| Any sushi dining experience at a fine sushi establishment will only be enhanced if you embrace some sushi etiquette. If you behave in a way that is both polite and respectful of the sushi chef and waiting staff your meal will be enjoyable.
Below are some tips to dining at a sushi bar or restaurant and eating sushi in a manner that represents the deep tradition that surrounds sushi.
- When eating nigiri sushi, or rice topped with fish, never dip the rice portion into soy sauce. The rice is prepared in vinegar and loses the intended flavor when dipped in soy sauce. Using chopsticks or your fingers simply turn the fish side down and dip the fish into the soy.
- Do not remove the fish from the top of the rice to eat separately.
- Only involve your sushi chef with the ordering of sushi, unless otherwise instructed. Your waiting staff will handle the ordering of beverages, soup, salads, and other non-sushi items.
- Nigiri-zushi may be eaten with your fingers. Eat sashimi with chopsticks.
- Pickle ginger is meant as a palette cleanser, to be enjoyed between pieces of sushi.
- You sushi chef will add wasabi to the sushi he prepares. It is ok to add a little wasabi directly to the sushi if you wish, but never add wasabi to the soy sauce dish. The soy and wasabi mixed together muddle the taste of the two separately.
- You may offer to purchase a beer or sake for your sushi chef.
Japanese culinary culture has too many traditions to list here. If you are polite and make an attempt to respect the chef and staff, and try to adopt some of the rules you will find more enjoyment in your sushi experiences. |
