Updated on 2/12/2021 and 4/12/23
You can keep on eating your salmon, or you can try what most Japanese eat which is a good way to expand your world (or possibly improve your gag reflexes).
Most American’s stick to the “safe” stuff which is salmon, salmon, salmon, maybe some tuna, and some oysters if it is a date night. Although, if that sounds a little too tame for you, you may be up for some tentacles, and you just might want to go full Japanese. So these are items to order on your next visit to a Japanese sushi bar.

Are you tired of the same ole go to’s when you order sushi? Is your significant other also tired of you doing the same ole routine? Switch it up by putting things in your mouth you never thought you would.
It was only a couple decades ago in the United States that most people would not eat raw fish, but now people will eat supermarket or convenience store sushi.

Like Too $hort Said “Get in Where You Fit In”
I broke down my list into categories, so that you can choose the appropriate category that matches what you are up for although keep in mind that many of the items listed below are seasonal or are limited to Japanese sushi bars (not the Americanized sushi bars).

You do not have to jump in with a mouthful of milt (shirako) aka “white children,” and you can start with the gonads of a sea urchin (uni).
If that got you salivating, once you get done with the milt and gonads, I would definitely do eggs/roe.
10-7 | TAMAGOYAKI, FUTOMAKI TO INARIZUSHI, ANKIMO, SHIRASU, MIRUGAI: | These are like a Japanese sushi starter kit. |
6-5 | SHIRAKO TO SHIOKARA | Some people climb mountains, but you try different foods and live to tell the story. |
4 | ENGAWA | For the middle of the road types that won’t swipe left or right. |
3-2 | ANAGO TO ZUKE MAGURO | Time to switch up your usual routine (do it for the sake of your S.O.) |
1 | HIKARIMONO | Not after a hike fishier, I am talking right out of the ocean fishier and “tastier.” |

Tamagoyaki (Grilled Egg Omelette)
Sunnyside up, over easy, soft, or hard-boiled to scrambled, and now you’ll want to add tamagoyaki to your list. If you have never had it, I highly suggest you give it a try at the end of your meal for an authentic Japanese sushi bar experience. After you’ve had it, I’m sure you’ll want to eat it on a boat, on a train, or here or there, or anywhere.


Futomaki to Inarizushi (Vegetarian Rolls and Sushi)
This is what I grew up eating: futomaki (the “fat roll” is commonly a vegetarian roll, and I have eaten enough of these to last a lifetime), kanpyomaki (a pickled gourd), tekkamaki (a simple single item tuna roll), kappamaki (cucumber roll), inarizushi (a sweetened deep-fried tofu pouch), and I will add one of my favorites which is a roll that consists of takuan (a pickled daikon radish), saba (mackerel), and yamagobo (and if you want oba shiso, you can toss that in too).


This is where the sushi roll came from, but leave it to us Americans to turn a taco into a Dorito taco loco and a roll into a sauce-drenched piece of rice with a bunch of crunchy bits where you can not taste the fish.
Muuuuurica bro, Big Gulps, XXXL, opiates, and rolls with 3 different sauces dipped into a sauce.


Ankimo (Monkfish Liver)
CNN Travel rated ankimo as the 32nd best foods in the world which is why most of you have already had the “foie gras of the sea.” Whether or not you had it prepared with ponzu, sliced green onion, and momiji oroshi, or any other imaginative way, it’s popularity had once gotten the monkfish onto the endangered and overfished list although it is no longer on it. The reason I bring that up, is so that you’re mindful of overfishing, and if you want to do your part, you can check with Seafoodwatch.org to see the status of the seafood you’re eating.

The foie gras of the sea is now plenty abundant again.
Minus the fattiness of duck fois gras.


Shirasu to Mirugai (Clam, Crab, Squid, Shrimp, etc)
These items are typically only found at a restaurant that caters to Japanese although I wouldn’t have listed them if they were impossible to find.
If you can find a Japanese sushi bar, start with trying: shirasu (white bait), hamaguri (clam), mirugai (geoduck clam is fairly easy to find, just look out for a giant penis looking clam), shiroebi (white shrimp), to hotaru ika (firefly squid, they’re not baby squid even though they’re tiny). As for items that might be a challenge to try are uni (sea urchin gonads, if you like it, you will love it), mentaiko (cod roe), kazunoko (herring roe), natto (easy to find, but it’s an acquired taste and texture like okra), to namako (sea cucumber… I love the chew).


If oysters are supposed to be aphrodisiac, I will attach a link to what a geoduck clam looks like.
Immaturely, we used to chase each other around the kitchen with it (it could have got us fired).


If you are wondering what makes authentic Japanese nigiri sushi great, you can read my post on “What is Good Sushi.“
If you are wondering what makes a great blog post, let me know if you know and email me.


Shirako (Fish Sac/Milt/Sperm/Semen)
What you are looking at is “white children” aka sperm sac/jizz or fish milt? I’m not sure which you prefer that I refer to it as, but I’m sure either sounds appetizing, so I’m torn. Well, I’ll just get to describing the texture which is soft like the consistency of tofu with no objectionable taste even if you had a mouthful of it (oh, and I have). Although, for first-timers, I suggest the deep-fried version which are both topped off with ponzu (citrus soy sauce) and momiji-oroshi (grated daikon with chili sauce).

