When you're seated at the Sushi Bar...

The hot towel (oshibori) given to you by the waitress is used to wipe your hands at the beginning of your visit to the sushi bar. You can use it during the meal to wipe your hands but a napkin will also be provided for you. Oh, and I feel the need to say this.... Do Not Blow Your Nose at the Sushi Bar! geeeeezzz!

How to order and from whom

You may order soup, drinks, appetizers and most non-sushi/sashimi menu items from your waitress. Basically, anything made in the kitchen is to be ordered from the waitress. Tea, sake, and beer are considered normal beverages when eating sushi. Do not order anything other than sashimi or sushi from your chef. It is considered impolite to do so.

All sushi bars have a sushi and sashimi menu that you fill out yourself. If you're not sure what to order, ask the chef for his recommendations. This gives the chef an opportunity to show off both his fish and his talents.

You may offer a beer or sake to your sushi chef, but he doesn't expect it. If you have a drink with him, he may toast you with Kampai! (To your health!)

Slurping your soup or Where's the spoon?

Soup is served hot. While eating miso soup (misoshiru) or clear broth (suimono), you may use your chopsticks to pick out the solid pieces and you can drink the soup as you would a cup of tea. Slurping (a slight sipping sound) is considered acceptable and holding the bowl of soup or rice up to your face so you don't spill is okay too.

The "Peas in a pod"

The "peas" that are a common appetizer at sushi bars are actually soy beans in the pod and are called edamame (ed ah mah may). They are served either cold or warm usually sprinkled with salt. To avoid "flying peas" try to put one end of the pod in your mouth as you gently "work" the peas out of the pod. Do not eat the pod...

Chopsticks - Do's and Don'ts

When not using your chopsticks, put them on a dish with the tips to the left. Or I have seen the paper wrapper from the chopsticks folded in such a way to make a chopstick holder! (something to do while waiting for sake....) Never stick them in your food or rice bowl. It is also considered bad manners to use your chopsticks to pull the dishes to you. You should always use your hands to accommodate your dish-pulling needs. Resist the temptation to sharpen your chopsticks by rubbing them together. Doing so implies to the chef that the chopsticks are cheap. You may discreetly pull any loose wood fibers off while hiding it in your lap. Then again, if there are loose wood fibers on the chopsticks, maybe you should let them know their chopsticks are cheap!

Did you know... Sticking your chopsticks upright into your food, especially your rice bowl, is the traditional way of offering rice to the dead? Do NOT do this! Another form of rude behavior is to grab your chopsticks in the palm of your hand as you would grab a stick. This is how a sword is handled. Also, Do not play with food and try to figure out what's inside. The Japanese are generally sensitive about this and you insult your chef or host by picking the food apart. The way in which the food is arranged and presented is equally as important as the food itself. I have found the chefs are happy to answer any questions I have asked.

Hands or Chopsticks?

It is okay to use your hands to eat sushi, but if you are going to serve someone, reverse your chopsticks and pass the food with the opposite ends. As with anything requiring coordination, learning to use chopsticks takes practice. Use chopsticks, not your fingers, while eating sashimi.

One Big Bite?

In Tokyo where the sushi is generally smaller in size, it is expected to be eaten in one bite. However, here in the US, we tend to cram more stuff in the sushi and therefore it's bigger. I would say eat it in one bite if you can, but it's acceptable to take more bites.

From-SushiSecrets.com