Eating Live Shrimp in Shanghai
China has many bizarre cuisines but eating living shrimp, also known as drunken shrimp, is definitely one of those on the far end of the spectrum.
- What: Live Drunken Shrimp (呛虾)
- Where: Yi Sheng Yue Wei (熠盛粤味), Shanghai, China [Map]
- Why: Not your average tourist cuisine.
- Notes: To my surprise they were very delicious, order it in combination with spicy frog.
- Similar: Eating Live Octopus in Korea and Eating Live Squid in Japan
Cantonese cuisine is probably one of the most interesting chinese cuisines. I went to Eason Restaurant, known in Chinese as Yi Sheng Yue Wei.
The living shrimp are best known as 'drunken shrimp, the point of the rice wine is it sanitizes, mellows out, and flavors the shrimp. This dish is extremely simple. Just get shrimp and add alcohol.
To my own surprise, I actually really enjoyed this dish! It is crunchy, has a strong alcoholic taste and gives an adrenaline rush.
Live drunken shrimp are sweet, refreshing, warm-weather treats and dinner and a show in one. But bring a Chinese friend to help you order if you're an expat/foreigner.
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