Hello! My name is Orange Tea!
Today, let’s talk about the sushi toppings Japanese people love!
Sushi is one of Japan’s representative dishes.
Recently, sushi has become popular among foreigners, and many visitors to Japan enjoy eating sushi during their trips.
But have you ever been unsure about what to order when eating sushi?
What toppings do Japanese people like, and which ones do they eat the most?
In this article, I’ll introduce the sushi toppings Japanese people love, so you can use this as a reference when you go out for sushi.
The Most Popular Sushi Toppings Among Japanese People
First of all, the overwhelming number one favorite among Japanese people is tuna (maguro).
Tuna is more than twice as popular as the second-place topping.
When you think of sushi, it’s not an exaggeration to say you think of tuna.
Tuna has different cuts, such as otoro (fatty tuna), chutoro (medium fatty tuna), and akami (lean tuna). While otoro and chutoro are particularly popular, they are quite expensive, so people often eat akami. The general trend is to eat more akami and treat yourself to a little bit of otoro or chutoro.
The Second Most Popular: Salmon
The second most popular topping is salmon (sāmon).
Salmon is popular among children, and there are many variations, such as seared salmon, salmon topped with onions and mayonnaise, or salmon paired with avocado. Salmon with avocado is especially popular among women.
Below the third place
The rankings below third place vary depending on personal preferences.
Tuna takes an overwhelming first place, followed by salmon, and after that, there is a significant gap before the “other toppings” category.
When going out for sushi, most people eat tuna and salmon, while the rest of the choices depend on individual tastes.
Some of the relatively popular toppings include shrimp (ebi), yellowtail (hamachi), scallop (hotate), flounder fin (engawa), salmon roe (ikura), sea urchin (uni), sea bream (tai), eel (anago), and squid (ika).
Egg (tamago) is very popular among children, but many adults don’t eat it—not because they dislike it, but because there are other toppings they’d rather eat.
California Rolls
California rolls, which were introduced to Japan from overseas, are available at some sushi restaurants but not all. They are not particularly popular in Japan.
Many adults know what California rolls are, but some children don’t even know they exist.
It’s not that people dislike California rolls—they simply prefer to eat other sushi toppings that are more delicious to them.
Personal Favorites
Although not mentioned earlier, I personally like negitoro rolls (minced fatty tuna with green onion) and various seared sushi.
These are the kinds of sushi toppings that are popular among Japanese people, so use this as a guide when eating sushi.
Most Japanese people eat sushi at casual conveyor-belt sushi chains like Sushiro, Kura Sushi, or Hama Sushi, or they buy sushi from supermarkets to eat at home. If you’re looking for affordable sushi, these options won’t disappoint.
At high-end sushi restaurants, you can enjoy not only the basic toppings but also unique creations and beautifully crafted sushi that you won’t find in supermarkets.
At ultra-luxurious restaurants, it’s a whole different world—one that is out of reach for an ordinary person like me.
At chain restaurants, you’ll likely find a touch panel to place your order. However, at counter-only sushi restaurants, if you know what toppings you like, you can simply tell the chef. If you’re unsure, ask for their recommendation—it’s a safe choice.
If you’re worried about the cost when asking for recommendations at a counter restaurant, you can let them know your budget in advance, and they will prepare sushi within that range.
Be cautious if you see a menu with high prices or no listed prices (market price), as these can indicate that the restaurant is expensive.
This concludes our introduction to the sushi toppings Japanese people love!
I hope this helps you when you order sushi in Japan!