Different types of sushi: a complete guide to ordering sushi

Different types of sushi: a complete guide to ordering sushi

Sushi is a Japanese meal comprising rice seasoned with vinegar, seafood, and vegetables. Although many people believe that raw fish is the main ingredient in sushi, rice is the main component. You may be confused when looking at a sushi menu if you are unfamiliar with the dish. This guide will outline the different types of sushi that will satisfy your taste buds.

Hosomaki, Nigiri, and Uramaki sushi
Hosomaki, Nigiri and Uramaki sushi. Photo: @mr.lawsushi, @mykafe2020 on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Have you visited a meal bar or restaurant and gazed at the sushi menu? The dish is an international cuisine that originated in Japan. The meal has different combinations with this vinegared rice, offering fans a variety. Uncover different types of sushi names that will provide a fascinating fusion of tastes from other places.

Different types of sushi

Sushi is one of the most sophisticated and tasty foods. It is healthy, convenient, and appealing and offers a variety of flavour combinations to try. Although there are primarily 12 different types of sushi, there are more that are less known. Below is a detailed guide to different kinds of sushi you can sample.

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1. Nigiri

Salmon Nigiri
Salmon Nigiri on black and jungle green surfaces (R). Photo: @kichi_omakase on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Nigiri sushi is one of the popular kinds of sushi. It is served alongside raw fish, Tamago (egg), or a type of vegetable. Nigiri is a slice of fish served over a tiny bit of rice.

This dish is rarely served with meat instead of food. It is often paired with salmon or tuna, raw or cooked. This dish appeals to people who want to savour the flavour of the fish and other toppings.

2. Gunkan Maki

Gunkan Maki
Gunkan Maki is placed in small black nylon bags. Photo: @yossy_photograph, @samuraizing on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The second type is gunkan maki. It is also widely recognised as sushi, although it does not resemble the typical makizushi. However, it is still vinegard rice wrapped in seaweed. The toppings mainly used are flying fish roe (tobiko), salmon roe (ikura), and sea urchin (uni).

3. Narezushi

Narezushi served alongside herbs
Narezushi is best served alongside herbs. Photo: @fujio.k on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Narezushi is one of the most ancient types, mainly referred to as the grandmother of modern sushi. It is a fermented form of sushi. Freshwater fish preserved in salt and rice is the main ingredient.

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Sometimes, the fresh fish is kept with fermenting for years. However, Narezushi is not popular today because of its intense flavour.

4. Chirashizushi

Chirashizushi is usually a sushi bowl with vinegared rice, raw fish and other ingredients. The types of raw fish used primarily are salmon and tuna.

Shredded egg, nori, and salmon roe are used as a garnish for a colourful and mouthwatering finish. This meal is easy to make and is a popular party food, served as a big platter.

5. Oshizushi

Oshizushi served on a wooden surface (L). Oshizush served on a white plate (R)
Oshizushi is adorned with different types of fish with persimmon leaves. Photo: @mrsdonabe on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Oshizushi is translated to "box " or "pressed sushi". It originates in Osaka, Japan and is also one of the oldest types of sushi.

It is considered the successor to narezushi and is made by pressing ingredients into a rectangular mould. Oshizushi is adorned with different types of fish, such as mackerel/ and garnished with persimmon leaves.

6. Temarizushi

Temarizushi garnished with asparagus
Temarizushi garnished with asparagus. Photo: @ouchigohan.jp on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Temarizushi, translated as handball, is another food class in traditional Japanese sushi. It refers to a traditional Japanese embroidered ball people used to play with. However, the temari ball is nowadays a decorative ornament, not a ball game. Temarizushi is a miniature, cuter nigiri, usually topped with raw fish.

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7. Inarizushi

Inarizushi sushi
Inarizushi comprises a rice pocket of thin, deep-fried tofu. Photo: @_natalie_leon, @taropongurume on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Inarizushi is another type of Japanese sushi. It comprises a rice pocket of thin, deep-fried tofu (aburaage). Unlike other savoury sushi, it leans more on the sweet side. Often, it is accentuated by a delicacy like the sweet anago, also known as the Japanese conger eel.

