Food is very good. Service was excellent! Ambiance is great! Chicken 65, mango lassi, butter chicken, chicken sizzler and garlic naan were great. Chicken curry was ok for our taste, it lacked the flavor. Kulfi was average. Overall a great experience read more

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Good service nice presentation, and decent food. It seems that they cater more to an American palette vs a more traditional Indian one. The flavors are a more subdued and the dishes have a weaker masala and spice. Overall, none of the food was spectacular, but none of it was bad. Everything was lacking a strong flavor that I enjoy in Indian dishes, but my parents, who prefer a milder flavor, enjoyed them very much. I dislike how there is a charge for the onion/pepper/lemon plate - it should be served as a standard addition. The interior is both modern and tasteful. read more

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Easily the worst "Indian" restaurant I've ever been to. I love Indian food, and trust me, whatever they're serving at Saffron isn't it. It's insanely overpriced for what you actually get. $10 for a single cup of bland chai, $7 for 25¢ worth of rice, $7 per naan, $27 for a serving of butter chicken that was nothing short of disappointing and at any other restaurant would be a stretch to even charge $20 for. It was basically tomato soup with chunks of chicken in it. I wish I could say you're paying for the experience or ambiance, but no. We opted to sit outside because it smelled of burning plastic and electrical fire inside. The seating area outside was dusty and neglected, and whenever they brought out dishes, they placed the spoons directly on the dusty table . Honestly, if the food was actually good, I could look past the service, ambiance, and price. But alas, failure across the board. Save yourself the money and go down to Koriander on Ralston where the food is actually flavorful and delicious for a fraction of the price. Or go around the corner to Sakura for a hibachi show and comprehensive meal for two (that there will be lots of leftovers of to enjoy the next day), for 25% less than the bill was at Saffron. (I am not affiliated with any restaurants mentioned. I'm just a dude who likes good food, and likes it more when it is at reasonable prices.) read more

Saffron - Chicken 65, ODS- Butter Chicken (Old Delhi Style), - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

My wife and I ventured away from our typical Indian food spot to give Saffron a try off of a friend's recommendation. They have a nice covered seating area outside which was very nice on a warm weekend evening. Service was fast and friendly and food came out quickly. We ordered butter chicken, kadhai paneer, and the bread basket. The bread was the star of the three items which was both surprising and unfortunate. Our mains were fine, but not more than that. The presentation was exceptional but the flavor didn't follow that up. There is a growing trend among some Indian restaurants to charge for rice. This is not only obnoxious it is obnoxiously priced. 1 cup of rice is $5. It is just about enough for one person. There's no refilling it, you just have to pay another $5 for another cup. If you're in the area and are looking for Indian, this is fine. It's a one and done for us though. There are better, less expensive options within 10 minutes of here. read more

Saffron - Bread basket (top), kadhai paneer (left), butter chicken (right), $5 cup of rice (bottom) - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

This is one of my favorite north indian restaurants. It has never disappointed us in our several visits. Today's was no exception. The service is friendly and professional, always with a smile. Ambience is great. Love the photos they have up on the walls. The place is not huge, but the way seating is setup it doesn't seem too cramped. Food was awesome, as usual. The Guava, Ginger, Lemon with fizz, aptly named Amrit, was not too sweet and tasty. Pooris have kasoori methi, which is a great idea and we will try it at home too. Halwa was "rich", as it is made in Ghee and yummy. Chole were perfectly cooked in Chana Masala, with spices thoroughly soaked in. Lehsuni Saag Paneer had ample, but not overpowering garlic. Best part was it was spicy and hot just with that garlic tadka. Chef could have been generous with paneer. :-p because the fresh paneer was in demand on the table. And the bread basket? Laccha paratha was awesome, and so was the garlic naan - which we loved eating as it is. read more

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Found this new restaurant in San Carlos downtown. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm and inviting, comfortable seating, soft lighting and clean well maintained dining space perfect for both casual dinners and small gatherings. We ordered rajasthani chat, general Tso cauliflower and home style chicken curry with tandoori roti. The flavor were rich, authentic and well-balanced without being overly heavy. Highlight was the chaat dish. Service was attentive and courteous. Portion sizes are generous and quality matched the price point read more

