Food Facts

Sushi Rice Bowls – What’s the Difference?

Chirashi, Bara, Kaisendon, Poke, and even Hoedeopbap.

While sashimi, nigiri, and sushi rolls are the most known representations of sushi, there are also the sushi rice bowls. But, it is good to know the differences between each one:

Sushi Rice Bowls: Chirashi, Bara Sushi, Kaisendon, Poke Bowls, and Hoedeopbap

Chirashi

Chirashi has origins in the Edo period when sushi popularized in Tokyo. The rice bowl consists of vinegar seasoned sushi rice topped with slices of sashimi, or raw seafood. You can typically find this in sushi restaurants not only in Japan but around the world.

Bara Sushi, or Bara Chirashi

Bara sushi is essentially chirashi but the main difference is that the sliced sashimi is cut into smaller pieces like small cubes. Typically it is a variety of seafood chunks on top of the seasoned sushi rice.

Kaisendon

“Kaisen” meaning seafood and “don” from donburi meaning rice bowl. This seafood rice bowl has recent origins in Hokkaido where the bowls are still so popular. It has been said that hungry fishermen created the bowl to enjoy the fresh catch of fish over rice in the mornings.

Kaisendon differentiates itself from chirashi in that the rice is plain, steamed white rice as opposed to vinegar seasoned sushi rice.

Poke Bowls

Poke bowls can either be an authentic Hawaiian poke with rice, or the mainland varieties loaded with sauces and other toppings. The newer type of poke can be served over plain white rice, brown rice, salad, or even tortilla chips.

Hoedeopbap

This Korean sashimi rice bowl looks like a Japanese sushi bowl with fresh vegetables but it becomes Korean using cho gochujang, a sweet vinegared gochujang sauce that’s as common as ketchup in the western world.