Cafe Raj has been here for decades. small dining space inside (off limits now), 2 tables outside. offering: very large menu with the usual categories. went vegetarian as it came with a side. eats: bangan barta (9.50) chose mild, not medium or hot -"pureed roasted eggplant in a creamy tomato curry" a big tub of mild tasting, watery "tomato curry" *tasted mildly addictive, lst time for me, a new culinary adventure. **came with a side of big tub brown basmatic rice. kheer (rice pudding) comped. (unexpected) -slightly sweet with almond notes. 4.5 stars: great value- fresh & healthy. read more

Cafe Raj - Bangan barta (9.50) with brown basmati rice . Comped Kheer (rice pudding) - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

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So my boyfriend and I usually go to another restaurant down Solano that has similar cuisine. Unfortunately it was closed but decided to give Cafe Raj a chance since we always hear good things about it. When we sat down the workers there were super friendly and gave us quick service! It has been truly one of the best experiences I have ever had at a restaurant. *We ordered the chicken tikka masala (spicy) the nice lady warned us it would be pretty spicy and boy was it! We also got that pakora and garlic naan as side dishes and it was sooo tasty! *I'm not sure if the workers felt bad for us because we were pretty spiced up towards the end, they ended up giving us a complementary rice pudding (Kheer)! It was so creamy and velvety! You could definitely taste the pistachios and spices they put it in. All in all it was such a nice time and the restaurant has a whole wall that shows the awards they have won over the years so that how I knew the food was going to be delicious. Both my boyfriend and I will definitely be back to try out more of their food! read more

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I couldn't give this place 5 stars fast enough! I was running errands and walked by and the smell instantly made me hungry. I ordered take out as I missed my cats and wanted to eat at home but they offer indoor and parklet dining! The space has a warm and welcoming vibe and everything smells so good! I ordered the paneer tiki masala, a side of garlic naan. They gave me complimentary chai while I waited and even threw in some Kheer! The food made my taste buds go to heaven, everything was cooked with so much flavor and I'm scared how much money I'm going to lose now that I know this place exists. If you're craving Indian food, your search is over!! Run over and get some! read more

Cafe Raj - Garlic Naan Bread - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

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We made a reservation for 6:15 pm on Saturday night. This was our fifth visit. Our food arrived after 6:30. As we were enjoying the evening after dinner, a non Indian manager told us this at 7:22 pm, "If you are finished eating, can you please leave ?" We were shocked & appalled ! We saw a couple walked in, but there was no line outside. We find this extremely rude & rare. We will not come back here. We do not recommend this place at all. Thank you for ruining our evening and letting us dine there for less than an hour. Your manner is totally unacceptable. read more

This is my to go place for Indian food for the last 15 years ! Great service, cozy atmosphere and what is most important great food ! Called yesterday for to go order and it was ready in 18 min. Definitely will recommend it to anyone in the area ! read more

Such amazing service and amazing food , I will definitely add this to my favorites collection. Thank you !

Well, it's true, I yelp many places I get food from. I don't believe in love at first whatever. So I am not in love with CAFE RAJ, but, my husband and I are eat dancing, dipping, thinking about the next time we get take out because it will be RAJ! WE We are dorky, but we found our new obsession! And they are nice too haha. Thanks for reading read more

I've been to Cafe Raj twice before, it's on Albany's Solano Ave which has a lot of different food options. Each time I've been it has been pretty busy there which is a good first sign. I don't know what region of India their cuisine is from but all I know is it's pretty good, their naan, their mango lassi, and their aloo gobi (cauliflower) and Chicken Vindaloo. We have friends who live in the area who really like that place, and now we do too. read more

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I haven't been here in quite some time but now that me and the hubby have our kids we seek places that can cater to their palette which isn't "too spicy" they are currently obsessed with Chana masala however it's quite hard to find places that accommodate spicy levels. Can I just take a moment to appreciate the lovely staff? It felt very welcoming and like home if I'm honest. I remember experiencing the same years ago too. Now for the food it was perfect enough for my 11 month to enjoy and my 3 year old! Thank you for making our dinner just that easy with the lovely food we enjoyed every bite! read more

Cafe Raj - Vegan Channa Masala, Butter Chicken, Chicken Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

Went with a big group of friends to Cafe Raj, and we had a great experience! They were very accommodating of our group (even though we hadn't arranged a reservation), and we really appreciated the complementary chai and rice pudding. The prices were very reasonable and the food was tasty. I had the Chicken Tikka Masala - it was a bit different than I've had before at other restaurants (the raisins were unexpected) but ultimately very enjoyable. read more

