Ordering sushi: how much?
Hi SE'ers.
I have long been in love with sushi (well, the vegetarian stuff.)
I frequently get takeout from the Japanese place behind my apartment, and my order is the same every time.
I'm curious about etiquette, I suppose. My boyfriend and I are going out with another couple next weekend to Morimoto in Philly.
My real question is...how many rolls am I "supposed" to order? I always get two plus a soup and maybe edamame when I order out...but is that "normal"? I've never actually gone out to a nice place for sushi before. How many rolls do you all order for yourselves? Do you order a whole variety for the table to share?
Sorry for my ignorance--I just always get nervous to go out to nice restaurants...I always fret about messing up, or being clumsy. Thanks for any help :)
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
25 Comments:
that's a hard question. it depends on how much you get in each order. The rolls are usually 4 pieces, nigri could be as few as 2 pieces or as many as 4. sashimi could be many several generous slices or as few a just a couple of thin slices.
is the whole meal sushi? or are you having it for an appetizer? Thing is, sushi places are used to people 're-ordering' if they didn't get enough on the first go round.
also depends on whether you're ordering Nigiri - slices of fish or other items on pads of rice, or Maki - rolled sushi, or Sashimi - sliced fish
once you get there you'll have a look at the menu and i'd suggest each person pick one or at MOST two items at first and share everything. Then, if you need more just order some.
nightmoon at 2:32AM on 02/17/09
Take a look at any "set meals" on the menu (if possible). Around here it's usually 6 pieces (total) nigiri and a 6 piece maki, plus soup and salad. For the maki roll set menus it's 18 pieces (3 rolls worth), plus the soup and salad. However, there is no particular etiquette to the number that you order. Rather, the general rule of thumb is that you do finish what you order (unless there is a problem with the order).
Amandarama at 8:07AM on 02/17/09
mmm, I mean hhhmmm. Good question, since sushi does tend to weigh down the bill by about $10-$15 per roll. I'm a big eater so when I go (alone) I tend to get at least 2 rolls although I usually do eat about 3. When going with a group, you say 4 of you will be dining, I'd say get some edamame for the table along with approximately 5 rolls, at least 2 of which with shrimp (or veggie) tempura so that they will be more filling and the remaining rolls, anything goes.
You should be good with 5 rolls but, if after consuming them all you are still hungry, maybe just order as you go -OR- say you all are saving room for dessert (i.e. tempura fried ice cream) and you'll help to keep the bill as low as possible while still eating good. In addition, ordering some rice for the table may help with getting full, too. Also, you can try and keep the talking/conversation going so as to slow down eating time and, hence, let everyone reach their satiety level/become full.
Good luck. Regardless, no need to fret, just be yourself! Hope this helps, I'll have to reach out should I make it to Philly - we can snack down! ;)
ScottySnacks at 8:21AM on 02/17/09
Ask them how they normally do sushi when they eat out as soon as you get menus. Some people like to get and split a bunch of rolls, others like to do a big plate of sashimi and then a roll or two on the side (the latter being me and my bf). As for sheer volume of food - usually order on the light side the first time around (plus miso soup and/or edamame), and then order more later if you're still hungry. This also helps keep the table/sushibar from being just overrun with plates everywhere.
joyyy at 10:31AM on 02/17/09
With all due respect, when I go to a nice restaurant, I don't go there to get full, I go there to enjoy food and overall experience. Come to think of it, I don't know if "getting full" is ever really the purpose when I eat, even at home, but that's another conversation. One thing though - if I were to go to Morimoto's, the last thing I would want to do is order rice to make sure I'm full.
@sweethunibabi - truth is, there is no good answer to your question, since, as @nightmoon pointed out, you could get nigiri, maki, onigiri, temaki, futomaki, sashimi...Plus, not all rolls are the same size - they may range from 4 pieces to 8. Another thing to consider is that there are other thing's on the menu that you may find worth trying.
