Where to Buy Salmon Belly – A Guide to Finding the Freshest and Best Salmon Bellies

Salmon belly is one of the most prized and delicious cuts of salmon, known for its incredibly rich, fatty and flavorful meat. However, salmon bellies can be hard to find at your average grocery store So where exactly can you buy high-quality fresh salmon bellies? In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about buying salmon bellies and recommend some of the best places to purchase them online or locally

What Are Salmon Bellies?

Salmon bellies come from the fatty underside or ventral area of salmon. They are oval shaped cuts that run along the belly of the fish. Salmon bellies contain higher levels of delicious oils and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids compared to other cuts of salmon. The marbled fat content gives salmon bellies their signature melt-in-your-mouth texture and ultra rich flavor. Salmon bellies can be enjoyed fresh, cured, smoked, grilled, pan seared and more. This prized cut is often reserved for fishermen and sold at a premium to restaurants and specialty fish markets.

Benefits of Salmon Bellies

There are many benefits that make salmon bellies such a prized culinary delicacy

• Extremely rich, fatty and flavorful cut of salmon
• Higher levels of healthy Omega-3s than other salmon cuts
• Satisfying melt-in-your-mouth texture
• Versatile for many cooking methods – grill, pan sear, bake, broil, smoke, or eat raw as sashimi or poke
• Suitable for curing into gravlax, lox or smoked salmon
• A special treat and delicacy reserved for those in the know

Where to Buy Fresh Salmon Bellies

It can be tricky trying to find salmon bellies at your local supermarket. Here are some of the best places to buy fresh high quality salmon bellies:

Online Seafood Shops

Purchasing salmon bellies online from reputable seafood shops ensures you’ll get incredibly fresh salmon bellies shipped overnight right to your door. Some top recommended online seafood shops include:

• Four Star Seafood – Based in San Francisco, they offer sustainably caught wild salmon bellies overnight shipped on ice.

• Giovanni’s Fish Market – A family owned shop offering premium salmon bellies overnight delivered fresh from the Pacific Northwest and California fisheries.

• Wulf’s Fish – Sustainably sourced salmon bellies overnight shipped on ice from Seattle.

Local Specialty Fish Shops

Your best bet for finding salmon bellies locally is to check with reputable specialty fish markets and high-end grocery stores. Some things to look for:

• Shops with their own in-house fish cutting room tend to offer harder to find cuts like bellies.

• Stores that focus on fresh, sustainable seafood. Farmer’s markets can also be a good place to check.

• Fishmongers who supply restaurants, as they will have access to premium ingredients like salmon bellies.

• Stores in geographic regions like the Pacific Northwest where wild salmon is abundant.

Fish Markets in Coastal Regions

If you live near the coasts where salmon is caught, visiting harborside fish markets and fisherman’s wharfs is a great opportunity to find salmon bellies. The closer you are to the source, the better access you’ll have to these prized fresh catches. Check fish markets in places like:

• Pike Place Market in Seattle
• Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
• Coastal towns in Alaska near salmon runs

Direct from Fishermen

If you happen to know or can connect with fishermen who are catching wild salmon, buying salmon bellies directly from the source is an amazing way to get your hands on the freshest salmon bellies possible.

How to Pick Quality Salmon Bellies

When shopping for salmon bellies, whether online or locally, keep these tips in mind to help identify fresh, high-quality cuts:

• Look for deeply marbled bellies with white fat striations running through the pink flesh

• Avoid bellies that look dry, thin or mushy

• Smell should not be fishy or ammonia-like. Good fresh salmon has a mild scent.

• Color should be vibrant pink to orange/red hues. Grey discoloration is a bad sign.

• Packaging should keep salmon bellies surrounded by ice to maintain temperature below 40°F.

• Purchase salmon bellies the same day they’ll be eaten or cooked for ultimate freshness and flavor.

How to Store Salmon Bellies

Proper storage preserves freshness and quality. Follow these salmon belly storage tips:

• Keep chilled below 40°F at all times.

• Place salmon bellies in a container on top of ice if transporting.

• Store in the coldest part of the refrigerator if not using same day.

• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn if freezing for longer term storage.

• Use frozen salmon bellies within 3 months for best flavor and texture.

• Thaw frozen salmon bellies overnight in the fridge before cooking.

Cooking and Serving Salmon Bellies

Salmon bellies can be prepared in many delicious ways. Some popular cooking methods include:

• Pan searing skin-side down to get a crispy sear.

• Broiling in the oven for 5-7 minutes until opaque and flaky.

• Grilling over high direct heat for 2-3 minutes per side.

• Smoking low and slow to turn bellies into lox or smoked salmon.

• Poaching gently in liquid to keep moist and delicate.

• Adding to soups, rice bowls, poke bowls and salads.

• Serving sushi-style with rice and vegetables as nigiri or sashimi.

However you choose to serve them up, salmon bellies are sure to be a delicious and indulgent seafood treat. So next time you get a hankering for the ultimate salmon experience, seek out some beautiful fresh salmon bellies using this guide. Your tastebuds will thank you.

The fatty, flavorful part of the salmon, located along the belly region, is commonly called salmon belly or salmon toro. In Japanese cuisine, it’s also known as harasu.