Yin Yang fish

Taiwanese fish dish

2 min read

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Interest in “Yin Yang fish” spiked on Wikipedia on 2026-02-25.

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2026-01-27Peak: 3012026-02-25

30-day total: 2,361

Key Takeaways

Yin yang fish (Chinese: 陰陽魚, 糖醋活魚, 呼叫魚 ; also called dead-and-alive fish ) is a Taiwanese dish where a live fish is fried whole.
Preparation Yin yang fish is prepared by wrapping the head of a scaled fish (usually carp) in ice cubes and then oil-frying it whole.
Controversy In 2007, a Taiwanese restaurant owner sparked outrage when he began serving the dish in his restaurant in Chiayi, Taiwan, with a city official and members of the public criticizing the cruelty of the dish.
A video of a dish in 2009 was condemned by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals calling a video showcasing it as "disgusting".

Yin yang fish (Chinese: 陰陽魚, 糖醋活魚, 呼叫魚; also called dead-and-alive fish) is a Taiwanese dish where a live fish is fried whole. The dish originates from Chiayi, Taiwan.

Preparation

Yin yang fish is prepared by wrapping the head of a scaled fish (usually carp) in ice cubes and then oil-frying it whole. The fish is then covered in sauce and served on a plate where its head continues to twitch even after its body has been cooked (likely due to remnant electrical impulses after death).

Controversy

In 2007, a Taiwanese restaurant owner sparked outrage when he began serving the dish in his restaurant in Chiayi, Taiwan, with a city official and members of the public criticizing the cruelty of the dish. Following public outcry, the dish was subsequently removed from the menu and banned in Taiwan.

A video of a dish in 2009 was condemned by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals calling a video showcasing it as "disgusting". A video posted on TikTok in March 2020 had been viewed three million times as of May 2021.