Read the menu. In fact, go to the restaurant's site, take a look at the menu and see what looks interesting and what you would really like to try. That's what I usually do when I go to a new place, it makes it easier to make a decision once you're there. Whether you order a variety of dishes for the table or place your own order depends on you and the other couple you're going with, and on whether your tastes are similar or not.
More importantly - enjoy! Enjoy your meal, enjoy the experience and the company. Don't be nervous, it's not an exam that you're supposed to pass, it's a meal you're going to spend good money on, so you'd better have fun and do (and eat) what you like.
brooke29 at 10:56AM on 02/17/09
i think two to three rolls per person seems to be a pretty good average - of course, if you're getting appetizers/soup/nigiri or sashimi, that number will change but it seems like a good base. some people like to order their own rolls and other people like to order a bunch for the table (in which case everyone should get equal input on picking the rolls). when i'm nervous about going out to eat at a fancy place or with people i haven't eaten with before, i let the other person order first and then try to match.
billyburgwife at 11:39AM on 02/17/09
Also, at Morimoto's - you can simply hang on to your menu, and order more as your meal progresses. I've done this several times there, and I highly doubt they mind you spending more money on a meal, and not wasting any of the food.
stratusgd at 11:48AM on 02/17/09
Hubby and I went for anniversary sushi a few years ago, and decided to order the big boat - I think it was designed to feed 6 people. Now when we eat sushi, we eat a lot, but we had planned on taking the leftovers home. When we ordered, the waitress said "That's too much for you!" I thanked her for her suggestion, and after her third protest, I had to insist that is what we wanted. Then, when she turned in the order to the sushi chef, I heard him say "That's too much for them!" She in turn had to convince him to make it. So, if there are two of you, apparently enough sushi for 6 is too much. Does that help? :-)
erinlovestoeat at 11:51AM on 02/17/09
My husband and I usually get four rolls and an appetizer between the two of us and are plenty full at the end of dinner...We usually get a tempura or gyoza appetizer and a spicy tuna roll, a salmon and avocado, a spicy crunchy salmon and a spider roll. We almost always do just maki. Sometimes we will sub a salmon skin and cream cheese...mmmm...I'm getting hungry!
sammie at 12:04PM on 02/17/09
I ordered, and finished, a whole boat once. I was 22. These days I tend to get 8 pieces of nigiri and a roll or two (often as temaki). BF is a two maki man. Although we tend to order for ourselves and maybe exchange a piece or two, if we are out with a group we get their thoughts ahead of time about sharing of items. It generally works out to about 12-15 pieces per person overall, depending on if other items are ordered.
If you're going to Morimoto's, perhaps a group omakase is the way to go?
Amandarama at 12:12PM on 02/17/09
It doesn't matter if you go to a hole in the wall or a high end sushi place, you can order 1 roll and leave if you want. It's normally not done, but there are no set rules or etiquette for sushi. You can let them order first or discuss what they are looking forward to eating to gauge how long everyone wants to be there.
Also, the server should be used to people staggering their order. Ordering 3-4 to share and then order more from there should be fine for the 4 of you.
My husband and I frequently make Japanese food at home, and will make sushi on occasion. We aren't huge fans of sushi so we will often order 2-4 makizushi (6 pieces per) between the two of us, which isn't that much food if you go in to a restaurant to eat and not just be seen. Our main reason we go to our favorite Japanese restaurant is to eat sukiyaki, a random teishoku, or donburi; sushi is just an appetizer.
My husband and I used to go to some really nice restaurants w/ great desserts and only order a dessert to share after we finished dinner elsewhere...same difference.
Cassaendra at 1:05PM on 02/17/09
Thanks so much for all your help everyone!! :) I tend to obsess over minor details all the time, I think I'll go and see what everyone else does and follow suit :)
sweethunibabi at 3:59PM on 02/17/09
It hurts my brain when I think about stuff like that.
sadao at 2:18PM on 02/18/09
Order the chef's tasting menu. It's like fighting the biggest kid in a new school: you win respect from everybody. It's win-win.
