Review: Firangi Superstar Indian Cuisine @ Tanjong Pagar

In an era where traveling has become restrictive and sometimes punishing, there comes an Indian restaurant that aims to satiate an outsider’s or wanderer’s thirst for something new. Firangi Superstar was established only a couple of months back to present a foreigner’s perspective of the vast country. Even the name, which means “foreigner” in Hindi, is a play on this concept. The whimsical interiors draw inspiration from iconic tourist attractions such as the City Palace in Udaipur (made famous by James Bond) as well as Hollywood movies filmed in India such as The Darjeeling Limited. Even without a single bite, one finds that a visit to Firangi Superstar is already a feast for the senses.

We started the meal with some snacks – papadum and crackers with Chutney and Raita (S$10/14) The restaurant makes their chutney and raita inhouse. We got the 3 kinds which consisted of Roasted Pistachio Chutney, Jackfruit Cucumber Raita, and Garlic Dried Chilli Chutney. Of the three, my favorite was the Jackfruit and Cucumber Raita.

The Sothi Fresh (S$22) can be thought of as an Indian style ceviche with diced raw snapper cured in Kokum (tamarind used as a souring agent in the Subcontinent) dressing. It also came with a rather generous dose of sothi (a curry) for emphasis.

The Prata Waffle (S$24) might drive purists mad but this was one dish I wholeheartedly enjoyed. Think of this as an Indian twist to the chicken and waffles one finds in cafes but with prata that is unmistakably crispy – thanks to being thinner than traditional waffles – after being pressed. The prata waffle was so memorable that the Madras-style fried chicken that accompanied it almost became an afterthought.

Ironically, the veggie dish that came next – This Is Not Aloo Gobi (S$16) – tasted just like the classic vegetarian dish. The main difference came in the presentation, which looked markedly finer here. Another departure from the typical Aloo Gobi was the inclusion of grated cauliflower that resembled cous cous. 

An Indian restaurant does not typically spring to mind when it comes to hearty red meat but the Indian Saddle (S$19 per 100grams) is certainly deserving of any carnivore’s attention. Here, lamb porterhouse is marinated in spiced yogurt and cooked in the tandoor as well as an Indian-inspired chermoula and garlic sauce. Due to the combination of spices, the meat did not taste gamey at all and the lamb was oh-so-tender.

While I love Indian cuisine, I never usually get to warm up to the desserts. The Mango Kesari (S$12) came plated with alphonso mango mousse, cubes of alphonso mango, Alphonso Tea gel and cream cheese. The kesari came with a noticeable rice-like texture despite being made with semolina flour. It was not too sweet and was quite a delight with its refreshing tropical flavors.

Firangi Superstar
20 Craig Rd
#01-03
Singapore 089692

Monday to Friday, 12PM to 3PM / 5:30PM to 10:30PM
Saturday, 5:30PM to 10:30PM

+65 6304 3022