Best Sushi Making Classes Near Me: Find In-Person & Virtual Training

Learn More About Sushi Making Courses

What is Sushi Making?

One of the most recognizable and beloved foods of the Western world today, sushi is a delicate and flavorful Japanese dish featuring sweet vinegar rice often—but not always—wrapped in thin sheets of seaweed known as nori and filled and topped with a variety of ingredients. Raw fish is one of the most common sushi-filling, though cooked seafood, vegetables, and flavorful sauces are also integral to many rolls. With the ubiquitousness of sushi in the U.S., Canada, and many other parts of the world, it’s easy to forget that the colorful rolls only first made their way out of Japan and into restaurants in California in the 1970s. From its humble beginning centuries ago as the term used for salted rice used in the fish fermentation process, sushi evolved first to freshly vinegared rice, which first obtained its topping of raw fish in the 1820s. This first nigiri-sushi is commonly considered the invention of modern sushi, with its hand-pressed shapes strongly resembling what is seen on conveyer belts and the tables of Japanese restaurants today.

The popularity of sushi continues to surge in the U.S. and many other countries around the world, with IBIS World reporting an average growth rate for the American sushi restaurant market size of 5.2% between 2018 and 2023. Many aspire to learn the art of sushi making so they can make the delicacy at home to save money and enjoy it whenever they wish. Still, others plan to launch a highly rewarding career as a sushi chef in the booming sushi restaurant industry. With its dauntingly extensive menu of different roll types and the complexity of the assembly and rolling process, sushi has a well-earned reputation for being difficult to make. In fact, sushi chefs—known in Japanese as itamae—famously train for an average of ten years, with as many as three devoted to learning how to prepare the rice alone. However, learning sushi-making in the U.S. takes considerably less time, and many casual learners enjoy social BYOB classes to master the art of making simple, homemade rolls in a two-hour event that doubles as a date night.

Why Learn Sushi Making?

Whether a person wants to learn how to make sushi for personal or professional reasons, they’ll find participating in a sushi-making class and learning the skill offers numerous benefits.

Personal Benefits of Learning Sushi Making

Bond with Loved Ones: Sushi making is by nature a fun, communal activity, so many casual classes are designed as BYOB social events that can function as date nights or places to make new friends. Meanwhile, home sushi chefs can continue to bond with loved ones over the years as they create memorable dining experiences for their families and friends.
Cook Healthier, Cost-Effective Meals: While not every roll is the pinnacle of healthiness, sushi often features fresh, nutritious ingredients like fish, vegetables, and rice. Sushi-making skills allow an individual to make nourishing meals at a fraction of the cost of dining out at sushi restaurants.
Enjoy Culinary Creativity: Sushi-making skills allow chefs—professional and home alike—to get creative in the kitchen. From experimenting with different types of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi to trying out various ingredient combinations, sushi-making encourages culinary innovation and expression.
Deepen Cultural Connections: For those interested in honoring their Japanese heritage or learning more about Japan's culture, learning sushi making can deepen cultural connections and appreciation. Attending a sushi-making class gives learners insight into traditional Japanese culinary practices and the importance of seasonality and presentation in Japanese cuisine.

Professional Benefits of Learning Sushi Making

Develop Marketable Skills: Sushi making is a highly regarded skill in the culinary world. Aspiring chefs can enhance their resumes by mastering sushi techniques, which are in-demand in many restaurants globally.
Create a Professional Network: Sushi-making classes often provide opportunities to connect with fellow culinary enthusiasts and professionals. These connections can lead to valuable networking opportunities within the restaurant industry.
Career Opportunities: Skilled sushi chefs are in high demand today as restaurants around the world try to keep up with sushi’s growing popularity. Learning sushi-making can open doors to various career paths such as becoming a sushi chef or instructor or even starting a sushi catering business.
Build Potential for Entrepreneurship: The skills acquired from sushi-making classes can be the foundation for entrepreneurial ventures such as opening a sushi restaurant or offering sushi-making workshops. Understanding the intricacies of sushi preparation and presentation can be a significant advantage in the food industry.