Keight at 5:37PM on 02/18/09
We are a sushi family, the hard core stuff. Toro, live scallop: you get the idea. As these are on the high end of the spectrum, a hole in the wall or a well known such as Morimoto tend to allow you to order as you go. Trust me,
in Philly no one will look down on you. Now, if you as for naps when eatin'
a cheesteak from Pat's or Geno's, that's another story!
donnie at 8:41PM on 02/18/09
I worked in a Asian restaurant dont forget the rolls have rice so you will get filled up on that. If you under order and feel you want more just order a bit more. It doesnt take too long to make depending on how busy the place is and that little break in eating will give you time to "settle" and you wont feel so hungry still.
WSLunch at 8:50AM on 02/19/09
My hub and I love sushi and we think the most fun is to be had when sitting at the bar - order a couple rolls to share, ask the chef for his suggestions, order a couple more rolls, buy the chef a beer... good times.
CEBakes at 1:05PM on 02/19/09
A friend of ours went to Morimoto this past Saturday night. They ordered one of the many tasting menus;theirs was $100 per person for 7 courses.
they had some sashimi, sushi,a salad, lollipop lamb chops, palate cleanser, and I can't recall what the other 2 tastings were. They said it was fabulous.Enjoy.
donnie at 1:40PM on 02/19/09
Oooh you're going to Morimoto, I'm jealous. Whenever I go out for sushi, I always want more than I probably need. I'll usually go off the prices and order in accordance with what I'm comfortable spending. Usually that turns out to be one fish roll with 2 pieces of fish nigiri and a soup or something like that. Believe me, I'd want to eat more but I have to cut myself off somewhere :)
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 2:41PM on 02/19/09
My sister-in-law introduced me to a rule of thumb many years ago when I was discovering sushi, and it's stood me in good stead. 1 roll = 2 orders of nigiri (generally 2 pieces each). And 2 rolls worth will generally satisfy you if you're making a meal of it. So I'll order 2 rolls, or 1 roll and 2 orders of nigiri, or 4 orders of nigiri. If I'm especially hungry, add 1 more order nigiri. If I'm not very hungry, I order 1 roll and 1 nigiri.
And remember: you can always eat some and then order more. This is perfectly normal etiquette, especially if you're eating at the bar.
sidebernie at 1:57PM on 02/20/09
I've had sushi with friends in many different scenarios. Generally we all go to an all you can eat place down the street and try to put the place out of business. ...Because I really could eat four volcano rolls if I wanted to.
However, I've also been in situations where everyone orders one roll, which they will share, and everyone at the table gets soup and edamame. This has worked out really well in the past since everyone gets some variety and splitting the check is extremely fair and equal.
sideshowMel at 1:44PM on 02/21/09
When I was in Japan, I really enjoyed the way people ate...big plates of food for the table, put onto small plates for each diner. Multiple courses ordered as needed. If it's an authentic Japanese place, they'll understand multiple orders.
But by no means should you try natto.
NotAmerican at 4:30AM on 02/22/09
don't hate on natto!
eleeb at 5:16PM on 02/23/09
What I like about sushi is the ability to order as you go. We typically start with miso soup or some other starter, then a couple of maki and some nigiri. And beer or sake. And when we're done with that we often order another roll and more nigiri. Maybe a handroll (temaki) if I'm still hungry. If you're sitting at a sushi bar, you can always order more.
Lorenzo at 12:17PM on 02/24/09
I like what @amandarama said. While your variety may be more extensive if ordering sushi a la carte, it can also get really expensive really fast. That being said, unless you're dining at, let's say, Nobu in New York City few places impose a minimum purchase requirement on customers. Part of the joy of the sushi bar for me is the fact that one can "graze" leisurely and avail oneself of the most intriguing offerings.
shaogo at 5:55PM on 02/24/09