Sushi Menu Vocabulary Guide – Pampered Chef Blog

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.