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Saffron Indian Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani
4300 Kingsway#5
Burnaby, BC V5H 1Z8
Neighbourhood: Metrotown
(604) 436-5000
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Saffron Indian Cuisine
Review Highlights
"There is always Butter Chicken."
(in 12 reviews)
"I love the lunch buffet here."
(in 5 reviews)
"...tandoori chicken, biryani, lamb curry, aloo gobi, etc."
(in 3 reviews)
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thankful for the yelping ways of Barry M, Kat S and Aaron S, I knew Saffron was going to save the day. Tasked with picking up Indian food for 3 friends (two girls and a toddler), I was happy to see Saffron's menu online. And while I may have longed after the buffet, with our veggie pakoras, mutter paneer, butter chicken, two FREE rices and mango lassis in hand, I felt like was in for a feast!
My salivating suspicion was right on the money.
Deliciousness ensued. And I took enough home for an entire other meal for two. Indian takeout was never the cheapest, but it certainly can feed a small army.
Highlights:
Being told the dishes I ordered came with free rice, lots of it!
Asking how big the mango lassis were and being shown the size of a 250ml cup. Being handed a what felt like a big gulp in at least 500ml take away cup.
Barry M asking me after if I got the buffet for takeaway. And finding out that they do that at lunchtime! Wow! -
Review from Freda W.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
You had me at bottomless naan...
I go here all the time for the lunch buffet and I am NEVER disappointed. Buttttter chicken. Pakoras (any kind ya got, baby). Vindaloo me and then dahl me up. Oh lord. Need to go back for more...
Super busy at lunch time, but it's so worth going! -
Review from Garth C.
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just from looking at my more than ample physique you would never guess that I really hate buffets. Sure I love to eat to the point where my hands are almost a "casualty of war" but all you can eat bland tasteless food is just not my thing. I normally give all buffets a pass, even if Jimmy Buffett had his own buffet, I would pass on that.
Well Saffron has broken all the bland food buffet rules.
We were there on a Sunday night and it was perfect - no lines and the place was empty. If there was a dish on the buffet line, it went on my plate, a bunch of times. Every single dish was an explosion of taste, pure curry heaven.
I'm already on to plate #2 then I'm surprised with a sneak attack of hot free naan, it really doesn't get better than this.
For $18 at dinner time, this is a steal.
Are there better Indian restaurants out there? There must be, but it doesn't matter because the quality of their buffet alone will have me coming back over and over again. The only advice I would give someone when eating here, leave the belt at home. -
Review from Caitlin C.
Vancouver, BC
2/12/2012
Buffets just got better. What's extra? Nothing really, just amazing execution. A great mix of veggie and non veggie (usually 50/50), fresh fruit and galub jamun for dessert (yes... all you can eat!). The wait staff is always polite, and their regular menu is just as good as the buffet!
Delivery with debit at the door and very friendly drivers! Have been ordering and frequenting this place for years! Never dissapoints : )
(My favorite? The channa bhatura, veggie pakoras and palak paneer!) -
Review from Ryan C.
Burnaby, BC
1/28/2012
This place is generally good. It can be a little expensive for what you get. Very westernized Indian cuisine, but generally tasty. Buffet lunch is the best value normally. Friendly staff.
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Review from Lesley M.
New Westminster, BC
1/28/2012
Visited last night with friends and we all enjoyed the food. We ordered four dishes to share plus the naan bread basket. All the items were tasty, hot and had plenty for sharing.
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Review from Ben C.
7/21/2011
Looking for a good place to induce a serious FOOD COMA? Saffron delivers in spades...
It's really hard not to stuff your face with the delicious fresh-made Naan, drenched in a mouthwatering butter curry chicken sauce, I dare you to not go for seconds! I've tried and UN-reluctantly failed everytime.
Definitely worth the visit and post-cardio workout everytime. -
Review from Annie W.
9/4/2011
Saffron has some of the best Butter Chicken & Lamb Vindaloo in the city! Actually all of their curries are pretty delicious, and their garlic naan is huge and perfectly seasoned. This is my go-to place for Indian take-out dinners, but their lunch their buffet is pretty good value too.
Prices here are definitely higher then other Indian places, but as I don't have Indian often, I'm willing to pay extra for better quality. That and having tried (disastrously) to make butter chicken once myself, my kitchen and stomach are better off if I left it to the professionals.
