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Sushirito Troubleshooting Guide

Solving common problems and disaster recovery.

Table of Contents

Structural Failures

Problem: Rice Falling Out the Bottom

Cause: Too much filling, not enough wrapper support, or holding at wrong angle

Solution:

  1. Immediately rotate 180° and eat from other end

  2. Place on napkin nest and compress gently

  3. If beyond repair: fork and knife (no shame)

Prevention:

Problem: Everything Squeezing Out the Ends

Cause: Gripping too hard, uneven filling distribution

Solution:

  1. Loosen grip immediately

  2. Use palms, not fingers, to support

  3. Eat problematic end first

Prevention:

Problem: Split in the Middle

Cause: Too much sauce, weak spot in wrapper, or angled bite

Solution:

  1. Stop eating from that section

  2. Flip and eat from opposite end

  3. When you reach the split, use fork or fold it like a taco

Prevention:

Wrapper Problems

Problem: Nori (Seaweed) Won't Bite Through

Cause: Old or humid nori, too thick of wrapper

Solution:

  1. Use teeth to score a line across

  2. Pull gently while biting (controlled tear)

  3. Switch to pulling small pieces off with fingers

Prevention:

Problem: Wrapper Sticking to Filling

Cause: Too much moisture, sauce soaking through

Solution:

  1. Don't force it - peeling makes it worse

  2. Take smaller bites, wrapper and all

  3. If it's really stuck, eat it together (it's edible)

Prevention:

Problem: Soy Paper Tearing

Cause: Soy paper is more delicate than nori

Solution:

  1. Extremely gentle handling required

  2. Use napkin nest method religiously

  3. Consider this wrapper expert mode

Prevention:

Filling Issues

Problem: All Protein in One Bite, Then All Rice

Cause: Uneven filling distribution by staff

Solution:

  1. Before first bite, gently squeeze/massage to distribute

  2. Rotate burrito as you eat to hit different sections

  3. Cut in half with knife if distribution is really bad

Prevention:

Problem: Too Spicy/Salty

Cause: Too much sauce or too much soy sauce

Solution:

  1. Order a side of plain rice to eat between bites

  2. Get water, not soda (sugar makes spice worse)

  3. Avocado helps cut spice - order on the side if needed

Prevention:

Problem: Too Bland

Cause: Not enough sauce, missing acid/brightness

Solution:

  1. Ask for sauce on the side - add gradually

  2. Soy sauce for dipping (not pouring on)

  3. Pickled ginger between bites

Prevention:

Mess Management

Problem: Sauce Dripping on Clothes

Cause: Too much sauce, holding at wrong angle

Solution:

  1. Tuck napkin into collar immediately (bib style)

  2. Lean over plate/napkins, not over lap

  3. Keep emergency stain wipes in bag

Prevention:

Problem: Rice Everywhere on Table

Cause: Structural failure, aggressive biting

Solution:

  1. Clean as you go - push rice onto napkin nest

  2. Ask for extra napkins mid-meal

  3. Eat remaining rice with fork at end

Prevention:

Problem: Hands Covered in Sauce/Rice

Cause: Normal sushirito eating

Solution:

  1. This is expected - embrace it

  2. Keep wet wipes nearby

  3. Eat with one hand, keep other clean for phone/door

Prevention:

Emergency Protocols

Critical Failure: Complete Structural Collapse

What happened: It's everywhere. Total disaster.

Emergency Response:

  1. Don't panic - this happens to everyone eventually

  2. Push everything into napkin nest/bowl

  3. Eat with fork - it's now a "deconstructed sushirito"

  4. Next time: order a poke bowl (same ingredients, better format)

Learning moment: What went wrong? Too much sauce? Wrong wrapper? Bad bite technique? Apply lesson to next attempt.

Social Disaster: Collapse During Business Lunch

What happened: It fell apart in front of clients/colleagues

Emergency Response:

  1. Make a joke: "This is why I usually get poke bowls"

  2. Switch to fork immediately and confidently

  3. Offer to get extra napkins for table (helpful recovery)

  4. Continue conversation like nothing happened

Prevention for future:

Delivery Disaster: Arrived Completely Destroyed

What happened: Opened container to find chaos

Response:

  1. Take photo for potential refund request

  2. Eat with fork - it still tastes good

  3. Don't try to reassemble (makes it worse)

  4. Leave review noting packaging issue

Prevention:

Expert Recovery Techniques

The Controlled Fold

When structural integrity is compromised but not catastrophic:

  1. Fold wrapper over exposed section like a taco

  2. Eat from the new "top" edge

  3. Keeps filling contained while you finish

The Strategic Sacrifice

When one end is failing:

  1. Let that end fail completely onto napkin nest

  2. Focus on eating the intact end

  3. Eat fallen bits with fork at the end

  4. You've saved 75% of burrito - that's a win

The Fork Transition

Knowing when to surrender:

  1. If you've spent more time managing than eating: fork time

  2. If more than 30% has fallen out: fork time

  3. If you're stressed instead of enjoying: fork time

Wisdom: There's no shame in using a fork. The goal is to enjoy your meal, not prove your hand-roll skills.

When to Give Up and Order a Bowl

Signs You Should Order a Bowl Instead

Truth: Poke bowls have all the same ingredients, taste just as good, and are 90% less likely to end in disaster. Sometimes the bowl is the right choice.

Practice Makes Perfect

Skill Progression

  1. Beginner: Shrimp, cucumber, white rice, nori wrapper, light sauce

  2. Intermediate: Salmon, multiple veggies, soy paper, moderate sauce

  3. Advanced: Multiple fish, complex builds, eating while standing

  4. Expert: Delivery sushirito that still works (this may be impossible)

Remember: Everyone has structural failures. The difference is experienced eaters know how to recover gracefully.

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