Learning to make sushi also helps students foster an appreciation for quality ingredients, hone their palates, and deepen their understanding of flavor balancing and presentation techniques. Those who master sushi making can transfer these skills to any area of cooking and baking, making them more well-rounded home or professional chefs.

What You’ll Learn in a Sushi Making Class?

Sushi-making classes fall into two broad categories: casual and professional. The approach and depth of the two are remarkably different, but the topics covered by both are more or less the same. Some professional sushi-making classes will include additional subjects that don’t pertain to the casual learner such as food safety in a professional kitchen and entrepreneurial skills for those planning to open a sushi restaurant. Professional classes will also usually go into considerably more detail when it comes to theoretical and historical topics, including Japanese culinary traditions and the cultural significance of sushi. However, the vast majority of pizza-making classes will cover the essential technical skills of preparing sushi from scratch, including cooking rice, selecting and cutting fish, and rolling techniques.

Sourcing and Preparing Ingredients

Fresh fish, crispy nori, high-quality roe—these and other colorful and flavorful ingredients are a must for creating sushi rolls as beautiful as they are delicious. Some sushi-making classes provide instruction in creating sushi vinegar, wasabi, and other condiments, while others train students to properly select and prepare fish and vegetables.

Ingredient Sourcing: Live sushi-making classes often cover the skills of sourcing and proper handling of sushi-grade fish, which is essential for creating safe, high-quality sushi. Instructors may also guide students on where to find authentic Japanese ingredients like nori, wasabi root, and specialty vinegars, which can be challenging to source outside of Japan but are essential for creating authentic sushi flavors.
Classic vs. Innovative: Most classes feature specific sushi recipes that guide students in making classic recipes like California Rolls or creative ones featuring unique fusions with Mediterranean ingredients or Mexican flavors. However, other sushi-making courses encourage students to experiment with creating their own ingredient combinations, while comprehensive classes will provide students with guidance in both traditional and innovative recipes.
Flavor Pairing: Understanding how different ingredients complement each other is an essential sushi-making skill. Students learn about the flavor profiles of fish, vegetables, seaweed, and condiments and how to balance them to create both traditional and unexpected combinations.

Cooking Sushi Rice

The first foundational skill most sushi-making classes cover is rice preparation. This may include discussions of rice qualities and the science of starch and vinegar absorption. Students will learn the intricacies of washing, cooking, and seasoning rice to create the ideal sushi base. While sushi chef training in Japan famously begins with two to three years of learning how to cook the perfect rice, home chefs and aspiring American professionals can learn enough to get started creating their own sushi rice from scratch and achieving the ideal balance of vinegar flavor in a two-hour or three-hour class.

Washing: This process is essential for removing impurities and excess starch to create the desired texture in the cooked rice. A live instructor will help students understand the cues that indicate when the rice is properly washed.
Cooking: Sushi-making classes teach students how to cook rice to the perfect consistency using various tools such as a stovetop or rice cooker. Students learn to adjust cooking times and water ratios based on the specific type of rice and the quantity being prepared, ensuring the ideal texture and stickiness for sushi.
Seasoning: Live sushi-making classes help students develop the skills to create perfectly seasoned sushi rice. Learners practice adding and mixing sushi vinegar, ensuring even distribution while avoiding overworking the rice grains.

Assembling and Rolling Techniques

Another essential skill students will learn in sushi-making classes is the art of assembling and rolling sushi to perfection. Students work with various ingredients and techniques to ensure their sushi rolls are both visually appealing and delicious every time.

Roll Types: Sushi-making classes introduce students to different types of rolls, from basic maki to more complex uramaki and temaki styles.

Rolling Technique: Learners master the art of rolling sushi, discovering through hands-on instruction how to apply just the right amount of pressure to create compact, well-formed rolls.

