Izakaya Hikari - Casual Izakaya Tucked Inside Fortune Centre

On the third floor of Fortune Centre, among the building’s long-running cluster of vegetarian eateries, Izakaya Hikari serves a different kind of comfort food altogether. The name “Hikari” means “light” in Japanese, and the restaurant takes the traditional izakaya format of small, shareable plates meant to accompany sake and conversation.

Diners can choose to sit at tables just outside the unit or step into the open bar area, where shelves of sake line the walls and the kitchen operates in full view. The menu moves through cold starters, skewers, fried bites, and donburi bowls, giving a sense of the range covered in a single sitting.

Yakimono Set — $20.90

This skewer platter lets diners pick seven sticks from a list that includes green chilli pepper, whole black mushroom, chicken wing, bacon-wrapped asparagus, chicken cartilage, chicken meatballs, and chicken thigh. The format encourages variety in one order, pairing textures from crisp vegetable skewers to the chewier bite of grilled cartilage, and is built for sharing over drinks rather than as a single-diner dish.

Mentaiko Fries

Fries are coated in a mentaiko sauce made from seasoned cod roe, giving the usually plain side dish a savoury, slightly briny finish. It is frequently singled out by regular diners as one of the menu’s standout items, distinct from the restaurant’s other mentaiko-based dishes by using fries rather than rice or seafood as its base.

Hikari Cracker — $3.90

Despite its name, this snack is made from dried filefish rather than a conventional cracker base. The fish is thinly sliced and dried to a crisp, savoury chip with a natural umami depth that comes through without any heavy seasoning. It is served as a light starter to pair with sake or beer while waiting for the rest of the order.

Crispy Karaage Chicken — $5.90

The karaage here is fried to a crisp exterior while keeping the chicken inside moist. Cut into bite-sized pieces, it is a straightforward fried chicken preparation that leans on a well-seasoned batter rather than additional sauces, making it a dependable order for those new to the menu.

Kani Cream Croquette

This croquette pairs a creamy interior with crab meat folded through the filling, then coated and fried for a contrast between the crisp shell and the soft, warm centre. It sits among the restaurant’s fried offerings as a richer, more indulgent option compared to the lighter karaage or filefish chips.

Gyoza

The gyoza at Izakaya Hikari follows the standard pan-fried preparation, with a pleated dumpling skin browned on one side and steamed through on the other. Filled with a seasoned pork mixture, it is positioned as one of the more familiar items on the menu, suited to diners easing into the rest of the izakaya spread.

Salmon Mentaiko Donburi — $16.90

Layers of salmon slices are torched just before serving, giving the fish a light smokiness on top while keeping the flesh underneath soft. A mentaiko sauce made from seasoned cod roe is spread over the salmon, adding a buttery, slightly spiced finish that coats each mouthful. It is consistently mentioned as one of the more popular main dishes on the menu.

Unagi Donburi — $18.90

This bowl features grilled freshwater eel served over rice, finished with a glaze that caramelises slightly from the grilling process. The eel is prepared to be tender throughout, with the char from grilling adding a contrast to the soft rice beneath it.

Oden

This dish brings together a selection of ingredients simmered slowly in a light, savoury dashi-based broth, a preparation method that allows the broth to seep into each component over time. It is served warm, offering a gentler, broth-based contrast to the fried and grilled items elsewhere on the menu.

Izakaya Hikari draws a steady mix of regulars and walk-ins despite its tucked-away location, helped along by a menu that covers enough ground for both light snacking and a fuller meal. Its casual setting inside Fortune Centre, paired with reasonably priced dishes, makes it a straightforward option for anyone looking to spend an evening over sake and small plates without travelling far from the Bugis area.

Address: 190 Middle Road, Fortune Centre #03-01, Level 3, Singapore 188979
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 12:00pm – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm; Sat, 5:00pm – 10:30pm; Closed Sun
Tel: +65 8921 3779
Website: izakayahikari.com
Instagram: @izakaya_hikari
Facebook: facebook.com/izakayahikarisg