I was at a fancy restaurant that served kaiseki (懐石) and I wanted to ask the chef
How long have you worked at this restaurant?
I was about to use the word レストラン, but I knew that wasn’t the right word. I do know that Japanese tend to add 〜や after food to denote «a place that sells ~» like 寿司屋 or うなぎや. But that doesn’t apply to 懐石.
So what are the words for the following?
- Western-style restaurants: レストラン
- Cafe: カフェ？
- Cafeteria: ?
- Generic Japanese-style restaurants: ?
Or any other useful words for eating locations.
asked Oct 11, 2022 at 16:43
1
(この/こちらの)お店 is the most suitable and natural word in this context. It can be used safely regardless of whether the restaurant is causal or expensive, Japanese-style or Western-style.
You can also use 料理店 or 懐石料理店 (see: What is the difference between 食堂 , レストラン, 料理店, 料理屋 and 飲食店?) if you really want to be specific. If you know the restaurant is categorized as 料亭 (the most expensive type), you can use it, too. But in my opinion, (この)お店 is the most natural when you just want to say «(this) restaurant» generically without worrying about details. See this answer, too.
(お is a «beautifying» prefix which isn’t strictly necessary, but most people keep it when they want to speak politely.)
EDIT: «Generic Japanese-style restaurants» is perhaps 和食のお店 or 和食屋, but people usually don’t imagine sushi restaurants, unagi-ya and ramen shops with this word. If you want to refer to everything like these, you may have to say 日本の料理を出すお店全般 or something.
answered Oct 11, 2022 at 19:52
narutonaruto
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«Cafeteria» on its own is simply 食堂, but a cafeteria-style restaurant could also just be called ファミリーレストラン (with maybe a 食べ放題 at the beginning).
A Japanese-style restaurant is (most?) commonly お食事処. I have never been to one, so I can’t describe it from experience, but these probably serve the more traditional Japanese food. This chigai.site entry says they can often serve 懐石料理, so this may be closest to what you’re looking for.
And while definitely not the word for your context, there are also 立ち[食]{ぐ}い «restaurants», though these are often little more stalls/storefronts that are standing-room only (hence the name), accommodating little more than a few customers at a time. #IYKYK
One final thought as related to you question: keep it simple! Instead of fumbling for the correct word for «restaurant», why not simply ask the chef, «How long have you worked here?«. My ¥2…
answered Oct 11, 2022 at 17:19
istrasciistrasci
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We’ve previously covered everything you need to know to avoid common Japanese food faux-pas when dining in Japan in our guide, Japanese Table Manners and Dining Etiquette. Now, we’re covering the essential Japanese restaurant phrases.
Dining out in Japan is one of the key attractions of this great country, but alas, the language can sometimes present a challenge. Even if the restaurant has an English menu, pictures of the dishes, and so on, English speakers can still experience miscommunications if they don’t know a few key Japanese phrases, especially if there’s a specific dietary requirement involved (the Japan Vegan Guide covers essential Japanese phrases specifically for our plant-based friends).
Don’t know how to make a reservation in Japanese? ByFood’s system for restaurant reservations in Japan strives to make every restaurant in Japan accessible to foreign travelers and residents of Japan.
The easiest way to learn a new language is through everyday use, so what better way to do so than by eating at Japanese restaurants and exploring the local food culture! And here’s a pro tip: check out these 10 Japanese food movies and anime to squeeze in some listening practice with your daily dose of entertainment, from classic Japanese film to popular anime series.
To help you avoid awkward situations and start you off on your Japanese language journey, below are some must-know basic Japanese phrases for dining out, no knowledge of the Japanese writing system required!
Japanese 101: Must-Know Japanese Restaurant Phrases
This guide to Japanese restaurant phrases covers the following situations:
- Entering the Restaurant
- Ordering from the Menu
- Finishing Up and Bill Payments
- Special Requests
Here are the most basic Japanese phrases for dining out that you should learn as part of simple dining etiquette in Japan:
- いらっしゃいませ – (Irrashaimase) is an expression meaning, «Please come in» or «Welcome to my store.» You will tend to hear this as you first enter an eatery, izakaya (Japanese-style gastropub), or bar.
- いただきます – (Itadakimasu) is usually said before people eat a meal. Basically, it translates into, «I humbly accept/receive» this meal.
- ごちそうさま (でした) – (Gochisousama (deshita)) means simply, «Thank you for the food or drink.» This expression is usually used at the end of a meal, either at a friend’s place or a restaurant. At a restaurant, you can also use it as a sign that you have finished eating, you appreciate the meal, and would like the check.
