If you've never eaten sushi (aka sushi), you may be confused by the many choices you can make. Luckily, after learning a few basics, you can simply decide which milk tastes best on your palate. Eating sushi is all about discovering your personal taste. Do you prefer to eat with your hands or chopsticks? Do you like wasabi to make it spicier? You'll find the right kind of sushi on your tongue in no time and develop your own unique way of eating.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Order at Susy's Bar or Restaurant
Step 1. Sit at the bar if you want to interact with the sushi chef
If you like watching how to make sushi, you can clearly see it at the bar. You will also be able to ask the chef for recommendations or suggestions.
If you want to eat more quietly and intimately, sit at a table instead of a bar
Step 2. Order a drink or appetizer from the waiter
Someone will come to your table or seat and ask if you want to order a drink. In particular, avoid soft drinks/soda as the sweetness will overpower the milky taste; it's best to order drinks such as green tea, water, sake, or beer. If you want to eat an appetizer before eating sushi, order from the waiter instead of the chef.
Try eating miso soup, edamame, or wakame lettuce to increase your appetite
Step 3. Decide whether to choose your own or follow the chef's recommendations
While it's common for restaurants to provide a menu with a list of sushi options, you can also ask the chef to decide on a dish and try to surprise you. If you have any allergies or foods you really don't like, let the chef know.
Do you know?
Letting the chef decide which sushi you want to eat is called “omakase”, which means “Up to you.”
Step 4. Order a sushi roll if you are new to eating sushi
Maybe you've seen the form of sushi rolls, which are pieces of fish wrapped in rice and seaweed. This dish is called maki and is suitable for beginners, who are still uncomfortable eating raw fish. The California roll is one of the most popular types of sushi rolls because it's made with imitation crab, cucumber, and avocado.
- The Philadelphia roll is another popular choice. This sushi is made by dressing rice and seaweed in cream cheese, salmon and avocado.
- Sometimes the menu also provides temaki. This dish is like a sushi roll, but the rice, fish, and all the vegetables are rolled into a funnel of dried seaweed.
Step 5. Choose nigiri if you like raw fish
If you've tried eating raw fish and liked it, order some fish slices. The sushi chef will spread the fish slices over the pressed sushi rice. This option is also great if you don't like the taste of seaweed.
Remember that you usually only get 1-2 pieces of nigiri. If you want more sushi, order several types of nigiri or a roll to share
Step 6. Choose sashimi if you don't want rice or seaweed in your milk at all
Sashimi is one of the purest ways to eat sushi because it doesn't use any added ingredients. The sushi chef will put a few slices of raw fish on a plate for you to enjoy.
We recommend that you ask for a sushi chef's recommendation. You can tell the chef what you like and he will give you several variations of sashimi to try
Method 2 of 3: Eat Sushi Right
Step 1. Clean both hands before eating milk
You can wash your hands in the sink before eating, or you can use the hot damp towel provided before the food is served. Wipe your hands clean with a towel, and put them back on the plate for the waiter to pick up.
Many sushi restaurants also provide hot damp towels to clean hands at the end of the meal
Step 2. Identify wasabi and oyster sauce
The waiter or chef will place the ordered sushi plate, along with a small empty plate as a container for oyster sauce, and a pile of wasabi in the form of green pasta. Wasabi can be eaten with milk to make it a little more spicy.
- Sushi chefs add some wasabi to their sushi rolls so try the sushi before adding the wasabi.
- You'll also see sliced ginger next to the milk. This ginger looks pale and pink.
Do you know?
Western-style wasabi is made with horseradish powder (horseradish), mustard seeds, and food coloring. Real wasabi is grated wasabi root so it's much paler in color and less spicy.
Step 3. Pick up the milk with chopsticks or fingers
Although sushi is usually eaten with chopsticks, you can pick it up with your hands. A good Susyi will not fall out when picked up with fingers or chopsticks.
Be aware that sashimi is usually eaten only with chopsticks. Since there is no rice in the sashimi, the fish is easier to pick up with chopsticks
Step 4. Dip the milk in the oyster sauce to enhance the flavor of the dish
Pour a little oyster sauce into the container. Slowly dip the milk in the oyster sauce for a second. If you're eating nigiri, tilt the fish in the oyster sauce instead of the rice so it doesn't fall out.
- Since the chef has already seasoned the sushi, submerging the whole milk in the oyster sauce is considered rude. Soaking the milk with oyster sauce will also make it fall out easily.
- Be sure not to mix wasabi with oyster sauce as this is considered very disrespectful.
- If the sushi already has sauce, eat it before dipping it in the oyster sauce. You may prefer the taste of chef-prepared sushi without the oyster sauce.
Step 5. Try eating the milk in one bite
Most sushi is small enough to be devoured all at once. Eat the sushi in one gulp to be able to taste all the rice, seaweed, and fish in the sushi. If the milk is too big, you can eat it in 2 bites, but it's best to let the chef know if you want a smaller one.
- While some people argue that the side of the milkfish should be facing downwards when it is being eaten, you are free to decide how to eat the sushi.
- Pay attention to the change in the taste of the milk when you eat it. For example, at first you will feel a soft texture, which will then move on to a slightly spicier part.
Step 6. Eat ginger alternating different types of milk to neutralize your taste buds
Chances are you ordered several types of sushi so it's good if you can clearly feel the difference in the taste of each. To freshen the mouth from the various flavors of milk, take a piece of ginger with chopsticks. When the ginger has been eaten, you are ready to eat another type of milk.
- Avoid putting ginger in the milk and eating it together.
- Ginger is sometimes off-white or bright pink if it contains food coloring.
Method 3 of 3: Enjoying the Meal
Step 1. Try different types of milk to find the one that best suits your taste
If you've never eaten sushi before, you're likely to like a sushi roll (maki) filled with cooked fish, such as smoked salmon or fried tempura. If you want to try another type of sushi, order some nigiri or sashimi, including:
- Sake - fresh salmon
- Maguro - bluefin tuna
- Hamachi - yellow tail tuna
- Ebi - cooked prawns
- Unagi - freshwater eel
- Tai - red snapper
- Tako - octopus
Step 2. Communicate with the sushi chef
If you're sitting at the bar, let the chef know that you enjoyed the meal. For example, commend the rice because the sushi chef has spent years crafting his own rice recipe. You can also let the chef know if the sushi portion is too big, or if you want to try a different style of sushi.
If you're not sitting at the bar but want to let them know that the food is delicious, check to see if there's a tip jar near the cashier
Step 3. Eat different types of sushi with friends
You can enjoy the variety of flavors and textures of sushi if you order several sushi rolls, nigiri, or sashimi to eat together. Note that if you are taking sushi from a common plate, use the blunt end of the chopsticks. That way, you don't spread germs.
Let me know if there's a roll or sashimi you don't like. Try to share the sushi that you like
Step 4. Have fun and don't worry about mistakes being made
Maybe you've heard the hard and fast rules about eating sushi and feel intimidated when you eat it. Remember that you can eat the milk according to personal taste. If you have trouble eating sashimi with chopsticks, feel free to use a fork.
Focus on enjoying the experience instead of following all the rules, especially if you've never had sushi before
Tips
- If you're going to eat at a sushi bar, don't wear perfume and turn off your phone to create a comfortable environment for everyone there.
- Never ask about the freshness of the fish because it will offend the sushi chef. If you eat at a restaurant that serves high quality, rest assured that the fish used is still fresh.
- You can find high-quality sushi restaurants by reading reviews and asking for recommendations.
- Never worry about raw fish. Unlike meat, fish can be eaten raw or cooked. The main difference is in taste and texture.
