Because I had it for the first time this week and had to spit it into my napkin – it was so chewy, like old leather. Did I get a bad one?
by Moppy6686
35 Comments
Middle_Macaron1033
Nope, you didn’t get a bad one. It’s definitely got a chewy leathery texture. As for taste… it’s hard to describe. Maybe watered down crab guts? I’m not sure how to describe it. I enjoy the texture mixed with soy sauce and wasabi though
pricklypolyglot
Real hokkigai is good, but ubagai aka Canadian hokkigai is mostly cheap garbage.
nevets4433
Yeah they tend to be rubbery textured and the flavor isn’t much to write home about either – if you’re getting the red-footed clams sold commonly in the US. I love shellfish, but these guys get the wasabi and soy treatment with the quickness.
Graybeard_Shaving
Chewy with a slight ocean brine. Delicious.
bigcee42
They’re crap.
Goosecave
It’s definitely a chewy clam. I would even say it’s one of the chewiest ones out there. When I get this, I recommend the chef to make slight cross cuts on the pieces to make it less chewy. It’s also not a flavorful clam which is probably why you didn’t find it tasty. Those who enjoy this line briney chewy textures, sense the more you chew, the more brininess you get before the end you get a slightly sweet clam taste. it’s definitely not a level 1 sashimi. Like level 20 but for some reason they put it in with mixed platters loool
Honeybucket206
It tastes like a day at the beach. Sun, seas, sand. Delicious
Late-Dingo-8567
Funny enough, my usual haunt this weekend i asked the waitress what she likes and she said surf clam. It was fine but not anything like Pam shell clam which i love.
Wasn’t disgusting but Def fleshy and mild.
futurus196
Doesn’t taste like much to me. It’s kind of neutral. I’m always disappointed when I get it!
EdwinMcduck
Worst mainstream offering at a typical sushi place. If you have trouble swallowing this will make you choke. So rubbery.
SilverKnightOfMagic
they don’t have much flavor. my dad likes it. I don’t care for it much.
Padgetts-Profile
Clams are arguably my favorite seafood, but are amongst my least favorite for sushi. I’ve lived in areas with incredibly diverse clam populations and have dug thousands on my own. Never liked eating them raw. Gimme clams casino, fritters, or chowder all day any day
Squid-bear
They with a slight sweetness i tend to find. It’s one of my favourite orders.
Ancient-Chinglish
Rubber of the ocean
Airborn805
Nothing but goodness
LambentVines1125
Rubber gaskets
Some_People_Say_
Chewy texture, not much taste.
PotentialDifficult62
I thought this said “what is your clam supposed to taste like?”, for a minute and i was both highly confused and equally amused.
Competitive-Use1360
The outside is very chewy and doesnt taste like much, the interior(if it isnt sliced too thin) is sweet and tender. I really enjoy them without any sauces.
Parking_Food704
I honestly like pretty mu h everything and I really dislike surf clam
champagnesupernova62
Try giant clam. Much better.
KimCheeHoo
The Ocean
Heavy-Tour-2328
Chewy but sweet
LeadingGuide693
Asian food culture there’s a lot of texture eating, and the surf clam is one of them. Basically no flavor, soy sauce and wasabi is very necessary. Its texture is chewy, if it’s rubbery it’s not the best or overcooked.
Django2chainsz
All you’re gonna get is frozen Canadian hokkagai and it’s going to taste like ocean leather. It’s rare to find any that’s worth eating. The fresh stuff isn’t bad and actually isn’t that expensive but good luck finding a place that serves it
jm90012
Yeah, not a fan.. almost tasteless and too chewy
jjr4884
Clams just don’t belong on sushi – eat them raw (littlenecks and small cherrystones) with a little squirt of lemon and red wine vinegar, or steam/grill them in whatever you want and make sure there’s some butter involved.
Never understood them for sushi, and the same goes for octopus. Love both, but under different application.
AdvertisingCheap2377
Had one today and it was full of sand. Spat it out
Training_wheels9393
Pencil erasers in my experience.
