Indian eatery Saffron Street kicks off Leicester Food Tour 2023

SPONSORED CONTENT HALAL STATUS Fully Halal (HMC)

Saffron Street couldn’t have been a better restaurant to kick off FtLion’s food tour of the historical city of Leicester (sponsored by HMC online meat purveyors Halal Editions).

This sleek and modern Indian restaurant on London Road captures both the confident vibe and the cultural diversity of a city brimming with an excitingly diverse Halal food scene.

Having opened last year, this second restaurant is just as strikingly distinct as its successfully established sister-site in London’s Gants Hill.

Boasting an elegantly designed, Instagrammable interior, with plenty of gold and bling, this spacious restaurant can accommodate up to 120 guests, with seating available outdoors during the warmer climes.

More importantly, Saffron Street are HMC-certified, with a carefully conceived menu that offers an incredible assortment of dishes inspired by the vibrant and colourful street food of India.

‘Refined street food experience’ of epic proportions

A dedicated mixologist is just one example of Saffron Street’s commitment towards their brand’s ethos in delivering a ‘refined street food experience’.

Their beverages, like their thick and frothy Pina Colada and the zesty Mango Fire Mojito, have been created to compliment the range of spices used, including the popular Palak Chaat.

Rolling out quite literally on a smartly designed, wooden street food cart is a huge platter of very crispy spinach pakoras that are topped with sweet and sour sauces, creamy yoghurt, before being sprinkled in plenty of crunchy sev and pomegranate arils – and all for just £7.

Their show-stopping Mixed Grill brings to the fore the exceptional skills of the chefs in their talented kitchen (hygiene rating 5) with the very best selection of grilled meats from the ‘Sigdi Se’ section.

Presented in a bronze barbecue imitation container is an assortment of beautifully charred and succulent pieces of pahadi murgh tikka, lamb chops, sheekh kebab, tandoori chicken, and sholay wings, all cooked to perfection on an open grill; all bursting with punchy flavours; and all for just £24.

Just as impressive is their Indo-Chinese inspired menu section with classics such as Chicken Lollipop, Dhamaka Prawns, Lamb Bao Buns, and the Chicken 65 Chow Mein (below).

With al dente chow mein noodles gorgeously enveloped in a lightly spiced sauce, and topped with chewy and tender nuggets of chicken 65, this well-known street food staple is a must try.

When it comes to their curry dishes, there’s options galore, with flavorous dishes varying from the rich Butter Chicken and Karahi Gosht, to the more subtly spiced like their Prawn Moilee and the Daal Makhani.

With a pair of biryanis also on show, including the Bamboo Murgh Biryani that’s traditionally cooked in a bamboo to seal in those aromatic flavours, Saffron Street also specialises in sharing platters called Thaalis, which is a great way of getting an all-round taste of the menu as a whole.

And though you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to their classic Indian desserts, the one that wows the crowd is, of course, the Brownie Sizzler.

There’s a reason why this is such a sort-after end to a meal, with a warm chocolate brownie, all gooey and soft on the inside, being topped by a large dollop of vanilla ice cream, before being smothered in plenty of rich chocolate sauce that’s made to sizzle courtesy of the hot iron skillet.

Little wonder, then, that Saffron Street is such a hot destination at the moment. It is one of Leicester’s go-to eateries, with an ambience that’s just as immersive as the menu, and welcoming staff members immaculately dressed to ensure diners a memorable visit.

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Saffron Street
123 London Rd, Leicester LE2 0QT.

+44 (0)116 247 0011 | W: @lovesaffronstreet

Opening Hours: Mon-Thur 17:00-22:00 | Fri 17:00-22:30 | Sat-Sun 14:00-22:30