Beloved Bay Area Grill Wah Jee Wah Reopens in Milpitas

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After shutting down its Hayward location last year due to a rent hike, the popular Wah Jee Wah restaurant is making a comeback in Milpitas. Chef-owner Ron Dumra is reopening the live-fire Indian barbecue spot at a new, smaller address on South Main Street, initially offering dinner service with plans to add a weekday lunch thali in the coming month.

Why it matters

Wah Jee Wah is known for its rare charcoal-grilled Indian street food skewers, which have earned it a loyal following and critical acclaim. The restaurant's return to the Bay Area dining scene, after a temporary closure, is welcome news for fans of its unique flavors and cooking style.

The details

Wah Jee Wah will open its doors this Friday at 418 S. Main St. in Milpitas, offering dinner service with both indoor seating and sidewalk tables. The restaurant will feature its signature skewered meats and vegetables cooked over live charcoal, as well as new menu items like lamb birria and braised lamb shanks. In about a month, Dumra plans to add a weekday lunch thali service aimed at nearby workers. The new Milpitas location will have a smaller dining room than the previous Hayward outpost, seating around 20 guests inside and 20 more outside.

• Wah Jee Wah closed its Hayward location last summer due to a rent hike.
• The restaurant will reopen this Friday, April 18, 2026, in Milpitas.
• Dumra plans to add a weekday lunch thali service in roughly one month.

What’s next

Once the kitchen at the new Milpitas location finds its groove, the initial dinner-only routine is expected to expand into a daily thali service aimed at nearby workers.