This place is a Burnaby gem, and if you're in the area I highly recommend you stop in for some rice & spice. You can thank me later. -
Review from David L.
2/26/2011 ROTD 3/30/2011
Saffron serves the best buffet in Burnaby especially for those who like to Indian cuisine. Every item served in the buffet tasted very fresh and the ingredients were high quality. I loved their dishes which contained potatoes, rice, and chicken! There is even a little salad area for those who like veggies and fruits. I was made to feel welcome as I could pick and choose where to sit. The restaurant was very clean, service was great, and I felt relaxed. It's a wonderful place for lunch!
Just remember to finish your plate as they charge an extra 2.50 for a plateful of unfixed food. -
Review from samuel a.
Vancouver, BC
I love the lunch buffet here. It's a nice convenient place to meet people in and there is ample seating space for a decent sized group to be comfortable (6 - 8).
The Mango Lassi here is good, and the service is above average (hooray for hot fresh naan).
The price is a little on the more expensive side, but you're no longer in Surrey so you can't expect a sub $10 buffet ;) -
Review from Maria A.
Richmond Hill, ON
9/23/2011
Had the dinner buffet and very disappointing. The 'prawns' were really overcooked shrimp, meat dishes tasted blah, butter chicken had a strong canned tomato sauce taste. The south Indian paneer, veg pakora and veg Biryani were at least decent. I'm using hole-in-the-wall Indian restos in Markham,ON for comparison as this is my first Indian resto dinner here in BC.
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Review from Dominique W.
Burnaby, BC
4/10/2011
Like almost all the other reviewers, I love the lunch buffet here. I used to live in the metrotown area and would go here often, but now that I've moved away, I've noticed that the delivery/carry-out prices are quite high... which are making my orders less and less frequent. I haven't eaten here in a couple of months.. which is a real shame, since the food is, indeed, quite good.
Lamb vindaloo is my favorite here :) -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was here with some of my fellow Yelpers and so we shared a bunch of curries, "family style". I was impressed with the flavour of everything, but my favourite was the lamb curry. Normally lamb is not among my favourite curries, but this one had a cardamom flavour that was very unique to any I had tasted before.
I also enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and friendly, efficient staff. They did a great job dealing with a big group. I'll definitely come back again when the opportunity arises. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
11/11/2010
My parents and I chose to have the dinner buffet. The restaurant was about 80% full, but by the time we left, it was starting to fill up some more.
The choices for the buffet: butter chicken, beef masala, chicken tikka masala, cauliflower pakoras, vegetable samosas, saffron rice, vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken, zucchini paneer, peas & mushroom curry, curry shrimp goa, and malai kofta (sp?). Might've been a couple more which have slipped my mind. Naan bread was included with the buffet, and there's also a small salad bar.
I tried a little bit of most of what was offered. I wasn't too impressed with the quality of the food. Although the food had come straight out of the kitchen (the entire restaurant even had to wait a few minutes because the buffet wasn't ready yet), the food was a bit lukewarm, in my opinion.
They used cubes of boneless chicken in the butter chicken and the zucchini paneer, and the beef masala was more like meatballs. The tandoori chicken was mediocre. I didn't like the shrimp; I don't think they used fresh shrimp so they tasted a bit fishy. I enjoyed the zucchini paneer and pakoras the most.
If I were to come back again, I think I would order off the menu instead. Two guys at another table who ordered from the menu had some sort of lamb dish on a sizzling plate that smelled delicious.
Menu: n/a. Buffet items are constantly changing from day to day.
Price: a bit pricey for mediocre food. The dinner buffet is $19 per person. From what I have heard, the menu items are around $15 each, and portions don't seem too substantial.
Service: polite; the servers don't come around too often, but since the restaurant is so small and there seemed to be a lot of workers, I'm sure you'd have no problem flagging one down if you needed something
Ambiance: nothing fancy. A bar at the back, the buffet table running along the back wall. Dim lighting. -
Review from Aaron S.
7/18/2010
I crave this place all the time. It's probably one of the best Indian joints in the region and you've never heard of it. Another one of these places you hear about from friends. Located just over the border from Vancouver this is well worth the trip to Burnaby for.