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Saffron in San Carlos is outstanding. We ordered the butter chicken and tandoori salmon, and both were fantastic. The butter chicken was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The tandoori salmon had a perfect smoky char and was cooked perfectly - tender and flaky without being dry. Nicely updated interior and prompt service as well. read more

Saffron - ODS- Butter Chicken (Old Delhi Style) and Tandoori Salmon - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

I'm so glad I finally got to dine at Saffron! My parents are huge fans of Rasa in Burlingame and suggested we go to Saffron. Came for a late lunch on a Monday and was seated promptly. The restaurant itself is modern in furnishing. I appreciate how the tables are spaced out and the easy access to a sink for handwashing down the hall! The menu has a great selection. We thoroughly enjoyed Chicken Tandori, Salmon Tikka, Lamb Sukka, Aloo Gohbi, garlic naan, mango lassi, and chai to start... We'll definitely return to try the rest of the menu! I've been missing masala chai so it made my day! Downtown San Carlos is generally easy to park if you're not coming during peak hours. Saffron is walking distance from the public parking structure nearby. Service was great and the food was excellent! read more

Saffron - Indoor seating with hanging plants! - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Ambiance 5/5 : it's pretty nice and cozy. They gave us a very good spot. A v shaped corner sofa, just perfect for two people Service 5/5 : the server did a commendable job answering all menu related questions, made good recommendations and also perfect adjustment to flavor profile and spice level Food 4/5 : the ingredient quality is very good. You can taste the freshness. We got a - lamb sukka 4/5; - paneer kofta 5/5 one of the best koftas I have had in a long time. Sauce was beautiful. It smelt of saffron - garlic naan 5/5 - very good texture. I recommend it Parking is a bit difficult to find in San Carlos downtown at 8 pm on Saturday read more

Saffron - Paneer Jafrani Kofta Curry - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I was in town for business and was craving Indian cuisine. I found saffron to be a good solution. I ordered garlic naan, samosas, and chicken tikka masala. Each were very tasty however the portion for the price was not a good value for the entrees. The service was good, the restaurant was clean, and the atmosphere was casual and comfortable. If the portions were bigger I'd give it 5-star. I hope they can increase the entree size by 20% and it would be perfect. read more

I came here during happy hour and they have 20% off drinks and food. We ordered a few starters and this was more than enough! We were full. We tried the black pepper chicken tikka, cheese naan, general tso cauliflower, paneer paratha roll, and chicken 65. The flavors were bold and delicious. The chicken was tender. I loved the black pepper chicken tikka. This was juicy and came with a salad. The chicken 65 was also very tasty as an appetizer. There are lots of pieces of chicken! Our favorite was perhaps the paratha roll because it with paneer, peppers, and onions with the flaky paratha. It was perfect! So filling. We took a lot of food home. The cheese naan was tasty as well but perhaps since we had the paratha, didn't need to get the naan. All were delicious! I tried the aam adrak and this was flavorful and super soothing. It came with mango, ginger, chili, lemon and soda. Service was great and they have outdoor seating. read more

Saffron - Menu 2025 July - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I would give the food 4 stars, but it is so overpriced it is not worth it, especially with other Indian food options. We went a while back with 10 people and asked how many samosas in one order and they said 4 pieces. So we thought we would split them in half and it would be enough. Well...it was two samosas cut in 2. What the what?!?! Could not believe they thought that was ok to say. The service is usually pretty good. I liked their old decor better but it's nice inside. read more

Saffron is a quaint and upscale Indian spot. You can kind of tell the clientele they serve by their conversations: we sat next to what seemed like two people dating who talked about their friends who were inheriting 10 million dollar houses and had rich family drama. - Black Pepper Chicken Tikka Tender, succulent chicken coated with a black pepper rub, accompanied by various pickled crudites. I liked the balance of chicken, julienned fresh veggies, and green chutney, and would recommend it if you like chicken. - Jafrani Kofta Thali The thalis are served for lunch only, and comes with daal (room temperature but subtle and smooth), salad (shredded cabbage, onions, and vinegar), vegetable (stewed okra), raita of the day (simple, milky, smooth), naan, rice, papad, and pickle (quite spicy and sour). I chose the jafrani kofta because I've never had it before, and it tastes like a soggy falafel. I couldn't really tell where the paneer was in this; I assume crushed in little bits within. The jafrani kofta came in a very mild, nutty, sweet, and creamy curry. - Chicken Tikka Masala I think the bowl this came in was comically small for the price it was, and it could have used a lot more chicken. It was beautiful and tasty, and tasted like how a good tikka masala should taste - a creamy, nutty tomato with tender chicken pieces - but it's really expensive! - Butter Naan The naan tasted and looked like pita bread, and I wish it had noticeable butter. I also wish it came with more than 4 pieces for the price. The taste and presentation is good. While I enjoy upscale Indian cuisine from time to time, Saffron oddly seems a little more small and casual than expected when compared with their pricing. Nowadays you can find similar taste and aesthetics at more affordable Indian restaurants, so it's hard to find a reason to come here again unless you need to use inKind in the peninsula. read more

