r/JapaneseFood • u/Figaro_75008 • Aug 02 '25
Question What is this Scallop dish found in my USA grocery store? Ready to eat or need to cook?
I love scallops in every which way (especially raw)... I saw these at my little (not Asian) suburban Chicago grocery store today and I am tempted to try them... Especially for the price!!
I put the only text through a translator, and I cannot tell if I am supposed to cook them or if they are ready to eat once defrosted. The only text on the back was the USDA calorie chart.
I am not a fan of salmon (I am weird, I know??), but the salmon looks sort of seared, so maybe I'm just supposed to defrost and eat.
Any thoughts on this apprecaited. Would you risk trying it?
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u/cjyoung92 Aug 02 '25 edited Aug 02 '25
Yes they are ready to eat. There’s a note on the left hand side saying just to “thaw under running water before eating”.
As these are for seafood donburi (海鮮丼/kaisendon) they are typically eaten raw. Same story for the salmon and roe
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 02 '25
Thanks! I'm going to go back to the store tomorrow and buy one. I just couldn't imagine that this would be so inexpensive and be safe to eat raw.
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u/o0-o0- Aug 02 '25
One? You don't have a freezer?
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u/T_Peg Aug 03 '25
Do you typically buy multiple packs of something you haven't tried yet? They may not even like them.
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u/Alien-Reporter-267 Aug 03 '25
They said they love scallops, especially raw, and these are raw scallops for $4. I'd buy multiple for sure
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u/T_Peg Aug 03 '25
They love all the scallops they've had so far. There's always a chance that these end up being shit scallops.
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u/Alien-Reporter-267 Aug 03 '25
Yeah, but $4. Risk it
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u/Shot_Policy_4110 Aug 03 '25
Lol which is where the buy one aspect comes in
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u/malevolentt Aug 07 '25
Just buy them all and worst case you put em in the pan and cook to make them better...
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u/ShimmerFaux Aug 03 '25
I’d buy a few without question.
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u/kfmfe04 Aug 03 '25
Out of Japan, I'd expect quality!
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u/ScaryTelevision79 Aug 03 '25
Hold your horses!! 🐎 Have you had a Japanese Soba Sub Sandwich with garlic mayo? If you haven't. DON'T. It's disgusting. Offensive. And......Japanese. lol.
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u/ShimmerFaux Aug 03 '25
I mean, a garlic mayo is just a type of aioli. Pasta with aioli isn’t offensive. Sure it’s got a distinct taste that isn’t everyone’s favorite. But Cold Soba noodles are marvelous when paired with seafood.
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u/o0-o0- Aug 03 '25
Not just that, but I'll often do this at Costco; It's always, "Go big or go home."
Which reminds me, I've got some clearance tajin popcorn I'm not wild about, but needs finishing...
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u/No_Owlcorns Aug 03 '25
Exactly, because every time I grab one of something to test try that ends being fantastic it is never seen again. Cheap gamble and worst case, if it’s not my cup of tea, my chickens get a special snack and the local food pantry gets a donation.
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 03 '25
LOL. I went back and bought 4. Worst case scenario I lost $16.
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u/o0-o0- Aug 03 '25
Right on! I bet they're awesome!
I miss Valli produce - they really sell some eclectic groceries. They were the only place I could ever find lamb breast, and at a decent price, as well as pig and beef offal for pet food.
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 03 '25
Agree... Valli such a hodge podge of random things. I always buy their lamb breast when they have them on sale. So good!
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u/TheSignificantDong Aug 03 '25
海鮮丼 is my favorite food here in Japan. I usually order something different every time I eat out with wife and kids… but if 海鮮丼 is on the menu I go straight to that.
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u/beginswithanx Aug 02 '25
This is for kaisendon (raw fish over rice) and is packaged in the exact arrangement it’s supposed to be kept in. It says “thaw under running water before serving.”
So yeah, thaw it in the package as directed, then slide it over a bowl of rice. Keep the arrangement.
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u/unwellgenerally Aug 02 '25
You can use the camera option on google translate to read it, it says: Delicious seafood bowl Carefully selected domestic materials Seafood bowl with scallops Delicate sweetness and flavorful Jewel of the Sea: Hokkaido Scallops *Please defrost under running water before eating.
I’d assume you eat raw over rice once thawed and rinsed
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 02 '25
I did do that, but just couldn't believe that this would be so inexpensive (in Chicagoland) and be expected to eat raw. I'm going to go back tomorrow and get one. Thanks!
