The Newbie’s Guide to Sushi & Japanese Cuisine

Eating sushi is so much more than a meal; it’s a complete culinary experience! From the selection to consumption, there are so many choices and flavor medlies. A far cry from the traditional Western eatery, sushi can be intimidating to many first-timers. At Nikko Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, we welcome seasoned sushi connoisseurs as well as those who are venturing out of their comfort zone for the first time. Here, we’ll let you in on all the things you need to know to enjoy Japanese cuisine in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Sushi Guide

Sushi Vocabulary

One of the most intimidating things about delving into sushi is the language and terminology. Get to know the terms and ingredients with this helpful glossary.


Agemono
Fried foods


Daikon
Giant, long white radish


Dashi
Fish stock


Edamame
Soybeans


Futomaki
Fat roll


Fukusa Sushi
A type of sushi that’s wrapped in a crepe


Gari
Pickled ginger


Gobo
Burdock root


Goma
Sesame seeds


Hijiki
Black seaweed


Inari Sushi
Aburage stuffed with sushi rice


Kappa
Cucumber


Kombu
Kelp


Maki Sushi
A sushi roll with rice on the outside


Murasaki
Soy sauce


Nasu
Eggplant


Negi
A Japanese onion


Nigiri Sushi
A slice of fish or other toppings on a ball of rice


Kampyo
Dried gourd strips


Nori
Roasted seaweed sheet


Norimaki
A roll with nori on the outside


Okonomi-zushi
Home-style nigiri sushi


Onigiri
Rice balls with various stuffings

Oshi-zushi
Sushi rice and other ingredients pressed into a box or mold


Oshinko
Pickled vegetables


Ponzu
Citrus/Soy sauce made with Yuzu


Roe
Fish eggs put on top of sushi rolls to add color and texture


Sashimi
Sliced or prepared raw fish


Shoyu
Japanese soy sauce


Su
Seasoned rice wine vinegar


Sumitomo
Cucumber salad


Sunumono
Pickled foods


Surimi
Imitation crab or lobster meat made with fish paste


Sushi
Anything made with vinegar rice


Tamago
Egg


Takenoko
Bamboo shoots


Takuan
Pickled daikon radish


Tataki
Finely chopped


Tazuna Sushi
A roll with diagonal strips of food across the top.


Tempura
Deep-fried


Temaki
Hand rolls


Tsukemono
Pickles


Wakame
Lobe-leaf seaweed in strands


Yuzu
Japanese lemon

Sushi Etiquette

Not quite sure how to order and enjoy your sushi without embarrassing yourself and shaming the chef? No worries! It’s easier than you think, and we’ve got some quick study tips to help you feel more comfortable in your favorite Charlotte sushi bar.

  • You may be offered a hot, wet towel, or oshibori, at the beginning of your meal. Use it to wash your hands and try to fold it back neatly the way it was offered to you before returning it.

  • Do not rub your chopsticks together.

  • It’s okay to ask for an item that’s not listed on the menu. Chef’s love to make their own dishes.

  • If this is your first time, it’s okay to stick with something you know and order cooked fish rather than raw — build up to it!

  • It’s okay to eat sushi with your hands, but sashimi should only be eaten with chopsticks.

  • Dip the fish portion of your sushi or sashimi, not the rice. The rice will soak up too much of the sauce.

  • Eat nigiri-style sushi in a single bite unless the piece is too big to do it politely.

  • Gari, ginger, is considered a palate cleanser and should be eaten between bites or between different types of sushi. It should not be eaten in the same bite as a piece of sushi.

  • Slurping noodles is okay by Japanese standards.

  • If you are not given a spoon for your soup, do not ask for one. You are expected to pick up your bowl to drink the soup.

  • Never pass food to another person using chopsticks or use the chopsticks you ate with to take sushi off a community or another person’s plate. Pass the plate instead.

  • Never stick your chopsticks in your rice and leave them sticking up.

  • Serve each other beverages instead of pouring your own drink. It is customary for the most “prestigious” person at the table to pour the drinks.

  • Do not take leftover sushi home.

For the most part, American sushi bars, including those in North Carolina, are Westernized, so come as you are and eat as you please!

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The Full Course on Japanese Meals

It’s All About the Sauce!

Sushi is generally best served dipped and may come with a variety of sauces both on top or on the side. Pickled ginger is served as both a garnish and to clear the pallet before diving into the next flavor.

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Soy Sauce

Traditional dipping sauce for sushi and sashimi. Soy sauce has a salty and sweet flavor.

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Wasabi

Made from Kudzu, wasabi is slightly spicy like horseradish. It is used to add a kick to your sushi and diminish the fish smell.

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Ponzu Sauce

A citrus-based sauce that is often mixed with soy sauce. Ponzu adds a tart, tangy flavor to sashimi.

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Eel Sauce

Heated for serving, eel sauce is a thick, sweet sauce, made from a soy sauce base mixed with Japanese rice wine and sugar.

Navigating Sushi Menus For Vegetarian Options

Because the word sushi tends to be synonymous with “raw fish,” it can intimidate many people who are not ready to eat their protein raw and may seem like a hard no for those who are vegetarian. However, if you want to invite your vegetarian friend on a sushi date or you are the vegetarian friend, here are some menu items you can enjoy without missing out on the experience.

Appetizers

  • Edamame - steamed and salted soybeans
  • Spinach Goma-ae - steamed spinach with sesame sauce
  • Asparagus Goma-ae - steamed asparagus with sesame sauce
  • Vegetable Tempura - fried assorted seasonal vegetables
  • Crispy Vegetable Spring Roll

Soup, Salad, and Sides

  • Miso Soup
  • House Salad with Ginger Dressing
  • Cabbage and Mango Salad

Entrees

  • Veggie Yaki Soba
  • Veggie & Egg Fried Rice
  • Flash Fried Tofu Teriyaki

Sushi Rolls

  • Veggie Roll
  • Asparagus Roll
  • Custom Roll

All the Desserts and Drinks!

It’s Time To Eat!