Jaji

I took my fiancé here as soon as it opened because we absolutely love Parche, Jaji’s sister restaurant. The food and the service were stunning and the highlight of our night. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and we recognized some of our favorite team members from Parche working the floor. As expected, the cocktails and food were delicious and creative. And our server was capable and friendly. The atmosphere is a little sparse, and it could be warmed up. Dimming the lights and softening the noise in the dining room might be nice as the space is so large.

The restaurant group that successfully brought Parche to Uptown Oakland has opened the Afghani influenced Jaji practically the next block over. Having lived in Oakland for 16 years now, previously in SF for 37 years, both Parche and Jaji represent a vision which I share, of an affordable, vibrant, culturally diverse City with almost perfect weather, no longer in the shadow of its more popular sister across the Bay, but something new and very different making its own statement about dining and community. And they are not alone, one year old Clio's Bookstore & Bar down Grand Avenue is another example. Jaji's space is spectacular, split between lounging and dining. The decor is very cool, helping to create it's own unique vibe. There is a very nice cocktail bar! And from the sample of small plates on a relatively quick initial visit, including a very attractive and delicious Chicken Liver Pate dish, I am looking forward to spending a lot more time trying all the modern twists and twerks of traditional Afghan classics. There are a number of tasty vegetarian options! The waitestaff were very welcoming and helpful in describing the selections of cuisine and beverages. This is definately the case where photos tell the story of a great concept and addition to an already exceptional world food scene in Oakland.

Kat Zeta

Absolutely loved Jaji and I can’t wait to visit again. Booked a reservation for 2 on Saturday evening— no issues. Ordered the triangles and cabbage dish for apps, chicken and steak kabobs, and the lamb as the main dish with some saffron rice. Everything was so tasty and the cabbage dish was out of this world. We ended our night with the saffron ice cream— it was wonderful. I felt like all their food was magic. The flavors were amazing, there was nothing missing from any dish. I wish them much success in downtown oak!

Christopher Beaty

This was my wife and my first time experiencing Afghan cuisine, and it did not disappoint. We are both big fans of Parche, so had a certain level of expectation going into this meal. Safe to say, my expectations were exceeded, as every plate was just as beautiful as the interior design. We sampled many grilled meats, but don’t sleep on the mushroom pakora! Oh and it’s very accommodating of dietary restrictions, as my wife has a gf diet, which was easy to navigate on the clearly labeled menu. Dessert was excellent too. 5 stars, will return!

Jamie Ginsberg

The space is airy with lovely lines and clean energy, this could equally describe the food! The presentation is beautiful and if it wasn’t Olivia’s birthday, I’d have taken more photos. Instead, we shared delicious food and stories as we feasted before heading to the Paramount Theater to see John Mulaney (easy walk). The sides of rice are light and flavorful. The lavash disappeared immediately, we should have ordered double. I got all of the vegan dishes and enjoyed each one differently. The cashew sauce with the eggplant, yum. Cashew sauce is usually not my thing and I’d do it again. Right? There is a green chutney I’d like to keep in my life regularly. Why did we have to share???

Arjun Vinod

Jaji was amazing. We mostly went with what they recommended and it was really good. The Kebabs were so tender and moist. We enjoyed the food and look forward to going back to Jaji.

Amanda Dang

Visited Jaji for their restaurant week menu, which felt like an incredible value for the overall experience. We had the ducktu, shola-qorooti croquettes, branzino and kabobs. Pistachio ice cream was included as the dessert, but we also added the pistachio chocolate cake as an al a carte add on. Each dish felt notable and well balanced in texture and flavor. My favorite dinner bite was the shola-qorooti croquette (make sure to get a bite with the aoli and caramelized onion) but it's tough to choose between that and the bold and bright flavors of the chapli wagyu beef and chutney. My partner really enjoyed the branzino, which was buttery and satisfying when eaten with the sour orange saffron rice and jalebi that came with that plate. The saffron flavor in the rice was beautiful and, with the subtle layer of sour orange, made for a welcomed contrast against some of the heavier (but not too heavy) dishes in our meal. I can see why the rice is offered as an optional add on to the chapli wagyu beef in their standard menu, and would totally recommend electing it for that order. For dessert, we were blown away by the dark chocolate pistachio cake. The combination of crunchy phylo and kataifi, cool and sweet semifredo, and rich dark chocolate was divine. Lastly, the interior was beautiful and the staff were friendly and attentive. All in all, a wonderful experience.

J G

Ate here last night with a couple friends and would highly recommend. Everything was wonderful. My favorite small bite was the croquettes. The lamb shank was perfectly cooked and the saffron ice cream was delicious. Also had some very good house cocktails and overall considering what we ordered the price was reasonable. I will definitely be returning.

