Ambiance is great. Food even better. Surprised how lively it was on a random weekday evening.

Was so excited to finally dine here last night with our group of friends. Jaji has been on my list since opening and I feel like my soft expectations were blown away. The ambience is beautifully decorated with a lot of care put into the details. Really great for a nice dinner or date night. I really enjoyed the ducktu dumplings, shola-garooti croquettes. The entire table really loved the trout and chapli wagyu beef. For drinks, my favorite was the Not your grandma's chai. I also really enjoyed the chocolate pistachio cake. I don't have the biggest sweet tooth to be honest, but this was such a well balanced dessert in terms of sweetness and cream and I definitely went in for second helpings (which never happens for me with chocolate cake). Service was incredible-Daniel our server was so kind and awesome, providing us with all the great recommendations and checking in with us periodically. Looking forward to coming back and checking out their restaurant, pop-up chef events, and speakeasy (!) read more

Jaji - Trout and saffron rice - Afghan Near Me - Oakland, California

My husband brought me to this place. The ambiance is nice, music in the background and the high ceiling makes it very attractive. No reservation, but we were seated right away. Small plates , tasty food and good drinks. Overall good experience. read more

I was there with my family 8**# people's It was my nephew's graduation from medical school and the restaurant environment is nice and beautiful, but the food and the services was very bad. The rice was not fresh at all and the portion amounts was very small which is we asked the waitress and she said it's a family tree we have and when they brought the family tray it was looks like it's for a one person I wasn't happy at all nobody wasn't happy. I am Afghan and I know how to cook my food and and I know which one is a good food or bad food or fresh so it was a very bad experience. I'm not going there anymore because the costs was it's almost $700 but the services the food was sucks. read more

Instagram brought me here lol After 5 total disappointments of restaurant recommendations from foodie influencers. I had given up on trying their suggestions, I thought I should expand my horizons with a fusion cuisine of Afghan delicacies. Never had I ever had such flavors I started with the Bolani, the fried onion on top added amazing flavor. I also had the Tekka WAGYU kabob, I don't know if I can ever have regular kabob again lol I thought I was done till the party next to me ordered a mushroom pekora dish that looked good, so I had to order that too. Service and ambience was great too, all of the staff were very knowledgeable about the food too! I can imagine this place with a Michelin or read more

Jaji - Afghan Near Me - Oakland, California

The cocktails are truly special. Diverse, inventive and delicious. The food, while tasty and well presented, is about 25% overpriced. The cocktails, however, are priced at about average for the setting and quality. I'd recommend just going as a walk in and sitting with a partner and/or friends on the many soft lounge seats to the left of the entrance. read more

My new favorite restaurant! The drinks and food are all so delicious. All the lamb plates are perfection. Ambiance and service are 10/10. I recommend this place to everyone. Keep it up! read more

First things first, walking in the place looks amazing with all the details and ambiance. The lighting the bar and the seating areas. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They take time answering questions about the menu and make excellent recommendations on the food options. The food came out in beautifully prepared and delicious. We had a wonderful time and this is a must spot to add to your list of new places to enjoy some authentic cuisine. read more

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This place was delicious. The service was fantastic! Our waiter, Johnathan was absolutely fantastic, he gave us delicious recommendations, super knowledgeable, and even gave us a cheesecake on the house due to it being my mother's birthday! Amazing attentiveness and a great ambiance. I will definitely be back! Drinks were amazing too read more

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Ordered "Qarto and the Hen" and "Firnee Ice Cream" this time. Wanted to order lamb shank again which seemed available on the website but not in the actual menu again. Was told that this was off season and may return in Fall / Winter time. Qarto and the Hen: 4/5. Pretty well made. The special vinaigrette sauce was a nice addition to make the chicken more flavorful. The interior of the chicken around the breast region was not very well seasoned and tasted a bit bland (but other regions of the chicken were great). I asked the waitress for more sauce which helped add some flavor to these pieces. Firnee Ice Cream: 5/5. Dessert from this place hasn't disappointed and was always a highlight. This time the ice cream is mixed with lots of nuts (pistachio, dates, & fig) and had a pleasant crunchy texture. The cardamom also added a unique flavor. The ice cream itself was not overly sweet so the flavor of the other mixture could stand out. read more

