How Many Sushi Rolls Per Person?
Sushi is one of my favorite foods to share with friends. There is so much variety and when you have a group of people you can order many types of rolls to try out, so you don’t feel like you’re limited in your selections.
When it comes to ordering sushi for a group, you might be curious how to figure out how many rolls you should include for each person.
Many sites will recommend ordering two rolls per person, but in my experience, that isn’t close to enough to satisfy everyone.
So, how many sushi rolls should you order per person? Generally, when you’re ordering sushi for a group you want to order at least 3 rolls per person. It’s always better to have a little more than not enough.
However, the answer can be a little more complex because it depends on the size of the roll, the appetite of the people you’re with, whether you order any sides or other dishes, and how many people are in your group.
Keep reading to learn about the delicious types of sushi to try and for our guide on how to choose the right amount of sushi rolls for your next sushi feast!
Types Of Sushi
The first few things we should go over are the different types of sushi you are likely to see at your typical sushi restaurant on the menu.
Though you may equate sushi with the classic California roll found across the United States, there are other types that should definitely be part of your order.
Since a great sushi experience is enhanced by the variety of rolls and types you have, let’s take a deeper look so you can decide which ones you want to include.
1. Nigiri
I find that no sushi experience is complete without at least a couple of nigiri.
This type of sushi is a one or two-bite experience made from a piece of fresh fish, Tamago (sweet egg omelet and my FAVE!), or other seafood laid over a small piece of seasoned rice and sometimes tied with a piece of nori.
Nori is the seaweed found in most sushi rolls and may sometimes be used in nigiri, but often it is a clean, crisp combination of seafood or fresh fish with that perfect stick, seasoned rice.
These one-bite delicacies give you an opportunity to try lots of types of sushi without committing to an entire roll.
Typically, each order of nigiri comes with 2 pieces, so it’s a great choice to share a few with a friend and you’ll each get 1 piece.
I’ll go into more detail below, but if I’m ordering for a group, I’ll usually get enough nigiri for everyone to have at least 2 pieces.
You’ll want to check with your crew to see if they want more or less before ordering, but it’s a fun little option that changes it up from the regular roll.
Some of my favorite nigiri include:
- Scallop
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Tamago
- Shrimp
- Mackerel
- Eel
2. Sashimi
The next type of sushi is called sashimi and this style is basically the thinly sliced fresh fish or seafood that you would find on nigiri, only it doesn’t come with rice.
This style is usually made from the premium cuts of raw fish and is a decadent addition to your sushi platter.
Often these slices of fish and seafood will be served with raw daikon radish, soy sauce, ginger, and wasabi, though you can also enjoy them plain to soak in the decadence of the high-quality fish and seafood.
Again, I’ll go into more detail below, but depending on the preferences of my group it’s nice to give everyone the opportunity to try at least one piece of sashimi, so keep that in mind as you’re placing your order.
3. Pressed Sushi Or Oshizushi
Often found at more upscale sushi restaurants, I still wanted to add oshizushi to the list because if you can find it, this style is worth adding to your order.
It is made by layering sticky sushi rice with toppings, fresh fish, or seafood in a wooden mold.
It is then pressed into shape, removed from the mold, and cut into squares or rectangles before serving. It’s doesn’t always include nori seaweed since it is held together by being pressed into the mold.
This style can be a little more expensive and the “rolls” can be larger.
I will usually order enough for everyone to have one or two pieces since it’s such a special experience. If you’re ordering several types, it’s always thoughtful to ensure everyone can at least try one piece of each flavor.
4. Hand Rolls Or Temaki
Not every sushi restaurant will sell hand rolls, but they are a fun and unique way to get that sushi experience in a roll that’s different than your typical maki style.
I love them because you get a great nori flavor, and they’re really easy to dip and eat.
These hand rolls are made by adding a dollop of rice to a smaller square of nori, adding some seafood and other fillings, and then are rolled up to make a little cone that you can fit into one hand.
They’re easy to dip and you can get all kinds of great flavors.
I like to include at least one or two hand rolls per person on my sushi order. Since you don’t share them, everyone can pick the type that seems most enticing to their taste buds to try.
5. Standard Sushi Roll Or Uramaki
Finally, maki rolls are the style that most folks are going to be familiar with since they are found at virtually every sushi restaurant in the Western world.
They can be as simple as a piece of cucumber wrapped in rice and nori or as complex as a specialty roll packed with crispy bits, fresh fish, and spicy mayo.
Maki rolls are generally made of three standard components plus any other flavors or additions that the restaurant uses to make them stand out. Each maki roll will typically contain:
- Seasoned sushi rice
- Nori seaweed paper
- A piece of fresh fish, seafood, or vegetable (or a combination of the three)
You can also have sushi rolls that contain other flavors and seasonings such as:
- Spicy mayo
- Cream cheese
- Fish roe (eggs)
- Green onions
- Tempura bits
There are many other things that may be present in American-style sushi rolls too, which can make them bigger and bigger! Often the sushi will be either wrapped in nori or have the rice wrapped on the outside of the nori.
