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If you’re wondering what to serve with your sashimi, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 13 of the most popular side dishes for sashimi.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes for sashimi include mayo wasabi and seaweed salad. You can also serve wonton crisps, gyoza dumplings, tamago, or crispy tempura. For a healthy accompaniment to sashimi, try serving them with a Japanese potato salad, Kani salad, or miso soup.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Authentic miso soup

When I think of Japanese food I think of two things.

Sushi and miso soup.

And luckily, sashimi and miso soup go really well together.

The umami-rich broth from the miso paste complements the delicate taste of the sashimi, but won’t overwhelm it.

And this authentic miso soup is much lighter than most other dishes, so it won’t fill you up too much.

Edamame

Edamame is probably the most classic dish you could have alongside sashimi.

And guess what? It’s ridiculously easy to make at home.

Just go to your nearest Asian grocery store and pick up steamable edamame.

Once you’ve done that, you’re only one microwave away from having this mouthwatering edamame recipe.

Psst… if you want to let out your wild side, I recommend adding in some ginger and chili sauce.

Seaweed salad

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Made from scratch with dried wakame, sesame seeds, and a simple dressing, this salad is healthy and flavorful.

You might be worried about the texture of seaweed, but when prepared correctly, this salad is soft instead of slimy.

Just follow through with Izzy’s step-by-step guide on rehydrating the wakame.

And if you’re having trouble finding seaweed, this sesame spinach salad is a good substitute.

Japanese potato salad

Sashimi is great on its own, but it’s even better when paired with Japanese potato salad.

Japanese potato salad is creamy and smooth, with just the right amount of tang from the Kewpie mayonnaise.

The texture of the potatoes is key, they should be soft enough to melt in your mouth but not so mushy that they fall apart.

It’s a delicate balance, but one that this Japanese potato salad gets just right.

Goma-ae

Goma-ae is a delicious side dish made from spinach and sesame seeds.

It’s healthy, easy to make, and it goes great with sushi. It’s crunchy texture contrasts beautifully with the soft, silky sashimi.

What more could you ask for?

Check out the recipe for Goma-ae here.

Gyoza dumplings

These delicious dumplings are perfect for any occasion.

You can enjoy them boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried – there’s no wrong way to eat these little bundles of joy.

Serve them with your choice of dipping sauce, but I recommend this traditional dumpling sauce (it goes great with sashimi too!)

Make a big batch of gyoza with this recipe and freeze them for future sushi nights.

Mayo wasabi

Sure, sashimi isn’t “technically” considered sushi because of the absence of rice.

But that doesn’t mean this dish can escape the hands of wasabi!

Wasabi is definitely an acquired taste and you might even be a bit scared of it.

If this sounds like you, wasabi mayo is perfect for you.

The mayo mellows out the wasabi, giving it a more gentle and mild flavor.

Wonton crisps

Sashimi is meant to be enjoyed simply, so you can enjoy its delicate flavors.

But it’s always nice to have some different textures in a meal, and that’s exactly what these wonton crisps provide.

You can dip them in your sauce and take a few bites between each sashimi, Or you can chop the sashimi up and place it on top of the crisp.

Both options will be delicious.

Kani salad with pickled ginger

This kani salad is a traditional Japanese side and really tasty!

Kani refers to crab sticks, which are the main ingredient in this salad, along with cucumber and pickled ginger.

The ginger provides a tangy flavor, while the cucumber keeps things refreshing.

It’s a pretty simple salad – but it’s not short on flavor and will look delicious next to your sashimi feast.

Get the recipe from Pups With Chopsticks.

Tamago

Fun fact: in Japan, the quality of a restaurant is often judged by the quality of its dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet).

The egg is cooked in a sweet soy and mirin sauce, then rolled into a dashi-flavored omelet.

It looks very similar to sashimi when served, just a vegetarian version.

The only downside to tamago is that it can be hard getting the shaping right, but rasamalaysia has a pretty good guide.

Pro tip: can’t find mirin, I’ve got loads of tried and tested mirin substitutes here.

Light crispy tempura

Tempura shrimp is crispy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside.

It’s ideal for serving as a side for sashimi if you want something slightly more filling.

The tempura batter isn’t too heavy, so it won’t overwhelm the fish. And this dipping sauce by Just One Cookbook? It’s divine.

Don’t feel limited by shrimp either, you can tempura pretty much any vegetable you want!

Psst… want more ideas on what to pair with tempura shrimp? I’ve got you covered.

Gochujang-glazed onigiri

If you want to continue the Asian flair after your sashimi, these Gochujang-glazed onigiri are the way to go.

Traditionally, onigiri is filled with pickled plum, salmon, or tuna.

But for these spicy onigiris, Poke The Dough uses a spicy teriyaki spam filling.

Psst… these also make for a great midnight snack if you have any leftovers.

Hot mustard sauce

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WARNING: you might become addicted to this hot mustard sauce.

This sweet-but-spicy sauce is incredibly moreish and perfect for adding a kick of heat to your sashimi.

But if you’re worried about the “hotness” level, don’t be!

You can always adjust it by using different types of peppers.

This mustard sauce also makes a great dressing for sashimi salad.

The best side dishes for sashimi

Authentic miso soup
Edamame
Seaweed salad
Japanese potato salad
Goma-ae
Gyoza dumplings
Mayo wasabi
Wonton crisps
Kani salad with pickled ginger
Tamago
Light crispy tempura
Gochujang-glazed onigiri
Hot mustard sauce