Saffron Indian Bistro

We love a good Indian buffet because of the variety of dishes, which is how Indian is supposed to be enjoyed. For us, it isn't about hogging out on vast amounts of food. But sadly, all the ones we've liked over the years closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. We tried a couple here in Tucson, but they were not good. After a while, we pretty much gave up looking. Which is how we missed Saffron Bistro in the two+ years we've lived in Tucson. But better late than never, yeah? :) So, we went for the lunch buffet ($15.95 per person + any additional drinks) on the holiday formerly known as Columbus Day. And it was absolutely great. There were several very good chicken-based dishes, several vegetarian entrees, plenty of sides, endless tasty naan, and Bhature (a frybread-like pocket bread we've never seen in any other Indian restaurant). The place is very clean and attractive, the staff is helpful and friendly, and parking is free and plentiful. If we could add anything, it would be a couple deserts like Gulab Jamun or Gajar ka Halwa. But it was fine as-is.

The Chicken Tikka Masala was incredibly flavorful and perfectly cooked—every bite was a delight. But the real stars were the Garlic Naan and Bullet Naan—absolutely out of this universe! Soft, aromatic, and packed with flavor, they elevated the entire meal. A truly recommended place if you’re craving authentic Indian flavors. Can’t wait to go back! 🍛🔥🥰

Amazing food with top notch service. We were referred by a friend and he was spot on. This IS the best Indian food in Tucson.

My husband and I had a wonderful time at Saffron. The moment you walk through the door the delicious smell of spices hits your nose. The food is excellent and authentic. We tried the linch buffet. There was a great selection of fine foods , such as the curry rice and different chicken dishes. We had the rice pudding for dessert which was a great finish to the semi-spicey foods. The staff was excellent . The very nice lady owner lady came out with special desserts straight from the kitchen. Very friendly and peaceful place . Would recommend

We’ve been to Saffron for lunch (buffet) as well as for dinner. Very good, authentic Indian food. If you’re a fan of this food genre, Saffron is highly recommended.

Went for a SAACa event at Saffron, loved this opportunity to see a show and have some great food and drinks.. i hope you all offer this again..

Even though I got take out the atmosphere was amazing and THE FOOD😋🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 it was soooo yummmmmmyyyyyyyyyy AND THE SERVICE was amazing 🤩 Alicia was SO nice and that made my night😊😋🤩😝🤞🤞also the bags are super cool😎

Love Indian food but we just didn't love what we ordered here- Butter Chicken, Tadka Daal, and Vegetable Samosas were all forgettable unfortunately. Good portions but just not as tasty as we were hoping. Service was prompt and friendly. We'll pass on this place for next time.

Love their food! The lunch buffet is great! The samosas are to die for, and the curries too! As a vegetarian I alway find something good on the lunch Buffet! Mango shakes are great too, I highly recommend them, and my opinion is they have the best Indian food in Arizona!

The restaurant has been around for awhile, and we had stopped going for a period because the sauces were sweet. That was long ago, and I'm so glad we went back! Great naan, delicious curries (fish Malabar is delicious), excellent veggie pakoras and daals. Atmosphere is pleasant, modern and comfortable, and there's a nice selection of wines in addition to the usual beers too!

Saffron is a beautiful Indian restaurant with great staff and service. I had heard glowing reviews for years and finally made it there. I have to say while not bad it really was unremarkable. The prawns I ordered lacked flavor and the serving size was small for the price. The lamb kebabs were indeed delicious, though again the portion size was small. Neither came with rice or sides which I found surprising. We also tried the garlic naan which lacked flavor and had a strange texture. Cocktail wise I tried the Chai Martini which was watery and bland. The server was kind enough to let me try a different drink, the Arizona Beach which was tasty and a bit sweet. TLDR: Smaller portions, lamb kebabs rock, otherwise pretty bland.

