Crab is a best bet for the pocketbook
and menu this week.

Crab's a delicacy you won't have to
shell out too much for this week

It isn't just stock market punters who have been suffering in Hong Kong lately.

Vendors of a favorite delicacy, Shanghai crab, say sales have plummeted because people are afraid the name of the dish will bring them bad luck in the financial markets.

Shanghai crabs are called "tai chap hai," or "big shackled crab."

In a place renowned for superstition, the hairy, "big shackled crab" is a horrendously inauspicious name.

The clawed delicacies are now languishing unsold in shops, unwanted by people who until two weeks ago used to feast on their tasty meat.

"Big shackled crab, big shackled crab, it sounds awful! How can you even ask me to eat it?" cried secretary Kellie Ko, her lips curling at the edges in horror at the thought.

"I won't go near them!" Ko, 28, said.

"Eating it will mean having all my cash tied down, like the 'big shackled crab'," explained Ko.

Maybe it's coincidental, but local crab lovers will find a variety of crab specials at most supermarkets this week.

Whole Jonah crabs are $2.67 a pound at Sack N Save.

At Foodland, cooked Dungeness crab is $3.98 a pound. (Atlantic salmon roast and bay scallops are priced the same.)

On Friday only, Daiei will have live Dungeness crab at $4.98 a pound and frozen snow crab is $11.98 for a two-pound box, through Saturday.

Frozen King crab legs and claws are $8.99 at Safeway and at Times. At Times you'll need your Royal card. Non-card holders will pay $9.99 per pound.

Safeway also has fresh Silverbrite salmon roast running $1.99 a pound; $3.99 for the salmon in steaks or fillet form.