There seem to be a lot of great sushi places in town according to some the reviews.  I'm still a newb in the sushi world, I've been for sushi about 5 or 6 times in my entire life and I'm liking it more each time.  But I'm lost as to what I should be looking for.  What are the basics every sushi goer should have to really become a sushi knower?

I've been querying... and got a list of things for us beginner sushi goers to try out:

-Shrimp tempura roll
-chicken teriyaki roll
-yam/vegetable tempura
-edamame
-california roll
-agedashi tofu...

Thanks RG!

bah! Rolls are ok, but the sashimi is where it's at.

Red Tuna, Yellowtail, and Salmon are all delicious gateway fishies. Tuna/Salmon tataki are seared slightly on the outside and melt in your mouth. I LOVE scallops. As you get into the "you want me to put that in my mouth?" stuff, be sure to go to a good place. Bad octopus is like rubber, good octopus is tasty, tasty, tasty.

note from my friend who lived in Japan and therefore thinks he is Japanese: if your sashimi/sushi comes with anything (a little leaf of lettuce/herbs/whatever) that's how you are supposed to eat it.  Also, rolls should be popped into your mouth in one bite. If it impossible, or you can't figure out how to manage a shrimp tail, USE YOUR FINGERS. This is far less embarrassing than a chop stick mishap and totally acceptable.

Hope this helps!

If you are nervous about trying the raw fish for the first time, start with spicy rolls, or as you have mentioned, rolls with tempura, but with some salmon on top. I converted a never-eaten-sushi-before/meat-and-potatoes guy into a sushi fanatic. I kinda made him dive in but he had a tough time with the raw stuff, now I have to fight him for the 7th slice of salmon sashimi (why does it never come in even numbers??)

What to look for?
Fish shouldn't really smell "fishy" - if they have been keeping it properly, they use a bit of salt I think and it removes most of the fish smell.

I heard you're supposed to dip nigiri upside down, so fish side into the soya sauce - is this true?

Don't start at a crappy all you can eat place - some of them are good, but lots over use the rice to save their costs. and if you order stuff you can't eat, you'll end up paying for it.

I'm going to try Sushi Motto tonight if my boyfriend gets home from work at a decent hour.

This is really hard as we are faithful to O Shima, last time we almost went to Sushi Motto, I cracked as we were driving down the hill on 17th ave and ended up going to O Shima.

The reviews look good and are by 2 people I trust, as they are also love O Shima.

Step outside your comfort... embrace Sushi Motto :).

I took my own advice. Stepped outside my safe little world of tempura rolls and had me some sashimi. This time I actually liked it... I think that merits graduation from novice to intermediate :p.

Salmon sashimi and Special Scallops Nigiri Sushi - the 2 best items on MY Sushi List!

The best salmon sashimi I've ever had is at Yamato in NW Calgary.  Huge, thick slices of salmon sashimi with loads of brown wasabi-soya sauce blend!  I usually let it "marinate" in my sauce before I eat my sashimi.  LOL

Special scallops - minced scallops mixed with Japanese mayo and teeny orange fish roe, tucked in an envelope of seaweed on top of sushi rice.  Yummers!!