Sushi can be a scary thing to try if you are unsure of what restaurant you want to experience the Japanese delicacy at. Although intended to be an appetizer, sushi is now becoming a popular meal to share with others.

Because sushi is growing in popularity with college-aged diners, Ames and Des Moines feature restaurants that serve Japanese-style cuisine, including sushi.

One of the most important parts of eating sushi is being able to understand what style of sushi you are eating and what you are putting into your mouth.

Here are a few basic definitions to get through the first meal, according to www.eatsushi.com:

Sashimi – raw fish served chilled, sliced and arranged without rice

Sushi – anything made with vinegared rice; there are several varieties of sushi that differ in the way they served (some are wrapped in seaweed, some are not)

Sake – rice wine

Wasabi – Japanese horseradish served on the side; used as a condiment

Ginger – also served on the side, usually pickled

Here are a few rolls that are typical in many sushi establishments, although many have variations on these rolls to create their own unique flavor.

California roll – made with crab, avocado and cucumber

Boston roll – made with crab, salmon and scallion

Philadelphia roll – made with smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese

A list of just a few places where sushi is served in Ames and the Des Moines area:

Fuji Japanese Steak House

1614 S. Kellogg Ave.

Fuji Steak House is a hibachi-style steakhouse that will prepare your food at a table-side grill. It also offers a wide variety of sushi rolls.

Shogun

3704 Lincoln Way

Shogun has an extensive variety of sushi, including sashimi and several varieties of fish and seafood.

Café Shi

823 Wheeler St. #5

Café Shi, although not a typical Japanese-style restaurant, features a few rolls as appetizers.

Taki Japanese Steakhouse

2677 86th St., Urbandale

Near Des Moines, Taki is similar to Fuji Steak House in their hibachi-style menu.