Qiandao Lake Fish Head (千岛湖鱼头)

Qiandao Lake Fish Head Soup from Hao Dong Jia 好东家 — Qiandao Lake Fish Head Soup from 好东家

Singaporeans love to eat, and it’s not unheard of to travel solely for the purpose of eating. While food was not the top motivator for me to visit Thousand Island Lake, it would be a sin not to try its iconic local dishes.

Every destination almost always has a legendary culinary icon or two. At Thousand Island Lake, their must-try is the creamy fish head soup (鱼头汤), slow-brewed for hours to give it that rich, milky colour. Believed to bring good luck and prosperity, this savoury dish typically features the head of a freshwater carp or bighead carp, sustainably raised in the clean and mineral-rich waters of the lake.

When we were deciding which restaurant to have our fish head soup, it was a struggle as online reviews contradicted what taxi drivers recommended (or vice versa). Nevertheless, based on our experiences, the recommendations of this vlogger were on point. In the world of selective tastebuds, I can only say that we have the same great taste? 😀

Which restaurant to have fish head soup at Thousand Island Lake?

Assorted fish dishes that were part of a 2-person set deal

I like to chat with locals (usually drivers) on food recommendations, but all of them badmouthed 好东家, which we returned several times. Having tried out other restaurants, this was still the most reasonably-priced and the taste was to our liking. (PS: the Dianping app offers good value-for-money set deals!)

Further online research during our 2nd trip revealed that apparently the drivers only recommend restaurants that give them commission (not sure if this is true). We were recommended to check out 鱼港人家 and 方婆婆. Some visitors who went ahead with these recommendations found the food to be pricey and below standards.

Food preference is a subjective matter, so do feel free to check out the different restaurants for your own conclusion. All I can say is, when in Thousand Island Lake, don’t miss out trying the fish head soup and corn chips with preserved veg!