Sushi counter customs

Words used at a sushi counter

Sushi counters have their own vocabulary. Neta is the topping, shari is the vinegared rice, gari is the sweet pickled ginger eaten between orders to cleanse the palate, agari means tea, and murasaki is an old term for soy sauce. You don't need to know these to be understood, but they can make the meal more enjoyable.

Dipping in soy sauce, and how to eat

When dipping a piece of nigiri in soy sauce, it's generally better to dip the neta side lightly rather than the shari (rice) — dipping the rice tends to break it apart and pick up too much sauce. Chopsticks are the usual way to eat, but eating with your hands is fine too and is common even at higher-end shops. Many people eat each piece in one bite, though there's no need to force it.

Omakase, okonomi, and jika (market price)

Omakase means leaving the choice and order of items to the chef, while okonomi means choosing what you want yourself. For items marked jika (priced by the day's market rate), it's fine to ask the price before ordering. At the counter, it also helps to go easy on strong perfume, out of consideration for others' sense of smell.

Sitting at the counter

Counter seats put you right in front of the chef, so it's smoother to wait to be shown to your seat rather than choosing one yourself. Some shops settle the bill right at the counter, others at a register.

How kaitenzushi (conveyor-belt sushi) works

At many kaitenzushi shops, you're free to take any plate off the belt, and an increasing number also let you order directly from a tablet. Prices are often set by the color or pattern of the plate, tallied at checkout by plate count and color. To skip the wasabi, saying "sabi-nuki" is usually understood.

Related foods

If the work and cuts behind each topping interest you, see "Sushi toppings," and for the fish and shellfish themselves, see "Fish" or "Shellfish and cephalopods."