How to Order In a Japanese Restaurant

Learn how to order in a Japanese restaurant that is not in Japan. If you like Japanese food, you've come to the right place!

-sushi nigiri vs. sashimi 

we use the word "sushi" to refer to all the delicious stuff that is delivered to our wooden board at the sushi bar, the whole cuisine of fish, rice and otherwise, the word "sushi" actually refers to only the sweet, vinegared rice. Sometimes we do better and say "sushi" when referring to the pair of tiny rounded bricks of rice with slivers of fish draped over it. But that is more accurately called "nigiri sushi." If it's just fish without the sushi rice, then it's "sashimi."

-Maki=Roll, hosomaki and inside out roll 

Maki sushi or makizushi is rolled into a tube and then cut into circles. This is the most common sushi you see. Hosomaki is seaweed outside. inside out maki is sushi rice on the outside. 

-HandrollHand roll sushi or temaki is a whole piece of seaweed wrapped around the ingredients in the shape of a cone. These are left as is and are not cut into smaller pieces like the maki sushi it.