Walk into any Chinese Seafood restaurant in Penang and you can be sure that the person taking your order will ask you if you would like to eat fish. If they sell lobster, it’ll be fish and/or lobster but fish is generally the main objective.

Steamed fish is a Chinese favourite which is normally served for lavish dinners and when you want to treat yourself. It is tasty, nourishing and healthy but unless you’re quite fortunate, you’re unlikely to have it all the time.

Fish is often one of the most expensive items on a seafood menu which is why the waiter’s primary goal is to get you to order it before settling for lower value dishes such as tofu or vegetables.

Fresh fish can be steamed and served with soya sauce or in a lighter gingery sauce.

The one in this photo is from Bali Hai in Gurney Drive which is a good restaurant even if this particular fish looks like it drowned in an oil spill.