Menpachii is kosher according to Jewish dietary law.

Does Menpachii have fins and scales?

Yes. Menpachii has both fins and removable scales, which is the requirement set in Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10 for a fish to be considered kosher.

Can I eat Menpachii sushi or sashimi?

If Menpachii is prepared in a kosher kitchen with kosher utensils and ingredients, Menpachii sushi or sashimi can be kosher. Always verify the kosher certification of the restaurant or preparation source.

Where can I find more information about whether Menpachii is kosher?

KosherFish.co references the Orthodox Union (OU) and Chabad lists of kosher and non-kosher fish. For specific halachic questions, consult your local Orthodox rabbi.

Menpachii

Kosher

Has fins and scales

Fins Yes

Scales Yes

Description

Menpachi is a red reef soldierfish eaten in Hawaii, often fried whole until the skin is crisp. The firm white flesh also works in soups and stews.

Soldierfish (genus Myripristis) live in tropical parts of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans, with the most species near Indo-Pacific reefs. They're largely nocturnal with big eyes, hiding by day in crevices, caves, and under ledges from the shoreline down to about 100 m, and feeding on zooplankton at night.

Also known as

Soldierfish
Menpachi
Mempachi

Warnings & Kosher Issues

Menpachi is a soldierfish, a bony fish with fins and scales, so it is kosher.
Don't confuse soldierfish (subfamily Myripristinae) with the related squirrelfish (Holocentrinae), which carry venomous preopercle spines near the gills.