I love any and all types of middle Eastern food. This is a place I had my eye on for a while and I finally got around to trying it. I am just upset at myself for not coming sooner. The lady helping me was very friendly and recommended the koobideh and said it would be taste better if I ate it there. I was going to take it to go, but I trusted her and I am very happy I did. The chicken and beef koobideh were DELICIOUS. So juicy, so flavorful, good portion and plenty of flavorful rice! I will absolutely be coming here again in the future. I will be telling everyone I know how good the food is here. I hope they get more business because that was absolutely the best koobideh in the south bay and I would hate to see this place close in the future :( read more

Saffron Food Mart - Amazing chicken and beef koobideh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

The quality of this place has declined significantly under the new management, and the prices are far too high for what you get. I ordered the barg kabob ($32 after tax), and the meat was old and had an unpleasant smell. It seemed like it had been grilled hours earlier and then reheated. It tasted nothing like authentic Persian barg. The meat even had a sour flavor due to too much lemon juice in the marinate. It didn't seem to be made from filet mignon. Instead, it tasted like too much yogurt had been used in the marinade to make the meat tender. It was very disappointing. I won't be wasting my money there again. There are much better options around in Southbay! read more

It's been a very long time since I've tried this spot and I can say it did not disappoint! I ordered the beef and chicken Koobideh to go and was stunned by the beauty of the presentation and amount of food. This was incredibly delicious and I can't wait to try more items on the menu. read more

Saffron Food Mart - Beef and Chicken Koobideh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

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Lunch here 5.14.26 Amazingly delish! I have eaten here many times, and LOVE getting all the goodies Persian food has to offer. I had the Koobideh beef and chicken. Of course with basmati rice, pepper, tomato grilled. Amil I believe is the owner, super nice gentleman who even gave me pita, with the fresh sweet onion and yogurt. Plus gave a a slice of the baklava I think with pistacio on top. I love adding sumac on everything, so I might of killed of what was not used traditionally lol. Lunch hour is decent, enough parking spaces for me. They also altered the place with less produce and selections as it did before. New remodeled resto, so seating for 30 might not be optimal, but family of 6 or 4 is ok, plus seating outside is nice too. Prices are what they are for Persian food, $12.99-35 a plate and dependent on how fancy you'd like it to be. I am happy they are still open and so friendly as always. Thank you for the lovely lunch I had... i could have easily eaten everything haha read more

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This review is long overdue, but I've never forgotten how my family was treated here. About five years ago, my wife, our 4-year-old son, and I came to Saffron Market to pick up a large order of Persian food. When we arrived, our food wasn't ready yet, so while we waited we decided to browse the aisles and pick up a few additional items. My son found a snack and a drink that he wanted. Our plan was simple: I would pay separately for the snack and drink so my wife--who was very obviously pregnant at the time--and our son could go wait comfortably in the car while I stayed inside until our large food order was ready. My wife's back was hurting, and we didn't see any reason for her to continue standing around in the store. I got in line at the register with just the snack and drink. Right after I got in line, another customer walked up behind me. He had been chatting with the owner near the food pickup area beforehand and it was obvious they knew each other well and that he was a longtime customer. As I started placing the snack and drink on the counter to pay, the owner suddenly became upset with me. He asked why I couldn't just wait and pay for those items when my food order was ready. He complained that it was inconvenient for them to process two separate transactions. I calmly explained that my wife, who was clearly very pregnant, wanted to go sit in the car because her back was hurting, and I wanted to buy the snack and drink so she and my son could be comfortable while I waited inside for the food. His response completely shocked me. He told me that when he had cancer, that his body hurt, and that he was still able to stand without a problem. Therefore, according to him, my wife could simply wait a little longer because the food would be ready soon. He also repeated that it was too much work for them to process two separate purchases, especially since another customer was waiting behind me. At that point I told him that everyone's body is different, and while I was sorry to hear about what he had gone through, that had absolutely nothing to do with how he should treat his customers. I explained that we were paying customers, that making a separate purchase was completely reasonable, and that it was extremely unprofessional to argue with customers over something so minor. I also pointed out that it was disrespectful to ignore the needs of my pregnant wife, who simply wanted to go sit down comfortably while we waited. I told him we would never be back. And we haven't. After telling our family what happened, none of our immediate or extended family have returned either. The part that bothered me most wasn't the extra transaction. It was the attitude. Rather than showing even a small amount of empathy or customer service, the owner chose to argue, compare my pregnant wife's discomfort to his own past medical experience, and make us feel like we were inconveniencing him by trying to buy merchandise from his own store. In my opinion, customers should never be made to feel guilty for making a legitimate purchase or for accommodating a pregnant family member. Also beware of the owner and his wife, who works at the front. In my experience, they were both rude and unwelcoming. It felt very clear that if you're one of their regular or preferred customers, you'll probably be treated differently. If you're not, don't expect the same level of respect or courtesy. There are plenty of other places to buy Persian groceries and food where customers are treated with kindness and professionalism. Unfortunately, this was not one of them. read more

