The Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), also known as Asian Seabass, is a species of catadromous fish in family Latidae of order Perciformes. The native species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region from the Persian Gulf, through Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia. Known in Thai language as Pla Krapong (Thai: ปลากระพง), it is very popular in Thai cuisine.
Barramundi is a loanword from an Australian Aboriginal language of the Rockhampton area in Queensland meaning “large-scaled river fish”. Barramundi are demersal inhabiting soiastal water, estuaries, lagoons and rives; they are found in clear to turbid water, usually within a temperature range of 26-30oC.
Barramundi have white, flaky flesh, though the larger freshwater ones commonly carry a lot of body fat. Saltwater barramundi, however, have a general reputation as good eating. This fish is known as Pla Krapong in Thailand and it is one of the most popular fishes in Thai cuisine. It is often eaten steamed with lime and garlic, as well as deep-fried or stir-fried with lemongrass, among a variety of many other ways.
You can find authentic Thai Barramundi on many Thai Restaurants in Los Angeles.
