Sushi, like many food items, varies in quality depending on where you buy it. If you splurge on a more expensive restaurant, for example, you are likely to find better sushi. However, when the difference comes down to what country you buy your sushi in, there are many more factors to consider.

Sushi first originated in Southeast Asia and is most commonly linked to Japanese culture. More recently, traditional sushi has been “Americanized” and brought to the United States. This western version of sushi varies from its Japanese counterpart in several ways.

One major difference is the shape sushi chefs use to serve their items. In Japan, it is more common to see sushi served as a hand shaped mound of rice with toppings placed over it. However, in the United States we are used to seeing our sushi served in rolls of seaweed and rice wrapped around some sort of filling.

Another difference comes down to freshness. Japan is an island nation, and so the majority of the country has access to fresh fish. Even the most central parts of this country are able to receive fresh coastal goods. The United States on the other hand is a very large country with many of its states landlocked. While you can still find fresh sushi along the coast of the United States, it is less accessible the further inland you travel.

Yet another way in which sushi differs between Japan and the United States is how it is served. In the United States, sushi is generally served to your individual table by a waiter, much the same as food in other restaurants is served. In Japan, many restaurants serve sushi around a counter where you order directly from the chef. In this type of setting, you are generally able to watch your food as it’s being made. There are also many restaurants in Japan that serve their sushi on conveyer belts. This system where you pick your food as it comes by is not commonly used in sushi restaurants in the United States.

A final and significant difference that separates Japanese from American sushi is the toppings or fillings you will find. In the United States, you are more likely to find area-specific ingredients such as local vegetables. Another common trend in the United States is the frequent sale of vegetarian sushi. In the U.S. there are many more options for sushi that contain no fish at all. While to some it may seem strange to offer sushi without fish, this fits in with the relatively large population of vegetarians in the United States.

Many hold their own opinions on whether Japanese sushi is preferable to the sushi served in the United States. Some prefer a more traditional approach while others thoroughly enjoy the American spinoff. Regardless of how you take your sushi, when comparing Japanese sushi to that found in the United States, differences in shape, freshness, serving style, and fillings are some factors to keep in mind.

{June 8, 2012}