A sushi burrito, also known as a sushirrito, is a large, oversized sushi roll that is wrapped up like a burrito. Sushi burritos have become a popular menu item at many sushi restaurants and food trucks in recent years. But with their massive size and multitude of fillings, many sushi lovers wonder just how many calories are actually in one of these hefty rolls.
What is a Sushi Burrito?
A traditional sushi roll is about the size of a person’s finger and contains rice, nori (seaweed), and fillings like raw fish, vegetables, or other ingredients wrapped tightly in a cylinder shape. Sushi burritos take the concept of a sushi roll and supersize it into a giant, overstuffed log that resembles a burrito.
Sushi burritos are made with sushi rice, nori sheets, and a variety of fillings and toppings. Some common fillings include:
- Raw fish like tuna, salmon, yellowtail
- Cooked seafood like shrimp, crab, and smoked salmon
- Vegetables such as cucumbers, avocado, carrots
- Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale
The rice and fillings are tightly wrapped in a whole nori sheet, then wrapped again in rice paper or foil. Sushi burritos are much larger and wider than regular rolls, measuring 5-8 inches across and 2-3 inches in diameter. They are often served cut in half diagonally, like a burrito.
Calories in Sushi Burritos
The number of calories in a sushi burrito can vary widely depending on the size, ingredients, and any additional toppings or sauces:
- Size – A larger 8 inch sushi burrito will have more calories than a smaller 5 inch one.
- Fillings – Burritos with higher calorie fillings like avocado, fatty fish, fried items, etc will be higher in calories than those with lower calorie vegetables.
- Rice – Using brown rice instead of white sushi rice will cut some calories.
- Add-ons – Items added on top like spicy mayo, eel sauce, or tempura flakes will increase the calorie count.
Most sushi burritos range from 500 – 1,000 calories per roll. Here is an estimated calorie count for some popular sushi burrito fillings and styles:
Veggie Sushi Burrito (500 calories)
A veggie sushi burrito filled with cucumber, lettuce, avocado, carrot, and asparagus is around 500 calories.
Tuna Sushi Burrito (700 calories)
A tuna burrito containing sushi rice, tuna, nori, cucumber, and spicy mayo averages about 700 calories.
California Burrito (850 calories)
A California roll in burrito form with crab, avocado, cucumber, nori, sushi rice, and masago (fish roe) has approximately 850 calories.
Spicy Tuna Burrito (900 calories)
Spicy tuna with sushi rice, cucumber, spicy mayo, tempura flakes, and sriracha hot sauce contains around 900 calories.
Dragon Burrito (1,000 calories)
A dragon roll burrito has eel, avocado, cucumber, unagi sauce, and spicy mayo totaling nearly 1,000 calories.
Keep in mind that most sushi burritos are meant to be shared by multiple people. Eating a whole giant sushi burrito in one sitting would pack a big calorie punch.
Nutrition Facts in Sushi Burritos
In addition to calories, sushi burritos contain a variety of nutrients:
- Carbohydrates – The white sushi rice accounts for the majority of the carbohydrates. A Typical burrito has 50-100g carbs.
- Protein – Raw fish and seafood provide high-quality protein. You’ll get 10-30g protein per burrito.
- Fat – The biggest sources of fat are oil used to make sushi rice, avocado, fish, spicy mayo, and tempura. Expect 10-25g of fat.
- Fiber – Fillings like cucumber, carrots, lettuce, and nori provide fiber. A burrito has 2-5g fiber.
- Sodium – Soy sauce and salt used in sushi rice contributes higher sodium around 500-1500mg.
Sushi burritos offer a dose of vitamins and minerals too. Fillings like tuna provide vitamin D, omega-3s, vitamin B12, selenium, and iron. Vegetables add vitamins A, C, and K. And nori seaweed is a great source of iodine.
