Mushi Zushi (蒸し寿司)

When you think of sushi, you probably think of a dish with sashimi on top of a cold shari. However, in Kansai, there is a hot sushi called “mushi sushi”. In this article, we will introduce the detailed origin and history of steamed sushi, as well as how to easily make it at home and what to order. We also introduce methods that you can make it with easy materials, so please check it out below.

What is Mushi Zushi?

When you think of sushi, you probably think of a dish of cold rice topped with sashimi. However, in Kansai, there is a warm sushi with the name “mushi zushi”.
What kind of sushi is it?

Mushi Zushi is an unusual dish in which chirashi-zushi is served in a bowl and heated in a bamboo basket. The name Mushi Zushi comes from the fact that it is served steamed (Mushi), and the ingredients are usually sea eel, shrimp, and other ingredients that are delicious even when cooked. Sushi Zushi is a local delicacy commonly eaten in the Kansai region, mainly in Kyoto and Osaka prefectures. A few restaurants offer it only in winter.

The mushi zushi looks like chirashi-zushi in a steamer basket, but its feature is the careful preparation of even the vinegared rice. Some have hamo or conger eel mixed in with the sushi rice, while others have the sushi toppings steamed on top. Recommended for when the temperature gets cold!

History of Mushi Zushi

Sushi is a Japanese food culture that began with the purpose of preserving fish for a long time. The history of sushi dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), when people used to ferment fish with rice and salt to make “narezushi”. Eventually, in the 17th century, vinegar became available and people began to eat not only fish but also sushi rice, giving birth to”Bara zushi”.
Mushi Zushi was invented by Yoshimune in 1866 at Yossou, and was served on a tray with not only steamed rice, but also steamed sushi topped with steamed conger eel, fish, and fried egg (Bara Zushi).

Currently, it is a dish that you can find often during the cold winter months, and is not really popular outside of these months.

How to Cook Mushi Zushi?

Mushi Zushi Ingredient

Ingredient of Mushi Zushi Shimp Version for 4 people
Rice	450g
<Mixture of vinegar and some other flavouring>
Rice vinegar	60ml
Sugar	60g
Salt	10g
Dried shiitake mushrooms	6 pieces
Carrot	1/3 of a carrot
<Seasoning>
Sugar	1 and 1/2 tablespoons
Soy sauce	1 tablespoon
Hon Mirin	2 1/2 teaspoons
Sake	2 1/2 teaspoons
Dried shiitake mushroom stock	1/2 cup
Shrimp	4 shrimp
Poached egg(Kinshi Tamago)	2 eggs
Pea pods	As needed

Recipe of Mushi Zushi

Recommended Restaurant of Mushi Zushi

Ginza Yossou (銀座吉宗)

Ginza Yossou is a restaurant in Tokyo where you can enjoy excellent Mushi Zushi. This is a long-established restaurant that opened in Nagasaki in 1866, specializing in Muzhi Zushi and Chawanmushi.

Ginza Yossou’s signature dish is FuufuMushi, a perennial favorite that comes with a set of Sushi Zushi and Chawanmushi.
Ginza Yossou’s Mushi Zushi consists of slightly sweetened sushi rice topped with three colorful ingredients: grilled anago (eel), broiled egg, and shrimp oboro. The combination of the fluffy sushi rice, moderate sweetness, and the perfect combination of ingredients makes this Mushi Zushi very tasty.
The “Chawanmushi” (egg custard steamed in a bowl), with its harmony of ten ingredients of nine different kinds and the egg liquid with soup stock, is also an excellent choice.

Check they are offering Mushi Zushi before you go

Address: Ginza Nine 2 Goukan, 8-7 Ginza ,Chuou-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Phone Number: 03-3572-7686
Open Hour: Weekday 11:30 – 21:30, Weekend 11:00 – 20:30
Website: ginza-yossou.jp

Suehiro (末廣)

Suehiro is a sushi restaurant in Kyoto, founded in the Tempou era (1868-1912) in Teramachi Nijo, south of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
It was founded in the Tempou era as a stew vendor in Teramachi Nijo, south of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
For almost 200 years, Suehiro has been keeping the taste of Kyoto Sushi, which has been nurtured by the people of Kyoto.

Suehiro is a restaurant that serves traditional Kyoto-style sushi received approval by the Imperial Household Agency.

Suehiro have been keeping the taste of “Kyo-zushi” for about 200 years.　They offer a wide variety of sushi including “Saba-zushi”, “Hakozushi”, “Makizushi”, “Inari-zushi”, “Chirashi-zushi”.
They offer “Mushizushi in winter season only.

Suehiro’s Mushi Zushi is a beautiful dish with prawns, crab, starch, shiitake mushrooms, conger eel, plum bran, green peas, ginkgo nuts, quinoa pods, and broiled egg.
The sushi rice inside the Mushi Zushi is also full of ingredients, with chopped kikurage and conger eel coming out from inside. By steaming, the fat from the conger eel soaks into the sushi rice, giving it a richness that goes beyond the simple taste of sushi.

Address: 711 Houjimaecho, Teramachidoori nijyou, Chukyou-ku , Kyoto City
Phone Number: 075-231-1363
Open Hour: 11:00-19:00
Website: http://sushi-suehiro.jp/

Otoha (乙羽)

Otowa is a Kyoto sushi restaurant that was established in the middle of the Meiji era.
The store is located on Shinkyogoku-dori, an arcaded street lined with souvenir shops and restaurants.
It is a famous restaurant that is often featured on TV and in magazines, and during the winter months, there is often a line of people waiting to get their hands on the steamed sushi.

Otoha’s steamed sushi has a layer of boiled conger eel underneath a broiled egg.
This steamed sushi is steamed in a large steamer in front of the restaurant.
Kyoto people feel winter when they see the steam rising from the steamer.

Address: 711 Houjimaecho, Teramachidoori nijyou, Chukyou-ku , Kyoto City
Phone Number: 075-231-1363
Open Hour: 11:00-19:00
Website: http://sushi-suehiro.jp/

Naniwa Zushi (浪速寿司)

Naniwa Sushi, a long-established sushi restaurant established in 1887, is located in the Kyoten shopping district of Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture.
The restaurant’s traditional “steamed sushi,” which has been around since the first generation, is not only the signature product of the restaurant, but is also known as one of Matsue City’s representative specialties.

Naniwa Sushi’s Mushi Zushi has a variety of gorgeous ingredients such as grilled agonos, shigure-ni beef, eel, and shrimp. With the hot sushi rice, you can smell the appetizing aroma.

Address: 27 Tousacho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Phone Number: 0852-21-4540
Open Hour: Friday to Tuesday 10:00 – 14:10, 16:30 – 19:40

Conclusion

Sushi is often thought of as a cold food, but Mushi Zushi is a special kind of warm sushi eaten in winter. Mushi Zushi is a special kind of warm sushi that is eaten in winter.
Many restaurants only serve it in winter, but if you have a chance, I highly recommend trying it.

And of course, try some Edomae sushi!
You can find more information about Edomae Sushi here. Please take a look!