also: くるまエビ
kuruma prawn; Japanese tiger prawn; Marsupenaeus japonicus
A species of prawn highly valued in Japanese cuisine, known for its distinctive striped pattern. Often used in sushi and tempura.
Kuruma prawn is popular as a high-class sushi topping.
I grilled some fresh kuruma prawns with salt.
海老 is the umbrella word for the whole crustacean group, whereas 車海老 refers specifically to the kuruma prawn often served at sushi counters.
Standard kanji spelling for this prawn species.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling, common in menus and casual contexts.
Katakana spelling, common in biological and culinary contexts.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling, often seen in food contexts.
Alternate kanji using 蝦; less common than 海老.
Named for the curved, wheel-like (車) pattern on its shell when bent, resembling the spokes of a wheel. The derivation is straightforward from the kanji components.