This place has just become my go to spot in Oakland. Wow!! Genius technique to bring traditional flavors together in innovative tastes and combinations. Any lamb dish is outstanding in flavor profile and tenderness. The small bites could easily be your meal by ordering several. If the cabbage is on the menu, be sure to order it. Mind blowing. I loved this setting as a restaurant when it was Occitania and it is still beautiful. Comfortable,warm and inviting. Our server was incredible. Knowledgeable and friendly with great suggestions on pairing and amounts. The dishes are meant to be shared, that said, the portions are suitable for one person. I can't wait to go back. read more

As an Afghan, this place goes against everything the Afghan culture stands for . They serve the absolute most basic Afghan food with the cheapest food cost and charge a premium with portions that are so small, it's insulting . The flavors are mid at best. I just spent $169 for food that would fit on one plate . Also , I am not a big eater at all. In most places I share a plate with whomever I am with and hardly ever finish . AVOID this place . The Shola bites were the last straw . Nothing like getting 30 cents worth of food cost for $10 . This is not fine dining . It's so basic . Its village food dressed up and reduced . Rename this place Jirt read more

Everything was great. A truly lovely setting. I'll go back. And we went to its sister restaurant the next day. Also excellent.

Loved, loved this restaurant !!!! the ambience, the service, the food... and the story behind it all! We tried pretty much everything on the menu, and I loved all of it. The eggplant dish, the NY strip steak, and the trout were probably my favorites, but truly everything was so good. The owner was incredibly sweet, and our server was so accommodating. I highly recommend this spot for a date night or even a large party! read more

Food was great! Among the 4 of us we had a vegan, a carnivore, a spicy girl and a spice wimp, drinkers and teetotalers and we all ended up happy. My favorites were the mushrooms and the lamb. Gorgeous space and happy, friendly staff. read more

amazing food and amazing experience. the staff was so so nice. we went for our anniversary and were treated with such genuine hospitality. amazing experience. coming again soon. read more

Jaji - Afghan Near Me - Oakland, California

I went to Jaji last Wednesday night for a business dinner. Standing in front of the building, I was impressed by what I saw from the outside but didn't expect the interior to be so cozy and warm given the size of the restaurant. Kudos to the decorator/designer who did a fabulous job with the colors, and overall decor, which added to the ambiance of this place. It's hard to make a large restaurant feel so cozy. As if you're walking into someone's home. The family pictures on the wall adds to the charm and really makes you feel like you're in their home. We were greeted by two hostesses who were not only gorgeous but very pleasant. Not in that fake smile kind of way, but genuine. We were seated at the perfect round table for 3 in the corner. Perhaps because it was still early-ish (5:45pm). The restaurant did get pretty packed soon after, which is always a good sign. The busser came to our table within seconds of us being seated and filled our water glasses. Then came Daniel, who was our server. Daniel is the epitome of a perfect server if such a thing even exists. I know this is a huge statement given the quality of service patrons are provided these days. And, I might be embellishing a bit , but he was incredibly knowledgeable, describing each dish as if he's the one who's cooking them in the back. He made me want to try everything on the menu. We did end up ordering 3 dishes on the appetizer section (Daal salad, Bolani, and the rice balls-I forget the actual name) , but they were all delicious! I seriously wanted to lick the plate the Daal salad came in. Lol. The dessert was just chef's kiss. We had the pistachio and coconut ice cream. Sooo good I wanna go back just to try other desserts. For main dishes, we had the lamb , which was good, but I would prefer they tried a different sauce than the au jus sauce, which adds a touch of sweetness to it. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer my lamb to be more savory. We also ordered the Branzino , which was phenomenal! We didn't get to try the kabobs, but hope to next time. I love how the menu is not overwhelming with too many options. It has the perfect amount of options. I would rather have a restaurant not offer a whole lot of options but whatever they do provide is of the highest quality . This place knocks this aspect out of the park! Sending a shout out to the chef, the staff and the owners (Paul and Sofie (sp)) for this gem in Oakland! I hope they make it big in my hometown. They are a dynamic duo who are super talented. They are also owners of Parche, a few blocks down. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. It is lively, and fun and the food is incredible!! In short, try Jaji and you will not be disappointment. read more

