Old Kaili Sour Soup Fish (Zhongtian Exhibition City)

This branch of Old Kaili Sour Soup Fish sits at No. 1-20C Huizhan North Road in Guanshanhu District, close to the Zhongtian Exhibition City in the newer, western part of Guiyang, Guizhou. It is a practical choice for visitors who are attending an exhibition, staying in the new district or travelling through the nearby business area rather than the old centre. The restaurant is devoted to Kaili-style sour soup fish, a dish that comes from the Miao homeland of Qiandongnan in southeast Guizhou and is now one of the signature foods of the province. The main order is the tableside fish pot: fresh fish is simmered in a red broth of tomato and fermented chili, with its characteristic sour edge, and vegetables, tofu and herbs are added as the pot cooks. The menu names the suantangyu itself and the red sour broth fish pot as its core offerings, with side dishes of greens and local pickles to cut the richness. Because the exhibition area draws large groups, the dining room is set up for shared tables and reasonably fast service, with a lively but not formal atmosphere and no dress code. Drinks are straightforward, with tea, soft drinks, beer and baijiu, and there is no specialist wine list. Reservations are not required, and walk-ins are accepted, but arriving before 7PM at peak times is advisable because the evening crowd after trade events can fill the room. Spending is moderate, in the same bracket as other Guiyang sour soup fish restaurants, and diners usually order one pot for every three or four people. The restaurant makes a useful counterpart to the city-centre branch on Shengfu Road, with easier access from the Guanshanhu business district and exhibition halls, and it suits travellers who want an authentic Guizhou meal without crossing the city.