rice ball wrapped in pickled leaf mustard greens
A regional specialty from Wakayama and Nara prefectures. The name comes from the phrase 目を見張る (to open one's eyes wide), because the rice ball is large enough to make you open your eyes wide when you eat it.
I want to try mehari-zushi, a specialty of Wakayama.
Mehari-zushi is rice wrapped in pickled mustard green leaves.
Most common spelling; uses kana for めはり and kanji for 寿司.
Kanji spelling for めはり, less common but seen in some contexts.
Uses the older kanji 鮨 for sushi; rarely encountered.
Uses the rare kanji 鮓 for sushi; very uncommon.
The name めはり寿司 is said to come from the phrase 目を見張る (to open one's eyes wide), referring to the large size of the rice ball that makes you open your eyes wide when eating it. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a well-known regional dish from the Kumano region.