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Cozy ambience, serving staff is very polite and checked in our meal often. Situated right by the San Carlos, parking in front of the restaurant might be difficult but there's enough parking around the block. Coming to food - food is uniquely presented. Chaat was beautifully presented on a papad with microgreens and butterfly cutout, but chana jor garam in the chaat was a little soggy. Latte art on the malai kofta was great, and it tasted very rich. Kulfi also tasted good! read more

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Surprised to see the relatively low rating for this spot. Everything from the food to the service and ambience was really good. Got the masala fries and paneer pakora for starters, paneer masala for the main and gulab jamun for dessert. The pakora was crispy and paneer masala was tangy and creamy without overdoing it. The Gulab jamun had a great soft and chewy texture and was among the better versions of the dish I've had in the bay area. The fluffy mango lassi wasn't particularly fluffy but it tasted good, with a good balance of yogurt and mango. The service was great throughout and they even packed the food to go for us. Great spot! read more

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We stopped at Saffron for dinner after walking on Eucalyptus ave for Christmas lights. I think the service was among the best in Indian restaurants in the bay area. The server was friendly, attentive and just made the experience so great. We loved everything we ordered - i think the puri chat was a highlight for me. The guava mocktail was tasty and they had a nice beer/wine menu. We loved the butter chicken, the cauliflow app and the kofta curry. They also had exciting dessert options - the kulfi flavors were great! Highly recommend for 5 star food and service read more

Beautiful presentation for my lunch butter chicken platter. But 2 itty bitty pieces of chicken?:/ Chai tea wasn't that great either (bland) for it to be $10. Cute tea cup tho read more

Saffron - Butter chicken lunch platter - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

Ever walk into a place that feels like a metaphorical hug? That's this spot. The best restaurant in San Carlos. The service is OUTSTANDING--they are kind, professional, and attentive without hovering. They offer thoughtful suggestions. It's rare to find service like this anywhere. The food is so delicious with an artful presentation, where it feels like an experience. Every time I eat here I feel compelled to take photos of my dishes. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, and the pricing is great for the experience, especially since they are Michelin rated! read more

Saffron - Butter Paneer Masala - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Great food! Extremely loud inside. Restaurant could use acoustic treatmen--we participated in every conversation around us and by the end of our meal I was DONE. Beware if you are sensitive to loud environments. read more

Manager Romeo R. and one of his waiters (I did not get his name) are very friendly and cordial providing excellent assistance. It's purely refreshing to receive this kind of exceptional friendly services and their outstanding effort needs to be commended! Thank you Romeo and his staff! read more

Awww snap. Change isn't always good. I used to live their buffets and my coworkers and I would look forward to going to them. Those were the days. The New lunch menu leaves something to be desired. Their chai which I used to love is now just, well, bland. And for like $9 a pot which yields 2 cups, not worth it. The bread for the happy hour was also not worth it. Think of like a bun that you CA. Get at an Asian store for like $1 then charge triple that. That's what's here. Their dessert rice pudding which I used to love is now overly sweet and doesn't have that creamy flavor. Not worth the $. Their lunch special was small and lackluster. Not much sauce or chicken for the price. You'll be hungry after you eat their lunch special and out a good almost $40 with tax and tip with that mango lassi. read more

Saffron - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

This place was a random stop for us. Cute little place in downtown San Carlos. The food was amazing and so was the service. I probably would stick to appetizers and things from the grill! They pack flavor and make you want to return. One thing not pictured that was amazing was the black pepper chicken! Also their kulfi is made in house and was amazing! Will definitely be added to my list of places to return! Wanna shout out the young server working Friday night was a sweetheart and amazing! read more

