One of the more interesting and favorite restaurants we tried in Santa Fe. Very large and diverse menu consisting of African, Caribbean, Moroccan cuisine. Also had hummus and Roti. We got the combination stews and black bean deep potato soup. Fresh made roti and rice came with the stews. Also had the black bean sweet potato soup- good. The Jamaican pecan pie was tasty served warm with ice cream, but not extra-ordinary and very sweet. I would eat there again. read more

A friend of mine and I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and we finally pulled the trigger. Got seated immediately on a Wednesday night. He had the Oxtail plate and I had a Harrisa Lamb sandwich. Both were very good. The sauce on the oxtai plate was the best. I was surprised they didn't service this with a side of rice. Service was goodbut they were busy. Most definitely will return to try the kabob plate next time. read more

Jambo Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Jambo Cafe offers a mix of African and Caribbean flavors. The food was off the charts delicious. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant has a nice vibe. I spoke to the chef/owner briefly and you can tell he's someone absolutely loves what he does. We will be back next time we're in Santa Fe. read more

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Amazing restaurant with attentive staff, good decor and a store next to it. Tired beef brisket burger and bbq chicken burger. Instead of a bun they use flat bread but it didn't impact the flavor. You cant go wrong with either - harissa fries or cumin fries. Tamarind drink is delicious. Mango ginger lemonade was more of a gingerly. Meat is from grass fed, sustainably raised animals- halal which is a plus. This place is packed even on week days. Will definitely be returning to try other curries read more

Excellent food and service. It's busy because it's good and there may be a wait but it's worth it. There were several vegetarian options and I got the combo plate so I sampled 3 dishes plus rice and roti. The roti was my favorite item. read more

Insanely fire, first African (-Ethiopian) food I've tried. Plaintain Cakes: Quite sweet but went really well with the sauce. Only two were given for $12 Shrimp: The sauce was the best part of this experience. Extremely flavorful while maintaining a light body. I licked the plate C L E A N. Ox Tail: Was Nadira's but I got to try and it was awesome. A little cartilagey(?) but so tender and flavorful. read more

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I love this restaurant! Love the jerk chicken, plantains and GF chocolate cake! Friendly staff and easy parking. Thank you! read more

Loved it. Fantastic selection of options. Had lunch with pomegranate bbq chicken sandwich. Generous portions. Staff attentive. Would come back again! read more

Absolutely wonderful! I love their Kenyan Steak Kabobs. Service is great (and seeing the Chef visiting tables is a plus.) And though Jambo is located in a strip mall, the restaurant is comfortable, and full of beautiful African art. There is also a shop where you can by the Chef's cookbook and spices and gifts. We love it and is our go-to for special evenings and when visitors from out of town are here. read more

I had the jerked chicken salad. It was amazing! The chicken was sooo juicy and tender. No overcooked or dry chicken here. I will be back! The service was very good. The woman who served me was so nice and helpful. The decor was funky Jamaica and fun. It was a dark and intimate atmosphere. read more

Jambo Cafe - Jerked chicken salad - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

You know a restaurant is good when you walk in and there is nowhere to stand because the wait is long. We were seated 10 minutes sooner than promised. The aromas greet you on entering. We perused the menu in advance and ordered as we sat. Daughter had Moroccan chicken kebabs. I had the combination plate with goat stew, lentils, and chicken curry. The flatbread was flaky, delicate and delicious. She enjoyed a tamarind lemonade. I had a glass (or two) of South African Syrah. The wine paired perfectly with the food. Everything was deep, complex, and very flavorful. The flavors jumped out. Everything was over the top delicious. Highly recommended! read more

Jambo Cafe - Combo Combination Plate - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Found this place on yelp while looking for non mexican food in santa fe. The food was very flavorful.Perfectly spiced. We ordered the jerk chicken and lamu coconut pili pili shrimp.The shrimp curry was delicious.Jerk chicken was tasty too. Good portions.Defintely give this a try if you are in Santa fe. It is just takeout right now with covid restrictions. read more

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I haven't had much African food and thought this would break up all the tacos while on vacation in the southwest. I'm so glad we stopped in. I got a sampler including lamb stew, chickpea berbere stew, and curried lentils. It was delicious but I didn't get a good photo. My 9y/o got the banana leaf mahi, which I tried and enjoyed. We wandered the connecting shop while waiting on our food, which was good for the kiddo. Lots of interesting things. The service was lovely. The worst part is that I live in a different state so can't go back to try something else! read more

Jambo Cafe has exceptionally food and service with a little gift shop on the side. My friend had the oxtail stew which was magnificent, rich sauce with warm pungent flavors surrounding tender meat. So good. I had the sampler with chicken coconut curry, chicken peanut curry, and goat stew. Mine was good with the goat being the star and served with a large flaky roti. The desserts are swoon -worthy and we had a hard time deciding. We settled on the rum pecan pie which was one of the best I've ever had, and the key lime pie with chocolate almond crust - what a combo with very sharp lime. So good that it's no wonder this place is so popular. Simple divine and worth the trip. read more

