Sushi term
Maki 巻き
Maki is sushi rolled in nori (seaweed) around rice and fillings, then sliced into rounds. It's where sushi gets playful — from a plain cucumber hosomaki in Tokyo to the avocado-and-crab California roll that introduced the West to sushi.
Thin, thick, inside-out
Hosomaki are thin single-filling rolls; futomaki are fat multi-ingredient rolls; uramaki ("inside-out," rice on the outside) were invented in America to hide the nori for newcomers.
A gateway, not a lesser form
Rolls are often where beginners start and purists sniff — but a well-made roll balances rice, filling and nori in every slice, and that balance is its own skill.
Insider tip. Eat maki soon after it's cut — nori goes from crisp to chewy within minutes as it absorbs moisture from the rice.
Where to try Maki 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