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I am always impressed when dining here. This is really a place you need to dine-in if you seek top quality. The nann is excellent here as well as all curries and appetizers. This place uses top shelf ingredients - so yes you will have to pay a little more for quality. The ambiance is good and service is prompt. The owner is very kind and caring and the food is very good! I wish they would bring back the delicious cream of asparagus soup or the cardamom coconut ice cream! I am of the mind negative reviews here are only occurring due to takeout delivery services letting the food sit around forever, or cheapskate customers wanting to nickel and dime the restaurant to fight off their own bills. Despite the cost they do have 20% deals and happy hour that customers can access so I don't really see a "price" problem here people mention. Also note many negative reviews don't have pictures of the food?! Strange. See the pictures I have provided of the nann and curry/lamb dishes. The reviews claiming bad naan or curry are otherwise fake. I had dined here for years and never had a bad nann, or curry. Try it for yourself - it's delicious! Regarding takeout: I'd like to remind people that think takeout that sits around for an hour in a DoorDash bag will be like fresh hot dine in service. Reality check- takeout will never be as good as the food coming out of the kitchen! No matter where you get takeout from it simply will not be as good as hot fresh food right from the service counter. I'd suggest reviewers leaving reviews on dine in only experiences where they experience the food properly. Takeout doesn't really count as there are many variables out of the restraunts control when it's ordered this way. I am one who will give you an honest review and rate this place highly. Trust! Go to saffron and have a great meal - don't believe the haters. read more

Saffron - Garlic nann - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Cute date night spot! We had a reservation for 6:45 on a Friday night but, but we probably didn't need one. It filled up a little more towards 7:30. Food is flavorful but quite mild, could use some more spice. The jafrezi kofta is a favorite of ours. Garlic naan is some of the best looking I've seen - it looks so tempting, it should be in a magazine. The coolers are a tasty zero-proof treat, but I think $10 is a little pricey. I like the number of appetizers they have! read more

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I came to Saffron for a work lunch and it was decent indian food. That being said the flavors were definitely toned down and not as spicy as I would have preferred and did not stand out. My team decided to order the pav baji as well as the paratha, butter chicken and other chicken currys. All of the currys were creamy and solid but incredibly mild tasting and lacked a depth of flavor. The paratha also was not very crispy and was quite oily. The highlight of the entire meal was the pav baji which had a little more flavor in the tamarind sauce pairing. All in all if you are looking for good indian food, there are definitely better places to try. read more

Saffron - Pav Bhaji - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Service was excellent- everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. Nice ambience with tactful decor. Food was presented creatively. The dahi aloo puri was flavorful, as were the masala fries. I tried the ODS butter chicken with garlic naan. The chicken was high quality and tasted great. The dish was supposed to be spicy, but was gravy was on the sweeter side. If the dish was spicier, it would have been that much better. The bhatura for the chole/chana bhature was cooked to perfection and not oily. Overall, great flavors and presentation. If you like spicy food, I would suggest asking them to make it spicy. read more

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The vibe. The service. The food. The kitchen. The price. EVERYTHING WAS SO PERFECT. I can't wait to come back. It is such a classy place to eat. Not overly crowded and the tables are big enough to hold all your food. I am not a huge fan of Indian cuisine but this blew me away. What a gorgeous place. The entrees don't come with naan or rice. You have to purchase those but you will not regret it. I'm putting this place on my go to list. read more

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The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance, friendly service, and good food. My personal favorites are the tandoori paneer sizzler and rumali roti. We've been here multiple times and plan to keep coming back. The only dish I didn't enjoy was the baingan bharta it lacked the distinct eggplant flavor and tasted more like a tangy tomato dish. That said, I would definitely return to try more items on the menu. read more

we went here with our family and loved the ambiance, the food and the service. we also took our dog and so sat outdoors. The staff brought water bowl for our dog and was overall super friendly. The food was delicious! Literally everything we ordered (and we ordered a lot) was well made and very flavorful without being overly spicy- just the right amount for each dish. Will definitely be coming back! read more

I was apprehensive visiting Saffron because a year or so back I had ordered delivery from this place and they were bad. Nevertheless I ventured into the restaurant and was surprised by the simplicity and great smiling faces. Great ambience. I asked the server for recommendation and he was more than forthcoming, much to my delight. I tried all the dishes he recommended and they did not disappoint. The chicken slider was absolutely yummy!! Kheer was amazing and reminded me of my mums cooking. Overall absolutely gorgeous experience and will definitely visit yet again. read more

