19 Sushi Side Dishes To Pair With Your Sushi Rolls

Dango is a type of Japanese dumpling made by combining rice flour and uruchi rice, creating a spongy and doughy texture that is fun and chewy.

Dango is typically flavored with matcha or strawberry powder, making it a lovely after-sushi snack akin to a dessert.

Edamame is one of the most popular side dishes you can order with sushi.

It’s a type of Japanese bean that is traditionally steamed in a pod and salted with sea salt.

To eat them you chew on the pod gently to release the bean inside, which will have a fresh seawater flavor.

Every time I order sushi, it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll be given a small side of pickled ginger.

The ginger can be a pale yellow or bright pink color depending on how it’s pickled.

It has a biting, sharp flavor and you eat it as a palate cleanser between sushi rolls. 

This crab salad is typically served as a sushi appetizer, but can also be enjoyed alongside your rolls.

The salad is creamy and has the sweet, salty flavor of imitation crab paired with classic Japanese spices that add some heat. 

Matcha ice cream is a Japanese dessert that many people enjoy after eating sushi.

Matcha is a type of green tea with a sweet, earthy flavor. When mixed into ice cream, it has a sweeter and creamier flavor that is delicious when served cold.

This recipe is easier than you think and worth a try if you’ve never had matcha!

Japanese rolled omelets are adorable and delicious, with a distinct eggy flavor and fluffy, bouncy texture.

You can make this tiny omelet at home with only three ingredients and enjoy that unique and fun texture.

It can be served alongside sushi or as an appetizer, but it’s traditionally a part of Japanese breakfast.

Miso soup is a super common sushi side of appetizer, as the warm soup can help get your belly ready for the delicious rolls.

The cloudy soup has a mild and pleasant miso flavor with small pieces of silky tofu and crunchy green onions.

It’s amazingly simple but highly comforting and warm.

Tempura refers to a type of frying that is common in Japanese cuisine.

The tempura batter is airy and crunchy for a delightful texture.

I often fry vegetables or shrimp in tempura batter, but some sushi rolls are battered and fried for an extra crunch!

This recipe shows you how to pickle vegetables in the traditional Japanese manner called Tsukemono, which is simple but sensational — I love it.

All you need is salt and water to pickle the vegetables, giving them a salty and fresh flavor perfect to pair with sushi rolls.

Japanese seaweed salad is something you can find at every sushi restaurant.

The seaweed is slimy with a decent bite to it, offering a unique and unforgettable texture.

It also has a remarkably fresh but salty flavor with ingredients like ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes.

Gyoza are Japanese dumplings made with thin wrappers and a meat or vegetable filling. These are some of my favorites.

The dumplings are typically pan-fried, giving them a golden brown color with a slight crunch accompanied by the chewy edges of the dumpling wrapper.

Then, the dumplings are steamed to create a soft texture and mouthwatering flavor.

This Japanese side is best served as an appetizer and offers many of the same flavors you get with traditional maki rolls.

The spicy tuna crispy rice appetizers are small rectangles of sushi rice with ahi tuna and a few other ingredients piled on top. They’re spicy but fresh and offer a lovely combination of textures.

Easily one of the most refreshing Japanese sides, this cucumber salad recipe is bright and light, with the sweet watery flavor of cucumbers and some warmth from the sesame seeds.

You can make this salad in just minutes with about five ingredients, so it makes for a delightful afternoon snack or small lunch.

I usually do it when I want to offer my guests something great that still leaves me time to prepare other dishes. 

Agedashi tofu comes as an appetizer at most sushi places and is positively delicious.

It’s a bowl with rich, sticky umami sauce with crispy fried tofu sitting in the sauce.

The flavor is bold and the texture is crunchy, making it an irresistible dish if you love that decadent umami flavor, similar to eel sauce!

This sushi side is a little more complex to make at home, but well worth the effort.

It’s a savory egg custard loaded with Japanese toppings that add texture and flavor.

It only takes 30 minutes, but takes some skill to achieve the silky smooth custard texture, but this recipe makes it easy!

Beef udon is a filling and hearty dish. It’s not typically served alongside sushi but as a substantial appetizer.

It features a warm, savory broth with fat, chewy udon noodles, all topped with tender sliced beer.

It’s bursting with umami flavor and is sure to warm your soul and belly. My family is in love with my beef udon — try it!

Who doesn’t love fried chicken? This Japanese-style fried chicken recipe is to die for, with a crunchy and crispy batter over juicy chicken.

Even if you love southern fried chicken, this recipe will convince you that Japanese fried chicken is just as good!

It’s a common street food in Japan and pairs well with sushi, offering a meatier flavor.

Katsudon is a rice bowl featuring pork cutlets, eggs, onions, and a robust sauce.

It’s a wonderful and healthy weekday lunch you can whip up in just 30 minutes. The pork cutlet is tender and breaded with a crunchy, salty crust that will delight your tastebuds.

With fluffy rice and sauteed veggies, it’s a yummy dish that can be a snack or meal!

These salted chicken wings are easy to make with only three ingredients.

This yummy finger food is easy to make and the result is crispy golden chicken wings that are still soft and juicy on the inside, so you get moist chicken along with a crunchy exterior.

They’re a popular sushi appetizer in America or street food in Japan.