Okay, real talk? Fortune Centre looks like a total write-off from the outside. Dated tiles, messy signs, the kind of building you’d walk right past without a second thought. But here’s the thing – some of the best izakaya nights in Singapore are hiding behind that tired exterior at 190 Middle Road.
What makes Fortune Centre interesting is that these spots are scattered across different floors rather than concentrated in one corner. Between Hokkaido soup curry, Japanese food, grilled skewers, sake and umeshu, there is more range here than the building’s dated exterior lets on.
And you know what? This place seriously surprised me. Fortune Centre is quietly serving up some of the most genuine izakaya vibes around. Nothing fancy, nothing Instagram-perfect. Just good food, familiar izakaya favourites with authentic flavours and places with personalities of their own.
It is also a useful stop if you’re exploring the less polished side of izakaya Singapore, where each restaurant interprets the izakaya spirit differently rather than following one standard formula.
If you’re exploring other great spots, you might want to check out the best izakaya Singapore guide for a slightly different vibe and some of the best izakaya Singapore has to offer. Fortune Centre features affordable izakaya dining options.
Ready to dive in? Here are five spots that’ll completely change how you see this restaurant, and exactly who each one’s perfect for.
Japanese Food and Izakaya Picks at Fortune Centre
1. Soup Curry by Ki-setsu – Hidden Gem for Hokkaido Soup Curry & Izakaya-Style Dinner
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen
Address: Fortune Centre, 190 Middle Road, #04-13, Singapore 188979
Floor No.: Level 4, #04-13, Fortune Centre
Soup Curry by Ki-setsu is the wildcard on this list because soup curry, not skewers or sake, is the reason to come first. The restaurant specialises in traditional Hokkaido-style soup curry, a Sapporo dish built around a lighter, aromatic curry broth rather than the thick roux-style Japanese curry most of us know.
The broth is cooked for hours to draw flavour from the ingredients and is prepared without added MSG. It is meant to be eaten by the spoonful, with rice served separately and plenty of fresh seasonal produce giving the bowl much of its substance. That makes the experience feel closer to a complete Japanese comfort-food meal than curry sauce simply poured over rice.
What I like about that format is the great balance between the lighter consistency and the rich flavours underneath. It gives you the warmth of curry without turning the whole bowl into a heavy roux-style meal.
Then dinner time changes the rhythm. From the evening onwards, Soup Curry by Ki-setsu also operates in an izakaya-style format, adding Japanese-style small plates, warm dishes and drinks around its signature curry. It gives Fortune Centre another kind of Japanese izakaya experience: food remains the centre of the night, while the smaller izakaya dishes let you stretch dinner beyond a single bowl.
Among the supporting dishes are Kani Cream Croquette and chicken wings. The former brings the contrast you want from a crispy crab cream croquette, with a fried shell around the softer kani filling, while the wings make an easy addition when several plates are being shared.
This is not the place to come expecting an extensive menu of charcoal-grilled skewers or every piece of classic izakaya fare. Its appeal is more specific: distinctive Hokkaido soup curry first, then small plates and drinks that give the evening its izakaya character.
Good fit for: Diners who want a proper meal at the centre of their izakaya night, especially if Hokkaido soup curry is new territory.
Think twice if: Your idea of an izakaya starts and ends with a long list of grilled skewers and smoky yakitori.
Order it this way: Start with the soup curry as the anchor, then add one or two Japanese small plates if you’re settling in for dinner.
2. Izakaya Hikari – Grilled Skewers, Chicken Nanban & Easy Izakaya Comfort
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (5-minute walk)
Price: Around S$20–S$45 per person. Skewers are mostly S$3.90 each, the 7-skewer moriawase is S$23.90, donburi ranges from about S$11.90–S$26.90, including the popular mega chicken nanban don, and drinks will push the bill higher.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 12pm-2:30pm and 5:30pm-10:30pm; Saturday, 5pm-10:30pm; closed Sunday.
Floor No.: Level 3, #03-01, Fortune Centre 03.
Want to ease someone into the izakaya game? Izakaya Hikari is your move. This is the easy-going end of traditional izakaya cuisine, with all the izakaya favourites you’d expect from a casual night out: yakitori, sashimi, karaage, donburi and plenty of grilled items to build a meal around. The lunch menu features decent range of great donburi choices like the mega chicken karaage don and salmon mentaiko donburi, which bring that perfect mix of flavour and texture.