Under chefs specials you can choose any dish vegetarian, and it has a few options we've never tried before because many Indian restaurants aren't as flexible. We ate takeout from here many times and found that the food kept very well as leftovers. We liked: Samosas: deliciously spiced Onion bahji: deliciously spiced Malai kofta: tomato based sauce different from what we're used to, but still delicious Paneer tikka masala Vegetable/paneer buna--tasted better from the second day onward once flavors melded Bengan bharta Malabar vegetables Yogurt masala (kadi): very good, flavor of sauce and pakora like vegetables Mango lassi: tasty and kept well in the fridge as I split it over several meals Ok: pakoras have good flavor and the tamarind and mint sauces were good, though the texture of the pakoras were dense Korma: mild was lacking Dhansak: a lentil dish which reminds me of an Indian kidney bean dish I've cooked Rogan josh: very good first two times, but 3rd time we got this mild and it bore no resemblance to what we remembered having previously (bland af, was it a mistake?) 4th time only ok Madras vegetables Aloo matter gobhi: mild was too mild in flavor, needed more sauce Aloo matter paneer: too mild in flavor Don't get again Curry: mild version bland Saffron mughlai: we weren't fans of this one, and finished it but wouldn't reorder it Karhai paneer: mild was lacking Garlic naan: too flat and firm Plain naan Roti We had to start ordering "mild" spice level due to my heartburn issues, so it could be some of the dishes are better medium and hotter.

Lunch buffet here should not be missed! Lots of options as well as vegetarian options. It stays pretty busy and food getting restocked often. Right under $16 per person. The space is big and with plenty of seating! The food is bomb! I love all the dishes! The only thing I pass on is the fish. Pics are from 2 different times we've came here.

This was our Christmas Eve Dinner. We did reservations and it was 1/2 full by 6 when we left. The Tikki Masala with Shrimp was a new Fav. I have enough sauce to repeat my meal with my own shrimp at home. The chicken curry with added potatoes is a sure winner. Like last time, our service was excellent. This is a great spot.

This is a very spacious indoor restaurant with nice outdoor seating as well. The parking is okay. It's also about expectations, everyone is under staffed, so I always appreciate the service staff who are working. Having said that the service was fast and efficient . It's also about being realistic about the food. It serves Indian food,( including vegetarian choices.) naan, chicken Tiki Masala,lamb, goat, and vegetarian dishes.Classic Tandoori Chicken, curry chicken mandaras. The staff were monitoring the food in the line constantly while I was there even though it was two o'clock. It's still It's a great place with lots of choices good food, wonderful staff and a nice atmosphere. It would be a great place to take people who have never experienced indian food before to go to a buffet and have plenty of choices. It definitely can accommodate larger groups.

This review is for the buffet only. Served every day from 11-3. I couldn't find a good Indian buffet in Tucson until I found this place. Is it the best Indian food you've ever tasted? No. Is it great for a buffet? Yes. I'm shy about buffets because the food is usually lukewarm no matter the quality. This place does a good job of keeping the curries very warm. No so much with the nan, but I could feel the hot temp in my mouth when I took a bite. Big bonus points from me. One other thing that sets this place apart is that they serve tandoori chicken. I don't think I've seen that at a buffet before. It could use a little more seasoning but it's good overall and a welcome surprise. The buffet has a couple of rices, a half dozen curries, cauliflower, fried fish, and the aforementioned nan and tandoori chicken. The station is clean and presentable. It's not a huge buffet so if a few people want food is gets kind of busy, but it clears out quickly. You can choose a regular plate or a tray, and the trays are a great idea to isolate the curries and prevent them from running together. See the enclosed pic. The curries have nice flavor. I stuck with the chicken tiki masala and BBQ chicken. The BBQ chicken was another welcome surprise. Good BBQ flavor while being served curry style. The nan was just OK. I like fresher (hotter) nan. The staff was really friendly and they come to your table often to refill your water which is nice since I drink a lot. Seating was quick and easy. The eating area is clean and open. Feels fresh. The price was $15.95 for the buffet and I stuck with water. Add tax and a $4 tip and I was out the door for $21.33. Good value overall. Will return.

So good! I am Indian so I am very critical as I have had un flavored experiences elsewhere. Saffron bistro did not disappoint!!! Everything was flavorful and tasty!

From entry to exit our experience was fabulous and my husband enjoyed the buffet. I had the Mango latte and fish and sambas! Such consideration by staff and manager... Happy Father's Day!

