Yudingji Kaili Fish in Sour Soup

Yudingji Kaili Fish in Sour Soup is a restaurant in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province in southwest China, serving fish in sour soup in the style of Kaili. Kaili is the main city of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, and the fermented tomato and chili broth that the restaurant serves comes from the Miao homeland of that region. Only the city of Guiyang is listed as the address, so visitors should confirm the exact location before travelling. The dish at the centre of the menu is Kaili sour soup fish, cooked at the table in a pot of red broth. The sourness comes from fermented tomatoes and, in traditional versions, from fermented rice water, while chili adds heat and fresh herbs and aromatics add fragrance. Fresh fish is added to the simmering broth and cooked briefly, then eaten together with tofu, vegetables and the soup. The dish is considered one of the signature foods of Guizhou and has become popular far beyond the province, but versions served in the Kaili tradition are valued for their balanced acidity and the freshness of the river fish. The restaurant is a sit-down venue with shared tables, a moderate noise level at meal times and no dress code. Beverages include tea, soft drinks, beer and baijiu, and there is no specialist wine programme. Reservations are not required, and walk-ins are accepted, but arriving before 7PM at peak times is advisable to avoid a wait. Prices are in the mid-range, with the cost of a pot depending on the weight of the fish and additional dishes. Visitors from other parts of China or abroad often find the sourness more pronounced than expected and may ask for a milder pot, which staff can usually arrange. Sharing a pot among three or four people with greens and rice makes a satisfying meal, and the restaurant provides a convenient way to try Miao cooking without travelling to Kaili itself.