1. Entering the Restaurant
Upon entering the restaurant, the staff should greet you and ask you if you have made a reservation. Here are some more useful Japanese words when you arrive.
- こんばんは。いっらしゃいませ (Konbanwa. Irrashaimase) – Good evening. Welcome (to our bar/restaurant).
- ご 予約(よやく) はされているんでしょうか? (Go yoyaku wa sarete irun deshou ka?) – Have you made a reservation?
If you have a reservation, simply tell them the name it is booked under.
- 予約(よやく) をしています。ジェイムズです (Yoyaku o shite imasu. Jeimuzu desu) – Yes, I have a reservation. It is booked under the name James.
If you didn’t make a reservation out can simply say:
- すみません、予約(よやく) してないのですが、空いて(あいて) いますか？ (Sumimasen. Go yoyaku shitenai no desu ga, aite imasu ka?) – Sorry, I haven’t made a reservation, but do you have any seats/space available?
There are a few restaurants that do not take reservations. Instead, they will simply ask you how many people are in your group.
- 何(なん) 名(めい) 様(さま) ですか？ (Nan mei sama desu ka?) – How many people are in your group? (Polite)
Some example responses:
- 1人(ひとり) / 2人(ふたり) です (Hitori / Futari desu) – One person / Two people.
- 3人(さんにん) です (San nin desu) – Three people.
In a lot of cafes and family restaurants, there are separate areas for smoking and non-smoking seating. Thus, they may also ask you for your preference.
- 喫煙席(きつえんせき)、禁煙席(きんえんせき) のどちらに (Kitsuenseki, kinenseki no dochira ni) – Would you prefer to sit in the smoking or non-smoking section?
- 喫煙席をお願いします (Kitsuenseki o onegai shimasu) – The smoking area, please.
- 禁煙席をお願いします (Kinenseki o onegaishimasu) – The non-smoking area, please.
Once this has all been confirmed, they should then take you to your seat.
- お席(おせき) へ ご案内(ごあんあい) いたします (O seki e goanai itashimasu) – I will show you to your seat.
It is quite common for popular restaurants to be fully booked, or have no seating available. Particularly, during the holiday periods or on weekends. In this instance, they will say something like:
- 申し訳(もうしわけ) ございません、本日は貸切(かしきり) になっております (Moushiwake gozaimasen. Honjitsu wa kashi kiri ni natte orimasu) – Sorry, we are fully booked (due to a party or event).
- 申し訳ございません。只今、満席(まんせき) となっております (Moushiwake gozaimasen. Tadaima manseki to natte orimasu) – Sorry, we are full now (there are no seats available at the moment).
If this is the case, you will, unfortunately, need to find another restaurant.
2. Ordering from the Menu
It may seem awkward at first, but getting a waiter’s attention is totally natural in Japan. A simple «すみません» (Sumimasen) with your hand raised in the air, at a decent volume, should be enough to get some service. Alternatively, the staff may already be circling your table and just waiting for you to finalize your choices.
Initially, you might like to ask if they have an English menu available, this will no doubt save you a lot of hassle and time.
- すみません。英語(えいご) のメニューはありますか？ (Sumimasen. Eigo no menu wa arimasu ka?) – Excuse me. Do you have an English menu available?
Generally, they should be able to accommodate you, especially in the touristy areas or popular sightseeing spots of Tokyo. If there is no English menu available, you will see them apologize or gesture to indicate that they do not have one.
In the absence of an English menu, you may want to inquire about something that you see. Specifically, pictures of dishes that look appealing. In this case, you can simply ask:
- それは 何(なん) ですか？ (Sore wa nan desu ka?) – What is this? (While pointing to something on the menu.)
You may also want to try the waiter or waitress’s recommendation. It is quite simple to get their suggestion:
- オススメは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?) – What is your recommendation?
Hopefully, everyone in your group has made a decision, so it’s time to order. You can use «すみません» (Sumimasen) again to get the staff’s attention, followed by:
- 注文(ちゅうもん)をお願いします (Chuumon o onegai shimasu) – I’d like to order.
or:
- オーダーしてもいいですか? (Oodaa shite mo ii desu ka?) – Can we order, please?
When you order food or drink, the expressions are very similar, so this should be a little easier to master. As an example, to order a beer you can say:
- ビールをお願いします (Biiru o onegai shimasu) – I would like a beer, please.
Similarly, if you would like to order fried chicken at an izakaya:
- 唐揚げ(からあげ) をお願いします (Karaage o onegai shimasu) – I would like some fried chicken, please.