I had been meaning to come to Saffron's buffet for a long time and finally made a trip up here for a delicious meal. I love Indian food and having all of the options that a buffet offers, but sometimes buffets get a bad rap due to food sitting out. That wasn't an issue here, as everything tasted super fresh, and the staff tended to it often. My favorites were the chicken curry and chana masala, but everything was delicious and fun to try. It's also a good value at $15.95. Service was decent but did have to ask for waters to be refilled. I had two plates of food and felt stuffed, but I'm already looking forward to going back!

Where do I start... When we talked in the front door we were greeted with a smile and a good evening. I know it's the little things and that's big for me. First impressions..... Sam our server (Amazing, Great Smile). She was very helpful and kind on our selection of appetizers to our main entrée. This was the first time my girlfriend and I have been to Saffron.... We sat outside do to the weather being Amazing paired with my company and a Great outside patio area. Appetizers were amazing. We had the coconut shrimp paired with some sauce. I can't remember. But that was amazing. Moving onto our entrée I will post pictures on yelp but just Amazing. No other words could say but just Amazing. The owner I believe .. younger gentlemen came out and asked us how our meal was.. and actually had a good conversation with him. Again, first Impressions... I would and will continue to eat and tell all my friends about this Amazing gem in Tucson. Keep up the great customer service amazing food and beautiful smile Sam.

Heads Up!!: Unfortunately my friend got severe food poisoning and has been severely sick and suspects food was left to sit before eating/served to public.

The space itself is an open and gently elegant space, suitable for nicer dinners to relaxed ones. Overall the service was great and so was the food. Pretty neat that when we visited they had a robot delivery system. There are several vegan friendly options available here. While everything was tasty and enjoyable to experience, I personally myself, without being able to pinpoint why, wasn't a fan of the flavors but I do fully feel that it's a personal thing and nothing to do with the quality of food. Everything was beautifully delivered and while I myself may not dine here again, my family and friends enjoy this place and will visit many more times.

Wow wow wow. Came here with my coworker who is from West Bengali and we are both very impressed. We did the buffet and I had everything. It was all perfect. My favorite was the ride pudding. Similar to Mexican ride pudding but lighter in flavor. The naan was soft and well fade. The curry was amazing very well flavored. And my favorite part. The chicken wasn't dry. The ambiance is very cute and I love the wall sconces they chose very unique and adds a warmth of light.

We were quickly seated and greeted by an amazing server that was attentive and kind. He made a couple suggestions and we landed on the chicken Saffron Mughlai and butter chicken. The sauces were fantastic and portions very generous. We loved visiting this restaurant and look forward to another visit soon!

We have been going since they opened. Sometimes it was great, sometimes just ok. Lately they have been hitting a very high mark every time we dine, no matter what we order. Their Mahi-mahi Tikka Masala is delicious and you can't go wrong with any of their vegetarian dishes. The Nan is fair. Service is excellent and the ambience is upscale for an Indian restaurant in Tucson. Saffron has become our new favorite (although they could raise the spice level a little- we order spicy and it is not really).

This is the best Indian food in Tucson. No competition whatsoever. The buffet is a STEAL of a deal, with very high quality tasting ingredients; food doesn't' taste as if it's been laying around for forever, not overly creamy either. The ambiance is very cozy and warm and the servers are always incredibly friendly!! Haven't had one bad experience here.

Food was amazing. I had their signature curry with fish. It was so flavorful and delicious! My husband had a lamb dish recommended by our waiter and he enjoyed it as well. We had an appetizer that was very good, a fried onion dish. Also, the garlic naan was mouth watering:) I can't say enough about our waiter Tyler. He was very thorough, gave great recommendations and was so nice and very attentive. He knew exactly when we needed more rice or another drink, we didn't even need to ask. Great service and great food! I recommend

Went on the weekend and were able to get a table right away for dinner. They do have both an indoor and outdoor seating area, however I have never actually seen the outdoor patio being used. Customer service from our server was excellent! Ordered the fish pakora as an appetizer along with trying the curry and naan. Had the saffron ajwain fish for an entree, which is my absolute favorite item on the menu. The spicy seasoning on the mahi mahi is really good and they cook it in a clay oven. One of the best Indian food restaurants in town and I like how they give you a reusable bag to take home your leftovers instead of a disposable one.

