What size sushi plate is best for restaurants?

In restaurants where the sashimi served comprises 3-5 pieces, or nigiri sushi 2-4 pieces, the ideal plate is 18-20cm sushi plates. This size is ideal as it is proportional in both displaying and accommodating table space (with little room left over for tiny condiment serves like soy sauce, a wasabi dollop, and a slice of pickled ginger). For example, a 19cm ceramic plate can hold a neatly arranged serving of 3 pieces of tuna sashimi and 2 pieces of salmon nigiri and still have room for side condiment serves. With multiple courses (like miso soup or salad), it is also easy to satisfy the contradictory requirement of avoiding a cluttered plate. This is suited for fine dining sushi restaurants that emphasize portion and exquisite presentation. 

For signature rolls and small, sharable portions, the 22-24cm sushi plates are highly appropriate. These plates are perfect for restaurants where Spicy Tuna Rolls or California Rolls are the main focus, as they can be served with 6-8 pieces to a customer.

The additional area allows chefs to toss in a few bits of flair ( sesame seeds, sauce, or microgreens) which they intend to highlight for attracting clientele. Take, for example, a 23cm bamboo sushi plate, which can accompany a neatly  arranged  8-piece spicy salmon roll along  with pickled  daikon, presenting an  abundant  yet  simple  dish. It  is  perfect for  casual sushi bars  and fusion  restaurants which  focus heavily on  online presence, as rolls  are a top  dish on  their  menu.  
 
25-28cm sushi plates for  family-style sharing  and  combo meals  with the family.  

Dined  in family style with combo meals  such  as  a “sushi for two”, which is  filled  with rolls, sashimi, and nigiri,  is best served on  25-28cm sushi plates. MGVillage  states that with the  size plates  it is  easier  to  arrange differently  without overlapping  dishes. For  example, on  a 26cm stoneware  plate,  one can  arrange  10 pieces  of  mixed  nigiri, a 6-piece California roll,  and small  bowls  of condiments.  Having  fewer plates reduces the number of server trips for clearing off  the  tables, which  ultimately saves on the clutter  of table space. This style is popular in informal family restaurants and buffet-style sushi bars.

Everyone at the table can easily share a plate and the size enhances the sharing experience.  

Take into account table proportion and the number of people who will use it when deciding on plate size.  

Restuarant standard table proportion and number of covers greatly influence the size of the sushi plates used. According to MGVillage, restuarants with petite tables such as the 2 people 60 x 80cm tables, 18 to 22cm plates plates. This is to help maximize space to fit other items as larger plates would be too difficult to squeezed. 22 to 28cm plates are great with larger tables such as the 4 people 90 x 120cm tables as there is ample space to distribute the items. A sushi bar with counter seating, which has narrow tables, will use 19cm plates to give diners space for their drinks and chopsticks. Likewise, a restuarant with private booths, which has ample sized tables, would use 24cm plates for serving rolls. Matching the size of the plate to the dimensions of the table will ensure the customers do not feel cramped when eating and will be able to easily reach their food.

Minimize the workload for the service and kitchen staff.  

The ideal sushi plate size rests on the plate that will assist the service and kitchen teams to work more efficiently.

MGVillage says that plates that are between 18 and 24cm are easier for the kitchen staff to manage since they fit on the standard 68.5 x 43 cm prep tables. Similarly they stack and stow neatly in the storage shelves (which actually saves on cabinet space), and are light enough to be transported and passed on during busy service quickly. For servers the plates are also easy to tray and carry (a server can carry 4 to 6 19cm plates or 2 to 3 24cm plates) without the risk of spilling. Plates that are larger than 28cm are more cumbersome and difficult to stack and therefore result in higher storage cost and service delays. As an illustration, during the lunch rush busy downtown, sushi restaurants utilize 20cm plates since they are easy to prep and staff can serve multiple orders . This in turn reduces wait times during peak hours. These sizes focus on the needs of the restaurants. 

MGVillage has sushi plates that are restaurant grade and are within the 18-28cm size range, which is appropriate for the needs of their customers. Their 18-20cm plates are made of chip resistant durable ceramic, which is ideal for fine dining since the plates are non slip mats which prevent sliding on wet tables. The 22-24cm plates have a glossy finish and are designed for roll focused restaurants, featuring raised edges and drip sauce matte.

The 25-28 cm plates are thick and sturdy enough to hold heavy portions and are microwavable for reheating some sushi items (tamagoyaki). All of the plates from MGVillage are dishwasher safe which is essential for businesses that have to clean hundreds of dishes a day. These attributes combined make MGVillage plates easy to use for sush plates and retain their visual a value for any type of restaurant.