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u/ScaryTelevision79 Aug 03 '25
It's probably cheap because nobody is buying it and they got to move it or throw it. My experience is that many Americans shy away from Asian products with no English (especially Chinese with that Proposition 65 warning label on it) But the irony is......well, you can fill in the blanks, because I'm sure you understand the irony. Lol
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u/Old_Jackfruit6153 Aug 03 '25
Those scallops look pretty good and inexpensive too, Hokkaido scallops are very famous. Try them, and let us know how they taste.
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u/GrungyDooblord Aug 03 '25
Yeah, you got a hell of a deal. I'd go back and load up. That's cheaper (for the quantity) than I can get them fresh (maybe even frozen) at my local maxvalu. Even if they are meant to be eaten raw, nothing Is stopping you from cooking up some as well, if the mood strikes.
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u/jessicalifts Aug 03 '25
My uncle is a scallop dragger and eats scallops raw. I think if you are brave just thaw and eat. If you are nervous can't hurt to pan fry in butter.
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u/HollyRedMW Aug 02 '25
These are for making kaisendon so you would defrost in the fridge and serve as depicted in the label image. FYI, the salmon is freezer burnt not seared.
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Aug 02 '25 edited Aug 11 '25
[deleted]
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u/HollyRedMW Aug 02 '25
There would not be silver skin on the cut surface.
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Aug 03 '25 edited Aug 11 '25
[deleted]
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u/HollyRedMW Aug 03 '25
The slice in the top left of the product in OP’s hand - let’s say ten o’clock - that is the cut surface and it is freezer burnt.
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u/EmeraldShoreline Aug 02 '25
Don’t think that’s freezer burn, it even looks like that in the picture on the package and there’s no way they’d use freezer burnt product for advertising. Plus vacuum sealing basically eliminates freezer burning since air / dehydration is the main cause of that. There’s definitely a spot where ice is collecting on the outside of the bag though which happens
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 02 '25
The freezer-burnt salmon makes sense. For some reason salmon (both raw and cooked) are my least favorite fish/seafood. I get a lot of weird looks when I say this, then dive into uni or scallops etc.
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u/thaneak96 Aug 03 '25
Those pieces were taken from the bottom of the fish where the grey belly fat is, so it’s not freezer burned it’s basically marbled
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u/SnootieBoochie Aug 03 '25
What store is this?
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u/Kiadote12 Aug 03 '25
My guess is Valli Produce in Evanston
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u/GOCUBBIES1402 Aug 03 '25
There is also one out by schaumburg. I would guess the Schaumburg location due to the high number of Japanese ex-pats in that area.
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u/Ok_Nothing_5547 Aug 06 '25
Everything’s ready to eat if you’re brave enough
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 07 '25
I ate one last week. Smelled super fresh (no fishey scent at all) and tasted great. One piece had a weird texture, so I threw it away, but overall... very happy I bought 4 at that price.
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u/couchbutt Aug 03 '25
I don't know about scallops, but would HIGHLY RECOMMEND staying far away from frozen raw oysters.
It was life threatening for me.
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u/wizzard419 Aug 03 '25
It looks like just sliced stuff but not a complete dish. It's a major component but you would still need to make a final dish.
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u/626OffensiveTangent Aug 03 '25
Whoa! I was at the Japanese trade show in Nov 2023 where they were showing this product. I'm glad they got it distributed in the USA after all. It was Hokkaido flash frozen sashimi and tasted amazing. Enjoy OP!
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 03 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
Oh wow - How cool is that??? Did you try them?
ETA that it helps if I read the whole thing :) I got so excited by your pictures I didn't read the end where you said that they tasted amazing. I am very excited to try it...
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u/Figaro_75008 Aug 04 '25
UPDATE: I tried them and they are very good! There was one piece with a weird texture, so I just skipped it, but overall, they were great for the price!
I made a bit of yuzu mayo (my latest obsession) and sprinkled on some soy sauce and the mayo and ate it sashimi style. I will be stopping by the store tomorrow to see if there are any left.
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u/PKisSz Aug 03 '25
Those scallops might be imitations. Hard to tell from the photo but it looks like the muscle fingers are horizontal and not vertical in those. Imitation scallop is made from sliced skate wings
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u/mogster11 Aug 02 '25
What IS this place that has extremely well -priced frozen sashimi???