How to Make Lower Calorie Sushi Burritos
You can reduce the calories and increase the nutrition in sushi burritos by making the following swaps:
- Use brown sushi rice instead of white rice
- Fill with more vegetables vs heavy proteins and fats
- Load up on extra veggies like lettuce, cucumber, onion, sprouts
- Choose lighter proteins like shrimp vs fatty fish
- Use lighter sauces sparingly like ponzu vs mayo
- Skip fried add-ons like tempura flakes
- Use half an avocado instead of a whole
- Wrap in lettuce instead of rice paper for lower carbs
- Eat a smaller 5-6 inch burrito instead of an 8 incher
With smart customizations, you can enjoy a satisfying sushi burrito for around 500-600 calories.
Healthiest Sushi Burrito Options
To get maximum nutrition from your sushi burrito, go for healthier fillings like:
- Salmon – Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Tuna – Provides protein, B12, selenium
- Avocado – Healthy fats and fiber
- Cucumber – Hydrating with antioxidants
- Carrots – Packed with vitamin A
- Spinach – Nutrient-dense green with iron and vitamins
- Asparagus – Folate, fiber, antioxidants
- Radish sprouts – Contains sulforaphane, an anti-cancer compound
- Nori – Seaweed has iodine, tyrosine, and fiber
Skip creamy, fatty sauces and sugary eel sauce. Opt for antioxidant-rich ponzu sauce, roasted sesame seeds, and a sprinkle of chili powder instead.
Portion Control with Sushi Burritos
One of the biggest calorie dangers with sushi burritos is overeating. With their giant size, it’s easy to consume too many calories from just one burrito.
Here are some tips to keep portion sizes under control:
- Split with a friend – Share one burrito as an appetizer
- Appetizer size – Order a 5-6 inch burrito instead of larger 8 inch
- Halve it – Ask for your burrito cut in half and only eat one half
- Leftovers – Wrap up half for lunch tomorrow
- Add sides – Get a side salad instead of massive burrito alone
- Mindful eating – Eat slowly, pause between bites, and listen to your fullness cues
When eating out, sushi burritos’ gigantic appearance can distort proper serving sizes. Take control by splitting or taking half home in a to-go box before diving in.
Calorie Comparison to Other Sushi Rolls
Sushi burritos have more calories compared to a typical single sushi roll. Here’s how they compare calorie-wise to some popular rolls for reference:
| Sushi Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| Tuna roll (6 pc) | 230 |
| Salmon roll (6 pc) | 240 |
| California roll (6 pc) | 330 |
| Shrimp tempura roll (6 pc) | 360 |
| Spicy tuna roll (6 pc) | 360 |
| Veggie roll (6 pc) | 300 |
| Sushi burrito (1 whole) | 500-1,000 |
A whole sushi burrito has anywhere from 2-6 times more calories than a regular roll! Stick to a single roll or maki pieces at restaurants, and split a sushirrito to control portions.
Should You Eat Sushi Burritos on a Diet?
Sushi burritos can fit into a healthy diet with some precautions. Here are some tips for managing calories and nutrition if you’re dieting:
- Split with a friend or only eat half
- Build your own burrito with diet-friendly ingredients like shrimp, cucumber, carrot
- Choose brown sushi rice
- Load up on extra veggies
- Skip sugary sauces and mayo
- Watch your portion of rice – stick to 1/2 cup or less
- Balance out calories for the day by eating lighter at other meals
- Don’t make it an everyday thing
An occasional sushi burrito split with a friend can be worked into most diet plans. Just be mindful of overdoing calories, carbs, fat, and sodium in one sitting.
Bottom Line
Sushi burritos are definitely a treat. With their jumbo size and calorie-dense fillings, sushirritos weigh in at 500-1,000 calories each. Get the most nutrition and avoid overeating by:
- Splitting with a friend or eating half
- Choosing vegetable-focused fillings
- Using brown rice
- Skipping fatty sauces
- Balancing out calories for the day
While not an everyday food, an occasional sushi burrito shared with restraint can be part of an overall balanced diet.
