I was at the Japanese Friendship garden in San Jose today (ok I live next door). There are dozens of these huge Koi cruising around the ponds.

All I could think was: Koi must taste like crap, these things are too big and juicy to be ignored by Japanese chiefs

Has anyone eaten Koi?
Anyone know why people don't eat them?


It's one of the two native Japanese animals I can think of the Japanese don't eat. The other being Mountain Monkey.
Just gotta wonder why

 

They're considered good luck to have and are a symbol of perseverance, strength and affluence. Kind of defeats the purpose to kill and eat it.

 

They eat carp like crazy in other parts of asia but not in japan...

 

They're also really expensive to eat... lol. Some Koi cost thousands.

 

freshwater fish are nasty to eat raw. slimey, sludgey and fishy...

 

Koi is like the american catfish in a way.

They are boney as hell to the point my dad (sushi chef of 30+ years) refuses to cook them and eating them. Its just not desirable what so ever. The meat is stiff and smelly.

 

Yea

Koi is basically a really pretty Carp. They are in the same family. So lots of bones, not alot of meet, and the taste is off putting.....

 

Bony and tastes like dirt.

 

I know people that eat carp. Never heard of eating koi though. They say hunger is the best seasoning though.