Ordered takeout and it was ready right when we got there. Ordered malai kofta and a karhai paneer. The malai kofta was SO good! Didn't love the karhai paneer as much, not as flavorful as I would've expected. We also ordered a few naan and some pieces were completely burnt. The manager was AMAZING about it and immediately issued a partial refund! Wouldve rated 3 stars for the food quality but service was above and beyond so added a 4th star. Would definitely order again and try other dishes.

Ambiance a bit cool. Saag paneer and lamb vindaloo 4 star--not the best ive had, certainly not the worst. Had mango cocktail--too sweet, not much alcohol--like a bery sweet glass of juice. A pleasant, but not outstanding experience. Would NOT be good for kids unless very well behaved--definitely date night atmosphere.

Good Indian food but a bit white washed in my experience. The food is good but not great. Service tends to be decent in a formal dining experience. Ambiance is upscale and price reflects this even when the food doe not.

It's been a while since I wrote a review of Saffron It's clean light and airy, lots of room between tables, Bollywood themed wallpaper in the bathroom. I have been frequenting the buffet lately, it's fresh and I love the separation in the trays. The separation trays are common in India and I love it. I haven't been to India in a moment and this place reminds me of the good parts of my trips there. Also I go to Kababaque down on University for their lamb wraps and other stuff. Also the bathrooms are clean.

Lowkey the most insane prices... but also it was tasty so who am I to judge! The economy is tough out here guys ‍

I just came back from India and have been looking for an Indian restaurant, this place is as close to the food in northern India as you can find. Don't assume it is going to be so spicy that you can not enjoy it. I can handle extra hot so when I ordered I was very surprised and pleased about the spice level My friend ordered mild and he said it was very tasty and flavorful. I ordered the lamb and being very picky, It was tender and delicious. I highly recommend it and yes it is kid friendly!!

A solid spot for an Indian lunch buffet in the Tucson area. Their fish pakoras, samosas and vegetarian dishes are consistently good. Occasionally I notice some of their dishes have overlapping flavors ( but that could just be me). Servers are super nice and check on you. Music is not too loud and you can have conversations without yelling. Indoor and outdoor seating available.

A great local Indian Restaurant in Oro Valley conveniently located near Oracle Road & McGee Road area on the Southwest side. Side note: if coming south on Oracle Road Waze App sends you past the traffic light and then turn right. If you follow the Waze directions you'll pass it and there's no easy options to return unless you can shoot across traffic to the left lane and make a u-turn and then make a left at the traffic light into the southern most section of the shopping center. The restaurant is light and airy. Very comfortable atmosphere. The food is very good and tasty, and service was friendly. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food that you get. This will now be my new go to Indian Restaurant. I'm looking forward to trying their lunch buffet sometime soon!

One of my five stars! Our first time trying this place, we came at the right time. Few minutes before the place got busy. As we walked into the restaurant the aroma of good food greeted us. Wait time was less than 10 minutes, which is really good. The dining are is open and contemporary. They a small bar which I think is really neat. Not cluttered. They have this robot that brings out to go orders. As we were seated, our server served an appetizer called papadums that came with two dips. It is really good!! Our choice of beverage is Fresh squeezed lemon lime soda, which is really refreshing. An order of Vegetable Samosa, for our appetizer. Chicken Biryani, Fish Tikka Masala an order of Chicken Tikka Naan. Everything was delicious, and they give you a good amount of food. This place is highly recommended. This is my go to place when I'm craving for Indian food.

I must have reviewed Saffrons before now. It's been my absolute, worth a drive across Tucson, go-to Indian food favorite for SO many years. I've been known to hop in my Scooter for a spontaneous hourlong drive when in need of a culinary pick-me-up. The service is always amazing! On my last visit, I brought my 84 year old mother. She'd not had Indian food before, so she had SO many comments and questions. They were so patient with her and even joked around her completely innocent inappropriate-ness. Her generation is either angry at or interested in other cultures. I'm very happy my mom is the latter group. Our server (another important name I've forgotten) was someone I've been sat with several times and made our dining experience a fine one, as always. He has red hair, a beard and an amazing smile. Always very pleasant. I sincerely recommend Saffrons. I can only continue hope and pray that they'll open a 2nd location at the intersection of Houghton and Sahuarita in CdT...... or is that a lot to ask? Lol BTW: There seems to be some new things on the horizon for Saffron's. I was so confused when the parallel parking spaces along their patio were just gone! It took me a minute to figure it out. They've expanded over the spots for music and events. I'll slot-park for that kind of progress. I'm excited to see what's to come! Now, go get your Korma ON!

