Fish head soup eatery in Chiayi gains an international reputation

Fish head soup eatery in Chiayi gains an international reputation

2025-07-08

Taiwan is known as a foodies’ paradise, and one of its delicacies is fish head soup from Chiayi. Today, we catch up with Lin Chia-hui, who heads Smart Fish, a beloved Chiayi eatery that has been serving its famous succulent soup for more than 70 years. Lin says her dream is to improve Chiayi’s international visibility. Let’s hear more.

After deep frying, the head of a silver carp is put into a broth that has been simmering for 10 hours. The big pot contains ingredients such as Chinese cabbage, tofu skin and tofu. This delicious taste has been popular in Chiayi for more than 70 years.

Lin Chia-hui
Smart Fish CEO
This dish is actually our home-cooked dish. We would go out on the street and share it with our neighbors. After tasting it, they said it was delicious. Why don’t you sell it? A customer even told me she would only get married once she had downed a bowl.

Lin Chia-hui is the third generation manager in the family business. When she was just 6 months old, she was taken around in the bustling eatery. When she went to junior high school, she started serving diners and washing dishes.

Lin Chia-hui
Smart Fish CEO
Actually, my dream is to make Chiayi visible. Chiayi is really rarely reported on or mentioned. Maybe there is Alishan, chicken rice, and some good life or experiences. People may skip this city. I never wanted to be overlooked.

In 2019, a streaming platform made a documentary about delicious snacks in nine countries in Asia. In Taiwan, the focus was Chiayi. This documentary gave the old restaurant an international reputation.

Lin Chia-hui
Smart Fish CEO
The power of stories is very important. For example, when Americans came, they saw the story and filmed the process. They came here to eat fish heads. They would actually eat them all up. For the dishes in Taiwanese, we write out the Latin alphabet. For example we call the fish head soup “sa-ko hi-thau.”

Insisting on marketing her hometown in Taiwanese, Lin took her business north and opened eateries in Taiwan’s capital.

Lin Chia-hui
Smart Fish CEO
It took me more than 20 years to take this step. My mother said “Chia-hui, you are blessed, as your elders can see your achievements today.”

It’s a Chiayi snack that has been passed down for three generations, not only retaining its great taste, but also gaining an international reputation.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#fishheadsoup #fishhead #delicacy #localeats #chiayi #taiwan #food

嘉義飄香70年! 第三代掌門人把"家鄉味"推上國際

2025-07-08

台灣被封為「小吃王國」，歷經數十年歲月積累的好味道想傳承不難，但要與時俱進不容易！嘉義飄香逾70年的沙鍋魚頭第三代掌門人林佳慧專訪分享，她的夢想是讓嘉義被世界看見，過去二十年不斷跟父母溝通、改革，如今把家鄉味推上國際舞台。

大頭鰱酥炸後，放進熬煮十個鐘頭高湯，大鍋裡有大白菜、豆皮、豆腐等配料，這一鍋好味道在嘉義飄香超過70年。

[[沙鍋魚頭執行長林佳慧]]
"這道菜其實是我們的家常菜，拿出來分給街訪鄰居吃，吃一吃說很好吃，你怎麼沒拿出來賣，還有客人跟我說，她要吃這碗吃完才要去嫁人"

第三代掌門人林佳慧，當年才六個月大，就在這間人聲鼎沸的小吃店穿梭，國中就開始端菜、洗碗。

[[沙鍋魚頭執行長林佳慧]]
"其實我的夢想就是很想要讓嘉義被看見，嘉義真的很少被報導，被提起，可能有阿里山，有雞肉飯，一些美好生活或體驗，可能大家會跳過這城市，所以我一直不想被錯過"

2019年，影音串流平台團隊走訪亞洲九國、尋美食，台灣鎖定嘉義，這部紀錄片打開老店的國際知名度。

[[沙鍋魚頭執行長林佳慧]]
"故事的力量很重要，像美國人來，他們看到這樣故事，把過程拍下來，他們來吃魚頭，竟然可以把整顆吃到空空空，台語菜單就用羅馬拼音，比如說我們家有沙鍋魚頭，沙鍋魚頭我們就用，sa-ko hi-thau"

堅持用台語行銷家鄉，林佳慧更把店往北開到首都。

[[沙鍋魚頭執行長林佳慧]]
"這一步如果是我個人大概走了二十年以上，我媽媽說佳慧這是妳有福氣，讓妳的長輩可以看到妳今天的成績"

嘉義小吃傳承三代，不僅保留好味道更進軍國際，成為台灣人的驕傲！

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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A strong downpour on Changhua’s Lukang Township on Tuesday morning left the area terribly flooded, even though Typhoon Danas has already passed. The historic Lukang Mazu Temple, the touristy old street and residential buildings all suffered damage. People traveling in the rain were also trapped for hours due to the flooding.

Heavy rain batters and floods Lukang. Scooter drivers got off their vehicles to walk them after they’ve broken down.

The road turned into a veritable stream. Passers-by make their way across cautiously.

The ancient Lukang Mazu Temple was not spared from the heavy storm. At the courtyard, the legs of the incense burner and offering tables are all submerged.

