Quick answer
Sushi is eaten in a single bite, dipping only the fish (not the rice) in a little soy sauce. You can take nigiri with your hand; makis and dishes with sauce, with chopsticks. Ginger is for cleansing the palate between pieces, not a side dish, and wasabi goes in moderation.
Ready to put it into practice? Book and try our sushi in Medellín with the Oni Nikkei technique.
Eating sushi for the first time can be intimidating: chopsticks or hand? How much soy is too much? Is ginger eaten with every piece? The good news is that sushi etiquette is simpler than it seems, and knowing it not only avoids the awkward moment: it makes every bite taste better.
In this guide we tell you, step by step, how to eat sushi, what each accompaniment is for, and which habits are worth avoiding to enjoy it as it should be.
Chopsticks or hand?
This is the first doubt and the answer surprises many people: nigiri (the piece of rice with fish on top) can perfectly be eaten with your hand. In Japan it is completely accepted and, in fact, that is how you better control the piece without it falling apart.
Chopsticks are ideal for makis (the cut rolls), sashimi, and dishes with sauce. If you use chopsticks, hold them firmly but without squeezing, and avoid stabbing the food to pierce it. The real rule is simple: use whatever gives you the most control without taking the piece apart. Nobody is going to judge you for eating a nigiri with your fingers.
How do you use soy sauce well?
Here is the most common mistake. Instinct leads you to sink the whole piece in the soy, but that saturates the flavor and breaks down the rice. The correct way is to dip only the fish side, not the rice side.
Rice is porous and absorbs too much soy, covering the flavor of the fish and of the vinegared rice itself. If you dip the fish instead, the soy plays its role of enhancing without dominating. For nigiri, turn it gently and touch the soy only with the tip of the fish; for sashimi, dip one end of the slice.
Serve little soy on the plate and top it up if needed. A huge pool invites overdoing it. And if the piece already comes with a sauce or a touch from the chef (common in signature sushi), try it plain first: many times it does not need soy at all.
What are ginger and wasabi for?
They are two accompaniments with very different functions, and it is worth not confusing them:
- Ginger (gari). Those pink or beige slices are not an ingredient to put on top of the sushi. They serve to cleanse the palate between pieces, especially when moving from one fish to another, to appreciate each flavor clean. You eat one slice between bites, not together with them.
- Wasabi. It adds heat and helps highlight the fish, but it goes in moderation. In many cases the chef already puts the right amount between the rice and the fish of the nigiri. If you add it yourself, do so in a small amount and avoid dissolving it in the soy (in Japan it is considered to mask the flavor).
In what order and at what pace should you eat?
There is no rigid rule, but there is a logic that helps you enjoy it more. It is best to go from the milder flavors to the more intense ones: start with white and light fish, continue with the fattier ones such as salmon or fatty tuna, and leave the pieces with powerful sauces or flame-searing for last.
Sushi is also enjoyed at the right pace: nigiri is at its best freshly made, so the ideal is to eat it soon and not leave it waiting. Eating each piece in a single bite (instead of splitting it) keeps the balance the chef intended between rice, fish, and seasoning.
Put etiquette into practice at Oni
Nigiri, makis, and tiraditos with that Japanese-Peruvian fusion, in El Poblado. The best way to learn is by tasting.
Book your tableHow to eat sushi step by step?
- Serve little soy Pour a small amount on the plate. You can always add more.
- Take the piece Nigiri with your hand or with chopsticks; makis and sashimi with chopsticks.
- Dip the fish, not the rice Turn the piece and touch the soy only with the fish side.
- Eat it in one bite That way you respect the balance of flavors the chef intended.
- Cleanse the palate Between different pieces, eat a slice of ginger to start fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to eat sushi with your hand?
Yes, especially nigiri. In Japan it is a completely accepted practice and it helps the piece not fall apart. Makis, sashimi, and dishes with sauce are usually eaten with chopsticks. The general recommendation is to use whatever gives you the most control without taking the piece apart.
Why should you not dip the rice in the soy?
Because rice is porous and absorbs too much soy, which covers the flavor of the fish and the vinegared rice, and also makes the piece fall apart. The correct thing is to dip only the fish side, so the soy enhances the flavor without dominating it.
Is ginger eaten together with the sushi?
No. Pickled ginger (gari) serves to cleanse the palate between one piece and another, especially when changing from one fish to another. You eat one slice between bites, not on top of the sushi nor at the same time as the piece.
Do I need to follow all these rules to enjoy sushi?
They are not strict rules, but customs that help you appreciate each piece better. The essential thing is to eat it in one bite, not overdo it with the soy, and give ginger its place. The rest is enjoying it. At Oni Nikkei the team is happy to guide you if it is your first time.
In short
- Sushi is eaten in a single bite; nigiri can go with your hand.
- Dip the fish side in the soy, never the rice.
- Ginger cleanses the palate between pieces; wasabi goes in moderation.
- Go from mild to intense flavors and eat each piece freshly served.
