Jaji
Restaurant · Waverly
422 24th St, Oakland, CA 94612
Highlights
Modern Afghan cuisine featuring unique flavors and California ingredients
Modern Afghan cuisine featuring unique flavors and California ingredients
"Jaji, by the Parche team, is Oakland’s go-to for an upscale-ish, feel-good dinner. It’s a high-ceilinged space with hanging red-orange fabric, arched windows, and a buzz that can only be generated by groups unpacking their week over Afghan dishes designed for sharing. The menu pulls in both familiar and unexpected notes. There’s comforting potato-and-pea-stuffed bolani, a stunning $72 trout paired with saffron rice, perfumed by candied cara cara oranges, and a silky, seed-covered chicken liver mousse spread over butter-soft brioche more than makes up for the occasional brisk pacing. But still, when on the lookout for a relaxed date night or catch-up without any pretentious vibes, Jaji is the spot." - julia chen 1, lani conway
"Four months after moving into a jaw-dropping location on 24th and Broadway, this contemporary Afghan restaurant and bar is just getting its cocktail menu off the ground, and it’s headed in the right direction. From the same mind behind one of Oakland’s favorite Colombian spots, Parche, Jaji takes colorful inspiration from the owner’s homeland in the beautiful mountains of Afghanistan. Yogurt-clarified martinis as well as a date infused whiskey and cumin soda highball are some of the early highlights." - Nico Bianchi
"The Afgan newcomer in Uptown Oakland, from the team behind nearby Parche, benefits from a stunning location — the ground floor of the Kissel hotel — which comes with dramatically arched, large windows. To add to the beautification, the ceiling is smartly outfitted, creating an unexpected focal point. The menu is a worthy attraction, too, with rare and excellent dishes like bolani, duck confit dumplings, and a selection of kabobs." - Flora Tsapovsky
"Jaji is an Afghan spot in Oakland from the Parche team. The colorful Uptown spot serves fried snow trout with saffron, wagyu top sirloin and ground lamb skewers, and braised lamb shank. To drink, there are cocktails infused with yogurt, turmeric syrup, and black pepper tincture." - julia chen 1
"Contemporary Afghan food is at the heart of Jaji, a new Oakland restaurant from the couple behind Parche. Pulling on co-owner Sophia Akbar’s childhood as an Afghan American, husband (and chef) Paul Iglesias sought to take those flavors and give them a twist. The result is food that has won over Akbar’s family, like the shola-qorooti arancini that turned the Afghan sticky rice dish into more of a croquette. Although alcohol is illegal in Afghanistan itself, this modern restaurant indulges in a cocktail list but has a plentiful nonalcoholic drink selection that will be pleasing to all." - Dianne de Guzman
