tobiko
plural noun
to·bi·ko
tə-ˈbē-(ˌ)kō 
: bright orange or red roe harvested from a flying fish (such as Cheilopogon agoo) and typically used as a condiment or garnish especially in Japanese or Japanese-inspired cuisine
By the end of the class, the kitchen table … was filled with rows of colorful sushi topped with tobiko …—
Heidi Ho
Heidi Ho… specialty rolls … topped with tobiko, avocado and scallions.—Paul Gregutt
Paul Gregutt… shrimp fried rice, with garlic and scallions and bright red tobiko for an extra umami crunch.—Esther Tseng
Esther Tseng… tobiko infused with wasabi enliven a dense swordfish steak …—Mike Dunne
Mike DunneExamples of tobiko in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Look for specialty bites like the Scarlet Wave, featuring seared salmon, spicy tuna, tobiko and crispy onions, or the Kaisen Roll, featuring lobster, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber and bonito.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Highlights include the salmon seduction roll, which features lightly torched King salmon topped with Ikura caviar ($22.99), and spicy tuna crispy rice with tobiko caviar and truffle eel sauce ($15.99).
—Connie Ogle
updated February 27, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
What lands on the table is both measured and inventive: a thousand-layer chicken puff that shatters at the touch, prawn-and-spinach dumplings crowned with tobiko, roast duck carved with ritualistic flair.
—Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Oct. 2025
Hamachi Lover Maki: yellowtail, mango, and cilantro, topped with more yellowtail, yuzu soy sauce, jalapeno, spicy mayo, and red tobiko.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Oct. 2025
The dish is finished with tobiko and unagi sauce, made from soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake.
—Irene Adeline Milanez, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2025
The kaleidoscope of color followed us to the restaurant, where there was a scotch bonnet on top of my margarita and green tobiko atop an amuse-bouche of local lobster.
—Elspeth Velten, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025
The Signature Bowl spotlights tuna tartare, scallops, surf clam, yuzu tobiko, and cucumber, while the more delicate Shiro Bowl uses refined amberjack and sea bream sashimi.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024
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Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Highlights include the salmon seduction roll, which features lightly torched King salmon topped with Ikura caviar ($22.99), and spicy tuna crispy rice with tobiko caviar and truffle eel sauce ($15.99).
—Connie Ogle
updated February 27, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
What lands on the table is both measured and inventive: a thousand-layer chicken puff that shatters at the touch, prawn-and-spinach dumplings crowned with tobiko, roast duck carved with ritualistic flair.
—Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Oct. 2025
Hamachi Lover Maki: yellowtail, mango, and cilantro, topped with more yellowtail, yuzu soy sauce, jalapeno, spicy mayo, and red tobiko.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Oct. 2025
The dish is finished with tobiko and unagi sauce, made from soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake.
—Irene Adeline Milanez, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2025
The kaleidoscope of color followed us to the restaurant, where there was a scotch bonnet on top of my margarita and green tobiko atop an amuse-bouche of local lobster.
—Elspeth Velten, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025
The Signature Bowl spotlights tuna tartare, scallops, surf clam, yuzu tobiko, and cucumber, while the more delicate Shiro Bowl uses refined amberjack and sea bream sashimi.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tobiko.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tobiko. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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