Delicious Koobideh and Soltani, generous portions, and friendly service. Great Persian food!

amazing food and service for a fantastic price! i highly recommend eating here, whether to eat in the restaurant, or for take out!!!

Super quaint and has the best, most saffron-y, and rich rice ever. The meat was and juicy flavorful in the beef koobideh. The roast vegetables on the side were charred to perfection and refreshing with the meat and rice. The white sauce was tangy and refreshing as well. I also bought a pint of pomegranate ice cream which was creamy, a bit tangy, and had small pomegranate seeds inside. The service was direct and quick with not much interaction. Visiting this shop was an amazing experience and I'd come back if I ever visit Palos Verdes again. read more

Terrible experience ! Won't be going back anytime ever. I placed an online order on my phone for pick-up the day after. They charged my credit card and emailed me an order confirmation. On the day of the pick-up we called to ask if we could pick up at 3:30 PM instead of 1:00 PM, and the lady who took our call said they haven't received an order because their online ordering system isn't operational. We explained we placed the order on their website and and received an order confirmation email, mentioning the pickup date and time, and the money had already been charged to our credit card. She sounded surprised and then said she could issue a refund. We said its been two days and we don't want a refund we want to collect our order for which we had already ben charged. So she said OK you can come and collect at 03:30 PM. After driving all the way there our order wasn't ready, and we were told by the lady we'd have to pay again. So we raised the issue with the gentleman at the cashiers counter who was probably the owner, and he was even worse. Rather than resolve the situation he said "well we don't know how your order and the charge went through, but we will refund your money." I explained I had called earlier and was told we can come and pick-up and clearly said we don't want a refund, to which the lady suddenly completely changed her story saying she told us she would issue a refund ..... which was completely false. I was so upset with the dishonesty, I just walked out saying I don't want anything, and I'll wait for my refund. In case I don't get my refund I'm going to register a complaint with the authorities. I don't know how the food is as I never got my order, despite them having charge my cc and kept the money for two days. Very dishonest, and discourteous establishment. It was such a wast of time and such a horrible experience, I won't every be going back there again read more

Service has gone downhill here and we are their regulars. Found a brown black hair in my food that definitely wasn't mine (I got gold hair to my head) or my family's grey short hair last time recently. Don't know how they got that in there. I have a photo of that. But I was disgusted. Had to throw my food away which was such a waste of food and money and gas to get here. Wanted a refund or compensation but they decided to make another food for my family the next time he came which was supposed to be dealing with me directly but that wasn't the case. You would think that being their regular clients from here they would treat us better but they don't. From the moment we walk in, no greetings. Rude. People who work here don't know how to smile especially the latina one who never smiles no matter how nice you are to her, always carrying her unpleasant and unwelcoming attitude/demeanor every time, always definitely bias greeting and hugging their favorite people. So Barf. My Royal family and I always buy much food from here and shop at the market area too for many years now and their customer service is lousy. I used to give 5 stars here every time I came here but their customer service has gone downhill that I decided to remove all my 5 stars they no longer deserve. The unsanitary of their food is definitely frightening. I super highly recommend people go to way better service and very clean authentic Persian food at KUKU cafe in Inglewood so much better. More consistent with hospitality and clean everything. Huge difference from here. read more

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Honestly? Wow I'm too stunned to speak! We ordered the chicken and beef koobideh and it was a 10/10! The chicken was flavorful, juicy, and not dry whatsoever! The beef was also amazing and the portion was 100% worth it. The salmon?! Speechless 100/10! I've been to other places before but this place is definitely my go to from now on. The service was quick and the workers were super nice! There's definitely indoor and outdoor seating if you want to eat there as well! Overall, I definitely recommend this place if you're in the area! read more

