What is it
Silverfish Omelette
Tiny whole silverfish folded into softly cooked eggs.
At the table
How to eat it
NONE
Culture
The story behind the dish
Silverfish are small enough to be cooked and eaten whole, so they disappear through the egg rather than forming large fillets. The dish draws on the freshwater fish traditions of lakes and waterways around the lower Yangtze. Its name is literal: “silver fish” describes the pale, slender fish and doesn't refer to the household insect known by the same English word.
Reference
For reference
Every kitchen does it its own way. What follows is the typical version — ingredients, heat and price shift from city to city and from one restaurant to the next, so take it as a guide rather than a fixed recipe.
SpicinessNot spicy
Main ingredientSilverfish / Egg / Scallions
FlavourLight, savoury
Suitable forPescatarian
Usually servedHot
Good forSharing / Lunch / Dinner
Where it is fromShanghai and the lower Yangtze region
Ordering tipOrder it as a shared plate. The fish are intentionally cooked whole, so asking for fillets would mean choosing a different dish.
Last updated 2026-09-05
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