Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Learning the Basics
• Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Ordering Sushi
• Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Eat Sushi
• Tips
• Warnings

If you've never eaten sushi before, but want to try it, you may be a little intimidated by unfamiliar food, serving, and traditions. The flavor (and your impression of) sushi largely depends not only on how the dish is prepared, but also on how you eat it. These tips will help you know what to expect and how to fully enjoy sushi the first time.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Learning the Basics

1. 1 Choose a respectable sushi bar. This is especially important for someone who eats sushi for the first time. Poorly cooked fish can ruin the experience and you will never want to eat sushi again, especially if you don't really like seafood at all. After you've had a few positive experiences with sushi, you can continue to experiment with sushi bars, but when you're just starting out, don't risk it.
   • Ask for advice. If you are unsure about a good restaurant in your price range, ask friends or other locals for advice.
   • Don't think that price means quality. Although sushi is generally more expensive than food in other restaurants, you should be able to eat quality sushi without having to spend $ 100 per person (depending on where you live).
2. 2 Explore the main types of sushi. In almost every sushi bar, you should have a selection of sashimi, nigiri, maki and temaki.
   • Maki is also called "sushi roll".Maca usually consists of one or two types of fish and vegetables, wrapped with rice in a sheet of fried seaweed and cut into small ovals. This is usually the best place to start for those who are a bit shy about eating raw fish.
   • Nigiri are slices of raw fish on a ball of rice. They are prepared to order by the sushi chef and are usually lightly seasoned with a little wasabi and soy sauce before serving.
   • Sashimi are slices of raw fish served on a plate without rice. In general, this is the most basic and cleanest way to eat sushi, but it may not be suitable for a beginner.
   • Temaki - Similar to maki, only the ingredients are rolled up in a cone that you hold and eat like tacos.
3. 3 Check the menu for warning signs that the quality may not be the best. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell a good restaurant that serves quality ingredients from a bad one. Asking "Are you serving fresh fish?" can be a little rough, so learn to recognize the signs yourself. The following could be a sign of a not-so-good sushi bar:
   • “How much to eat” sushi at a fixed price
   • menu items are not listed in Japanese
   • most of the items on the menu are rolls with names like "Eastern Delight"
   • the restaurant serves other cuisines such as Chinese or Thai
   • more than half of the ingredients are thermally processed
4. 4 Know your seasonings. Typically, a plate of sushi includes wasabi (a green ball of pasta), pickled ginger (thin pink slices), and a small saucer to dip the sushi into soy sauce. Pour soy sauce into this small plate, half full or less.

Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Ordering Sushi

1. 1 Sit down at the bar if you can. This will give you the opportunity to interact with the sushi chef and test the quality of the fish, which must be on display and not appear dry or otherwise unusable.
2. 2 Order sushi directly from the sushi chef. Order everything else from the waiter. Ask him what he recommends and if you can order what he thinks is the freshest. Since sushi contains raw fish, the fresher it is, the better the taste.
   • The question "Is this fresh?" can be offensive as it implies that some of the fish may be stale. Just ask him what he recommends. If the recommended dishes do not appeal to you, order what attracts you. There is no "right order".
3. 3 Strive for variety. If the sushi chef is too busy or you can't sit at the bar, order different types of sushi to get an idea of ​​what you like. Order a few bites of nigiri, some maki, and try sashimi if you feel like taking a chance. Order what sounds attractive to you or what is recommended. If most of the fish is listed without translation from Japanese (and it probably will be in a good restaurant), see below the translation of some common types of fish:
   • Shake - fresh salmon
   • Maguro - bluefin tuna
   • Hamachi - Yellowtail Tuna
   • Ebi - boiled shrimp
   • Unagi - freshwater eel
   • Tai - Mexican snapper
   • Takko - octopus
   • Tamago - sweet egg
   • Masago - capelin caviar
4. 4 Order snacks and drinks from the waiter. If you want to eat something while the sushi is being prepared, ask for edamame (boiled soybeans), suimono (clear broth), or misoshiru (fermented soy bean soup). You can drink green tea, beer, sake or water; soft drinks will overwhelm the delicate sushi flavor.

Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Eat Sushi

1. 1 Wash your hands before eating sushi. Many sushi bars provide a damp hot towel for this purpose before serving food. While many people prefer to use chopsticks, it is perfectly acceptable to eat sushi with your hands, so it is a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly before starting, especially if you are sharing a plate with friends.
2. 2 Prepare your soy sauce. Pour a small amount of soy sauce into a dipping bowl.Some people like to stir a little wasabi in soy sauce, while others find it somewhat disrespectful. Ask a waiter or sushi chef if you should dunk if you're not sure, and try adding wasabi directly to the fish if you want more.
   • Be careful when dipping nigiri in soy sauce. Dipping the fish, not the rice, will prevent the pieces from falling apart or soaked in the salty soy sauce. Don't overdo it. Try without seasoning first.
   • If sushi already has sauce, do not dip it in soy sauce. Try to enjoy them with the seasonings the sushi chef has already added.
   • Alternatively, you can dip the ginger into the soy sauce using the chopsticks, and then use it to soak the fish with the sauce, rather than dipping the fish itself into the sauce. This will only give the “flavor” of the ginger, and you don't need to eat the ginger itself.
   • Eat sushi in whole bites. If the piece is too large, eat it in two bites. Pay attention to both taste and texture. You may be surprised at how soft and tender the fish are. Remember, you should not be overwhelmed by the power of taste, but balance flavors and textures. Enjoy them slowly.
3. 3 Refresh the mouthfeel with a slice of ginger, especially in between sushi. Don't eat it whole, like sushi, and don't eat large balls of ginger right away.
4. 4 Don't eat everything on your plate. Eating everything can be considered rude, as it means the chef hasn't done enough. Or, if you don't want to waste food, eat it all and tell the chef that it was delicious and you're full.
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Tips

• Read up on sushi etiquette before dinner so you don't accidentally offend the sushi chef or sushi culture.
• Higher quality pickled ginger will be white. The pink color is from pre-pickled ginger from a can, to which food coloring has been added. While both options are (generally) delicious, paler ginger will be more tender and full-bodied.
• Real wasabi is very expensive. It is actually a root and will look like slices when chopped. In addition, it will NOT be as pungent as green pasta. Green pasta is actually cheaper horseradish with added food coloring.

Warnings

• Eating raw fish, shellfish and meat can cause serious foodborne illness, including food poisoning, hepatitis, parasites, and liver damage. Although this is unlikely to happen in respectable sushi restaurants, think twice before eating sushi that have been in the buffet for an unknown amount of time and were made by some unknown person.