Café Tanja

North African restaurant · Surry Hills ·

Café Tanja

North African restaurant · Surry Hills ·

North African cafe with homemade food, warm hospitality, and unique decor

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638 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia Get directions

A$20–40

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"Cafe Tanja is named after Tangier, but the menu stretches far beyond the Moroccan port city. Sanah Djebli and her husband, Nadim El-Zein, run this North African eatery with help from Djebli’s mother, Linda. Menu highlights include fried Algerian eggs jolted with cumin seeds and sizzling plates of tchouktchouka: a Tunisian equivalent of shakshuka that’s rich with tomatoes and a 21-spice ras el hanout blend. The sandwiches are named after family members, just one of many ways Cafe Tanja feels welcoming and personal. Vibe check: You can thank Linda for the restaurant’s striking soup bowls, terracotta tea cups, and other hand-crafted wares, which she delicately transported in her carry-on baggage from Morocco." - Lee Tran Lam

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Café Tanja

Maellis J.

Google

I’ve been coming to Cafe Tanja for the second time today for the Ramadan set menu, and let me tell you something guys , that’s proper flavours of Morocco and Algeria , the food was amazing , from the entree to the desert . The chicken of the tajine was cooked amazingly yum! The service is lovely and it is always a pleasure to come here !!!! The vibes was lovely tonight ! Thank you so much !!!!! Merci 😍

Marcus

Google

We really wanted to like this place as we a huge fans of North African food, having visited the region. However we were very underwhelmed by our brunch. The Moroccan breakfast was disappointing and could've been generic fried eggs with a few small sides at any café - nothing really Moroccan about it, and for $24, was not good value. The tchouktchouka, was also uninspired. Overall brunch, including drinks cost $70 and for this price there are much better cafes in Surry Hills. I'm honestly surprised that this place is so highly rated.

NADINE C.

Google

This has become our regular place when we want some guaranteed delicious food. My partner is vegan so we often struggle to find a place that caters well for both of us. He loves loves the cus cus and bricks. The Hamida sandwich, all the tajins and the morrocan breakfast are my favs. Their house made bread to soak up the flavors is the best part of the meal. Warm hospitality and warm decor make it a great place to visit and very reasonably priced

Marcella A.

Google

Incredible experience! Food was amazing as well as the service and atmosphere. The menu is truly authentic and affordable. ( The lamb and chicken tajines are my absolute favourite!). I felt transported to Morocco all at once. Cafe Tanja is definitely a restaurant that will be saved in my favourites!

Erika R.

Google

The decor/atmosphere and friendly service were so warm and welcoming. She made us feel like we were in Algeria or Morocco dining with friends! The flavors were also great, 10/10. I’m only giving 4 stars instead of 5 because the portions were a lot smaller than anticipated. The kefta balls (with 1 egg) and chicken tajin plates were so tiny for the price. We had mentioned we were sharing everything amongst 3 people, but if we had known it was that small we would have ordered another meat plate because we were left wanting more. A great experience though and I’d still recommend it, but it’s good to go in knowing to order more! I’ll be back to try the date coffee and orange cake for sure.

Rosalie H

Google

This is by far the best restaurant I’ve eaten at in Sydney since I moved here! The staff are absolutely amazing, the atmosphere feels so warm and welcoming — just like home — and the dishes are incredible. Highly recommend, and a big thank you to the owner and team for being who you are!

Audrey L.

Google

This place is such a gem! Sana and her wonderful team make you feel like you’ve stepped into their home with their warm smiles, genuine hospitality, and the kind of care that’s rare to find. The food and drinks are absolutely delicious, especially their Hatay (my fav mint tea in town!!) full of flavour and clearly made with love. Everything is homemade (try their bread 🤤), served with thoughtful touches and great music in the background. It honestly feels like visiting a dear friend’s house where you’re treated like family. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly heartwarming North African dining experience!

Y M

Google

I had a great experience at Cafe Tanja. The staff were very welcoming and the food was very good, fresh, flavourful and authentic. The overall atmosphere felt warm and inviting, and I really appreciated the genuine hospitality. The food presentation and cold drinks could be improved, but the authenticity of the dishes truly stood out. I’ll definitely be back for another visit.

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391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

The 38 Best Restaurants in Sydney, Australia | Eater

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Café Tanja

Maellis J.

Google

Marcus

Google

NADINE C.

Google

Marcella A.

Google

Erika R.

Google

Rosalie H

Google

Audrey L.

Google

Y M

Google

Café Tanja

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The 38 Best Restaurants in Sydney, Australia | Eater

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The 38 Best Restaurants in Sydney, Australia | Eater