Tilapia Prices

[ironchef]

You know, I only started eating Tilapia (aka Nile Perch) when I was on the mainland. In Hawaii, practically nobody eat this fish. It's known as the fish which lives in various streams, canals, ponds, etc. that have been contaminated. People catch it for fun then throw them back.

Anyway, I've noticed that the fish gained a lot of popularity a few years ago, and I was curious as to how much it costs where you live. The other day I saw it for $2.99/lb. for whole, fresh, farm raised fish. I've noticed that through posts on here, lots of people actually eat it.

So, how much is tilapia in your area?

[BreezyCooking]

The prices for it here in Virginia are pretty much the same as what you're seeing, although the filets are more like $3.99/lb.

I don't buy this fish because I'm just not a fan of farmed fish. We have a large ethnic supermarket in the area that sells Tilapia live from tanks, & just seeing them swimming about in that murky recirculated water makes me nauseous. I do buy farmed catfish & trout on rare occasion, but for some reason Tilapia leaves me cold. I find it completely tasteless.

[Dina]

$4.99 down here in Texas. Sometimes it'll go for $3.99 if it's reduced. I still buy it since it's our favorite fish.

[Chopstix]

We get large-sized live tilapia in the biggest wet market here for roughly $0.75 per pound. The fishmonger kills them in front of you after you select the ones you want. (Poor fish.) It's usually sold dead in the supermarkets for a higher price.

[buckytom]

it's about 3 or 4 bucks a pound here.
i've noticed a lot of sushi places are putting it in their deluxe plates, passing it off as tai or hirame. it's pretty much firm and flavorless.

[ironchef]

Hmm...so it pretty much seems to be the same price in a lot of places.

Man Bucky, any sushi place that does that with tilapia, I'd be really wary about what they're serving as their other fish. A place like that I think would not have any reservations about serving tuna that's been treated with carbon monoxide or scallops that have been bleached.

[buckytom]

some of it is pretty scary i.c.. lots of local take-out chinese places, nothing more than a rodent infested storefronts, offer sushi and sashimi to go. it makes me shudder...

[amber]

Here it is $2.99 lb. for fillets. I like tilapia, but now I'm not so sure after what IC mentioned about it possibly coming from contaminated streams, canals, etc.

[TATTRAT]

really cheap...2.79 pr/lb...alot compared to goldfish:-)

I think it's price point is why it has even made it to some corperate menus,i.e. Outback Steakhouse.

[BreezyCooking]

I've noticed that too. In fact, in some of the family-type chains, like Ruby Tuesday's for instance, it's replaced catfish in most if not all of their fish sandwiches & other dishes.

Not surprising considering catfish filets run between $4.99 & $6.99 per pound retail around here.