Nigiri, Sushi and Sashimi: A First-Time Ordering Guide

Nigiri is sushi made with a small shaped portion of vinegared rice and a topping. Sashimi is sliced seafood served without sushi rice. A sushi roll wraps rice and fillings into a different format. The difference is not simply “raw versus cooked”.

This is useful when you are looking at a Japanese section for the first time and deciding what will make a complete meal.

Start with rice, then look at the topping

Japan's agriculture ministry describes nigiri in its regional cuisine reference. The Japan National Tourism Organization's sushi guide also distinguishes sashimi from sushi.

Format	What defines it	Useful ordering question
Nigiri	A topping on shaped sushi rice	Which toppings are available today?
Sushi roll	Rice and fillings in a rolled format	What are the fillings and sauces?
Sashimi	Slices without sushi rice	Do I want a rice side or a platter to share?
Donburi	A bowl of rice with toppings	What makes up this particular bowl?

Not all sushi contains raw fish. Equally, “sushi” does not guarantee that a particular product is cooked. Read the individual listing.

A straightforward first order

Choose one familiar flavour and one new format. For example, someone who already enjoys salmon could compare salmon and avocado sushi with a sashimi product, rather than trying several unfamiliar fish and sauces at once.

If you want an individual meal, a rice bowl may be easier to portion than a sharing platter. If you want to taste several products, ask what is currently available and avoid assuming a photograph represents a fixed daily selection.

What to ask about sauces

Soy-based sauces, mayonnaise, sesame and other additions can change both flavour and allergens. Ask for the ingredient information for the actual product. Removing a visible garnish is not the same as confirming a dish is suitable for an allergy.

Taste the fish before adding large amounts of sauce. A lightly seasoned piece and a heavily dressed roll can be enjoyable for different reasons, and they do not need identical treatment.

Order for the occasion

For a shared table, count people and preferences before counting pieces. Some diners want rice, some prefer sashimi, and others want a fully cooked option. Our mixed-preference platter guide explains how to organise that conversation.

Keep ready-to-eat seafood chilled and follow the supplied use-by and handling instructions. Our experienced Japanese team can help with the current range, while the online Japanese selection is the place to start browsing.

Does nigiri mean a specific fish? No. It describes a format. The topping must still be identified separately.