It is also simple to request a refill of the same drink by using:
- お代わり(おかわり) をお願いします (Okawari o onegai shimasu) – Could I have the same again, please.
Of course, there will be times when you need to order more than one of something. In this situation, you would usually insert the number after the name of the drink or dish, for example:
- ビールを 三つ(みっつ) お願いします (Biiru o mittsu onegai shimasu) – I would like 3 beers, please.
Japanese numbers can be a little confusing, as there are hundreds of different counter words for every type of object; from flat, thin objects (like paper) to long objects (like bottles and pens). If you want to avoid using Japanese counters, you can use the universal counters listed below and just fill in the sentence to order:
(Noun) を (universal counter) お願いします ((Noun) o (universal counter) onegai shimasu) — I would like (number) (noun), please.
これを 四つ（よつ) お願いします (Haibōru o hitotsu onegai shimasu) — I would like 4 of these, please.
- ひとつ (Hitotsu)
- ふたつ (Futatsu)
- みつ (Mitsu)
- よつ (Yotsu)
- いつつ (Itsutsu)
- むっつ (Muttsu)
- ななつ (Nanatsu)
- やっつ (Yattsu)
- ここのつ (Kokonotsu)
- とう (Tou)
It is also easy to combine multiple requests, by using the following:
- ビールを3つと、ワインを 1つ(ひとつ) お願いします (Biiru o mittsu to, wain o hitotsu onegai shimasu) – I would like 3 beers and 1 wine, please.
The above phrase can also be used for ordering meals, by substituting the name of the drink with the dish instead.
Finally, we hope you were able to successfully order your meals and drinks. The waitstaff will usually confirm the order with you, thank you for the order, and then tell you to wait. Something similar to:
- 少々(しょうしょう) お待ち(おまち) ください (Shou shou omachi kudasai) – Please wait a moment. (Very polite)
Don’t forget to show appreciation for the food before you eat! いただきます (i-ta-da-ki-ma-su) is the phrase used before eating a meal in Japan.
3. Finishing Up and Bill Payments
You’ve finished your meals and hopefully everyone is feeling full and satisfied, so it’s time to finish up by paying. You can simply get the staff’s attention by saying:
- すみません。お 会計(かいけい) をお願い(おねがい) します (Sumimasen. O kaikei o onegai shimasu) – Excuse me, could we get the bill/check, please.
In this phrase, «お会計» (おかいけい or O kaikei) means the check, but you can also use «チェック» (ちぇっく or Chekku), which is another way to say bill.
As mentioned before, you can also use the expression «ごちそうさま (でした)» (Gochisousama(deshita)) indicating you are finished eating, and you are showing appreciation for the food. The staff should understand this to mean you are ready to pay and will bring the bill to you. The expression is also a good way to show appreciation as you exit the restaurant.
Please note that in some restaurants, they will leave the bill on your table, and others will request you to bring a number to the register. It really depends on the eatery as to how their system works.
4. Special Requests: Other Essential Japanese Phrases for Dining Out
There may be times when you need to make special requests, so we have provided the following additional phrases to help you:
- お子様(おこさま) メニューはありますか？ (Okosama menyuu wa arimasu ka?) – Do you have a children’s menu?
- ベジタリアンメニューはありますか？ (Bejitarian menyuu wa arimasu ka?) – Do you have a vegetarian menu?
If you have a particular allergy or prefer a meal without a certain ingredient, you can use the following phrase too:
- サラダは 卵(たまご) を抜き(抜き) にしてもらえますか? (Sarada wa tamago o nuki ni shite moraemasu ka?) – Could I please have the salad without egg?
Ready to face your fear of ordering food in Japan? With these essential Japanese phrases under your belt, you should be on your way to mastering the Japanese language, at least where Japanese cuisine is concerned. In urban areas like Tokyo, restaurants sometimes have English speakers on staff, but you’ll always have more interesting personal experiences with local Japanese people when you try to speak Japanese yourself. And food just so happens to be a conversation starter everyone loves. So go forth, try out these useful Japanese words and phrases, and have a mini-adventure at your local izakaya or restaurant!
To access the best restaurants in Japan without any Japanese, let us help! Make a restaurant reservation on byFood.com and leave the Japanese to us!
For further Japanese lessons and info about Japan, be sure to check out FAQ Japan.
We strive to be as accurate as possible and keep up with the changing landscape of Japan’s food and travel industries. If you spot any inaccuracies, please send a report.
