Sushi is a popular Japanese dish that can be found basically all over the globe. Even though it has hundreds and even thousands of years of existence in some form as an important part of the Japanese culture, it wasn’t until the 60’s that it made its first commercial appearance in U.S grounds.
It is stated that the U.S very first Japanese Sushi restaurant opened in 1960 in Southern California. Located in Little Tokio, Kawafuku was a two-floor restaurant where you could enjoy accessible dishes such as teriyaki, tempura and other regular dinners. On the second floor there was a Sushi bar, hosted by Shigeo Saito; the restaurant’s Sushi Master.
American Sushi Evolution
Today, Sushi is served in many shapes and forms, changing throughout the years. A simple change in the way rolling sushi will bring a new type of sushi to life as well as changes to its ingredients. Out of this process, many types of sushi were born.
However, there is a common ingredient in sushi and it is vinegar rice, but other than this, sushi chefs will use all types of ingredients nowadays. From spicy Sriracha sauce to any type of beef, sushi has certainly come a long way in terms of its ingredients.
Making Sushi big in America
Sushi evolution in America came such a long way that there are some types of sushi that are “American-born”. Some of these mentioned below used to be present first on the American soil only, but globalization has introduced them in other parts of the world too, particularly in Europe.
Probably the biggest change and most popular type of American Sushi is the Futomaki Sushi, which translates to “thick, large or fat rolls” since they are between 2 and 2.5 inches in diameter. The futomaki roll is cylindrical in its shape and usually wrapped in nori. Futomaki’s extra size also allows including between 2 or more ingredients which are chosen for their complementary tastes and colors. Many variations of this type of roll are common in sushi restaurants across the states and we would like to preview some of them.
Philadelphia Roll: With cream cheese and raw or smoked salmon, this rolls will also have avocado, cucumber or even onion.
Alaska Roll: A variation of the California rolls containing salmon on the inside or layered on the outside.
BC Roll: With crispy grilled salmon on the outside of it. Also referred to as Salmon Skin roll outside of British Columbia, Canada.
California Roll: Containing avocado, surimi (imitation crab), fly fish (tobiko) or capelin roe (masago) and often made with the nori on the inside.
Spider Roll: includes fried soft-shell crab and other fillings such as cucumber, avocado, daikon sprouts or lettuce, roe, and sometimes spicy mayonnaise.
Pink Lady Roll:
Based on cream-cheese with a sweet taste. Sweet sushi? Yes, that’s one of the rarest sweet sushi made-in-America, in which the sweet cream is rolled with rice and soy paper, then topped with chocolate and raspberry sauce. Does it get more American than this?
These are just some of the most popular American Types of Sushi, however, there are many more types of rolls out there. So, next time you come and visit us, treat yourself and take a risk trying something new with an American Style.