Like tilapia, paiche is quite mild, but it's not without flavor: it tastes like chicken, I kid you not. I can't imagine a better starter fish for the seafood-averse, from kids to finicky adults.

Is arapaima good eating?

But because it's also very tasty... The arapaima looks less like a fish than a prehistoric torpedo. ... Arapaima also happens to be delicious. The meat of the fish—also known as paiche or pirarucu—is boneless, odorless, and mild, making it a prized catch for both local fishermen and chefs abroad.

What do arapaima taste like?

The taste is akin to that of other saltwater whitefish like pollock or cod. Barcellos, the executive chef and owner of the restaurant Barsa, is one of several Rio chefs who have happily added pirarucu to his menu.