If you have never visited a sushi restaurant in NYC you may be a little confused at the terms used to describe the food or the names of different sushi dishes. Some restaurants are formal or classic style while others may be more laid back and relaxed, either way it is important to be familiar with the food that is being served so you will not feel overwhelmed when it comes to ordering. Here are a few terms used and what they mean:

Sushi Rice: sushi rice refers to the vinegared rice used in sushi making.

Nori: Nori are sheets of dried seaweed that are flexible and bend while rolling. When rolling the sushi, the ends of the nori are moistened with water and rolled using a rolling mat.

Nigiri or Nigiri Sushi: this describes a serving of sushi rice, hand formed or rolled into a ball and topped with a piece of fish. It is often wrapped by a thin strip of nori to secure it.

Futomaki: Futomaki is a large sushi roll made with  rice topped with thin strips of fish and wrapped in a sheet of nori. The roll is then cut into large pieces and stood on end on the serving plate.

California Roll: The classic California roll is a roll with avocado, cucumber and imitation crab wrapped by a layer of rice and a sheet of nori. The roll in sliced into 6 to 8 bite-size pieces.

Vegetable roll: This is perfect for vegetarians and vegans looking for something without meat or animal products. The vegetable roll is made with avocado, cucumber, asparagus and carrot slices wrapped in a layer of rice and nori.

Onigiri: This refers to a vinegared rice ball with black sesame seeds and fillings or plain, shaped into a cone, triangle or other shape formed by hand.

Now that you know a bit about sushi you should be able to order off the menu from any sushi restaurant in NYC with confidence!