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slow service. Way to brown and over cooked coconut shrimp. Was exactly the same way the last time I had it but thought it might be a fluke. Won't order this again. read more

Jambo Cafe - coconut shrimp. - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Tried it again wanting to love it. The sampler plate tasted pretty darn good. Only complaint is it all tastes the same, that brown curry sauce is good but the idea of sampler is different ingredients AND different spicing for each. Tasty but. And then there's the Jerk chicken, a core entree of Jamaica and maybe other Bahamian cultures (I've only experience with Jamaica). My Jerk Chicken was, sorry, but inedible. Tasted old and dry and well, I tossed it. And the bread was super saturated with grease and not helpful. See pics. read more

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My friend and I were in a road trip just stopping in New Mexico and we found this place randomly. When we walked in, the ambiance felt very authentic. It was crowded so we knew that the food had to be great! Our server was so nice and even let us try a sample of the mango ginger lemonade to make sure we liked it, which we did! We didn't get dessert but their options seemed like they would be really tasty. I would recommend that people try this if you're looking to try a different cuisine from the typical American cuisine. read more

Jambo Cafe - Combination Plate (Left to Right: Lamb Stew, Chicken Curry, Goat Stew) and House-Made Mango Ginger Lemonade - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Incredibly delicious food! This was our first restaraunt stop on our trip to Santa Fe. The place was lively but not noisy at 2pm on a Wednesday. The food was delicious - we will most likely make another stop on our way back home! read more

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Really great experience here. I got the combination plate -- CURRY CHICKEN mmmm. Incredible. Honestly wish I would have just gotten that as my meal. Hubs loved his kabobs and was satisfied with the plantains and sweet potato fries. He indulged in some South African cab sav - said he really liked that as well. read more

Jambo Cafe - Combo plate, beef kabobs, sweet potato fries - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Jambo makes traditional African cuisine and it is always packed because of how good the food is. Portions are a good size, the decor is authentic with a store next door to purchase items you might want to take home. Jambo is a Santa Fe staple and has become so popular over the years, I wish that the Albuquerque location had stayed open but when given the chance to get food here, I will choose it. Funny enough I come many times before going to Meow Wolf. read more

This was hands down my favorite restaurant I've been too. The smells as soon as you walk in make your mouth water. The service is fast and the food is to die for. I got the coconut chicken curry, my boyfriend had the combo plate with chicken curry, goat stew and lentil curry with roti. Just absolutely amazing everything. If we ever find ourselves visiting here again; this will always be a stop for us. They also have a shop attached with items made from artists back in Kenya, that help those artists back home which we thought was amazing and bought a souvenir. read more

We were in town for a short visit and this place looked intriguing. And we were right! The ambiance in the restaurant is casual but innovative - lots of African influences. My wife and I enjoyed an appetizer of Hummus - with fresh vegetables and warm pita. Very good. Then we each tried one of the house-made beverages. I had the tamarind drink, which was tart and refreshing. My wife had the ginger-mango drink, also very tasty, although a little bit sweeter than she wanted. We then tried kebabs - Moroccan chicken for me and Kenyan beef for her. Both really flavorful and served with sides of green beans and a starch (potatoes with the beef, couscous with the chicken). They were spiced just right and just the kinds of flavors you're not going to get anywhere else. If you like a taste bud adventure, try Jambo Cafe! read more

Good little place for a different meal. I had the 3 stew combo with delicious plantain appetizer. Goat stew and peanut chicken stew good. Wife liked the jerk chicken. Only bummer was that nothing was spicy. Our server said customers didn't like all the heat so they dropped the heat. read more

Jambo Cafe - Inside - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Everything about this restaurant is AMAZING!! From the service to the food to the owner .... The restaurant is clean and very welcoming I've been going for many many years .... Just consistent 10+ service ! read more

Harissa spiced lamb sandwich. first the good: Pita was fresh & fluffy. Sauces were tasty with nice variety. Two types of fries were fresh & crispy. Service was friendly and attentive. Now the bad: The lamb which was the center of the meal was dry, overcooked, and sliced too thick for a sandwich. Trying to eat the meat was an unpleasant experience. read more

Wonderful unique food. The "special " is always pretty much exactly that, special, I recommend it. The owner is very friendly and comes around to visit. My wife and I have been to Africa on safari. Jambo Cafe is worth a regular repeat visit on your schedule. read more

We make sure to visit every time we come to Santa Fe. Everything is incredible! Banana leaf wrapped mahi Goat curry Pili pili shrimp Yum!!! read more

