Deeply umami complexsweet subtly fragranced savorysalty tingly spicyhot. Thicksmooth pebbled rough crispythin cracklecrunch densetender fluffy. The most delicious exercise your mouth can have. Sweat it out now! read more

Best Indian food this side of the Ganges!!! Seriously-- the food is made with LOVE-- and locally grown ingredients-- so it's healthy AND delicious. Not too oily, and the best flavors from the variety of fresh spices that head chef Mahd craftily mixes from his kitchen EVERY night. He loves making others happy, and his efforts are apparent in the classic, sumptuous dishes he creates. If that wasn't enough, Cafe Raj is one of the only places around that could easily charge more for its food-- but doesn't. Portions are way generous-- there's always some to take home (unless you're sorta a beast like me), yet the quality of the food isn't a bit compromised by this. More heaven??? The staff. Somehow, they manage to accommodate all kinds of hungry people yet still make you feel like you're super special family-- they know what you want before you do. Chai, Nimbu Pani, more naan? It's there before you know it. LOVE them. You want to take them home, along with your leftovers. Raj is the best Indian food in an area where Indian food is already at a high standard. It's totally not necessary to go to the larger, more expensive places to have an authentic North Indian experience-- save money and have a way better time here at this Punjabi gem! read more

Pretty dang good, and the price is certainly right. I ordered the chicken korma, and while I enjoyed the dish, I'm not sure it was really korma based upon all the times I've had it in the past. I'm a huge fan of chapati, but the version at Cafe Raj was somewhat dry. I think the best part of the experience was seeing my boyfriend's face when he tried a salt lassi for the first time - so hilarious. I've never seen his face contort like that before. Let's just say it wasn't his favorite! Overall, I think the food was so-so here, but would be willing to give it a try again in the future. read more

Four stars for $4.95 lunch special of chicken and potato curry. I wish they would rotate...though maybe I just came too soon (twice within 2 weeks). Their helping of curry & rice lasts me two meals, and I like the fact that its not cream based. The naan is made fresh and is really great as well. Makes for a quick lunch stop if you need one. The lady also let my friend sit with me at the table to eat her sandwich even though she didn't order from the restaurant. read more

I think I wrote a review of this place before, but I"m updating it. I've been eating there several times in the last two weeks. Sometimes take out, sometimes dine in. My favorite dish now is the veggie shai korma. It is chuck full of vegetables, enough for two meals. It comes with rice. I take the leftovers to work. I always get two meals out of this if I get an appetizer too. I've had the curry veggie, with I though lacked character, and I like the shai norma better because its a cream based sauce and it has nuts in it!! I'm sure the chicken and lamb versions are just as good. The samosas are amazing. I'm not an expert on Indian Food, but this place is tasty enough that I keep going back and I've developed a craving! Bathrooms are clean, free chai tea, super kid friendly! My daughters (ages 3, 8 & 10) love the chicken appetizer and also I love the cheese appetizer. I think they also love the ambiance as do I. They always want to go there. Doesn't break the bank for a family of 5...since you can share many dishes and the portions are Huge...and that's way more fun anyhow! I can see how some people might not think the service is enthusiastic, but I like the family vibe and I just ask for what I want when I want it - they always respond right away and are very nice people. read more

Our go to for to go, consistently good, family owned and run. The paneers are solid and the sauces have soul. I walk out with dinner and leftovers for lunch for 20 dollars although I wish they did not charge for chutney. Can not say I much on the room though, it is cafeteria austere. But on the to go basis, it is 5 stars, so much so that the French 1/2 of the family that hates Indian food likes Cafe Raj. read more

Cafe Raj is an awesome place for families because they perfectly combine great food with an obvious commitment to the community. They are SO nice here! I highly recommend the aloo saag, mushroom saag, and saag paneer with naan or chappati to scoop it all up. Their mango lassi is well balanced - sweet but not saccharinely so - and always hits the spot. Very vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Affordability is everything and they've got that, too. For around or under $30, you can still dine heartily with a friend here - no small feat when eating out at a comfy sit-down restaurant in this inflated economy. I'm down. We've brought many family members and friends here over the years. Everyone always walks away happy, full, and planning to return with more family and friends. Bring everybody to this welcoming gem of a place. read more