Zachary Scioli

Best dining experience I’ve had in years. Ambiance was contemporary yet warm and inviting. Extremely friendly and competent staff. Clare was wonderful. You feel right at home. Every step of service was touched on. Food was new and exciting, yet incorporated traditional elements. The lamb shank and saffron ice cream were phenomenal.

Hannah E

Truly delicious food. We ordered several dishes to split and loved each of them. Elevated space that feels comfortable, artistic and open. Great for a date night or a nice dinner out. The service was very professional and everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We highly recommend!

A A

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the food really surprised me — it’s different, but still feels close to what I grew up with. You can tell they care about the flavors, and they’ve put their own spin on it without losing the roots. Za bolani hit in a familiar way, just a little more refined. It’s not exactly like home cooking, but it made me think of home. Worth trying if you're curious to see what Afghan food can look like in modern America.

Benjamin Gadbaw

I took my fiancé here as soon as it opened because we absolutely love Parche, Jaji’s sister restaurant. The food and the service were stunning and the highlight of our night. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and we recognized some of our favorite team members from Parche working the floor. As expected, the cocktails and food were delicious and creative. And our server was capable and friendly. The atmosphere is a little sparse, and it could be warmed up. Dimming the lights and softening the noise in the dining room might be nice as the space is so large.

Lawrence Marcus

The restaurant group that successfully brought Parche to Uptown Oakland has opened the Afghani influenced Jaji practically the next block over. Having lived in Oakland for 16 years now, previously in SF for 37 years, both Parche and Jaji represent a vision which I share, of an affordable, vibrant, culturally diverse City with almost perfect weather, no longer in the shadow of its more popular sister across the Bay, but something new and very different making its own statement about dining and community. And they are not alone, one year old Clio's Bookstore & Bar down Grand Avenue is another example. Jaji's space is spectacular, split between lounging and dining. The decor is very cool, helping to create it's own unique vibe. There is a very nice cocktail bar! And from the sample of small plates on a relatively quick initial visit, including a very attractive and delicious Chicken Liver Pate dish, I am looking forward to spending a lot more time trying all the modern twists and twerks of traditional Afghan classics. There are a number of tasty vegetarian options! The waitestaff were very welcoming and helpful in describing the selections of cuisine and beverages. This is definately the case where photos tell the story of a great concept and addition to an already exceptional world food scene in Oakland.

Our second visit to this lovely restaurant was for their Valentine's Day prix fixe dinner. We had a truly lovely time. One of the best date night dinners either of us can remember. Through four courses, which were paced perfectly, we enjoyed interesting and unique flavors including a fresh salad that was a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds, an excellent steak tartar with a quail egg that we were invited to mix in to the tartar, and a whole cornish game hen stuffed with a lovely spiced rice. The game-hen was especially fun as it came with gold-plated shears to help us divide it between the two of us. Dessert was equally delicious, again with unique flavors and a beautiful presentation. It was an exquisite and fun meal. This is a beautiful restaurant with excellent service and truly artful food. It's top notch.

Rob Stone

Amazing food, warm cozy atmosphere on NYE, and the staff is so welcoming and accommodating (my wife is gluten free and dairy free and everything is labeled and the waitress was so knowledgeable). We’re huge fans of Parche, which is Jaji’s sister restaurant, and it’s got the same exciting delicious food and atmosphere. Definitely part of the regular rotation now. Thank you Jaji!

Bunny Brooks

Jaji is an extremely welcome addition to Oakland with an amazing menu, delicious food and a team that goes above and beyond to make sure you’ll have a great evening. The staff were so kind to us and helped us make great decisions on what to eat and drink. Don’t skip the chicken liver pate and the whole fish was beautifully fried and delicious. Jaji team, thank you for a magical evening. My husband and I had the best time and we’re looking forward to returning!

Fun date spot! Food is pretty good. We mostly got bar bites and 3 cocktails. + 1 skewer and rice. Spent ~$125 before tax. I really enjoyed the bites we got: croquettes and triangles. Green chutney was really good. The eggplant dip was not that memorable. Cocktails: Mosaic and the tequila & pistachio one were good but def on the sweet side. I didn’t like the sparkles (lychee, vodka, chia seeds) one. Skewers and rice were not hot when served (warm at best) and didn’t come together, which was disappointing! Wagyu skewer was 4 pieces of beef 🥲 The rice flavor wasn’t as strong as we hoped and the candied orange on top was good but too sweet for me (pieces too big?) They really pushed the vegan saffron coconut ice cream when I asked about it. It was unique and good but I wouldn’t get it again - too sweet. Tasted better with mint leaves from my cocktail that I tore up and sprinkled on top. $9 for a cocktail glass of it (it was a lot of ice cream for 2) Service: We sat at the bar and the bartender was really attentive and helpful. But took a star away because of food temperature. They have a happy hour where drinks are a few bucks cheaper 5-6:30!

