Sushi Menu Vocabulary Guide – Pampered Chef Blog

Dish & Tell Team

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.

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