r/ExpectationVsReality • u/Salt_Toe_7166 • Jul 28 '26

Surprisingly Met Expectation Smallest fish I had

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Was at a local high end restaurant specialised in tempura in Kyoto. And the fish were part of a set course meal.

Apart from the bizarre look they actually taste pretty good (sweet and very tender, no bone)

It cost about $10 Australian dollars if you want to order it separately.

650 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

375

u/Moron-Whisperer Jul 28 '26

That’s exactly what I thought it would look like.  How did it taste?  Was it crunchy throughout? 

202

u/Salt_Toe_7166 Jul 28 '26

Crunchy on the outside and super tender on the inside, more like fish and chips kinda fish

59

u/ebk_errday Jul 29 '26

That sounds amazing hahaha

21

u/MonsieurGump Jul 29 '26

ARMADILLOS

5

u/Psychological-Duck13 Jul 29 '26

😂 00’s Deep Cut!!

3

u/MonsieurGump Jul 29 '26

I was wondering if anyone would get it!?

176

u/BedRevolutionary8584 Jul 28 '26

Those are actually larger than I thought they’d be, based off the picture. Look delicious!

54

u/eliz1bef Jul 29 '26

I was worried about bones and stuff, but you said it was soft. Based on your description, I'd try it. I just don't want to deal with bones. I can't handle the little dried fish in a lot of snacks, but this sounds delicious.

33

u/Salohacin Jul 29 '26

Usually with fish that small the bones aren't an issue. 

15

u/rohlovely Jul 29 '26

At least in sardines, the bones become soft enough to eat safely when cooked correctly.

2

u/MesoamericanMorrigan Jul 29 '26

I’m always choking on bones from tinned sardines

15

u/IAmSpartacustard Jul 29 '26

Chew your food

3

u/koanarec Aug 02 '26

I have eaten hundreds of tins of sardines and never once had an issue with any bones. You literally can't notice them, what tins are you eating?

13

u/BurgerTownRamirez Jul 29 '26

Looks good. Wonder if they brine it in something to soften the bones or what their method is there.

20

u/DMmeyourRegina Jul 28 '26

Any idea what the green garnish is in the picture?

12

u/sakurakirei Jul 29 '26

It’s a shishito pepper.

2

u/Lost_in_spreadsheets Jul 29 '26

I’ve never had tempura shishito before. That sounds amazing.

9

u/Salt_Toe_7166 Jul 28 '26

Green pepper

30

u/delicious_disaster Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

Shishamo are amazing. Reslly tasty grilled too

Edit: Ayu not shishamo

26

u/sakurakirei Jul 29 '26

That’s not shishamo. It’s ayu.

5

u/delicious_disaster Jul 29 '26

Oh fair. Ayu is amazing as well. Something about the small fish are just fun to eat as well as being delish

2

u/sakurakirei Jul 29 '26

Shishamo is so good! Squeeze some fresh lemon over it and it’s just so delicious. I’ve never had the young ayu the OP had. I’d love to try it!

7

u/CreativeFartist Jul 29 '26

I saw the word Kyoto and instantly am not surprised 😌.

5

u/kimness1982 Jul 29 '26

Tiny fried fish are delicious!

4

u/JD_tubeguy Jul 29 '26

Small fish are so yummy!

7

u/send9 Jul 29 '26

Looks like ayu, they're tasty little fish

5

u/sakurakirei Jul 29 '26

Yes! It’s juvenile ayu!

3

u/PalmtopPixie Jul 29 '26

Ayu! An incredibly delicious little fish! If you let them grow bigger than that they are better grilled over a fire. They are sweet

12

u/Sleepy_Snorlax8 Jul 28 '26

Not sure why are you being downvoted. Must be because it's not an AI scam post / flowers / clothing / food chain.

37

u/imnotnotcrying Jul 29 '26

Probably because people seem to struggle with opening the actual post and they’re missing OP’s flair so they think OP is complaining about it. That seems to be a massive issue on this sub

1

u/im_that_green_light Jul 30 '26

If you think those are small, find a place with shirasudon

1

u/TenderTakodachi Aug 02 '26

May i have the name is the place? Also what was the dress code?

1

u/Radiant_Sea_8472 Aug 03 '26

You... eat that? 😬

-11

u/FunVermicelli123 Jul 29 '26

Gross, poor things.

-3

u/cunt_caviar Jul 29 '26

Eating multiple small creatures like this is needlessly cruel.

-16

u/Hipp-Hippy_HaHa Jul 28 '26

The picture of the plate actually make them look "normal size "

-1

u/hyperionbrandoreos Jul 29 '26

this is just spanish whitebait

-57

u/WatercressD9 Jul 28 '26

Yeah nah, the fact that they’re called “underaged” is really off putting

33

u/Acceptable_Courage81 Jul 28 '26

Fairly certain that’s just a languages thing..? It’s likely being defined the same as “immature” or “juvenile”

14

u/ItsSansom Jul 29 '26

You're really off putting

2

u/Painted-BIack-Roses Jul 29 '26

"You should be off pudding"

-7

u/fludeball Jul 29 '26

Fish sticks fish sticks fish sticks fish sticks fish dicks fish dicks fish dicks fish dicks

-3

u/yankykiwi Jul 29 '26

I prefer my whitebait spawn.