Great place to eat. I always come here. Very friendly service and the complementary rice pudding is icing on the cake. I would definitely recommend. read more

Ordered through Yelp and the food was ready on time. The family that owns and runs the restaurant are so sweet. I ordered the Chana masala (spicy). And wow was it spicy! Lol. Only get the spicy if you really enjoy very spicy food. I definitely do and I loved it! I will be heading back soon!! :) read more

I've loved this place for years, for their generous portions and kind staff. Their food is not greasy unlike many other places. I only wish they'd use less plastic. They could use more paper bags, boxes and compostible containers. read more

We found this place while strolling a bit on the Avenue, and decided to give it a try, on Saturday early evening. I agreed to try it because they had many vegetarian and vegan dishes listed on their website (which my hubby checked quickly outside first).. I am a serious vegan, and he is not. The décor is very simple, and they display many annual food recognition award plaques on the walls. Our server was a friendly young lady, who listened when I told her that I am vegan, and she offered me the tamarind sauce for the Samosas, since she let me know that the mint sauce wasn't vegan. (Still not sure why though). We both enjoyed our Vegetable Samosas, and although they weren't fried like most other places do, I thought it was actually very good, and even said to my husband, "this may be the best one I've ever had." Unfortunately, my mixed veggie curry was underwhelming, it tasted just ok, and I got the Naan with mine. My hubby had another curry dish, which I don't even know what was in it, but my guess would be he got chicken. He thought it was ok, but we agreed that it was nothing special. When we got to our car, not more than 10 minutes after leaving, I got a stomach ache from my food. We also both developed frankly, very serious gas. It was very uncomfortable and stinky too. This went on for several hours at home. Not pleasant after going out for dinner. We agreed that we will not go back to this place. There were a number of folks eating there, probably locals who like a low cost meal with some flavor. The prices are very reasonable, but I always say "You get what you pay for". One more thing (or two) that bothered me, was that when we sat down, they had empty plates on the table, and there was a piece of food on mine, so we asked it to be removed. Also, my next dish had a large chip in it, but I didn't say anything about that. Then, we asked for clean plates and flatware after our appetizer, and she took my fork and knife and put it aside, so my hubby asked her to give me new ones. She looked a bit surprised at that request, but she brought me a fresh set of silver wear. I don't always ask, by the way, but it was pretty dirty from the samosa and sauce. I felt that this other girl seemed a bit less friendly towards me, she looked at me sort of like she was annoyed later on. She did give us a few takeout containers, when my hubby asked at the end of our meal, and he ate the complimentary rice pudding (which I thought looked a bit watery). He seemed happy with it. I don't eat that. We don't live around Solano anyway, so not concerned about not going back again. I certainly don't appreciate being made ill and queasy all night. Not fun. read more

From it's quirky service to it's delicious foods, Cafe Raj is the Indian restaurant that should bring everyone to the East Bay at least once. It's clean, the food is great and the you'll go home completely satisfied. A place to come back to again and again! read more

