The Basics of Eating Sushi and How to Eat It More Deliciously

Eating in One Bite Is the Basic Rule

Sushi is said to be basically eaten in one bite. Edomae sushi is formed so that the rice spreads softly in the mouth, so eating it in parts ruins that effect. Also, returning a half-bitten piece of sushi to the plate looks bad to others. Eating sushi in one bite is ideal and also a matter of manners.

However, for women or people with small mouths, it may be difficult to eat in one bite. In that case, try asking the craftsman for "shari-koma" or "shari smaller." Then they will form the sushi with smaller rice.

Today, in addition to traditional Edomae sushi, there are various forms of nigiri sushi, including conveyor-belt sushi. You also see sushi made intentionally large in rice or topping. At casual sushi restaurants, you can eat however you like without worrying too much about manners.

Eat with Chopsticks? Grab with Your Hands?

When eating sushi, you may wonder whether it is better to grab it directly with your hands or to eat it using chopsticks.
In fact, as far as sushi manners go, either is fine.

However, for those who do not want to dirty their hands, are concerned about hygiene, or are not confident they can eat neatly by hand, using chopsticks may be safer. That said, when eating gari, using chopsticks is the proper manner. Please just be careful about that one point.

How to Apply Soy Sauce

The method of applying soy sauce to sushi differs between nigiri sushi and gunkan-maki. In the case of nigiri sushi, the basic rule is to first lay the sushi on its side, grab it with chopsticks, and apply a small amount of soy sauce to the topping.

If you apply soy sauce to the rice side, you may use more soy sauce than necessary, or rice may spill into the soy sauce dish, which not only looks unsightly but also gives an unpleasant impression to those around you. Since rice easily absorbs soy sauce, it leads to excessive salt intake, which is not good for your health.

Unlike nigiri sushi, in the case of gunkan-maki, laying it on its side causes the filling to spill out or the shape to collapse. Use gari dipped in soy sauce to apply soy sauce as if painting it over the topping, or lightly apply soy sauce under the nori before eating.

Gari to Cleanse the Palate

"Gari" is sweet-vinegar-pickled ginger, and at most sushi restaurants, sushi is served together with gari.

There is no particular rule about when to eat gari, but gari has a sterilizing effect as well as a palate-cleansing effect, and eating it especially after strongly flavored fish or fatty fish sushi can refresh your mouth, so some connoisseurs eat it after each piece to cleanse the palate.

Those who do not eat much gari should take this opportunity to give it a try.

When to Eat Sushi

Once sushi is served, eat it as soon as possible. Sushi using seafood loses freshness as time passes.
It is also not desirable from a hygiene standpoint. Sushi craftsmen are mindful of this and form the sushi quickly.

To Eat Even More Deliciously?

This is not a matter of manners, but if you turn the topping (not the rice) downward and bring the sushi to your mouth so it sits directly on your tongue, you can feel the flavor of the topping more, and eat it even more deliciously. However, some people say it is better to keep the topping facing up, so it is a way of eating that divides opinion. It might be a good idea to first try both to see which way of eating suits your taste.

Also, watching the sushi craftsman form sushi at the counter and enjoying conversation with the craftsman can be called the manner of an advanced diner. Asking about the day's recommendations and communicating as you eat makes the taste of the sushi feel even more delicious.

Furthermore, it is good to know the seasonal toppings. You can use this as a reference when ordering additional items after an omakase course.

Manners Regarding Drinks at a Sushi Restaurant

Drinks to enjoy with sushi include tea, beer, sake, and juice. Recently, some shops also offer wine.
In terms of manners, there are no drinks, including alcohol, that particularly violate manners. Basically you may choose whatever drink you like, but it is better to avoid sweet drinks that would drown out the precious flavor of the sushi. When ordering sake, a clean, dry type is recommended.

Drinks That Go Well with Sushi

Green tea has a sterilizing effect and refreshes the mouth, and is said to pair well with sushi, which handles seafood.
Also, dry sake softens the sweetness of the rice and the off-odor of seafood, allowing you to enjoy sushi even more. It is perfect for those who love alcohol.

The Combination of Sushi and Beer

Sushi and beer. For beer lovers, it is the ultimate combination. To make your favorite beer even more delicious, choose a beer that matches the sushi topping. Basically, it is said to be good to match the colors. For example, white-type beer for light-colored toppings such as white-fleshed fish or squid, and dark-colored beer for dark-colored toppings. Few sushi restaurants stock various kinds of beer, but if you get the chance to choose, please give it a try.

Wine That Goes Well with Sushi

Wine is also a drink you can enjoy with sushi, but a little caution is needed. Generally there is an image of "white wine = fish," so you tend to drink only white wine. In reality, depending on the topping, white wine may not match the fishy smell of the fish.

Of course, there are toppings that go well with white wine, and ideally you would match a wine to each topping. However, ordering a different wine and switching between them each time you eat a piece of sushi is troublesome and hard to actually do. As a recommended method, it is good to order a bottle of red wine with calm acidity and astringency and a soft, aged flavor, and keep drinking that red wine.

However, depending on the shop, some do not stock red wine, considering that if red wine spills on the table or tablecloth, the stain cannot be removed. Red wine is, after all, just one way to eat sushi more deliciously, and it is fine to enjoy it with white wine. Relax with your favorite drink and enjoy sushi and wine!

Points to Note and Be Careful About When Eating Sushi

How to Place Your Chopsticks

If there is a chopstick rest, placing your chopsticks on the rest is proper manners. If there is no chopstick rest, you may use the soy sauce dish as a substitute. In that case, rest only the tips of the chopsticks on it.

Consideration for Smells

To eat sushi deliciously, consideration for smells is important. Avoid wearing a lot of perfume. Also, even in shops where smoking is allowed, it is better not to smoke too much in order to enjoy the true flavor of the sushi.Smoking during the meal is strictly forbidden. Both perfume and cigarettes can cause the precious aroma and delicate flavor of the sushi to be lost through their smells. It is also safer not to use strongly scented hair products or body cream.

Being mindful of smells also includes consideration for the people sharing the same space. To eat deliciously, it is important to spend a pleasant time with the people who have come to the shop.

Summary

How was it? As a point of sushi-eating manners, since sushi restaurants often have counter seats, you should avoid behavior that bothers the craftsman or other customers.
It is good to try out your own way of enjoying it only after showing consideration for those around you. For those who want to enjoy sushi more stylishly, we also introduce sushi manners and knowledge for sushi connoisseurs in our features. Please take a look.