Sushi
Bar Etiquette.
Many people, even those who’ve been eating
sushi for a long time, avoid the sushi bar.
It can be a little confusing to know what
the rules are for sitting at the sushi bar,
and many people don’t want to inadvertently
commit a breach of etiquette. However, the
rules of politeness at a sushi bar are
mostly common sense and not hard to follow.
If you’ve always avoided sitting at the
sushi bar, you’re missing out on a treat.
Here are a few simple rules to follow that
will ensure you get good service.
Do ask the chef for recommendations. Most
sushi chefs love the opportunity to interact
with customers. If it’s your first time at a
sushi bar, tell the chef you’re new and ask
for recommendations. If you’re an old hand,
ask what’s especially good today and ask him
to choose for you. This can lead to a very
different dining experience than you get
just ordering from the menu—many chefs will
delight in introducing customers to rare
treats that sometimes aren’t on the menu.
Don’t ask if the fish is fresh. This implies
that you think the chef might serve old
fish, which could be taken as insulting. The
fish should look moist and fresh, with no
crust, dryness, or discolorations. You
should not smell a “fishy” scent. If you see
or smell any of these things, you should eat
elsewhere. If not, the fish is probably
fine.
Do use the towel the waiter gives you at the
start of your meal. The wait staff at a
sushi bar will give their guests warm, damp
towels that are meant to clean guests’ hands
at the beginning of a meal. You’ll also get
paper or cloth napkins for your lap at most
Western sushi bars.
Don’t
put wasabi in your soy sauce. At least not
when you’re eating sushi.
The chef will put some wasabi between the
fish and rice in your sushi, and to add more
implies that you don’t trust the chef’s
judgment. This is the official line of
etiquette; however, some Japanese people
will tell you that outside of Japan, chefs
understand that foreigners have varying
tastes and won’t take it as personally.
Do order directly from the chef.
At the sushi bar, the wait staff will bring
you drinks, soup, salad, or anything else
besides sushi. When seated at the sushi bar,
the chef will expect you to order directly
from him, not flag down a member of the wait
staff.
Don’t use your fingers when eating
sashimi.
At any sushi bar, it’s considered unclean to
handle raw sashimi with your fingers. Use
chopsticks or, if you find them difficult,
use a fork.
Do use your fingers when eating sushi.
Modern sushi has its roots in the streets of
Tokyo, where it was sold out of carts as a
street snack. It’s meant to be picked up and
eaten with the fingers, although it’s also
acceptable to eat it with chopsticks.
Don’t dip your sushi in the soy sauce
rice-side down. Dip your sushi in fish-side
down. If you don’t, the rice ball can fall
apart in the soy sauce, making a bit of a
mess. More traditional chefs may take it
personally—the rice can absorb enough soy
sauce to upset the delicate balance of
flavors the chef built into each piece,
sending the chef the message that you don’t
appreciate his craft.
Do tip the chef. At a sushi bar, your tip
should be divided into two unequal parts,
with the larger amount going to the sushi
chef. The smaller amount should go to the
waiter who brought your drinks, utensils,
napkins, etc. But since the chef is doing
the bulk of the serving, the larger tip
should go to him.
Eating at a sushi bar is great fun—and it’s
a great way to impress a friend who’s new to
sushi. If you develop a relationship with
the sushi chefs at your favorite sushi bar,
chances are you’ll get the best service and
sushi available at the restaurant. So don’t
be afraid to introduce yourself, be
outgoing, and rely on the chef’s
expertise—you’ll find it a rewarding
experience.
Have a question, comment, or
suggestion?Chef Ozaki
loves to talk with his customers—both at the
restaurant and online.Feel free to email him at
Ozaki@Allsushirecipes.com if you have any
questions—or any suggestions on how he can
make this site better
Find your local Japanese
Sushi Bar Restaurants At Allsushirecipes.com
