When I lived in Hillcrest, I ate at Saffron all the time. I love their convenient take-out option and curb-side delivery service, but if I'm really hungry, I'll dine on the restaurant premises. After four years of passing mumbling crystal meth addicts on the way to picking up lunch or dinner and witnessing a drug raid, like a scene out of Cops-helicopters and all, I moved out of the neighborhood. From time to time, I do miss the grittiness, the sassiness, the style, the city-life that encompasses Hillcrest, so I'll head to Hillcrest and its neighbor, Mission Hills, for a meal.
Despite the line that usually winds out the door and the horrendous street parking, particularly around 5-6p (because of great surrounding dining establishments like Lucha Libre, Gelato Vero, El Indio, Shakespeare Pub & Grill), I always make a stop at Saffron if I'm in the neighborhood or passing by on Pacific Highway.
Without fail, I always order the Vietnamese Noodles. I've tried the noodle soups here, the drunken noodles, the rotisserie chicken with rice, but I always come back to the Vietnamese Noodles. I love the soft, steamed rice noodles sprinkled with vegetable oil. The fresh bean sprouts and garden herbs brighten up the dish and generates a delightful explosion to my palate. The curry satay chicken tends to be dry, but drenched in spicy fish sauce, it's perfectly delicious. The best part of this dish-and my absolute favorite- is the fantastic eggroll: the soft, fried outer wrap encases seasoned ground chicken mixed with garlic and clear vermicelli noodles. Douse this dish with the fish sauce provided and the result is perfection. |