ChaiHai
Surf clam has always been delicious for me. It’s a treat when we find it on the menu.
bethesdak
Not my cup of tea. Tastes like calamari if you un-fried it and boiled in pasta water
Longjumping-Sail6386
Like low tide
WatchaLookingatme4
Best way is to just try it, and let us know how you find it. It’s about the mouthfeel for me. The subtle flavor is just right.
o0-o0-
It’s because they’re processed at a factory, frozen then defrosted for consumption, and honestly that’s no way to treat a clam.
bchhun
I’ve had it many places, including Japan. The best will be firm and almost hard, but should give way with pressure. No other sushi has similarly firm texture. It shouldn’t be chewy like meat gristle or fat. Flavor is quite mild. To me it’s an all texture piece.
35 Comments
Nope, you didn’t get a bad one. It’s definitely got a chewy leathery texture. As for taste… it’s hard to describe. Maybe watered down crab guts? I’m not sure how to describe it. I enjoy the texture mixed with soy sauce and wasabi though
Real hokkigai is good, but ubagai aka Canadian hokkigai is mostly cheap garbage.
Yeah they tend to be rubbery textured and the flavor isn’t much to write home about either – if you’re getting the red-footed clams sold commonly in the US. I love shellfish, but these guys get the wasabi and soy treatment with the quickness.
Chewy with a slight ocean brine. Delicious.
They’re crap.
It’s definitely a chewy clam. I would even say it’s one of the chewiest ones out there. When I get this, I recommend the chef to make slight cross cuts on the pieces to make it less chewy. It’s also not a flavorful clam which is probably why you didn’t find it tasty. Those who enjoy this line briney chewy textures, sense the more you chew, the more brininess you get before the end you get a slightly sweet clam taste. it’s definitely not a level 1 sashimi. Like level 20 but for some reason they put it in with mixed platters loool
It tastes like a day at the beach. Sun, seas, sand. Delicious
Funny enough, my usual haunt this weekend i asked the waitress what she likes and she said surf clam. It was fine but not anything like Pam shell clam which i love.
Wasn’t disgusting but Def fleshy and mild.
Doesn’t taste like much to me. It’s kind of neutral. I’m always disappointed when I get it!
Worst mainstream offering at a typical sushi place. If you have trouble swallowing this will make you choke. So rubbery.
they don’t have much flavor. my dad likes it. I don’t care for it much.
Clams are arguably my favorite seafood, but are amongst my least favorite for sushi. I’ve lived in areas with incredibly diverse clam populations and have dug thousands on my own. Never liked eating them raw. Gimme clams casino, fritters, or chowder all day any day
They with a slight sweetness i tend to find. It’s one of my favourite orders.
Rubber of the ocean
Nothing but goodness
Rubber gaskets
Chewy texture, not much taste.
I thought this said “what is your clam supposed to taste like?”, for a minute and i was both highly confused and equally amused.
The outside is very chewy and doesnt taste like much, the interior(if it isnt sliced too thin) is sweet and tender. I really enjoy them without any sauces.
I honestly like pretty mu h everything and I really dislike surf clam
Try giant clam. Much better.
The Ocean
Chewy but sweet
Asian food culture there’s a lot of texture eating, and the surf clam is one of them. Basically no flavor, soy sauce and wasabi is very necessary. Its texture is chewy, if it’s rubbery it’s not the best or overcooked.
All you’re gonna get is frozen Canadian hokkagai and it’s going to taste like ocean leather. It’s rare to find any that’s worth eating. The fresh stuff isn’t bad and actually isn’t that expensive but good luck finding a place that serves it
Yeah, not a fan.. almost tasteless and too chewy
Clams just don’t belong on sushi – eat them raw (littlenecks and small cherrystones) with a little squirt of lemon and red wine vinegar, or steam/grill them in whatever you want and make sure there’s some butter involved.
Never understood them for sushi, and the same goes for octopus. Love both, but under different application.
Had one today and it was full of sand. Spat it out
Pencil erasers in my experience.
Surf clam has always been delicious for me. It’s a treat when we find it on the menu.
Not my cup of tea. Tastes like calamari if you un-fried it and boiled in pasta water
Like low tide
Best way is to just try it, and let us know how you find it. It’s about the mouthfeel for me. The subtle flavor is just right.
It’s because they’re processed at a factory, frozen then defrosted for consumption, and honestly that’s no way to treat a clam.
I’ve had it many places, including Japan. The best will be firm and almost hard, but should give way with pressure. No other sushi has similarly firm texture. It shouldn’t be chewy like meat gristle or fat. Flavor is quite mild. To me it’s an all texture piece.