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What a stunning restaurant! The ambiance is beautiful and you can tell a lot of thought was put into this restaurant. The service was outstanding - different folks were coming in to check on us and everyone did a fabulous job at presenting each dish. It did feel as if they were a few too many interruptions by the various servers but I appreciated the attentiveness. We ordered the bolani triangles, the chapli wagyu beef, and the chocolate pistachio cake. The food was incredible - so flavorful and beautiful presentation. The green chutney was so yummy, definitely keep an eye on that. We also ordered the duck confit dumplings which were a huge letdown - the meat was dry and flavorless. I was honestly shocked since everything else was so good - definitely a menu item to skip. The highlight of the night for me was the chocolate pistachio cake - the textures of the phyllo and semi freddo were divine and I loved the combination of chocolate and pistachio - it was also served on a gorgeous plate. My main complaint is that everything is expensive which I understand considering it seems they're going for an upscale vibe - would come back but only for a special occasion. read more

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Despite my hopes, Jaji failed to even remotely impress--echoing the warnings I'd heard from everyone I know who's tried it. Afghan cuisine is renowned for its rich, unforgettable flavors, but unfortunately, this restaurant does not do it justice and in fact butchers it. Classic dishes are reimagined as "fusion," yet end up a disappointing shadow of the true favorites. If you have any experience with Afghan food, I recommend steering clear. You'll likely leave feeling let down and craving the real thing making your way to In n Out later in the evening for therapy. read more

Dined at Jaji last evening and was blown away. The food, from the small dishes and kabobs to the large plates was universally excellent. The setting is very warm and welcoming and the service was attentive but not intrusive. It's a shame I am only visiting the area since I enjoyed it so much and would love to return. read more

Friday night, party of 3, we made reservation without problem and when we arrived it didn't look busy at all. Ambiance was nice it wasn't loud and we could listen each other. However, service was extremely slow, they were definitely short on staff. No refilling water, no changing plates between courses, no asking for second round of drinks, the server was nice but she literally was just taking orders and dropping food. We never saw any other busser or supervisor or anyone checking on us or any of the tables around us. Besides the lack of service, the food disappointed on flavor size and price. It was OK, for the price it could have more preparation specially the lamb and the chapli patties but it was just the meat with little amount of sauce and plain cold pita bread. For dessert both the cardamom cake and saffron ice cream were delicious! Overall experience 2/5 it was my first time and definitely won't come back. read more

Jaji is a perfect example of a City starving for more upscale restaurants so bad, people are willing to overlook the subpar food. Nice dining room to sit in, and staff was friendly. We tried 5 dishes and they were all just okay. Nothing had the complex aromatic flavor Afghan food is known for. The pacing of dishes was really off, and the servers all shared tables but clearly weren't communicating which caused the service to feel disjointed. We had a different person multiple times who seemed to not know what was going on at our table. $157 for two (with no alcohol), we expected to be wowed. Wouldn't go back for dinner, would stop in for a drink at the bar to enjoy the space. read more

Amazing food! Beautiful space! Daniel from Colombia made the night with his great service.. Thanks for taking care of my family man. Was a perfect place for our celebration. read more

Jaji - Zin - Afghan Near Me - Oakland, California

Impeccable experience. The first Afghan fusion restaurant I have been to, and it does not disappoint. The vibes and ambience are impeccable. We ordered every single small plate, the filet skewers, and the branzino. While everything was tasty, the starters shone most brightly alongside the dessert. Order the chocolate pistachio cake if you get the chance. read more

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I went here for my birthday and it was just what I had hoped for and more. It's elegant, upscale and fun and welcoming--a tough combination to find. I loved the sharing format and there wasn't a dish I didn't enjoy. The sommelier was fantastic. When he learned it was my birthday, he invited me to enjoy a drink served in the most unusual way. Go for a special occasion and find out for yourself! It's my new favorite and I can't wait to take more friends there soon. read more

