Sushi vs. Sashimi: What’s the Difference?

Sushi has skyrocketed in popularity over the last several decades, with sushi restaurants popping up in small towns and big cities alike.

If you’ve been to a sushi restaurant you’ve likely seen another menu item besides sushi: sashimi.

The main difference between sushi and sashimi is that sashimi is plain, raw fish not served with any other side dishes, and sushi is made with seasoned rice and other ingredients like vegetables and fish (which can be raw or cooked).

We’ll explain all the ways sushi and sashimi are different in detail, as well as address many common sushi-related questions in this article!

What is sushi?

Most people automatically associate sushi with raw fish, but that’s not necessarily the case! Sushi is defined as “a Japanese dish consisting of small balls or rolls of vinegar-flavored cold cooked rice served with a garnish of raw fish, vegetables, or egg.”

So sushi is the rolled rice served with additional toppings and ingredients, which can include raw fish – but it doesn’t have to contain fish at all, or it can be cooked fish.

Some beginner-friendly types of sushi include the California roll, which doesn’t contain any raw fish (just avocado, cucumber, and crab), and any type of sushi with tempura-fried fish, which is usually cooked. When in doubt, most sushi menus specify which rolls are raw or cooked, and you can always ask to be on the safe side.

Sushi: maki vs. nigiri

Maki, the most common type of sushi, is made by wrapping seasoned rice and other ingredients (vegetables, fish, etc.) in nori, a dried edible seaweed – but sushi can also be wrapped in soy paper to help bind it together. 

Sushi not wrapped in nori is called nigiri, which is a mound of rice topped with a piece of fish resting on top without any other ingredients. 

What is sashimi?

Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy of raw fish thinly sliced and usually served with soy sauce or wasabi. Sashimi is typically served by itself on a platter without any side dishes.

Only the freshest fish is used to make sashimi. The most common types of fish used to make sashimi are salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, but other types can be used as well.

Sashimi is not the same as the raw fish used in some sushi rolls – they are separate dishes entirely.

Sushi vs. sashimi – similarities and differences

Similarities

• Sushi and sashimi are Japanese dishes that are usually served on the same menu – some restaurants offer sushi and sashimi combinations for variety.
• Contain raw fish (not all types of sushi contain raw fish, but many types do).
• Can be eaten as an appetizer or a meal depending on the type and quantity.
• Typically served with soy sauce and wasabi.

Differences

• Sashimi is always raw fish, while sushi can contain cooked fish or no fish at all.
• Sushi contains several ingredients (rice, seaweed, vegetables, sauces, fish, etc.) while sashimi is just raw fish served by itself.
• Sushi tends to be higher in calories thanks to rice and other additions like mayo and tempura batter, while sashimi tends to be lower in calories and richer in protein because it is plain fish.
• Sushi can be made vegan-friendly (avocado rolls, cucumber rolls, etc.), while sashimi is never vegan.
• Sashimi is keto- and Paleo-friendly, whereas many types of sushi usually aren’t.

We know that’s a lot of information, so here is a summary of some of the main points in our comparison:

	Sushi	Sashimi
Contains raw fish	Sometimes	Always
Contains rice and other ingredients	Yes	No
Vegan-friendly	Sometimes	Never
Paleo-friendly	Not usually	Yes
Keto-friendly	Not usually	Yes
Served at Japanese/sushi restaurants	Yes	Yes

Most common sushi rolls

Sushi rolls can get interesting, with each restaurant or cook offering unique combinations. There are several tried and true rolls that are pretty universal, like the California roll.

Some popular types of sushi rolls you can find at most sushi restaurants include:

• California roll: crab (real or imitation), cucumber, avocado
• Rainbow roll: a California roll topped with raw fish such as yellowtail, tuna, salmon, or shrimp
• Spicy tuna roll: tuna and spicy mayo
• Spider roll: tempura (fried) crab meat with cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo
• Shrimp tempura roll: raw shrimp dipped into tempura batter and fried with the addition of avocado and eel sauce

Most types of tempura rolls are considered fully cooked, but you should always verify with the chef or restaurant making your sushi if you are at higher risk of complications from foodborne illnesses, such as being immunocompromised or during pregnancy.

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