Back in the old days I remember a squeaky old screen door that kept the flies out.  Scent of Thai spices filled the air.  Inside was cramped and you could see the well worn kitchen that served decades worth of meals.  Now the place has a modern look like new fast casual spots.  I ordered a whole chicken to go.  Skin was nice and crispy and had delicious flavor from the Thai spices.  Chicken was a bit overcooked as non of the pieces were juicy.  Also the meat without skin was light on flavor.  They don't pump their chickens full of salt like Costco.  There was a variety of sauces available for purchase but non of them tempted me.  I also added a small white rice to my order.  Loved the light jasmine flavor.  I would prefer my rice a bit more moist.  The apocalypse is a good time to visit as there were parking spots right in front.  Usually they are all filled.   Back in the old days I remember the chicken having more flavor and being closer to juicy. read more

See all

Eating here today. chicken is mushy without flavor. Sauce is watery absolutely disgusting. Not sure how they have good reviews. I eat Thai food all the . All three of us said gross. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And it smells like major pee outside on the patio!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The sticky rice was hard for the mango dessert. Mangoes were hard and not ready. [[HIGHLIGHT]]However, the place looked pretty[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], but I did not enjoy the food and it was actually more expensive to place the order online by two whole dollars. read more

This is NOT a Thai place at all!!! I tried the Pad-Thai, It was nooddles with chicken, an omelette on top, no peanuts or veggie on sight with some "spicy enchilada sauce". BAD BAD BAD Not even a hint of at least "Asian" flavors. Also, I had a salad roll with peanut sauce, but instead, it was cumin and some other flavors not peanut at all. VERY DISAPPOINTED!! read more

This place is not authentic Thai. The drunken noodles come with green beans, and zucchini ... ILL TAKE A HARD PASS! Food did not taste like anything. Not spicy, not sweet, not savory. I rarely give out such reviews but this is a disgrace to Thai food. Two stars because service at front was adequate and facility seemed clean and COIVD neutral. Take a pass Yelpers! Take a pass read more

Saffron Thai - The bland drunken noodle DONT GET IT - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

What happened to this place? I haven't been here in years but had a facial up the road with my son so decided to come here for dinner. I used to go here in the early 2000s and it was fantastic, food was great, and I believe the owner was a Thai chef who used to work for Martha Stewart? Something like that. Anyway, 20 years later, it's pretty terrible. The veg rolls I ordered was tasteless and soggy. Soup was flavorless and way overpriced which I get for the location but man, make the food good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Plus, they have Mexican music blasting which I don't mind in a Mexican place but this is a Thai place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Must have been bought by a Mexican owner that have no idea what Thai food should be? I'm just so disappointed. read more

Woo! The Saffron Whole Chicken was scrumptious! Make sure to smother your chicken with sweet chili sauce. Don't forget to get the chicken egg roll as an appetizer, definitely recommend. Food came out fast and hot. Best chicken in all of San Diego. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also had a Friendly environment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Waited 30 plus minutes for over priced mediocre food. I was hoping this place would improve from my last bad experience.

Really wish I would have checked yelp before coming. I got the drunken noodles, but I'd call them drunken veggies. Picked through the 10 oz of sprouts to get the very few noodles. After picking out the noddles, my container is still half full with veggies. Got my friend the chicken curry masala. I didn't really they had masala soup I picked up takeout. The staff were nice. But I will never return. read more

Good here is amazing! I love spicy and this hit the nail on the head with spice flavor balance. The spring rolls are good, peanut sauce is great. The Malaysian noodles my absolute favorite. read more

Disappointed Had their pad Thai it was the worst food ever. It didn't taste like pad Thai at all but more like random sauce with a pound of sugar, I tried to put 4 pc of lime still super sweet. Waste of money and not eatable read more

I've eaten here several times over years, and each time the experience has been progressively worse. They call themselves a Thai restaurant, specializing in authentic Thai cuisine. It is more like a fast food joint. Truth is, they offer hot gruel, served with some bamboo sprouts and a twist of lime. And while it is served reasonably quick, it is way over-priced. And the only thing Thai about it will be your tongue, as in you will be tongue-tied as to why this crap costs so much. The good news, they do provide fresh drinking water at no charge. read more

