The owner of a long-established sushi restaurant gives a lecture on basic sushi etiquette! From reservations to how to eat, we will teach you all 22 sushi-related details that are difficult to ask at restaurants using a Q&A method. Useful for those who are new to counter sushi or those who want to learn more! “Do you eat sushi with your hands?” “How do you eat sushi?” Master the correct way to behave.
[Archived version] A complete review of sushi etiquette!
A sushi restaurant with a counter staffed by craftsmen. The more expensive sushi becomes, the more people become concerned about how to eat sushi and the etiquette.
Shouldn’t you eat sushi with chopsticks? How to add soy sauce? In what order do you eat sushi? In this article, whether it is your first time at a counter sushi restaurant or those who want a refresher, we will introduce “22 sushi etiquette” that are difficult to ask at a restaurant in a Q&A format. Yasuyuki Nomoto, the third generation of the long-established sushi restaurant “Yanaka Matsu Sushi,”
To visit a sushi restaurant, make a reservation! ～Preparation～
- What should I do before visiting the store I want to go to?
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If a restaurant has a menu and prices posted on the table during lunch time, it may be okay to enter the restaurant, but the restaurant will have to take care of purchasing and preparation, and customers will have to take care of things like securing seats. Therefore, it would be best to make a reservation. In that case, I think it will be easier for the restaurant staff to accommodate you if you avoid busy times such as peak lunch and dinner times.
When making a reservation, please let us know your name, number of people, contact information, menu preferences, and ingredients you don’t like. Also, if you decide to cancel, use common sense. Doing such things as canceling your order without contacting us will cause trouble for the shop and will make it difficult for you to visit us again, resulting in sad results for both of you, so please be careful! - My first time eating counter sushi. Are there any dress etiquette rules?
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Unlike high-end French restaurants, there are no dress rules such as wearing a jacket or shirt. It would be nice to have something clean and appropriate for the season. However, what you need to be careful about is perfume! Even outside of sushi restaurants, aroma is an important element in cooking.
- I don’t know the menu or prices of the restaurant I want to go to. Can I ask you on the phone?
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If you don’t see it listed on the homepage, it’s OK to inquire about things you don’t know about, such as prices or content. Just like when making reservations, be careful about the time you call.
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What is the correct behavior after entering the store?
- What should I do first after entering the store?
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If you have made a reservation, please use the reservation name. If you haven’t made a reservation, let us know your wishes, including the number of people, and we’ll check to see if you can enter. Once you are seated, the restaurant staff will usually ask you about the menu and drinks, so please let them know your preferences. If there is no menu, ask for confirmation verbally. Also, it is a good idea to let us know at the outset if you have any allergies, things you don’t like, or requests for rust removal.
- What should I do if I come across something that I can’t eat during the Omakase menu?
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As I answered above, it’s best to let them know before the course starts if there are things you can’t eat, but if you notice something midway through, just let the staff know. I think they will take appropriate action such as withdrawing or replacing the item.
- What should the orderer say?
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If there is a menu, choose from it, and if there is not, verbally say “I’ll leave it to you” or “As you like.” Omakase is the restaurant’s recommended configuration. You can order whatever you like. Also, even if you choose the omakase, let us know in advance whether you want to start with the snacks or the nigiri.
- If I like it, how should I order it? Also, what should I start eating?
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If you want a snack such as sashimi, or if you want to eat some nigiri, just look at the topping tag and let us know what you like. If you don’t have a topping tag, it may be easier for the store staff to answer if you narrow down your questions, such as “Do you have any recommendations?” or “Do you have any shellfish?” By the way, if you say “with snacks” or “with sashimi,” they will serve you sashimi, and if you say “with nigiri,” they will serve you sushi rice. Also, there are no rules regarding the order of toppings to eat, such as which ones should be eaten first. You can order whatever you like.
Can I take a picture? Are your personal items on the counter? How to behave properly while eating
- What should I do if I want to take pictures?
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Be sure to ask the restaurant staff if you can take photos of the sushi beforehand. Also, basically you can only photograph things you have ordered. It is good etiquette not to take pictures of other customers inside the restaurant or of food and drinks ordered at other seats. A restaurant is basically a place to eat. If you place more emphasis on photography than on eating, you will miss out on the best time to eat delicious food.
