Sushi for Beginners: What to Order (No Stress)
· By the Sus Hi Team
We get this question at the counter probably ten times a day. Someone walks into the Dojo, stares at the menu board, and says something like "I've never really had sushi... what should I get?"
First of all — welcome. Second of all, we've got you. Nobody's judging you here.
Rule #1: You Don't Have to Eat Raw Fish
This is the biggest thing people don't realize. When folks search sushi for beginners what to order, they assume the answer involves a slab of raw tuna and a leap of faith. It doesn't.
Look at our menu — the raw stuff is literally marked. Anything without that raw tag is cooked, tempura-fried, torched, or veggie. So you can eat a full sushi meal without ever touching sashimi. Honestly? Most of our top sellers are cooked.
Start with a bowl, not a roll
Rolls look intimidating. Bowls are just... food in a bowl. Rice, protein, veggies, sauce. If you've had a burrito bowl anywhere, you already understand how this works.
Our Sushi Bowls are our #1 seller for a reason — and fun fact, when Robert and Teresa opened the first Dojo across from UCF back in 2011, they thought rolls would dominate. Bowls and burritos took over instead. The people spoke.
Our Actual Beginner Picks
- Boom Boom Shrimp Bowl — crispy shrimp, creamy sauce, zero raw anything. This is the one I recommend most. It's basically impossible not to like.
- Steak Mac & Cheese Crunch Burrito — yes, mac and cheese in a sushi burrito. If sushi still sounds scary, this is the trojan horse. It's also weirdly one of the most unique things on any menu in Orlando.
- Party in My Mouth Bowl — underrated, and I'll say that forever. Cooked, a little spicy, super balanced.
- Shrimp Tempura Roll or Cali Roll — if you want to try an actual roll, start here. Cooked, familiar, forgiving.
- Krab Rangoons — okay this isn't sushi, but get them anyway. Trust us on this one.
Vegan or just not into seafood?
The Hi-Ya! Waska Bowl and Livin' on the Veg roll exist and they're genuinely good, not afterthoughts. Add Edamame Dumplings and you're set.
How to Build Your Own Without Overthinking It
Create Your Own is where people freeze up. Here's the cheat code:
- Base: white rice if you're unsure. Safe, warm, familiar.
- Protein: pick something cooked — chicken, steak, shrimp tempura, krab.
- Veggies: cucumber and avocado. Non-negotiable starter combo.
- Sauce: one creamy, one sweet. Don't do four. We've seen the four-sauce bowls. It's chaos.
- Toppings: crunchies. Always crunchies.
And here's the real secret to figuring out sushi for beginners what to order — just ask a Ninja. Seriously. Tell them what you normally eat and they'll steer you. That's half the job.
Go At Your Own Pace
Nobody starts with the Lit Bowl. Get comfortable with cooked stuff, then maybe try a Spicy Tuna Hand Roll in a month. Or don't! Plenty of our regulars have never ordered raw fish once and they're perfectly happy.
Come see us — UCF, Altamonte, Lake Nona, Millenia, Colonial, Chickasaw, or Tampa near USF. Some Dojos are open till 2am, which is when the best food decisions happen. Grab the rewards app while you're at it so your first bowl starts earning you free stuff.
See you at the Dojo. #SusHi #BuildYourOwn