Fortune Centre isn’t the kind of building that shouts. Sitting quietly at 190 Middle Road, it’s the sort of place you’d walk past a hundred times before realising how much good food it holds inside.
We spent a few afternoons here, riding the escalators up and down, following our noses. What we found was a mix of vegetarian food, kopitiam classics, and one very serious plate of clams. The fortune centre food scene rewards the curious, and Bencoolen MRT is just a five-minute walk away.
Here’s how our meals went, floor by floor. Bring an appetite and maybe a friend or two.
1. New Station Rice Bar: Zi Char in a Rice Bowl
Up on the third floor, New Station Rice Bar takes familiar zi char flavours and turns them into individual rice bowls. It’s compact, casual, and built around hearty meals for one.
We started with the Salted Egg Chicken Cubes with Steamed Rice (S$13.50), a popular choice on the current menu if you want that Salted Egg Chicken Rice umami flavor. The chicken comes with a creamy salted egg yolk sauce and steamed rice, with a fried egg served alongside.
Then came the Chicken Katsu Curry Rice, made with hand-breaded chicken katsu, house curry and an onsen egg. We also tried the Stewed Pork Belly Rice, a more old-school option served with a fried egg.
What We Ordered
Salted Egg Chicken Cubes with Steamed Rice – S$13.50
Chicken Katsu Curry Rice – with house curry and onsen egg
Soy Milk with Gula Melaka – to drink
With its compact layout and individual rice bowls, it works well for a filling lunch or a substantial meal while exploring Fortune Centre.
Extra Details: Unit #03-04. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8:30pm. Closed Sunday.
2. Bao Er Cafe: Kaya Toast and Local Delights
After all that vegetarian food, we wanted something that touches traditional desserts and dishes. And Bao Er Cafe did just that by bringing together local favourites like kaya toast, Hokkien mee and prawn noodles in a bright, modern setting.
We started with the Signature Fried Hokkien Mee (S$11.50). Ours came with plenty of noodles and a noticeable wok hei, with the prawn stock giving the dish a savoury depth. We paired it with Kaya Butter Toast (S$3.20), which had crisp edges, soft bread and a fragrant kaya spread.
What We Ordered
Signature Fried Hokkien Mee – S$11.50
Kaya Butter Toast – S$3.20
Kaya Butter Toast Set – from S$7.50
Kopi – with the toast set
The Fortune Centre outlet is bright and straightforward, with light wood furnishings and counter seating. It makes an easy stop for breakfast or lunch when exploring Fortune Centre food places.
Extra Details: Unit #02-06. Open daily, 8:30am to 7:30pm.
3. Pine Tree Cafe: Vegetarian Classics at Fortune Centre
Pine Tree Cafe is one of those Fortune Centre spots where familiar Singapore dishes get a vegetarian treatment. We found the menu surprisingly broad, from Hakka Thunder Tea Rice and Yong Tau Foo to Nasi Lemak. We genuinely appreciated the latter menu items with the unfortunate closing of Madness Nasi Lemak.
The Hakka Thunder Tea Rice (S$8) comes with rice, vegetables and fried beancurd skin, served with its distinctive green herbal soup. We also liked the Vegetarian Nasi Lemak (S$6) for its fragrant coconut rice and mix of savoury sides.
What We Ordered
Hakka Thunder Tea Rice – S$8
Vegetarian Nasi Lemak – S$6
Monkey Head Mushroom Rice – S$7
Sambal Petai Fried Rice – S$6
For us, Pine Tree Cafe is a good choice when we want familiar local flavours without meat. The portions are filling, the prices remain approachable, and the menu gives vegetarians plenty of Singaporean classics to choose from.
Extra Details: Unit #02-09/13. Opening hours vary by day.
4. Cookie & Coffee Cafe Bar: Coffee, Cookies and Vegan Dim Sum
We came across Cookie & Coffee Cafe Bar while exploring Fortune Centre and found something a little different from the building’s usual vegetarian eateries. The small cafe pairs Lavazza coffee with vegan traditional dim sum, ice cream and simple sweet treats.
We went for a coffee with the Vegetarian Vegan Curry Bun, which had a soft bun and savoury curry filling. The coffee is made with Lavazza beans, giving the drink a familiar espresso-led profile. If you’re after something sweet, the cafe also serves Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and cakes.
What We Ordered
Lavazza Coffee
Vegetarian Vegan Curry Bun
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
The space is compact, with a few tables and a counter-style setup. It works well for a coffee and something small.
Extra Details: Unit #01-28B.
5. Herbivore: Japanese Favourite With Its Vegetarian Versions
Herbivore is one of Fortune Centre’s more established vegetarian restaurants, specialising in Japanese dishes made with plant-based ingredients. We found the menu broad enough to cover sushi, noodles, dumplings and familiar Japanese favourites.
The Unagi Maki gives you the familiar combination of sushi rice, with seaweed and fresh vegetables for that vegetarian unagi-style filling, while the Tempura Udon brings together thick noodles, broth and crisp tempura. We also tried the Chive Pork Dumplings, which use a meat-free pork-style filling with chives.
What We Ordered
Unagi Maki
Tempura Udon
Chive Pork Dumplings
For us, Herbivore works best when you’re looking for Japanese food with vegetarian alternatives rather than a menu built around vegetables alone.
Extra Details: Units #01-13/14 and #03-26/27.
6. Izakaya Hikari: Japanese Comforts and Donburi
While other restaurants have their own versions of Mentaiyaki Salmon Don, Izakaya Hikari’s Salmon Mentaiko Donburi (S$17.90) offers a similar combination of salmon, rice and creamy mentaiko sauce. We liked how the sauce brought a rich, savoury finish to the salmon without making the bowl feel too heavy.
