Fortune Centre is not a place you stumble into by accident. It stands on Middle Road, an old building with a quiet, stubborn energy, a world away from the bright, modern malls nearby. Fortune Centre is located near Bencoolen Street in Singapore, making it a convenient spot for food lovers. By day, it’s known for its vegetarian eateries and printing shops. But as the sun sets, a different kind of life awakens in its corridors and upper floors. At dinner time, the izakayas start dishing out their specialties, and the building comes alive with a lively, bustling atmosphere. A soft glow appears behind a sliding door, the sound of laughter escapes from a hidden corner, the smell of grilled meat and soy sauce drifts through the air.
This is the world of the Fortune Centre izakaya. These are not trendy, high-concept bars. They are small, personal spaces that feel transported from a quiet Tokyo neighbourhood. They are places to drink, to eat, and to find a certain kind of calm in the middle of the city. For years, I’ve heard whispers about the food in Fortune Centre, and I went looking for the stories behind the sake and skewers, as well as the variety of other restaurants that make this building a diverse food destination.Izakaya Hikari: A Warm Welcome on the Third Floor
Finding a Light in the Corridor
Climbing the stairs to the third floor feels like you’re in on a secret. You pass quiet shops and closed shutters until you find #03-01. A simple sign reads Izakaya Hikari (居酒屋ひかり). The name means “light,” and it fits. The small restaurant is a pocket of warmth and noise, a beacon of hospitality in the quiet building.The Feeling of a Neighbourhood Bar
The space is cozy and casual. Wooden tables are packed close together, the walls are adorned with Japanese posters, and the air is filled with the sizzle of the grill and the easy chatter of regulars. It feels less like a formal restaurant and more like a local bar where the owners know everyone’s name. This is the perfect introduction to the Fortune Centre izakaya scene—it’s approachable, friendly, and deeply genuine.Food That Comforts
The menu is a collection of classic izakaya fare: grilled skewers (yakitori), small plates (otsumami), and comforting homestyle dishes. The eatery specialises in authentic Japanese skewers and comfort food, with generous portion sizes and a decent amount of food served per order. I started with a selection of skewers, including popular options like chicken cartilage, bacon asparagus, and chicken wings. The chicken thigh was juicy, with a perfect char and a touch of salt. The pork belly, glistening with fat, was rich and satisfying. Each skewer offered a distinct flavour, and the chicken wings stood out for their crispy batter and savoury taste.For heartier options, the mega chicken nanban don and chicken nanban are signature rice bowls, featuring fried chicken with a special tartar-like sauce. If you’re in the mood for fusion, the menu also offers mentaiko pasta and other pasta dishes, each with their own unique flavour profiles. Some dishes incorporate spice for those who enjoy a bit of heat.Green tea is a popular non-alcoholic drink option served at the izakaya, complementing the meal alongside traditional sake. Ordering two dishes is a great way to experience variety and sample more of the menu. If you have room for dessert, the sweet treats provide a satisfying finish to the meal.This is food that doesn’t demand your full attention. It facilitates conversation. It’s the kind of meal where you order a few things, then a few more, and before you know it, hours have passed. It is Fortune Centre food at its most welcoming.- Location: #03-01, Fortune Centre, 190 Middle Road
- Price Range: $40 – $70 per person
- What It Is: A warm, friendly neighbourhood izakaya perfect for a relaxed night of skewers and sake.