This place has really good service and they have plenty of seating inside and outside. We came here for the first time and the food is made by the Indian women- or the "Aunties" and they look happy working and cooking yummy food. The flavor is bland- only because I think the majority of patrons here do not have a high threshold for spice and flavor so they have to cater to their demographics. If you like Indian food made like Indian people will eat it- this is not the place. It's definitely good for those who want to taste Indian food made for a non Indian palate. I will come here again in the future since they have a pleasant atmosphere and the homey feel you get warms my heart. But as for taste- it is bland. It's not a negative just that it's not meant for Indian Palate or those who enjoy food the way they make it from that country- no adjustments necessary to preserve the authenticity of its ingredients. I don't care for almond milk I want real cream from cows milk. The chutney was just cilantro with water no flavor. The tamarind sauce was sour and no flavor, the bread is too dry. This place has good service but the food is lacking flavor. My apologies to the owner- this review was not meant to be geared for putting their cooking down its more that the food is not made for those who wish to have authentic Indian food- but a version that is acceptable for those who cannot handle real spices. Other than that, they are worth a try. The people are really sweet here. read more

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I really wanted to like this cafe. My niece takes her kids there and the kids love it as do the parents because they get an affordable healthy meal. A few friends also have this as their go to Indian place. The service is nice and it's a neighborhood place. I just don't feel it, although you get an abundant amount of food for me it's unappetizing and not worth it. I barely ate any of it and then had to go and eat a snack after so I felt like I had a meal. There are many Indian places on Solano, my favorite is at the top and I think I will stick to it. read more

What a wonderful dining experience!! We came here for the first time tonight because the restaurant we were going to go to was closed. I checked yelp and saw Cafe Raj was open until 11pm! What a rarity in this neighborhood! We were just grateful to find some place that was open and weren't expecting to be blown away by the food, but we were very pleasantly surprised! The woman who took our order was very accommodating and offered to make the Kofta Mahlai vegan for us. I hadn't had this dish in about a decade so I was ecstatic! It was delicious, and so was the Sabhsi Masala and Maarsh Daal and Pakora. We couldn't get enough of the tamarind and banana chutney! The service really stood out as well. Everyone was so attentive and kind. The women helping with our orders made sure to clearly point out what was vegan and what wasn't, which is a thoughtfulness I'm always grateful for. The final surprise was the check. Even though we ordered a good amount of dishes and had leftovers, our dinner was much more affordable than most places these days! We will definitely make Cafe Raj a regular spot! read more

Great food great prices large portions fast service impressive overall loved their chicken korma and garlic naan loads of garlic bangan bartha was blended smooth and papadams are in abundance we will be back read more

I appreciate the variety of vegan dishes of this place! I've been craving some Bangan Bharta and this truly satisfied my cravings! The bangan bharta had a lot of flavor. I did order it spicy, which was honestly way too spicy for me. Nonetheless, it did not stop me from eating it LOL. The portion size is actually huge! So I'm happy to know I have some left overs later!! The vegan chappatti was good as well, however it was a little dry but a good compliment to my bangan bharta. Overall, I thought the food was super yummy! Will definitely come back again! read more

Cafe Raj - Bangan Barta - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

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I'm stuck on the lamb saag and garlic naan. They do provide an option of sides, but it only include regular naan, so I usually get the rice. The spice level of the greens is good, the meat quantity is okay, and when eaten with garlic naan it's a great combination. These are the only items I've ate from here, but i will definitely try more dishes. Definitely a solid 3.5 stars, but I'll round up for now. read more

There are plenty of South Asian options in this part of the East Bay. Plenty. Especially on Solano Avenue where Jamie W. and I have done a fairly thorough job canvassing all the dining options around here, at least the ones that don't involve pizza, burgers, beer, or ice cream. That basically leaves salads, sashimi, and ah yes, Indian food. To their credit, they offer a pretty robust menu of curries, biryanis, and tandooris with a solid vegetarian selection. The setting is a bit on the bare bones side, but we weren't looking for a Cost Plus fire sale anyway. We shared the $8.50 Mixed Vegetable Curry, a solid mix of cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, potato, carrot, and peas in a light curry sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/2IRSYfK). We were less satisfied with the $8.50 Tandoori Chicken which was conveniently two chicken legs with the thighs still attached and heavily marinated, so much so that it left our fingers an irritating yellow that defies self-inflicted licking to remove (photo: http://bit.ly/2J4Mmdb). It was also a little too charred for my taste. The accompanying plain naan filled a plate, but it was frankly too dry to enjoy even as a guilty pleasure. FOOD - 3 stars...workaday Indian food with no major standouts but with nice price points AMBIANCE - 3 stars...kinda bland SERVICE - 3 stars...responsive albeit a bit curt TOTAL - 3 stars...it works, namaste RELATED - Strolling on Solano Avenue? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2HvcTQH read more

