10 best spots to grab unique bites at Fortune Centre

Fortune Centre. The one building in Singapore that has vegetarian and vegan food options dominating its space. If you think you’re unlikely to have a reason to visit the mall if you’re neither vegetarian nor vegan, think again.

Take a closer look and you’ll find that Fortune Centre is full of diverse and interesting food options, vegetarian, vegan-friendly and beyond. To best illustrate my point, here are the 10 best spots to grab unique bites at Fortune Centre. Psst, there’s even a speakeasy tucked away here!

Fortune Centre is located at Middle Road and is easily accessible from Bencoolen MRT, Rochor MRT and even Bugis MRT. If you want to escape the crowds at Bugis, you’ll be in for a treat at Fortune Centre.

1. Herbivore (#01-13/14)

On entering Fortune Centre through the main entrance, Herbivore will be the first stall you spot to your left.

Frankly speaking, I would never have guessed they were a vegetarian eatery, save for their name. A quick glance at the menu and you may be led to believe that they are just another Japanese eatery with a wide range of dishes.

Herbivore sells sashimi and even Katsu Curry (non-dairy) (S$18). But there’s a catch: they are all vegetarian or even vegan renditions of their respective dishes.

The food here is said to be well seasoned and comes in generous portions, too. Many love the bento and set-meal options at Herbivore like the Tempura Cold Cha Soba (non-dairy) (S$19) that comes with crisp veggie tempura.

The Salmon Sashimi (non-dairy) (S$9) bears a striking resemblance to the real thing. No, it’s not salmon, but rather yam paste! Almost had me fooled — who knew vegetarian food could be prepared in such an eye-catching way!

+65 6333 1612
Daily: 11.30am – 2.3pm & 5pm – 9pm
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2. Mama Patisserie (#01-34)

For the bread lovers, Mama Patisserie’s gotcha. The little shop sells freshly baked bread that’s vegetarian friendly and many of the flavours here are ones that you’ll usually find at high-end Japanese bakeries.

Mama Patisserie also has cake and even ice cream at affordable prices.

The bakes here come in a wide variety of enticing flavours like the Matcha Chestnut Bread (S$2) and Walnut Choco Bread (S$2.40). The ultra fluffy Black Sesame and Yam (S$2) bread infuses ground black sesame in the dough and is filled to the brim with a smooth and indulgent yam paste. While the yam filling at some bakeries can taste a little artificial, you’ll find none of that here.

It seems that near closing time, you can even snag yourself some of their baked goods at a great deal, too! Do stop by this charming bakery if you’re craving Japanese-style bakes but don’t want to break the bank.

+65 6397 6789
Daily: 9am – 9.30pm
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3. Tracy Juice Culture (#01-34)

Located next to Mama Patisserie and, in fact, sharing a unit number is Tracy Juice Culture. The store sells extremely healthy and hearty creations that are sure to leave you ultra-satisfied.

The store is especially known for their Fruit Curry Udon (S$14 for the Set and S$9 for a la carte). Yes, you read that right. This unique dish contains both freshly juiced fruit as well as dragon fruit slices topping it all off! I never would have expected to find a fruit like dragon fruit in curry, but here we are.

While it certainly sounds like a strange combination, never say never: you won’t know till you try it. Its unique taste is said to leave you wanting more.

Another speciality here would be the Mushroom Udon (S$14 for the Set, S$9 for a la carte). According to fans of the dish, the broth is extremely rich and flavourful. The super gao mushroom broth puts any cream of mushroom soup to shame.

Order Delivery: foodpanda 

Daily: 9.30am – 6.15pm
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4. Living Wholesome Vegetarian (#01-23)

When mentioning Fortune Centre and vegetarian food, one cannot go without mentioning Living Wholesome Vegetarian.

The iconic thunder tea rice shop serves up robust, flavourful thunder tea rice. Anything but bland and boring.

Somehow, even without the usual ikan billis or hae bee, the vegan-friendly lei cha at Living Wholesome Vegetarian manages to pack a punch. The less herbaceous version of the thunder tea rice here also makes it perfect for lei cha novices.

Whether you’re a rice or noodle person, Living Wholesome Vegetarian has got you covered: you can choose between rice and even bee hoon. The “tea” of the lei cha here is something to keep an eye out for; their “tea” is actually made sans tea leaves. Instead, it’s packed with flavour from almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and even sunflower seeds for a nutty and aromatic bite.

Order Delivery: foodpanda 

For a list of locations, opening hours and contact numbers, refer here.
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5. CRESCENT Waffle & Sandwich Shop (#01-17)

Never would I have expected to find such an adorable cafe in Fortune Centre! 

CRESCENT Waffle & Sandwich Shop hides amongst a row of vegetarian eateries and sells affordable waffles and other cafe fare. They certainly appeal to the Gen Z and millennial crowd.

Unlike many cafes around, though, CRESCENT Waffle & Sandwich Shop’s offerings are extremely wallet-friendly — you can get more than a few items for under S$10. Priced at just S$2.60, you can score yourself waffles with fillings like blueberry, kaya and peanut butter.

You can even get Plain Pandan Waffles for just S$2! I love black sesame, so I know I’ll definitely be reaching for the Black Sesame Waffles (S$2.80) on my next visit. The BSSM paste here is on the more liquidy side with a strong nutty, roasted aroma and a perfect sugar-to-salt ratio. It’s no wonder this is their best seller.