Cafe Raj is a little gem tucked away at the bottom of Solano Avenue. The service has always been top-notch (and it baffles me that there are those who have had bad service experiences here). I've been there during peak hours, off hours, in-between and before a movie. I've always enjoyed the friendly servers, their goofy attitude, and the family-like atmosphere. The food is probably not the "best" in the Bay Area (I've had some killer Tikka Masala in SF), but it's very dependable and very reasonably priced, considering the considerable portions (I just indulged, and so could only come up with "considerable" twice just then -- too much masala sauce in my brain). Based on someone else's recommendation, I got the cheese naan for a change, and I liked it better than the regular naan, which I feel is their only real flaw. Naan 'N Curry is some cheap Indian chain and their food quality is much lower ... and yet, they have pretty good naan there. I think Cafe Raj could improve their naan and I hope they do; I'll keep going there because of everything else, but I'll always be hoping for a revised naan option. If there is any other small thing I'd love to see change, it's their spicy spectrum. It seems to me that the mild, mild-plus, and medium are pretty close in spiciness, but that that medium-plus jumps way to up Super-Spicy! I've never tried the spiciest version, and probably couldn't stomach it (a side note: anyone else get hiccups when they eat something that is too spicy for them to take?) Point is: If you haven't tried Cafe Raj, it's worth a sampling. Go there, bring a few friends, get a few dishes and eat family style (I recommend these three tasties: Chicken Tikka Masala, Vegetable Shai Korma, and Saag Paneer). The food will be very enjoyable, the service exceptionally friendly, and the prices will let you be able to afford that $12 movie (or $15 movie, or however much movies are these days). read more

Great prices, Great Food!!! I'm a new vegetarian and I love the wide variety of vegi and vegan options they offer here. The waitresses are nice and offer promt serivce and they have take out, too! LOVE IT!! read more

Cafe Raj is my pick for Indian food in the East Bay. The food is consistently excellent. Friends are equally impressed with the caliber of the food. The portions are generous and the prices are unbeatable. The Bangan Barta is my favorite! Pureed eggplant in a creamy tomato sauce. It's like butter. Their Saag Paneer is another stand out. I never liked this cheese and spinach dish until I had Cafe Raj's. I usually have to wait for a table, but not yesterday. Plenty of empty tables, but we did however have to wait a while for our order to be taken. I had to ask multiple staff members. This was the only draw back. It is totally worth the wait. read more

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaurant. I've never had such great Indian/Pakistani food until I fell in love with Cafe Raj. They ask if you like low/medium/high spiciness in your dishes. If you can take the spice, I suggest trying high, otherwise stick to low or medium. All their dishes are delicious, especially their Chicken Tikka Masala, Aloo Keema, Chicken Vindaloo, Garlic Naan, and basmati rice. The service is great with very friendly waitresses catering to your needs. If you ever get a chance, take a sneak peek behind the wall into the kitchen and you see the elderly Pakistani or Indian women making your authentic dishes. The food is fabulous! read more

Tasty food. reasonable prices. quick friendly service. I've only been there once but will certainly be back! edited to add: I've been back a few times. Consistently good at the above. read more

The high quality food at Cafe Raj is almost unbelievably consistent. Service is pleasant although I most often carry out. Prices more than reasonable and portions are large. The naan is standard but excellent; garlic and butter naan are nice touches. I've had: Chicken Tikki Masala Lamb Masala Lamb Saag Mushroom Curry Tandori Chicken Chicken Tikka Lamb Tikka And they're all excellent. The Mushroom Curry is a highlight, and Cafe Raj has one of the most consistently good, not greasy, perfectly cooked, just the right amount of heat Lamb Saag that I've had anywhere. The Tandoori grill items aren't quite up to the standard of the curries; the chicken tends to be on the dry side and the lamb tikka lacks a little something, but still worth eating when I want to mix up my order. Wonderful to have in the neighborhood. A real winner. read more

I LOVE Cafe Raj. In fact, we ate here just a few days ago. We must have been to this place at least 1/2 dozen times. The wait staff love our toddler boy and he loves their naan. We tried the cheese naan for the first time a few days ago and DUDE, I am so hating the fact that I have gestational diabetes because that stuff is soooooooooo good. After I give birth, I'm going to come here and order two cheese naans and eat to my heart's content. read more

I absolutely *love* Cafe Raj. Their food is amazing, and perfectly spiced for my (admittedly pansyish) tastebuds. We normally order the mixed vegetable curry, and the vegetables always taste and feel fresh. The vegetable samosas are also a huge favorite, even with my picky little 7 yo (which is flabbergasting!). The service is also impeccable. We always feel so pampered with at least three servers making sure we have exactly what we want. I would absolutely recommend Cafe Raj to anyone looking for some comforting Indian food. Bon Apetit! read more

