TLDR: Shirazi, also known as Shirazi Persian Restaurant, is a semi-fine dining Persian restaurant that has opened at Dempsey Hill, 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15A. Standouts include the Chicken Koobideh ($34), Beef Lari Kebab ($50) and Faloodeh Shirazi ($25). Kebabs range from $34 to $65, and desserts start from $8.
You don’t often see Persian food in Singapore, which makes Shirazi in Dempsey Hill a standout opening so far. The Persian restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Mohammad Hosseini and Chef Ying, whose culinary partnership spans two decades. It has joined Dempsey Hill’s dining line-up alongside others like SHAO and Casa Mori at Dempsey.
The menu centres on charcoal-grilled kebabs, saffron rice, slow-cooked stews and mezze, made with spices and selected ingredients brought directly from Iran.
What Is Shirazi?
Shirazi is a semi-fine dining Persian restaurant at Dempsey Hill, giving traditional recipes a contemporary presentation.
It uses halal-certified meat and poultry, with spices sourced directly from Iran, and centres on freshly prepared charcoal-grilled kebabs served with saffron rice, alongside slow-cooked stews and Persian desserts.
Chef Mohammad grew up in Zanjan, Iran, where he started out in small eateries and butcher shops around the city’s historic Grand Bazaar. He later worked across the Middle East, Singapore and Australia. Together with Chef Ying, he has more than 30 years of combined experience in Singapore’s F&B industry.
Where Is Shirazi?
Shirazi is at 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15A, Singapore 247696, within Dempsey Hill. The nearest station is Napier MRT (TE12), around a 15-minute walk away.
It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 11pm, and is closed on Mondays.
Taking cues from Persian art, colour and decorative traditions.
The space pairs crystal chandeliers and marble tables with Middle Eastern design elements, making it feel like dining in a repurposed palace, with a taxidermy peacock to further sell the atmosphere. A private dining section with draw-down curtains is also available for celebrations and group dinners.
Shirazi Menu
Shirazi serves Persian classics à la carte, from mezze and dips to charcoal-grilled kebabs and slow-cooked stews (khoresht).
Mezze are available individually or as Cold ($42) and Hot ($45) Mezze Platters. The Shirazi Grilled Platter ($120 for two, $210 for four) is the easier way to try several kebabs at once, with minced lamb, chicken, fish, prawn, and lamb or beef fillet.
Here is a preview of the menu:
| Dish | What Is It | Price |
| Falafel | Crispy falafel with tahini mango sauce and pickles | $18 |
| Salad Anar | Pomegranate, spinach and orange with house dressing | $18 |
| Watermelon Salad with Persian Feta | Watermelon, Persian feta, mint, black pepper and pomegranate | $18 |
| Black Hummus | Black chickpeas, black tahini and pine nuts | $17 |
| Hummus Lamb | Hummus topped with spiced lamb and pine nuts | $20 |
| Soup Adas | Persian lentil soup with shredded chicken, pumpkin, turmeric and caramelised onion | $17 |
| Ash Shirazi | Thick herb and bean soup with kashk, fried onion and dried mint | $16 |
| Soltani | Barg and Koobideh, the classic Persian royal kebab | $65 |
| Chenjeh | Char-grilled lamb tenderloin cubes marinated in saffron and herbs | $55 |
| Chelo Neck | Slow-cooked lamb neck with saffron rice | $58 |
| Fesenjan | Duck or chicken slow-cooked in walnut and pomegranate sauce | $39 |
| Saffron Cheesecake | Saffron-infused cheesecake with pistachio and rose | $14 |
| Baklava | Layered filo pastry with honey syrup and pistachio | $12 |
Check out the Shirazi’s full menu here.
What We Ate
Cold Mezze Platter ($42) and Hot Mezze Platter ($45)
The cold platter comes with Zeytoon Parvardeh, Original Hummus, Salad Olivieh and Labneh, served with freshly baked sesame pita.
The hot platter brings together Kashk-e Bademjan, Borani Esfenaj, Dolma and grilled halloumi.
