SMARTFISH — Restaurant in Chiayi

There’s a reason why this place stands the test of time. I’ve had Smartfish since I was in kindergarten and to see this place thrive and become one of the most legendary eatery in Chiayi makes me so proud. Their staffs are always friendly and courteous although they are always busy with a huge crowd waiting outside. The turkey rice, fish clay pot are must order! ———-———————————————

Never thought about leaving a review for this place because I’ve been coming here for the past 20+ years whenever I am home and always thought this place was just an awesome local food instead of tourist spot.

Smart fish was featured on Netflix and many other social media these days and became a popular spot to check-in on ig/fb etc. Because of this, I had the opportunity to take my non-local meat lover friends to try this legendary spot whenever we are in Chiayi.

The food: the turkey rice is a must because you just have to eat as many bowls of Chiayi’s infamous turkey rice in Chiayi as possible. Smartfish’s version of chicken rice is definitely on my top 3 chicken rice list and definitely worth ordering. However if I could I would also order their poached egg stew pork rice because it’s just too good to pass.

Now the superstar dish of all- the fish head stew/casserole (or however you wanna call it) IS ABSOLUTELY A MUST WHETHER YOU LIKE FISH OR NOT! There are tofu, wood ear mushroom, cabbage, fried bean curd and fried fish head (or fish chunks) in the soup! The soup is satay based and oh so flavorful! We also ordered dong cai shrimp soup with egg and it was so clean and flavorful down to eat and savor every sip of the soup. The rest or other side dishes were great as well, definitely are good supporting dishes worth ordering.

Service: what? No way am I going to write about service for a street food vendor am I? Well, I am going to and I have to tell you the staffs are accommodating, efficient and SUPER FRIENDLY! I ordered a togo with my own soup pot and it was super heavy and hard to carry as I struggled my way walking to the parking lot. A staff saw me holding the big old pot with soups inside and she ran after me on the street and brought a bag for me to put the pot in so it’s be easier for me to carry to my car. Thank you to the lovely staffs who made my day!

Parking: street parking or they have a small 15 or so spaces parking lot in the next alley.

Love coming to here to dine in or grab a togo, I love it more when I see the second generation putting in the effort (yes I see owners daughter there all the time!) and making smart fish into a legendary...

Had dinner here for the second time in my life. The first time I visited was in 2010, when I travelled from taipei as a uni student. My teacher had recommended then that we go to smart fish and he told us how much he loved the restaurant- that he sometimes thought about how good the fish head stew was and that he always went to the restaurant when in Chiayi. When I visited in 2010 I was pleasantly surprised to find that the fish head stew really was as good as my teacher had said. Absolutely memorable. I was not so surprised when I happened to see the restaurant featured in the Netflix doco, street food. The story is beautiful and totally moving. I went tonight for dinner and the Netflix effect is clear. The place was buzzing with crowds at dinner, with long queues at the original store, and the other one 5 minutes away. We didn't have to wait so very long though. Maybe 30 minutes or a touch longer? It is a little complex to work out the queue system- you take a number for your party, and then close to when your number is called (within a count of 10) you need to go to the greeter to order and pay. You then wait to hear for staff to call out that your table is available. It's not straightforward, especially if you don't speak mandarin but honestly the staff are so helpful and the system works, given how popular the place is. The fish head stew is still just as undeniably delicious as I remember it. I don't agree with the descriptions of the flavour being similar to laksa. If you know of the Chinese dish 'Buddha's delight' I'd say that's a more similar dish. The fish doesn't smell fishy, and because they dredge it in yam flour and then deep fry it, the flavour is more savoury and the texture is delightful. The dish is stewed with a mix of cabbage, fungus, pork, fried bean curd, tofu, and lots of garlic- making for a delicious variety of textures and flavour notes. To appreciate this dish, it's worth comparing it to Italian la cucina povera/ peasant cooking. It's a dish that was created in another time- simple ingredients were prepared with careful techniques to create a meal that's homely but so satisfying and timeless. The fish head stew is mostly made with vegetables and tofu after all but the whole dish is savoury and meaty. That's the magic of it. Oh and the other dishes are also top notch. My husband loved the turkey rice and...

Lin Congming's casserole fish head is a highly recommended culinary experience in Chiayi. My recent visit confirmed its reputation for exceptional flavor and quality. Despite a significant queue, the efficient table turnover and patient, attentive staff contributed positively to the dining experience. The signature casserole fish head was notably aromatic upon arrival. The rich broth exhibited a delightful hint of wok hei, presenting a complex layering of flavors that remained palatable without any greasy aftertaste, even after finishing the entire serving. The fish head itself was expertly prepared, featuring a crispy skin and tender, moist flesh, completely devoid of any fishy odor. The generous inclusion of ingredients such as napa cabbage, tofu, and fried tofu skin absorbed the flavorful broth beautifully. For those who appreciate spice, the accompanying chili sauce is a must-try, adding a fragrant and significant kick. Overall, the meal was thoroughly satisfying, with a generous portion size easily shared by two people (individual portions are also available). The three-colored egg dish was a delightful surprise, pairing wonderfully with the homemade mayonnaise. The specialty IPA (NTD 130) was also superb. It's clear why this established restaurant enjoys such consistent popularity; it is truly a capable culinary institution. I wholeheartedly give it a five-star rating and intend to return on my next visit to Chiayi. This dish is sincerely recommended to those who appreciate a robust and flavorful broth. Please note that all fish dishes...