Although drainage pumps are running at full speed, it’s not enough against the heavy rain. According to the Central Weather Administration, from 9 to 10 in the morning, both Lukang and Fuxing townships in Changhua had an hourly precipitation rate of over 100mm.

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Lukang Mazu Temple
It’s mainly because of the heavy rains in the morning. The sudden downpour from the thunderstorm could not be drained, that’s why it’s so flooded.

After the flooding subsides somewhat, shop owners along the Lukang Old Street and locals begin to clean up. A shop owner says the flooding this time is even more severe than during Typhoon Gaemi last summer. He also says that he’s prepared upfront, but it still wasn’t enough this time round.

Local shop owner
We’re prepared for the worst. So everything’s moved up. But there are still things you can’t prepare for. I didn’t expect the flood level to be so high, only around here. But this time both drawers were flooded.

Meanwhile, a woman was only running errands at the market and preparing to go to the hospital, but got trapped in the flood. She only escaped after someone carried her out of the flooded area on his back.

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I couldn’t walk. There was so much water. It’s terrible.

Other patients heading to Lukang Christian Hospital weren’t so lucky. Because of the flood, cars were trapped for over six hours nearby. Residents at a building across the hospital also suffered serious losses.

The water went straight into the basement via the slope at the entrance. All the cars parked inside were flooded over. By the time residents arrived from their workplace, it’s already too late.

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When I got back I saw that it’s completely flooded. There’s no saving anything now.

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We have three scooters and a car parked down there. Only looking at the three scooters, they’re worth almost NT$300,000. I cried as soon as I got back, but it won’t help, because the flood is already so high.

The sudden downpour destroyed vehicles parked underground, incurring great losses for locals.

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Hualien hospital gives patients free freshly-baked cookies

Some hospitals give out free flu shots and checkups, but in Yuli, a local hospital gives out free snacks. The Yuli Branch of Taipei Veterans General Hospital now provides delicious free biscuits and buns for patients who’ve been waiting for a long time to see the doctor. That’s because wait times can be lengthy in rural Taiwan, and the hospital wants to prevent hypoglycemia. The response to the tasty treats has been a thumbs up.

Each cookie gets an egg wash and into the oven they go. In a short while, these fresh and delicious cookies are ready to eat.

But these freshly-baked cookies are not for sale. They are given out free of charge to patients at the Yuli Branch of Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

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They’re delicious, very well-made. I have low blood sugar, so when I saw them giving them out, I was very happy. I had seen a post about it on Facebook. It’s delightful.

Ms. Chiang
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It’s very heartwarming. Even though the kids were all shy, I think it’s great. They give us something and we feel very grateful.

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The hospital has an area so that disabled residents can build on their strengths, selling snacks and tea at affordable prices. But with so many patients waiting for treatment and long wait times, the hospital realized it was risky for patients suffering from hypoglycemia. So the biscuits and bread are now given out for free as well.

Chen Yu-chun
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Our residents with mental disabilities are giving back to the community. They are the best. They have learned how to make delicious snacks here, and they want to share them. By sharing, they get a beautiful warm feeling.

It’s not easy to see a doctor in the countryside. In order to ensure that people who have been waiting for a long time will not go hungry, the hospital provides snacks to patients, soothing not only their stomachs but also their hearts.

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Danas fatalities: Farmer crushed by coconut tree, respirator user in blackout

Two people died on Monday morning as Typhoon Danas swept over Taiwan. One of the deceased was a 69-year-old farmer who had been taking mangos to the market and was crushed by a coconut tree. The other fatality was a 60-year-old borough warden who was reliant on a respirator. A blackout caused by the storm cut his oxygen supply and he lost his vital signs before his family was able to get him to hospital.

Typhoon Danas swept over Southern Taiwan, causing a blackout that cost a person his life.

It was 60-year-old Mr. Chen, a local borough warden who relied on a respirator. His medical equipment was left without power in the storm. With no oxygen supply, his family took him to hospital, but by the time they arrived, Mr. Chen had no vital signs. Resuscitation efforts failed.

Lin Chien-nan
Tainan North District head
He had chronic illness and was bedridden. He still had everything under control, he was doing quite well. We at the district office are distraught to have lost such an excellent borough warden.

Neighbor
He relied on the oxygen supply. The typhoon caused a blackout, and since the respirator was turned off, he couldn’t get any oxygen. He passed away yesterday morning.

Mr. Chen’s neighbors are devastated. Experts say families with medical needs like his should ideally keep an electricity generator at home just in case.

Tsai Yun-cheng
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Viral flavored fries from Philippines set up shop in Taipei

Potato Corner, a viral fries outlet from the Philippines is setting up its first shop in Taipei. The outlet will be in Songshan District, and be operated through a local distributor. The past two years have been great for foodies in Taiwan. From US fried chicken brand Popeyes to legendary Korean BBQ restaurant Gold Pig, more and more viral celebrity-favorite foods are making their way here.

The self-proclaimed “World’s Best Flavored French Fries” outlet, Potato Corner was established in 1992 in the Philippines. It now has more than 2,000 stores worldwide, including in the US, South Korea and Indonesia. Recently, a Taiwanese restaurant group posted several job openings for a Potato Corner outlet in Taipei’s Songshan District, offering a monthly salary starting at NT$40,000 for four to five management associates. But what do locals think about this new international brand?

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