What is the difference between sushi and sashimi?

Hey, this question is actually quite simple, but many people get confused.

The most fundamental difference is just one thing: the presence of rice.

Sashimi: This term refers to beautifully sliced raw fish. It's the star, presented on its own, with nothing else (apart from soy sauce and wasabi for dipping). You eat it for the freshest, purest taste and texture of the fish itself. You can think of it as a cold appetizer, where the main dish is just those few slices of fish.

Sushi: The word 'sushi' actually refers to the vinegared rice ball. So, the main component of sushi is the 'rice'. The fish, shrimp, egg, or cucumber you see on sushi are just 'toppings' placed on the rice or 'fillings' rolled within the rice.

So you can remember it this way:

• If you're given a slice of fish to dip in soy sauce -> That's sashimi.
• If you're given a rice ball with a slice of fish on top -> That's sushi (specifically, 'nigiri sushi').
• If you're given a seaweed roll with rice, cucumber, and fish inside -> That's also sushi (specifically, 'maki sushi').

To summarize simply: If it has rice, it's sushi; if it doesn't have rice, it's sashimi. Next time you go to a Japanese restaurant, you won't order incorrectly!