Does Sake Pair with Sushi?

Sake Pairing

For many people, sake is a logical pairing for sushi. However, for a Japanese purist, sake is not considered a good complement to a sushi dish. The classical Japanese wisdom is that you shouldn’t mix a rice-based meal with a rice-based drink, as there is not enough of a contrast between the two to create an interesting dining experience.

Traditionally, a sushi meal would begin with appetizers and salads that would pair well with sake, and then the diners would move on to either a green tea or a beer when the sushi arrived.

At our Japanese restaurant in Seattle, we offer both sake and beer to suit any preferences. Whichever you want to pair with your sushi, you can enjoy it at I Love Sushi!