Going to a sushi restaurant, how do I know if it’s raw or not?

[DanielaDressen]

I’ve never had sushi. I don’t want to eat raw fish and thought it was all raw. Dd is desperate to go but she’s vegetarian so doesn’t care as will eat the vegi stuff but I’d like something more than avocado and rice. Will any of it be cooked fish and how do I know the difference? Google is giving conflicting answers.

You'd need to ask your server in the restaurant. You can get sushi that has cooked chicken in it but in my experience the fish sushi will be raw. If you research where you're going and check the menu you might find there are other options on the menu that aren't sushi. Personally, I love sushi and I'd encourage you to give it a try if you can!

There's no single name for cooked sushi. Usually only fish is raw, prawns are boiled before being served with sushi rice.
Things like California roll (with imitation crab) are cooked.

Nothing wrong with asking the server.
However it's rare for a restaurant to serve only sushi, they usually have other things like rice bowls or noodles. Just have that instead?

Any chicken or duck sushi will be cooked as will ebi (eel) or prawn. Most sushi restaurants will have pictures on the menu and include descriptions. Most if not all the fish sushi will be raw.

Stick with veggie sushi, or meat don buri (rice bowls). Spring rolled, chicken yakitori or teriyaki.

If in doubt just ask. They are used to western sqeemishness about raw fish.

If they have eel/unagi, it will be cooked.
It's my favourite, tastes like barbequed pork belly not like fish at all.

Mackerel /saba would be seared and vinegared so not really raw.

You can also have egg/tamago.

A lot of sushi places will have noodles/ rice bowls/ curry as well.

Thanks, there’s no menu on their website so I can’t plan. They do say that they do poke bowls so that’s an option but the chef spent years training in Japan and it’s meant to be excellent sushi so I feel I should try something.

Definitely go for eel, it's delicious and definitely cooked.

If you eat smoked salmon, you’ll be fine with salmon sushi.

At the risk of sounding patronizing, the raw sushi fish doesn't taste how fish that isn't so fresh smells, it tastes completely different.

Salmon tastes creamy and buttery, tuna tastes....well I'm not sure how to describe it but not at all like canned tuna and none of it should smell "fishy" at all.

Eel and octopus will be cooked, anything that says katsu or tempura will be cooked (I would recommend getting anything with tempura prawn as it’s always yummy). Crab will be cooked. Lots of options.

But, if you’re feeling a bit brave, I’d really recommend trying tuna sushi. It’s the easiest one to start with, simple flavour and not slimy or anything like that. Any tuna sushi topped and top it with the pickled ginger just to try it. If you feel like it!

Ebi is prawn/shrimp. Not eel.
Unagi is eel.

Sadly, unagi isn't sustainably sourced.

California roll is cooked and delicious

I believe that sushi fish has been frozen and the extreme cold in the process acts in the same way as heating methods do - ie destroying any bacteria present.

Poke is raw fish.

Absolutely! Eel's a wonderful meaty fish, and generally grilled with a sweetish glaze. Plus it is farmed in Northern Europe, although no idea how widely they sell the product.

Also agree with a PP about sushi with tempura prawn - or, in my favourite takeaway sushi place, cooked soft shell crab: https://atariya.co.uk/shops/kingston-store/

I don't work for them, but if you're near any of their branches, do try them. Plus, hopefully your veggie daughter will like seaweed salad . Enjoy the experience!

Cheers quite right

Just ask them, sounds like a fancy-ish place and guiding customers is part of having good service. You definitely won't be the first. However as PP said the fish is flash frozen then thawed to kill anything unpleasant.

🙈. So glad I started this thread. There’s a cafe near me which does “poke bowls” definitely not raw fish, not even any fish in them. I thought it was just rice and raw salad veg with chicken or beef 😁

Why don't you want to eat raw fish? Are you worried it will make you ill? Or is it the texture?

The best sushi, in my opinion, is the raw fish stuff - I wouldnt eat other types of fish raw but these chefs know what they are doing and it's usually really delicious

Ignore that poster. Poke bowls can have any topping. It’s not just raw fish.

Could you contact the restaurant in advance and ask them for advice. Some sushi restaurants specialise heavily and might not have a lot of options. Some which are in a more western style will have a more varied menu. If you contact them, they might be able to make arrangements for you in advance, or if not at least let you know what to expect. I know some sushi restaurants who have wide menus outside of raw fish. And others who specialise so heavily, I don’t go to as a vegetarian because I’m not their audience (even though they’re very highly rated). Without knowing the restaurant no one on here can help you.

A lot of sushi rolls are made with tempura, which is cooked. But usually salmon or tuna, and other fish might more likely be raw. You must just ask the staff. The veggie options are a lot more exciting than just avo and rice, I'd hope.

I’ll go regardless of whether I think it’s rubbish/not much choice for me. Dd is having surgery next week so I’ve promised her this as a treat.

it’s the thought of the texture of raw fish which puts me off

It is a bit silly to say, as an adult, that you don’t want to try proper sushi though. What is it you’re afraid of?

What about the texture though? It’s no different to cold meat. They all have their own qualities but it really is just cold cuts. And once it’s wrapped in the rice (which is sweetened and seasoned with mirin and other things), the veggies, the seaweed ans you add the ginger and soy… the texture isn’t something you’re going to pick out. The flavours are amazing though.
You can get them in temaki style hand rolls with sushi mayo and chilli and avocado and all sorts. Or in the the battleship shape topped with spring onions… it’s endless variety and they do taste great.

Obviously some people don’t like it, but it’s like a child saying “I don’t like it” when they haven’t even tried it.