Saffron Saffron is one of the most popular Spanish restaurants in Beijing, located at the mouth of Jianchang Hutong in Wudaoying Hutong. The restaurants in Wudaoying Hutong are changing rapidly, ushering in the delivery, and saffron has been standing here for more than ten years, as if it has become the iconic scenery of Wudaoying Hutong. Many diners come to Wudaoying Hutong to come to saffron.
十年前，年轻的情侣耀扬与李羊在这里开设了自己的第一家餐厅，取名“藏红花（Saffron）”，Saffron正是西班牙海鲜饭中不可或缺的一种香料，餐厅的名字就暗示了这里的西班牙料理气质。电影《春娇与志明》在这里取景，片中余文乐和杨千嬅就在此相约宵夜，这家小众餐馆也因此走进了人们的视野，迅速成为小资文青们的必游之地，一炮而红。耀扬与李羊的餐厅也越开越多，目前，耀扬与李羊的团队已经拥有藏红花、CHI Restaurant、HE Kitchen & Co. 以及Restaurant Y四家餐厅，四家餐厅的风格各不相同。
The saffron menu is very simple, mostly traditional Spanish dishes. The paella is the restaurant's signature, and the paella here is also highly sought after by customers in the capital. There are two types of saffron paella, Spanish paella and cuttlefish ink paella, you can choose between the two platters, and the pan is divided into two like a mandarin duck pot, and the two types of paella are also quite distinctive. The seafood rice with saffron is large and filling, the freshness of seafood such as mussels, prawns, and scallops is very good, the meat is firm, fresh and sweet, and the softness and hardness of the rice can be selected according to the diner's own preferences, and the taste is close to the appetite of the Chinese people.
Ham is also one of the specialties of saffron and is available in three grades: Iberian Castro ham, Reserve 5J ham and Joselito ham. There are a lot of Spanish restaurants in Beijing that serve 5J ham, but not many that serve Joselito, Saffron is one. Joselito is the highest and most expensive of the three types of saffron ham, the top ham brand from the Guijuelo region and the most famous of the top restaurants in the world, known as the emperor of Iberian cured hams. The ham meat is crimson and transparent, the fat is like marbling, bright and shiny, the entrance is salty and oily, and the flavor is mellow.
In addition, the saffron tapas, soups, salads, breads, main courses, and desserts all taste decent, and there is no big mistake. Fried mushrooms in olive oil, fried shrimp in olive oil, brugh carpaccio, grilled lamb chops, etc., are several more recommended dishes, especially fried mushrooms in olive oil and fried shrimp in olive oil.
Saffron Restaurant is a typical hutong restaurant, small in area, heavy in front of the door, with one or two floors, simple and elegant decoration, full of European atmosphere. The waiters at the restaurant are all male, dressed in more formal waiter attire. It can be seen that every detail of this restaurant is quite careful, and it does create a more stylish Western food environment. However, the restaurant's service quality is very limited, the service awareness is weak, and the management is loose, compared with other Spanish restaurants in Beijing, the service of saffron is not at all at the level that a fine Western restaurant should have, and it is full of Beijing flavor. Restaurants are often full at night, so customers are advised to book in advance. In addition, the restaurant is located in the middle of Wudaoying Hutong, the location is awkward, parking in the alley is extremely inconvenient, it is recommended that guests who drive to the alley park outside the alley, and then walk there.
