Curious about sushi? You are in good company. Australians searched for sushi more than 7.7 million times in 2024, making it one of the country’s most-loved cuisines. If you are new to sushi, or just want a straight-up guide to how it works, this is the one page that covers everything: what sushi is, the different types, how it is made, how to eat it, and how to order it at your local sushi train.
What Is Sushi?
Sushi is a Japanese dish built on seasoned rice, paired with fresh seafood, vegetables and seaweed. The word “sushi” actually refers to the seasoned rice, not the fish. That single detail explains why sushi comes in so many formats: the rice is the constant, everything else is variation.
Modern sushi is built around four core ingredients: seasoned rice (shari), fresh fish or seafood, nori seaweed and vegetables, and condiments like soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger. Every sushi type is a different way of combining those elements.
Where Sushi Came From
Sushi’s origin actually predates Japan. Communities in South-East Asia were fermenting fish with rice and vinegar more than a thousand years ago as a preservation method. The technique reached Japan around 2,000 years ago during the Yayoi period.
The sushi we recognise today started in the early 1800s in Tokyo, when a chef named Hanaya Yohei began pressing seasoned rice with fresh fish on top and serving it as a quick street food. That format, nigirizushi, is still the base of modern sushi. It spread to the West with Japanese migration in the early 1900s and became a global favourite after World War 2.
The 8 Most Popular Sushi Types in Australia
Sushi is not one dish. It is a family of dishes built on the same rice foundation, each with a different shape, presentation and eating experience. Here are the eight types you will find on most Australian sushi menus, all offered across Sushi Jiro’s dine-in and takeaway locations.
Nigiri
Hand-pressed seasoned rice topped with a slice of fresh fish, prawn, egg or vegetable. The most iconic sushi format. Salmon, tuna and prawn nigiri are the crowd favourites. Explore our Nigiri Sushi range.
Sashimi
Fresh sliced fish, served without rice. Sashimi is the purest sushi experience, and the best test of a restaurant’s fish quality. Salmon, tuna and kingfish are the classics. Explore our Sashimi range.
Maki
Rolls of seasoned rice, filling and nori, sliced into rounds. Comes in thin rolls (hosomaki) with a single filling, or thicker rolls (futomaki) with a mix. Explore our Maki range.
Uramaki
Inside-out rolls, where the rice sits on the outside and the nori wraps the filling. Often coated in sesame seeds or roe. California rolls and rainbow rolls are the classic examples. Explore our Uramaki range.
Gunkan
“Battleship” sushi. Oval rice bases wrapped in nori with soft toppings like salmon roe (ikura), flying fish roe (tobiko), spicy tuna or seaweed salad. Bold flavours, striking presentation. Explore our Gunkan range.
Aburi
Flame-seared sushi. The top of the fish is lightly torched, melting the fat and adding a rich, smoky note that raw sushi cannot match. Aburi salmon is a modern Australian favourite. Ask your local Sushi Jiro when Aburi is on the menu.
Temaki
Hand rolls. A cone of nori wrapped around rice and filling, eaten with the hands. Best enjoyed within a minute or two of being made so the nori stays crisp. Casual, quick, social.
Nori Taco
A modern twist on the classic. A crisp nori shell filled with sushi rice and toppings, eaten like a taco. Different texture, same flavour profile, brand new eating experience.
How Sushi Is Made
Sushi looks simple but takes real skill. Every plate starts with the rice, seasoned with a precise blend of vinegar, sugar and salt, and cooked to exactly the right texture. Chefs then handle each ingredient by hand: slicing fish with millimetre precision, rolling maki on a bamboo mat (makisu), and finishing each piece with the right garnish and pairing.
At Sushi Jiro, that process happens right in front of you. Our sushi trains are stocked in real time by chefs working through the kitchen window, so every plate that reaches the belt was made within the last few minutes. If you want to see it in action, find your nearest Sushi Jiro venue and grab a seat by the train.
How to Order Sushi in Australia
If it is your first time, sushi ordering can look overwhelming. There is a colour-coded belt, plates rotating past, an iPad on the table and a menu with dozens of options. Here is how it actually works at a Sushi Jiro sushi train:
1. Sit at the sushi train counter. You do not need to order to start eating. Take whatever looks good as it rolls past.
2. Colour-coded plates are colour-coded prices. Each plate colour corresponds to a price band. Your bill is the sum of the plates you take.
3. Use the iPad on the table for anything specific. Want something that is not currently on the belt? Order it directly through the iPad and it will come out fresh to your seat.
4. Start light, build up. Vegetable rolls or cooked options like tempura prawn are a great starting point. Move to nigiri and sashimi as your confidence grows.
5. Stack your plates as you go. The team counts them at the end for the bill.
For a step-by-step ordering guide, including what to try first and how to eat each sushi type properly, see our companion post How to Order Sushi: A Beginner’s Guide.
How to Eat Sushi
A few small habits make the sushi experience smoother:
- 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. Dipping the rice makes it fall apart in the sauce.
- Eat each piece in one bite where you can. This is how sushi is designed to be tasted, all flavours at once.
- Use pickled ginger between pieces as a palate cleanser, not as a topping.
- A small amount of wasabi in your soy is plenty. Nigiri usually already has a touch under the fish.
Where to Try Sushi in Australia
Sushi is easy to find in Australian cities but the quality varies. Look for a venue with visible chefs, a fresh sushi train and a menu that covers more than just California rolls. Sushi Jiro has more than 20 locations across Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, with dine-in, takeaway and express formats to suit any time of day.
Ready to dive in? Find your nearest venue or Order Online Now through Sushi Jiro Everyday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sushi
What is the difference between sushi and sashimi?
Sushi is any dish built on seasoned rice, usually paired with fish or vegetables. Sashimi is fresh sliced fish served without rice. Sashimi is technically not sushi at all.
Is sushi raw fish?
Some sushi contains raw fish (nigiri, sashimi) but not all. Cooked sushi is common too: tempura prawn rolls, chicken teriyaki maki, egg nigiri, cooked seafood options and vegetarian rolls are all raw-fish free.
Is sushi healthy?
Yes. Sushi is generally low in saturated fat, high in lean protein and rich in omega-3s. Some rolls with fried ingredients or heavy mayo are less healthy, so check the filling if you are counting.
What sushi should a beginner try first?
Start with cooked or vegetable options: prawn nigiri, California rolls, avocado maki, chicken teriyaki rolls or tempura prawn rolls. Move to salmon nigiri and sashimi once you are ready for raw.
How much does sushi cost in Australia?
A sushi train lunch usually lands between $15 and $25 per person. A takeaway box is between $10 and $20. A sit-down dining experience typically ranges from $30 to $60 depending on your order.