Cafe Raj
Cafe Raj
Tandoori-heated lentil flour crisps with cumin seeds. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil. Vegetarian.
A colorful mix of spring greens, tomato and cucumber complemented by our house vinaigrette. Vegetarian.
Two crispy triangles filled with potatoes and peas. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil. Vegetarian.
Two crispy triangles filled with ground chicken and spices. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil.
Two crispy triangles filled with spiced beef. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil.
Indian-spiced onion rings. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil. Vegetarian.
Mixed vegetable puffs in a spiced batter. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil. Vegetarian.
Indian fries - potato slices in a spiced batter. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil. Vegetarian.
Traditional cow's milk cheese in a spiced batter. Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil.
Chicken breast pieces in spiced batter. (Fun kid's meal!). Served with chutney. Prepared in a light canola oil.
Pureed roasted eggplant in a creamy tomato curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan Preparation available upon request
Potato and spinach in a tomato ginger curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Traditional house-made cheese and spinach curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Whole garbanzo beans in a zesty tomato cilantro curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Okra in a tomato-ginger curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Potato and cauliflower curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Traditional cow's milk cheese and green pea curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian.
Traditional cow's milk cheese in a tomato ginger curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian.
Yellow lentil beans in a tomato onion cilantro curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Black and yellow lentil beans in a tomato onion cilantro curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Potato and green pea curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Mushrooms sauteed in ginger and garlic, then blended into a spinach curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Mixed vegetables in a saffron curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian.
Pureed mustard greens, broccoli, and spinach in a tomato ginger garlic curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Vegetable balls in a saffron curry with almond milk, slivered almonds and raisins. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Spinach, potato, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, and pea curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian. Vegan.
Boneless chicken in a saffron curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless chicken and potatoes in a spicy pepper curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Tandoori grilled boneless chicken in a tomato ginger curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless chicken and spinach curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Tandoori-grilled boneless chicken in a tomato-saffron curry, with almond milk, almonds, and raisins. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless lamb in a saffron curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless lamb in a tomato ginger garlic curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless lamb and spinach curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless lamb and potatoes in a spicy pepper curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Boneless lamb in a melted cheese curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Tender bone-in goat meat in a tomato ginger garlic curry with fresh cilantro. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Prawns in a saffron curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Prawns in a spicy tomato ginger garlic curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Salmon or mahi mahi fillet in a tomato ginger garlic curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Salmon or mahi mahi fillet in a saffron curry with almonds. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Spiced beef meatballs in a saffron curry with almond milk. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Spiced ground beef and potato in a tomato ginger garlic curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Spiced ground beef and peas in a tomato ginger garlic curry. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Mushrooms sauteed in ginger and garlic with your choice of protein. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Crazy delicious Brussels Sprouts with potatoes and green peas in a tomato-ginger-garlic masala
Pumpkin curry in a tomato-ginger-garlic masala for a perfect autumnal experience! Vegan base preparation, or add meat to your dish.
2 marinated and tandoori-grilled chicken thighs. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Chicken breast pieces, marinated and tandoori-grilled. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
3 pieces of lamb loin chop, marinated and tandoori-grilled. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Salmon or mahi mahi fillet marinated in Indian spices and tandoori-grilled. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Tandoori-grilled ground beef with onion, ginger, and garlic. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Tandoori-grilled ground lamb with onion, ginger, and garlic. Served with your choice of side. Prepared and spiced to order.
Rice dish with a bouquet of Indian spices, almonds and raisins, prepared and spiced to order. Vegetarian.
Rice dish with a bouquet of Indian spices, almonds and raisins, prepared and spiced to order.
Rice dish with a bouquet of Indian spices, almonds and raisins, prepared and spiced to order.
Rice dish with a bouquet of Indian spices, almonds and raisins, prepared and spiced to order.
With your choice of salmon or mahi mahi fillet. Rice dish with a bouquet of Indian spices, almonds and raisins, prepared and spiced to order.
Flatbread made with white flour.
Flatbread made with wheat flour. Vegetarian.
Flatbread made with wheat flour and butter.
Fried wheat bread. This is the only bread that is not tandoori oven-baked.
Naan filled with spiced beef.
White bread stuffed with potato, onion, and cilantro.
Wheat bread stuffed with potato, onion, and cilantro. Stuffed chappati is vegan. Vegetarian.
A distinctive long grain rice, grown in the foothills of the himalayas. Vegetarian.
A distinctive long grain rice, grown in the foothills of the himalayas. Vegetarian.
Cool yogurt with tomato and cucumber. Great with spicy dishes. Vegetarian.
Vegetarian.
Vegetarian.
Vegetarian.
Vegetarian.
A zesty mixture of pickled mango, lime, lemon, green chili, and ginger. Vegetarian.
Vegetarian.
2 milk pastry balls served with a honey-rose water-coconut drizzle.
Rice pudding made with almonds, pistachios and green cardamom.
Frozen dessert made with milk, almonds, pistachios, green cardamom, and cinnamon.
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
Traditional black tea with milk and spices, served unsweetened
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
yogurt-milk beverage, made to order
Lemon and rose water beverage, house-made to order
Must be 21 to purchase.
Must be 21 to purchase.
Must be 21 to purchase.
Must be 21 to purchase.
