Sushi has become one of those foods that feels at home almost anywhere in the U.S. It’s on takeout menus, grocery store shelves, date-night tables, and lunch orders across the country. And while the California roll may be the classic gateway order, today’s sushi menus offer something for almost every kind of craving, from crispy tempura rolls to spicy, saucy, and fruit-topped favorites.
With so many options to choose from, we wanted to know which sushi rolls Americans are searching for most. To find out, we analyzed Google Trends search interest over the past five years for 18 popular sushi rolls across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The results show that while classic rolls still have staying power, crispy favorites like shrimp tempura and spider rolls are leading the way.
The Most Popular Sushi Roll in Every State
Sushi preferences vary across the country, but a few rolls clearly stood out. Shrimp tempura, spider, and California rolls together ranked first in 33 states and areas, making them the strongest performers in the study.
Shrimp tempura roll: 14 states
The shrimp tempura roll was the most popular sushi roll overall, ranking first in 14 states. Its appeal is easy to understand: crispy tempura, familiar shrimp, and a flavor profile that works for both longtime sushi fans and more cautious orderers.
States: Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin
Spider roll: 12 states and areas
The spider roll finished close behind, leading in 11 states and Washington, D.C. Known for its soft-shell crab and crispy texture, it had one of the strongest regional showings in the Midwest, where it ranked first in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
States/areas: Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Washington
California roll: 7 states
The California roll may not have won the country, but it remains one of sushi’s most reliable classics. It ranked first in seven states, including California itself, proving that the familiar favorite still has plenty of staying power.
States: Alaska, California, Kansas, Montana, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Volcano roll: 4 states
The volcano roll led in four states, with its strongest showing in the South. With a name that promises heat, sauce, and a little drama, it makes sense that this roll stood out among people searching for something bolder than the basics.
States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, West Virginia
Mango sushi roll: 3 states
The mango sushi roll brought a sweeter option to the map, ranking first in Maryland, New York, and Virginia. While many top rolls leaned crispy or savory, mango’s showing suggests there is still room for fruit-forward rolls with a brighter flavor.
States: Maryland, New York, Virginia
One of the more interesting takeaways is that sushi roll names do not always match where they perform best. Alaska searched most for the California roll, while the Alaska roll only led in Connecticut. The Boston roll ranked first in Maine and North Dakota, but not in Massachusetts.
The Most Popular Sushi Roll by Region
Regionally, the results were split between three major favorites:
- Midwest: Spider roll
- Northeast: Shrimp tempura roll
- South: Shrimp tempura roll
- West: California roll
Shrimp tempura was the only roll to lead in more than one region, which helped secure its overall win. The spider roll’s strongest base was in the Midwest, while the California roll performed best in the West.
Closing Thoughts
Sushi offers a sense of adventure, with Americans nationwide embracing bold, unexpected flavors. From classic California rolls to crispy spider and volcano rolls, people are increasingly branching out.
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Methodology
To determine the most popular sushi roll in every state, we started with a list of 18 of the most popular and widely known sushi rolls. We analyzed Google Trends search interest for those terms across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., over the past five years.
The sushi roll with the highest relative search interest in each state or area was named the top-searched sushi roll. We used search interest as an indicator of popularity for this study.
We also reviewed results by U.S. region to identify which sushi roll had the strongest search interest in each region.
Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.
