As a sushi lover, you definitely should visit Japan at least once and try out the different types of nigiri sushi there are. You can find a lot of different types of nigiri sushi that doesn’t exist in US or western countries. Many Japanese sushi restaurants offer local fish that are unique. Worried that sushi would be really pricey? Don’t worry, whether it is the affordable, kaiten sushi (conveyor belt sushi place) or the expensive, high-class sushi-ya, there are many different types of nigiri sushi that are delicious and definitely worth trying.
Let us find out more about the top 10 popular types of nigiri sushi in Japan that you definitely need to try when visiting Japan.
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Most Popular Types of Nigiri Sushi
The list below is based on 11 sources of top-ranked nigiri sushi. This is a list of the top 10 popular types of nigiri sushi that was compiled based on the 11 different rankings from different sources in 2018, I have conducted a popularity score. Where the type of nigiri sushi that is ranked number 1 on the list is given 10 points and the 2nd one is 9 points and so on. Then with all summed up the different popularity scores from 11 sources altogether, I have come up with the result below. Let’s check out the top 10 different types of nigiri sushi in Japan.
Number 10: Negitoro
Negitoro is a type of gunkanmaki sushi. This type of nigiri sushi has a sheet of nori(seaweed) wrapped around the topping(neta) and nigiri rice ball. The neta of this type of nigiri sushi is freshly grounded tuna sprinkled with chopped green onion. This is a fairly cheap option to get some tuna. Sometimes the minced tuna would include parts of the fatty tuna (chutoro) mixed with regular red meat tuna(maguro). This is because the leftover fish meat that is stuck on the fish bones are scraped off or the leftover from cutting would be grounded all together to create this paste. You can easily find this type of nigiri at a kaiten sushi place.
Number 9: Eel
Did you know there are two types of nigiri sushi with eel? The number 9 popular type of nigiri sushi is not the typical eel (unagi) that is used in many dragon rolls. In fact, this type of nigiri uses the saltwater eel, which is called Anago. So what is the difference? The main difference is that unagi is a freshwater eel and anago (number 9) is a saltwater eel. They often cooked differently, unagi are boiled and grilled with the delicious sweet and salty sauce, while anago are often shimmered and with little sauce. The anago is supposed to have a natural sweetness. If you love the dragon roll with unagi, then you should definitely try this type of nigiri. In fact, anago sushi might very well be one of my personal favorite nigiri sushi!
Number 8: Flounder
Coming at the 8th popular types of nigiri is the flounder. This type of nigiri sushi is very special because it uses the fin of flounder. The fin is sliced very thin, and it has a white, transparent appearance. Often times restaurant would serve it with some lemon or radish on top for extra seasoning. Sometimes they might even give it a lit burn with a burning torch. The name of this type of nigiri is called Engawa, which actually means veranda or balcony. I love the sight of engawa nigiri sushi shimmering with its delicate light sheen on a plate with some wasabi and soy sauce!
The Most Popular Type of Gunkanmaki Sushi: Salmon Roe
The 7th most popular type of nigiri sushi is also the most popular Gunkanmaki sushi. Which is the salmon roe (Ikura) nigiri sushi. This is a beautiful looking nigiri sushi that often already has soy sauce applied, so you can eat it directly. Each one of the salmon roe looks like tiny rubies. This dish is very popular among both adults and children. Definitely give it a go!
Number 6:Squid
Release the baby krakens! Squid or Ika nigiri is considered a delicacy in Japan. It is ranked number 6 as one of the top 10 popular types of nigiri sushi. It is a slightly chewy texture, but not rubbery, a very unique texture. In addition, unlike most nigiri sushi, it is recommended you eat it with ground ginger instead of wasabi. Fun fact, according to one article, squid is one of the top few neta that foreigners find it rather scary and difficult to eat, especially raw. However, in Japan, this is the top 6 most popular type of nigiri sushi. If you are a daredevil and want to try out new flavors and textures, you should definitely try out this type of nigiri sushi.
In the Middle: Amberjack
There are two types of nigiri sushi with amberjack fish. One is called Buri and the other is called Hamachi. The main difference between the two types of nigiri sushi is the size of the amberjack. So if the amberjack is older, which is usually bigger too (above 80cm), it is called Buri. While the young and smaller amberjack is Hamachi. The prices for this delicious and fatty sushi can vary depending on how it is raised, wild or farmed. It’s a great choice of sushi if you are visiting during winter. This type of sushi is especially popular in Hokkaido and is served all over during the cold seasons!
