49 Sushi Varieties
Ranked From the Best To the Worst

Otoro nigiri sushi is a traditional type of nigiri sushi. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of fatty cuts of tuna. Different cuts of tuna are classified as otoro (fatty), chutoro (medium-fatty), and akami (red meat). The dish has a rich flavor and a melt-in-the-mouth texture that makes it quite expensive. Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side.Expand

Chutoro nigiri sushi is a traditional type of nigiri sushi. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of medium-fatty cuts of tuna. Different cuts of tuna are classified as otoro (fatty), chutoro (medium-fatty), and akami (red meat). The dish has a rich and deep flavor and a soft texture. Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side.Expand

Maguro nigiri sushi is a traditional type of nigiri sushi. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of tuna. Different cuts of tuna are classified as otoro (fatty), chutoro (medium-fatty), and akami (red meat). The dish has a mild flavor and a rich texture that makes it great for sushi newcomers. Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side.Expand

Hotate nigiri sushi is a traditional type of nigiri sushi. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with fresh raw scallops. The dish has a soft texture and mild flavors, making it a great intermediate-level sushi. Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side. This type of nigiri sushi is popular with both adults and children.Expand

Sake nigiri sushi is a Japanese type of nigiri sushi, with origins in Norway. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of salmon. The dish has a soft texture and a clean finish that makes it good for sushi newcomers, although the flavor can be a bit fishier than maguro (tuna) nigiri sushi. Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side.Expand

Gunkanmaki is a sushi variety that consists of sushi rice that is formed into an oval shape and is then wrapped with nori seaweed. The piece is finished off with a topping that traditionally includes fish roe such as ikura (salmon), kazunoko (salted herring), or uni (sea urchin). The name gunkan, which translates as the warship, was influenced by the oval shape reminiscent of a battleship. Gunkanmaki originated in 1941 at Kyubey, a small shop located in Tokyo’s Ginza that has since earned its name as one of the top sushi restaurants in the world.Expand

Nigiri or nigirizushi is a special kind of hand-pressed sushi where the meat is sliced and pressed on top of sushi rice. It was developed in Tokyo (then called Edo) during the 1800s. Sometimes, nori seaweed is used to wrap the whole concoction and keep it together. The topping is usually seafood such as shrimp, tuna, haddock, or eel, and it should always be fresh and of the highest quality. Traditionally, nigirizushi is paired with shiso leaves, wasabi, soy sauce, or pickled ginger. It is sometimes garnished with daikon and salted seaweed. The dish is traditionally eaten by hand, in a single bite.Expand

Akami nigiri is a traditional type of nigiri sushi. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of akami (red meat) tuna. There are also otoro (fatty tuna) nigiri sushi and chutoro (medium-fatty tuna) nigiri sushi varieties, and all of them are classified under maguro (tuna) nigiri sushi. Akami includes tuna and bonito, and the meat gets its red color from the high content of myoglobin and hemoglobin, which is typical for migratory fish. The slices are on the thicker side and the focus is on tuna's sticky and firm texture. Akami nigiri sushi is usually served with pickled ginger (gari), soy sauce, and wasabi on the side.Expand

Makizushi, meaning rolled sushi, is probably the most famous sushi variety. Invented in the 18th century, this type of sushi consists of nori, a sheet of dried seaweed, which is topped with a layer of vinegared rice. A variety of fish, teriyaki chicken, and fresh or cooked vegetables are lined in the middle of the rice, and the combination is then rolled with the help of a flexible bamboo mat. Finally, the sushi roll is sliced into six to eight pieces, creating a bite-sized delicacy with an intricate and decorative appearance. The whole makizushi group consists of numerous different sushi types such as futomaki, hosomaki, chumaki, uramaki, and temaki. They usually employ the same ingredients, but differ in size, composition, and shape. Hosomaki is the smallest in size, while uramaki uses the different order of elements, placing the nori inside the rice. Traditional accompaniments to sushi are pickled ginger - used to clear the palate before each bite, wasabi - Japanese horseradish, and shoyu - the traditional Japanese soy sauce. Even though it is rather easily prepared at home and commonly found pre-packed in numerous stores around the world, it is best enjoyed freshly prepared by a sushi master in traditional Japanese restaurants, followed by sake - the authentic Japanese rice wine.Expand

Chirashizushi is one of the most common sushi varieties prepared in Japanese households. This unusual version (often referred to as scattered sushi) consists of a bowl of sushi rice complemented with a wide group of ingredients that are either layered on top or mixed in the rice. There are two traditional ways to prepare a bowl of chirashizushi: the classic Tokyo style, which incorporates fish sashimi placed on top of the rice, and the Kansai style, which may incorporate numerous raw or cooked ingredients mixed in the rice. In both varieties, the top is always elaborately decorated and garnished. Since it is easily prepared in large amounts, chirashuzshi is one of the most famous sushi varieties served on special and festive occasions.Expand