This was my first time ever eating at this restaurant and from once a separate told us we got there just in time. We had ourselves an early dinner around 3 PM and he said the restaurant had just cleared out. Apparently they were packed for lunch!! I've never had a style of food before so I asked my boyfriend what I should order since he likes the style. He actually ordered me a chicken curry dish and himself another meat dish, but I can't remember what it was called. Both items as well as appetizer it was delicious! I should've taken a picture of the items we ordered for the appetizer since it was a three portion combo plate, but the pictures are below! Ambience was very relaxed and I really like how there was a half steps down into a little patio area so it seemed like you were almost underground, but you could see out. It was cute watching people walk their dogs and families ride their bike bikes. I will definitely want to come back here and get and buy more dishes! read more

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We ordered a bunch of food to be delivered. Food arrived quite warm, however, - the potato bolanis did not travel well. The bola I had become soggy and the stuffing was spilling out - so hard to eat. - the chicken kabob was delicious - the filet mignon kabobs were tough and needed a knife - the kohbideh kabobs had disintegrated but were tasty - the Baba Ganoush portion seemed small for its price $12.50 - three tiny sauce containers for all this food, left us wanting! There was plenty of rice and bread. This was our first time order. Will try dining-in next time. read more

Authentic Afghan restaurant with great variety of cuisines. Full bar with bar seating, high tables, indoor and odor seating and space for private party. Service was quick and responsive. Foods were delicious and fresh. Combination plate has all sort of kababs with delicious ghabele polo (seasoned rice). Good for groups, couples, date night, meetup and kids. Accessible with ramp, paid and free street parking available. read more

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We first visited Saffron Kitchen, shortly after they open their restaurant, about two years ago. We were walking on College Avenue and the aromas from their kitchen was so tantalizing that we walked in and had a fabulous lunch. As we were leaving , we met Akbar, the owner and told him that as residents of New York City we were really impressed by his fabulous menu. We returned a few more times and had many fantastic dinners but had not returned until this evening ( two years later). When we walked into Saffron kitchen with a 7pm reservation, Akbar greeted us by our names with big hugs! I was astonished that he not only remembered us but was very touched that he recalled our names! He even remembered some of our children as well as our grandson. However, most importantly, his appetizers and entrees were even more delicious than we imagined possible. Over the last two years Saffron kitchen has expanded and now has a designated party room, which was booked with very large gathering. We chatted with one of the bartenders, Cody, who was very knowledgeable and made great drinks! And while we had spent over two weeks traveling in Southern California, none of the meals we had at any restaurants, compared to our absolutely wonderful dining experience we had here this evening! Please make a reservation to guarantee that you won't have to wait to be seated and I promise you, you'll be delighted with your dining experience at the fabulous Saffron Kitchen! read more

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I had to come back and say how impressed I am by this business. My one feedback about the bathroom being my review to 4 stars was met with welcome arms. This feedback resulted in a full bathroom renovation by the owners and a message of gratitude for being honest. I have updated to 5 stars because I am blown away by their level of care and appreciation for customer. Taking accountability and listening to the people who frequent their establishment. I love a business who takes pride in their reputation by uplifting their standards. Lastly, ALL the food we ate was outstanding and authentic. read more

We originally planned on takeout from Saffron, but the aroma when we walked in to pick up our food convinced us to eat there instead. The staff was accommodating, setting us up with a table and water service despite our last-minute switch. I eat a lot of Middle Eastern food and their lamb shank ranks among the best I've had. The sauce had incredible depth and whatever they cooked the lamb in penetrated the meat perfectly. Unlike other places that overcook lamb shank until it's dry and stringy, this was succulent - clearly they know how to properly cook it rather than just boiling it to submission. The rice was well-seasoned, and the lamb kabob was juicy, tender, and perfectly spiced. The firnee dessert was far too sweet for our liking. The service was excellent - even though we'd originally ordered takeout, they treated us like regular dine-in customers and kept our waters full. This was meant to be just one stop on our East Bay food crawl I took my cousin on and we intended to taste a few bites and take the rest home, but the food was so good we couldn't help finishing everything there. Will definitely return! read more