What a treat to eat at Jaji! When so many restaurants have completely forgotten what it means to provide delicious, thoughtful food AND exceptional service, this restaurant is a cut above. My partner and I went for restaurant week and for $65 per person it was really a lovely experience. I got the vegan version of the menu (highly recommend- I'm not vegan and it was so good!) The shared dips with multiple breads was a perfect start, followed by two flat samosa tasting triangles which were also great. Then I got two (large!) amazing multi lentil falafels and my partner got the traditional menu chicken kebab (so delicious and moist!). Then you get another course of Mediterranean type meatballs and rice for the traditional menu and I received the best charred cabbage of my life (literally never eat cabbage or even want to but this dish - I just can't even explain how good it was - and the carrot top pesto under it was out of this world! Luckily it's also on the regular menu because I will be ordering it everytime). Lastly the meal finishes with rice pudding which my partner really enjoyed but it's not my jam so I ordered their popular chocolate tart pistachios ice cream desert (think Dubai chocolate bar but way better) and was super happy and super full! On top of this delectable dinner our waiter was just wonderful. We have had her before and she really knows her craft. Even though she had a full house of tables, she treated each one with attention and care. This is what I use to expect at a nice restaurant but now is so hard to find. She's truly a gem, but honestly all the staff at this restaurant are helpful and warm and knowledgeable so this obviously speaks to the culture - only a well supported team performs at this level. With drinks and the extra dessert (plus tax and tip) it ended up being $100+ per person, which is more than I would typically want to spend, but we left discussing when we could come by next. Run don't walk for a truly enjoyable evening! read more

Hands down, this is the best "new" restaurant in Oakland. Went for dinner with my wife and we were blown away. Really amazing cocktail program that is very creative (but also has the hits). Food was delicious and every bite was flavorful. Really beautiful / vibey interior decor that was very well thought through. Attentive and friendly service that made you feel at home. No notes, we will definitely be sending our friends here and will absolutely be back. read more

Nicely designed with a great atmosphere--each section has its own unique vibe. The space is clean, and the staff are very friendly and polite. The Afghan food is sophisticated and flavorful, offering a dining experience that feels a bit elevated compared to what you may have tried before. It's a wonderful place for a nice dinner. Prices are on the higher side, but worth it for the quality and uniqueness of the dishes. read more

Incredible food, service, and interior. We ordered 4 small plates, 1 large plate, and rice for a party of 3 and we all left very full. Nobody had a single bad thing to say about any of our dishes. The daall salad and the fried mushrooms were standouts for the small plates and the lamb from the large plate was perfectly cooked and incredibly tender. I'm gluten free and dairy free and even though their menu is well marked, our server still took note of it from the beginning. They were able to put any offending items on the side so the rest of my party could still add it to their plates if they wanted. We also stayed past closing (sorry!) and they never made us feel pressured to leave. Couldn't recommend this place enough. read more

The fig drink really didn't have fig in it. The zeera drink was good but a little sweet. The seekh lamb was good and flavorful so was the lamb shank. The dessert took good 20 mins to come but def tasty. I wish they had better seating cause it was too loud back there next to big tables. read more

We go to many Afghan restaurants and I was under the impression that this was similar to other Afghani restaurants that I have been to! First of all, I ordered Qabuli pallow which is Afghan's signature dish! Not even close to as good as qabuli pallow I've had before! It was awful taste with 0 flavor that took 20 minutes to bring to our table! I thought I was gonna get an amazing dish! Presentation was nice but that's it and this was with chicken ( hen), the rice was inside the hen with waaaay too much salt and barely any pallow spice flavor. This $50 plate was not worth ordering at all! The Chapoli was bland and too much salt as well. I really wanted to give this s place a good review but food with minimal menu option and kabobs are definitely not the once we've tasted in our other favorite restaurants like De Afghanan in Walnut Creek or San Ramon restaurants! No flavor at all. Service was great tho but Food was disappointing. The main dishes were awful with no flavor! We spent $200 for poor quality meat and taste! NOT EVEN CLOSE TO AFGHAN FOOD FLAVOR!!!OVER PRICED, SMALL PORTIONS AND POOR MEAT QUALITY!! read more

One of the best new restaurants in Oakland. Everything was delicious but the bolani triangles and Branzino will be in my dreams for a while now. I cannot wait to go back and try even more! read more

