The classic Japanese food sushi has become popular across the world. It’s become eaten in slightly different ways in various countries, and spawned “hybrid” dishes like the California roll, stuffed with crab and avocado, or the avocado-topped “caterpillar roll”.
But what about the land where it all began? What types of sushi do the Japanese themselves prefer?
A recent survey of hundreds of men and women from Japan asked respondents to name their favourite sushi topping, and the results were revealing!
Surprisingly, for example, tuna was not the most popular filling in sushi’s home country.
Instead, salmon came in at number one, with more than 44% of participants naming it as their favourite filling. One 37-year-old woman said: “Salmon goes well with sliced onion and mayonnaise, or is delicious on its own.”
In at number two was chu toro, or medium fatty tuna, described by one 24-year-old male respondent as having “the perfect amount of fat,” and a man of 47 as a dish which “melts in your mouth.”
The third most popular sushi variety, polling 27.4% of the votes, was green onion tuna. One young woman said: “It’s so good I could eat a couple of tons of it!”, another: “It’s the only kind of raw fish I’ll eat.”
Maguro, made with tuna, was the fourth favourite and only brought in slightly fewer votes – 27% of the poll. One young man dubbed it “cheap but delicious and very refreshing.”
Finally, in fifth place was the salmon roe topping ikura.
“I always order this first when I eat sushi out. I’m not satisfied unless I have it!” said one female aged 31.
A man of around the same age said he liked “the texture and salty taste.”
So, second, third and fourth places all go to different types of tuna. Overall, other varieties of the fish were also nominated, including fatty tuna and zuke toro, a variety marinated in soy sauce.
But it’s interesting that maguro tuna, often considered the classic sushi dish, was not favoured by the Japanese respondents as much as salmon.
What’s your favourite mouth-watering sushi filling?
Looking for Sushi in London?
If you’re looking for sushi in London specifically, of course there’s plenty of choice.
But a couple of things set YouMeSushi apart:
• We’re so keen for our ingredients to be fresh that we only use them on the day of purchase, never the day after. Equally, all our suppliers are as locally based as possible.
• Our food is created lovingly and by hand in the kitchens from where your order is dispatched. We don’t believe in machine-made sushi!
If you’re looking for a sushi delivery London, we have stores at the prestigious Westfield shopping centre, as well as in Marylebone and Gray’s Inn and on the Tottenham Court Road.
Visit our website now and find our handy online store locator for your next sushi delivery. Just enter your postcode and start ordering. Alternatively, come and visit us at one of our four London locations.