Cafe Raj is probably one of the best quality late-night Indian/Pakistani restaurants in the Berkeley/Albany area. Here are some reasons why you might want to check this place out for dinner when you're in the area. 1. They are open till 11 PM on weeknights, yes, weeknights =) Due to unfortunate circumstances, my friend and I couldn't eat dinner until past 9:30 PM. Though we were in Berkeley, most of the highly rated restaurants on Yelp were closed, including some great Indian restaurants. This was probably one of the few restaurants that was still open with an above-average rating and reasonable prices. 2. They provide "casual dining for the sophisticated palate" at a $ price Typically, above-average Indian/Pakistani food comes at a premium with high prices and smaller portions. My friend and I ordered two curries, naan, and samosas, and we left fulfilled and financially fit. We would have had leftovers, but I didn't want my car to linger any reminders of the delicious curry. We decided to just hunker down, man up, and finish it all. 3. The food was aesthetically pleasing, flavorful, and filling. We ordered the Buttered Chicken and Lamb Vindaloo curries, and both were very tasty. Even though their Beef Samosas were pretty good, they had fairly small portions on this dish (2 samosas), so I'll probably not order this again. Lastly, their Naan is hot, fresh, cheap, and necessary when eating their curry dishes. 4. Great customer service and family atmosphere As many Yelpers pointed out, this is a family run business, and you can tell that they're passionate about their food and each other. Our waitress was extremely kind and made my eating experience there very pleasant. Her patience, kindness, and timely service convinced me to write this review for their restaurant. read more

The food ok. Its pricey though, they charge you for chutney....isn't that standard with an indian restaurant? The portions are also on the smaller side. I'm not sure I'd return. Pros - Clean interior Hot food read more

I love cafe raj. The staff is so friendly. My daughter is a big fan of the butter chicken she likes dipping her naan in the sauce. There are open until 11pm. I stopped bye when they just closed after a late night dancing and the owner opened the doors and turned the stove back on. Please don't miss out and stop bye cafe Raj :) read more

Cafe Raj - Sharing is caring - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

This place is affordable and delicious. Easy pick up. Friendly staff. Definitely recommended.

Clean place, flavorless food. Indian/Pakistani food is one of my top two favorites; never before have I had food with virtually no flavor. We packed the food to go, after two or three bites each, so I could take it home and fix it. read more

This place needs more staff. I had ordered a drink ( lemon water) which I got at the very end after I finished my food. Even after repeatedly telling them they didn't bring the cheque. The one and only server lady didn't even bother to come at our table to follow up even once. Instead the other lady ( manager or owner, I guess) came and checked on our table. Had ordered chapati but was no where near chapati. Disappointed read more

Excellent Baingan Bharta (pureed eggplant) and OK to good on everything else. You get a ton of food, especially on take-out. We usually order 3 or 4 dishes (including 2 Baingan Bhartas), and then have leftovers for 2 as well. Their weak point is their bread, which is surpassed by other places. Their take-out service is top-notch. They go through the order with you to make sure it's all there, it's fast, and it's always ready when they say it will be. read more

I love Cafe Raj and it is my local takeout of choice in Berkeley/Albany. The food is not gourmet or upscale, but always great. The staff is wonderful and happy. I have been eating at Cafe Raj for years and can always count on them to be smiling, friendly, and give me heaping portions of consistently good food for reasonable prices. We like the Shai Korma (veg. curry with cream/nut sauce). read more

Delicious, very reasonable Indian. I love the rogan josh, and saag. The paneer is really the only thing I've had here that is not up to snuff: very rubbery. The only down-side of Raj for take-out is the curry pieces tend to be quite large, so it's easy to end up with a vat of sauce and no meat when sharing with a group. Eating in the restaurant is very pleasant, especially if you're seated so as to see into the cooking area, in my opinion. It really seems like everything is made very fresh and I love watching all the scrumptious industry. Glad to have this place close to home! read more