Market is super clean, stocked with fresh produce and staffed with kind people. I once left my groceries by accident while eating lunch on the outside porch and that night they refunded me! So thoughtful. The hot food bar inside is delicious, I especially love the chicken koobideh and the gheymeh! I even find the prices are cheaper here than many specialty markets! Every time I am in town, I will stop by! read more

RUDE & DISCRIMINATORY (to non-Persians). Order taker was exceptionally curt. She made the ordering difficult, and she told me they don't provide glasses of water; instead I needed to purchase bottled water. Im obviously not Persian; however, I know and love Persian food. It was obvious to me from the start I was being treated rudely because I am not Persian. After sitting down, I noted two Persian women seated next to me, chatting with the owner/chef/manager? Both women were drinking glasses of water (no bottles, no other drinks), and they'd been given raw onion chunks, a typical Persian accompaniment provided with the bread. I was told I couldn't have either. Food was good. But this LA; there's no shortage of Persian restaurants that offer both good food and friendly service. Shame on Saffron Food Mart. I will not be back. And I will share my experience with my many foodie friends - Persians and non-Persians. read more

Saffron is a gem through and through, from their unique and delicious grocery goods, to their cooked food that you can order fresh and dine in or takeout. They have a pretty wild deal here with their beef kabob wrap and canned soda for a total of $3. It's pure value and was delicious and filling enough. I'd also ordered a larger chicken kabob wrap to go. Like the previous wrap, it was juicy and delicious, with a mash of flavors that worked really well together. While waiting on my food, I'd picked up some amazing lavash bread, fresh hummus, a small tub of saffron & rose ice cream, and a saffron ice cream sandwich. The saffron and rose ice creams were a top 5 for me. They were super rich, sweet, and the pistachios had a nice savory balance to it all. Service is very friendly here which is a big bonus. Loved my experience, can't wait to come back and try some other menu options while grabbing some more goods to go from their mart. read more

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Quaint Persian market. Friendly service. Quality breads, cookies and sweets. Fresh fruit and vegetables. They also have dishes to go or they have small tables outside if you want to eat there. I tried the beef koobideh. It was very good. I want to get the salmon kabab next and also get their fesenjan. read more

Saffron Food Mart - Beef koobideh w/ saffron rice, grilled tomato. Not pictured but came w/ onion wedge, flat bread, butter, sumac & yogurt & cucumber dip. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

Really good baghali polo! Food was freshly cooked and the portion size was decent as well. They made the food relatively quickly especially given the quality. read more

Update. Purchased their $430 meal for a party of 30 people, that could have fed 40. The chicken kebabs were a little dry and would have subbed for koobideh instead. Unfortunately my party are on reduced carbs so more than enough rice and we didn't know how to mix in the fixings , grilled tomatoes, sumac, butter ( saw on YouTube). But their food is delicious and would recommend anyone wanting Middle Eastern food. The dinner serving provides this naan like bread which they seem to have forgotten in my order. read more

i got there tanchin which is yellow chicken rice. worse tanchin i ever had. other food is good but not this.

I forgot to add we found a black hair in the food. I am blond. So unappetizing and there was no way to ask any questions as the waitress didnt speak English. It was lunchtime and not a single customer inside besides us. read more

Got the TKF Koobideh Wrap. Thoroughly enjoyable. The combination of the meat and the other ingredients (red onion, tomato, something green (pickle or pepper) and parsley) works. The chef was very nice on answering my questions about their menu. read more

Saffron Food Mart - Packaging - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

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The good: I saw the sign outside for their bakery so I decided to stop by here with my husband. It's a small market with a food stand at the end and a restaurant attached. I got some Greek frozen pastry here and a delicious bar of German wafer chocolate (called Hanuta) for under $2. I'd like to come back and try their hot foods or order for catering. They sell other things like tea, jam, dried fruit, honey, canned foods, pickled foods, tea pots, and phyllo dough. The bad: The layout is strange because it's a restaurant, takeout food stand, small market and bakery all at once. I didn't see them sell any whole cakes (only some slices). Prices and signs or descriptors for the baked products were missing. We got a box of $15 hazelnut rice crisp chocolates that were probably the worst chocolates I've ever tasted. It tasted like old oil and was very low quality. They came in many different wrappings so we asked the cashier what the difference in flavors were and she said they're all the same. My husband and I each ate one chocolate and can't stomach eating a second. The expiration date said 1/10/23 and we assumed that meant October 1 but perhaps it meant January. All of the boxes had this date on it. The interesting: The bathroom said out of order but it isn't out of order. I was able to use the restroom after asking the cashier. read more

