And the correct answer is…
It is indeed acceptable to eat sushi with your hands.
In fact, you may even be encouraged to eat sushi with your hands by your sushi taisho (head chef).
The term “sushi” (すし, 寿司) actually refers to the ‘vinegared rice’ used to create the various delicacies that we have come to collectively call “sushi.”
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the most important part of sushi is the rice. Chefs train for years to master the art of making sushi rice, ensuring that taste, texture, and temperature are all complementary.
The rice is carefully molded by hand to form nigiri-zushi blocks that are then delicately assembled with ingredients.
Ideally, the hand-formed mounds of rice are packed loosely. In “packing air between the grains” of rice, the chef is able to create that coveted melt-in-the-mouth feel. Therefore, using your hands to eat ensures that the delicate balance of sushi is maintained.
Using chopsticks would squash the rice grains together, so chefs will pack the rice more tightly if the customer will be using chopsticks.
Here are some tips for eating sushi by hand:
When eating sushi with your hands, make sure to dip it in the soy sauce fish side down as the rice will absorb the sauce, disintegrate, and throw off the balance of the taste.
You should eat your nigiri-zushi fish side down as
well so that the fish is the first thing that touches your tongue.
Eating sushi by hand allows you to appreciate the
temperature and texture, making sushi a full sensory experience!
Be sure to keep in mind that it is not acceptable to do the same with sashimi!
Enjoy!
