Sushi glossary
30 words you will meet on the menu and across the counter, from aburi to yuzu kosho.
- Aburi炙り
- Seared with a blowtorch just before serving, so the fish is warm and smoky on top and raw beneath.
- Chirashiちらし
- Scattered sushi: a bowl of sushi rice with sashimi and other toppings laid over it.
- Chu-toro中トロ
- Medium fatty tuna, from the belly between the lean back and the fattiest cut.
- Dashi出汁
- Stock made from kombu seaweed and dried bonito; the base of miso soup and many sauces.
- Donburi丼
- A bowl of rice with something cooked on top: katsu, beef, teriyaki.
- Gariガリ
- Thin slices of young ginger pickled in sweet vinegar, eaten between pieces to reset the palate.
- Gunkan軍艦
- “Battleship” sushi: a strip of nori wrapped round a rice ball, with loose toppings such as roe on top.
- Hamachiハマチ
- Yellowtail; rich and buttery.
- Hosomaki細巻
- A thin roll with nori on the outside and a single filling.
- Ikuraイクラ
- Salmon roe, usually marinated in soy and sake.
- Itamae板前
- The chef behind the counter; literally “in front of the board”.
- Kombu昆布
- Kelp, used for dashi and to season the rice vinegar.
- Maguro鮪
- Tuna, and in particular the lean red meat of the back.
- Maki巻き
- Rolled sushi, made on a bamboo mat.
- Netaネタ
- The topping of a piece of nigiri: the fish, egg or vegetable on the rice.
- Nigiri握り
- A small hand-pressed block of rice with a slice of topping laid over it.
- Nikiri煮切り
- A thin glaze of soy, sake and mirin brushed onto nigiri by the chef, so the piece needs no dipping.
- Nori海苔
- Sheets of dried, toasted seaweed.
- Omakaseお任せ
- “I leave it to you”: the chef chooses what you eat.
- Ponzuポン酢
- A thin citrus and soy sauce.
- Sashimi刺身
- Sliced raw fish served without rice.
- Shariシャリ
- Sushi rice: short-grain rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar and salt.
- Shiso紫蘇
- A fragrant leaf of the mint family, often served with sashimi.
- Tamago玉子
- A sweet omelette rolled in thin layers and sliced.
- Tareタレ
- A thick sweet soy glaze, brushed on eel.
- Temaki手巻き
- A hand roll: a cone of nori filled with rice and fish, eaten from the hand.
- Tenkasu天かす
- Crisp bits of tempura batter, scattered for crunch.
- Uramaki裏巻き
- An inside-out roll, with the rice on the outside and the nori within.
- Wasabi山葵
- A pungent green root, grated fresh or made into a paste.
- Yuzu kosho柚子胡椒
- A paste of yuzu peel, green chilli and salt.
Book a table
Walk in any time we are open, or hold a table at either restaurant. Counter seats stay free for walk-ins.