Tourist in China shocked by $2,100 restaurant bill after dining on endangered fish

A man was charged over 10,000 yuan (S$2,100) for a meal at a seafood restaurant in Harbin, China, with a significant part of the total coming from an endangered species of fish.

The customer, Chen Yen, was treating a group of 20 at the restaurant that was recommended by a local tour guide. 

According to Shanghaiist, the main dish that incurred the huge sum was the kaluga sturgeon, a critically endangered, large predatory fish native to the rivers of Heilongjiang province.

Kalugas are one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.

It is also said to have existed for some 130 million years, and have been hunted to near extinction for their valuable roe.

Besides concerns about diners feasting on endangered animals, netizens generally agreed that the price tag of the meal was quite fair, especially since the restaurant did not hide the price tag.

"The customer already knew the price, and when it came time to add up the bill, he had ordered two kilograms, that comes out to 1,592 yuan (S$342). You say he was ripped off, but did he think he was eating for free?" a netizen argued.

Reports by CCTV News revealed that Chen did not take the hefty weight of his bill lightly, and even made a scene and forced the restaurant to throw in a discount.

And as if nothing can be worse, it was also later revealed that the normal price of the fish at the local market was around 160 - 200 yuan (S$34-$44) per kilogram ,while the restaurant priced the fish at nearly four times the price.