Gorgeous restaurant with great service. I haven’t had much afghan food so I enjoyed trying out some of the dishes at Jaji. It is definitely on the pricier side in my opinion, but there were a few memorable dishes. We ordered the duck dumplings, fried mushrooms, wagyu skewers, trout, and finished off with basque cheesecake as dessert. The dumplings were alright but gamey and we felt that the consommé was a bit bland and didn’t add much to the dish. I was surprised at the price of $30 for 5 small dumplings. Fried mushrooms were the standout, great lentil sauce that comes with it. Wagyu skewers were tender. Trout was also on the pricier side and the saffron rice didn’t have as much flavor as expected. The crispy thing on top was delicious though, I would definitely eat a whole bowl of that. We had asked to pack half the fish to go, but I think there was some misunderstanding because we never got our food back, so bummer that basically $30 of fish went to waste. Overall worth the try, but not sure if I’ll come back since I wasn’t completely blown away by any dish other than the mushrooms and the pricing was a bit steep for what we were getting.

Elly Lin

Fun date spot! Food is pretty good. We mostly got bar bites and 3 cocktails. + 1 skewer and rice. Spent ~$125 before tax. I really enjoyed the bites we got: croquettes and triangles. Green chutney was really good. The eggplant dip was not that memorable. Cocktails: Mosaic and the tequila & pistachio one were good but def on the sweet side. I didn’t like the sparkles (lychee, vodka, chia seeds) one. Skewers and rice were not hot when served (warm at best) and didn’t come together, which was disappointing! Wagyu skewer was 4 pieces of beef 🥲 The rice flavor wasn’t as strong as we hoped and the candied orange on top was good but too sweet for me (pieces too big?) They really pushed the vegan saffron coconut ice cream when I asked about it. It was unique and good but I wouldn’t get it again - too sweet. Tasted better with mint leaves from my cocktail that I tore up and sprinkled on top. $9 for a cocktail glass of it (it was a lot of ice cream for 2) Service: We sat at the bar and the bartender was really attentive and helpful. But took a star away because of food temperature. They have a happy hour where drinks are a few bucks cheaper 5-6:30!

Joanne Yuen

Gorgeous restaurant with great service. I haven’t had much afghan food so I enjoyed trying out some of the dishes at Jaji. It is definitely on the pricier side in my opinion, but there were a few memorable dishes. We ordered the duck dumplings, fried mushrooms, wagyu skewers, trout, and finished off with basque cheesecake as dessert. The dumplings were alright but gamey and we felt that the consommé was a bit bland and didn’t add much to the dish. I was surprised at the price of $30 for 5 small dumplings. Fried mushrooms were the standout, great lentil sauce that comes with it. Wagyu skewers were tender. Trout was also on the pricier side and the saffron rice didn’t have as much flavor as expected. The crispy thing on top was delicious though, I would definitely eat a whole bowl of that. We had asked to pack half the fish to go, but I think there was some misunderstanding because we never got our food back, so bummer that basically $30 of fish went to waste. Overall worth the try, but not sure if I’ll come back since I wasn’t completely blown away by any dish other than the mushrooms and the pricing was a bit steep for what we were getting.

I love Jaji. I stopped by for a happy hour. This was my first time eating Afghan food. Delicious! I ordered the Bolani Triangles, the Wagyu skewers, and the firnee ice cream. The Wagyu skewers, in particular, were amazing. Perfectly cooked and full of juices and flavor. I also had a Blue Tulip cocktail which was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and I love the ambiance. My only complaint is that the portions feel pretty small relative to the prices.

Deanna Grey

I love Jaji. I stopped by for a happy hour. This was my first time eating Afghan food. Delicious! I ordered the Bolani Triangles, the Wagyu skewers, and the firnee ice cream. The Wagyu skewers, in particular, were amazing. Perfectly cooked and full of juices and flavor. I also had a Blue Tulip cocktail which was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and I love the ambiance. My only complaint is that the portions feel pretty small relative to the prices.

Karthic Nadarajan

This restaurant boasts a beautiful ambiance and the execution / service shine. While the food was tasty and beautifully presented, the flavors fell somewhat short. The tilapia, their signature dish, was particularly bland. Perhaps it was an off night, but the overall flavor profile felt underwhelming.

Liked everything… except the food. The atmosphere is solid for a date night, cozy with low lighting. The cocktails were creative and well-balanced, using uncommon ingredients like cumin and saffron. Unfortunately, everything from the kebabs to the pakora were under-seasoned. The food is well-presented and visually appealing, but that ultimately makes the blandness more disappointing.