Shinshi ga weitā ni chippu o watashite imasu.
紳士がウェイターにチップを渡しています。
The gentleman is tipping the waiter.
kurejitto kādo de kau
クレジットカードで買う
yunifōmu o kita weitoresu
ユニフォームを着たウェイトレス
Kon’ya no mein ryōri wa, yaki zakana desu.
今夜のメイン料理は、焼き魚です。
Tonight’s main course is grilled fish.
Shefu ga ryōri o shite imasu.
シェフが料理をしています。
The chef is making a meal.
serufu sābisu no resutoran
セルフサービスのレストラン
Hanbāgā to furaido poteto wa, fāsuto fūdo to kangae rarete iru.
ハンバーガーとフライドポテトは、ファーストフードと考えられている。
Burgers and fries are considered fast food.
Josei-tachi ga, resutoran de shokuji o shite iru.
女性達が、レストランで食事をしている。
The women are eating out at a restaurant.
Sono onna no hito-tachi wa, soto no kafe de hanashite iru.
その女の人たちは、外のカフェで話している。
The women are talking at the outdoor cafe.
Genkin de sū-hyaku-doru arimasu.
現金で数百ドルあります。
There is a few hundred dollars in cash.
Kono aisukurīmu wa oishisō desu.
このアイスクリームはおいしそうです。
The ice cream looks delicious.
Japanese cuisine is delicious and one of the best ways to get an understanding of it is to visit restaurants and try the food. However, you’ll need to navigate your way around it with some useful Japanese words to use at a restaurant. Don’t worry though, going to a restaurant in Japan is similar to anywhere else in the world.
Familiarising yourself with Japanese to use at a restaurant is one of the first real-life applications of the language that you’ll have as a beginner. Read on to learn the most essential phrases to know when you head out for a bite to eat.
Entering the restaurant & getting seated
If you have made a reservation, or you’re meeting someone who has made a reservation, you’ll want to let the staff know when you walk through the door. There are various ways you can say this:
Hello/Good evening, I have a reservation under Anna.
こんにちは / こんばんわ, アンナの予約です。
Konnichiwa/Konbanwa, Anna no yoyaku desu.
Or you can also say:
予約をした。 アンナです。
Yoyaku o shita. Anna desu.
Hello/Good evening, I have a reservation at 6:30 for two people under Anna.
６時半から2名で予約をしたアンナです。
Rokujihan kara nimei de yoyaku o shita Anna desu.
You may also be asked if you have a reservation:
予約をしていますか?
Yoyaku o shite imasuka?
Or if you don’t have a reservation, you can state how many people are in your group after greeting the staff. Oftentimes the staff will ask:
How many people?
何名様ですか？
Nanmei sama desuka?
Knowing your counters is important when it comes to learning Japanese words to use at a restaurant. As you may already know, counting in Japanese is not the same as it is in English, where you would simply say two people. The counter changes depending on what you are counting. For example saying “two beers” is different compared to “two people” in Japanese.
Hello/Good evening, one person/two people/three people
こんにちは / こんばんわ, 一人/二人/三人 です。
Konnichiwa/Konbanwa, hitori/futari/sannin desu.
For more on Japanese counters, read our article here.
Did you know that in Japan, you are still able to smoke in some restaurants? As such, it is not uncommon to be asked whether you would like to be placed in the smoking section or not. Depending on the layout of the restaurant, you may also be asked if you would like to sit at a table (テーブル tēburu) or the counter (カウンター kauntā).
Useful Japanese to use at a restaurant in this situation are:
A non-smoking table please.
禁煙席お願いします。
Kinen seki onegaishimasu
A smoking table please.
喫煙席お願いします。
Kitsuen seki onegaishimasu
Did you know that quite often there are private rooms available in some restaurants? To ask for this use koshitsu wa arimasuka? (個室はありますか？)
If you need an English menu, you can ask staff if they have one:
英語のメニューがありますか？
Eigo no menyū ga arimasuka?
Ordering food and drinks
When you have decided what you would like to order, you can call staff by raising your hand and saying, “sumimasen” or “onegaishimasu”. Or just press the call button if there is one on your table.
To add an extra layer of politeness, when the staff member comes over, you can say to them:
Could I make an order please?
注文してもいいですか？
Chūmon shite mo ii desuka?
When ordering, it’s as simple as ordering what you want and telling them how many you want just like in any other country. This can only get a bit tricky when you’re trying to remember all your counters again! Remember to use と (to) between each item you order and at the end of the sentence add お願いします (onegaishimasu).
