Sushi Menu Vocabulary Guide
Here’s a brief overview of menu items you’re likely to find in a Japanese restaurant. Use this as a guide to finding new dishes you’ll love to eat when you’re out to dinner or to make when you’re cooking at home. You can use the Easy Roll Maker to make maki (rolls) out of many of the ingredients you see listed here!
Confidence Labels
Beginner-Friendly: Mild flavors, familiar textures | Cooked: Fully cooked ingredients | Raw: Uncooked fish | Vegetarian: No meat or fish | Hand-Held: Easy to eat by hand
Sushi Basics
- Sushi — Vinegared rice paired with fish, seafood, vegetables, or tofu. (Beginner-Friendly)
- Nigiri — Rice topped with fish or seafood. (Raw or Cooked)
- Maki (Rolls) — Seaweed-wrapped rolls sliced into bite-size pieces. (Beginner-Friendly)
- Uramaki (Inside-Out Rolls) — Rice on the outside, seaweed inside. (Beginner-Friendly)
- Temaki (Hand Rolls) — Cone-shaped rolls meant to be eaten by hand. (Hand-Held, Beginner-Friendly)
- Sashimi — Slices of fish served without rice. (Raw)
- Chirashi — Rice bowl topped with assorted fish and garnishes. (Raw or Cooked)
Common Fish & Seafood
- Salmon — Rich, buttery, and mild. (Raw, Beginner-Friendly)
- Tuna — Clean, meaty flavor with smooth texture. (Raw, Beginner-Friendly)
- Yellowtail — Slightly sweet with a delicate texture. (Raw)
- Shrimp — Usually cooked and lightly sweet. (Cooked, Beginner-Friendly)
- Crab — Often imitation crab; sweet and familiar. (Cooked, Beginner-Friendly)
- Eel — Fully cooked and glazed with a sweet sauce. (Cooked, Beginner-Friendly)
Vegetarian & Non-Fish Options
- Avocado — Creamy and mild. (Vegetarian, Beginner-Friendly)
- Cucumber — Fresh, crisp, and cooling. (Vegetarian, Beginner-Friendly)
- Tamago — Sweet Japanese omelet. (Cooked, Vegetarian, Beginner-Friendly)
- Inari — Sweet tofu pockets filled with sushi rice. (Vegetarian, Beginner-Friendly)
Sauces & Extras
- Nori — Seaweed wrapper around sushi rolls.
- Soy Sauce — Salty dipping sauce—use lightly.
- Wasabi — Spicy green paste—start small.
- Pickled Ginger — Eaten between bites to refresh your palate.
- Spicy Mayo — Creamy sauce with gentle heat.
- Eel Sauce — Sweet, savory glaze used on cooked items.
Not all sushi is raw. Cooked and vegetarian options are always available. There is no wrong way to enjoy sushi.
Ready to Roll?