Nobu Ya: The Purist’s Hidden Sanctuary
A Bar at the End of the Hall
Deep inside the ground floor of Fortune Centre, tucked away in a corridor you might otherwise miss, is Nobuya (信屋). It is perhaps the most talked-about, almost mythical, Fortune Centre izakaya. There’s a quiet intensity to this place. The entrance is unassuming, the interior dimly lit, and the rules are clear. At night, this is a sake bar. If you are not drinking alcohol, you will be politely turned away. This isn’t a rule meant to be exclusive; it’s a rule designed to preserve the authentic izakaya experience.A Seat at the Chef’s Counter
The best seats are at the long wooden counter, where you can watch the owner-chef work. There is no menu. The food is omakase—you are served what the chef has decided to make for the day.This requires a level of trust, a willingness to give up control and simply receive. Note that all customers are required to order at least two drinks, and despite the high-quality experience, the prices remain affordable, making it an accessible choice for those seeking authentic Fortune Centre food.A Procession of Flavours
My meal began with a small plate of simmered vegetables, clean and subtle. Then came a plate of sashimi, served in thick slices, the fish cool and firm, tasting of the sea. Later, a piece of grilled fish arrived, also cut into thick slices, its skin crisp, its flesh flaky. The food is understated, focused on the purity of the ingredients, and each dish offers a good balance of flavors. If you order seafood, you may find live clams and fresh cockles, kept in a seawater tank to ensure maximum freshness before preparation. For noodle lovers, Nobu Ya serves authentic clam noodles made with rice noodles and enhanced with Chinese wine, highlighting traditional flavors. The star here is the extensive sake list, with each bottle chosen by the chef. He might pour you a crisp, dry Junmai to go with the sashimi, then a richer, more complex sake to pair with a grilled dish. The experience is a slow, deliberate dialogue between food and drink.Nobuya is not for everyone. It’s for the purist, for the person seeking an experience that feels transported straight from a quiet alley in Shinjuku. It’s a place where conversation is part of the ritual and the night moves at its own unhurried pace.- Location: #01-05, Fortune Centre, 190 Middle Road
- Price Range: $80 – $150+ per person
- What It Is: A traditional, omakase-style izakaya for serious sake drinkers and lovers of authentic Japanese bar culture.
Sakedokoro Eizaburo: A Refined Sake Sanctuary
A New Chapter on Level Three – for good Japanese food
The newest addition to the building’s Japanese enclave is Sakedokoro Eizaburo (酒処 栄三郎). Located on the third floor, it offers another distinct personality in the Fortune Centre izakaya family. The space is calmer and more refined than Hikari, with clean lines and simple wooden furniture that feel reminiscent of a traditional Japanese sake house. It strikes a balance between casual dining and serious sake appreciation.A Thoughtful Pairing of Food and Drink
Like Nobuya, Eizaburo is serious about its drinks, often requiring a minimum order of one alcoholic beverage per person at dinner. The menu, however, offers more choice. During the day, it serves generous donburi bowls. At night, it transforms into a proper izakaya with grilled dishes, sashimi, chive pork dumplings and small plates designed for pairing.Deliberate and Elegant Bites
The food here feels thoughtful and precise. A dish of firefly squid marinated in soy was intensely flavourful, a perfect small bite to start the evening. The grilled stingray fin (eihire) was smoky, chewy, and deeply savoury—an ideal companion to a glass of sake. The staff are knowledgeable and can guide you through their wide selection of sake, from easy-drinking bottles to rare and seasonal offerings.Eizaburo is a sake lover’s sanctuary. It’s a quieter, more contemplative space than its neighbours. It’s a place to go when you want to explore the nuances of sake and enjoy food that complements it perfectly, without the strict omakase format of Nobuya.- Location: #03-16, Fortune Centre, 190 Middle Road
- Price Range: $60 – $100 per person
- What It Is: A calm, refined izakaya focusing on an extensive sake selection and thoughtful food pairings.
Other Quiet Options for Fortune centre food places
Vegetarian food
Fortune Centre is renowned for its diverse vegetarian food options, offering flavorful and wholesome dishes that cater to plant-based diets without compromising on taste.New Station rice bar
New Station Rice Bar serves modern interpretations of Singaporean comfort food, featuring popular dishes like salted egg chicken rice and innovative renditions that keep diners coming back.Pine tree cafe
Pine Tree Cafe specializes in vegetarian versions of local favorites, mock meat, including hearty yong tau foo and Hakka thunder tea rice, all served in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.Yat ka yan
Yat Ka Yan is famous for its traditional desserts, such as silky smooth orh nee, peach gum cheng tng, fresh mango sago, and refreshing durian chendol, drawing long queues from dessert lovers seeking authentic flavors.Madness Nasi Lemak
Madness Nasi Lemak offers a flavorful twist on the classic dish, featuring crispy fried chicken with a rich, spicy sambal and fragrant coconut rice, perfect for a satisfying meal.Tracy juice culture
Tracy Juice Culture is a popular eatery known for its thick mushroom soup udon, fruit juice curry and refreshing fruit juices, combining health-conscious choices with delicious flavors in every bowl.A Final Thought on Fortune Centre
