern fusion with Indian vibes. Our cocktails were excellent as well. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Great meal! read more

Secret gem of Raleigh. A bit tucked away in a neighborhood but this one of the most unique dining experiences in Raleigh. Definitely suggest adding it to your list of places to dine in Raleigh. read more

Amazing atmosphere, service, and food. I love the mix of flavors. We enjoyed every dish and have a hard time deciding a favorite. We really enjoyed the Brussels sprouts. I think the favorite dish is the trumpet mushrooms followed closely by the trout. Can't wait to come back. read more

Ajja - House Tinned Fish - so good. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We went to Ajja on the 2nd or 3rd weekend weekend after opening and had a fantastic time. Highlights were definitely the ribs with an orange glaze, the baklava whiskey sour, and the lamb croquette. I'd suggest going with a group of 3 or 4 people, so you can sample all over the menu. We probably ordered ten or so dishes, and I loved the variety. I hope they rotate the dishes every now and then to keep their focused menu from stagnating. Service was prompt and friendly. Our waiter made sure to ask the kitchen about what I could eat with my seafood allergy. Sadly I couldn't have the steak because of anchovies in the marinade, but I'm thankful our server called that out. The space is primarily on a covered patio outside with a neat yard. Nice bar both inside and out, cool place to eat. This is a great treat-yourself spot where you can try several amazing drinks and small-ish plates. Creative presentation and fresh ingredients, definitely worth a visit. read more

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My partner and I had dinner here just the other night and had a fantastic experience. The ambiance is cozy both inside and outside of the restaurant, and based on other reviews, it seems they may have expanded their seating recently. Their back patio even has a view of downtown. We had the butternut squash dip with gluten-free bread as an appetizer. The dip was sweet and delicious, although I do wish they served more bread with it. For our meal, we shared the winter salad and chicken kebab. Both of these dishes were incredible and paired really well together! I've seen some reviews so far mentioning the blandness of some of the food, but this was not our experience at all. The service was prompt and the owner even brought out our appetizer. Overall a great experience and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for some new flavors! The only downside is the portion sizes, although the menu suggests that plates should be shared, and the restaurant is closer to a tapas bar in that way. read more

Delicious! Exquisite! I think the chef (former owner and chef of Garland --- a downtown fusion eatery that closed in 2022) is the Yottam Ottolenghi of Raleigh. She never rests on her laurels by bringing familiar dishes to the masses. She in facts fuses food, culture, and experience to provide us a true concept of a melting pot... and elevates it. All the dishes we ordered ( appetizers and mains) were delicious and exquisitely integrated to create new taste experiences. They had three desserts of which the sorbet is not a sorbet but a rich VEGAN eco unit ice cream with sugared boondi and pineapple. Delicious! What can I tell you? Taste to calorie ratio is huge!!! So... don't bother counting... just go enjoy this fusion or middle eastern, Indian, and Mediterranean... tapas style or shared menu items. Enjoy! Enjoy! If I can promise myself to not over eat... it's on my list of places to go weekly. It's that good. read more

Ajja is improbably located in an industrial area and has the ambience of a cheerful high school cafeteria. The food, however, may be the best in Raleigh. There are some interesting-sounding cocktails, but we chose glasses of wine from a small, but imaginative, list. While perusing the menu we had some lovely hummus with fantastic bread. There are a number of starters to share. My favorite is the coffee-glazed carrots with crunchy candied pistachios. The main courses are terrific, too. I had a local trout: deboned, fried and served whole, covered in herbs and citrus. I'm still fantasizing about it. My companions seemed quite enthusiastic about theirs, as well. read more

I had a wonderful dinner experience at Ajja recently. I came without a reservation but was quickly seated at the bar area. The restaurant is gorgeous with an indoor and outdoor space. It was much bigger than I expected it to be. I ordered a delicious mocktail and I appreciated that they had cocktail and mocktail options. They have a robust wine and beer list as well. The bartender/server was very helpful, starting our conversation by walking me through the menu. I order the Brussels sprouts, spare ribs, and apple cake. Everything was delicious, well prepared and extremely flavorful while also being unique. I wished the apple cake had been a bit warmer however I loved the paring of the sorbet with the cake. I went alone so I order just two items but if you go with someone or even friends, it could be a great place to share plates and try things. Overall, It was a wonderful dinner experience and I look forward to coming back. read more

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The service was overly pushy -- we felt rushed from the moment we sat down. Food came out in just a few minutes, clearly premade. When we raised concerns, the manager showed up unintroduced and uninterested. For prices comparable to high-end restaurants in LA or NYC, the experience and quality were a major letdown. Don't waste your time or money. read more

Great vibe, great cocktails, great food. Service is as good as it gets. Every server we interacted with was knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, energetic- with a genuine passion for food. We really enjoyed sitting on the patio. Now the food - pickled vegetables were a great starter with cocktails (cukes, pickled beets, bok choy, radish). Creamed Feta - amazing. CHARD-EGGPLANT DOLMA - OMG so good, nice kick, Fried Trout - best thing I have eaten in a while. A must read more