Loved the atmosphere! ! Everything was amazing. The service, the food, the ambiance! Super creative but still delicious afghan food! read more

Came here with my partner last night and loved the food!! We had reservations and it was a bit busy (maybe because of Lunar New Year & they just opened 2 weeks ago) so it did take a while to have our order be taken and get our food BUT the staff are really friendly and do check up on you to ensure you're doing okay. It's a beautiful restaurant and I hope Oaklandnites are able to enjoy it! We will definitely be back! read more

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This will go down as one of the best restaurants in the Northern California!! Truly amazing, every bite of the food and the dessert was a little piece of heaven Not to mention, impeccable service! I would highly recommend this beautiful restaurant, it's a must! read more

Amazing. Food. Service. Drinks. All of it. Just go there. Busy Friday evening and we were seated right away at a comfy lounge table. Party of 4 and tried to order one of each. They were all delicious with a few unexpected aspects. Was too busy eating to take pics! read more

Great food! Such a great twist to Afghan food! Came here two weeks in a row. Had to bring all my girlfriends for our girls birthday. So thoughtful and delicious! They even put our friends name on menu wishing her a happy bday. Definitely a modern/fusion twist Love the chef and the owner for being so down to earth and welcoming Waiters are on point. Saw what we liked/needed and catered to us 24/7. Couldn't ask for more. Will be visiting again, and again! read more

Jaji strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated and homey; providing elevated takes on comfort-foods. Service was the right level of attentive. We were in a cozy secluded booth, but with warmly lit buzzy dining areas by the bar and a more subdued high-ceilinged, large-windowed room in the back, any seat seems like a good one. My favorite dishes of the evening: -not Grandma's chai cocktail: a very bitters-forward glass of smoky eye and cardamom - small bites plate: shola-qorooti croquettes. Like a cross between falafel, arincini, and something all together different- creamy, comforting interior and a tangy yogurt sauce with a mint oil, and sharp tangy pickled onions on top. We ended up ordering a second round. Bolani triangles were also tasty- I worried on first bite that the squash was too sweet, but the sharp - and -fresh, raw garlic-forward chutney was a great pairing. - chapli wagyu beef kabob - so well seasoned, rich and tender. Reminded me of a stellar take on a North African kefta. - flourless dark chocolate pistachio cake. I don't usually order desserts at restaurants, but this was so good, we actually got a second portion. Bitterness of the dark chocolate offset with a marzipan reminiscent pistachio layer, with the crunch of both the filo and a what I think was a kataifa nest on top (thin, shredded "noodle" looking crispy dough). The saffron ice cream was also deliciously rich and savory, and the favorite of others in my party. (For anyone looking for something similarly decadent but with the added textural crunch of pistachios, try the "classic Koolfi" flavor at Koolfi Creamery in San Leandro.) Less successful: the pekora lacked seasoning, meaning the lovely mushroom inside was just a bit wet and bland, and the dipping sauce was the only sauce of the evening I didn't love. Sabzi galette was fine but not memorable. Ancient roots cocktail was overly sweet and unremarkable read more

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Hooooly crap. I just picked this place for a birthday dinner because I wanted to try something new with a cuisine I haven't tried too much, and it was The Best. I had no idea this was hiding in downtown Oakland... even looking at the building from the outside, it doesn't look like much. But it's huge, it's packed on a Friday night, and the food is spectacular, start to stop. We went all over the menu, and didn't find anything that disappointed. That said, the Gosfand (frenched and seasoned lamb lollipops), Tikka Wagyu kabob, and My Jigar (thick brioche smothered in chicken-liver mousse, sesame, and pomegranate) were clear highlights for us, and their signature cocktails were both surprising and wholly satisfying. Of the four we tried, the Pashtunwali #1 and the Blue Tulip became instant addictions. All the staff were friendly and attentive. Big tip there. All together, Jaji just added itself to our personal Top-5 Oakland Restaurants list. We'll definitely be going back. read more

Stopped by for a drink (which were both delicious) and ended up staying for all the amazing food. The service was phenomenal and it's a beautiful spot for a group or a date night. We had the octopus, daal salad, croquettes, and the mushrooms which were all phenomenal but my favorite was the pistachio dark chocolate cake at the end. read more