For example:
Two beers and one shochu highball please
ビールを一つと焼酎ハイボールを一つお願いします。
Biiru wo futatsu to shochu haibooru wo hitotsu onegaishimasu
If you’re feeling unsure about how to pronounce the menu items, you can always point and politely say:
This one please
こちらをお願いします。
Kochira wo onegaishimasu。
Furthermore, if you don’t know what you’re asking for you can use:
What is this?
これは何ですか？
Kore wa nan desuka?
It may be that you have specific dietary requirements. The first thing you may want to know is if a dish contains a particular allergen e.g.
Does this have nuts?
ナッツ が入っていますか？
Nattsu ga haitteimasuka?
I’m allergic to eggs. Is it possible to leave out the egg?
卵アレルギーがあるので、卵抜きでいいですか？
Tamago arerugī ga aru node, tamago nuki de ii desuka?
I’m vegetarian, so I don’t eat meat
ベジタリアンなので、肉を食べません。
Bejitarian na node, niku o tabemasen.
Read more about being vegetarian in Japan in our blog article.
I am gluten intolerant, so I absolutely cannot eat it.
小麦グルテンアレルギーなので、絶対食べられません。
Komugi guruten arerugī na node, zettai taberaremasen.
You can read more about being gluten-free in Japan here.
If you’d like to replace an item then you can say:
Can you replace the pork with chicken?
豚肉の代わりに鶏肉にできますか?
Butaniku no kawari ni toriniku ni dekimasuka?
Note that it’s not a widespread practice in Japan for restaurants to adjust their dishes on the spot based on customer requests. Therefore don’t be surprised if staff might seem confused or hesitant to respond to you immediately. Similarly, don’t be surprised or offended if the restaurant is unable to meet your request.
You should have everything you need on your table but you may need the phrase torizara wo nimai kudasai (取り皿を二枚ください) which are the small plates when sharing food. Kozara (小皿 ) is also used for this purpose.
Now before you dive into your food, don’t forget to be thankful. You’ll almost certainly have heard itadakimasu (いただきます) said before people start a meal. There are also some rules around drink etiquette but the easiest and most important phrase is kanpai (乾杯) before you all start your drinks!
A useful phrase that many people forget until they’re desperate is asking where the toilet is:
Toire wa doko desu ka? (トイレはどこですか？) – Where is the toilet?
At the end of the meal
Getting the bill at the end of the meal is relatively straight forward. First, get the waiters attention:
Sumimasen (すみません) – Excuse me.
Then ask for the bill:
Okaikei kudasai (お会計ください) – Bill please.
If you wish to ask whether they accept payment by card, you can say:
Can I use my credit card?
クレジットカードを使えますか？
Kurejitto kādo o tsukaemasuka?
If you want to ask if they can split the bill, you can say:
Is it possible to split the bill?
別々にできますか？
Betsubetsu ni dekimasuka?
Note that many places only allow one bill, so it’s often easier for everyone to put in their share in cash and then pay everything together at the cashier.
Finally, don’t forget to thank the staff before you leave:
Thank you for the meal
ごちそうさまでした
Gochisousamadeshita
This phrase is commonly used at the end of a meal and means, “It was a lot of work (to prepare the meal)”.
Those are some of the most common and basic Japanese words to use at a restaurant. If you’re interested in learning beginner Japanese, check out our online course. Developed together with Akamonkai Japanese Language School, this course is designed to get you through the most essential foundations of the Japanese language.
Got questions or other situations you’d like to learn some Japanese for? Contact us or leave us a comment below!
When you go to Japan, or if you are already there, chances are you will find yourself eating in a restaurant at some point or another. At least, I hope you do.
While you may be able to get by simply with pointing at the picture of what you want on the menu and saying “please,” you’ll probably feel a lot more comfortable if you are more familiar with words and phrases commonly used in restaurants. So let’s look at some of the more useful ones.
Contents
- 1 5 useful phrases in Japanese Restaurants
- 2 Japanese Phrases in Restaurants :Ordering
- 3 Japanese Phrases You Can Use in Restaurants
- 4 Samples
- 5 Things That Are Different
- 5.1 Menu in Japanese
- 6 Japanese Phrases in Restaurants : Try Some New Food!
- 6.1 Recommend
- 6.2 Learn Japanese online with BondLingo ?
- 7 Study in Japan?
- 7.1 Related
5 useful phrases in Japanese Restaurants
Japanese Phrases in Restaurants :Ordering
The first thing you may notice in Japanese restaurants is that the staff will speak very politely. This is pretty common in all types of stores in Japan, and you’ll probably get used to it pretty quickly.
