Are you eating sushi the wrong way? Though the “right way” should just be how you enjoy it best, there are several traditional sushi etiquette rules that you should follow if you visit a sushi restaurant in Japan. And though sushi in America has evolved quite a bit from original Japanese sushi, we’re of the opinion that sticking to a few of the below sushi etiquette tips will enhance your sushi experience here at OKI Japanese Grill in Plano, TX.
Tips for Sushi Etiquette & Enjoyment:
Don’t point your chopsticks at people – it is considered rude.
Eat with your hands! It’s perfectly OK to use clean hands to pick up and eat pieces of nigiri sushi. But you should only use chopsticks to pick up sashimi (sliced fish with no rice) and pickled ginger.
Dip nigiri fish-side down into your soy sauce dish. This way, you avoid having your rice soak up too much soy sauce, and it also prevents the rice from falling apart and into the dish.
Don’t abuse the wasabi – especially with nigiri. Wasabi is already added between the fish and rice in nigiri sushi, so you should not need more. If you want to add a little extra, dab just a tiny bit of wasabi on top of the fish. Adding too much wasabi (and soy sauce) overpowers the taste of the fish.
Eat your nigiri fish-down on your tongue – This way, you can take in the full, complex and delicious flavors of the fresh fish!
Eat pickled ginger between pieces of sushi, not while you still have sushi in your mouth. The ginger is meant to be a palate cleanser between bites of different types of sushi.
Eat sushi pieces all in one bite! This might be difficult to do with very large, American style sushi rolls, like the popular Dragon Roll, and that’s okay. You are meant to eat more traditional pieces of sushi in one bite, such as nigiri, sashimi, and simple maki rolls.
And last, but certainly not least: Enjoy every single bite of your sushi!
Looking forward to trying out these sushi etiquette tips at a sushi spot near you in Plano, TX?
Feast on our fantastic Party Platter Special for 6 people: 7 premium sushi rolls for $59.95!