Ingredient Balance: Students learn to carefully balance the proportions of rice, nori, fish, and other fillings to create harmonious flavors and textures in each piece of sushi.

Soft Skills

Beyond the technical aspects, sushi-making classes also foster the development of several soft skills. These skills are invaluable in professional settings but can also contribute to personal growth, as well.

Teamwork: Many classes involve group activities, where students collaborate with their peers to create a variety of sushi rolls. This fosters a sense of teamwork and cooperation, both essential skills in any kitchen environment.

Communication: Strong communication skills are crucial in culinary work, whether at home or in a professional kitchen. Sushi-making classes often help students learn how to articulate their thoughts, ideas, and needs clearly.

Problem-Solving: Sushi making can present challenges such as rice of the wrong consistency, imbalance flavors, or rolls that fall apart when cut. Live classes teach students how to troubleshoot these and other issues, developing their problem-solving abilities for the workplace as well as their daily lives.

How Long Will It Take to Learn Sushi Making?

An individual’s goals and their definition of “learning sushi making” are significant factors in the length of time it will take them to learn sushi making. Casual learners who simply want to know how to throw together a California Roll for a weeknight meal can probably reach their goals in one two-hour or three-hour class, though they will refine their skills through practice over the years. On the other hand, those who are determined to learn the skills they need to launch a new career as a sushi chef will need to devote a significantly longer time period to their training—typically between one and two years of training to qualify for an entry-level position at a reputable restaurant—to learn sushi making to their desired level. Naturally, those wishing to learn sushi making to a professional level will want to enroll in comprehensive or advanced classes that look very different from introductory courses for casual learners, which often double as fun, relaxed activities suitable for date nights and making memories with friends.

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Sushi Making Class?

Hands-On Learning with a Live Expert Instructor

Practical Experience: Live sushi-making classes offer students the chance to work in professional kitchen classrooms, cooking rice, cutting fish, and preparing other ingredients before assembling and rolling their final product. This hands-on learning experience is made even more invaluable by having a live expert instructor by the students’ side to walk them through recipes and techniques and answer questions as they arise.
Real-Time Guidance: The real-time guidance and feedback of an experienced chef is a must when learning something as nuanced and sensory as sushi-making. Understanding concepts like the ideal texture of sushi rice, how to judge the freshness of fish, and how to achieve the right balance of flavors and textures in a roll can be challenging when learning independently but quickly grasped with an instructor able to guide students through these processes.
Structured Learning: Live sushi-making classes follow proven curricula created by experienced chefs. These curricula, a set schedule, and skilled instructors create a structured learning experience that ensures students master theoretical knowledge and practical skills of sushi-making, avoiding unnecessary knowledge gaps while keeping students focused.

Fun, Memorable Experiences to Share with Others

Unique Date Nights: Many sushi-making classes are BYOB and provide other features that make them ideal date night experiences. Couples interested in learning to make sushi or simply trying new things together can make fun memories and get to know each other in a new environment while learning practical skills they can use to make sushi at home.
Make New Friends: Learning how to make basic homemade sushi on one’s own is doable at home, but taking a casual sushi-making class turns the activity into a social event. Many form strong friendships in sushi-making classes, where students can bond over shared interests and passions.
Professional Connections: Sushi-making classes can be invaluable networking opportunities for aspiring sushi chefs and restaurant owners. While building professional relationships with peers, students also have the opportunity to create connections with their experienced chef instructors who can turn into access to job opportunities.

