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, specifically on the third floor of this unassuming building.
I’ve been making the rounds here for months now. Rushed weeknight dinners, long sake-soaked evenings where time just disappeared with friends. 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 real food and people who actually give a damn.
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.
Ready to dive in? Here are four spots that’ll completely change how you see this restaurant, and exactly who each one’s perfect for.
1. Izakaya Hikari (Fortune Centre) – Classic Skewers, Mega Chicken Nanban Don & Solid Lunch Menu (Opening Hours Included)
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: Lunch and dinner service, check local listings for exact times.
Floor No.: Level 3, #03-01, Fortune Centre 03.
Want to ease someone into the izakaya game? Izakaya Hikari is your move. This izakaya offers a classic menu that hits every note you’re craving: yakitori skewers featuring chicken cartilage, sashimi including salmon, crispy karaage chicken, and a decent range of vegetarian food options like mushrooms. The lunch menu features some 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.
2. Sakedokoro Eizaburo (Fortune Centre) – Lively Izakaya with Mega Unagi Don, Minimum Order & Delicious Yakitori (Opening Hours Included)
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. 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 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.
3. Nobu-ya (Fortune Centre) – Old-School Izakaya with Slow-Paced Dining, Quality Sake & Mushrooms
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.
4. Ume San 100 (Fortune Centre) – Umeshu Bar with Playful Vibes, Unique Flavours & Owner’s Touch
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 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.
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 Izakaya at Fortune Centre Should You Choose? The Answer to Your Izakaya Cravings
Four completely different nights, all hiding under the same unimpressive roof at Fortune Centre. Wild, right?
First-timer? Izakaya Hikari for easy skewers and gentle prices with a solid lunch menu including mega chicken nanban don. Want drinks leading the charge with yakitori backup? Sakedokoro Eizaburo at dinner is your spot with its great balance of flavour, mega unagi don, and lively vibes. 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 – date vibes, theatrical fun, umeshu adventures? Ume San 100 brings the entertainment with the owner’s personal touch.
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. Trust me on this one!
