Jambo Cafe

"Open for: Lunch, dinner Price range: $$ Chef Ahmed Obo combines the Swahili, Indian, Arabic, and European culinary influences of Kenya’s Lamu Island, where he was raised, to provide a taste of East Africa in Santa Fe. At Jambo Cafe, opened in 2009, check out the coconut pili pili shrimp, which features wild shrimp over spicy coconut tomato stew and basmati rice, alongside fan favorites like grilled jerk chicken and vegetarian dishes. The exterior of the restaurant looks unassuming, but this is one of those gems where both locals and visitors go to be transported across the world.  Know before you go: All of the meats in the entrees are halal." - Karen Fischer

"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives aficionados will be familiar with this twice featured eatery and Kenyan-born chef Ahmed Obo. Obo cooked Santa Fe favorites, like green chile cheeseburgers, in other kitchens for a decade before opening his own restaurant in an unassuming strip mall space enlivened with colorful walls and art from its in-house bazaar. Jambo Café is an outpost for African-Caribbean flavors. Obo has a much-appreciated heavy hand with spices in dishes like jerk chicken wings, lamb curry, coconut pili pili shrimp, and ever-popular Caribbean goat stew—a favorite of TV Network host Guy Fieri when he visited. Obo, with his spice rack in tow, also resurrected a famous burger joint across town now known as Jambo Bobcat Bite." - Ashley M. Biggers

"Chef Ahmed Obo combines the Swahili, Indian, Arabic, and European culinary influences of Kenya’s Lamu Island, where he was raised, to provide a taste of East Africa. At Jambo Cafe, opened in 2009, check out the coconut pili pili shrimp, which features wild shrimp over spicy coconut tomato stew and basmati rice, alongside fan favorites like grilled jerk chicken and vegetarian dishes." - Willy Carleton, Justin De La Rosa, Karen Fischer

Chef Ahmed Obo combines the Swahili, Indian, Arabic, and European culinary influences of Kenya’s Lamu Island, where he was raised, to provide a unique taste of East African fare. At Jambo Cafe, opened in 2009, check out the coconut pili pili shrimp, which features wild shrimp over spicy coconut tomato stew and basmati rice, alongside fan favorites like grilled jerk chicken and vegetarian dishes.