Sushi term
Temaki 手巻き
Temaki is the hand roll — a cone of nori wrapped around warm rice, fish and vegetables, built to be eaten immediately with your hands while the seaweed is still crackling-crisp.
A race against sog
The whole point of temaki is contrast: crisp nori against soft rice and cool fish. That window is short, which is why chefs hand it to you across the counter and expect you to eat it now, not photograph it.
At the izakaya and at home
Temaki is also a social, DIY dish — "temaki parties" set out nori, rice and fillings so everyone rolls their own.
Insider tip. Eat it the second it arrives. A hand roll that's been sitting is a completely different, sadder food.
Where to try Temaki 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