An Investment in Career and Personal Growth

Access to Resources: Live in-person sushi-making classes are typically held in professional kitchen classrooms or restaurant kitchens, allowing students access to state-of-the-art equipment. While basic pizza can be made with supplies found in most home kitchens, professional kitchen classrooms are equipped with specialized sushi-grade knives, bamboo rolling mats, and other equipment, from rice cookers to professional-grade fish slicers.
Professional Opportunities: In addition to helping aspiring sushi chefs build the skill set they need to meet their career goals, live sushi-making classes offer educational experiences that can be listed on resumes to showcase students’ commitment to their professional growth. They also sometimes award certificates that verify the learners’ skills and dedication to excellence in sushi making.
Lifelong Culinary Skills: Taking a sushi-making class equips individuals with practical skills they can use for the rest of their lives. Even a fun, social BYOB class helps students learn how to create delicious, nourishing sushi from scratch that they can make for themselves, their families, and their friends, bringing joy and building connection through the shared experience of cooking and dining together.

Best Sushi Making Classes

CocuSocial Cooking Classes’ Make Your Own Sushi

CocuSocial Cooking Classes offers a variety of relaxed cooking classes throughout the U.S. that double as unique social events perfect for date nights, making friends, or simply getting out of the house and trying something new. Make Your Own Sushi is a two-hour class led by an expert chef at Brownsville Community Culinary Center in Brooklyn, New York. This beginner-friendly sushi-making class is open to anyone ages 21 and up looking for an opportunity to learn how to make sushi rolls at home, from preparing the rice to assembling California Rolls and Salmon Rolls. The expert chef instructor also demonstrates the process of creating a Veggie Hand Roll and covers how to select sushi-grade fish for homemade rolls. Students are encouraged to purchase beer on-site to enjoy with their own sushi at the end of class.

Taste Buds Kitchen’s Sushi & Dumplings (BYOB)

Taste Buds Kitchen is a Manhattan-based cooking school for all ages. Their Sushi & Dumplings (BYOB) class is offered in their kitchen classroom for all experience levels ages 18 and up. This fun, social two-hour event makes a great date night or outing with friends while teaching students the basics of sushi and dumpling making. The dairy-free menu features California & Veggie Sushi Rolls, Veggie Dumplings, and Honey Soy Dipping Sauce. Friendly chef instructors will lead students through these recipes while they sip on their own wine or beer—glasses and openers are provided.

Abigail’s Kitchen’s Sushi Basics

Abigail’s Kitchen provides unique cooking classes in a working restaurant kitchen at their location in Greenwich Village. Ages 21 and up are welcome to this class that teaches beginners to create sushi rolls with a variety of fresh ingredients. This relaxed, fun class is perfect for groups of family and friends as well as for couples. Students will learn where to source the necessary ingredients and equipment and how to assemble their rolls. The menu focuses on norimaki, including uramaki, temaki, and gunkan maki using tuna, salmon, fish roe, and vegetables.

Home Cooking New York’s Sushi + Dumpling Workshop for Kids

Home Cooking New York provides a Sushi + Dumpling Workshop for Kids in their culinary studio in Manhattan. Ages 10 to 17 are welcome in this beginner-friendly class that runs two hours and thirty minutes. Experienced chef instructors lead students through recipes for Assorted Nori Maki and Vegetable and Pork-Cabbage Gyoza. After making this menu following the demonstration-style instruction, the small class will sit down to enjoy their sushi and dumplings as a meal together. Students will receive a complete recipe packet to take home so they can recreate their sushi and dumplings in their home kitchen.

The Chopping Block Lincoln Square’s Hands-On Next-Level Sushi Workshop

A leading Chicago cooking school, The Chopping Block Lincoln Square offers a Hands-On Next-Level Sushi Workshop in their kitchen classroom. The class runs two hours and thirty minutes and is suitable for all experience levels 18 and older. Students will work in small groups as an expert chef instructor leads students through all of the recipes on the menu featuring Rainbow Roll with Salmon, Tuna, and Hamachi; Caterpillar Roll with Eel and Avocado; and Spicy Hand Roll (Temaki). Some of the skills participants will learn include making and seasoning sushi rice, selecting and cutting fish, and assembling maki rolls. Instructors will also provide guidance on plating techniques, using a bamboo rolling mat, and prepare them to work with additional Japanese ingredients they may wish to use in the rolls they make at home with their new skills.