Kyle Hildebrandt

Liked everything… except the food. The atmosphere is solid for a date night, cozy with low lighting. The cocktails were creative and well-balanced, using uncommon ingredients like cumin and saffron. Unfortunately, everything from the kebabs to the pakora were under-seasoned. The food is well-presented and visually appealing, but that ultimately makes the blandness more disappointing.

This restaurant has a well-thought-out interior—nice decor, well-lit space, high ceilings, and a clean dining area. The ambiance feels inviting, and the front desk staff is welcoming. Service, however, was a bit slow, as our waitress Anna took longer than expected. Food & Drinks: The menu is quite limited, and unfortunately, the execution doesn’t justify the high prices. My date and I started with the Bolani Triangles ($18), which were just average—5/10. For mains, we ordered the Lamb Shank ($64) and the Whole McFarland Trout ($79). The lamb was passable at best (5/10), but the trout was disappointing—greasy, lacking flavor, and simply not worth the price (2/10). all prices inclusive of tax. The drinks (Martinis) were fine but leaned too much on the syrupy side, which took away from the balance. Overall: The place has potential, but the menu needs an update, both in selection and pricing. If they make changes, I’d consider giving them another shot.

E Bek

This restaurant has a well-thought-out interior—nice decor, well-lit space, high ceilings, and a clean dining area. The ambiance feels inviting, and the front desk staff is welcoming. Service, however, was a bit slow, as our waitress Anna took longer than expected. Food & Drinks: The menu is quite limited, and unfortunately, the execution doesn’t justify the high prices. My date and I started with the Bolani Triangles ($18), which were just average—5/10. For mains, we ordered the Lamb Shank ($64) and the Whole McFarland Trout ($79). The lamb was passable at best (5/10), but the trout was disappointing—greasy, lacking flavor, and simply not worth the price (2/10). all prices inclusive of tax. The drinks (Martinis) were fine but leaned too much on the syrupy side, which took away from the balance. Overall: The place has potential, but the menu needs an update, both in selection and pricing. If they make changes, I’d consider giving them another shot.

Jaji has a nice atmosphere and a beautiful, upscale vibe, but unfortunately the overall experience didn’t meet my expectations, especially as someone who went there for Afghan food. Parking alone was already a hassle. Street parking was very hard to find, and the nearby public parking costs around $15 to $30. The food prices don’t match the portions and quality. I paid $16 for three very small pieces of bolani and another $16 for a small serving of mushroom pakora. Most items on the menu felt overpriced for what you get. The biggest disappointment for me was the lack of Afghan authenticity in the food. I understand the restaurant says it’s not strictly traditional, but since it’s marketed as Afghan cuisine, I expected at least the flavors and ingredients to reflect that. The Qabeli I ordered was basically just brown rice, nothing like real Qabeli pulao taste and ingredients, and the meat had to be ordered separately and that didn’t taste Afghan food at all. The service also was OK, nice and polite staff but I waited over an hour for my food, which is far longer than I’ve experienced at any restaurant. When I asked about the delay, the response I got was, “We don't want to be like "Fast Food” I understand that good food takes time, but I’ve never had to wait that long. Overall, Jaji is a nice place if you’re looking for a stylish setting and a good atmosphere. But if you’re going for authentic Afghan food or even just tasty food or flavorful dishes, this is not the place I would recommend.

I had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant last night. Despite paying full price, the food had absolutely nothing to do with authentic Afghan cuisine. They had changed the Afghan menu, and the changes were completely wrong and tasteless. The dishes lacked flavor, quality, and any sense of authenticity. The service was also extremely slow. Our order took far too long to arrive, leaving us frustrated and uncomfortable. The staff and management showed no concern for customer satisfaction or timely service. On top of that, there was no parking available. We had to park our car in paid parking lots, which added extra cost and inconvenience. For a restaurant charging these prices, not having proper parking is unacceptable. Overall, this place is not worth the time, money, or frustration. I will not be returning, and I do not recommend it to anyone.

Souman Rahimi2024

I had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant last night. Despite paying full price, the food had absolutely nothing to do with authentic Afghan cuisine. They had changed the Afghan menu, and the changes were completely wrong and tasteless. The dishes lacked flavor, quality, and any sense of authenticity. The service was also extremely slow. Our order took far too long to arrive, leaving us frustrated and uncomfortable. The staff and management showed no concern for customer satisfaction or timely service. On top of that, there was no parking available. We had to park our car in paid parking lots, which added extra cost and inconvenience. For a restaurant charging these prices, not having proper parking is unacceptable. Overall, this place is not worth the time, money, or frustration. I will not be returning, and I do not recommend it to anyone.