Standing outside a sushi restaurant wondering whether you order at the counter, wait to be seated, or just grab a plate off the belt? You are not alone. Sushi is the most popular Japanese cuisine in Australia, but knowing exactly how to order can feel like a mystery on your first visit.
This guide walks you through it step by step. Whether you are heading to a sushi train, a sit-down restaurant, or grabbing a takeaway box, here is exactly how to order sushi like you have done it a hundred times.
The Quick Answer: How Do You Order Sushi?
Ordering sushi depends on the venue format. At a sushi train, you take a seat, pick plates off the moving belt as they roll past, and stack your empty plates to be counted at the end. At a sit-down restaurant, you order from the menu or ask the chef for their recommendations. At an express counter, you pick from a pre-made display and pay at the counter, ready to eat or take away in minutes.
That is the 40-second version. Below, we break each format down properly so you know exactly what to do the moment you walk in.
The Three Sushi Formats You Will Find in Australia
Before you order, it helps to know which type of sushi venue you are at. Each works slightly differently.
1. Sushi Train
The most social and beginner-friendly format. Plates rotate on a conveyor belt around the counter and you take whatever catches your eye. Every plate has a colour, and each colour corresponds to a price band. Your bill is the sum of the plates you took, counted at the end.
2. Sit-Down Restaurant
Traditional table service. You order from a menu or ask the chef for a chef’s selection. Great for a longer, more considered meal or when you want to try specific chef-made dishes not available on the train.
3. Express Counter
Grab-and-go format. Pre-made sushi boxes sit in a chilled display. Pick your box, pay at the counter, take it with you. Common at food courts, train stations and busy CBD locations.
Sushi Jiro operates all three formats across Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, so once you know which one you are in, ordering is easy.
How to Order at a Sushi Train (Step by Step)
Sushi trains are the format that trips up most first-timers, so here is the full walk-through.
1. Take a seat at the counter. No booking needed for the train itself. Just find a seat around the belt.
2. Do not wait to order. The train is the menu. Plates start moving past the moment you sit down, and you can grab anything that looks good.
3. Check the plate colour, check the price. Every venue has a small legend somewhere (usually at your seat, sometimes on the menu) that maps plate colours to prices. Red might be $3, blue might be $5, black might be $8. Colours vary by venue but the system is universal.
4. Take plates as they interest you. Reach out, grab the plate, put it in front of you. No need to ask.
5. Use the iPad on the table for anything specific. Want spicy tuna nigiri or aburi salmon but you have not seen it on the belt? Tap it into the iPad and it will be freshly made and delivered to your seat.
6. Stack your empty plates. The team counts them at the end to calculate your bill. Do not stack them mid-service (staff need to see them to restock the belt properly).
7. Ask for water, tea or a drink separately. Drinks are not on the train. Flag any staff member for these.
8. Pay at the counter or the table. Some venues bring the bill to you, others ask you to pay on the way out. Ask if you are not sure.
What to Order First: Sushi for Beginners
If you are ordering sushi for the first time, ease in. Start with the cooked and vegetable options, then work toward raw as your confidence grows.
Beginner-friendly picks:
- California roll (uramaki with cooked crab, avocado and cucumber)
- Tempura prawn roll (cooked, crispy, familiar flavours)
- Chicken teriyaki maki (cooked chicken, sweet and mild)
- Avocado maki or cucumber maki (vegetable-only, easy)
- Egg nigiri (tamago) (sweet, cooked, no fish)
- Prawn nigiri (cooked, mild)
Once you are ready for raw:
- Salmon nigiri (mild, buttery, most people’s raw sushi gateway)
- Salmon sashimi (same fish, no rice, cleaner taste)
- Aburi salmon (flame-seared, richer flavour, less “raw” tasting)
When you want to level up:
- Tuna nigiri or sashimi (leaner, more intense)
- Salmon roe (ikura) gunkan (bold, briny, a signature Japanese flavour)
- Uramaki with tempura or spicy tuna (bigger, bolder rolls)
Feeling stuck? Order a chef’s selection or a mixed platter. It is the best way to try a range without having to make every decision yourself.
How Much Sushi Should I Order?
A useful rule of thumb: 8 to 12 pieces per person for a main meal, or 4 to 6 pieces as a starter or shared plate. If you are at a sushi train, that translates to roughly 4 to 6 plates per person, because most plates hold 2 pieces.
At a Sushi Jiro sushi train, most first-timers spend between $15 and $25 for a full lunch, and $25 to $40 for a bigger dinner. Prices scale cleanly with how much you eat, which is one of the reasons sushi trains are such a friendly format for new diners.
How to Eat Sushi Properly
Ordering is half of it. Here is how to eat what you order like you know what you are doing.
- Use chopsticks or your hands. Both are correct. Nigiri is traditionally eaten with the fingers.
- Dip the fish side into soy sauce, not the rice. The rice will fall apart if you soak it.
- Eat each piece in one bite where you can. Sushi is designed to hit your palate all at once.
- Do not mix wasabi into your soy. Add a tiny amount to your soy dish separately, or just use the wasabi already tucked under the nigiri.
- Pickled ginger is a palate cleanser between pieces, not a topping. Eat a small amount between different flavours.
- Sushi is best eaten fresh. If you are ordering takeaway, aim to eat it within an hour or two of pickup.
What Else to Order With Your Sushi
Sushi is even better with the classics on the side.
- Miso soup to start
- Edamame to snack on while you wait
- Tempura prawn or vegetable for a warm hot dish
- Gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) if you want something more substantial
- Green tea throughout the meal (traditional and helps cut through the richness)
Ready to Try It?
The best way to learn how to order sushi is to walk into a venue and do it. Sushi Jiro has sushi trains, dine-in restaurants and express counters across more than 20 locations, all built for the way Australians actually want to eat sushi: fresh, fast, colour-coded and easy to navigate.
Find your nearest venue or Order Online Now through Sushi Jiro Everyday. If you want more depth on the different types of sushi you will see on the menu, our Sushi 101 guide has the full explainer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you order at a sushi train?
Take a seat at the counter, grab plates off the belt as they roll past, stack your empty plates and pay at the end. Each plate colour corresponds to a price band. Use the iPad on the table for anything not currently on the belt.
What sushi should you order first as a beginner?
Start with cooked or vegetable options like California rolls, tempura prawn rolls, prawn nigiri and avocado maki. Move to salmon nigiri and salmon sashimi as your confidence grows.
How much sushi should you order per person?
Around 8 to 12 pieces per person for a main meal, or 4 to 6 pieces as a starter or shared plate. At a sushi train that translates to roughly 4 to 6 plates per person.
Do you eat sushi with chopsticks or your hands?
Both are correct. Nigiri is traditionally eaten with the fingers. Chopsticks work for maki, sashimi and everything else.
Should you dip sushi in soy sauce?
Yes, but lightly, and dip the fish side rather than the rice. Soaking the rice breaks it apart.
Is sushi safe to eat every day?
In moderation, yes. Sushi is low in saturated fat and high in protein and omega-3s. Diners who eat sushi daily should vary the fish they choose (tuna in particular is higher in mercury than other options).