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This is a long overdue review for Saffron. I have been visiting Saffron for several years. They have been consistent in their warm service, calm ambience and delicious food. I have seen them experiment with their menu over the years and have enjoyed most of their changes. Their latest menu has an excellent Tandoor and sizzler section that is absolutely amazing. Their vegetarian and non vegetarian lunch thalis are absolutely delightful, with a moreish carrot halwa as dessert. Their food presentation is similar to that of a high end restaurant with lovely little edible flowers and other attractive and delicious garnishes. I look forward to going to Saffron for many more years to come! read more

Saffron's butter chicken is to die for! We stopped by to try out their Holi special menu and ordered a mixture of specials and classics to share. Other than the butter chicken, I also loved the thandai drink and lal maas (spicy mutton curry). I didn't order it today, but their saffron daal makhani single-handedly convinced me that lentils can be delicious. I definitely recommend coming with a group and eating family style so you can try as many things as possible. I usually go to the Burlingame location, and the menus seem to differ a bit, but the food quality is still impeccable. This location also feels a bit more lively and casual, but in a comforting way. The service was a little spotty, but I'll chalk it up to it being a busy Friday night. read more

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Best Thali if you are craving for some variety home made type food on a lazy weekend. Great service as always! read more

Saffron - House made kheer - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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One benefit of living in the bay area is to be able to enjoy so many delicious ethnic foods because all the best come here to compete and serve. I used to go to Indian Buffets for lunch to try out all different kinds of dishes they had to offer. There are 2 regions Northern and Southern, one may have richer food than others with yogurt and heavy cream which I'm allergic to, others are quite spicy but tasty. My sister took me to this place, northern food, and we had a greatest lunch. There's no parking, so I had to park on the street a few blocks away. It's after 1PM so the lunch rush may be over, the place is empty and quiet. Quite clean and airy. The server was quite patient and helpful with me for asking about all the dishes. We ordered butter chicken, spinach vegetable dish, spicy chicken, rice and garlic bread. I thought the butter chicken would be creamy and rich but it was just right and tasty. My spicy chicken was not too spicy and delicious, flavorful perfectly with tender long grain rice that I love, we ordered 2 bowls of rice and finished all LOL. The spinach dish was amazingly excellent. The prices are quite reasonable. Although I thought the dishes are a little small but the sauces are so good with rice and bread. Never had a la cart Indian Food before. Definitely will take my family for dinner when my daughter is back from NY. My son doesn't like curry but I'm sure something here will please him. read more

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We went here as a group of 7 for my brother's birthday today. The brunch options were nice and the lunch thali's were well done. Their rice - which is a basic thing but many restaurants get wrong - was spectacular. All the food was excellent. Interior was clean and well designed with lots of natural light. Service was especially great. Our waiter was super patient, kind, and attentive! At the end they even surprised us with a happy birthday treat which was presented beautifully. Great experience start to finish. A new favorite of ours. read more

Chicken Tikka Masala 3 not tender Shrimp Tandoori 3 spicy Cheese Naan 4 can't taste the cheese Mango Lassi 5 read more

Fast great service, the food is quality and smells great the moment I walk in. I love the garlic naan.

Fun and creative take on some Indian classics. A regular in our dining/treat yourself rotation. Favorites: - General Tso's Cauliflower: so tangy, just the right heat. - Tandoori Paneer: Their paneer is soft and moist even after a go in the oven. The ratio bell pepper/onion and paneer is a little off though. They can definitely put some more paneer on there. - Paneer butter masala: Can't go wrong with this, hits the spot and spiced to perfection. - Their little bottles of champagne. Not cheap but so cute and just the right amount. They also offer good brunch options during the weekend. Service is attentive. The restaurant is nicely decorated. read more

Saffron - Paneer Butter Masala - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

The service here is amazing ! The food was incredible. I wasn't actually in the mood for Indian when my wife suggested we stop here, but noy was I in for a treat... The food was incredible! Then they surprised me with a birthday treat. I felt my spirits being lifted as I ate! I highly recommend... read more

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Beautiful ambiance, wonderful service, and good food. Parking is just hard to find. Otherwise highly recommend! read more

Saffron - Paneer Tikka - Indian Near Me - San Carlos, California

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