CocuSocial Cooking Classes’ Intro to the Art of Sushi

Los Angeles-based students can learn how to craft their own homemade sushi in a fun, relaxed atmosphere in CocuSocial Cooking Classes’ Intro to the Art of Sushi. Hosted at Green Haus Kitchen Studio in LA’s Fashion Studio, this course is ideal for couples, families, friends, and other groups looking for a memorable night out. A professional sushi chef will teach participants how to prepare sushi rice, source their ingredients, and roll their sushi. Everyone will make three different rolls, including Spicy Tuna, California Roll, and Chef’s “Catch of the Day.” Drinks are available on-site for students to enjoy with their sushi.

Live Online Sushi Making Classes

Live online sushi-making classes allow individuals, families, and friends to learn how to make sushi from the comfort of their own kitchens. While YouTube videos and on-demand classes can guide learners through the basics, live online courses can turn learning recipes and techniques into exciting, memorable date nights or parties with friends.

These classes allow learners to work with the equipment and appliances they already own and know well as they interact with a live expert chef instructor. Being able to ask questions and receive feedback in real-time allows students to avoid common pitfalls and navigate the challenges unique to sushi making, including many that are highly sensory and easily understood with the help of an experienced mentor. Cooking rice to perfection, sourcing and handling sushi-grade fish, and the intricate art of assembling and rolling sushi are aspects of the art of making the classic Japanese dish that can be challenging to master on one’s own. However, learning these and other skills involved in sushi making becomes a fun, memorable evening with a live instructor and possibly a date, family member, or a few friends.

In fact, learning to make sushi is such a fun experience that it lends itself well to both in-person and online group classes. The Chopping Block Lincoln Square and other cooking schools offer virtual group sushi-making courses through CourseHorse. Live online classes like Virtual Sushi Making Workshop (Kit Included) allow up to 500 team members to meet over a teleconferencing classroom with a live expert instructor who will guide them through making rice, preparing sushi-grade fish and other ingredients, and assembling them. This creative, sensory process is a popular way to strengthen corporate teams, build community, and relieve stress. Learners will also gain cooking skills they can use to nourish themselves, their families, and their friends for years to come. Those interested in live online sushi-making classes can watch for opportunities offered by The Chopping Block and other reputable schools using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool.

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CocuSocial Cooking Classes Hand-Rolled Sushi

Taste Buds Kitchen Sushi & Dumplings (BYOB)

CocuSocial Cooking Classes Make Your Own Sushi

The Chopping Block Lincoln Square Hands-On Sushi Workshop

Learn Sushi Making

Abigail's Kitchen Sushi Basics

Home Cooking New York Sushi + Dumpling Workshop for Kids

Learn More About Sushi Making Courses

What is Sushi Making?

Why Learn Sushi Making?

Personal Benefits of Learning Sushi Making

Professional Benefits of Learning Sushi Making

What You’ll Learn in a Sushi Making Class?

Sourcing and Preparing Ingredients

Cooking Sushi Rice

Assembling and Rolling Techniques

Soft Skills

How Long Will It Take to Learn Sushi Making?

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Sushi Making Class?

Hands-On Learning with a Live Expert Instructor

Fun, Memorable Experiences to Share with Others

An Investment in Career and Personal Growth

Best Sushi Making Classes

CocuSocial Cooking Classes’ Make Your Own Sushi

Taste Buds Kitchen’s Sushi & Dumplings (BYOB)

Abigail’s Kitchen’s Sushi Basics

Home Cooking New York’s Sushi + Dumpling Workshop for Kids

The Chopping Block Lincoln Square’s Hands-On Next-Level Sushi Workshop

CocuSocial Cooking Classes’ Intro to the Art of Sushi

Live Online Sushi Making Classes

Sushi Making Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Sushi Making Training Map & Top Locations

5 Courses Available in NYC

Sushi Making
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