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I don't have Afghan food very often, it's not super common to find. Love that Oakland has this spot! Parking was pretty difficult to find so we parked a few blocks away. We came here for my brother's birthday, from what we saw, there was a main restaurant and then a separate smaller room next door with additional seating. We were seated in the smaller room, which was nice and more intimate. We order the mantu, eggplant pakora, and aushak for appetizers. Everything was so well seasoned and delicious. The eggplant pakora was my personal favorite. My dad ordered the salmon kara'e. We all split the kobideh kebab and shola. Servings were incredibly generous. Atmosphere was nice, service was good. They seemed pretty busy on this day so it was a little slow but didn't make the experience any less pleasant. Absolutely lovely meal and I would come back! Thank you for the hospitality and delicious food! read more

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Went for an early birthday dinner on a weekday and we were sat right away. Service was quick and they had great recommendations. Drinks (both amazing flavors, comes in a full tea pot so can share with the table) 10/10 Turkish black tea 10/10 saffron cardamom green tea Appetizer 8/10 Potato bolani - great flavor, sauces tasted very good with it 9/10 Mantu - perfectly seasoned and cooked! Loved the sauce on the dumplings Main -9/10 Lamb Kabob- flavor of the char was very nice, vegetables were cooked perfectly, rice paired well. The sauces in the table also complemented the meal well -8/10 Lamb Shank - full of delicious flavors, rice was amazing read more

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Such an amazing meal with amazing company. Starting off with Mantu app: steamed dumplings. They were so delicious we ordered another plate! A few other entrees and finished with baklava of course. Service was great and the outside seating was lovely on a warm evening read more

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Cool spot that is kind of hidden one floor below street level. Friendly staff will find you a table (they have both inside and outside seating). We tried the chickpea samosas, the chicken kabob, and the vegetarian eggplant qurma. We also added some cardamom green tea. I really enjoyed the samosas, each of the four fritters had a thick and crunchy coating, with chickpea goodness within. They offer three different sauces for dipping. The chicken kabob is well-marinated and very juicy. It comes with some grilled onions and tomato, bread, plus a side of brown rice. The eggplant qurma is doused in a thick white sauce, and comes with its own side of bread and rice. There's definitely a lot of rice involved. But the dishes are flavorful and you can use the rice to soak it all up. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to dessert, but it looked promising! I recommend making the stop the next time you are in the Rockridge area. read more

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Middle Eastern Food - Saffron Kitchen is a hidden gem in rockridge with amazing happy hour and main meal options ! I came here with my sister and we ordered the filet mignon, potato pakora, samosas, 2 sangrias and salad! Service was 5 star and Bar tender was amazing ! Highly recommended and look forward to coming back everything was chefs kiss !! read more

Saffron Kitchen - FILLET MIGNON BEEF KABOB - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

This continues to be one of my favorites. We ordered take-out last night and everything was fresh, hot and phenomenal. My current favorite is the salmon kabob. Cooked to perfection, fantastic rice and appetizers and the sauces! I use them judiciously and then use them again the next day or two with food I make. I would buy them if they came in jars. Highly recommended. read more

I've always driven by this restaurant on College Ave and I can finally say that I've tried it and it's phenomenal. All the staff are super friendly and attentive. The place itself is very spacious with seating indoors and a patio outdoors. We ordered two appetizers, the samosas and the potato pakora. It was cooked perfectly and so flavorful! We then split the filet mignon beef kabob. It was the perfect amount to share. It came with a hefty portion of rice, a side of vegetables and a slice of very light and airy bread. Don't forget to try the sauces that come on the side! One of my new favorite restaurants! read more

Saffron Kitchen - POTATO PAKORA and SAMOSAS - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

Saffron Kitchen opened in The Golden Squirrel's vacated space. Setups the same. decor changed. Offerings (Afghan inspired): Happy Hour, entrees, salads, appetizers, sides, booze. Sips: Cavit Provincia Di Pavia Pinot Noir (14) -passed on Bogle, Fetzer wines. The price of a glass buys a bottle at any liquor store. -wine tastes better than any of the food. -initially inquired about beer flights. Bartender gaslighted me, saying they never had it. Pics on S.F.'s website proves him wrong. 1 year ago HH. Bites: Potato & Eggplant Pakora (8 each) -veggie inside barely noticeable. Probably melted ala veggies in pupusa. Roasted bell peppers, tomatos nice. -baked, drizzle with yogurt. Meat sauce pour covers baked pakoras. Underwhelming. No pizzaz. -Never seen in typical Afghan eatery. Beef skewer (10) -"dry, chewy" was my answer to bartender when he asked how I liked it. -very large beef chucks, unevenly cooked. Moist sections not juicy. Beef not marinated? Yogurt, cilantro chutney, tomato chutney the dips. Took leftovers home. Ate it later. Felt acidity in stomach. Was ready to barf. Didn't. Lost my appetite rest of day. *recent HH menu more expensive, not posted on website. No deals on alcohol. **doubtful repeat. Bartender disappears after bringing food. Doing something in corner, tossing & catching aluminum shakers. read more

