Sushi Glossary
The following is a list of terms you might see or hear in a Japanese restaurant.
- Fish
- Other Foods
- Drinks
- Useful Phrases

FISH
Aji- Spanish mackerel, horse mackerel
Aji-no-tataki- Fresh Spanish mackerel
Akagai- Red clam
Akami- Lean tuna, cut from the back of the fish
Ama-ebi- Sweet shrimp, usually served raw
Anago- Conger eel (saltwater)
Ankimo- Monkfish liver
Aoyagi- Yellow clam
Awabi- Abalone
Ayu- Sweetfish
Baigai- Small water snails
Bonito- English word, for the Japanese katsuo
Buri- Adult yellowtail
Chikuwa- Browned fish cake with a hole running through its length
Chutoro- Medium fatty tuna, from the upper belly
Ebi- Shrimp
Engawa- (1) Halibut fin muscle; (2) meat surrounding the scallop muscle
Fugu- Blowfish, toxic if improperly prepared!
Geoduck- Mirugai, in the American Pacific northwest
Hamachi- Yellowtail
Hamachi-kama- Yellowtail collars
Hamo- Pike conger
Hatahata- Sandfish
Hirame- Halibut
Hokkigai- Surf clam
Hotatagai- Scallops
Ika- Squid
Ika-geso- Squid's tentacles
Ikura- Salmon roe
Iwana- Char
Iwashi- Sardine
Kajiki- Swordfish
Kamaboko- Fish cake
Kani- Crab meat
Kani-kamaboko- Fake crab meat
Kanimiso- Green contents of a crab's head
Kanpachi- Very young yellowtail
Karei- Flounder, flatfish
Katsuo- Bonito fish
Katsuo-boshi- Dried bonito fish
Kazunoko- Herring roe
Kimachi- A small fish from the yellowtail family
Kohada- Gizzard shad
Koi
Saltwater carp
Kurodai- Snapper
Langostino- A small shellfish
Madai- Red seabream
Maguro- Tuna
Masu- Trout
Mekajiki- Blue marlin
Mirugai- Long neck clam
Nama-tako- Fresh or raw octopus
Negitoro- Chopped and mixed negi-onion and toro
Niika- Cooked Monterey squid
Nijimasu- Rainbow trout
Odori-ebi- ``Dancing shrimp,'' ama ebi served living
Otoro- Fattest tuna
Saba- Mackeral
Sake- Salmon
Sanma- Japanese mackeral
Sawagani- Small crabs
Sayori- (Springtime) halfbeak
Sazae- Conch
Seigo- Young sea bass
Shako- Mantis shrimp
Shira-uo- Whitebait, icefish or salangid
Shiro maguro- Albacore tuna
Shirako- Sperms sacs of the cod fish
Suzuki- Striped bass, rockfish
Tai- Sea bream, porgy, snapper
Tairagai- Razor-shell clam
Tako- Octopus
Tekka- Tuna, especially in a roll
Tobiko
Flying fish roe
Torigai- Cockle clam
Toro- Fatty tuna
Unagi- Freshwater eel
Unagi maki- Eel roll
Unagi no kimo- Eel innards
Una-don- Grilled eel, served on rice
Uni- Sea urchin

OTHER FOODS
Aburage- Puffy, brown fried tofu
Edamame- Soybeans
Gari- Pickled ginger
Goma- Sesame seeds
Gyoza- Stuffed fried wontons
Hijiki- Black seaweed in tiny threads
Kappa- Cucumber (in a roll)
Katsu- Cutlet
Kombo- Sea Kelp
Miso- Soy bean paste
Nori- Seaweed sheets
Ramen- Thin noodles
Shiitake- Japanese mushroom
Shoyu- Soy sauce
Soba- Buckwheat noodles
Su- Rice vinegar
Takenoko- Bamboo shoots
Tempura- Battered and deep fried seafood or vegetables
Teriyaki- Broiled and marinated in sweet soy sauce
Tofu- Soybean curd
Tori- Chicken
Tsukemono- Pickles
Udon- Thick, wide wheat noodles
Wasabi- Green, very hot Japanese horseradish
Yaki- Grilled

DRINKS
Agari- Green Tea
Biiru- Beer
Ocha- Tea
Sake- Rice wine

USEFUL PHRASES
Domo- Thank you
Domo arigato- Thank you very much
Dozo- Please
Gaijin- Outsiders, foreigners
Gochiso-sama [deshita]- Traditional phrase closing a meal
Hai- Yes
Itadakimasu- Traditional phrase opening a meal
Itamae- The sushi (or other Japanese) chef
Konichiwa- A greeting, roughly `how are you'
Omakase- Chef's choice
Okonomi- The practice of ordering sushi a few pieces at a time
Sabinuki- `No wasabi, please.'

Back to the Guide