I usually paint all Indian buffets with the same brush as lets be honest its usually pretty mediocre. Apparently Saffron didn't get the memo. The offerings are fantastic and just as good quality as what you get if you order off the menu. Fantastic choices and very fresh and tasty. Hot naan brought frequently to the tables is also a nice bonus.
Don't feel like you have to have buffet. It's not on every night and the regular menu is filled with excellent things to try. Nice atmosphere and friendly unobtrusive service.
And yes Indian Oven you still can keep your best butter chicken title.......for now......... -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2009 ROTD 2/8/2010
I'm not usually one to go out for Indian food (seeing as I can have it at home for free!), but I was meeting a few friends who love Indian cuisine so we picked Saffron as our Indian midway point.
I am so pleased to say that the food was delicious. It actually gave justice to Indian food. So many times I find myself thinking, "My mom could cook better than this", but at Saffron I was thinking, "This tastes like my mom's cooking." And I truly cannot say THAT very often.
My favorite dish here was actually an appy called "Papdi Chaat" - it's sweet, it's salty and it's like a party in your mouth! Mmmmm... -
Review from Jenni B.
6/24/2009 ROTD 7/3/2010
After months of wanting to go to Saffron because I had heard such good things I finally convinced my boyfriend this restaurant was the best choice last night.
Handy to note there is parking out back, we didn't know and parked illegally by the IGA (no ticket though, swish!)
The atmosphere is kinda-hip-kinda-cozy. The staff is very friendly (oh and helpful). What I loved best was walking in to the delicious smell of indian food.
After perusing the menu we decided to go for the $18.95 all you can eat buffet based (1) my indecisiveness and (2) my boyfriend's large appetite. The buffet was not massive or anything but had a good selection of dishes - as long as I had curry chicken I didn't care. I also had a great spiced potato dish (ahhh can't remember what is called), butter chicken, some chickpea salad. Oh, and I drooled over the samosas and naan (which are unfortunately off limited thanks to wheat hating me and treating me with spite when I eat it), I was advised both were delicious.
I was sad to have eatten so much yummy dinner I left no room whatsoever for dessert, but it looked good.
I will definately go back... I also noticed their sign for a lunch special which was very inexpensive. -
Review from Andrew F.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 8/2/2010 1 photo
I have to say the lunch buffets are much more affordable, about $6 cheaper. With tip and tax my meal came out to $15!
Have you tried the hyderabadi chicken here? If you haven't you MUST try it. The curry sauce smells intoxicating and tastes heavenly. Unlike any curry flavor you've tried. The chicken is so moist and tender. I'll make repeated trips for this dish alone! Butter chicken? Schmutter chicken!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/20/2010
Saffron for me is the northern indian equivalent to Saravanaa Bhavan. They both have quite a good… Read more »
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Review from Nestor B.
Vancouver, BC
7/30/2009
My favourite in Vancouver/Burnaby so far, together with Jolly's on 4th. Went there last night for the first time, more or less by accident, and decided to have the buffet - something that is rarely very good at Indian restaurants, but when it's good, it's great. The latter is the case at Saffron. The $18.95 includes a plethora of fresh, hot entrees as well as rice, naan and dessert. Especially considering that I have recently found portions at many better Indian restaurants to either be generally stingy or at least decidedly so with regard to the main proteins of any given dish, that really is great value.
Value isn't everything, you retort? Couldn't agree more, but at Saffron you don't just get a lot, but a lot of very tasty stuff. Last night, we sampled the butter chicken, the tandoori chicken, the potato masala, the prawn curry, and the paneer makhani and finished off with the kheer (rice pudding). Of the above, everything was simply delicious - with the butter chicken and, surprisingly, the kheer being my declared favourites - and of a quality that I have rarely found around here (not counting Vij's, of course. But that doesn't really count). Absolutely worth the occasional trip to Burnaby, if you don't already live there. -
Review from Kat S.
3/10/2010
I get cravings for this place every couple of weeks. The buffet is one of the best I have seen, and the quality of food they put out is the same as what you would get if you ordered off the menu. The variety of dishes they offer during the buffet always changes, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. Dinner can be a little pricey, but it includes naan, salad (but who fills up on that when there are so many dishes to try during the main course) and dessert. The best bet is to go for lunch buffet, which is very reasonable and the same quality and quantity as the dinner buffet.
The mango lassis are yummy.
