We’ll keep this short and sweet: Shah Jee’s, a lunchtime Pakistani restaurant tucked away in the basement of a downtown Milwaukee office building at 770 N. Jefferson St., rules. If you know, you know.
But you should also know that Shah Jee’s needs a little help in these post-pandemic times. Enter a GoFundMe titled “Support Shah Jees: A Milwaukee Gem Built on Heart & Hardwork.”
The GoFundMe is organized by the daughters of Shah Jee’s owner Azhar Shah. Here’s a bit of their message:
Not only did my dad grow Shah Jee’s into a cherished spot in the community, but he also expanded, opening three more restaurants around the Milwaukee area. Unfortunately, like so many others, he faced unimaginable hardship when the pandemic hit. Despite his best efforts to keep prices affordable and service exceptional, the lockdown forced him to close all three new locations. This setback has deeply affected the business, and he’s been doing everything he can to keep the original downtown location open. But, it’s become harder each day, and my dad now fears that he may have to close his restaurant for good.
Shah Jee’s is more than just a business to my dad; it’s his pride, his joy, and the product of 30 years of tireless work. To see it slip away would break his heart and ours.
My dad is a man who has always given to others, quietly supporting and helping everyone around him. He’s a loving father, a selfless friend, and a respected pillar of the Milwaukee community. But asking for help? That’s not something he does. And so, we’re asking for him.
If you can, please consider supporting Shah Jee’s in any way you can. Every donation will help my dad keep his dream alive—allowing him to continue doing what he loves most, while serving our community with the food and care he’s known for. Your support would mean the world to us.
In business since 1995, Shah Jee’s is hardly a secret, but it still feels like a secret. Enter the doors of 770 N. Jefferson, give a nod to the back entrance of SportClub, head down a staircase, and behold a space that possesses all the charm and panache of a high school cafeteria. Random tables and chairs dot the floor. Darkened storefronts and hallways line the room. Voices echo. But tucked away in the far corner stands an intriguing, if similarly unadorned, beacon of hope and olfactory delights: Shah Jee’s. (Note: Shah Jee’s briefly expanded to four locations in the pre-pandemic days; these days, only the original location remains.)
Long lines are the norm around the noon hour on weekdays (Shah Jee’s is only open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Friday), and it only takes a few visits to recognize a bevy of familiar faces dutifully tucking into their dishes, served styrofoam-plate-on-plastic-lunch-tray-style.
Shah Jee’s menu is delightfully simple: Chicken masala is the main entree, and it can be combined with aloo palak (boiled potatoes and spinach), chana masala (chickpeas), saag paneer (spinach), and daal masoor (lentils). Basmati rice rounds out the typical dish, as does a can of soda (because if you’re going to go straight-up cafeteria, you might as well go all the way). A green chutney sauce also awaits those who find Shah Jee’s distinctive spice just not spicy enough. Get there early, and you’ll get a fresh batch of everything; get there after the lunch crowd has decimated the inventory, and you’re simply out of luck.
Oh, and one more thing: Shah Jee’s is really, really good. Boasting no-frills, light, just-spicy-enough, and robustly flavorful Pakistani cuisine, there’s a reason for the long lines and repeat customers. Like the sign says: “COME IN AND TRY! YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF.”
So there you go. SUPPORT SHAH JEE’S. Donate to the GoFundMe, eat there, etc. It rules.
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