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    Jambo Cafe

    4.5 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean, African
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Jambo Cafe Photos

    JAMBO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Jambo Cafe

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    Michele G.

    Really recommend- off the touristy area but was recommended this restaurant from a local and loved it!! Defs spicy food and full of flavor-I personally can't handle too much spice but let the staff was soo helpful with recommendations. Overall huge location with tons of seating and traditional food. We enjoyed a feta/ pomegranate salad and oxtail. I was able to eat some of the oxtail not in the broth. Really nice, mid priced, and wonderful service. A very delicious experience with large portion sizes- can't recommend enough

    Trout with pistachio curry sauce
    Kevin R.

    Our third time at the restaurant and the food seems to improve every time. Restaurant is clean and comfortable and the staff is very attentive to all the diners. Many different African dishes are on the menu and every one of them is better then the last. Do yourself a favor and come here sometime!

    Caribbean Goat Stew
    Katherine K.

    This is the unique food that my guy and I love to find on our travels! Sadly, we didn't make it in time to dine-in, but we did order some food to go. I got the Kenyan Style Beef Kabobs and my guy got the Caribbean Goat Stew. Both dishes were crazy delicious! We both decided the goat stew barely beat the kabobs as the winning favorite. The kabobs were seasoned beautifully with the pomegranate sauce. The goat stew just fell apart and melted in our mouths. Incredibly sad we can't come back to this place on a regular basis. This is insanely good and I hope everyone who reads this review gets the chance to experience it!

    Robert C.

    July 25 2024 Came here twice within our one week stay in Santa Fe. Located in a shopping center several miles from the old city center. Sit down place with good ambiance. $12 crab cakes were decent with crab meat tasty. $22 combination plate has just OK chicken curry, but didn't care for the too gamey goat stew , nor the too sugary chicken peanut stew. The $20 jerk chicken was good and flavorful, but not as good as Back a yard chicken in Campbell CA, probably because they did not marinade the chicken in the jerk sauce overnight. Good change from the everyday Mexican food of Santa Fe of burritos, enchiladas, and tacos.

    Store sign
    John F.

    The food, the staff and the products for sale are all top shelf fun and wonderful! The approach to the food was delicious, pomegranate barbecue was great! Everything was fresh and Yummy. After eating, I spent some time checking out all the artisan made crafts and chairs, tables and cultural items... very fun scene

    Island Spice Coconut Peanut Chicken StewPeanut
    Mia M.

    Absolutely delicious! This was my second time eating Jambo, my first being a takeout experience. Sitting in the restaurant was fabulous! Our server was lovely- so helpful navigating the menu and giving us suggestions. I was with two friends and we all enjoyed our food sooo much. We started with the crab cakes, it only came with two so we split them up but they were loaded with flavor. We each got a different drink on the menu, all were excellent. My mango ginger lemonade was loaded with ginger and was so nice on the belly. Our entrees came out fast, were very generous portions and once again delicious! We tried the date chocolate cake which came warm, and the banana cream pie both were amazing. I praise them enough- so worth the hype!

    Moroccan Spiced Beef Brisket Wrap
    Bernice S.

    What a pleasant surprise to find this gem on my trip to Santa Fe. If you want to satisfy your carribean food jones, Jambo is the place. I had the combo plate which was goat stew, peanut chicken stew and lamb stew. Everything was delicious. My hubby had the jerk chicken and he practically licked his plate. Said the chicken was so tender it fell of the bone. Granddaughter had the chicken coconut curry, which was so much food she couldn't finish it. Her mom had the beef kabobs. The service was swift and efficient. Ambience was nice, just the right amount of crowded and noisy to let you know it's a popular place. All in all, the only complaint I had was they were out of oxtails. I highly recommend this place

    Combination Plate
    Cassandra A.

    First time coming here and as soon as I walked in I was impressed. I was greeted by the staff and sat down at a table in the center. It seemed to have just opened for business and already had a lot of people seated to be served. There was beautiful African art and decorations throughout the restaurant that I found myself getting lost in. What a nice touch. They had nice music playing in the background which gave it that African vibe. Plenty of food options for everyone along with the ability to take your food togo. The staff who waited on me was nice and didn't keep checking on me in an annoying manner. The restrooms were clean and well put together. I enjoyed my food and thought it was well seasoned. You could tell the Roti was freshly made and made in house. I would definitely come back.

    Mango cobbler with vanilla ice cream
    Playmaker Z.

    This place is a gem. The staff were fantastic. The setting was quiet, intimate and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious!! I had the cinnamon dusted fried plantains, oxtail and sautéed spinach! It was all incredible!!! I strongly recommend this place without reservation. So very good!!

    Kabobs
    Sara C.

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

    Stuffed phyllo app
    Kevin L.

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

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    2 months ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

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    2 months ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

    Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate it.

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    2 months ago

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    11 days ago

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    18 days ago

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    1 month ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

    Thank you so much! We appreciate you giving us a try.

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

    Thank you for letting us know. We'll speak to the servers.

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    11 months ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

    Thank you for stopping in and giving us a try. We appreciate you.

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    2 months ago

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    12 days ago

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

    We are so glad you enjoyed your time with us. We appreciate you.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    Ahmed M. O.

    Thank you for stopping in and your honest review.

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Thank you for giving us a try! We appreciate you.

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 month ago

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    2 months ago

    Nice people, decent food, but not as good as we had hoped. Interesting mix. Perhaps too much choice.

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 29

    Jambo Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Jambo Cafe

    Are there vegetarian options?

    There definitely were when I was there in September. Look for the menu in the Yelp photo section and at the Cafe's website.

    Do they offer catering or large party platters?

    Yes

    Do they have beer and wine at Santa Fe?

    Yes, including beer from Africa!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Lago Cafe

    Lago Cafe

    (19 reviews)

    This is a small cafe bursting with all things Cuban. I finally got to give it a try and I'm glad…read morethat I did. The dish I ordered was under the Salads section on their menu. It's Ensalada Caribe made with chicken, avocados, mangos and arugula with a honey sauce. It tasted so fresh and was it delicious. Speaking to the owner, I realized how unique and traditional the foods are. They even make Cuban coffee which is a treat if you like your coffee strong. Their service is five stars. Hours are Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm. I 'm ready to try everything on their menu. Don't miss it!!

    We arrived in the midst of a rare Santa Fe rainstorm, so they had hurriedly brought in the outside…read moretable and umbrella, but the interior is brightly lit and decorated with both contemporary art and panoramic photos of Havana's waterfront. The chairs have wooden legs and plastic bodies, but they are quite comfortable, and the surrounds on Lena Street are charming. We were greeted with a smile and a carafe of still water with our menus. As we pondered the many choices, another couple was just leaving and they made sure to let us know they loved the food and the service. They were proved absolutely right. My dinner companion and I both ordered mocktail mojito, which were tall, refreshing, and wonderful as a meal partner. My companion chose the Guajira plate, pulled pork with Moro rice (black beans and rice cooked together with a magical spice blend) and plaintains. I had the same, but with the Ropa Vieja shredded beef instead. Both were outstanding, and the portions were just right. That left us enough room to share an order of the house flan. Lago's version leans rustic, with visible egg texture rather than the glossy version served by some kitchens. Just the right sweetness from the drizzled light caramel sauce sent us out the door smiling and determined to return with a small party so we can sample the enticing tapas platters together.

    Jambo Cafe - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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