Sushi term

Sashimi 刺身

Sashimi is the quiet confidence of Japanese cooking: no rice, no rolling, no sauce to hide behind — just clean slices of fish or seafood and the knife work that shaped them. It's the truest test of a fish's freshness and a chef's skill.

Sashimi — Sushi

It's about the cut

The angle and thickness of each slice are chosen for the specific fish — firm species are cut thin, fatty ones thicker. A dull knife tears the flesh and dulls the flavor, so sashimi doubles as a chef's résumé.

How to eat it

Dip the fish, not the rice you don't have, lightly in soy — touch just the edge. Wasabi goes on the fish sparingly, or ask the chef to add it. Ginger (gari) is a palate cleanser between fish, not a topping.

Insider tip. If a menu lists "sashimi grade," that's marketing — there's no legal grade. Trust the restaurant, not the label.

Where to try Sashimi near you

Top-rated sushi spots on Yes Ichiban with real, orderable online menus:

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Related terms

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