Ajay Walia

Founder/Executive Chef

Ajay Walia was born in New Delhi, India, to a family of self-starters. After completing his MBA in the United States, he pursued a successful career in finance, working at J.P Morgan then Deloitte. When he and his family relocated to the Bay Area from Chicago in 2000, it was finally time to pursue his dream and open a restaurant. Saffron Indian Bistro, located in San Carlos, was born. Offering quality, comforting, original Indian food, it has now served its community for more than 20 years. In 2014, Ajay wanted to challenge further the preconceived ideas around Indian cuisine and opened RASA in Burlingame. A bright, modern space serving coastal and south Indian dishes to an exceptional quality, and in 2016, it earned a Michelin star. In 2022, RASA was reimagined into the Saffron group as Saffron Burlingame, strengthening the offering under one consolidated brand. The two sites continue to thrive today. Ajay joins Amara as CEO alongside Reena Miglani, the founder as well as his wife, bringing his decades-long career and proven excellence within the hospitality sector as a guiding steer to the site’s founding team.