Tuna Tuna

Chef's Table

by Henry Chan — Giapponese Sushi
posted on Feb. 24, 2008 - 9:24pm

Ahi tuna: many people know tuna as ahi tuna. However, there isn't a species named ahi. Ahi means ''tuna'' in the Hawaiian language, so if you ask for Ahi tuna, all you are asking for is "tuna" tuna! Sometimes I like to just mess with people when they ask if I have ahi tuna: I ask what kind of tuna? "Ahi," they reply. "Yellow fin, big eye, or blue fin?" I ask. "No, Ahi!"

Most sushi bars carry three kinds of tuna; yellowfin, albacore, and big eye. The better sushi bars will also carry a fourth named blue fin. So next time you are dining out and you see ahi tuna on the menu, and you are feeling a little snobbish, ask what kind of ahi it is and see if they know... a good chef should know there is no such thing is Ahi tuna.

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6 Reader Comments

-p. (not verified)09:56am
Feb 25

According to the online Hawaiian dictionary (http://www.wehewehe.org/), 'ahi' actually means fire, and 'ahi Tuna' is referring to Yellowfin only.

henry (not verified)03:57pm
Feb 25

It's just like calling tissue kleenex, when kleenex is just a brand. Ahi is a word that is miss used often. Working and talking with fish suppliers in Hawaii they refer to all tuna as Ahi.

Anonymous (not verified)11:47am
Mar 7

Jesus, you really are not this stupid and a chef? The fish is also known as ahi tuna, after the Hawaiian word for "fire", due to the smoke from their fishing ropes rubbing violently on the gunwales of their wooden canoes while pulling the fish in. Ahi refers to Yellowfin tuna, dumbass.

Stacey (not verified)02:43pm
Jun 2

Having read the original comment from the chef, and then the follow-up reply from "Anonymous" (it figures), I gotta say that anonymous is absolutely right regarding the correct terminology of the Ahi tuna and where the word's origin comes from. Anonymous is also absolutely rude. The anonymity of the internet makes the worst come out in a lot of people, and it's a shame that, because an individual cannot face-to-face SEE who he's insulting (in this case, calling a perfect stranger a dumbass), he cowardly attacks him with a "dumbass." That's too bad. You should be ashamed of yourself, sir (or maam). Stacey

Andy (not verified)10:07pm
Aug 3

one sushi restaurant around my area has "Ahi tuna" on their menu. I would try to ask the chef about type of tuna they have.
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cocoyu113 (not verified)12:25am
Nov 10

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