Guide
Sushi for beginners
A first sushi order is easier when you separate three decisions: the serving format, whether it contains raw fish and how strong or spicy the flavor is.
Start with recognizable ingredients and a format you understand, then use the SushiDex indicators to compare texture, spice and raw-fish status before opening a detail page.
The examples below come from established catalogue entries rather than a fixed tasting order; personal preference and restaurant preparation still matter.
What to look for first
Choose a format you can recognize
Nigiri is a topping over rice, sashimi has no rice, uramaki shows rice outside and temaki is a nori cone. Identifying the shape narrows the choice immediately.
Check raw fish before the flavor
Cooked prawn, eel, tofu and vegetable entries offer alternatives to raw fish. SushiDex marks the catalogue version, but restaurant preparation should always be confirmed.
Use texture as a practical guide
Soft salmon, firm tuna, crisp tempura and springy squid feel very different even when none is spicy. Texture can be more useful than popularity when choosing.
Treat commercial roll names with caution
Names such as Tiger Roll or Crazy Salmon Roll can cover different toppings and sauces. Read the listed ingredients and check the restaurant menu for the final recipe.
Popular
Nigiri
Maguro Nigiri
Nigiri topped with tuna.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Sashimi
Sake Sashimi
Slices of salmon served without rice.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Uramaki
Ebi Tempura Uramaki
Inside-out roll with tempura prawn and avocado or cucumber. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
No raw fishBold flavorNot spicy
Western rolls
Tiger Roll
Western-style roll with prawn, avocado, and optional sauce. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
No raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Western rolls
Crazy Salmon Roll
Western-style roll with salmon, avocado or cream cheese, and variable sauce. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
Raw fishBold flavorMild
Uramaki
California Uramaki
Inside-out roll with surimi or crab, avocado, and cucumber. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
No raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Sake Nigiri
Nigiri topped with salmon.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Western rolls
Dragon Roll
Western-style roll with avocado or eel, tempura prawn, and unagi sauce. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
No raw fishBold flavorNot spicy
Sashimi
Maguro Sashimi
Slices of tuna served without rice.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Western rolls
Rainbow Roll
Western-style roll with assorted fish, avocado, and surimi or crab. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Ebi Nigiri
Nigiri topped with cooked prawn.
No raw fishDelicate flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Aburi Sake Nigiri
Nigiri topped with seared salmon and optional sauce.
No raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Related categories
FAQ
What is an easy sushi format to recognize?
Nigiri and sashimi are usually direct because the main ingredient is visible on top or served as slices.
What if a roll name changes by restaurant?
Western-style rolls can vary, so SushiDex shows the most common listed ingredients when available.