Saffron Indian Restaurant & Bar

Shivratan Gupta

MUST TRY: Paneer Pakooda (their traditionally homemade Indian cheese) We(5friends) traveling from Pittsburgh, PA to LAX. We honored to get chance to hosted by restaurant owner with favorite Long Island ice tea on bar, followed by delicious Paneer Pakoda and Veg pakoda. We had tried Saag paneer, butter chicken, chilly chicken, daal makhani and kadhi served with garlic naan & rice. All dishes were appetizing ,flavorful. Also had hot gulabjamum , it was soft and mouthwatering. Saffron is awesome, really an excellent ambiance, on Tuesday(6:30pm-8:30pm)they have live Indian traditional music. Must visit.

Mridula Shankar

Food was amazing, the staff were friendly, ambience and lighting was great, there were plenty of options for vegetarians! Everything was great about this place, we wish to visit again soon

Beautiful Restaurant. I give it 1000 out of 10!!! Friendly and very attentive staff. Can't wait to bring my family and friends.

I went here for Lunch with my friend and after having the food I was so surprised that there was know one else there! The food made me crave it the next day!! It was so delicious and fresh! We had the butter chicken and the garlic naan was so yummy I wanted to keep dipping my naan in the sauce even though I was full!! Yum!! Everyone should try it! 5 stars!!

Eaten there many times after a movie. Outside dining (dog friendly) in fair weather. We're both in our 80's and portions are large and tasty. Always have lassi. Nice staff, family run.

So glad we have Saffron here in Orinda! Over the years it has become our go-to spot for takeout on those lazy nights when we don't feel like cooking. At this point we don't even discuss it--takeout means Saffron. The food is consistently excellent, portions are generous, and the service is always friendly. On top of that, it's such a nice touch that the guys who work there recognize me and my husband at the gym across the street and always say hello. What more could you ask for from a local restaurant?

My family has been coming to Saffron since 2019 and every time the food is excellent. The owners are so kind and courteous. They really care about their customers and the experience you have while visiting. They shouldn’t change a thing. We highly recommend this restaurant.

The owner is a friend of the gym I work at Anytime Fitness (Orinda). His shop is located near us and I had the pleasure of trying the butter chicken. The dish had an excellent yellow sauce to go along with it that is to try for those who love indian food. I will definitely go back and try more of the many delicious food Saffron (Orinda) has to offer!

We keep coming to eat at Saffron. They have great authentic Indian food, nice atmosphere and cheerful service.

A Hidden Gem for Authentic North Indian Cuisine! During my visit to San Francisco, a friend recommended my family to try this North Indian restaurant in Orinda, and it was absolutely worth the trip. We ordered the lamb curry and tandoori chicken with naan, and every bite was bursting with authentic flavors. The food was perfectly spiced, fresh, and cooked to perfection. The friendly environment and warm hospitality made the experience even more special. I learned that it’s a family-run business with the father as the chef, who brings a wealth of culinary experience to the table. You can taste the passion and tradition in every dish. This place truly deserves more than five stars, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone craving genuine North Indian flavors.

avihu lenchner

We keep coming to eat at Saffron. They have great authentic Indian food, nice atmosphere and cheerful service.

jaclyn prasad

Beautiful Restaurant. I give it 1000 out of 10!!! Friendly and very attentive staff. Can't wait to bring my family and friends.

Howard Weamer

Eaten there many times after a movie. Outside dining (dog friendly) in fair weather. We're both in our 80's and portions are large and tasty. Always have lassi. Nice staff, family run.

Marijana Belton

I went here for Lunch with my friend and after having the food I was so surprised that there was know one else there! The food made me crave it the next day!! It was so delicious and fresh! We had the butter chicken and the garlic naan was so yummy I wanted to keep dipping my naan in the sauce even though I was full!! Yum!! Everyone should try it! 5 stars!!

LInda SJ

So glad we have Saffron here in Orinda! Over the years it has become our go-to spot for takeout on those lazy nights when we don't feel like cooking. At this point we don't even discuss it--takeout means Saffron. The food is consistently excellent, portions are generous, and the service is always friendly. On top of that, it's such a nice touch that the guys who work there recognize me and my husband at the gym across the street and always say hello. What more could you ask for from a local restaurant?

Sol Herrera

The food was very delicious and the service from everyone was excellent. The atmosphere is very pleasant and cozy, perfect for a relaxed dinner or lunch. I will definitely come back soon and recommend it to anyone looking for quality and great service

Christian Colantoni

My family has been coming to Saffron since 2019 and every time the food is excellent. The owners are so kind and courteous. They really care about their customers and the experience you have while visiting. They shouldn’t change a thing. We highly recommend this restaurant.

Richard Ramayla

The owner is a friend of the gym I work at Anytime Fitness (Orinda). His shop is located near us and I had the pleasure of trying the butter chicken. The dish had an excellent yellow sauce to go along with it that is to try for those who love indian food. I will definitely go back and try more of the many delicious food Saffron (Orinda) has to offer!

Sharfa Munas

A Hidden Gem for Authentic North Indian Cuisine! During my visit to San Francisco, a friend recommended my family to try this North Indian restaurant in Orinda, and it was absolutely worth the trip. We ordered the lamb curry and tandoori chicken with naan, and every bite was bursting with authentic flavors. The food was perfectly spiced, fresh, and cooked to perfection. The friendly environment and warm hospitality made the experience even more special. I learned that it’s a family-run business with the father as the chef, who brings a wealth of culinary experience to the table. You can taste the passion and tradition in every dish. This place truly deserves more than five stars, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone craving genuine North Indian flavors.

