The name of the roll refers to the colourful pattern of raw fish and fruits across its top that resembles a rainbow.[3]
It is also known as Geisha roll, dragon roll, or fish roll.[4]
History
The rainbow roll is considered as the next step of sushi introduction into the United States culinary culture after the California roll, the first roll with nori seaweed leaf hidden inside rice.[3] While the California roll uses no raw fish at all, the rainbow roll takes it one step further by adding raw tuna, salmon, shrimp, and white fish.[2]