A very interesting menu and experience. We had a party of 5. The African/Caribbean food was delicious, varied, and interesting. The waiter was very efficient and helpful. She guided us through the unfamiliar menu and we were very happy with the selection. Busy! Better get there early. We'll be back. read more

Best meal we had in Santa Fe! Totally unexpected but there was too many scrumptious options for us to try in one sitting. The owner even walks around to greet and check in with every table to ensure your meal is up to expectations. If you're looking for something different and unique, must go here in Santa Fe. Portions are substantial and filling! . read more

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Jambo is one of my favorite restaurants in town. Everything they make is a unique flavor sensation. Get the fried plantains for an appetizer. Staff are always polite and efficient. The neighboring import shop is also worth checking out. read more

Jambo Cafe is full of life, great service and delicious food. Every time I visit my family in NM. I always stop by for dinner. Its by far the best food in Santa Fe. read more

The staff is friendly and happy to explain any of the dishes. The food has lots of flavor without being over the top. The jerk chicken had just the right amount of heat. You HAVE to get the sweet plantains, they were crunchy on the tips and still sweet and soft in the middle. read more

Jambo Cafe - Ox tail - Caribbean Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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A great day for a trip to Santa Fe. We'd seen Jambo Cafe on DDD so we figured a stop is in order. A nice size diner in a strip mall. Easy to find a place to park. Not too busy so seating was quick. But service was slow for the number of diners in the restaurant. We waited quite over 5 mins to see our server. He brought water but left without taking drink order. After what seemed like an inordinate wait he returned for our orders. We ordered the Coconut Shrimp appetizer, a combo plate with Curry Chicken, Peanut Chicken & Lamb Stew. Plus the Coconut Curry Chicken. The shrimp came out first - they were HUGE! Probably about 4in across. Those coils have made a meal on their own. The breading was good - but dry. The dipping sauce definitely helped. The entrees came out shortly after finishing the shrimp. The food looked amazing. The taste? Well equally so. The chicken and lamb was tender. The curry wasn't overwhelming & the peanut chicken had a nice flavor to it. The lamb was spicy, with a little heat. The Chocolate Almond Crust Key Lime Pie was the perfect end. The chocolate crust was unusual but tasty, & the key lime filling sour. A perfect combination. Was it worth the drive and the wait? Definitely. The meal was excellent. We left with full bellies and memories of a great meal. Now I know why DDD made the stop. read more

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We had take out from Jambo Cafe. The verdict: very tasty! Our favorites were the peanut chicken, lamb stew, lentils, and chicken curry. But I feel pretty confident in saying just about everything you have from here will at least be pretty good. Also, most items are pretty stewey, so perfect for takeout (when we went the dining room was packed so takeout was the way to go). Check them out... read more

This restaurant rocks the food is excellent. The ambience is great. I've had the jerk chicken and the lamb sandwich the french fries the coconut rice and black beans are delicious as well. I wished I lived closer. I'd come more often. read more

Great restaurant--friendly efficient service and delicious food. Had the lamb stew which was very good and the fish special. Nice African wine and local beer. We'll be back! read more

Oh, my. I don't have time to list all the wonderful entrees my family of 9 had the evening we visited. But it was such a special place. Everything was spectacular. My son-in-law did a happy dance in his chair when he got his oxtail entree. And he paid the bill happily. It was so good we wanted to return, but our time in Santa Fe was limited. Service was very good for such a busy establishment. I have two grands from Ghana and they were thrilled with their kabobs and curry. The gift shop was a delight as well. Grands entertained themselves with the musical drums while waiting for dinner to arrive. It was a very happily birthday for me!! read more

Stopped for dinner with a party of 4, we all really enjoyed our dishes. The items we ordered included a hot chai tea, hummus plate which came with bread, olives and veg, lemon harissa fries, a swordfish special, oxtails, a combo plate with lamb and chicken stews and a vegetarian combo plate with lentils, chick pea stew & tofu stew. We also sampled two desserts the mango cobbler and the flan. Everything was delicious and portions were generous. Wait staff was friendly, everything arrived quickly and as ordered. Enjoy!! read more

I was shopping nearby & stopped in for a "quick snack"... but once inside, the smells convinced my stomach to "go for it! " I couldn't decide between 2 dishes & my waitress kindly pointed out that they have a combo plate so I DIDN'T have to choose! Island Spiced Coconut Peanut Chicken Stew AND Chickpea Berbere Stew! Amazing flavors! I washed them down with Mango Ginger Lemonade and arranged for Dates Coconut Flourless Chocolate Cake to go! So much for a "snack"!! Don't forget to check out the Specials board before you order! (Just so you can be MORE confused at all the great offerings!) Obviously, I'll ABSOLUTELY be back! read more

Everything, from entering to leaving, went exceptionally well. The menu was exciting, and our meals were perfect. We will return again and again because of the unique surroundings, the caring service, and the tasty entrees. read more