Around Ita Thao pier, Thao-style restaurants stand side by side, and every menu features that dish — Presidential Fish. A curved-body fish arrives steamed or braised, the flesh fine-textured and sweetly fresh, nurtured by the lake. Add kirifishes and lake shrimp, and you have a table full of lakeside freshness. For anyone coming to Sun Moon Lake and walking into the Ita Thao settlement, this is the meal worth sitting down for.
What is Sun Moon Lake Presidential Fish?
Presidential Fish is the tonguesole caught in Sun Moon Lake. It earned its name because the late President Chiang Kai-shek was fond of eating it. Together with kirifish and lake shrimp, it is known as one of the Three Treasures of Sun Moon Lake — the lake's most representative fresh catches. The flesh is delicate and naturally sweet. It is the signature fish dish at Thao-style restaurants throughout the Ita Thao area, most commonly served steamed, pan-fried, or braised — the taste of the lake, pure and simple.
The fish's fame traces back to a local story: the tonguesole was nicknamed "Presidential Fish" because the late President Chiang Kai-shek loved to eat it, and the name has stuck as a byword for Sun Moon Lake's lake produce ever since. It is not a dish exclusive to any single restaurant — it is on the menu at virtually every restaurant in the Ita Thao settlement. This dish is anchored to the entire Ita Thao pier lake-fish restaurant cluster, not to any one establishment; eating here is about experiencing the shared lakeside catch culture of the whole community.
How to eat it the authentic way
Local knowledge
Verified facts (sponsored content excluded)
- Presidential Fish is the tonguesole, named because the late President Chiang Kai-shek was fond of eating it. Together with kirifish and lake shrimp, it is recognized as one of the Three Treasures of Sun Moon Lake.
- Thao-style restaurants throughout the Ita Thao area widely feature Presidential Fish as their signature dish. This guide anchors this entry to the Ita Thao settlement, not to any single restaurant.
- This guide is organized by dish. The anchor settlement is noted only for location reference and future on-site photography — it is not a restaurant ranking.
Visitor tips
- Ita Thao is both a ferry stop on Sun Moon Lake and the core of the Thao community. You can arrive by boat or car. Crowds at meal times are heavy on weekends.
- Lake fish is typically served family-style. Coming with a group makes it easier to order the Three Treasures and side dishes together.
- Coordinates are approximate field-survey values. Actual restaurant locations and hours should be confirmed on-site.
Information compiled from the Nantou County Government tourism resources and local township farmers' associations. Sponsored content has been excluded. Photos will be replaced after on-site photography.