Because the staff speaks politely, customers tend to follow suit. Make sure you use more polite language, and be expecting it when you go in. (A note on this though: there are always exceptions. Restaurant staff tend to be more polite, but you might find restaurants where they aren’t. They’re pretty few and far between.)
Here’s a few common words and phrases you’ll hear when you go to a restaurant.
Japanese Phrases You Can Use in Restaurants
| English | Romaji | 日本語 |
| How many are in your party? | Nanmeisama desu ka? | 何名様ですか？ |
| Drink (but polite) | Onomimono | お飲物 |
| Have you decided what you want? | Gochuumon wa okimari desu ka? | ご注文はお決まりですか？ |
| I’ll have … please. | …wo kudasai. | …をください。 |
| I’ll have … please. | …wo onegai shimasu | …をお願いします。 |
| Recommendation | Osusume | オススメ |
| Bill | Okanjou | お勘定 |
| Bill | Okaikei | お会計 |
| Together (for paying the bill) | Issho ni | 一緒に |
| Separate (for paying the bill) | Betsu betsu | べつべつ |
| Just a moment, please. | Chotto Matte kudasai. | ちょっとまってください。 |
| Do you want your drink with your meal or after? | Onomimno wa Itsugoro Omochi itashimasyouka? | おのみものはいつごろおもちいたしましょうか? |
| After meal, please. | Gohan no Ato de Onegaishimasu. | ごはんのあとでおねがいします。 |
| Is that everything? | Gochuumon wa Ijyoude Yoroshiidesuka? | ごちゅうもんはいじょうでよろしいですか? |
One thing you may notice in this list is the use of “o” (お) in front of several words, such as the words for “bill” and in the phrase “okimari desu ka” (お決まりですか). This is just to make the word or phrase more polite.
You can also see how polite the staff generally are from the use of “sama” (様), which is super formal and not really used in everyday conversation. However, it is used to refer to customers in restaurants and stores.
You may have also noticed that some phrases have different ways to say them listed in the chart, such as “wo kudasai” and “wo onegai shimasu” for ordering. These are generally interchangeable, and they are both polite enough to be acceptable.
Samples
| Japanese | English |
| ご注文はお決まりですか？ | Are you ready to order? |
| すみません、もう少し時間をください。 | Sorry, I need a little more time. |
| すみません、注文お願いします。 | Excuse me, I’m ready to order. |
| これと、これをください。 | I’ll have this and this. |
| 私も同じものをください。 | I’ll have the same, please. |
| それを２つで。 | Make it two, please. |
| とりあえず以上です。 | That’s all for now. |
| 追加の注文をしたいのですが。 | I’d like to order again. |
| 何がおすすめですか？ | What do you recommend? |
| 今日の特別メニューは何ですか？ | What’s today’s special? |
| このお店の名物は何ですか？ | What’s the house specialty? |
| これはどんなものですか？ | What’s this like? |
| これは辛いですか？ | Is this spicy? |
| どれくらいの量ですか？ | How big is this? |
| ハーブティーにはどんな種類がありますか？ | What kind of herbal teas do you have? |
| ドリンクはついていますか？ | Does this come with a drink? |
| 素敵な食事をありがとうござます。 | Thank you for a lovely meal. |
| シェフに素晴らしかったと伝えてください。 | My compliments to the chef. |
| また来たいです。 | I’d like to come again. |
| これは注文していません。 | I didn’t order this. |
| これは私が注文したものではありません。 | This isn’t what I ordered. |
| 注文したものがまた来ていません。 | My order hasn’t come yet. |
| サラダをずっと待っているのですが。 | I’m still waiting for my salad. |
| 十分火が通っていません。 | This isn’t cooked enough. |
| プリンの中に髪の毛が入っています。 | There’s a hair in the pudding. |
| 伝票に間違いがあります。 | There’s a mistake on the bill. |
| どれもすごく美味しい。 | Everything tastes great. |
| どれもまあまあの味だね。 | Everything tastes okay. |
| カレーがスパイシーで美味しそう。 | The curry looks spicy and tasty. |
| このパン、すごく良い匂い。 | This bread smells so good. |
| まろやかな味だ。 | It tastes mild. |
| 変なにおいがする。 | It smells funny. |
| どれも美味しいです。 | Everything tastes good. |
| すべてが素晴らしいです。ありがとう。 | Everything is great, thank you. |
| 特にスープが気に入りました。 | I especially liked the soup. |
| このコーヒー、本当に美味しいですね！ | This coffee is really good! |
| このようなものは食べたことがありません。 | I’ve never had anything like this before. |
| これはとても風味豊かです。 | This is so flavourful. |
| もう一切れいただけますか？ | May I have another piece? |
| お水をもう少しいただけますか？ | Can I have some more water? |
| 毛布をもう一枚いただけますか？ | May I have another blanket? |
| パンのおかわりはできますか？ | May I have more bread? |
| スプーンをもう一本いただけますか？ | May I have another spoon? |
Things That Are Different
There are a few things in Japanese restaurants that can be different, especially for someone used to dining out in the United States. These differences are specifically things I noticed were different from the U.S., so if you’re in a different country, Japan might be more familiar to you. Or less. You’ll find out.