The Chicken Karaage and Tsukune Donburi (S$12.90) paired fried chicken and chicken meatballs with rice, while the Miso Soup (S$2.50) made a simple addition to the meal.
What We Ordered
Salmon Mentaiko Donburi – S$17.90
Chicken Karaage and Tsukune Donburi – S$12.90
Miso Soup – S$2.50
Izakaya Hikari is an easy choice when you’re craving Japanese food that feels substantial without being overly formal. If fresh fish is more your thing, take a look at our guide to Singapore’s sashimi spots. It’s also conveniently located for anyone checking the Fortune Centre nearest MRT, with Bencoolen MRT just a short walk away.
Extra Details: Unit #02-14. Check current opening hours before visiting.
7. Tracy Juice Culture: For A Tangy Vegetarian Food Menu
Tracy Juice Culture started as a juice shop, but we found plenty to eat alongside the drinks with that fresh fruit juice taste. Its vegetarian menu brings together unusual combinations, including mushroom udon, fruit curry and traditional Chinese desserts.
We went for Tracy’s Special Mushroom Udon (S$9.90), where thick, chewy noodles sit in a dense mushroom broth with shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and house-made soya-mushroom balls. The soup was earthy and full-bodied, while the vegetables added some freshness to each mouthful.
The Fruit Juice Curry Udon is the more adventurous order, combining a savoury curry base with fresh fruits such as dragon fruit, grapes and pineapple. It’s an unusual pairing, but the sweet and tangy notes give the curry a different character.
What We Ordered
Tracy’s Special Mushroom Udon – S$9.90
Fruit Juice Curry Udon – S$9.90
The shop is compact, but there’s additional seating nearby if the main area is full. For us, Tracy Juice Culture is a good stop when we want a filling vegetarian meal with something less predictable on the menu.
Extra Details: Unit #01-34. Open daily, around 9am to 6:15pm.
8. New Green Pasture Cafe: Brown Rice Bowls and Vegetarian Favourites
Up on the fourth floor, New Green Pasture Cafe serves vegetarian dishes built around brown rice, vegetables and familiar Asian flavours. It’s a good choice for health-conscious diners, as the food still feels like a proper filling meal.
We went for the Thunder Tea Rice (S$11.50), with brown rice, vegetables, peanuts, cai pu and dried tofu skin alongside its herbal tea broth. The mix of textures kept the dish interesting, while the fresh vegetables gave it a lighter finish. We also had the Curry Rice Set (S$12), which brought a more familiar, savoury character to the table.
What We Ordered
Thunder Tea Rice – S$11.50
Curry Rice Set – S$12
Brown Rice Set – S$12
For us, New Green Pasture Cafe works when we’re after vegetarian food that still feels substantial. The familiar flavours make it an easy choice for local comfort food with a healthier-leaning menu.
Extra Details: Unit #04-22. Open Tuesday to Sunday, around 10:30am to 8:30pm.
9. Wawa Lala Bee Hoon: Fresh Clams and Cockles
Wawa Lala Bee Hoon keeps things seafood-focused with affordable prices. Their clams are prepared in different sauces and noodles that can be ordered with rice or glass noodles. We went for the Signature Authentic Clam Noodle with Chinese Wine (S$9.90), choosing glass noodles to soak up the savoury broth.
The fresh clams were plump and briny, with the Chinese wine adding a distinct aroma to the soup. We also had the Fresh Cockles marinated in Wawa Special Sauce (S$15.90), where the chilled cockles came marinated in the restaurant’s savoury house sauce.
What We Ordered
Signature Authentic Clam Noodle with Chinese Wine – S$9.90
Fresh Cockles in Wawa Special Sauce – S$15.90
Glass Noodles – our choice for the clam noodles
For us, Wawa Lala Bee Hoon is one of the more affordable options for fresh shellfish at Fortune Centre. If you’re a seafood lover, the focused menu makes it easy to build a meal around clams and cockles.
Extra Details: Unit #01-11/12. Check current opening hours before visiting.
10. Living Wholesome Vegetarian: Thunder Tea Brown Rice
Living Wholesome Vegetarian keeps its menu focused on Thunder Tea Rice, a traditional Hakka dish served here with brown rice or bee hoon. We went for the Thunder Tea Brown Rice (S$11), loaded with fresh vegetables, tofu, peanuts and preserved radish alongside its herbal tea broth.
The brown rice had a pleasant chew, while the herbal broth brought a nutty, slightly bitter flavour. We also tried the Thunder Tea Bee Hoon (S$10). Since bee hoon is essentially a type of rice noodle, this was our little win for food lovers who can’t decide between rice and noodles.
What We Ordered
Thunder Tea Brown Rice – S$11
Thunder Tea Bee Hoon – S$10
Thunder Tea Paste – from S$3
For us, the generous vegetables and grains make this a filling meal that still feels fresh. It’s a straightforward choice for anyone looking for a plant-based take on a classic local dish.
Extra Details: Unit #01-23. Open Monday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm. Closed Sundays except the 1st and 15th of the lunar month.
One Last Bite Around The Fortune Centre Food Spots
After working our way through Fortune Centre, we realised just how much variety sits inside one building. There’s chicken rice and mock meat, and grilled dishes, with plenty of vegetarian plates along the way. We even found ourselves thinking about fresh pasta and craft beers after dinner and wishing we’d left more room.
For us, that’s the fun of exploring Fortune Centre. One floor can lead you from a station snack bar to a bowl of noodles, while another might bring vegan versions of familiar favourites made with thoughtfully selected organic ingredients.
We didn’t manage to try everything, and perhaps that’s a good excuse to come back. Next time, we’d probably skip the sensible planning and simply pick a few more dishes that catch our eye.