Saffron Food Mart - These chocolates were not tasty. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

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I am Japanese and new to cooking Persian food. The staff has been so kind in helping me find the right ingredients. Compared to other markets, Saffron Food Mart has very high-quality fresh herbs for incredibly affordable prices. This is a gem in the community; it has been a joy to support this local business. read more

I decided to check out this Iranian market. The shop selection itself isn't bad but nothing too impressive either. I did try the tongue sandwich for lunch and that was very good! read more

Love me a good middle eastern market!! Fresh produce and meats cheaper than a typical grocery store. Nice helpful staff to assist in finding items. They also have a hot food bar for fresh Persian cuisine. read more

Amazing place has lots of different things that you can't get anywhere else lots of fresh stuff as well

I'm Persia ln and I cook Persian food all the time. The quality of the food here is amazing, it's fresh and smells delicious. The staff are all super nice and the chef is by far super friendly and does an awesome job. I recommend this place who wants to try real delicious Persian food. read more

Incredible Persian food in south Torrance!! You gotta check it!! We also got the Barg, which of course was also excellent! read more

Saffron Food Mart - Baghali Polo With Lamb Shank - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

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I ordered Saffron catering for an event I was hosting, and they truly went above and beyond! Everyone loved the food. Highly recommend!

Torrance Food Crawl #382 Saffron Food Mart is a small market specializing in Persian foods and treats with a food counter in the back where you can order 'take out' or 'eat-in' Persian foods. An International market used to be at this location but was broken into several separate businesses. Saffron has a much smaller footprint than the older market and the selections are fewer, but the food business on the side is more active. Ghormah Sabzi (http://bit.ly/2Zz70ax), the number one item listed on the menu (which is usually a good clue what is considered the most popular item). This dish was mainly green herbs and vegetables with chunks of cooked beef. There also were chunks of Persian Lime (limoo amani) which were added for flavor but which tasted horrible when I accidentally bit into one. A large portion of basmati rice was served on the side. The Chicken Kebab (http://bit.ly/2GLA8Eg) had very dry chicken. Even though the taste of the chicken was fine, when it's too dry a liberal application of the cucumber sauce becomes necessary. The vegetables were slightly on the blackened side. The white and saffron flavored basmati rice was excellent. The Zaban (Tongue) sandwich (http://bit.ly/2ZyZhcB) was the highlight of all the foods I've tried here. The meat was fresh, tender, and great tasting. I'm sorry too many people avoid something like tongue because it's something they didn't grow up with because they are really missing out on something good. Everything else on the sandwich was fresh, but the taste of the meat is what I remember best. The Kotlet sandwich (http://bit.ly/2YMOZ7A) was made of a meat cutlet with vegetables and pickles, with more pickles on the side. The sandwich was average. I asked what is in the Kotlet and I was told 'meat'. In looking up this sandwich, I found that it often contains a mix of lamb and beef, which seems right. Probably would not try this again. The food ordering counter is in the back. There is now a counter across the back which makes reading the menu choices on the wall in the back. There are some paper menus that can also be used. The photos I've included of the menu items were taken back in September 2018, and I think the menu is largely the same (though some prices may have changed). read more

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Yay koobideh ( Persian cuisine ground meat) So far , I get my lamb koobideh fix at Shamshiri in Westwood. I headed to Saffron when I saw they had it on the menu , not lamb but beef and chicken with favorable reviews on Yelp . Parking lot is shared with other businesses and it was easy to find a spot. Facade was nice and walked into the grocery section with a good size dining area to the right. The aisles were neatly lined with a very cool selection of sweets . I picked up 2 hexagonal mini boxes of turkish delights , perfect for gifts & personal sampling . I was excited with the assortment of spices , tea, mini rosebuds & a variety of the Sadaf brand. I have to come back to pick up a 20 lb bag of basmati rice , a staple in our household. Past the aisles is an open kitchen in the back where you order food. The ambiance is very casual. The staff is friendly . I ordered the beef & chicken koobideh , it came with a generous portion of basmati rice with a packet of sumac and pita . The meat was very tender and delicious. Had a cardamom tea too. The nice lady at the counter said that I can call ahead to request for cherry or lentil rice next time . My best friend had the lamb kabobs (1 skewer) & she devoured them ! We were presented with baklava since we were celebrating her birthday & it was delicious. Our meal costs under $50, which is a bit steep but it saved me a drive to Westwood ! read more