Must be 21 to purchase.
curry, food
food, curry
food
outside
Channa Masala
Chicken Saag
Lamb Masala
Veggie Samosas
food
food, curry
food, curry
food, curry
a plate of rice with cilantro
Prawn Biriani
a woman sitting at a table in a restaurant
Chicken Shai Korma
samosa and paneer
a bowl of food on a wooden table
the outside of a restaurant with tables and umbrellas
a table full of indian food
Vegan Channa Masala, Butter Chicken, Chicken Vindaloo
Chicken Biriani
a variety of indian food on a table
Vegan Pakora
Aja D.
Feb 6, 2025
Maybe these guys give everyone free chai and free rice pudding, but every time I get these things offered to me it feels so special and personal; the staff here is so nice!The food is delicious too! Good quality and quantity of meat if you're into that, and well-seasoned and hearty veggie dishes if you prefer that. I would say that the quality and sauces have improved over the past year. I haven't tried a lot of the dishes here but haven't experienced "blandness." I will say that things are on the "milder" side, no heavy cumin, smokiness, or certain spices that present more boldly in dishes from specific parts of India. "Hot" here is what most places would call "medium" as far as heat/spicy level. Observation, not complaint. Chicken Tikka masala came with golden raisins and slivered almonds on top which I don't believe I have seen elsewhere but really enjoyed. And they're open late!
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Tom C.
Nov 1, 2024
The paratha was great the curries were clunky and the spices weren't developed properly The texture was off I expected better They had the strangest tamarind water I've ever tasted more like jam the green chutney had almost no flavor The cicken was very well cooked but the flavor was weak Good basmati
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Isaac N.
Sep 23, 2024
Ordered a late night meal and it was packed to the brim. The chicken tikka masala was flavorful, creamy, and had the perfect blend of seasonings to warm my stomach. And the garlic naan was light, fluffy, and delicious!While I was waiting for the food, I had a conversation with the owner Raj and he offered me a hot cup of chai, which was delightful considering how warming it was for the cold night.This is now on my go to spot for Indian food in Albany, and I hope to return many more times!
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Zach H.
Feb 9, 2025
Never been in person but I've ordered via doordash. Great food IMO, but be warned that their definition of spicy is spicier than most places! I have a pretty good spice tolerance - I literally grow my own cayenne peppers, and I basically always select "spicy" when it's an option on doordash. This will be the first place where I'll have to start ordering "medium spicy".
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Harsh S.
Mar 25, 2024
This is one of the most kindest, humble places I had privilege to eat at.1. I reached at 10:45pm and they close at 11:00pm.Yet the lady who greeted me at the front was so so kind and humble. She made me comfortable.2. I was feeling bad that because of me they have to close the restaurant late but the cute girl and the other woman made me feel so at home.3. Then I ordered Chapati, Saag (Spinach) Paneer and Mango Lassi. 4. Saag Paneer Quantity was excellent and so was the taste. I ordered spicy with spice level 4 and it was very easy to handle5. Chapati and Wheat roti on which they put butter was awesome too.6. I also asked for Onion Lemon and Mirchi (hot green pepper) and they happily served me with Salt and Pepper.6. Then the sweet and noble uncle came and he gave me aachaar also (pickle)7. Sweet Uncle also gave me Kheer (Rice Pudding) and did not charge it tooand gave it complimetary.8. I asked for togo boxes and One Chapati was filling. It was huge size.9. Sweet Uncle also gave me rice and togo boxes.I am just elated with experience at Cafe Raj. The fact that such nice people with such noble and good hearts exist and serve people around itself has moved my heart.God bless all of you at Cafe Raj and may you always "Raj" our hearts forever.6. Mango Lassi recommended.
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Ethan A.
Sep 1, 2024
There's no option to order online except by phone, so I just went in person. Staff were super friendly and I only waited around 15ish minutes for my food. The Lamb Shai Korma was excellent and I loved dipping the naan in it. The lamb chunks were super tender and flavorful. I did get the stuffed naan expecting like a samosa type filling, but the potato inside of the stuffed naan was just unseasoned or minimally seasoned, in other words, it was literally just potato. Next time, I would probably get my usual at Indian places which is the garlic naan. But the food is fantastic and it's not overly priced. I also received a complimentary Kheer which was cold, not too sweet, and a good dessert to follow up with the Korma.Inside, there's a counter for all the takeout orders, but there are about 20ish seats available inside if you would like to dine in. There is street parking and if it's a busy Friday or weekend, parking may be more difficult because it's on Solano.Overall, I will definitely be back because this food was amazing and it might become my usual spot!
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Blair Z.
Sep 17, 2024
It was really cozy and homely. The waitress was friendly and attentive- the lunch time wasn't busy and chicken tikka masala got the job done. The cost was very affordable for the amount of food- the portion and chicken were great. I will definitely be back on my lunch time!
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Michael M.
Oct 24, 2024
We drove from SF for this! It's iconic! Best Chicken Korma of all! Amazing birriani. And Naan to die for! Do go way out of your way for this gem of authentic family recipes for over 20 years now!
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Amy B.
Aug 26, 2024
Awful service and worse food. Forgot that I didn't like the food the last time I ate here, perhaps, because the food is forgettable, and best. Even the Raita was lame, with barely any cumin or cucumber. Overcooked chicken in one-note curry with painfully overcooked okra that looked and tasted like a large heavy mass of brown food. Definitely NOT medium spice. Just kinda tasteless milk. Server disinterested.
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Eric J.
Feb 26, 2025
Raj is a great person. He is very generous with his portions and the quality and freshness of his food surpasses expectations. I have dined here for over 7 years and I have NEVER had a bad experience whether it be take out or dine in. A very family oriented ambiance and clean dining area centrally located on Solano Avenue in Albany. You will not be disappointed! Thank you Raj!
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