Service is usually ok, but not the best. Good enough though on a regular basis.
If you want to order off the menu, one of my favourites is the malai kofta, which I have yet to see at the buffet.
I always eat way too much here and regret it later, but then want more in a few days. -
Review from Katrina R.
Burnaby, BC
4/25/2010
I have had a few people recommend this place to me, but my experience has been less than ideal.
First of all, the menu claims all dishes come with rice. I ordered an additional side of rice and ended up paying for it but only received one portion of rice. Is this normal, or did I misunderstand something?
Another small issue- when I phoned in to place the order for pickup, I noticed the audio was very bad quality, and I had trouble understanding what was being said. This, added to the super-fast, accented speaking, made it tough to know I was being understood.
Finally, the food wasn't all that great. The butter chicken sauce tasted almost like ketchup, and the lentil dish had an unpleasant aftertaste.
It could be that they were having an off day, or I just ordered the wrong items. Therefore I will be giving it another chance; maybe I will try the buffet. -
Review from Lara O.
3/18/2011
Love saffron! convenient location and if your there for the start of the buffet fabulous food! The atmosphere is nice and the service is usually really good.
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Review from Barry M.
6/27/2009 4 Check-ins Here
Being super close to me, I often find myself coming here, and have probably been here 20ish times over the years living in Burnaby.
They have a lunch buffet every day of the week that runs until about 2:00, but I have been there right close to 2 and there was still some food available. If you get the buffet they will bring fresh nann bread to your table. (though they seem to forget every 1 out of 5 times or so... sometimes it's really busy)
If you try to go on Friday for the lunch buffet expect a lineup.
They also have a takeaway option during lunch (not sure aobut weekends for this) where you can get 2 or 3 items plus rice for cheaper than the full buffet price.
For dinner they have a buffet option too which seems to be expanding more days of the week. It was Mon-Wed for a while, not sure what days now.
The food is always delicious and warm, the only improvements I might make would be:
Don't forget my naan! :(
Service sometimes seems like they're too busy and in a rush to connect with the customers, even when they aren't busy.
Rotating the buffet items more oftenListed in: EAts near work
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Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
9/23/2008
Don't be surprised if you have to wait in line for dinner at Saffron - news of this restaurant's affordable and yummy Indian food seems to be spreading rapidly. They serve an array of classic Indian dishes - tandoori chicken, biryani, lamb curry, aloo gobi, etc. - which are delicious and served family style.
My friends and I went for dinner recently and we loved the warm atmosphere. Of course there was a little tussle over deciding what to order, since dishes are shared, but we enjoyed it all. Then we fought over who gets which leftovers!
Especially good was the Kheer, a rosewater rice pudding for dessert, flavoured with cardamom, and the mango lassi drink, greedily gulped down by the husband.
It's just over the border from Vancouver on Kingsway in Burnaby, so really not far from the city at all!Listed in: Date Night
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Review from john h.
Mississauga, ON
3/20/2010
Great indian food, not much else to add that hasnt been said.
Butter lamb was amazing! -
Review from caroline s.
Burnaby, BC
2/4/2010
I'm British, and curry is Britain's national dish. You'd think it was roast beef, or spotted dick, or fish 'n' chips or scones etc. - but according to a national survey many years ago, when I lived in the UK, it astonished the Brits to learn that 'curry' is its national dish.
I therefore feel quite strongly about curry. When in Sri Lanka, I consumed curry for breakfast - that's how hardcore I am.
In Vancouver, it's hard to be hardcore about curry, because most of them are really disappointing. If Indian food was as popular here as sushi, I think the range of eateries would be at the scale I would approve of :) So, to cap this off - I love curry, and would have it every day if I could, and feel Saffron should get a definite 'go-to' nod from a Brit who is a bit of a curry snob.
My need for curry hit its peak last Sunday. I needed curry, and I needed it fast. Here's my rating on Saffron:
Speed of service/delivery: Brilliant - within the hour
Portions: Could be better, as I'm used to a serving from a Chinese restaurant/delivery to stretch between 3 adults
Flavour: Delicate, full of flavour, great spice tonality
Price: A little too expensive to become my weekly addiction - about $15-19 for a main, but you do get a choice or rice or naan, so maybe I shouldn't gripe
The people: Charming
Spice test: We asked for Medium Spice and it was medium. Not like others where medium is mild, and really you should be asking for Very Hot. That impressed me, a lot!
