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Edomae sushi
江戸前寿司 Edomae-zushi · Tokyo, Japan
Today's nigiri sushi began as Edo's street 'fast food'.
Know before you go
- Don't wear strong perfume or scented hand cream at the counter, which spoils others' tasting
- don't stir lots of wasabi into your soy sauce (at good restaurants the chef has already put it between fish and rice)
- don't stick chopsticks upright in rice
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Hanaya Yohei's 'fast food'
Early sushi was 'narezushi', fish fermented with rice for months to preserve it, with the rice thrown away when eaten. Today's nigiri-zushi is generally credited to Hanaya Yohei in Edo around 1824: seafood placed directly on hand-pressed vinegared rice, made and eaten on the spot without waiting for fermentation. This quick, cheap way of eating became fast food for the townspeople of Edo.
Source: Wikipedia: Sushi
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
At the heart of sushi is seasoned vinegared rice. One of its origins is narezushi: fish fermented with rice for months, with the rice thrown away before eating. Nigiri, the most common sushi today, is generally believed to have been invented by Hanaya Yohei in Edo around 1824: seafood placed on hand-pressed vinegared rice, made to order and eaten at once, became fast food for the townspeople of Edo. Sushi made from fish caught in Tokyo Bay is therefore called 'Edomae' ('in front of Edo').
Local customs
- You can use your hands or chopsticks
- dip the fish side lightly in soy sauce so the rice doesn't soak and fall apart
- pickled ginger is for cleansing the palate, not a side dish
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Don't wear strong perfume or scented hand cream at the counter, which spoils others' tasting
- don't stir lots of wasabi into your soy sauce (at good restaurants the chef has already put it between fish and rice)
- don't stick chopsticks upright in rice
Locals appreciate DO
Sushi chefs appreciate customers who eat each piece in one bite, in the order the chef suggests.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- For the 'leave it to the chef' experience, order omakase
- there are many breakfast sushi shops around Toyosu Market. Prices and opening hours are set by each restaurant
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Sources & verification notes
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