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I recently tried Saffron Kitchen with a buddy (bring friends and try more food haha). We ended up grabbing the Salmon Kara'e and Beef Qurma as well as the spinach. My personal favorite was the salmon dish which had a rich, tomato based sauce that was well seasoned and brightened the dish. I was also surprised with how tasty the spinach was. The spinach contained garlic and a solid mix of spices to balance it out. I thought the beef was alright, although I do think it was a bit overcooked. Still, the sauce and accompanying veggies rounded it out. Our server was friendly and attentive and the restaurant atmosphere was calm and relaxed. This is a good place to bring folks if you want to catch up. Overall, I thought this was a good meal. If you want to give Afghan food a try, then maybe consider checking out Saffron Kitchen! read more

Saffron Kitchen - Beef Qurma. - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

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I had the beef korma, and it was super good and was even better than I expected . The place is also classy. I will definitely go there again to try other dishes . read more

Food service and ambiance are really good here. This place has seen a pub for the past few decades first Barkleys for a long time then the Golden Squirrel, it's no longer a sports bar lot pub so I wanted to check it out. I had a few lamb kabobs and a mixed appetizer plate, it was really good. Sauces were all interesting and delicious, lamb was tender and I was happy roe discover that the beer selection is still really good. They had both types of Trumet and lots of other local microbrew options. Service was excellent manager from Afghanistan Koja and local bar tender David were great. read more

Saffron Kitchen - Mixed vegetarian appetizers and lamb skewers - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

We had the Mantu, Lentil Soup, Hummus and Butternut Squash Bolani and all of them were great! The waitstaff is attentive and helpful. They've recently expanded the restaurant, giving each table a bit more space which is nice. Love this place! read more

Stopped by Saffron Kitchen for dinner with a friend and it was a great experience. We both ordered kabob plates and shared the potato bolani appetizer. The chicken kabob was tasty and I enjoyed it with the yogurt sauce and rice. The bolani was flavorful and had a good filling and also paired well with the yogurt sauce. The customer service was excellent and attentive. I thought the cost of the kabob dishes were slightly higher than expected. Overall, it was an awesome, enjoyable meal, and I'd definitely return again possibly for lunch or happy hour. read more

Saffron Kitchen - CHICKEN KABOB - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here with friends. Our table of 6 ranged in age from 10 to 91. Everyone was quite pleased with their order. We ordered the lamb kebab, salmon kebab (kids portion), traditional chicken Qurma, potato (vegetarian) Qurma, and the lamb shank. The vegetables that came with the kebabs and Qurma were seasoned well. The recipients of the lamb and salmon were ecstatic with their orders. The recipients of the Qurma were also pleased. Food was delicious, fresh and well seasoned. The favorite mocktail was delicious as was the Mango lassi. Staff were friendly and attentive. And shout out to the other diner who helped prevent my friend from tripping. read more

What a wonderful dining experience! The outdoor seating / patio is nice especially when the weather outside is sunny and warm. (The entire surrounding neighborhood is nice tbh) We ordered the eggplant pakora as an appetizer and the chicken/beef combination to share. Overall the food was good. A step up above other local spots perhaps. The presentation is a nice touch. The sauces (ranging from mild to spicier) is also a nice to have. Food wise, the pakora was the star of the show: crunchy, not dry, saucy .. Overall I would say this is a good and peaceful date spot or a place you can take your friends / family. Then you can go to the Trader Joe's / Philz / or Boba Guys after :) read more

Saffron Kitchen - EGGPLANTS PAKORA - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

TLDR: adequate mediterranean (3.5) would go back if in the area Visit 4/12 Food Samosa 3/5 - as expected Seafood Combo 3.5/5 - Fresh, better than adequate Chicken Kebab 3.5/5 - as expected+ Service: Takeout, no issues, substitution request honored Ambiance: airy serene seating area, mostly filled tables read more