We were on our way to see "Slumdog Millionaire" and found this restaurant for lunch. We started with Papadam. I had the Lamb Tikka and my wife had the Chicken Tikka Masala. Both ordered with Naan. Regular Lassi for my wife and a Mango Lassi for me. To begin with the Papadam was outstanding. The Mango Lassi was fresh with the sour/sweet taste I love. I received three nice pieces of Tandoori lamb nicely cooked and very tasty. The Naan was warm and fresh. I stole some of my wife's Chicken Tikka Masala and found the sauce to be very good. It was not your usual bland yellow Masala sauce, but thick spicy and complex. The chicken was tender and well seasoned. You can see I have given them only four stars. I reserve five stars for my favorite overseas Indian restaurants. Cafe Raj was as good as any Indian cafe I have eaten at in the US. read more

Outstanding, authentic Pakistani food. Better than my wife's cooking. Service was warm and friendly. I loved the Samosas and the Malai Kofta. Their Chai is also great. Now I know why peolple have been telling me to go there for tthe last few years. I'll be back. read more

Two Words: Butter Chicken. I love it so much I can't remember the last time I ordered anything else here. It is sooo delicious. Additionally, I always find the take out service to be quick and convenient. read more

My date and I decided on vegetarian dishes only. Worth trying are the Sag Aloo (spinach & potatoes) and the Dal (the one with red sauce). Brown rice was okay and the Gulab jamun (pastry balls soaked in syrup) was not particularly exciting. Great service, good locale and deco. I'd go back to try non-vegetarian dishes. read more

Great staff and excellent Indian food. We ordered dinner for 50 from here last weekend for our Bollywood Dance Party. They helped us select dishes and advised us on quantities. They delivered it all and set it up and even loaned us some food warming stands with Sterno. Can't wait to come back for more. read more

Our favorite spot for well priced and delicious Indian take away. It's pretty rich but that's like most indian places I have been too. Service is always very kind as well offering chai while you wait. Amelie: They always have good mango lassi. read more

The biggest issue I have is the Naan. I've had it in many places - and I'm sorry but Cafe Raj is not making it right. It almost tastes raw. It's very rubbery, not light and flaky. So something is not right here. As I've never made Naan I don't know why this is. Is it because it's not made in a Tandoor? Not right temperature? Too thick? Not sure. The other issue is the curry is too thick - almost like tomato paste. read more

Spicy doesn't mean u just put more chilli powder and serve! . Masala was uncooked , raw smell of turmeric! And garlic naan doesn't mean you stuff 1 bag of garlic and cook. I seriously don't know what chef is cooking!! I just came out of shop coz I was in hurry to go. I m wondering on 5star reviews ??? read more

Whenever we come into town from SoCal, Cafe Raj is our first stop! We love the food!!! Thank you Raj.

Cafe Raj serves high quality and delicious food! The employees are very friendly and attentive. They have offered wonderful to-go service during COVID-19! read more

This is my FAVORITE restaurant in Berkeley and my FAVORITE Indian food ever. I've never experienced such fresh, quality and delicious Indian food until I ate at Cafe Raj. I don't eat Indian food often because it often had a lot of cream/dairy but Cafe Raj can make all your favorite dishes dairy free and vegan!! And, everything and I mean everything I've had there is good. But really what makes this place just above and beyond is its service. The people here are the nicest and give some of the best service I've ever experienced! I feel like I'm being treated as a guest in their home, not just a customer in a restaurant. They have offered free rice pudding dessert to my table while dining in, and even when I came to pick up take-out! And of course the rice pudding is so good! They've also offered me a free cup of chai tea to enjoy while waiting to pick up my takeout and then take home with me. I love this restaurant and its staff and highly recommend it! This is a gem of a place read more