10 Spots For Tangy, Spicy Sauerkraut Fish Or Suan Cai Yu In Singapore

We Singaporeans have fallen deeply in love with Chinese food from various regions of China ever since mala xiangguo made its way here. Grilled fish and sauerkraut fish, or suan cai yu, have also since become favourites here too. As such, we're focusing the spotlight on restaurants that offer us their best take on the sour, spicy, and hearty dish. The star ingredient of the dish, besides fresh fish, of course, is the fermented Chinese mustard green or napa cabbage. This gives the dish its signature tang that cuts through the umami richness of the spiced broth.

Ready to tuck in? Here are 10 restaurants to get your fill of sauerkraut fish or suan cai yu in Singapore.

1. Little Pond

Little Pond is likely the latest sauerkraut fish brand to open in Singapore. It opened its first branch in the new One Holland Village in February 2024 and a new outlet in Yishun will open soon. The Golden Sauerkraut Fish (from $39.90) is made with Yunnan small-leaf sauerkraut and comes with slices of snakehead fish, cabbage, enoki mushroom, and fish tofu puffs. The dish can be eaten like a hotpot, so you can order a variety of the usual steamboat side dishes to complete the meal. Prawn lovers should also check out Little Pond's Signature Fragrant Spicy Prawn.

Little Pond is at 7 Holland Village Wy, #02-32 One Holland Village, Singapore 275748. Visit its Instagram page for more information.

2. Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish

Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish unveiled its first Singapore location in VivoCity in August 2023. The restaurant has over 60 locations dotted around China and is said to be one of China's top 10 pickled fish brands. The signature namesake dish, made with California white seabass, is available in three sizes ($48/$68/$88) that are good for up to two, four, and six persons, respectively. If you want to try more dishes, opt for the Super Combination (from $53) and pick between Tomato Fish, Sichuan Poached US Kurobuta Pork, or Typhoon Shelter Shrimp with Fries for the other dish.

Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish is at #02-145/146 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585. Visit its Facebook page for more information.

3. Tai Er

Tai Er is easily one of the most recognisable labels for sauerkraut fish. The Chinese chain started in 2015 and has since expanded to over 300 locations worldwide, four of which are in Singapore. Featuring tilapia fish fillets, the Chinese Saukeraut Fish comes in three sizes ($48/$68/$88) for up to two, four, and five persons, respectively. The establishment also offers a variety of Sichuan favourites ranging from Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken to Chongqing Chicken Hot Pot and Poached Sliced Beef In Hot Chilli Oil.

Tai Er has multiple locations in Singapore. Visit its website for more information.

4. Tan Yu

Tan Yu brings together the best of both worlds with a fusion of our two favourite Chinese fish dishes: grilled fish (shao kao yu) and sauerkraut fish (suan cai yu). The well-known Chinese label started in 2017 and has hundreds of stores around China, as well as eight restaurants in Singapore. The dish we are featuring here is the Grilled Fish with Sauerkraut Flavour (from $51.90). Here, you can pick what fish you want, including Limbo fish, Qingjiang fish, sea bass, and Limbo fish fillet. To complete the meal, consider adding sides such as lotus root, potato, sweet potato noodles, and the like to further soak up the tangy goodness of Tan Yu's sauerkraut fish.

Tan Yu has multiple locations in Singapore, including at 313@Somerset, Waterway Point and Westgate. Visit its website for more information.

5. Yu Zhong Bu Tong

Found in multiple food courts, you might walk past Yu Zhong Bu Tong without paying attention to its unique offerings. Started in 2020, the brand was opened by local fish farm Blue Ocean Harvest and thus prides itself on offering a farm-to-table experience. For the sauerkraut fish (from $13.80), you get to pick between seabass, grouper, and giant grouper fish. There are three other flavours — spicy poached, tomato, and collagen — and you can add toppings too.

Yu Zhong Bu Tong has multiple locations in Singapore, including at Wisma Atria, Vivocity and Jem. Visit its website for more information.

6. Old Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant

Located in Chinatown, Old Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant has an extensive menu featuring a plethora of Sichuan favourites. The restaurant was founded in 2007 and looks to celebrate the age-old cuisine on our shores. There are two iterations of sauerkraut fish you can find here. The first is Grilled Fish with Sichuan Pickles (from $32.80), which is the shao kao yu-style. The other is Boiled Fish with Sichuan Pickles (from $31.80). The default fish for both is the Limbo fish but you can upgrade to sea bass or marble goby.

Old Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant is at 80 Pagoda St, #80, Singapore 059239. Visit its Facebook for more information.

7. Ba Shu Sichuan Restaurant

For those living in the east, consider heading to Ba Shu Sichuan Restaurant for your fill of Sichuan food. In case you're curious about the name, Ba and Shu were names of ancient Chinese states that form modern-day Sichuan. There are two styles of sauerkraut fish here too — Ba Shu Style Grilled Fish ($43) and the Boiled Sliced Fish with Pickle ($28). Those who can't eat spicy foods should opt for the latter as there is a non-spicy version.

Ba Shu Sichuan Restaurant is at 219 Bedok Central, #01-122 Bedok Town Centre, Singapore 460219. Visit its website for more information.

8. Qi Feng Lai

Qi Feng Lai is known for its crunchy fish, a type of grass carp from the Guangdong province in China. It is known for its toothsome texture, which is unlike that of other fish. The grass carp, however, isn't available for its Signature Fish Pot (from $48) of which Chinese Sauerkraut Soup is one of the flavours (the others being Golden Lemon Spicy Soup and Mushroom Herbal Soup). For this dish, pick between toman, red grouper, and giant grouper fish.

Qi Feng Lai is at 198 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389263. Visit its Facebook page for more information.

9. Kuan Kuan Spicy Hotpot and Nourishing Soup

Kuan Kuan Spicy Hotpot and Nourishing Soup is located right opposite Bugis MRT along the popular Liang Seah Street. As the name implies, hotpot and soup are the mainstays here. For the tangy and savoury sauerkraut fish, pick between the Signature Hot and Sour Fish Soup (from $27.04) or the Grilled Fish (from $48.84). The latter is offered in a double-flavour version for those wanting to try more flavours.

Kuan Kuan Spicy Hotpot is at 32 Liang Seah St, Singapore 189053.

10. Numb Restaurant

Numb Restaurant is for those who work in the CBD and want to unwind with spicy and numbing Sichuan food. Located a short distance away from Shenton Way MRT and Downtown MRT, Numb is a restaurant and bar focusing on fusion food with spices from the Chinese province. One of the signature dishes is the Classic Chengdu Seabass in Sour Pickled Soup ($39.80/$49.80). The company is also behind the casual eatery Chengdu Bowl in Tanjong Pagar.

Numb Restaurant is at 5 Straits View, West Tower, #01-12 Marina One West Tower, 018935. Visit its website for more information.