The Yakimono Set** ($20.90)** is where it’s at – you pick seven skewers and build your own perfect progression. Love that control, you know? And that Crispy Karaage Chicken** ($5.90)? Pure gold. Hot, crunchy, juicy inside, and your wallet barely feels it. Need something more substantial? The Salmon Mentaiko Donburi ($16.90)** brings that smoky, slightly bitter mentaiko magic that just works.
Here’s the catch though – indoor seating is basically a lottery. Found this out the hard way when my “reservation” turned into outdoor dining. Not ideal, but hey, that’s part of the adventure, right?
Good fit for: First-timers and small groups who want classic skewer-and-sake comfort without making the night too expensive.
Think twice if: You absolutely need indoor seating or are coming with a big group that needs space and certainty.
Order it this way: Ask for indoor or bar seats when booking, then start with the skewer set, add karaage, and move into a donburi if you need something more filling.
3. Sakedokoro Eizaburo (Fortune Centre) – Yakitori and a Buzzing Atmosphere
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (3–5 minute walk)
Price: Around S$25–S$50 per person for dinner, depending on drinks. Lunch bowls can start below S$15, while dinner has small plates from about S$2.90, yakitori from about S$2.90–S$3.90 per stick, omakase 5 yakitori at S$12.90++, and a two-drink minimum order.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 12pm to 2pm and 6pm to 11pm; Saturday 6pm to 11pm.
Floor No.: Level 3, #03-16, Fortune Centre 03.
This izakaya has a serious personality split, and the dinner version is why I keep coming back. Lunch? Just donburi. But dinner? That’s when it gets smoky, loud, and absolutely electric. The lively atmosphere is a big part of why I’d choose Eizaburo for dinner rather than lunch. Highballs flowing, yakitori hitting tables left and right, and the ambience is buzzing with energy.
The hatsu yakitori – chicken heart – has that perfect springy bite that just hits different. Crab cream croquette? Soft, warm center that’ll make you understand the hype. Feeling ambitious? That wagyu hanger steak totally delivers with tender, juicy flavour. And those donburi orders I kept seeing everywhere? Yeah, I get it now – generous, satisfying, solid value. The premium Fujiyama kaisen don, featuring fresh sashimi and uni, is a delicious example of their quality seafood dishes flown in from Japan’s Toyosu Market weekly. The yakitori menu is where things really open up, with more than 10 cuts to choose from and individual skewers starting from S$2.90. If you would rather not overthink it, the S$12.90 omakase yakitori is an easy way in, while the S$24.90 sashimi platter gives the table something fresher to break up all those grilled, richer bites.
The mega unagi don is a standout here, featuring two large pieces of unagi drizzled with sweet and savoury eel sauce on a bed of rice and nori. If you’re interested in unagi dishes but want something affordable, this don is a great grab without breaking the bank.
Heads up: there is a two-drink minimum per person at dinner, including non-alcoholic options, to keep the izakaya vibes alive. This isn’t quiet dining – it’s a drinking session with killer food backup. The wasabi served alongside sashimi adds a nice spice kick to balance the sweet freshness of the seafood.
Come for this mood: A louder, drink-led izakaya night where highballs, sake, skewers, and small plates all share the table.
Not the move if: You do not drink, or you want a calm, slow, quiet dinner.
Best timing move: Skip lunch if you want the full tavern energy. Dinner is when the place feels most like an izakaya.
4. Nobu-ya (Fortune Centre) – Old-School Izakaya with Slow-Paced Dining, Quality Sake & Extensive Menu
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (3–5 minute walk)
Price: Around S$30–S$50 per person. Expect small plates and drinking food in the S$8–S$20 range, rice bowls around S$16.80–S$24.80, sashimi platters from around S$30, and a higher final bill once drinks are added.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm to 11pm.
Floor No.: Ground floor, #01-05, Fortune Centre.
This is the real deal – old-school, ground floor, zero pretense. You sit, you drink, food appears when it wants to. That slow rhythm? That’s the whole point, and honestly, it’s perfect.
