“People eat sushi the same way they drink wine,” says Jason Kwon, the owner and executive chef of Joshu-Ya Brasserie, one of many sushi joints around Berkeley. “They know about it, but they don’t know about it.”

It’s no question that sushi is absolutely delicious, and there’s surely no shortage of it around here (I’m looking at you, Zensen). But even though we see no problem with consuming raw fish and octopus, there are still some etiquette rules that we don’t really know about either. There’s honestly no wrong way of eating it, but here are some tips that you should keep in mind if you want to keep your sushi game strong.

Don’t use chopsticks.

This seems ridiculously counter-intuitive, but read on. Most people assume that sushi must be eaten with chopsticks; however, it’s actually recommended that some pieces should be eaten with your fingers. Sushi started out as finger food, and it’s still totally acceptable today to use your hands. If you really want to get fancy, use your right hand only, and pick the sushi up with your thumb and forefinger to dip and eat it.

However, if you do plan on using chopsticks anyway, don’t rub them together.

Whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant, I habitually break my chopsticks apart and rub them together – it’s just something my parents taught me growing up. Unfortunately, the same rules don’t apply for sushi places. If you’re at a nice Japanese restaurant, it’s actually considered extremely rude to rub them together to get rid of the small wooden bits. By doing so, you’re sending the chef the message that you consider his utensils “cheap”.

Eat it all, and in one bite.

Sushi is considered a kind of “fast food” treat in Japan. You’re not supposed to take a bite out of a roll, as this is actually considered insulting. Since only chefs and warriors wield knives, it’s also not really good etiquette to cut your sushi up for any reason. Instead, pop the entire piece in your mouth (like you wouldn’t anyway). Also, try to finish the entire plate; leaving excessive food is also frowned upon.

Watch your condiments.

Some of the typical condiments that are usually eaten with sushi are soy sauce and wasabi. However, many people think you’re supposed to mix the two together and dip the sushi in it, when in actuality, this is a big no-no! Soy sauce breaks down the wasabi and takes away some of the taste. Thus, it’s actually best to alternate a piece of sushi by dipping one part in soy sauce and spreading wasabi on another part. It’s also recommended to flavor the fish side with soy sauce and the rice side with wasabi.

Many sushi restaurants will also serve pickled ginger alongside the dishes. You may think that you’re supposed to eat the ginger paired together with the rolls. This also is not correct! The ginger is intended to cleanse the palate (drinking green tea with the meal has the same effect) when changing between types of sushi. Swallowing a bit of ginger can also help prevent an upset stomach when ingesting raw fish.

And by the way, if you’ve accidentally swallowed too much wasabi and feel like your mouth’s about to turn itself inwards, start rapidly breathing through your nose. The burn will fade away sooner.

Progress from light to dark.

To get the best taste out of the different flavors of fish, start with the lighter-colored varieties before moving on to the fattier, bolder fish. This is to ensure that the heavier flavors don’t cloud your taste buds too early on. Top it off with the simple rolls – this is a sign that you’re ending your order.

Eat healthy.

Sushi is small and addicting, and you may find yourself downing a ton of pieces in a very short amount of time. I don’t blame you. However, remember that the freshman fifteen is still a thing, so try and watch your intake. Sushi is healthiest when you stick to the basic seafood and rice combination. Try to avoid the rolls that come with fatty fillings like mayonnaise or cream cheese, and anything deep-fried, like tempura. Also, unless you’re sharing in a large group, try not to order too many of the fancier rolls, such as rainbow. Since these are bigger, they’ll be higher in calories.

If you’re trying to watch your weight, stick to lower calorie options, like tuna, salmon, or fresh shrimp. Veggie rolls are also good options, like spinach, cucumber, or mushroom. And if you find that you’re still not satisfied, try adding miso soup, a mixed salad, or edamame to your meal.

But at the end of the day, there’s really no wrong way to consume sushi. If any of the above guidelines seem ridiculous to you, just disregard them. As long as you’re having a good time stuffing rice and seaweed into your face, you’re game.

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