The standout was the Salad Olivieh ($18 on its own), a creamy potato salad balanced by the sweetness of the added corn.
The Borani Esfenaj ($16), a spinach yoghurt dip, was another favourite. It had the right amount of seasoning and a good bite.
The fried pita chips in the Cold Mezze Platter were also a surprise, being crispy and nicely seasoned.
Mains
Image Credit: Shirazi
Every skewer comes with saffron rice, grilled tomato and mixed greens, so there’s no need to order rice or sides separately.
Koobideh (from $34)
The Chicken Koobideh was the star of the meal for us. The ground chicken was packed with flavour and juicy, and the herbs added a pleasant kick to the dish that complemented the chicken well.
It had the texture of a sausage in the best way possible: herbaceous, moist and well balanced. It’s also the most affordable kebab on the menu.
They also have a Lamb ($42) version, which had some gameness, tempered by the smoke and spice.
Beef Lari Kebab ($50)
This was another one of our favourites. It was flavourful, with the spices coming through clearly, and the yoghurt marinade gave the beef a delightful dairy aftertaste.
The only small drawback was that the beef was a tad bit tough.
Fish Kebab ($39)
The Fish Kebab had a yellow saffron and lime marinade, giving a mild but floral flavour, pairing well with the tender and smokey fish . However, the flavour didn’t carry much, so it tasted slightly plain overall.
Ghormeh Sabzi ($35)
This traditional herb stew is considered the national dish of Iran. It combines lamb, kidney beans and dried lime, stewed till falling-apart tender. It was savoury yet tart, with the sourness from the dried lime giving a unique zestiness.
It was light and appetising, and definitely one of the more unique dishes we’ve tried in Singapore!
The Desserts We Tried
Faloodeh Shirazi ($25)
Faloodeh Shirazi features rose-soaked vermicelli and saffron pistachio ice cream. Served cold, almost like a slushie, this dessert was subtly floral and creamy.
It’s best eaten together, mixing the ice cream through the vermicelli and enjoying it bit by bit. Our only wish was that there was more ice cream.
Is Shirazi Worth A Visit?
Yes, if it’s within your budget. Shirazi’s food has a unique flavour that’s not easy to find elsewhere in Singapore, and the Chicken Koobideh, Beef Lari Kebab and Faloodeh Shirazi were clear standouts.
It is on the pricier side, with kebabs going up to $65, so save it for a birthday or anniversary dinner, when the chandelier-lit dining room does half the celebrating for you.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
| Address | 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15A, Singapore 247696 |
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday, 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 11pm; closed Mondays |
| Price range | Kebabs $34 to $65; mezze and dips from $14; desserts from $8 (inclusive of GST and service charge) |
| Nearest MRT | Napier MRT (TE12), around a 15-minute walk |
| Reservations | shirazi.sg or WhatsApp +65 9618 8616 |
| Halal status | Muslim-friendly kitchen using halal-certified meat and poultry; not stated to be halal-certified |
Frequently Asked Questions on Shirazi
What is Shirazi?
Shirazi is a semi-fine dining Persian restaurant by Chef Mohammad Hosseini and Chef Ying, serving charcoal-grilled kebabs, saffron rice, stews and mezze.
Where is Shirazi?
It’s at 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15A, Singapore 247696, in Dempsey Hill. The nearest station is Napier MRT.
What are Shirazi’s opening hours?
It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 11pm, and is closed on Mondays.
How much does a meal at Shirazi cost?
Kebabs range from $34 to $65, mezze and dips start from $14, and desserts start from $8. Prices include GST and service charge.
Is Shirazi halal?
Shirazi is not halal-certified. They are Muslim-friendly and use halal-certified meats in their kitchen.
Does Shirazi offer takeaway?
Takeaway hasn’t been confirmed, so it’s best to check with the restaurant via WhatsApp at +65 9618 8616.
What should I order at Shirazi?
Our standouts were the Chicken Koobideh, Beef Lari Kebab and Faloodeh Shirazi, plus the Salad Olivieh and Borani Esfenaj from the mezze.
This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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