Incredible pictures show diners gorging themselves on the hand-sized creepy crawlies in Skuon, Cambodia.
People eat the eight-legged critters whole – legs and all – guzzling down the little beasts by the plate-full.
Locals first started eating the tarantulas because the village is totally infested with the creatures.
The spiders' fondness for Skuon and resident’s happiness to chomp on them has earned the village the nickname “Spider Town”.
Fried tarantula is described as “crunchy, salty” and slightly sweet by spider-munching locals.
And buying yourself an arachnid appetiser will cost you just 20p.
In the rainy season, which starts in June, the spiders are easier to catch as they hunker down in their jungle liars instead of scuttling through the brush.
Starvation in the country under the rule of Khmer Rouge also drove people to eat the tarantulas – which are said to be rich in protein.
Tourists often take a visit to one of the spider market’s vendors to buy themselves a piece of leg-bristling nosh.
The spiders are prepared by vendors using salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, and soup powder before being fried in hot oil.
Some are fried in chilli oil to give the tarantula a spicy kick, with the legs said to be tastiest part of the meal.
Insects such as crickets and silkworms also join the platter of locals in Skuon.
Spiders are also used to brew booze – being placed into jars of rice wine for an alcoholic treat.