Tue to Sun: 8am to 3.30pm
Closed on Mon
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6. Ume San 100 (#02-07)

First, we had deceptive food, now here’s a deceptive storefront. No, this is not a row of vending machines. The relatively new Ume San 100 hidden behind this row of hanbaiki houses one of Singapore’s largest collections of umeshu.

While this Japanese speakeasy has house-made snacks and other izakaya classics aplenty, you shouldn’t overlook their food menu. I’m talking about their dinner and lunch mains like the Angry Asari Soup Ramen (S$16). For the angsty folks that get all irritated when they haven’t had their lunch, this ramen is sure to lift your mood. Its indulgent white miso and tonkotsu-based broth are worth the wait.

Of course, come to Ume San 100 for their wide variety of umeshu and umeshu-based drinks. But for something unique and beautiful to boot, definitely check out the Sea Garden (S$22). This photogenic drink is made with a gin blend of Plymouth and Genever as well as Prosecco. The added lime juice and butterfly pea flower extract produces the magical colour-changing galaxy in this Wakayama-inspired drink.

+65 8897 4575
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5pm – 11pm
Sat: 5pm -11pm
Sun: 5pm – 10pm
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7. Yat Ka Yan Dessert 一家人 (#02-08)

I love desserts, so imagine my delight when I discovered yet another dessert stall in Fortune Centre. Yat Ka Yan Dessert 一家人 serves up some really good old-school traditional desserts that are sure to leave you grinning from ear to ear.

There’s nothing like a bowl of handmade, comforting goodness and Yat Ka Yan Dessert 一家人 does it like no other. I especially loved the Walnut Sesame Paste (S$4.50) here. The deliciously smooth and creamy full-bodied richness of the walnut paste is lightened up by the lightly sweetened black sesame paste. It’s really a bowl of liquid gold.

The Chendol ($3.20) here is also said to be exceptional; all its ingredients are prepared from scratch and apparently has the most amazing and sinful dose of gula melaka and coconut milk. If you want to buff up the chendol, you can even add D24 durian puree for an additional S$3.

Order Delivery: foodpanda

+65 9631 2359
Mon, Wed & Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 1.30pm – 11pm
Closed on Tue
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8. Hangawi Korean Food (#02-18)

Hangawi Korean Food is but one of the two Korean food stalls on level 2 of Fortune Centre. The menu is plastered on the wall, and you probably don’t have the luxury of slowly considering what to get.

But you can sure look forward to authentic and affordable Korean dishes at this joint.

This Korean restaurant is a pretty popular spot with office workers around the area, so come early to avoid the lunch crowd. The Soon Tofu Soup Set (S$6) gives bang for your buck with its large portion and generous ingredients. If you’re craving meat, the BBQ Chicken Set (S$7.50) would do nicely.

Hangawi Korean Food also has the less common (at least in many Korean eateries in SG) Bibim Noodles (Chicken / Pork / Beef) (S$7.50). The refreshing somyeon coated in a sweet-spicy sauce is perfect for the recent hot spell.

Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo

+65 9107 8749
Daily: 10.30am – 4.30pm & 6 -7.30pm

9. Izakaya Hikari (#03-01)

Izakaya Hikari sports both a beautiful retro exterior and interior that is reminiscent of a typical izakaya in Japan. Like Ume San 100 and its vending machine facade, Izakaya Hikari will make you feel as if you’ve travelled to the +81.

Take your pick from Izakaya Hikari’s wide selection of sake or, if you can’t decide, the staff here will be happy to recommend something that’ll be right up your alley.

To best unwind after a long week, get the Kushiyaki Moriawase (S$23.90) to go with your alcohol of choice. The dish includes 7 different types of kushiyaki, or grilled skewers to let you get a taste of Izakaya Hikari’s top picks.

Of course, you can just order the skewers a la carte, but the Kushiyaki Moriawase is certainly helpful for the indecisive. The sashimi here is also said to be really fresh and thick cut, so if you want seafood, the Sashimi Moriawase (S$33) would fit the bill.

+65 8921 3779
Mon to Wed & Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Thu & Sat: 5pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Sun
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10. New Green Pasture Cafe (#04-22)

Don’t be fooled by New Green Pasture Cafe’s modest appearance. The stall actually sells fare from a whole bunch of different cuisines like Japanese and Korean food but with a vegan spin!

While I may not be giving up meat anytime soon, the food here certainly looks enticing. The Bamboo Brown Rice Set (S$11.50) is chock-full of ingredients like mock meat, mushrooms, and long beans for a balanced and filling meal. New Green Pasture Cafe also uses organic ingredients, so you can be sure that you’re getting the very best out of their food.

Regulars here swear by their Korean Claypot (Bi Bim Bap) (S$12.50). It is said to be especially hearty from the large variety of nutritious ingredients packed into the one bowl.

New Green Pasture Cafe gets extremely creative with their food, too — the “egg yolk” is really mashed sweet potato! Guess I know what I’ll be getting when I drop by.

Order Delivery: foodpanda 

+65 6336 8755
Tue to Sun: 11am – 8pm
Closed on Mon
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