Horseshoe Crab – A Unique Delicacy with Varied Reactions
A foreign tourist tried a specialty from Ha Long - Horseshoe Crabs and was very surprised by its flavor, "This is the first and last time I will eat it. Its price is also quite high, nearly on par with seafood like crab and shrimp."
Vietnamese cuisine, with its diversity and richness, is one of the top reasons why visitors from around the world are fascinated. Local specialties with unique, distinctive flavors from each destination stand out. However, some of these dishes can be quite challenging for diners and may even be described as "not for everyone."
One such example is a dish that Max McFarlin, an American traveler with a great passion for Vietnamese food, tried during his trip to Ha Long. This dish is considered one of the most famous specialties in the Ha Long heritage area and Quang Ninh province.
Horshoes Crab - The Specialty "Best in Ha Long, Quang Ninh"
Horseshoe crab is a creature found along Vietnam's coastal regions where the tide is high. It is quite large, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 kg for females and 1 to 2 kg for males, and has six legs and four eyes.
In Vietnam, particularly in Northern Vietnam, horseshoe crab is most commonly found in the Quang Ninh area, especially in Quang Yen and Ha Long. This makes it a unique and highly renowned specialty of the region.
They are often prepared into seven different dishes using various parts, including horseshoe crab salad, sweet and sour stir-fried legs, deep-fried legs, horseshoe crab patties, stir-fried horseshoe crab meat, soup, and horseshoe crab eggs.
The prices for these dishes are relatively high, similar to other seafood options, ranging from 80,000 to 250,000 VND per dish. The most affordable choices are the horseshoe crab salad and soup, while the most expensive are the stir-fried meat and patties. It's often recommended for diners at horseshoe crab restaurants to opt for the full combo of seven dishes, which costs over 1 million VND.
A Dish Not to Everyone's Taste
In reality, dishes made from horseshoe crab aren't to everyone's taste, and not everyone enjoys them on their first try. Max himself remarked that the dish didn't suit his palate. He couldn't finish any of the seven dishes in the combo, partly due to the taste and partly because he kept imagining the original appearance of the horseshoe crab before it was cooked.
"Since I was familiar with what a horseshoe crab looks like in its raw form, I felt a bit hesitant about eating it," Max said. However, the American tourist observed that although they may appear "ugly" in their raw state, they become quite appealing once cooked.
In contrast to Max McFarlin's experience, many diners love horseshoe crab for its fresh, ocean-like flavor, while others prefer it heavily seasoned for a rich taste.
Tastes differ from person to person, and horseshoe crab isn't for everyone. Yet, many tourists choose to try it when visiting Ha Long or Quang Ninh, eager to explore the local culture and culinary diversity.