Every time you go to a Japanese restaurant, do you ask yourself how to eat sushi correctly? Do you know how to use chopsticks? And the soy sauce? The wasabi? Sushi is one of the most famous Japanese foods on the planet. So much so, that it is very common to be served at parties, business meetings, cocktails and many other social events.
That’s why it’s normal that you want to know how to eat sushi correctly, so as not to look ridiculous. Well, when they serve you a plate of provocative sushi, you only care about whether to eat them with chopsticks, cutlery or directly with your fingers.
To get rid of all your doubts regarding this topic, we bring you a guide on how to eat sushi, just like a native Japanese would do. Are you interested? Let’s go there!
Types of sushi that exist
Before I explain what is the correct way to eat sushi, we consider it necessary for you to know that there is a wide variety of types of sushi. Next, we will make a brief explanation of each of them.
- makizushi: It is the traditional sushi rolled with a bamboo mat and cut into two centimeter portions. It is made with rice, sheets of nori seaweed, fish, meat, among other fillings.
- vegetarian makizushi: It is the version of sushi for those who follow this philosophy of life. They are made with brown rice and avocado, carrot and pickled vegetables such as radish, cucumber and others.
- futomaki: It is a thick roll sushi, that is, when preparing it, the layers of rice and fillings are thicker. They measure three centimeters thick and five long.
- Hosomaki: It is the opposite of the previous one, that is, its layer is very thin. They measure two centimeters both in thickness and length and due to their small size they have only one filling.
- Uramaki: It is known as backwards sushi since the rice is on the outside and the seaweed is on the inside. The most popular urimaki sushi is the California Roll.
- temaki: Its appearance is not that of the typical sushi, since a cone is made with the sheet of nori seaweed, just like an ice cream. The rice and filling are placed in the cone and eaten with the hands.
- Nigiris: It is a portion of kneaded rice and with which it forms a small ball, to place a slice of salmon or another type of fish or shellfish on top.
- gunkanzushi: It is a kind of nigiri, except that the rice ball is wrapped in a layer of nori seaweed and covered with the filling.
- Chirashizushi: It means spread sushi, and this is because all the ingredients are served separately on a plate and not in the traditional roll or kneaded.
How to eat sushi correctly?
Now that you know that there are many kinds of sushi apart from the classic makis and nigiris, we show you how to eat the different types of sushi.
To do this, we have ordered step by step what you have to do when you are ready to taste the delicious sushi:
ask for recommendation
When you go to a Japanese restaurant Eat sushi, it is advisable that you ask the waiter or chef to recommend what type of sushi to order. We advise you to do this as a rule of courtesy, although in Japan not doing so is considered a lack of respect towards the cook.
Also, you can request theomakase”. A kind of tasting menu where you are served a variety of sushi in the gastronomic order recommended by the chef.
With chopsticks or with your hands?
The truth is that both ways are correct, that is, if you know how to make good use of hashi or chopsticks, use them but if not, take them with your hands. Traditionally in Japan sushi is eaten with the handsas they are usually eaten in one bite.
In fact, that is why each diner is given the “oshibori”, which is a small towel for you to clean your hands. By the way, please do not use it to clean your face and mouth,
Dip them in soy sauce
After taking the sushi as you have preferred, with your hands or with chopsticks, it is common for you to moisten it in the container with soy sauce. But do not rush, because there is a correct way to impregnate soy sushi.
To put the sushi (nigiri) in the soy sauce, it should be done on the fish side and never on the rice side. In the first place, because by moistening the rice you run the risk of the piece of sushi falling apart and secondly because it is how the Japanese do it.
Soy sauce mixed with wasabi?
The Japanese gastronomic protocol indicates that if a diner wants extra wasabi on the sushi, they should ask the chef to add more wasabi. Therefore, many say that it is not correct to mix a little wasabi with soy sauce in the container available for it.
Since it would be interpreted as an insult to the chef, well would indicate that you do not trust his judgment as an expert cook. However, over time this action – still practiced by the Japanese themselves – became customary and is now commonly accepted.
How to put them in the mouth
There is also a way to how to eat sushi well. Once you soak the sushi fish in soy sauce, you need to put it in your mouth. But, making sure that it is the part of the fish that makes direct contact with the tongue.
This, with the intention that the palate captures the most intense flavor of these small Japanese morsels.
Complete or by bites?
Ideally, you should put the entire piece of sushi in your mouth, since they are really small bites. But in case you cannot do it, because it is a Futomaki, or thick roll sushieat in two parts or two bites.
But yes, once bitten, the rest that remains in your hands or sticks, you must keep it there until you ingest it completely. Never put it back on the plate!
How to eat ginger with sushi
Generally, the diner usually places the ginger or “gari” on sushi, as if it were just another dressing. But actually, in Japan, the thin slices of ginger are placed for another purpose.
Its function is that of refresh or cleanse the diner’s palate. That is, to attenuate the flavors of previous bites so that they do not mix and better perceive the following new flavors. Therefore, instead of using it as a dressing, it should be consumed between each sushi tasted.
Although in the case of sushi that have some type of roe on top, it is correct to place the ginger on top. This, because it is impossible to soak ourselves in soybeans without spilling them. So that, the ginger slice is impregnated with the sauce and then the sushi is covered with it.
What to do with chopsticks
Chopsticks not only take practice to use as eating tongs, but you also have to know what to do with them after you use them. For example, while you are consuming your sushi, between one bite and another you should not put them on the plate.
For that there is the small piece of ceramic called “hashi oki”, so that the chopsticks rest on it while you are eating. Once you have finished consuming, you should leave the chopsticks over soy sauce containerhorizontally and parallel. Never leave them on the table or plate!
Other important recommendations
If you share the sushi tray with someone else, when you go to remove a piece from it, flip the chopsticks. Namely, do not use the tips that you have already brought close to your mouth, but uses the back of them. It is a sign of consideration, in addition the Japanese are very scrupulous with hygiene.
Likewise, it is in very bad taste to use chopsticks to play, drumming them on the table or using them to point to people or things. In case one of them breaks, ask for a new pair of chopsticks and never stick the food with them.
And if you are in Japan, Do not pass food from one plate to another for any reason. with chopsticks as it is offensive to them. This action alludes to a ritual Japanese funeral, where the bones of the dead are passed from one person to another.
Drinks to accompany sushi
When you taste the deliciousness of this Japanese dish, never ask for soft drinks or juices to accompany them. The sweet and intense flavor of these drinks affects your taste buds, preventing you from fully appreciating the multitude of flavors that surround this gastronomic experience.
Ideally, you accompany them with a traditional japanese drinksuch as sake, or a beer or a good cup of tea.
Put into practice all the tips that we have offered you and show that you know everything about how to eat sushi, as than any Japanese citizen.