Mohit Joshi

8/9/2025- updated Thanks Saffron for arranging lunch for my Doughter and her friend!! Both kids enjoyed and very happy with service. Ordered food today again And my family was happy what a complete meal. Aloo Gobhi, dal Makhni,cheese chilly & 6 nann. Adding my Sunday experience!! It was 09:25 they seated me. The staff is closing and cleaning but they welcomed 5 of us warmly.I regret later I should respect there time they have families too any how one of the server stayed late for us and makes sure we enjoyed every bit of spice. Thanks again it was special day with my Grand parents. Great Food. It was game day. Server told me it was usually slow during games and more in Take out! I enjoyed T chicken they updated me it take 35 mins but it is worth the wait and i have my regular Flying hourse beer with complimentary authentic sauces and Papadam.

Used to be my favorite Indian place. The curry was so thick and flavorful, but something changed recently. We stopped by this weekend and the meat was still good but the sauce is more loose/watery. Curry is still pretty good overall but used to be amazing. I'll go back again and update if any better.

Love this place. We went there and had naan , keswari naan, aloo gobi and paneer bhurji. Loved every dishes , especially the kheswari naan, highly recommended. Also their spice level is really good. I do not like spicy food and they made a mild version, which is really mild in spice. Also the food came hot and fresh. Nice restaurant. Update: I have taken away one star from them as they messed up with the delivery. They gave us stale food when we ordered the food from uber eats.

Went to celebrate a friend's birthday tonight. Walked in and got seated immediately as there was plenty room, it was very nice and the booths were high. Unfortunately I didn't bring enough cash with me to order Naan but I got a Caesar salad without chicken, my son got Mac & cheese. I would've liked to order Indian food given the location, but short on funds so that's on me. The prices were decent for the area and my friend ordered Butter chicken and an extra side of rice as well as a Mango Lassi. Really my only complaint is that all of the food took forever to come out. I got a Caesar but it took so long to get it, my son got Mac & cheese and my friend had nearly finished his whole meal before the Mac & cheese arrived at the table. I DO appreciate that they kept us in the loop for it being delayed, but man it took a while. All of the employees were very nice and refilled our waters regularly. Also I think on the website the Caesar is listed as vegetarian bur Caesar by definition is not vegetarian as the dressing has anchovies in it.

Good service, friendly staff, loved the patio dining. The food is good the portions a little bit smaller than other Indian restaurants but it’s still great!

Qubit Solace

Used to be my favorite Indian place. The curry was so thick and flavorful, but something changed recently. We stopped by this weekend and the meat was still good but the sauce is more loose/watery. Curry is still pretty good overall but used to be amazing. I'll go back again and update if any better.

Indrasis Chakraborty

Love this place. We went there and had naan , keswari naan, aloo gobi and paneer bhurji. Loved every dishes , especially the kheswari naan, highly recommended. Also their spice level is really good. I do not like spicy food and they made a mild version, which is really mild in spice. Also the food came hot and fresh. Nice restaurant. Update: I have taken away one star from them as they messed up with the delivery. They gave us stale food when we ordered the food from uber eats.

Anna Leontine Ortiz

Went to celebrate a friend's birthday tonight. Walked in and got seated immediately as there was plenty room, it was very nice and the booths were high. Unfortunately I didn't bring enough cash with me to order Naan but I got a Caesar salad without chicken, my son got Mac & cheese. I would've liked to order Indian food given the location, but short on funds so that's on me. The prices were decent for the area and my friend ordered Butter chicken and an extra side of rice as well as a Mango Lassi. Really my only complaint is that all of the food took forever to come out. I got a Caesar but it took so long to get it, my son got Mac & cheese and my friend had nearly finished his whole meal before the Mac & cheese arrived at the table. I DO appreciate that they kept us in the loop for it being delayed, but man it took a while. All of the employees were very nice and refilled our waters regularly. Also I think on the website the Caesar is listed as vegetarian bur Caesar by definition is not vegetarian as the dressing has anchovies in it.

Tariq

Good service, friendly staff, loved the patio dining. The food is good the portions a little bit smaller than other Indian restaurants but it’s still great!

This place offers a decent, casual dining experience in the heart of Orinda’s downtown plaza. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a straightforward setup, which is perfect for a laid-back meal. The customer service was pleasant, with several staff members attending to our table, ensuring that we had what we needed. However, the food didn’t quite hit the mark. The tandoori chicken was a bit underwhelming, lacking the bold, smoky flavor one might expect (seems like someone forgot to marinate it for at least six hours prior to serving). Similarly, the garlic naan was somewhat plain and didn’t stand out. The mixed meat platter, while generous enough for two to share, was also average in terms of flavor having a deep fried chicken?!? As for the drinks, I was disappointed by the over-sweetened Old Fashioned, which felt more like a sugary cocktail than the classic it was supposed to be. Overall, it’s a nice spot with friendly service and a good location, but the food and drinks left something to be desired.

SC

This place offers a decent, casual dining experience in the heart of Orinda’s downtown plaza. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a straightforward setup, which is perfect for a laid-back meal. The customer service was pleasant, with several staff members attending to our table, ensuring that we had what we needed. However, the food didn’t quite hit the mark. The tandoori chicken was a bit underwhelming, lacking the bold, smoky flavor one might expect (seems like someone forgot to marinate it for at least six hours prior to serving). Similarly, the garlic naan was somewhat plain and didn’t stand out. The mixed meat platter, while generous enough for two to share, was also average in terms of flavor having a deep fried chicken?!? As for the drinks, I was disappointed by the over-sweetened Old Fashioned, which felt more like a sugary cocktail than the classic it was supposed to be. Overall, it’s a nice spot with friendly service and a good location, but the food and drinks left something to be desired.