Shrimp Heads
A little while ago I saw an episode of the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" and Duff Goldman talked about eating shrimp heads at a Japanese restaurant. He said they aren't usually on the menu, but if you ask for them you'll get a huge plate of them.
I've never seen anyone eat a huge bowl of shrimp heads at a Japanese restaurant, but if I did, I'd order some. They looked so delicious. Does anyone know if this is true or common? Is it ok to request things off the menu? I'm thinking of going into my favorite Japanese place this weekend and trying it out, but I don't want to be looked at as if I'm a complete freak.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
9 Comments:
At a lot of traditional Chinese restaurants, they'll serve the whole shrimp, head, shells, legs and all. It's pretty normal to see people sucking the heads out.
But I haven't seen a bowl of just shrimp heads. Then again, I haven't tried...
hungryhungryhippo at 7:50PM on 09/19/09
on one hand that sounds gross.... but look who'se talking, i've sat in acme oyster co in new orleans many a time and sucked the heads and pinched the tails of my fair share of crawfish. i guess if they were cooked up i'd give it a try.
nightmoon at 10:38PM on 09/19/09
my grandma used to make a pot of sweet shrimp (amaebi) heads after we were done eating raw amaebi... it was unbelievable. unfortunately I have no clue how to make it :-(
As I recall we just sucked the head (i.e. the brain/goo) and not eat the shell.
But many sushi places in Japan would make you deep-fried shrimp heads and since it's fried, you can eat the whole thing. that's also tasty.
hmw0029 at 11:03PM on 09/19/09
@hmw0029: That's what I'm talking about! In the episode, he ordered shrimp heads and about a dozen huge shrimp heads came out on a plate, deep fried and served with a bit of soy. He just dipped the shrimp heads in soy and ate the whole thing. It looked so tasty and crunchy.
PumpkinBear at 12:07AM on 09/20/09
usually when you get the ama ebi nigiri super fresh, they'll pull the shrimps out of the tank, pull the heads off, and put the shrimp on rice. they deliver the deep fried heads afterward.
delicious.
unarata at 1:48AM on 09/20/09
Love the fried heads!!! I can't hurt to ask, just go for it.
DELICIOUS at 8:14AM on 09/20/09
Shrimp heads are a great snack are are crawfish heads. Don't hesitate to order them.
Leper at 11:05AM on 09/20/09
The head carries all or most of the flavor of a shrimp. If you can get your hands on shrimp with the head on, you're wasting a good portion of the flavor if you don't take advantage and at least roll the head around in your mouth.
I've never seen anyone order ONLY shrimp heads but hell, I'd do it. Bear thinks I'm nuts anyway because I eat the tails of young shrimp. Older ones have very tough tails with a DANGEROUS spike on them, making them inedible. They're a good source of calcium as well.
therealchiffonade at 2:14PM on 09/20/09
fried shrimp head pics.
this person is a fishmonger.
hmw0029 at 2:38PM on 09/20/09