There is a certain stillness inside Fortune Centre that makes you slow down without meaning to. The building does not rush you. Its corridors are narrow, its eateries sit quietly beside one another, and somewhere between the smell of vegetarian food and the soft shuffle of people looking for lunch, Izakaya Hikari waits on the third floor.
I came hungry, but not in the kind of way that needed a quick meal. I wanted a table, a few dishes, something cold to drink, and enough time for conversation to settle. That is where this restaurant works best. Izakaya Hikari is not loud about itself. It feels like the kind of izakaya you find by walking a little further than expected.
Finding Izakaya Hikari at Middle Road Fortune Centre
Izakaya Hikari sits at 190 Middle Road Fortune Centre, #03-01, Singapore 188979. The location matters because Fortune Centre is not the first place most people would associate with sake, yakitori, beer, and small plates. It is better known for vegetarian food, simple lunch spots, and older eateries that feel part of the building’s everyday rhythm.
Going up to the third floor, the mood shifts. The walkway feels quieter, and the restaurant appears almost gently, without the polished stand of a big Japanese dining brand. Inside, the seating is compact. Tables sit close enough for the room to feel warm, but not so tight that you cannot settle in. It is casual, inviting, and a little hidden in the way good places often are.
The ambience is relaxing rather than dramatic. You can expect a small room, simple wooden details, bottles along the space, and guests moving through dinner without much rush. During peak hours, I would make a reservation because the restaurant can get packed quickly.
A Casual Izakaya Meal, Not a Formal Japanese Restaurant
The first thing I liked about Izakaya Hikari was that it did not try to make the meal too serious. This is not the kind of Japanese restaurant where every plate arrives with ceremony. It is an izakaya, and the rhythm is different. You order something to bite, something grilled, something with rice, then maybe another drink because the night has started to feel easy.
The menu has a great balance of small dishes, sashimi, donburi, yakitori, fried food, and drinks. It gives enough choices without making the table feel lost. I decided to start with lighter bites before moving into the richer plates, which felt like the right way to experience the place.
If you are interested in a full dinner, do not skip the rice bowls. If you are here with friends, the better move is to fill the table slowly and share.
What I Ordered From the Menu
The food at Izakaya Hikari works best when you let the meal build. Some dishes are simple, some are smoky, and some are there just to keep the drinks company.
A few items worth considering:
- Kawa ebi for a crisp, salty bite that works well with beer
- Chicken cartilage if you like texture and something slightly chewy
- Yakitori for that smoky grilled flavour
- Salmon mentaiko donburi if you want something more filling
- Sashimi when you want a cleaner taste between richer dishes
- Mushrooms and asparagus for something lighter on the table
- Squid or unagi if you prefer deeper, savoury flavours
The kawa ebi was one of those dishes that disappeared faster than expected. It was small, crisp, and easy to keep reaching for. The chicken cartilage had more bite, which may not be to everyone’s liking, but I enjoyed how it broke up the softer textures on the table.
Sake, Beer, and the Slow Part of the Evening
An izakaya without drinks never feels complete. At Izakaya Hikari, sake and beer are the natural choices. I would keep the alcohol simple here. This is not a flashy cocktail bar; it is more suited to a cold beer, a small pour of sake, and another plate arriving while the conversation stretches.
There is warm hospitality in the way the place feels. Service is not overly formal, but it suits the room. The staff move through the narrow space, the table fills in small stages, and the evening begins to feel less like a planned dinner and more like a quiet stop in Japan, tucked inside Singapore.
That may be the best part of the restaurant. It does not try to impress all at once. It lets the night unfold.
Salmon, Sashimi, Wasabi, and Rice
The salmon mentaiko donburi is the kind of dish that makes sense if you arrive hungry. It has rice, salmon, and that sweet-savoury richness from the mentaiko. A small touch of wasabi helps cut through the flavour, especially if the bowl starts to feel heavy halfway through.
The sashimi was a quieter part of the meal, but still important. Fresh salmon, a small slice lifted with wasabi, and a pause between grilled dishes gave the table some balance. That is something Izakaya Hikari does well. The menu lets you move between fried, grilled, fresh, and warm dishes without feeling stuck in one taste.
I would not call every plate amazing food in a dramatic way, but the meal had enough delicious moments to make me understand why people return. The quality feels steady, and the food fits the setting.
Yakitori, Tonkatsu Sauce, and Other Grilled Dishes
The yakitori and grilled dishes are where the izakaya feeling becomes clearer. A good stick of grilled chicken does not need too much explanation. It should be juicy, lightly smoky, and tender enough to pull from the skewer without effort.
Some plates lean sweet and savoury, especially when sauces come in. Tonkatsu sauce may appear with fried items, bringing that familiar rich flavour that sits well beside rice or beer. I liked the way the heavier dishes made the drinks feel more necessary, and the drinks made the food feel more relaxed.
If you come with friends, this is the section of the menu to spend time on. Order a few sticks, add mushrooms or asparagus, then choose something with seafood or donburi to round out the meal.
190 Middle Road Fortune Centre: What to Know Before Visiting
Izakaya Hikari is best for a casual dinner, a relaxing night with friends, or a small meal built around drinks and shared dishes. It may not be the place for large groups unless you book ahead, and it may not suit guests who expect a spacious restaurant with polished seating.
What to expect:
- Address: 190 Middle Road, Fortune Centre, #03-01, Singapore 188979
- Setting: compact third floor izakaya with close seating
- Best time to visit: dinner, especially if you want the full izakaya mood
- Reservation: recommended during peak hours
- Best for: friends, sake, beer, yakitori, donburi, and relaxed conversation
Come for the hidden setting, stay for the small dishes, and do not rush the meal.
Final Thoughts on Izakaya Hikari
Izakaya Hikari works because it understands its size and mood. It is not trying to be a grand Japanese restaurant. It is a compact izakaya inside Fortune Centre, serving food that fits the room: tasty bites, sashimi, yakitori, donburi, sake, beer, and dishes made for sharing.
There are things to keep in mind. The space can feel crowded, especially when it is packed during dinner. Seating is limited, and guests who prefer a quieter, wider room may find it too close. But for me, that closeness is also part of its charm.
I left thinking less about one impressive dish and more about the whole meal: the walk up, the first bite of kawa ebi, the salmon with wasabi, the warm table, the slow conversation. Izakaya Hikari is not perfect, but it has a clear sense of place. Sometimes, that is enough reason to return.
Ready to explore beyond Izakaya Hikari? Check out our top izakaya recommendations for more cozy sake bars, grilled bites, and Japanese drinking spots around Singapore.