Ordered again through the Relish food app. Food came promptly and was still hot. This is Consistently delicious Indian food; the flavoring of these dishes is done real well. Meat not as tender as I'd hope but so happy with the creamy sauce. Love the curry vegetables; perfectly done. Equally seasoned and the rich cumin that went too overpowering.

Saffron Indian Bistro serves up delicious Indian food at fair prices in the Oro Valley area just north of Tucson, they take Yelp reservations, but reservations generally aren't required on weeknights as they have plenty of seating, and were more than happy to accommodate me without one. I am generally apprehensive about Indian food outside of the NJ/NY/PA area where Indian cuisine is generally great, but Saffron knows what they're doing with regards to flavorful spicing of their food and providing friendly service. The meal started out with complimentary papadum (with chutneys), which is always a great way to start off a meal. I ordered a mango lassi and while it wasn't anything fancy with regards to recipe, it hit all the right flavor notes and was served in a very generously sized glass. The vegetable pakoras and chicken tikka masala were both great tasting preparations and spiced just the right amount. The chicken tikka masala had tender chicken cooked to perfection and was served with generous amounts of chicken. Likewise, naan was also a generous portion as 4 decently sized pieces were served, and also tasted good. Service was kind and friendly, and checked in often with me. I noticed the owners employ plenty of staff, and they all seemed to work well together and seemed upbeat and pleasant. While the food itself probably would have been closer to 4 stars in the area where I live, I don't mind being generous in giving 5 stars as Saffron Indian Bistro was a great find and decent dinner outing in the Tucson area.

Food is consistently delicious, served promptly. We have dined here 5 times ... servers well trained. This visit we had a new server & it took awhile to receive glass of wine but not the normal.

This is a review for the Lunch buffet, which is available every day of the week, and I went on a Saturday. I enjoyed everything I tried, and the price was $16, which is about what you would pay for 1 entree at most Indian restaurants. They did not have any lamb dishes. The spice level was less than I prefer, but since it was the middle of the summer, it didn't bother me. The chutney had a nice kick to it, so I mixed it in with a few bites of my chicken dishes to spice it up a bit. The Restaurant and bathroom were very clean. All in all, a pleasant experience.

Great service and best Indian food I've tried here in Tucson so far.. we'll definitely come back..

If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!!!! We came in 45 minutes before they closed (I know horrible I own it) but lemme tell you the CUSTOMER SERVICE?! A1. We had Andy as our server and he was AMAZING constantly checked on us, drinks? Never went empty, Kindness? Never went down. There was another person refilling our water as well and he was also very nice and was on top of it! The gentlemen that gave us our menus thought we didn't get service yet so he literally rushed to the table and apologized but we put in our order immediately which is why we didn't have the menus with us. Moral of the story service was impeccable. Next! The food..... ABSOLUTELY DEVINE! it was so full of flavor, it was filling, and it was fairly priced! We go two lamb masala's, two order of naan bread and it was $48 to us that's fair priced for some amazing Indian food and It included lamb. It was so good I HIGHLY recommend coming here because I know I will be... A LOT Thank you to everyone that was so amazing tonight, even though we came right before close (and I know that can be frustrating) you guys were so amazing

I really enjoyed saffron! They have reservations and their menu is very detailed, letting people know what's gluten free, what's vegan etc. I loved the naan, we got garlic and the one with green chilis. They gave us extra rice for our leftovers which was so kind and a reusable bag to take our food in. I tried the chai martini which was very light and the perfect pairing. The staff were all attentive and friendly. The food was good and I look forward to going back for their lunch buffet I've heard so much about

Terrific food. I had the goat vindaloo which was amazing as always. So happy to eat here.