I wanted something new, so I tried the Palak Paneer - and thought it was rich, savory, spicy and lovely. Husband disappointed with Chili Chicken, and has since favoured Rogan Josh.
I'm looking forward to sampling more from their menu, and hope Saffron become our first regular Indian Take-Away (as we say, in England). -
Review from Reena M.
7/6/2009 1 Check-in Here
Really delicious Indian food!
We brought my sister's M-I-L here, who's from London (where they have really really good Indian food!) and she said it was quite tasty too! The quality is apparent and everything is flavourful. The dinner buffet is a bit pricey, but worth it if you can eat a lot because it does have non-vegetarian items there. And the quality of the buffet is good too.
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Rajan S.
Vancouver, BC
4/19/2010
I am not a fan of buffets, particularly when it comes to Indian food. Saffron is my only exception and with good reason. The quality, variety and tastiness of their dishes are worthy of a four star rating alone. Combine this with fresh naan served to your table, a friendly and clean environment, and a low price point, Saffron is truly worth a visit. The beef masala dish is outstanding!
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Review from Sarah O.
11/13/2009
Yummy for my tummy you are. Saffron rice and butter chicken with naan, some more salad please! Chicken samosas and fruit! Pretty good deal for under $20 if you ask me, buffet food that is clean and tasty! And they have a sister pizza joint next door. Loving the atmosphere, nice and cozy. Mango lemonade was intense.. couldn't kill that one. I'll be back for you saffron!
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Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
7/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
For a AYCE it is pretty good if you are in the area. The vegetable pakora was good but the Tamarind sauce was watered down. Also wish they had mango chutney, Tandoori chicken not so good . Butter chicken like the food court variety. Naan was OK. Beef masala was good. For $13.87 I would prefer Kona Tandoori in Richmond. I might try ordering something off their menu next time and see if that is any better. This place is busy.
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Review from Mark H.
1/3/2010 5 Check-ins Here
One of the best Indian restaurants I've been to. However, I've only tried their lunch and dinner buffets. Their curries and other dishes are full of flavour and you get pretty full after two plates. Their Mango Lassy is really good.
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Review from Dora t.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
Great food, nice ambience, great service! Yum
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Review from T M.
Burnaby, BC
8/16/2009
I've been here for both lunch and dinner. Have had the buffet and ordered from the menu. You won't find anything new or exciting, but the food is solid and satisfying.
If you have a big appetite (which I definitely do!!!!), go for the buffet.
Warning: There are usually lineups at lunch after 12 noon. Especially on Fridays. All those groups of office workers treating themselves to an afternoon out of their cubicles (-:
The buffet is decent. There's a salad bar with Raita (yogurt). Samosas. Pakoras (they will put out only one of veggie, fish or chicken). Tandoori Chicken. Rice (BOTH plain basmati and biryani). There's choices for vegetarians (like channa masala-chickpeas). For main dishes, I've noticed there will usually be a beef, a chicken and a seafood. Sometimes they even have Lamb Curry. There is always Butter Chicken.
For dessert there's rice pudding and those very sweet gulab jamun.
Make sure you ask the waitress for naan. This comes with the buffet, but it can get so busy, the servers don't always get a chance to walk around asking if you want any.
I usually order Chai with my meal. My co-workers have tried the Mango Lassi and Shakes. Apparently, VERY yummy. Unfortunately, ordering drinks is extra.
NOTE#1: You can ask for "buffet take-out". They'll let you choose 2-3 items from the buffet and will put it in a takeout carton for you. This costs under $12.00.
NOTE#2: You can order from the takeout menu and have the food delivered. If you live in the Burnaby area, the delivery will take about 45 mins - 1 hr. If you're ordering for more than 5 ppl it's recommended you order a day in advance. I called in an order once for me and about 6 co-workers and was given a lecture by a very testy Saffron employee. -
Review from Kassim D.
Updated - 3/7/2010
we had a company outing here and I stand corrected, the food is spectacular and they seem to have corrected their prior service issues. this spot really does deserve the full 5 stars...
Listed in: Essential VanCity +…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/29/2010
Solid indian food here - great lassi (maybe a little thick - so keep the straw in there)
Try the… Read more »
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