Sushi rolls with Crab!
Did you know that over 50% of sushi rolls made at restaurants contain some sort of crab? Did you know that most sushi rolls with crab actually use imitation crab? This is because it is cheap, readily available literally anywhere, and very flavorful! Imitation crab is used in the simplest California rolls all the way to the most complex sushi with crab meat like the dragon roll! Below you will find our rankings of the best crab sushi rolls!
What are examples of crab sushi rolls?
Crab can usually be considered a staple in sushi. Crab is usually either the main fish used or an additional fish added for flavor. Sushi with crab can be found on any restaurant menu and is actually the easiest to find meat for those at-home sushi makers! The following is a listing of sushi with crab that can be found a almost any restaurant (keep in mind our official ranking is further down the page).
Keep scrolling to reach our official rankings
- Rainbow Roll
- Texan Roll
- San Antonio Roll
- El Fuego Roll
- Spider Roll
What kind of crab is used in sushi with crab?
The vast majority of crab sushi rolls are made out of imitation crab. This is for several reasons. For starters, imitation crab is extremely cheap and can be found in just about any grocery store. There is a reason that the cheapest sushi rolls you will typically find on a menu at a sushi restaurant have imitation crab as its meat. For those that want to make sushi at home, imitation crab is the easiest and cheapest option.
The other option for making sushi with crab is to use lump crab meat that can be found in the seafood section of a grocery store. This is actual crab meat so do not be shocked by the price tag! Lump crab meat typically comes in some type of plastic container. The most challenging part of using real crab is that crab meat is a pain to remove from the crab legs and claws. Therefore lump crab meat is the most expensive option since the hard work has already been done!
Another option for crab meat for sushi is to buy crab legs out of the seafood case at your grocery store. Although this is the freshest option you can have, the work required to remove the crab meat from the crab legs and claws might outweigh the benefit of having fresh crab meat.
Best Crab Sushi Rolls Ranked
Believe it or not but this ranking was extremely challenging to create, mostly because there isn’t a sushi roll that I don’t like. Don’t start sending me emails saying hey Mr. Sushi Kitchen, there are WAY more crab sushi rolls out there than just these! I will agree with you! However these are the most popular crab sushi rolls based off google trends data (although my personal rankings wouldn’t be to far off!).
#6- The California Roll
Do not think that we are ranking one of the most popular sushi rolls last in this ranking of sushi with crab because we do not like it. The California roll is a great starter roll at a restaurant, but is usually on the low end of the totem pole when it comes to flavor. The California roll’s fillings consists of imitation crab, avocado, and cucumber. This doesn’t exactly scream “party in your mouth” but is a cheap option for an appetizer if you are budget conscious. This roll is frequently in the $5 to $11 range at restaurants. Although we are ranking the California last due to its simplicity, its simplicity is exactly why it is so popular!
#5- The Spicy Crab Roll
The spicy crab roll means different things to different people. For some, the spicy crab roll is just shredded crab mixed with spicy mayo sauce and sushi rice, but for the most part the spicy crab roll is just a supped up California roll. It contains the same ingredients as the California roll, the only difference is that the roll is topped with spicy mayo sauce to give it an extra little kick! Frequently the imitation crab is shredded and mixed with the spicy mayo sauce which is then added to the top of the roll to make it Instagram-worthy, allowing it to receive the #5 spot in our top sushi rolls with crab!
#4- The Spider Roll
The spider roll is the most unique crab sushi roll in our rankings. The spider roll is made of soft shell crab fried in tempura batter. The legs of the soft shell crab are hung out of the ends of the sushi roll giving it a spider like appearance. Other ingredients include cucumber, carrots, and the sweet and tangy unagi eel sauce. This roll is typically in the $10 to $15 range at sushi restaurants as it containts a more expensive type of crab than just imitation crab. The spider roll is fully cooked and a great option for adding a fun roll to a plate!
#3- The Alaska Roll
Now we are getting into rolls that contain more than one meat. In these kind of rolls, the crab is typically the secondary meat. In the case of the Alaska roll, salmon is the primary attraction. The Alaska roll blends the unique combination of crab meat, raw salmon, cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo sauce expertly! The Alaska roll at #3 in our rankings of sushi rolls with crab is a great roll for someone wanting to try raw fish for the first time.
#2- The Shaggy Dog Roll
Numerous sauces and meats propels this roll into second place in our rankings of sushi rolls with crab. The shaggy dog roll is very popular as a main dish at sushi restaurants and is typically in the $12 to $20 range depending on where you are. The shaggy dog roll is perfect for someone that loves sushi but doesn’t like the idea of eating raw fish. The shaggy dog is made up of tempura shrimp and imitation crab and is topped with teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo. Quite a bit of presentation goes into this roll making it very picture worthy!
#1- The Dragon Roll
SO. MUCH. FLAVOR. The dragon roll tops our listing of the best crab sushi rolls and is nothing to slouch at with its combination of numerous sauces, meats, and veggies! The dragon roll is on the higher end of sushi rolls at restaurants, typically in the $12 to $20 range, and is extremely popular as a main dish! The dragon roll contains tempura shrimp and imitation crab as the meats, spicy mayo and the tangy unagi eel sauce, as well as cucumber and avocado. Typically sushi chefs put quite a bit of effort into the presentation of this roll. For all these reasons, the dragon roll earns the #1 spot in our rankings of sushi rolls with crab.
| Name of Sushi Roll | Main Ingredients |
|---|---|
| #6- California Roll | Crab, Cucumber, Avocado |
| #5- Spicy Crab Roll | Crab, Cucumber, Avocado, Spicy Mayo Sauce |
| #4- Spider Roll | Soft Shell Crab, Tempura Batter, Cucumber, Carrots, Unagi Eel Sauce |
| #3- The Alaska Roll | Crab, Salmon, Spicy Mayo, Cucumber, Avocado |
| #2- The Shaggy Dog Roll | Tempura Shrimp, Crab, Spicy Mayo Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce |
| #1- The Dragon Roll | Tempura Shrimp, Crab, Spicy Mayo Sauce, Unagi Eel Sauce |