Very nice service and enjoyed my time here. It's located in a nice little area of rock ridge called elmwood. The food was good. My friend said the salmon was great. My plate was alright, a bit dry for my taste and I would've liked more protein. A bit pricey as well. Overall a good spot. read more

Saffron Kitchen - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

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Disappointing. Pricey but the food is mediocre. I've given this place a couple of chances and unfortunately it's just not good. The shrimp dish was under cooked and the chicken dish has hard chicken to chew. The vegetables that come with these dishes taste horrible and old like they just came out of a plastic bag! Ambiance is decent but food is subpar. Not going again! read more

It really pains me to write this but Saffron is no longer what it used to be. Not sure if they're under new ownership or not but my family and I have ordered takeout from here at least twice a month for a couple years now, spending well over $100 each time and I can confirm, it's not made with the same quality or authenticity as before. The kabob is now served with white rice instead of brown (their menu lists that it's served with brown rice), they're no longer served with a grilled/charred tomato, onion, and bell pepper, it's now a mixed vegetable medley that I assume is either frozen or prepackaged, they have forgotten our bread the last couple of orders, our most recent order of butternut squash came without yogurt even though we added the meat/yogurt option, and the fried items taste like they were made with old oil. Bummer. read more

Great spot to grab a bite. Food was good. Didn't blow my mind but tasted good and was very much like eating a good home cooked meal. The place is great with big open patio just below street level. The one thing was that the service really was not great. Super friendly staff but hard to get them to come by. I think part is that they share tables. Never had someone come over to ask about the food. Or to offer a refill for ice tea. After sitting for awhile with my food finished I asked for the check. No one ever came by to grab my card so ended up paying on my phone, but got the job done. read more

Food was incredible! We ordered the mixed appetizer platter and the mixed kabob platter. We loved the variety and everything was cooked to perfection. Server was very friendly and helpful. We ate outside and it felt like we left the Bay Area and landed in the Mediterranean for a great meal. We will definitely be back!! read more

THIS... is miyeeeee plaaaace! Oh. Em. Gee. Lemme tell ya, lemme tell ya! Saffron Kitchen impresses like no other! I'm so incredibly excited to have Saffron's uniqueness in this neighborhood. Rockridge really needed something like this. Something fresh, hip, and authentic. I love it to pieces, bay-bee! First things first; the happy hour is the bomb.com! I'll admit that this is what got me hooked initially. The cocktails are strong, delicious, and made with love. The FOOD... dear Lordt. Mm hmm... Lord with that added T at the end. The food is the most flavorful. The seasonings, the spices, the consistency; all perfecto. You can get a nice sampling of some of their specialties from their happy hour menu. But, you mustn't miss out on having dinner here. The beef kabobs are my favorite item on their menu right now. The beef is just so tender and juicy. I love when they take them off of the hot skewer and put them on the plate. It doesn't get any fresher than that, baby! They are so damn flavorful and delicious. But, I could literally go on about several items on their menu. Their mantus are top tier. I'm talking melting in your mouth goodness. The house made middle eastern naan is to die for, especially when dipped in their chutneys. The samosas, the salmon, the shrimp skewers... I mean Geezus. Every single that I've put in mouth here has been sensational. Aside from the food and drink, the SERVICE is absolutely phenomenal! The staff is so amazing! Akbar and Abdul are so kind! They certainly run the place with passion and great direction. You will always find one of them there holding down the fort and making sure that everything is operating smoothly. My favorite bartenders Risa and Jargie are exceptional! They are so sweet and observant. I love chatting with them and they both know how to make a mean cocktail. The vibe is so awesome here. Low key but also elegant. I often come on week nights to wind down after work, and I always leave feeling so good and happy that I came. Yeeeaaah. This is my place. My local little gem. I am so grateful to have them in the neighborhood and I hope they stay around for many years to come! Thank YOU Saffron for being amazing! MUAH! read more

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Food - fantastic Service - excellent Ambiance - pleasant and attractive locale The Afghan and other new to us dishes were delicious. I recommend the lamb shank with some kind of incredibly delicious rice concoction. Pistacchio gelato also very good for desert. Lots of kebab choices too. Prices are high but they're high everywhere so whaddyagonnado? read more