Menus in Japan often have illustrations of everything (or almost everything) on the menu. This is really nice if you don’t know the words for certain dishes, and it can also become really good reading practice.
But some Japanese restaurants, usually smaller, family run places, might have each item written on a slip of paper and attached to the wall. I actually thought restaurants like this were really fun because I had to look around to find what I wanted to order. Then I saw other items after I got my food, which gave me something to order the next time I stopped by.
Generally, it’s not very polite to ask to change a lot of things in your order (such as trading out a side or a meat or something). You can, of course. And a good phrase for this is “___ wo nuki ni shite moraemasu ka?” (___ を抜きにしてもらえますか？), where ___ is what you don’t want. This is alright, especially if you have an allergy or don’t eat a certain food. But if you’re going to change more than one thing from your order, you may be better off just picking a different option from the menu.
I also sometimes had a hard time if I asked for extra things after I got my food. If you’re going to ask for ketchup with your fries, you should first be prepared to get some weird looks, and you should also be prepared to not get any ketchup. That definitely happened to me once.
You usually won’t have any leftovers to take home. This is because Japan doesn’t serve large portions like the U.S. Even if you do have leftovers, some Japanese restaurants won’t let you take them home because they won’t be fresh anymore. You can ask, but they might not let you.
One last big difference is tipping. We tip in the U.S. because servers rely on tips to make up their paycheck. That doesn’t happen in Japan, so you don’t need to tip. All of the cost is already included in the bill.
Japanese Phrases in Restaurants : Try Some New Food!
If you’re going to be in Japan, make sure you hit up different Japanese restaurants. You can use these phrases to feel more comfortable exploring, and who knows? You might even get a new favorite food out of it.
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Study in Japan?
What do you want to do when you come to Japan? Sightseeing? Relaxing at onsen? Shopping for souvenirs? There are many activities, but don’t forget to have some delicious Japanese treats. (Sushi, ramen, udon, soba, nabe… Mmm, Japanese food all looks so delicious!) However, when you go to a Japanese restaurant, the language barrier might be quite troublesome. It may be easier if you use a translation app, but let’s try to order your food in Japanese to add to the experience! Here are some Japanese phrases you can use at Japanese restaurants to place your order. You can learn more basic greetings and useful expressions for traveling in this article.
1. Making reservation
Before going to a restaurant, you may want to ask in advance about its opening hours and regular holidays, or you may want to reserve a seat. Recently, internet reviews sites often contain basic information about local restaurants, but unfortunately the English coverage is limited. So, if you can’t get access to the information you need, you may have to call or email to contact the restaurant directly. Here are some useful phrases related to questions and reservations that you can say or use in Japanese by phone or email.
What are your opening hours?
この店の営業時間はいつですか?
Kono mise no eigyō jikan wa itsu desuka?
“いつ (itsu)” is the word for “when” in English. It is one of the Japanese interrogative pronouns that you can use when you want to know the time. 営業時間 (eigyō jikan) means opening hours.
When are you closed?
この店の定休日はいつですか?
Kono mise no teikyūbi wa itsu desuka?
定休日 (teikyūbi) means “regular holidays”. As a small tip, let’s learn how to say “days” in Japanese here.
| Meaning in English | Japanese words | Pronunciation |
| Monday | 月曜日 (げつようび) | Getsuyō-bi |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 (かようび) | Kayō-bi |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 (すいようび) | Suiyō-bi |
| Thursday | 木曜日 (もくようび) | Mokuyō-bi |
| Friday | 金曜日 (きんようび) | Kinyō-bi |
| Saturday | 土曜日 (どようび) | Doyō-bi |
| Sunday | 日曜日 (にちようび) | Nichiyō-bi |
Can I make a reservation at your restaurant?
この店で予約を取れますか?