- Can I use sushi restaurant terms such as “Agari”, “Murasaki”, and “Oaiso”?
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You can use it, but it was originally a word used by craftsmen to communicate with each other at the ticket office. Normally “tea”, “soy sauce”, and “ticket” are fine.
- Should I leave the geta and plates on the counter as they are?
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Basically, the geta and plates on the counter are where the craftsmen put their nigiri, etc., so leave them as they are. However, if you are unable to get it, you can move it towards yourself.
- If I choose to eat at the counter, where should I put my personal belongings such as my cell phone?
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If possible, it’s best to keep it out of your bag, in your clothes pocket, or between the back of a chair, but if you do, be careful not to get in the way of people lining up or cooking, and to avoid damaging the countertop. of. Another option is to have the store store large items such as bags and jackets.
Boiled? soy sauce? chopsticks? hand? What should I do while eating?
- Should I eat nigiri with my hands or with chopsticks?
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Both answers are OK. You can decide on the spot, such as when you don’t want to get your hands dirty, or when you want to suit the person you are attending, such as at a reception. Basically, even if you eat with your hands, you may end up using chopsticks if the food has claws on it because your hands will get sticky, so please use both.
- If I eat nigiri with my hands, what should I wipe my fingertips with?
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Wet towels and finger wipes provided by shops are the norm, but if you feel like it, you can go wash your hands. In any case, it’s safe to bring a handkerchief.
- Is it okay to drink tea or water?
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There is no rule that says you have to drink this with sushi. You can use tea, water, or whatever you like at the store. However, when you order a pairing course, which you often see at sushi restaurants these days, you will be offered a drink that matches the menu.
- Is it okay to get extra soy sauce even if the food is covered in nigiri?
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it’s okay. You can say something like, “Can I have some soy sauce?” Similarly, in most cases, they will add things like wasabi and gari if you ask.
- I get nervous when the taciturn chef cooks the sushi at the counter. It’s difficult to convey my wishes, such as removing rust…
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Even if you are silent, the store will respond to your requests to the best of your ability. It’s okay to tell them without worrying about rust removal. If you’re nervous, it’s a good idea to start by saying something like, “If you don’t mind…” or “I’m sorry…”
- If I want to add soy sauce etc. from a small plate myself, how should I do it?
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To enjoy the flavor of wasabi, add a small amount directly to the toppings without dissolving it in the soy sauce. If soy sauce soaks into the sushi rice, the nigiri will become salty and fall apart easily, so add soy sauce to the toppings.
- The grip almost falls apart by the time I bring it to my mouth. What should I do now?
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If you eat the sushi in one bite with the rice on top and the toppings on the bottom, it won’t fall apart easily.
- The nigiri doesn’t fit in your mouth in one bite. What are the countermeasures?
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It would be a good idea to tell them that you would like the sushi rice to be smaller, or if you have a large topping, such as tiger prawns, that you would like them cut up.
- Is it okay to not eat the gari and tsuma that come with it?
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They are just added to refresh the palate and add color. You are free to eat or not.
- Is it okay to eat snacks and sashimi with decorations?
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Basically, we don’t often treat inedible foods, so it’s okay to eat them. You can also ask the staff at the restaurant, “Can I eat this?”
- Should I eat what is served immediately?
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The best time to eat it is the moment it is served. It’s best to talk and take photos in moderation, and eat without too much time between meals.
- Fill your stomach before the course ends. What should I do in that case? Also, what if you want to eat a little more?
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Depending on how full you are, you can stop, eat less sushi rice, or ask how much sushi is left and say, “I’d like to eat about XX more pieces.” Also, if you don’t have enough, ask “Can I add more?” and tell them the toppings and number of pieces you would like. This may not be possible depending on the stock that day, but please feel free to ask the store staff.
It’s safe to know the manners! But the most important thing is to eat deliciously.
How was it? Many sushi etiquettes depend on the restaurant, so we can’t say for sure that this is the correct answer, but just knowing them may help you enjoy your meal with peace of mind.
Nowadays, “new generation sushi restaurants” are opening one after another in Tokyo, so why not go out to one of the “famous sushi restaurants” that are truly delicious?
