Saba Milkfish Museum – Tainan City, Taiwan - Gastro Obscura

AO Edited

Gastro Obscura

Saba Milkfish Museum

A small museum dedicated to one of the most popular fish in Taiwanese cuisine. 

15
66

Found in the wild throughout Southeast Asia, milkfish is popular in Taiwanese cuisine. The silvery fish is often served pan-fried with a bit of white pepper, or gently sliced into pieces and served in a gingery porridge. It’s so beloved in Taiwan in fact, that there’s an entire museum dedicated to the fish.

The Saba Milkfish Museum is located on a small island in Tainan, a city in southern Taiwan with a robust milkfish aquaculture industry. It was established by Lu Ching-ying, a woman who is known affectionately as the “Queen of Milkfish.” The museum was intended as a way to promote local milkfish businesses, but what started out as a marketing endeavor has become a quirky landmark. Inside, the walls are adorned with large hanging displays of milkfish and tongue-in-cheek cat decor on the side.

The space gives a broad overview to the culture and history of milkfish in Taiwan, but also has a whole section where visitors can sample unconventional products like milkfish ice cream and milkfish sausage. Attendees can also participate in hands-on workshops, and learn how to craft hand soap with the fish or make edible fish meatballs.

Know Before You Go

Admission is free, though reservations are required beforehand for the workshops.

In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web