Live Lobsters on the cheap
#17
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#20
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Last week they were $6.99 at Giant (chicken lobsters), $7.99 at Lotte in Chantilly, $5.99 at Grand (sold out when I got there around 1:00 pm Tuesday afternoon). I think Super H Mart (big Korean grocery in Fairfax) was advertising them at $5.99.
I would have gotten some at Lotte in Chantilly--they tend to carry larger lobsters than the ones at Giant, but when I was there the tank water was murky and there was a dead one splayed out on it's back on one end of the tank and all the live ones were backed into and stacked upon one another in the opposite end, as far away as they could get from it. There was an employee sitting right there ostensibly "working" the lobster part of the seafood department, but she left the dead one in there for who knows how long. I ended up getting four chicken lobsters from Giant. I was back in Giant today and the price is back up to $11.99/pound.
update--the Hmart ad shows lobster for $5.49/pound until Sunday in the Virginia stores. If I had known earlier, I would have gone there today! Link to store circular here.
I would have gotten some at Lotte in Chantilly--they tend to carry larger lobsters than the ones at Giant, but when I was there the tank water was murky and there was a dead one splayed out on it's back on one end of the tank and all the live ones were backed into and stacked upon one another in the opposite end, as far away as they could get from it. There was an employee sitting right there ostensibly "working" the lobster part of the seafood department, but she left the dead one in there for who knows how long. I ended up getting four chicken lobsters from Giant. I was back in Giant today and the price is back up to $11.99/pound.
update--the Hmart ad shows lobster for $5.49/pound until Sunday in the Virginia stores. If I had known earlier, I would have gone there today! Link to store circular here.
Last edited by youreadyfreddie; Jul 21, 2012 at 12:50 am
#21
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Just got back from H Mart in Fairfax, Virginia, with a couple of lobsters @ $5.49/lb. Of course now I'm thinking I should have grabbed a couple more of them . . .
Nice, clean lobster tank--in fact, it's a three-level, infinity pool-type lobster tank. Observe:

Also . . . store was very nice. Beautiful produce section. No funky fish smell permeating the store, not even permeating the seafood department. LOVE this store!
Nice, clean lobster tank--in fact, it's a three-level, infinity pool-type lobster tank. Observe:

Also . . . store was very nice. Beautiful produce section. No funky fish smell permeating the store, not even permeating the seafood department. LOVE this store!
#22
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#23
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A restaurant in the Ft. Lauderdale area has been holding "all-you-can-eat lobster" specials for $39.99. A local radio station did a remote broadcast from there, and the owner stated that the lobsters are the 1 1/4 pound size, and that the average patron eats "three to five".
#24
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#25
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A restaurant in the Ft. Lauderdale area has been holding "all-you-can-eat lobster" specials for $39.99. A local radio station did a remote broadcast from there, and the owner stated that the lobsters are the 1 1/4 pound size, and that the average patron eats "three to five". 

I haven't seen any cheap supermarket lobster prices down here, and definitely not on the west coast
#26


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Earlier this week in the PWM area - the glut is so bad there were guys selling live lobsters out of trucks (small tanks) for $3.50/lb. Stores were closer to $4/lb. Not too bad. Suffice to say I ate damn near my weight in lobsters.
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#28
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I'm always frustrated when I go down there - it seems that the vendors constantly try to gouge you, and they wonder why they lose business to grocery stores. Even Whole foods is cheaper than that!
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HMart in Diamond Bar had live lobster at 5.99/lb in their flyer - probably still a valid price. Ranch99 might be similar - although having spent far too much time in various Ranch99's, I would be cautious about buying seafood there - make sure any lobsters are still alive and kickin'. HMart should be no problem, freshness-wise.