Tried this place for the first time on a friend recommendation and it was awesome. The fusion of taste and spices were tantalizing to my taste buds. Definitely will come back, I'll be very casual. Our server was very attentive and insured that we wanted for nothing. Definitely will come back. read more

Saffron Kitchen - Mediterranean Near Me - Oakland, California

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Every time I walk by, Saffron Kitchen is buzzing. These days however I have 2 kids under 4 years old so my strong preference is to takeaway. Luckily Saffron Kitchen offers takeaway and we could enjoy generous portions of lamb and combo kebobs, salad, and fragrant rice. Next time we'll have a sitter and be able to come in person to enjoy dessert after dinner! read more

We really loved our dinner experience here tonight. Driving home, we stumbled upon the restaurant simply because it was right next to where we parked. The patio was super clean and cute, and felt very comfortable even during winter. Staff was top notch. Everyone was very kind and friendly. The food could not be better. We had chicken, lamb, fillet, all cooked perfectly. Absolutely delicious. We'll be revisiting for sure, I'm so glad we gave it a try! read more

This place was actually amazing and so happy I came across it as it's so close and just a little further down College Ave. The atmosphere was warm and calming w/ great service! We came in towards the end of the night and the staff were still supper accommodating. Every dish was amazing and so flavorful. I got the Qabuli Pallaw which was so flavorful w/ the fragrant rice & perfectly cooked chicken. The dumpling appetizer was so good and the potato app was like a deconstructed samosa that was flaky & buttery. The pistachio ice cream was also super good so definitely get that if you have room for dessert! I will definitely be back read more

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This restaurant was amazing! Food and drinks were delicious and our server was very kind as well. We don't typically eat a lot of lamb, but the rack of lamb just melted in our mouth. Would definitely eat here again! read more

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Saffron is a lovely inside/outside space, on College Avenue. We attend the church across the street and finally got a chance to visit Saffron. Very attentive service, nice setting, delicious food. We got three "mixed plates"=the appetizers (huge and delcious); the small mezze; and the kabobs (nicely grilled, esp. the shrimp). The plating was stylishly modern and the windows to the street gave a constantly changing view of Rockridge. Just an all-around delicious and friendly restaurant! read more

Love this place. Really hidden gem in Rockridge. Food is delicious. Service is good and friendly. read more

Gave us food poisoning. We know it was this meal for a fact. Spent $100 on a simple dinner for two people and ended up sick. We won't be back. read more

Finally found authentic Afghani restaurant in Bay Area. Delicious fresh food full of flavor. Meat grilled perfectly. Very nice deserts. Very helpful staff. Nice place. read more

Truly an underrated gem!! Amazing staff and service as well as a beautiful space for a midday lunch/celebration or a romantic date night. The food is some of the best Afghan/Mediterranean food I've had and compares to home for me. I would eat here once a week if I could and there's nothing I wouldn't recommend!! I always can't wait to go back and tell other people about it in the area read more

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Omg. Omg. Omg. YUM. Saffron Kitchen will be on a regular rotation for me going forward. I've only had Afghani food once or twice, but this is another level. The menu has plenty of options but they all fit onto one page; I am not a fan of menus that go on for 3-4 pages. Also, there are many beverage choices, and their cocktails are pretty good. The steamed dumplings - the Mantu - was heavenly. I am a discerning Chinese dumpling eater, and I was over the moon with every bite of this dish. I had to refrain from licking the plate. Of course, we had to have lamb, and we struggled to decide because there were so many options. We landed on the lamb kabob; my friend and I kept cutting the lamb into smaller and smaller pieces so we could have more and more bites to savor. Then we had a veggie sampler because we couldn't decide which veggie we wanted. We got to taste the eggplant, the spinach, and the butternut squash. Everything was great, but the butternut squash shined. The restaurant has so many beautiful spaces to dine. First, there is a fancy parklet and patio area set a level below the street for those who want to dine outside in the fresh air. Inside, there is a main dining section that is cozy and comfortable, with a decent bar. There also is a pretty stunning private dining room. The service was the highlight. Our server was extremely attentive, and other wait staff checked in on us. If you're not familiar with Afghan food, the staff will be more than delighted to explain it to you. You'll be missing out if you don't try it! Finally, the prices are incredibly reasonable for what they offer you. What a welcome addition to the community. read more

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