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If you are not conversant with eating sushi and you find yourself in a Japanese restaurant, you might get thrown off the loop looking at the sushi menu.
Which will you order?
There are 100s of sushi roll varieties, such as shrimp tempura roll, dragon roll, spicy salmon roll, California roll, spicy tuna roll, spider roll, etc., and you are just there scratching your head — lost in the abundance of both nasty and great sushi.
Pardon my language “nasty.” All sushi tastes good, just that if you are a shellfish allergy, you want to avoid Shrimp Killer Roll, so you don’t get murdered by it. Or, if you are a vegetarian, you don’t want to be misled into eating regular sushi.
There is even something for your kind, a veggie roll that contains various vegetables like avocado and cucumber. And we’ve included all of that in our collection of the most popular types of sushi rolls.
What are Sushi Rolls?
I know you’ve heard about sushi! Sushi!! Sushi!!! But what actually is sushi roll?
Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish prepared in a small roll of vinegar-flavored cold rice, with some salt and sugar, rife with various ingredients like seafood (often raw) and vegetables.
Most Popular Types of Sushi Rolls
10. Dynamite Roll

The first on our list is the Dynamite Roll.
This fearsome name came from the appearance that resembles the shape of a dynamite stick, thanks to the extended prawn tempura tail on one end.
And this Western-style sushi is usually appealing to customers — even though it is not that healthy.
Either it is cooked, served raw, or undercooked. But one thing is guaranteed, it tastes delicious.
The basic ingredients used to form the formidable meal are a piece of prawn tempura and masago, veggies such as radish sprouts, carrots, avocado chili, and Japanese mayonnaise.
9. Shrimp Killer Roll

Don’t worry. Nothing is killing anybody here. It is just a name.
Shrimp killer roll is one sushi that sits prevalently amongst the most popular types of sushi rolls.
It might not be as popular as others, but a bite will satisfy your taste bud, especially if you are a shrimp freak.
8. Philadelphia Roll

This Japanese-American fusion dish is a delicious appetizer that has wrecked many lives by making the broke.
It is easy to turn a junkie if it’s your time – like the first taste of Morphine that got you hooked.
They are one of that sushi that tricks you into thinking it’s more healthy because of the cucumber salad on the side.
However, if you are not a big fan of sushi plus cream cheese, I’d advise you to stay away from this Philly roll.
And as you know, cream cheese is high in saturated fats and cholesterol. And it is low in nutrients.
7. Rainbow Roll

The Rainbow Roll is a delightful choice — the most appealing and vibrant inside-out sushi you could eat.
People claim to find upliftment in eating this roll. I’m not surprised; the stunning colors affect our mood.
Speaking of colors, you can see yellowtail, boiled shrimp, tuna, and salmon. And on the top, there are various slice fish and avocado layers.
It is NOT expensive despite going the extra mile to make this roll appealing to the eyes. It only costs around $4 to $5 more than a normal California sushi roll.
6. Spider Roll

You recognized this one in an instant, didn’t you?
Everyone loves fried soft shell crab, which is why the Spider Roll is selling like hot cake.
If the California Roll had a hot elder brother, it would be the spider roll.
The Soft-shell crab, cucumber, sprouts, avocado, lettuce, or roe, with spicy mayo, is an unavoidable combination that has brought this sushi to the next level.
It has a nice crunch too and a mouth-watering crispness.
5. Spicy Tuna Roll

Of course, you can never go wrong with the addicting combo of tuna with some fiery.
This mouth-watering meal contains raw tuna and spicy mayo or sriracha dipping sauce that gives the roll its kick.
4. Spicy Salmon Roll

Don’t bite your fingers along with this juicy salmon roll.
This spicy salmon roll has infused even the most depressed soul with happiness.
It is unique in its little way. The Sriracha sauce seasoning sesame oil topped with spicy mayo makes it taste like magic.
3. California Roll

I vividly remembered how the California sushi took over the states. It is probably the most popular sushi on this list.
It is an inside-out sushi roll that has earned its place at the peak of sushi’s famous community.
You can comfortably eat this yummy without worrying about raw fish.
It is perfect for starters; it is pocket-friendly, tasty, and available everywhere.
The most common ingredients are imitation crab, cucumber, avocado, and toasted sesame seeds (Masago or tobiko). And there comes the green hot sauce finishing off the heat.
2. Dragon Roll

While this role might not be too healthy, eel lovers can’t live without this fancy roll. It is always their first to order from the menu.
Additionally, Dragon Roll is one of the most designer sushi — beautiful and tasty.
The sushi is also an inside-out roll that features shrimp Tempura, unagi, and avocado. It is stuffed with eel and cucumber with sliced avocado professionally placed to look like the scales of a dragon.
Its distinctive appearance has made it noticeable across the country.
1. Shrimp Tempura Roll

Shrimp Tempura roll is one sushi you at least have to try before you die.
This crunchy and savory sushi roll is placed on the top menu at all Japanese restaurants.
It is made with baked and battered Tempura shrimps, sushi rice, and tons of delicious fillings like Cucumber, Avocado, Nori (seaweed), and Tobiko (flying fish roe).
Shrimp Tempura roll has the most fans than any sushi roll, including the famous California roll.
One crunchy bite, and that’s it! You are hooked.
It just tastes soooo good!!!
Be warned!
This sushi might be a fun and delicious treat. But it is not always friendly to your wallet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Best Sushi Rolls?
The best we can do is to list them out. Then the rest is up to you because it all depends on your personal taste and preferences.
Although behind what you are filling for, most people consider the calorie count and other things.
But appearing on this list only, you are among the few at the forefront of eating the most delicious and healthiest sushi out of hundreds of other creative types.
Which Sushi Roll Is The Healthiest?
Generally, sushi is a very healthy meal.
It is a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids due to the fish it’s made with. On top of that, sushi is low in calories.
Here is the list of some of the healthiest sushi:
- Vegetarian/Veggie Roll: of course, you can NEVER go wrong with things like avocado, carrot, cucumber, onion, asparagus, mushroom, or tofu, right?
- Rainbow Roll: California roll topped with some fish (Tuna is usually a must). It’s protein-heavy and healthy fatty but still within limits.
- California Roll: it is a combination of rice, avocado, nori, cucumber, and imitation crab. They are healthy so long as you avoid the high-calorie mayonnaise dips.
Notice we didn’t mention the Philadelphia Roll, Shrimp Tempura, or Dragon Roll, even though they seem tempting.
That is because they are either made of cream cheese, sauces high in calories or went through deep-fry, which is not so healthy.
Which Sushi Rolls Are Cooked?
There is much-cooked sushi, and we included some on our lists, such as the California Roll, Dynamite Roll, Spider Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and Shrimp Killer Roll.
The sushi rolls with raw fish are the rainbow roll, Dragon Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Spicy Salmon Roll.
Is Sushi Good For Losing Weight?
Most sushi is said to be a weight-loss-friendly meal.
However, that depends on the type you are getting because many are made with fried tempura batter and high-fat sauces with significant calorie content.
On the bright side, thousands of athletes have seen case after case include sushi roll with veggies or fish without mayo or additional sauces in their weight-loss diet.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that there is no perfect ranking of the most popular sushi rolls. But how does it feel talking a closer look with me at each of these sushi rolls, though?
Do you feel a boost of confidence, or whatsoever?
Well, you should!
Our most popular sushi roll list was hand-picked after conducting mountains of research through testing and hearing public opinions. And I’m hoping it will help eliminate that threat of picking rogue sushi. So now it’s time to revisit that sushi restaurant with your shoulders up!
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