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When it comes to authentic Persian food for pick up , Saffron Food Mart is the best in South Bay . It always tasty & quality & presentation is good too Really recommended read more

Saffron Food Mart - Chicken Soltani(with Beef Koubideh) really tasty .This portion is easily enough for 2 people - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Torrance, California

The need to be more friendly but they are clean and I like them and it's nice we have a Iranian restaurant and store

Food made me and my guest sick. We used to go there all the time and has got food to go multiple times. Something has changed recently. Their food quality has gone so bad. Not sure if the rice and the sauces are kept outside for long but it made me extremely sick. read more

We came here for dinner! Omg! So delicious! Service was fast and the food was amazing!!! Made fresh when you order - we will definitely be back for more! Everyone was so friendly! read more

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The owner was changed. They add cartilage to kobideh. Chicken is not cooked fully. Small salad Shiraz'y cost you $9.99. Kashkeh bademjan is oily and runny . All grocery are high price. The order taker Amer is rude. Bad service . read more

I used to love coming to this market to get some essentials and food. The service is never great but today I couldn't believe the terrible service. I grabbed a few items and waited by the register where two women were working (one on the phone). Not one of them acknowledged me even after the one woman finished her phone order. I just stood there waiting. Another customer came in to pick up their food order, and the woman started checking them out before me. Luckily the customer realized what was going on and told her to check me out. Not once did the woman look at me. It was so wild. I think I will take my business to the Persian market across the street. read more

I've been here before but didnt recognize the place since it's undergone a very cute and tasteful makeover. It was once a typical, non-descript market with interesting produce and products, but it's now a bright place with outdoor dining on the patio and a butcher counter in the back where you can order take out Persian meals as well. Tip: Order, shop around and then pick up your take-out meal at the front cashier or call ahead for pick up. I noticed a great spice selection similar to the Mexican ones I see at the grocery store but the brand is Mediterranean/Middle Eastern spices and different brands of feta cheese in the refrigerated section. The baked goodies looked tempting as well. Now about the take out dinner. I was in the midst of running errands so I had to try the Koobideh and it's a generous portion, so delicious!!! The saffron rice was also very tasty. I'll definitely be back. Plenty of parking. read more

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The very best! (coming from someone who was raised on koobideh) Moving to Palos Verdes a little over a year ago, we were entirely new to the area and didn't have any go-to places. I was so thrilled to learn we were just up the street from a Persian market that also had a kitchen. Excitedly I ordered koobideh with little to no expectations, as I was just happy to be so close to Persian food. Not only was I warmly welcomed as though I had been going there for years, but the koobideh was phenomenal. So fresh and juicy and served with the softest, tastiest rice. On top of their koobideh, their barg is out of this world (WAY better than Raffi's) and their joojeh kabob (aka boneless chicken) is actually the best we've ever had. Seriously. When it came time for our wedding, we wanted Persian food represented and there was only one place we would entrust. Working with Fardad and his team was a dream -- he was kind, joyful, thorough, and most of all executed with absolute precision, serving over 300 people with food as high quality as when you order just for yourself. We had other food options in an effort to appeal to everyone, and yet still the only food that was eaten entirely was Saffron Food Mart's catering. People were talking about it all night. It was the first time having Persian food for many people there and it filled me with pride to see not only the first timers enjoy it so much, but also to see how much all of my Iranian friends and family loved it as well. THANK YOU FARDAD, AKHTAR, AND THE ENTIRE SAFFRON FOOD MART TEAM. we love you forever read more

Love their salmon tray. Staff are friendly! Order in the phone most of the time. Comes with a lot of basmati rice! read more

Used to go to this place and the food (Kabob) was descent but with the management change and the weird machine that now makes the kabob the food is not eatable, I do mean: NOT EATABLE we were hungry so we just are a little of tomato and sangak (bread) and rice... the meat (all beef, lamb and chicken) we got were disgusting and so dry.... The picture you see on Yelp or elsewhere belong to the previous owner/business. Please don't waist your money and time here read more