$15 for an Indian lunch buffet? Yes! Totally worth it and a steal! For all you can eat you get so many options. From vegetable and spinach curry, to lamb and chicken curry to chicken tikka masala to fresh salad, vegetable samosas, and a variety of fresh breads. I usually go for Naan, but OMG their fresh Bhature was crispy on the outside and soft and mildly chewy on the inside.... Oh man... I've never had this before and I will now and forever order this when I go to an Indian restaurant. The restaurant was very nice inside. The servers were very attentive with our drinks and if we needed anything else. I would love to try it for dinner, but when you get that kind of variety at that price! Well, it is hard to beat. However, you don't get to try EVERYTHING the menu has to offer. So do both! Lunch buffet one week and date night dinner another. Enjoy!

Food is always great! Billy the waiter is always great! Very accommodating and helpful. Very pleasant. Sam the owner is great! Staff is very accommodating. The family loves this restaurant. We go every Sunday after church.

Everything here was the best from start to finish. The food is some of the best Indian food I've ever had. I took my fiance here who has never eaten indian food and he was also very impressed. We were pleasantly surprised by the complimentary appetizer they provide. I am not sure what it's called but they are little thing wafer like crackers with two dipping sauces. For our main courses we ordered the chicken tikka masala and chicken korma, both mild. We also ordered garlic naan and paneer naan. Everything was delicious. I unfortunately didn't get photos of the main dishes since we dove right in and I completely forgot! But I assure you that you will not be disappointed in Saffron Indian Bistro if you're looking for delicious Indian cuisine. They do offer a daily lunch buffet from 11am - 3pm.

Update - I have returned here a few times and occasionally encountered a meat quality issue with the chicken where it is weirdly rubbery. Not good.

Super yummy and the lunch buffet is well under $20 for everything. I don't even need dinner afterwards.

Spotless and bright. Great selection of buffet items for lunch with all of them being delicious. Very attentive waiter removing plates & filling waters.

Loved this place. Not sure what to expect, but it was delicious. 3 of us share to entrées. More than plenty, and we brought home leftovers. BTW, in a handy Saffron to go bag. We will be returning.

This place is well known with the locals, so be prepared for a full house. There is plenty of seating so not usually a long wait. Terrific menu options with large portions. The colors of the dishes are so vibrant and taste just as bright. Full bar and specialty drinks. The decor is fabulous. I was there on business, so sadly, no pics to share

Staff was nice but food was very mediocre. Samosas were the worst I've ever had all dough and barely anything inside. We ordered biriyani, lamb curry, aloo matar ghobi and garlic naan. The naan was so disappointing and that's usually my favorite part. Flat, burnt and flavorless. Upside it was clean.

Dinner for 5 here Friday night. I used to go here regularly when I first moved to Tucson 14 years ago, then stopped about a decade ago after a bad experience. Good news: this place is now back to greatness! They start you out with free papadums with 2 kinds of chutney - as good as I have had on many trips to India. I had a mango lassi, and Saffron's has a LOT of fruit in theirs, it really is good but I could have used a touch more yogurt. The garlic naan was a bit curious - the flavor was excellent, but the texture was kind of crumbly like a cracker, not the soft bread texture I am used to. I didn't dislike it, just seemed unusual. My lamb biryani was superb. All the dishes at our table had one thing in common: the meats were impeccable, not bits of gristle or fat to turn you off. My wife had a fish curry dish (can't remember the exact name, see photo) that had the most wonderful tomato sauce. The ambiance here has always been good - I love the open airy dining room with plenty of space between tables. Service was excellent: our waitress was helpful, pleasant and attentive. I used to love their lunch buffet - now that Covid isn't such an issue I'm going to have to come back and try it!

My first visit and overall it was solid. Bright open space, but it was loud. Felt like I was competing with the music and the kitchen when trying to have a conversation. Could have just been where we sat. If you have a craving it will hit the spot. The samosas are light and flavorful. Onion Bhaji was cold and extremely greasy. All of our food was lukewarm which is a huge pet peeve of mine. Chicken Tikka was good. Definitely should have gotten the masala in place of the korma with my fries. The tandoori sampler is a good choice as well. Our garlic naan was overcooked, and was almost like a cracker.