Can We Guess Where You Grew Up Based on Your Taste in Sushi?

By: Emily Maggrett

6 Min Quiz

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Going out for sushi soon? What are you going to order? Would you believe that your answer might just reveal the place where you grew up?

It might sound wild, but the way you enjoy sushi can be a big indicator of where you come from. Everything from the place you choose to sit in the restaurant to the condiments you use to the rolls you order says something about your background and past experiences. A Midwesterner and a native of the Northwest may have totally different tastes in rolls, nigiri or sashimi (not to mention sake, beer and appetizers!) Whereas if you're from Louisiana, your feelings about crunchy shrimp rolls will be very different from those of a Californian.

In this quiz, we're going to ask you about your favorite sushi as well as your favorite sushi sides, condiments and even desserts. Each answer will give us another clue about where you're from and how it formed your personal taste. Don't be afraid to be honest: there's no wrong way to enjoy sushi, despite what some food snobs might say. So, are you ready to share your sushi preferences with us to find out what they say about you? Take this quiz!

First things first: if the sushi restaurant is empty, where will you choose to sit?

At any empty booth.

At the bar, of course!
On the patio.

In the tatami room, if they have one

What will you be drinking with your sushi?

Hot sake

Sapporo
Light beer or white wine

Premium dry sake

It's time to order appetizers. Which of these options tempts your palate?

Edamame

Agedashi tofu
Tempura

Chicken Karaage

Your friends would like to order a big roll for the table to share. Which one do you choose?

Tunacado roll

Rainbow roll
Spider roll

Hawaiian roll

Will you eat your sushi with chopsticks?

No, they're too hard to use.

I usually eat sushi with my hands.
I eat sushi with chopsticks, and I rub them together before eating.

I only eat sashimi with chopsticks; doing otherwise means the chef has to pack the sushi too tightly.

Your partner wants to split a bento box with you. How do you respond?

"No way. I want my own bento box!"

"Let's wait until we've finished our sushi and see if we're still hungry."
"Sure, sounds good."

"No thanks. I'm here to eat sushi."

Now it's time to order a vegetarian roll to share. Which one will you lobby for?

Cucumber roll

Avocado roll
What's the point of vegetarian sushi?

Vegetable tempura roll

Are you going to order the geoduck?

I've never seen geoduck on a sushi menu.

Yes, if it's cooked right.
Is that a kind of poultry?

Yum! Yes.

How much soy sauce and wasabi will you put on your sushi?

I like mixing soy sauce and wasabi together and then dipping my nigiri in it.

I would never insult the chef by adding sauces to my sushi.
I prefer a side of spicy mayo with my sushi.

I might add a little soy sauce to my nigiri, but I rarely use wasabi since it obscures the flavor of the fish.

This restaurant offers Cajun rolls. Have you ever eaten one before?

I've had Cajun rolls once or twice. They're pretty good!

A Cajun roll? Why do I have the feeling it wasn't invented in Japan?
Yes, they're great. They're made from crawfish salad, cucumber, avocado, salmon and spicy mayo.

I've seen them on menus while traveling, but they sound too wild for me.

Tonight, you want to splurge on sashimi. What will you ask the chef to make?

I don't like sashimi.

I'll have the chirashi (fresh sushi over rice).
I want salmon, scallop and tuna sashimi.

I'm going to order omakase (chef's choice sashimi).

Someone at your table says the uni nigiri, or sea urchin sushi, is delicious. Are you going to order it?

Sea urchin? Um, that's okay.

Yes, that sounds perfect.
That sounds awful.

I love uni. When it's good, it tastes like the sea itself.

What's your favorite sushi condiment?

Soy sauce

Pickled ginger
Wasabi

Ponzu

You've got a craving for tuna. Which form of tuna sushi will you enjoy?

Yellowtail

Albacore
Toro (fatty tuna)

Bluefin

Will you have teriyaki with your sushi meal?

Definitely!

Nah… there's so much sugar in teriyaki sauce.
I love Korean short ribs.

No. If I want teriyaki, I'll go to a teriyaki restaurant.

What's your favorite nigiri?

Crab

Bay scallops
Lobster

Black cod

Your best friend wants to order a California roll. What is your response?

"Let's go for it!"

"Lol, no."
"Only if it's deep-fried."

"Um, no thank you."

Which sushi side dish do you HAVE to order?

Miso soup

Seaweed salad
Spring rolls

Sunomono salad

When it comes to hand rolls, what makes you happy?

Real crab California hand roll

Blue crab hand roll
Spicy shrimp hand roll

Salmon skin hand roll

Do you like poke?

Poke? You mean, poking people?

There's no better lunch than a poke bowl.
I've seen it on menus, but it looks like a messier version of sushi.

I used to like poke, but now it's too trendy!

How likely are you to get the chef's special?

Might order it, might not.

I trust the chef. Sushi chefs train for years!
I know what I like, and I don't care what's on special.

If it's on special, it's probably very good.

You decide to order a wacky sushi roll, just for fun. Which one do you get?

Philadelphia roll

Crunchy tuna roll
Mango Tango roll

Dynamite roll

How do you feel about maki that includes roe (fish eggs)?

I don't trust roe's weird orange color.

Roe is great; it adds a salty finish to lots of types of sushi.
No thank you!

Are you talking about tobiko, ikura or masago roe?

The chef recommends the octopus. Do you order it?

No, it's creepy looking.

No. I trust the chef, but octopuses are very intelligent creatures. I can't just eat one!
Depends on whether I'm in an adventurous mood.

Yes. I can't wait to try it.

Have you ever bought sushi from your local grocery store?

Yes. It's pretty good!

Once or twice. It's not very high quality, but it's a relatively healthy quick meal.
Um, from Winn-Dixie? I don't trust Winn-Dixie sushi.

No. Sushi needs to be eaten fresh.

Would you be willing to try a roll that's made with barbecue beef and hot sauce?

Could be good!

I'd try it, but it sounds like a waste of sushi rice.
Sounds delectable.

That… is the opposite of sushi.

What's your take on raw oysters? Are you disappointed when sushi restaurants don't offer them?

Haha, no. Oysters are gross.

I adore raw oysters but can't always get good ones locally.
I'll take my oysters fried and in a po' boy, please.

I'm lucky enough to live in a place where the oysters are very fresh, so I really dig them.

Have you ever ordered a Boston roll?

Love Boston rolls. They're made from cooked shrimp, avocado and cucumber, right?

What the heck is a Boston roll?
I don't know what that is. Is it good?

I know what they are but would never order a roll that was made from cooked fish.

Do you think sushi is appropriate food for kids?

No way. My kids would never eat sushi!

Yes. Sushi is extremely healthy.
Ha! I was raised on mac and cheese and my kids will be too.

My kids like sushi, but it's so expensive that I rarely take them out for it.

Which dessert will you order to finish off your sushi dinner?

Green tea ice cream

Mochi ice cream
Any dessert I want! Pie, soft serve, whatever.

Anmitsu

5 Minute Quiz 5 Min

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