Sushi 鮨
Sushi is one of the most misunderstood words in food. In Japan it never means "raw fish" — it means vinegared rice, and everything else is a topping or a filling. A cucumber roll is sushi; a plate of raw tuna with no rice is not.
The rice is the craft
A sushi chef spends years just on rice — the ratio of rice vinegar, sugar and salt, the temperature it's served at (ideally close to body temperature), and how loosely each mound is pressed so it falls apart the moment it hits your tongue.
The main families
You'll meet nigiri (fish over pressed rice), maki (rolls), temaki (hand rolls), chirashi (a scattered bowl) and gunkan ("battleship" wraps for soft toppings like uni and ikura). Sashimi sits nearby but is technically not sushi at all.
Where to try Sushi near you
Top-rated sushi spots on Yes Ichiban with real, orderable online menus: