Salmon

Salmon/sake

Salmon is perhaps the most familiar item on a sushi menu to a western palate. It has a pleasing orange/pink colour and it is commonly eaten in many countries so people are seldom unused to this fish. Also the taste of raw salmon is quite close to its cooked counterpart. If someone feels uncomfortable eating raw fish in sushi then using smoked salmon as an alternative is a good way to help them lose their inhibitions about eating raw fish. There are some concerns with the presence of parasites in salmon, especially in salmon that has been intensively farmed. If you are eating in a reputable sushi restaurant with high standards then they will almost certainly source their salmon from a supplier that does not suffer from these problems, so you shouldn't worry.

In Japan salted, grilled salmon is cheap and extremely popular, it is also sometimes deep-fried or dried and eaten as a snack.