Proper Sushi Etiquette - Did You Know It? I Knew Most - Thank Goodness!
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
March 16, 2009 11:23am CST
Did you know that there is a proper way to eat sushi? Well, yes there is. I just found out that I guess I have really not been eating completely with manners as I use chopsticks to eat my sushi, however I do pop it all in my mouth at once and I do not mix my wasabi with my soy sauce. So, I guess at least I have that going for me!
The next time you go out to order sushi, keep the follwing rules of etiquette in mind:
When you have your sushi in front of you you will usually have served up with it some pickled ginger, a small mound of wasabi, and soy sauce. You should eat a slice of pickled ginger after each variety of sushi to cleanse your palate. That is what the ginger is there for. (Personally I add it to my sushi to give it a little more flavor). Also, it is not proper to mix the wasabi with the soy sauce. (Many of my friends do this, but I never have.).
Sushi is meant to be finger food; both quick and tasty. It is preferable to eat sushi with your hands rather than with chopsticks, but both ways are acceptable in America. (I always eat it with chopsticks - I thought it would be rude to pick it up with chopsticks! - My husband eats sushi with his fork - a definite no-no!).
Eat the whole sushi roll at once. It is not appropriate to eat part of a piece of sushi and place the other piece back on a plate. Once you have picked something up you should eat all of it. (Thank goodness - I have always put the whole piece of sushi in my mouth and chewed it up and swallowed it.).
Do not dip the rice portion of the sushi pieces into the Soy sauce as it becomes too moist and can cause sushi to fall apart. Simply dip the topping or the seaweed (Nori) in the soy sauce before eating. (This is so true! I did make this mistake one time and the whole roll came apart in my soy sauce dish. That was so embarrassing and the sushi did not taste the same when it was all separated like that.).
Well I hope this has helped you out there that did not know the proper sushi etiquette. It definitely helped me out. I plan on practicing this every time I go out for sushi now!
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
The next time you go out to order sushi, keep the follwing rules of etiquette in mind:
When you have your sushi in front of you you will usually have served up with it some pickled ginger, a small mound of wasabi, and soy sauce. You should eat a slice of pickled ginger after each variety of sushi to cleanse your palate. That is what the ginger is there for. (Personally I add it to my sushi to give it a little more flavor). Also, it is not proper to mix the wasabi with the soy sauce. (Many of my friends do this, but I never have.).
Sushi is meant to be finger food; both quick and tasty. It is preferable to eat sushi with your hands rather than with chopsticks, but both ways are acceptable in America. (I always eat it with chopsticks - I thought it would be rude to pick it up with chopsticks! - My husband eats sushi with his fork - a definite no-no!).
Eat the whole sushi roll at once. It is not appropriate to eat part of a piece of sushi and place the other piece back on a plate. Once you have picked something up you should eat all of it. (Thank goodness - I have always put the whole piece of sushi in my mouth and chewed it up and swallowed it.).
Do not dip the rice portion of the sushi pieces into the Soy sauce as it becomes too moist and can cause sushi to fall apart. Simply dip the topping or the seaweed (Nori) in the soy sauce before eating. (This is so true! I did make this mistake one time and the whole roll came apart in my soy sauce dish. That was so embarrassing and the sushi did not taste the same when it was all separated like that.).
Well I hope this has helped you out there that did not know the proper sushi etiquette. It definitely helped me out. I plan on practicing this every time I go out for sushi now!
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
4 people like this
6 responses
@soyporteno (406)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Thanks for all of the advice! I don't like the wasabi but I like everything else. Also, I guess I am at fault too as I eat my sushi with my chopsticks. I never knew you were supposed to pick it up with your fingers.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Well, I am still going to use my chopsticks. And I guess that is ok, at least for now, since I live in the United States. Besides, I think it would make my fingers all sticky and messy. I like LOTS of soy sauce!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
Besides, I think it would make my fingers all sticky and messy. I like LOTS of soy sauce!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Well, I go out with my son for his sushi fix as I call it. He eats with his fingers and dipps the thing in Soy or eats it by it's self as he doesn't like the wasabi. And I tasted it and don't blaime him. I have a nice hot tea and soup. As I said before I can't stand Sushi. But I pay for my son as he loves it. But then he will eat almost anything. Your friend onlydia
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I think that is so sweet that you go with your son and treat him. At least you can have the tea and the soup. I never really thought I would be able to eat sushi but I tried it and I did like it. Sometimes I now crave it. And I know that if you eat it in moderation that it is good for you too!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
@sophie_dfuss (2365)
• Philippines
19 Mar 09
I didn't know that sushi has to be eaten with fingers 
I always use chopsticks since I am good in using it
I always use chopsticks since I am good in using it 1 person likes this
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
16 Mar 09
Wow. I knew that you were supposed to eat your sushi in one bite and never use a fork, but I didn't know the rest. I really enjoy sushi. The deli my husband works at has sushi, so occasionally he brings some home. But my favorite is making our own sushi! It takes a little practice but the result is very tasty. I usually use chopsticks, but I didn't know that it was preferable to use your fingers. I also didn't know that it was improper to mix wasabi and soy sauce, but that's not an issue for me since I just don't eat the wasabi. It is a little too spicy for me. I also didn't know that the pickled ginger was a palate cleanser- I just assumed it was kind of a condiment to eat with the sushi. Thanks for the interesting info!
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
16 Mar 09
I know, it is true that you learn something new every day! I always eat mine with a pea sized amount of wasabi and a little topping of the pickled ginger. Since that is what I am used to doing then that is what I am going to continue doing.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
11 May 09
Ive only eaten sushi twice or thrice I think. I also didnt know that there was a 'way' of eating sushi. Thought one just puts a bit of wasabi, slightly dip in soy sauce then pop it in one's mouth.
Ive only tried California Maki though.
Havent really seen any pickled ginger, or perhaps I didnt know that it was pickled ginger.
I never mix the soy sauce with wasabi either. Whenever I dip in both, I put wasabi on one side then dip the other side in soy sauce.(Is this a do or dont?)
I used both chopsticks and hands when eating sushi but on different occasions of course. Used my hands first, then used the chopsticks the second time cause dipping sushi on soy sauce with bare hands is kinda messy.
Yep, pop the whole thing in my mouth either. As long as food is small enough to fit in the mouth for me I pop it all in. Also, my thinking on this is that I have to eat it whole to taste the full effect of the flavor.
Hmm, I dont remember my sushi falling apart, even if I dipped it in soy sauce. Must've dipped just the side of it.^_^
Thanks for posting this.
Ive only tried California Maki though.
Havent really seen any pickled ginger, or perhaps I didnt know that it was pickled ginger.
I never mix the soy sauce with wasabi either. Whenever I dip in both, I put wasabi on one side then dip the other side in soy sauce.(Is this a do or dont?)
I used both chopsticks and hands when eating sushi but on different occasions of course. Used my hands first, then used the chopsticks the second time cause dipping sushi on soy sauce with bare hands is kinda messy.
Yep, pop the whole thing in my mouth either. As long as food is small enough to fit in the mouth for me I pop it all in. Also, my thinking on this is that I have to eat it whole to taste the full effect of the flavor.
Hmm, I dont remember my sushi falling apart, even if I dipped it in soy sauce. Must've dipped just the side of it.^_^
Thanks for posting this.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
31 Mar 09
I have Japanese friends and none of them eat their sushi with their fingers. I have never been told not to dip my sushi roll in my soy sauce. Where did you learn this etiquette from?
1 person likes this
