New to Sushi? Japanese Etiquette Tips for Your Sushi Meal

Shall I use chopsticks or eat my sushi meal with fingers? Can I mix soy sauce and wasabi? If you want to try sushi for the first time, it’s normal to be intimidated by the Japanese tradition, presentation, unfamiliar items, and sushi etiquette. Not only preparation but the way you eat also influence the flavor and experience of sushi.

When ordering a meal at the sushi bar, your chef wants you to enjoy your meal to the fullest. Serious sushi chefs learn for decades to master the art of making those tasty bites. It is good to respect their years of efforts by appreciating their creations and applying some basic sushi etiquette.

The very first and the basic step towards an ultimate sushi experience is choosing the reputable sushi restaurant and getting familiar with the basic kinds of sushi. Once you know sushi types and your condiments, the other integral elements are knowing how to order and eat sushi the right way.

Here are some sushi etiquette tips to thoroughly enjoy your sushi adventure at the authentic Japanese restaurant.

Ordering Sushi

● Try to order sushi items directly from the chefs or you may ask for what is recommended. This will reward your trust in the chef with extra care.

● If you are not convinced with the recommendations, order varieties of sushi to add distinct styles and know what you like.

● Drinks may overpower the subtle flavor of sushi. If you want appetizers and drinks, order them from the server when the sushi is being prepared.

Eating Sushi

● Since the sushi chef has already added the right amount of wasabi for the fish in nigiri. Don’t dilute wasabi’s kick by mixing it into your soy sauce.

● When eating nigiri sushi, lightly dip the fish, not the rice, into soy sauce so that the piece will stay together and rice won’t fall apart. You can best enjoy the flavors by dipping your nigiri fish-side down.

● No matter the size, you’ll be able to eat the entire sushi piece in one bite. To enjoy the flavor and tenderness of fish, place the piece in the mouth upside down allowing your tongue to take in the complex flavors before swallowing down the bite.

● To appreciate the flavors of each type of sushi, start with light-colored and mild varieties of fish before progressing to highly-flavored dark fish.

● Cleanse your palate with a slice of ginger in between bites of different types of sushi. This will help prepare your taste buds for what’s next.

Follow these Japanese etiquette tips to enjoy every single bite of sushi.