Guide
Types of sushi
Sushi names usually describe a shape or serving format before they describe a particular ingredient. Learning that structure makes an unfamiliar menu much easier to read.
Use this guide to compare the rice base, position of the nori and way each piece is served, then open the linked categories for real examples from the SushiDex catalogue.
Restaurant recipes still vary, especially for Western rolls, so each detail page separates the format from its usual ingredients and aliases.
Main formats in the catalogue
Nigiri and sashimi put the main ingredient first
Nigiri places a topping over pressed sushi rice, while sashimi serves slices without rice. The presence of the rice base is the quickest visual distinction.
Maki names describe different roll structures
Hosomaki is thin, futomaki is thicker and uramaki turns the roll inside out so rice is visible outside. Standard maki usually keeps nori as the visible outer layer.
Temaki and gunkan have distinctive shapes
Temaki is a hand-held nori cone. Gunkan uses a band of nori around rice to hold loose toppings such as roe, salads or tartare.
Inari and chirashi are easy to separate
Inari uses a seasoned fried-tofu pouch, while chirashi presents fish and toppings over a bowl of sushi rice instead of individual pieces.
Popular
Nigiri
Aburi Sake Nigiri
Nigiri topped with seared salmon and optional sauce.
No raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Maguro Nigiri
Nigiri topped with tuna.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Sashimi
Sake Sashimi
Slices of salmon served without rice.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Ika Nigiri
Nigiri topped with squid.
Raw fishDelicate 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
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
Inari
Inari Kani
Seasoned fried tofu pouch with crab or surimi. Ingredients may vary depending on the restaurant.
No raw fishBalanced 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
Nigiri
Toro Nigiri
Nigiri topped with fatty tuna belly.
Raw fishBold flavorNot spicy
Sashimi
Unagi Sashimi
Slices of cooked eel and optional unagi sauce served without rice.
No raw fishBold flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Tobiko Nigiri
Nigiri topped with flying fish roe.
Raw fishBalanced flavorNot spicy
Nigiri
Hamachi Nigiri
Nigiri topped with yellowtail.
Raw fishDelicate flavorNot spicy
Related categories
FAQ
Are all sushi types raw?
No. Some entries include raw fish, while others use cooked seafood, tofu, vegetables or egg.
Is sushi type the same as ingredient?
No. The type describes the format; the ingredient describes what the piece contains.