Kono mise de yoyaku wo toremasuka?
Most Japanese restaurants accept reservations, but you may not be able to do that at some restaurants, especially those run by a private owner such as small izakaya restaurants. Ask the restaurant in advance if they can accept your reservation.
If you find it difficult to make a phone or email reservation, you can also use a reservation site for Japanese restaurants which is available in English. Here are some suggestions.
- Pocket Concierge
- TABLEALL
- Voyagin
2. When you place your order at a restaurant
Now you have arrived at your restaurant. Probably you are very excited about what to order, but if they don’t have any English menu, you may have no idea what each name of the dish means. In such a case, feel free to ask the restaurant staff. Surely, they try to answer your question as much as they can.
(Pointing at the menu with your forefinger) What kind of food is it?
この料理はどんなものですか？
Kono ryōri wa donna mono desuka?
Here are some Japanese words about foods that you might hear as an answer from the staff.
| Japanese word | Pronunciation | Meaning in English |
| 肉料理 | Niku ryōri | a meat dish |
| 魚料理 | Sakana ryōri | a fish dish |
| 野菜料理 | Yasai ryōri | a vegetable dish |
| スープ料理 | Sūpu ryōri | Soup |
| デザート | Dezāto | Dessert |
I can’t eat XX.
(XX) が食べられません。
(XX) ga taberaremasen.
E.g. Butaniku ga taberaremasen. (I can’t eat pork)
Niku ya sakana ga taberaremasen.(I can’t eat any meat and seafood)
or simply say, Watashi wa vegan desu. (I am vegan)
You may have some kinds of food you can’t eat due to your religious reason or allergy. Saying this phrase helps them understand your dietary restriction. However, be aware that not always your food request will be accepted, depending on your meal. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can visit restaurants for vegetarians and vegans as an option.
Can I have this?
これ、お願いします
Kore, onegaishimasu.
When you finally decided what to order, pointing at the menu and simply say this phrase to place your order!
3. Asking questions at a restaurant
Do you have a restroom here?
お手洗いはありますか?
Otearai wa arimasuka?
トイレはありますか?
Toire wa arimasuka?
Both お手洗い (otearai) and トイレ (toire) mean “toilet”, but otearai is a more polite way to say it.
Can I have this food to go?
この料理はお持ち帰りできますか?
Kono ryōri wa omochi kaeri dekimasuka?
This is a convenient phrase that you can use when you want to bring your food back to your hotel. Please note that depending on the restaurant, you may be charged with the additional price for the container and bag to take home. The cost of a container is usually around 50 yen or less, and that of a bag is around 10 yen. If you don’t need them, say the following sentence.
I don’t need a bag (or container).
袋 (容器) はいりません。
Fukuro (yōki) wa irimasen
4. When you leave a restaurant
After eating a delicious meal, let’s finish your check.
May I have a check?
お会計をお願いします。
Okaikei wo onegai shimasu.
お会計 (okaikei) means “a check after your meal”. Say this phrase to tell you’re ready for a check, then a staff will bring you the bill.
Can I pay with my credit card?
カードでお支払いできますか?
Kādo de oshiharai dekimasuka?
The word “Kādo” (card) usually refers to a credit card at restaurants and shops in Japan. Most restaurants accept credit cards, but be aware that some restaurants do not accept them at all. You can ask them in advance if needed.
There is no need to tip at the time of your check because the tip culture has not applied to Japan (It’s actually listed as one of the things not to do in Japan). However, the high-end restaurants often charge a service fee in addition to the price of your meal. And at Izakaya, you will pay for Otōshi (お通し), a small dish served as a table fee.
Lastely, don’t forget to say these phrases when you leave the restaurant. The staff will be happy to hear these and give you a smile.
Thank you for the nice meal. It was very delicious.
ごちそうさまでした。とても美味しかったです。
Gochisō sama deshita. Totemo oishikatta desu.
It may seem difficult to order in Japanese. However, communicating with local people in the local language is one of the best parts of traveling abroad. Please try using phrases introduced above to get a whole experience at Japanese restaurants.
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Happy travelling!
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Writer’s profile
Mao Goto is a Japanese freelancer who was born in Hayama, Kanagawa prefecture, and raised in Tokyo. Since 2016 she lives in the Taito Ward, home to a lot of Japanese culture hotspots such as Asakusa, Akihabara, and Ueno. She has been interested in the field of English education of Japan and got her Master’s degree in March, 2020. A lover of photography, travel, sweets, and cross-stitch. Contact her via Facebook.
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