Eating sushi with your hands

[C-Man]

First, I work at my buddy's BBQ place and eat smoked brisket almost every single day. Now that that's out of the way, I'll move on to my point. In addition to brisket, I love to eat sushi. But I fuckin' hate chopsticks. I used to do OK with them but never liked them. So, lately I've been eating sushi with my hands. Is that socially acceptable here in the States?

 

[VoodooChi|d]

I usually just stab the sushi with the chopsticks...

 

[C-Man]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[VoodooChi|d]

I don't eat sushi all that often because I don't really know too many people who like it, but usually they are rolled tight enough that that isn't a problem.

I'm not sure I would care if someone was eating sushi with their hands, but then again in many places in Italy, they eat pizza with a fork which was a huge shock to me.

 

[C-Man]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[NCAAFBALLROX]

If someone stares @ you like you're a heathen, just throw a Coke on 'em.

 

[hornian]

I really like using chopsticks. It makes me slow down and enjoy my meal.

 

[TheTresLeches]

I eat sushi with my hands most of the time, it's what they do in Japan.

And if you ever watch how native-born Asians use chopsticks, they lower their head close to the plate and bring their food to their mouth using the chopsticks. They don't try to bring their food two feet from the plate to their mouth like eating with a fork.

 

[jt09]

Perfectly acceptable to eat sushi w/ your hands. I rarely do it because I've used chopsticks forever and am really good w/ them so it never occurred to me to not use them, but it's 100% OK to do so.

 

[CaptainEd]

In addition to this, are you supposed to eat your miso soup directly out of the bowl or use that goofy little spoon ladle?

 

[scottsins]

from the bowl. at Musashino, they do not even give you a spoon or ladle with your miso.

 

[miguelito]

You really should just pick the sushi roll off your plate with your mouth.

 

[DoobieWah]

Because of this thread, I asked my favorite sushi chef about this today. He said that it is perfectly acceptable to use your hands and that is how it was traditionally eaten. In fact, it was created as finger food.

However, most people, even in Japan, now use chopsticks.

I happen to be an expert with the sticks so I never thought about it before. I've never seen anyone do it, (until today). My buddy always asks for a fork.

 

[YChang]

you could always ask for children/training chopsticks if you have a hard time using the real ones.

 

[C-Man]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Idahorn2]

I use my hands to work it carefully onto the hook, then cast it quickly before the rice falls off.

 

[gsoda3]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[gsoda3]

oh and one more thing. while it is acceptable to eat nigiri sushi with hands (the ones with rice), it is a faux pas to eat sashimi (lone pieces of raw fish) with your hands. it's like eating a steak the way you'd eat fried chicken.

 

[scottsins]

also, dip the nigiri in the soy fish side down. don't dunk the rice ball into the soy.

oh, you're supposed to place the nigiri in the mouth fish side down as well.

 

[Nebraskan4Texas]

With rolls and especially large pieces of nigiri, is it really necessary that I eat each piece in one bite? I feel rude and piggish sometimes shoving the whole thing in my mouth just because I was told you really need to eat the whole thing in one bite.

 

[UTEE]

I enjoy using chop sticks.

I also enjoy digging in my yard using two pool cues instead of a shovel.

 

[S197HQQKEM]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[CaptainEd]

thanks for the clarification. i thought miso was ladlespoon-free, but i started noticing a lot of weird looks over the past couple of months.

 

[GHoward]

Sometimes I wish I could get my rolls uncut, and eat them like a burrito.

 

[Lidig8r]

When you graduate from sushi to sashimi, chopsticks are more practical. Rice is ok for rolls, but to me, it lessens, almost deadens the taste of the fish.

 

[orange_pride]

who cares if you eat it with your hands. its your food.

if the person uses chopsticks, great. if not, does it matter what other people think?

 

[chitownbevo]

In reply to:

---

---