What an iconic and awesome Thai restaurant to enjoy! I am a big lover of Asian food and especially Thai food. When I first arrived in San Diego I used to grab this delectable and tantalizing food! So, I am happy to say I am still immensely enjoying this place! It has great memories for me! I am so happy I am still able to indulge in the flavorful, spiced just right food in this present day! I like how you get high-quality Thai food in a clean and casual setting! I don't have to wait that long to be served then be on my way or even "TO GO" food is quick. The Thai Iced Teas are my favorite beverage! The staff is helpful and friendly too which does count and matter to me like many! LOVE IT HERE! What are you waiting for? Just GO ALREADY! read more

See all

Food is delicious. The service was ok, looks like a a few young people were in the front counter, with not too much customer service experience, but they were polite and friendly with order taking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is also nice, the decor is not too impressive but since there is outdoor seating it makes it a nice feature for variation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I've been going here for many years (like 20). It's sad to see where it's gone in the last few years. Inflation is inevitable and understood. It seems disproportionate here though. It wouldn't be so bad if the portions hadn't gone down by 1/2 as the prices have gone up by 1/2. They even appear to be using smaller chickens! Last few times the chicken has been overcooked and dry as well (maybe they were used to cooking bigger chickens). Anyway, I'm taking a break from Saffron. read more

My favorite places to visit when I'm in the area. The yellow curry with potatoes is a must try one of my favorites. Always a pleasant experience with staff that are so friendly and efficient. I literally walk in to place an order and 2min later it was ready to go. I notice a lot of new staff lately at this location and they are all top level. They also sell fresh coconut highly recommended especially during this summer. They have ton of healthy options and substitutions available that I love since I have a special diet. Overall a positive experience highly recommend a visit. read more

See all

It's been a minute since I last visited Saffron Thai. I grew up nearby and have also brought my family and kids in over the years. They've loved all the dishes here including the shrimp spring rolls, soups and fried rice. On this cold wintery eve, I found myself craving some warm comfort food. Saffron Thai hit the mark! It's a casual walk up and order at the counter and grab a seat establishment. As I looked up at the menu, not much has changed over the years, although I'm sure they've added a few items along the way. They have the standard Thai fare, pad Thai, various stir fry options, etc. something that caught my eye tonight was the anti-inflammatory stir fry and the healthful cleansing soup. I've had some minor injuries recently and at least the names of the dishes sounded appropriate enough. The stir fry cane with broccoli, mushrooms and red peppers. I added tofu. There were also some small bits of spicy peppers, not sure how much or what type, but just enough to add a little heat. The soup was very soothing. Sort of Asian homey soup if you will. Glass noodles, cilantro and I believe spinach and maybe Napa cabbage stalks. It added a nice crunch to the soup. The flavors of both dishes were mouthwatering good! Over the years, they've also done some remodeling. The food has always been spot on. But the restrooms were another story. Kind of nasty to be honest. However with the remodel, rest assured, they're super clean and nice! A great place to go for some healthy Thai food! Keep on Yelp'n! read more

See all

Just ordered a chicken combo plate with an extra sweet pepper sauce ($1) and get home to find they did not give me the extra sauce paid for. This is the second time this has happened - always check before getting take out. Robert read more

Nice little place closer to the Old San Diego. Not very pricey either. I was there with my wife and a friend. It wasn't very busy even though it was the Labor Day weekend. Staff were polite. Service was prompt. Food was good. Had to drive around a couple of blocks a couple if time to find the parking. But that's okay. Good place to grab quick lunch meal. Worth a try. Actually, more than worth a try. I don't think anyone will be disappointed. Well, I wasn't! read more

Saffron Thai - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Parking is horrendoussssssss. Came here on Monday afternoon. When we walked in there were about 8 people waiting in line. The cashier was running the show, seriously she was on her A game, kudos for her. I ordered one chicken egg roll, which by the way was HUGE...but it was delicious and I liked the crunchy exterior. The drunken beef noodles could have been a bit spicier. I saw that they sell shrimp chips up front by the cashier, I think I will buy some next time. read more