A mouthful of shirako (fish sperm) was a lot like the consistency of tofu.
My usual sushi chef always had a grin when I took my dates.


Shiokara (Squid and Fermented Squid Guts)
This won’t help you grow hair back on your balding head, but it’s what separates the Ameri’cans and the Ameri’can’t’s who are willing to try new things. You’ll know which camp you’re in if squid and fermented squid guts topped off with my favorite ingredient, or the pièce de rĂ©sistance, a good squirt of yuzu (citrus) sounds good to you. If that has your mouth-watering, it pairs perfectly with loads of sake, kanpai! you Ameri’can.

I can not get enough shiokara, especially with some yuzu citrus and it is really popular with alcohol, especially sake.
I never thought I would like it if you told me what it was, but this is one dish I seek out.


Engawa (Flounder Fin/Ridgeline) and a lot of Shiromi (White Fish)
A Japanese sushi bar is better than a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific because you also get to eat the fish, not just look at them. If that sounds good to you, starting with the shiromi is a good place to start although if they are not prepared well (aged/konbujime), many of them can be very mild in taste/chewy. Although starting with a fattier fish, like akamutsu/nodoguro (rosy sea bass) will help ease you in.
Other shiromi to try: engawa (when the “fin” is torched a little and finished with lemon and salt, it’s so damn good), suzuki (sea bass), karei (flatfish), madai (red seabream snapper), ishidai (striped beakfish), kamasu (barracuda), yagara (cornet fish looks like a vacuum cleaner attachment), and the list goes on…and on.


White, sometimes fatty, and mild in taste…. no wonder, us Muricans love it.
Does it sound like I am describing somebody you know?


Anago (Saltwater Conger Eel)
Yea, yea, yea, you like to order unagi, and I get it, you like that it is slathered and buried in a sweet soy sauce. That ingredient you like so much is a fresh water eel, so how about trying something from the ocean where you can actually taste the ingredient. If that sounds like it’s doable, anago is what you’ll want to try. Just a FYI, I didn’t even like it at first (I was team unagi at first), but now I love it. It is one of my goto’s when done correctly which is cooked in a soy-based marinade and topped off with either a (ni)tsume (eel/soy based sauce) or with what I like, a dash of shio (salt).


I can not remember the last time I ordered unagi (fresh water eel), but anytime I can find anago (salt water eel), I am ordering it.
One is sweet and you can’t really taste the main ingredient (umagi) and usually comes in a package. The other is subtle (anago) and usually produced in-house.


Zuke to Nikiri Akamai Maguro
(Marinated Tuna to Pre-seasoned Lean Tuna)
From big-eye to yellowfin tuna, to ultimately hon-maguro or the “true” tuna, bluefin can be a mind-blowing experience for anybody who has never had good maguro. To be clear, I’m not talking fatty cuts of chu/o-toro, but the “standard” (lean akami cuts).
Outside your standard cuts of tuna, I highly suggest you try it “zuke” or marinated to “nikiri (a shoyu, sake, mirin sauce brushed on), and no additional dipping is necessary since the chef already did it for you.


Having tuna nigiri sushi in the U.S. can be underwhelming compared to Japan, unless you go to a standout sushi bar which will make you appreciate sushi done right such as Kusakabe in San Francisco.
Most sushi bars in rural areas are not Japanese owned or operated (many are Chinese or Korean owned).


Another way to have maguro is with a mountain (yama) yam (imo) called yamaimo. The yam is grated (tororo) into a mucilage slurry and mixed in with cubes of maguro. The final dish is called maguro no yamakake.
Soy sauce, green onion, wasabi, and nori can be added.

Hikarimono (Shiny Fish)
I have said it before, but Americans like their beef “beefy,” their pork “porky,” women “girly,” and men “manly,” but their fish not “fishy.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my fish being bland, so for all the girly girls, this list is for you: kan sawara (Spanish mackerel), shima-aji (striped jack), sayori (halfbeak), aji (horsemackerel), saba (mackerel), iwashi (sardine), and kohada (gizzard shad) all a try.


I like my beef “beefy,” just like how I like my fish “fishy.” Plus these are really healthy for you (omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus).
The one segment of fish that is really healthy for you are the ones most Americans do not like.


The Portuguese love sardines (iwashi) for good reason, they are delicious, especially when grilled (they consume 12 lbs. per person on average).
Europe not only loves sardines but also anchovies from a Caesar salad to Worcestershire sauce.
If You Had Everything Listed
If you can get through eating everything on this list, you just might be turning Japanese, “I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so” – the Vapors.

Ohayo
Ohaaaayo!
Ohaayo Gozaimusuđź’Ż
Good morning, it’s a nice 70-80 Saturday, woo hoo
GM Dear! Always have a good day đź’–
Ohhhh yea, well, have an even better day 💝! So I win 🏆