The clam belly is the soft round center of a soft-shell clam. The belly is the most tender part of the clam. A clam strip is a term used for the loose hanging piece under the belly. The belly and the strip are the parts of the clam typically eaten. There is another, less desirable part of the clam called the neck, which is the clam’s siphon. The neck is tough and chewy and considered inedible by many people.