"Rona Y" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> here's a question to get some non-spam action going!
>
> I went out for tempura yesterday, and the pair seated next to me had
> some kind of spiny tempura. It looked a little like
> http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/living_spe...ri=1&inhab=192
> this spiny crab, but not quite. Actually, it reminded me of a spider
> with an exoskeleton. When the chef explained what it was, I thought
> he used the word "ebi" in its name, and "ebi" usually means shrimp,
> but sometimes can refer to small lobster-like crustaceans (like Ise-
> ebi).
>
> Any idea what they were eating? I think they were eating the most
> expensive meal (more than $100 for lunch!), so it must have been
> expensive, which also makes me think it must not have been something
> terribly common. It looked so good and crispy, I might have to order
> it a la carte next time!
>

The only crabs used for tempura are softshell crabs. And that's only in the
United States.
http://www.izmisushi.com/softshellcrab.JPG
http://www.aaa-calif.com/westways/1104/pg_68b.jpg
Perhaps you saw one of these with the crust gone wild.
Musashi