Sushi term

Chirashi 散らし

Chirashi means "scattered," and that's exactly what it is: a bowl of sushi rice strewn with an assortment of sashimi, roe, tamago and garnishes. It's the sushi chef's tasting plate served all at once instead of piece by piece.

Chirashi — Sushi

One bowl, many fish

Because it's a spread rather than composed nigiri, chirashi is a great way to sample a range of fish for less than an omakase — and to see the quality of a kitchen's whole fish case at a glance.

Cousins

Kaisen-don is a similar seafood rice bowl; barazushi is a homestyle mixed version. Regional versions vary widely across Japan.

Insider tip. Order chirashi at lunch — many sushi bars sell their freshest daily fish this way at a fraction of the dinner counter price.

Where to try Chirashi near you

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Related terms

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