Donshari

Donshari is specialist jargon used in sushi restaurants for plain white rice rather than the seasoned rice normally used for sushi. The term was coined to avoid misunderstandings when taking orders. Shari refers to “bone remains” and comes from Buddhism, where it denotes the remains of Buddha’s bones. The don part of the term is most commonly traced to its use for the rice served in donburi dishes. In sushi restaurants, these rice dishes are often topped with raw sushi ingredients, which makes the temperature of the rice important in bringing out those ingredients at their best. The rice should be less sticky, have a moderate texture, and break apart easily in the mouth.