Number 4: Shrimp
Shrimp nigiri sushi has many different types of nigiri toppings. There are the amaebi, nama ebi, and ebi nigiri. Amaebi is raw Alaskan pink shrimp, tiny and has a sweet taste to it, thus name the sweet shrimp in Japanese. Nama ebi is just raw shrimp nigiri sushi, there can be a different kind of shrimp served depending on the season and sometimes it might even be prawn. The last one is ebi, which is just shrimp nigiri and often times the shrimp is boiled. The ebi nigiri is a great option for people that are not used to raw fish. Shrimp nigiri sushi goes very well with crunchy and creamy toppings like fine shredded onions with a little bit of lime or avacado cream!
Top 3! Medium Fatty Tuna
The medium fatty tuna or Chutoro is a very popular type of nigiri sushi. This type of tuna is considered quite pricey due to the amount of fat and the soft texture that just melts in your mouth. In fact, this type of nigiri is ranked number one for people in their 40s and 50s.
Runner up! Tuna
The second most popular type of nigiri sushi is Tuna aka Maguro! If you prefer more lean meat or more protein filled tuna, this one is the better choice. Tuna similar to shrimp, there are many types of nigiri sushi that uses tuna as a topping. There are fatty tuna, medium fatty tuna, red meat tuna, grounded tuna, and canned tuna with mayonnaise for kids. Tuna is very popular.
Honorable Types of Nigiri Sushi
Here are some honorable types of nigiri sushi. These are also very popular types of nigiri sushi that just didn’t make the cut.
- Ootoro or Fatty tuna: Fatty tuna is considered the most expensive part of the tuna. It is located at the belly with all the fat.
- Uni or Sea Urchin: This is a unique delicacy within Japan. It is served as a gunkanmaki due to the soft texture.
- Hotate or Scallop = Fresh raw scallops are very delicious and a very common nigiri for both adults and children.
The Most Popular Type of Nigiri Sushi
The most popular type of nigiri sushi is SALMON! Which seems to be the most popular fish for sushi in the U.S. too. Salmon nigiri sushi is very popular among Japanese females especially. The healthy omega-3 fats and soft and creamy texture make salmon the most popular type of nigiri sushi. In addition, salmon nigiri has many variations, sometimes it is paired with avocado, sometimes it might be slightly torch burned and so on.
Make All Types of Nigiri Sushi!
Did you know that you can easily make all types of nigiri sushi with a sushi machine? Specifically, the nigiri sushi machine. With a nigiri sushi machine, you can effortlessly make authentic Japanese nigiri sushi. The nigiri sushi machine is very easy to operate and can do wonders. All you need to do is pour in the cooked sushi rice into the machine and press one button, thousands of perfectly molded nigiri rice balls would be dispensing out the sushi machine. These sushi machines are for those that want to open up their own sushi place but don’t have culinary skills. Or for those that want to bump up their sushi making efficiency. With a nigiri sushi machine, you can make all types of nigiri sushi, including the ones mentioned above. In addition, there are many other beneficial factors such as cost efficiency and more! Check out this article all about nigiri sushi machine to find out more! If you are interested in learning more about maki sushi instead, you can read our article about the history of maki sushi !
Conclusion
Are you surprised by the top 10 different types of nigiri sushi that Japanese people like? Have you tried them before? If you have not, I recommend you to try them at your nearest Japanese restaurant or your next visit to Japan. Many of the types of nigiri sushi mentioned above might be hard to find in the U.S. if so definitely try them out when you visit Japan. In fact, you can find many of them in kaiten sushi place in Japan, they are affordable and delicious!
If you are interested in making your own nigiri sushi, you have come to the right place! Top Sushi Maker is a premium sushi machines and sushi robots and related machinery distributor. Top Sushi Maker’s goal is to provide the world with delicious sushi and with our sushi machines, one can easily do so. Sushi machines have been helping Japanese sushi restaurants immensely and you should definitely check them out! We have sushi machines, sushi related machines, and rice related machinery, please feel free to contact us!
