Flip the stereotype of snack shops—drinking fish soup can be “trendy” too

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Tainan correspondent

People in Tainan are no strangers to fresh fish soup—it’s available on every street corner. In addition to long-established shops, there’s a newly opened specialty store for fresh fish soup near Lint百货: “HeXing Hao Fresh Fish Soup.” Actually, HeXing Hao is the new venture of “Auntie Wu” (Wang Huihui) from “Xiao Man Restaurant” on Zhengxing Street in Tainan, along with her husband, Wu Zhaorong. Before opening Xiao Man Restaurant, the couple had already founded a fish soup shop back in 1999. After selling fish soup for over a decade, they decided to pivot and open Xiao Man Restaurant.

▲ HeXing Hao Fresh Fish Soup is different from your average snack shop. (Photo / Provided by HeXing Hao Fresh Fish Soup)



▲ The broth at HeXing Hao is simmered for 8 hours with fish spine, dorsal fin, fish head, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

▲ The fresh fish soup at HeXing Hao comes with oversized slices of fish.


▲ Watermelon-textured fresh fish soup is a Tainan specialty.

Auntie Wu explained that the broth at HeXing Hao is made by simmering fish spine, dorsal fin, fish head, and fresh produce for 8 hours, then adding fish slices—essentially offering a whole fish in one bowl. The shop’s signature recommendation is the uniquely southern “Watermelon-textured Fresh Fish Soup.” Watermelon-textured refers to unripe watermelon that’s preserved using traditional methods, a regional specialty. By adding this to the fish soup base, the mildly sour flavor gives the rich soup a refreshing taste. Compared to typical snack shops, HeXing Hao uses fewer ginger strips in its fish soup. Auntie Wu said she uses freshly sliced, unsoaked ginger, which is naturally more potent, and since all the fish is fresh, there’s minimal fishy smell—so there’s no need for excessive ginger to mask odors.


▲ Soy milk fresh fish soup.

Besides the watermelon-textured version, the shop has also introduced creative flavors such as soy milk fresh fish soup, warm tonic fresh fish soup, and curry fresh fish soup. The soy milk version uses non-GMO soybeans ground into a thick paste, blended into the broth in a specific ratio, plus a secret chili powder baked with five-spice. The warm tonic fish soup includes premium red dates and goji berries added by the owner—making it a nourishing option suitable for all seasons. The curry fish soup, meanwhile, breaks away from conventional curry profiles; turmeric and various fresh fruits and vegetables are added to create a refreshing, spicy flavor that pairs perfectly with fresh fish.


▲ “Auntie Wu” (Wang Huihui) of “Xiao Man Restaurant.”

Unlike the simple decor of typical snack shops, HeXing Hao Fresh Fish Soup collaborated with “Foodie Amber” and “Design by Associates” from Taipei to craft its visual identity—aiming to reshape perceptions of traditional snack shops. Japanese minimalist lines blend with wooden counters and pure white subway tiles, evoking the old Japanese-style charm of Tainan. Table chopstick sleeves featuring divination poems and under-table plastic fish baskets not only showcase traditional Taiwanese folk aesthetics but also feature uniquely creative designs that make the whole place feel very “trendy.”

HeXing Hao Fresh Fish Soup
Address: No. 49, Section 2, Zhongyi Road, West Central District, Tainan City 700
Phone: 06-2215257


▲ Exterior of HeXing Hao.


▲ Divination poem chopstick sleeves.