Saffron Thai - Spicy beef Drunken Noodles (Beef) - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Finger Food review- Salad roll- 1 shrimp 1 chicken Peanut dipping sauce The shrimp salad roll was my favorite of the 2. Fresh taste and the peanut sauce is incredible. No heat. Very flavorful. You will follow me and lick it clean! The chicken salad roll was still good. But for some reason the shrimp was better IMO, for my taste buds. I came here over 30 years ago and it's still amazing! read more

This restaurant seemed too good to be true and it was. I ordered from them yesterday and got the chicken breast and jasmine rice. The breast was good until i got near the bone. To my horror the meat was raw near the bone. Pass. read more

I have been going to Saffron ever since I was very young. It was the first Thai restaurant I've ever been to and really inspired my love of Southeast Asian cuisine so it has a special place in my heart. I always love how healthy I feel after a big meal here and the variety of vibrant flavors of spices. I do have some constructive feedback, I noticed the food quality has decreased a bit. Ten years ago my order would take 30+ minutes to be prepared, and now the food comes out almost instantly. Because of this I think there is less time being put into preparing the food fresh. It would be great if less items were precooked in the future as I really care about this restaurant. I noticed the restaurant was purchased by a restaurant group and I think the home cooked vibes have changed. Our chicken sate meals were super dry. That being said, I do think it's worth trying Saffron. I think if small improvements were made Saffron can return to its original glory! read more

I have been coming to Saffron for over a decade and although the food is good, the attention to detail is slipping. I always get the healthful soup. It is simple. However, the last time I got it the cilantro had sand/dirt all over it, ending up with all of that in my soup. This tells me the produce is not properly cleaned. One time I got it prior to this last purchase I requested no chicken and when I got it there was chicken in it. I let the first incident slide but now I have to put this out there. read more

I'm gluten free and I ordered the pad see ew, drunken noodles, with the chicken satay and the Thai chicken breast. Just because the meal is gluten-free does not mean it has to be tasteless. I was really disappointed and they also got my order mixed up adding tofu to the noodles . The chicken was bland as ever and a huge disappointment or insult to Thai cuisine. Don't recommend it. Currently awaiting a refund. 2 stars instead of 1 for effort.... they're trying to think progressively about Thai cuisine but Need to do more work on developing a gluten free version. read more

Saffron Thai - Drunken noodles and pad see ew with vegetables and tofu... You can't tell the difference in the noodles SMH - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

I had this soup more than any other restaurant soup. It's that good. Always freshly made. Ask for extra lime. read more

Saffron Thai - Tomm Yam Noodle Soup (Shrimp) - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

I used to go here when it was owned by the previous owner. The food isn't the same. The peanut sauce was lacking. For the price, I wouldn't recommend it. 28.00 was way too expensive for the quality if the food. read more

This is probably one of the worst Pad Thai I had. There noodles were dry and tasteless.

GinaBee and I were headed out to grab some dinner for some take out so we could park somewhere, enjoy a meal together and watch the sun set. When we arrived at Saffron, we noticed they were busy. We decided to order the Drunken Noodles and Pad Thai Shrimp. The staff was so kind, they threw in a bag of their large shrimp chips since the wait was so long. We missed the sunset, but we watched the boats and enjoyed our meal. The Food was so delicious. Not too spicy too. Just right. read more

Saffron Thai - Drunken Noodles - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The noodle dishes and fresh spring rolls (shrimp or tofu only) are delicious with the sweet sauce. The peanut sauce was not tasty. Do not order the chicken yellow curry. There are other Thai places that have much better yellow curry dishes than this place. The chicken was dry, no onions and a few potatoes. Great portion of rice which I re-used the next day with a fried egg. There was barely any broth from the yellow curry left since there was really none to begin with. I was happy with most of my dishes! read more

Due to the pandemic, I like most people have been doing take-out although I haven't had much from their menu the few items I got were delicious. Number 1 on my favorite list are the Vegetable Egg Rolls with tofu super yummy next the Tofu Salad Rolls and then the Heathful Cleansing Soup with tofu. The food great parking can be tough but it's worth it. read more

Went here expecting to get a decent pad Thai and was sorely mistaken. It tasted like Mexican food, which I'm ok with if I was eating at a Mexican restaurant. The noodles were also very dry and clumped up together. Wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemy. read more

