Aussies stunned to realise common food 'isn't normal' anywhere else in the world

Yahoo

a day ago

When you're in a hurry and feeling peckish, grabbing some sushi is often the quickest way to satisfy your hunger while still eating something healthy. With most shopping centres, train stations and main streets equipped with a takeaway sushi restaurant, the Japanese delicacy has become the meal of choice for everyone from fussy toddlers to busy office workers.
Aside from being delicious, sushi is also a great to-go option thanks to the fact that you can eat it almost anywhere (and with just one hand) thanks to the way the rolls are made. But while we Aussies are no strangers to single, long rolls of seaweed wrapped goodness, a viral video has highlighted that the way we do sushi down under is not the norm.
Dietician En Min Saw recently took to TikTok to poke fun at herself for starting to think that "Australian sushi" was the rule, instead of the exception.
"How did I forget this wasn't normal?" Min quips in the clip, which has now been viewed more than 3 million times.
"After living here for two years, I see it every day and honestly never thought twice about it," Min tells Yahoo Lifestyle of Aussie sushi rolls. "But it recently hit me that this type of sushi isn't really common anywhere else in the world.
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She adds, "I had a feeling the video would gain some traction, because it was such a perspective-shifting realisation for me — I figured others would resonate with it too. But I didn't expect it to blow up as much as it did, reaching over 3 million views (so far!). My favourite comments are people asking what 'normal' sushi looks like and the really wholesome messages from people who say it's such a genius, convenient idea. I love it!"
Indeed, Min's video was positively flooded with comments from confused Aussies who had never realised (until now) that it's not at all common for sushi to be served as one long roll.
"I thought this was normal. 😂 this is just sushi," one comment reads.
"I've lived in Aus all my life and I thought this is normal sushi," says another.
"As an Australian, HOW IS IT MEANT TO LOOK?!," one person begged.
"I'm from Asia and I just moved to Australia, I am confused as hell when I first saw that, but it's very convenient and perfect if you need a grab-to-go meal," yet another person added.
For anyone wondering how people manage to eat sushi on the go in other parts of the world, Min says, "I've heard that in the UK and US, sushi rolls are also sold as convenient to-go options, though they're not quite as common as they are here in Australia.
"In Japan, while hand rolls (like cones or cylinders) are served, they're typically enjoyed fresh at the restaurant rather than as takeaway. Instead, Japan's common grab-and-go sushi alternative is usually onigiri — rice balls wrapped in seaweed."
Another feature of Min's comment section was that people were eager for everyone to know that their country also makes sushi in ways that would make our heads spin.
"You should look up Chilean sushi," one of Min's followers said. "We have sushi burgers…"
"I mean... in Brazil we got FRIED sushi," someone else shared.
"Can I just say, I love when people comment with 'You think that's not normal? Check out MY country!' — I think it's absolutely hilarious," Min tells us. "Brazilian sushi in particular caught my attention; one of the comments mentioned they make sushi in the shape of a hot dog or pizza, and with lots of cream cheese, which honestly sounds so wild."
Reflecting on why "Australian sushi" is so popular - to the point that many of us consider it to be the "norm" Min says, "I think a huge selling point is that it's made to suit Aussie tastes, with all kinds of fillings - although stuffing your sushi with chicken and avocado may very likely be a crime in Japan! Plus, it's a convenient, budget-friendly option when you want something quick and tasty."
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Speaking about the hundreds of comments she received, some of which inspired her to create a follow-up video on her TikTok @good.food.gang exploring the ways other countries put a spin on the Japanese staple, Min tells us, "When one country popularises its own version of another country's food, there's always some debate about cultural sensitivity.
But I think as long as it's done with respect and appreciation for the original culture, putting your own spin on it is part of how food evolves and brings people together. Making that video was such a fun experience — there were so many layers to explore and stories to uncover behind it."