Sushi term
Gari ガリ
Gari is the pale-pink pickled ginger that comes with sushi. It isn't a topping or a garnish to pile on — it's a palate cleanser, meant to reset your mouth between different fish so each one tastes like itself.
Why it's there
A thin slice of gari between an oily mackerel and a delicate white fish wipes the slate clean. Eating it that way — a little, between pieces — is the mark of someone who knows the counter.
Why it's pink
Young ginger naturally turns a soft pink when pickled in sweet vinegar; the neon-pink version is dyed. Either way, the flavor is sweet, sharp and cooling.
Insider tip. Never put gari on top of your sushi — use it between bites. On the fish, it overwhelms everything the chef intended.
Where to try Gari near you
Top-rated sushi spots on Yes Ichiban with real, orderable online menus:
Bayridge Sushi
Kissimmee, FL · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8
VOLCANO STEAK AND SUSHIDULUTH, GA · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7
Royal SushiChicago, IL · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7
Bayridge SushiLongwood, FL · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7
Volcano Steak & SushiWEST BERLIN, NJ · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7
Mikata Japanese Grill & SushiKnoxville, TN · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6