No single dish steals the show here, and that’s exactly the charm. It’s all about the flow. Strong highball first, then those sake-steamed asari clams arrive all briny and warm. Fried oysters with that clean crunch. But that grilled miso red perch? Keep reaching for that one – the miso adds this quiet, savory depth that just works. The menu also features kawa ebi and other interesting bites that pair wonderfully with sake and beer. Mushrooms cooked in house style bring an earthy balance to the spread.
This is the most drinks-forward spot on the list. Everyone at your table better be ready to order alcohol because that’s how this place operates. Not a gentle intro – this is for people who already get how izakaya nights should unfold.
This works best for: Izakaya regulars who enjoy strong drinks, slow pacing, and small plates that arrive gradually through the night.
You may not enjoy it if: Someone in the group does not drink, or you want tidy mains and a structured dinner format.
How to settle in: Do not order the whole meal upfront. Start with drinks, add a few plates, then keep building the table as the night goes on.
5. Ume San 100 (Fortune Centre) – Umeshu, Playful Drinks & Date Night Vibes
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (3–5 minute walk)
Price: Around S$35–S$70 per person for food and drinks. Umeshu tasting sets start from about S$16, ramen is around S$16–S$20, bar bites and sharing plates are commonly around S$14–S$22++, and cocktails or extra drinks can raise the spend quickly.
Floor No.: Level 2, #02-07, Fortune Centre.
Okay, this one’s a total wildcard. You literally enter through what looks like a vending machine – and yes, it’s as fun as it sounds. Behind that little theatrical moment? Japanese speakeasy vibes with over 40 kinds of umeshu. Forty!
The room designed around that hidden-entry reveal feels playful rather than polished, which suits Ume San 100’s speakeasy-style personality for a great food and good quality.
The Umeshu Tasting Set is absolutely the move here. One glass tells you nothing, but the set? You’re traveling through yuzu, peach, apple, each one shifting the whole vibe. That’s your reason to come. Food-wise, the Nagoya dry ramen and uni cream croquette balls fit the playful bar energy perfectly.
Beyond the umeshu flights, the bar also leans into Japanese style cocktails, which suits the playful, more theatrical side of the room.
The menu naturally moves through small plates, seafood and grilled dishes, which fits the slower, drinks-first rhythm here.
Real talk though – portions run small and that ramen hit salty on my visit. This isn’t traditional izakaya territory; it’s themed bar fun. Think date night or curious small group, not serious drinking marathon.
Best saved for: Dates, curious drinkers, and small groups who want a playful umeshu bar experience instead of a standard smoky tavern feel.
Maybe skip this one if: You are very hungry, want large portions, or prefer a traditional smoky tavern feel.
First order to make: Go for an umeshu tasting set instead of a single glass. It gives you a clearer sense of why the bar is different.
Which Fortune Centre Izakaya Singapore Spot Should You Choose?
Five completely different nights, all hiding under the same unimpressive roof at Fortune Centre. Wild, right?
Which Spot Best Captures the Izakaya Spirit?
Want dinner to lead the night? Soup Curry by Ki-setsu is the most distinctive choice, with its Hokkaido soup curry anchoring the meal before the evening moves into Japanese small plates and drinks.
First-timer? Izakaya Hikari for easy grilled skewers and gentle prices with a solid lunch menu including mega chicken nanban don.
Want drinks leading the charge with yakitori backup and a buzzing atmosphere? Sakedokoro Eizaburo at dinner is your spot with its mega unagi don and lively energy.
Craving that slow, patient small-plates-and-strong-drinks experience? Nobu-ya rewards anyone who knows how to let an izakaya night properly unfold.
Looking for something different for a date night, theatrical fun and umeshu adventures? Ume San 100 brings the entertainment with the owner’s personal touch.
If your idea of an authentic izakaya experience is less about polished interiors and more about drinks, small plates and letting the night unfold slowly, Nobu-ya probably comes closest for me.
Don’t think rankings – think mood! Fortune Centre looks rough from outside, sure. But push through those doors and there’s this amazing little pocket of Japan just waiting. Come hungry, come thirsty, and definitely take your money and time to grab a seat to try. Trust me on this one!
Editor’s Update: I’ve added Soup Curry by Ki-setsu to this Fortune Centre guide, bringing a different kind of izakaya night to the list with Hokkaido-style soup curry at the centre of it.