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The best restaurant on Solano Avenue period. The food, the service and the pricing are exceptional. My wife and I have been consistent diners for the past 25 years. Well worth trying out. read more

7 star service, and amazing hospitality! Walking in felt like I'm walking into my family's home in India. The food was delic and had the authentic flavors of what you'd expect an Indian restaurant should have. I walked in for a cup of chai and walked out with a stomach full of happiness! read more

I'm looking forward to eating here. I'm here to pick up an order for someone else and am observing how hard everyone works and how friendly everyone is - service goes a long way for me and everyone was extremely kind while I waited. I was offered tea and a seat while waiting even though seating inside was limited and the restaurant very busy. This type of place deserves support and I can tell due to the traffic that they serve delicious food. read more

We love Cafe Raj - the food is terrific and the team is so kind and accommodating!! Thank you all!!!

We LOVE Cafe Raj. It's our neighborhood go-to. And we have lived by some of the finest Indian restaurants in the U.S., mostly near 6th Street in NYC for over a decade LOL! The service is tops! Tikka Madala delicious. And there are often freebies with take-away read more

Just pass by this place give a try I was surprised how good everything was just perfect Good portion great service I think five star is to low on the top the price is just amazing for how good it is read more

Excellent service and superb food ! Got lamb korma, saag paneer and daal. Warm and friendly family atmosphere, they truly value their customers, and it shows in their food. read more

Love this place, and the prices have stayed reasonable for so many years. My favorites are the butter chicken and aloo bhindi. What's such a pleasant surprise is that when you order a dish, it comes with naan or rice. I've picked up food and have been given a sweet rice pudding, too. The wait staff (maybe family) are also always warm and welcoming. read more

Even under lockdown Cafe Raj is still keeping the good food coming. Everyone's masked up, as you'd expect, but it's a family-run place and they are hanging together, and staying open later than most other places. As a Brit I take my curry seriously and this is the best stuff in the East Bay. Yes, the names of dishes might be slightly different from London curry houses but the food is as good, if not better, with a superlative spice mix. My better half loves the lamb shai korma but I like the bone-in goat, so chewy and tasteful, or lamb in tomato. The samosas are excellent, packed full of meat and spices, and the naan is not to be missed. The garlic one is delightfully pungent but the onion naan is also well worth it. Very nice rice pudding too, and I've been offered it free since the lcokdown. Dammit, now I'm hungry. Time for some Indian goodness. read more

Cafe Raj - Goat (closest) and butter chicken, damn good eating and plenty of leftovers - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

I went to Cafe Raj a few weeks ago and long story short: the food was excellent, the service was quick and professional, and the staff was incredibly friendly. If you're looking for an option for Indian food in the East Bay, LOOK NO FURTHER! I beg you. The establishment and all its practices were very COVID-safe: everyone was wearing masks and gloves in the kitchen, and there were clearly marked signs for picking up your order (for which you can pre pay so you don't have to touch anything!), signs for clean pens vs. dirty pens (for signing credit card slips), and the door was propped open so there was lots of air flow. Between responsibly managing their business, serving delicious food, and making customers feel warmly welcomed every time, Rosemarie and her husband Mohammad have created something wonderfully memorable here, and everyone should support this great business! read more

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Very delicious and very affordable Indian food in downtown Albany! You can tell this is a family owned restaurant -- the food is tasty, fresh, seems to be made to order, and feels authentic. I came around 7pm on a Sunday night and was seated immediately. We ordered vegetable samosas ($3.50 for two), a Mango Lassi ($2.95), their current Special Choti Gobi made with brussels sprouts and potatoes ($9.25), and their Aloo Ghobi ($8.50). The service was a little slow and it took a while for the food to come out, but it was so good. They offer a choice of naan or spiced white/brown rice. I was so hungry when I came I inhaled my dish in like 15 minutes. They were super sweet and gave us complimentary rice pudding for dessert :') Pros: - Tasty Indian food - Very affordable - Wide menu - Known for their Mango Lassi Cons: - Long wait time for food read more

