I think it’s just for presentation. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to eat it even if that weren’t the case, so I didn’t ask. Here’s a close up pic of the head if you’re interested, though.

This was actually from a few months back. I didn’t think to post it here at the time, but I think it fits!

This was from a place called Joyale Seafood Restaurant in Seattle’s International District. They also make a really good hot and sour soup.

The flavor was mild, more like beef (veal especially) than chicken. The seasonings they used were really good, too.