There are many types of Japanese food, but sushi is one of the most popular, and is eaten all over the world, including neighboring Asian countries, North and South America, and Europe. The types of sushi that are popular vary from country to country, of course, but tend to be a little different from those in Japan.
This time, we will introduce how sushi is loved overseas, along with some popular sushi toppings. Learn more about the sushi situation overseas and enjoy sushi more than ever before.
The Sushi Scene Abroad
Changing styles of sushi serving
Sushi is enjoyed in many countries, and as its popularity grows year by year, it is now served in a variety of forms. Sushi
is sold in a variety of formats, including Japanese restaurants, sushi restaurants that specialize in sushi, conveyor belt sushi restaurants, and more recently, deli sections in supermarkets and sushi delivery services.
The number of sushi restaurants is also increasing. For example, in France, sushi is considered fast food, and the number of sushi restaurants is on a par with major hamburger chains. There are an astounding 1,500 restaurants! Just looking at this number, you can see that sushi is loved by many people regardless of country.
Creative sushi is popular overseas!
Nigiri sushi is eaten overseas as well, but the overwhelming majority of sushi is original, a feature of overseas sushi that is not found in Japan. In France and South America, such as Brazil and Chile, sushi rolls that are completely covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried are even sold. Each country enjoys sushi in a highly original style that matches the tastes of its food.
Other examples of sushi are the diversity of sushi, such as “fruit sushi,” which is made by wrapping mango, strawberry or other sweet ingredients in rice at sushi chain stores in Spain and France, and “sweet sushi,” which is made by wrapping chocolate in rice at popular sushi restaurants in France and Romania, which have proven popular.
Top 10 sushi toppings popular among foreigners
Next, let’s take a look at the rankings of popular sushi toppings overseas!
1. Salmon
Salmon is an extremely popular sushi ingredient overseas, eaten in many countries, both Eastern and Western, including Brazil, France, America, Russia, and China.
It is easy to eat because it has little fishy smell, and it is fatty and has a rich taste that is popular. It is used not only in nigiri sushi but also as an ingredient in rolled sushi, which is popular overseas in general, so it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways! The wide variety of ways to prepare it is also one of the reasons for its popularity.
2. Tuna
The second most popular sushi ingredient after salmon is tuna. The most popular are chutoro and otoro, which are fatty and have a stronger flavor than red meat. Tuna is popular not only in Western countries such as France and the United States, but also in Asian countries such as Korea and Vietnam, and is also eaten regardless of region.
However, it does not seem to be very popular in Brazil, where it is difficult to obtain fresh tuna, or in Malaysia, where the culture of eating raw tuna has not yet taken root.
3. Shrimp
Shrimp are eaten in many countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, where shrimp fishing is thriving, as well as the United States and France, and of course they are also a popular sushi topping.
In countries like the United States and France, where the culture of eating raw shrimp is relatively unpopular, eating shrimp raw is avoided. Instead, steamed shrimp are mainly used as is in nigiri sushi, or are eaten with avocado, mayonnaise, or other modified ingredients.
4. Reverse Roll
Uramaki is not a sushi topping, but it is one of the rolls you often see overseas. Unlike regular sushi rolls, it is rolled with the rice on the outside, giving it a fun appearance.
In some parts of the world, it is not customary to eat nori seaweed, and people in some regions tend to shy away from its black appearance, so the rice is usually placed on the outside and decorated with sesame seeds and light-colored flying fish roe, etc. The fillings inside can also include avocado and cheese (!).
This type of uramaki is eaten in various countries, including the United States, Italy, Chile, and Germany, and seems to be more casually enjoyed than nigiri sushi.
5. Thailand
Thai fish is also loved in many countries. For example, in France, it is in the top four most popular sushi toppings. In other countries, such as Korea, where it is a custom to eat it in their own country, and Italy, where it is customary to eat it raw, such as in carpaccio, it is also popular in sushi. Thai fish, which has a high protein taste, is more often eaten as nigiri sushi than as rolled sushi.
6. Sea urchin
Sea urchin is a sushi ingredient that polarizes opinions overseas. In countries such as Greece, Italy, the United States, and France, where sea urchins are caught, they are eaten in gunkanmaki, just like in Japan.
Although high-quality sea urchins are caught in Australia, there is no custom of eating them raw, and many people do not like them as they are, so there seems to be no demand for them as sushi. In addition, it is said that sea urchins are not popular in some parts of Indonesia and the United States because people do not accept their unique flavor and smell.
7. Salmon roe
In France, where fish eggs such as caviar are common, salmon roe is also available as one of the basic sushi toppings. The way to eat it is the classic gunkanmaki style!
It is also called salmon caviar, named after the parent fish, salmon. In parts of Northern Europe and North America, fish eggs tend to be avoided, so it seems to be a food that divides people into those who like it and those who don’t. By the way, did you know that the origin of the word ikura is Russian?
8. Conger eel
In Malaysia, where many people have a sweet tooth, as well as in the United States and Korea, where conger eels are caught, boiled conger eel is topped with tsume as a finishing touch and eaten as nigiri sushi, just like in Japan. In addition to boiled conger eel, there are also countries that eat shirayaki, a style also popular in Japan, as a sushi topping.
9. Scallops
Scallops are not only enjoyed as nigiri sushi, but are also popular as an ingredient in rolled sushi. For example, a sushi restaurant in Canada serves a dish called the “Beautiful Roll,” which is scallops wrapped in rice and mayonnaise.
Scallops are also caught in the United States and France, and many sushi restaurants sell them there. Scallops are a popular ingredient in Taiwan, and grilled scallop sushi is a popular item at conveyor belt sushi restaurants.
10. Eel
Eel can be caught in many countries, so there are a variety of local dishes made with it, and it has also become popular as a sushi topping.
Like conger eel, it is popular in Malaysia, where its sweet taste is preferred, as well as in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, and other countries.
You can eat delicious sushi overseas too!
This time, we have introduced popular sushi toppings and serving styles overseas, as well as creative sushi.
In some countries, eating raw fish is not customary, and preferences vary depending on the local food culture, so there is a diversity in the sushi toppings available.
In addition, there are also unique arrangements, so the lineup may actually be more varied than in Japan.
They offer highly original sushi, based on the food culture of each country and with ingenuity.
It may look different from the Japanese sushi you are used to seeing, so it may seem strange, but if you come across any of the sushi from overseas that we introduced this time, please give it a try.
lastly
Dreaman,co,ltd. provides various support for foreign travelers.
We can assist with pre-departure reservations, trouble-shooting on the day of reservations, various navigation assistance, ticket arrangements, luggage shipping, insurance arrangements, product purchases, and even after you return home. Please feel free to ask any questions or consult with us.
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