Big shout out to Saffron Thai for being open during the coronavirus pandemic! I got to the point where eating my hoarded canned food and potato chips just wasn't enough so I search for a place with savory, healthy, and delicious food and Saffron Thai hit the mark. They accepted my to go order over the phone and when I arrived they had a socially distanced station upon entering the restaurant which had its doors open and a bottle of hand sanitizer. I felt safe and comfortable and grateful. I got the chicken pad thai, the healthy soup with glass noodles and vegetables, fresh spring rolls with tofu and chicken satay. All of them were amazing! The portions were ample and the flavors were delicious. All of that cost around $40 but I got 2 1/2 meals out of it. read more

Nothing spectacular about the food here but they do have outdoor seating which is a plus given current Covid restrictions. Thai grilled chicken is usually a solid option. The menu has egg rolls, soups, noodles, rice dishes, stir fries & salad options, but you won't find any gourmet/unique regional dishes. Tomm Yam soup is flavorful and hits the spot on a cold and rainy day while Pad Esann spicy noodles are tasty but a misnomer, as they lack in spice. Good-sized portions and friendly staff. read more

Saffron Thai - Tomm Yam Noodle Soup with wide noodles and chicken - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Thanks for the Memories, but we are breaking up and THROUGH. I've gone here for 20 years (and for half of that time lived within walking distance). I was feeling sentimental tonight - I now live in Del Cerro, but wanted Saffron. Dear lord what a calamity that restaurant has turned into. Ordered yellow curry and they didn't include the rice, husband ordered chicken with red rice. Both were under cooked. Rice was super hard and husband microwaved chicken to be safe. I paid $12 for this tiny 1 cup carton of curry. I'm just shocked and blown away by the quality (specifically, lack thereof). Other reviewer was right, weird omelette on the pad Thai. I came here on Yelp expressly to say thanks for those good years, but now that owner has sold out, it has devolved into worse than mediocrity. This, my friends, is how restaurants die. read more

I don't see this restaurant succeeding in the future. The prices have skyrocketed so high that only the elite will be able to buy from this establishment. They have priced me out. I refuse to pay $14.30 for 3 spring rolls and really that's the only thing I like here. Maybe it's greed maybe it's necessity on their part but I'm done. read more

Saffron Thai - The price of 3 spring rolls. WOW!!! - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

We ordered some more food here after not being happy with our meal from Karina's Ceviche next door. My friend and I decided to share a Fantastic Chicken Egg Roll and some Chicken Drunken Noodles. The Egg rolls are sitting in a warmer and given to you right after you order. Unfortunately, because they are sitting in the warmer, they are not crispy. The inside of the Egg Roll was good, minced chicken and vegetables. If only it was made fresh. The Chicken Drunken Noodles didn't have the same depth of flavor that I'm used to when I've eaten this dish in other Thai Restaurants. The chicken was tough. Overall, not very good. Well, same owner as Karina's.. we should have known better. read more

Saffron Thai - "Fantastic Chicken Egg Roll"- their words not mine - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We came here on a Friday night and they were very busy with phone/online and walk up orders. We walked in and ordered. I would suggest placing an order ahead of time because we waited about 20 minutes for our food which isn't bad unless you are in a hurry. Anyway, we ordered the gluten free Pad-See-Ewe, Pad Esann Spicy Noodles, and the Cambodian Salad. My son loved the spicy noodles. The gluten free Pad-See-Ewe had a good taste but the noodles were dry. I don't know if it's because it was gluten free or that it is normally like that. The salad was very flavorful with a little bite to it. I like the menu selection. There were a lot of gluten free options. Many of the dishes can be made gluten free. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are good. They were enough to fill us and we were both hungry. Parking was a little bit challenging. But I would like to come back to try other dishes. read more

Really not understanding the bad reviews here. I've been here a few times and it was amazing each time. It's clean, has good service, and the food is cooked and seasoned perfectly. read more

Been eating here for years not sure why reviews so mediocre. I always like the chicken with rice & slaw - hits my craving every time. The sauces are what really makes it special - chutney & sweet pepper my favs. The salad rolls rock too. read more