Giant isopods found off Taiwan’s Ramen Bowl

Since The Ramen Boy launched the limited-edition noodle bowl on May 22, the Ramen Boy announced in a social media post that it had finally got this dream ingredient, more than a 100 people have joined a waiting list to dine at the restaurant.

It is so attractive because of its appearance - it looks very cute, said the 37-year-old owner, who wanted to be identified only as Mr. Hu, as he held up a giant isopod while customers took pictures.

The easiest way to cook is using steam, so there is no difficulty in processing it. The isopod has been steaming for 10 minutes before adding it to a bowl of ramen with thick chicken and fish broth. A customer said the meat tasted like a cross between crab and lobster, with a dense texture and some chewiness.

Giant isopods, a distant cousin of crabs and prawns, are the largest among the thousands of species in the crustacean group, the NOAA Ocean Exploration said on its website.

They are usually found in the ocean around 170 - 2140 meters 186 - 2340 yards deep, and 80% of them live at a depth of 365 - 730 meters, Taiwan's Animal Planet said in a Facebook page.

A Taiwanese expert identified the species as Bathynomus jamesi, which was found near the Dongsha islands on the South China Sea. They are expected to be caught between 300 and 500 meters off the coast.

Although the ramen has been launched, some academics have raised concerns about the potential ecological impact of bottom trawling fishing tactics as well as potential health risks.

But customers at the restaurant are divided on whether to stay at the restaurant or not.

If it s just a special menu, and the giant isopods were caught unintentionally like the restaurant owner says they were, everyone should try it if they get a chance, Huang said.

She added that she is very honored to have this opportunity to taste it as she ate from a bowl of isopod-topped noodles.

However, a scholar warned against potential health risks, saying the largely unknown species may contain toxins or heavy metals like mercury.

The Bathynomus jamesi species was officially recognized in Taiwan last year, and there is not much data on it, Ming-chih, a biotechnology associate professor at the National University of Tainan, said.

The best practice would be to do more research, build a complete database and then allow people to eat, he said.