Walking through Fortune Centre, I’m always drawn to quieter food spots that carry traces of Singapore’s dining history. Between the shopping mall’s aisles surrounding the building, New Station Rice Bar feels like one of those places where familiar flavours have found a new home in a bit hipster environment.
Located on the third floor of Fortune Centre along Middle Road, New Station Rice Bar is one of the casual dining spots worth knowing for diners exploring Fortune Centre food recommendations.The restaurant brings familiar zi char flavours into individual rice plates, with signature dishes such as salted egg pork rice and fish katsu rice bowls.
New Station Rice Bar Fortune Centre: Keeping Familiar Flavours Alive
What makes New Station Rice Bar interesting is the connection behind the food. The outlet is associated with Chloe Tan, who opened the Rice Bar as a continuation of the family’s New Station Snack Bar heritage from the previous shop unit at Far East Plaza.
Instead of a typical zi char establishment serving large sharing plates, the restaurant focuses on individually sized rice plates, soups, and sides, balancing traditional and modern elements.
A Simple Space Focused on Food
The dine in area attempts to provide a compact and straightforward space suited for quick meals rather than long gatherings. The ordering counter and simple seating reflect its casual rice bar concept.
I found this works well for solo diners, office workers from the central business district, and students looking for an affordable meal around Bugis. Those expecting a spacious restaurant environment with cushioned dining chairs may find the space more practical than leisurely.
What I’d Order From The New Station Rice Menu
The menu range brings together comforting rice dishes, from salted egg creations to curry-based meals.
Salted Egg Pork Rice: The Signature Choice
The Salted Egg Pork Rice ($8.50) is the dish most closely tied to the New Station Snack Bar legacy. It comes with deep fried pork chop, white rice, creamy salted egg sauce, and either onsen egg or sunny side ups, with cucumbers and onions included.
The appeal is in the contrast. The pork has a crisp exterior coated with batter, while the creamy salted egg sauce adds savoury richness. The molten egg yolk adds extra depth, giving the entire dish a good balance when mixed with the rice.
The sliced onions, julienned cucumbers, and fried garlic help balance the richness, preventing the fried stuff from overwhelming the entire sauce carried throughout the dish.
Chinchalok Fish Katsu: A More Distinctive Pick
The Chinchalok Fish Katsu features house-prepared fish chunks coated with panko crumbs and paired with a chinchalok infused sauce helping to bring out deeper flavours.
The golden brown batter gives the fish a soft crunch, while the fish remains moist inside. The fermented small shrimp notes bring a deeper Asian style relish that sets it apart from ordinary fried fish dishes.
Drinks and Other Menu Options
For something refreshing alongside richer plates, the Fresh Honey Lemon ($3) is a good pairing, with lemon juice adding brightness. Fresh Barley Drink ($3), Fresh Soy Milk, and iced honey lemon are also among the available beverages.
The menu also includes Chicken Katsu Curry Rice with an onsen egg, Salted Egg Chicken Cubes with Steamed Rice, Mapo Tofu, Black Garlic Chicken Soup, Assam Sauce Fish Katsu, and Chloe Style Curry Rice inspired by Japanese curry express.
The curry chicken cutlet rice, priced at $9.50, features a sambal blend prepared in house by Chloe Tan, offering a pretty well executed dish without feeling overly greasy.
Practical Details Before Visiting
New Station Rice Bar offers dine-in operations, takeaway, and online ordering options. It opens Monday to Saturday from 11:00am to 8:30pm and closes on Sunday.
Meals generally fall around $8–$15 per person, depending on your choice of dish and add-ons. The outlet is accessible from Bras Basah MRT, Bencoolen MRT, and Bugis MRT.
Final Thoughts
New Station Rice Bar is a reminder that heritage food does not always have to remain unchanged to stay meaningful. From East Plaza prior to Fortune Centre, the same food story continues with the same folks but in a different format.
It may not be the place for a long, leisurely meal, but for diners craving affordable comfort food, salted egg rice, marmite chicken, and familiar zi char-inspired flavours, it offers a simple plate with a story behind it.
Expect a line up during lunch hours, reflecting the fair bit of popularity the place has gained. While some might worry about overused oil or potentially greasy dishes, the food here is pretty well executed with sauces that complement each dish.
New Station Rice Bar also offers ready to cook products for customers looking to enjoy their favourites at home.