8. Sasazushi

Sasazushi served on banana leaves
Sasazushi is best served on banana leaves. Photo: @tu.foodies, @nyozehime on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The sasazushi is one of the rare types. It originates from Niigata and Nagano and is made with wild vegetables. The presentation is done on a bed of sushi rice on a bamboo leaf. This healthy meal utilises fresh produce from the farm.

9. Makizushi

Makizushi sliced into bite-sized pieces
Makizushi is rolled into thin tubes and sliced into bite-sized pieces. Photo: @kiyukatsu on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Makizushi, also known as maki, is the most popular. It is primarily rice with a sheet of seaweed (nori) served alongside various combinations of fish and vegetables.

The yummy treat is firmly rolled into thin tubes and sliced into bite-sized pieces. However, it is at times made with a single ingredient for filling. This type of single-filling makizushi is called hosomaki. 

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10. Futomaki

Futomaki is one of the different types of sushi rolls under makizushi. Its flavour is one of its strong points.

As the name suggests, it is a thick rolled maki (primarily vegetarian) with cucumber, tamago (egg) strips and shiitake mushroom. It is considered the most classic maki roll in Japan. This sushi roll is best for festive events and gatherings.

11. Temakizushi

Temakizushi garnished with avocado and tomato
Cone-shaped Temakizushi garnished with avocado and tomato. Photo: @mr.lawsushi, @you.stance_ing on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Temakizushi is another variation of the maki. It is also known as the "hand roll" and appears as a cone shape. The roll is easy to make using ingredients like rice, fish and veggies. Unlike other rolls, it is eaten by hand as chopsticks are messy.

12 Hosomaki

Hosomaki served on a white and brown surface (L). Hosomaki is placed on a black surface with potato puree on green leaves (R)
Hosomaki served with potato puree on green leaves (R). Photo: @sushi_chefpawel, @norecipes on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Hosomaki is the most basic roll type. Unlike other rolls, it has one filling instead of having a variety. It only consists of an ingredient like cucumber, tuna, salmon, or crab stick. It is also the smallest makizushi, and its simplicity is its selling point.

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13. Uramaki (Uramakizushi)

Uramaki served on a cream place (L). Uramaki sprinkled with chia seeds (R)
Uramaki served on a cream place (L). Uramaki sprinkled with chia seeds (R). Photo: @mr.lawsushi, @mykafe2020 on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Another type of maki is the uramaki, also known as the "inside-out" sushi. Unlike the typical rolled sushi, this one has a rise on the outside. The other unique thing about the uramaki is that it traces its origins in Los Angeles, earning the name the famous California roll.

It was first made by Machita Ichiro, who noticed Americans were not fans of the seaweed roll. He decided to put the seaweed inside.

What are the 3 main types of sushi?

The three main types of sushi dishes are nigiri, gunkan, maki and makizushi, also known as maki sushi.

Inarizushi, also known as fox sushi, is the most popular worldwide.

What are the 5 traditional sushi rolls?

Below are the five traditional sushi rolls.

  • Tuna roll, also known as Tekka Maki
  • Cucumber roll, also known as Kappa Maki
  • Soybean roll, also known as Natto Maki
  • Pickled Daikon roll, also known as Oshinko Maki
  • Eel roll, also known as Unagi Maki

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Which types of sushi are raw?

The following are the different types of raw sushi.

  • Nigiri is made of raw fish topping served on top of sushi rice
  • Sashimi is shellfish or pure fish served without rice.
  • Maki is rice and filling wrapped in seaweed.
  • Uramaki is made of rice on the outside and seaweed wrapped around the filling.
  • Temaki is hand-rolled sushi that looks like a cone shape.

Sushi is a meal that originated in the Japanese culture. It started as a simple vinegar rice and raw fish but has evolved into many forms. If you want unique tastes to indulge your taste buds, try the above types of sushi.

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Naomi Karina (Lifestyle writer) Naomi Karina has been a digital content writer for more than two years. She joined the Legit team in August 2022. She graduated Bachelor of Commerce from KCA University in 2012. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Human Resources from the IHRM and a Diploma in Marketing from Kenyatta University. She is a content creator who enjoys writing about various topics such as biographies, entertainment and business. In 2023, Naomi finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She expanded her skills in 2024 by undertaking the Google News Initiative course.