There’s a scene in the Michael Crichton novel Rising Sun when the 2 protagonists go into a sushi restaurant, and the Japan-savvy of the two says that they don’t have to choose what to get. The sushi chef picks for them.
That’s not really how it goes in America, although you can always ask your server for their recommendations when it comes to which sushi rolls you should try out. That’s a common way for sushi beginners to get into eating sushi.
So, if you’re a newbie, these are our suggestions as to what you should try out first. If you don’t like it, blame us instead. We don’t mind!
Spider Roll
Forget the name, if you’re one of those people who’re wondering if this actually contains spiders. The Japanese people may be a bit different from Americans, but they don’t really offer real spiders in sushi.
Instead, this comes with that yummy tempura soft-shell crab that will really make this a classically great choice. Then it also comes with cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo. Its nice spicy kick really wakes up your taste buds, so don’t be embarrassed if you eat a lot of these things.
Rainbow Roll
This is quite a colorful treat, and it’s a real favorite among the Instagram fanatics. You get the imitation crab, along with cucumber, avocado, salmon, tuna, shrimp, and yellowtail. It’s a delicious combo that serves as a great initiation to the world of sushi.
This contains shrimp tempura with avocado, along with some eel sauce. The eel sauce may be a bit intimidating for some (especially for newbies), but the adventurous will see it as a real treat. The shrimp crunch also pairs nicely with the smooth avocado.
Boston Roll
As the name implies, this might not be a very common sushi option in the Japanese homeland. But for Americans, it really works. You have the creamy avocado combining with the poached shrimp while the cucumber adds some nice crunchiness.
If the eel sauce in the Shrimp Tempura Sauce didn’t turn you off, or if you actually liked it, then you might really appreciate this Dragon Roll. It actually features eel along with the eel sauce, while you also get crab sticks, cucumber, and avocado.
King Crab Roll
Some people who like crab really like this option. It’s a very simply combo, since it just pairs King Crab with some mayonnaise. Basically, nothing here distracts you from the crab flavor, while the mayo just enhances that flavor nicely.
Final Words
It’s really up to you as to which sushi roll you wish to try out. Some people based their choices on the estimated flavors of the ingredients. Others base their choices on calorie count. Heck, some people pick sushi rolls that look best on their Instagram posts!
So, there’s really no wrong choice here, at least at first. Try out as many different sushi rolls as you can, so you can pick your own favorites from here on out. When you return to Benihana next time, you can be more confident in your menu choices.