When it comes to figuring out how many maki sushi rolls you should order per person, it can get a little more complex since the size of the rolls comes into play.
I know when I’m hungry I can put away 3 or 4 rolls of smaller, simpler maki rolls all to myself pretty easily.
Below I’ll go into more detail on how many sushi rolls to order per person.
How Many Sushi Rolls Per Person?
If you are planning on ordering sushi for several people there are some general rules you can follow. Keep in mind that some folks may have larger or small appetites than others.
You will also often be given a bowl of miso soup to start your meal, but since this is such a light dish I don’t find it impacts how much sushi you should order for your table or group.
Typically, a standard order size per person is going to be about two or three average-sized rolls. However, some rolls are much larger and much more filling than other types so I will break it down a little more below.
I also like to include some variety of styles, so if you want to incorporate the other types of sushi I listed above you typically want:
- 1 handroll each
- 1 nigiri each
- 1 sashimi each
For A Group Of 2 People
If you’re ordering for a group of 2 people and you want a nice selection to sample I would suggest breaking it down as follows:
- 1 large roll with lots of toppings: this style includes a large fried roll, specialty rolls, or anything that is larger than a standard California roll.
- 2 regular rolls: these rolls include your classic spicy tuna, veggie, or California rolls and other similar styles.
- 1 order of nigiri: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorite to share.
- 1 hand roll each: you can choose the flavor/style you each prefer since this won’t be shared
- 1 order of sashimi: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorite high-quality fish to share.
If you have larger appetites, then you can add another large roll or a couple of smaller rolls to your order.
For A Group Of 4 People
If you’re ordering for a group of 4 people the following menu will give you a nice selection of styles and rolls to try. Remember that this is just a suggestion. If you have folks with bigger or smaller appetites you may need to adjust it slightly.
- 2 large rolls with lots of toppings: this style includes a large fried roll, specialty rolls, or anything that is larger than a standard California roll. Each person will get about 1/2 a large roll or a 1/4 of each style.
- 4 regular rolls: these rolls include your classic spicy tuna, veggie, or California rolls and other similar styles. Some styles may be a little smaller (cucumber maki) so you may need to add an extra roll if that is one of your choices.
- 2 orders of nigiri: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorites to share as a group.
- 1 hand roll each: you can choose the flavor/style you each prefer since this won’t be shared
- 2 orders of sashimi: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorite high-quality fish to share. If you have different preferences you can get two types.
If you have larger appetites, then you can add another large roll plus a small roll or some more nigiri to round everything out.
For A Group Of 6 People
If you’re ordering for a group of 6 people you can order a sample menu like this. For larger groups, I always like to err on the side of caution and order a little extra.
You can always take leftovers home, but you don’t want anyone feeling left out or still hungry.
- 3 large rolls with lots of toppings: this style includes a large fried roll, specialty rolls, or anything that is larger than a standard California roll. You want to aim to give everyone about half of a large roll. They are typically a lot more filling than a regular-sized roll.
- 6 regular rolls: these rolls include your classic spicy tuna, veggie, or California rolls and other similar styles. Some styles may be a little smaller (cucumber maki) so you may need to add an extra roll if that is one of your choices.
- 3 orders of nigiri: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorites to share as a group. Feel free to mix it up. If you can’t decide on styles to share, you can always bump it up to one order of nigiri per person since they’re only two pieces each.
- 1 hand roll each: you can choose the flavor/style you each prefer since this won’t be shared
- 3 orders of sashimi: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorite high-quality fish to share. With a larger group, there is likely to be a broader range of preferences, so you have a chance to order 3 different styles here if you like.
You may want to add some seaweed salad or other little appetizers on the side for a larger group. If you know some of the people attending can throw back the sushi like a pro, add an extra roll or two just to be safe.
For A Group Of 8 People
If you’re ordering for a group of 8 people, you can order a sample menu like the one below.
- 4 large rolls with lots of toppings: this style includes a large fried roll, specialty rolls, or anything that is larger than a standard California roll. You want to aim to give everyone about half of a large roll.
- 8 regular rolls: these rolls include your classic salmon, veggie, or California rolls and other similar rolls. Some rolls may be smaller (cucumber maki) so maybe add an extra roll if that is one of your choices.
- 4 orders of nigiri: this style typically comes with two pieces, so you can choose a nice selection to sample with 8 people. Don’t be afraid to order 1 order of nigiri for each person if you have big appetites since they’re only 2 pieces.
- 1 hand roll each: you can choose the flavor/style you each prefer since this won’t be shared.
- 4 orders of sashimi: this style typically comes with two pieces, so choose your favorite high-quality fish to share. Again, you can get creative and try a few different flavors with a larger group.
With a larger group of 8 people, it can be nice to add some appetizers such as seaweed salad, carrot salad, or other little side dishes to round out the meal.