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The food was amazing and authentic. Portions are super big, my son and i ordered two dishes and ended up with 4 boxes of leftovers. The stuffed chappati was fantastic. read more

This place is amazing. Prices are ridiculously cheap. Staff treats you extremely well. Why are you still reading. Get in your vehicle, get on a bicycle, put on your jogging shoes and run to Cafe Raj. read more

We have lived in the area for over six years, passing by Cafe Raj and thinking that it was a coffee/tea cafe. Ha! Were we wrong. By chance my daughter asked to eat there (she has dietary restrictions) . My goodness, all those years wasted. This is the best Indian food in the area, hands down. The flavors sing, the food is fresh and the spices are just right. I had the mixed vegetable biryani - divine. The naan was excellent. My husband and daughter had excellent dishes (can't remember what) which I tasted- wow. If you haven't guessed,I loved it. read more

Wow!!!! I was getting my hair done nextdoor I came out hungry smelled something delicious in the air and my feet brought me here, service was perfect friendly and warm. The lady was so welcoming took my order and I waited fifteen minutes she brought the most outstanding food with crazy flavors WOW!!!! Basmati Rice and Chicken Tikka Masala probably the best I have ever had!!!! They have a few outside seating so it was so lovely and then she brought a free rice pudding dessert on the house YAY!!!! Best place ever!!!!! read more

Cafe Raj - Indian Near Me - Albany, California

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We love Cafe Raj! We have been going there for years for their butter chicken and veggie samosas - delicious! The wait staff is also super friendly. While many restaurants have been forced to raise their prices and cut their service, Cafe Raj still delivers delicious food for reasonable prices in a welcoming and relaxed setting. A Solano Ave institution! read more

My favorite Indian food! This place turned Indian food into one of my favorite foods, but only from here! I really love the lamb (or chicken) Korma with medium spiciness. I'm very spice sensitive but the medium adds excellent flavor without a burn or hot feeling, so I actually recommend medium for most sensitive people! Rice is good, naan is good, kheer is good! I live in San Francisco now but make a point of getting some takeout here when I'm in town before I head back home! read more

I love this casual, relatively inexpensive and welcoming restaurant The food is very good highlighted by some well executed Indian standards like Tikka Masala,,Korma and Daal. The staff is friendly and attentive and remember the regular patrons read more

I order from here every now and then. Tonight placed a phone order. I came in paid for my order and got I. My car only for one of the women working to come out yelling at me for taking the merchant copy of the receipt. I got out of my card to show her I didn't and that both copies of the receipt said no signature needs. So why such a big reaction to come out to my car yelling at me about it. Guess she bad after seeing I did nothing wrong gave a weak apology and left. I think this will be my last time coming back. It's was really uncomfortable being treated so badly over something so dumb read more

Our favorite Indian spot in the East Bay! Been a customer for the past 15 years & the food is as delicious as ever. I've tried many, if not most of the other nearby Indian restaurants & always end up coming back to Cafe Raj! The staff are friendly & generous. Pleasant, relaxed ambience. I rarely eat meat but I can't resist ordering the Lamb Roghan Josh. The lamb melts in your mouth. Other dishes are great as well. read more

Amazing Chai: After 2 sugars, it went down like if a rainbow could go into a cup. I'd like to swim in it! The food looked good, smelled good & tasted better! The flavors subtlety complimenting each other like a polite party of Angels Then some rice pudding: light and airy like clean sheets whisking around in the sun gently gliding on your cheeks! Could I want any more in a dining experience? No. It was all I could ask, hope & dream for & more! There's a reason I come all the way from Oakland & after all these years--will keep returning like the sun returns to the sky! Thank you friendly owners of Cafe Raj! read more

Super friendly service. Good food. A solid place to come for Indian takeout, which is what we got.

Prices are reasonable for the food. I went here for dinner with a friend and I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. The taste was not as flavorful as I am used to, seemed more creamy or watered down and with less spices (not just the heat factor, but all the other spices seemed to be missing --- that are typically used in this dish, such as masala spices, coriander, cumin, cardamon, cloves, etc). Not sure if this was a modification to adjust to western taste, but I feel like it just didn't appease my palate. Service was accommodating though. read more