Ordering in a Japanese restaurant
If you’re traveling in Japan you’ll definitely be eating out and ordering in a Japanese restaurant, so don’t miss this free lesson! We’ll teach you the basics you need to know so you don’t go hungry – just listen to the audio and practice saying these Japanese words and phrases aloud. When you’re ready, why not try them out on the staff at a local Japanese restaurant?
Feel like some sake? Need some extra rice? No problem! After this lesson you’ll be ordering from the menu in Japanese like a pro, and impressing everyone at the table with your Japanese language skills. Is your mouth watering?
Let’s get started!
Resources for further reading:
Ordering in a Japanese restaurant
In Japan there are restaurants where you will be seated by the waiter or waitress. Other times, you may be asked to choose the table yourself. In some restaurants the menu will be on the table already otherwise the waiter will bring it over to you as soon as possible. After being greeted you could get asked one of the following questions…
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お飲み物は何はいいですか
おのみもの は なに が いい です か
Onomimono wa nani ga ii desu ka?
What would you like to drink?
ご注文お決まりですか
ごちゅうもん おきまり です か
Gochūmon okimari desu ka?
Have you chosen already?
何を召し上がりますか
なに を めしあがり ます か
Nani o meshiagari masu ka?
What would you like to order?
前菜はいかがですか
ぜんさい は いかが です か
Zensai wa ikaga desu ka?
Would you like a starter?
何になさいますか
なに に なさい ます か
Nani ni nasaimasu ka?
What would you like?
Sometimes all you might get asked is…
はい、何を
はい、 なに を
Hai, nani o?
Yes, please?
You could answer by saying one of these phrases…
もう少し待ってください
もう すこし まって ください
Mō sukoshi matte kudasai.
One moment, please.
まず飲み物を頼みたいです
まず のみもの を たのみたい です
Mazu nomimono o tanomitai desu.
I'd like to order something to drink to start with.
まだ決めていません
まだ きめて いません
Mada kimete imasen.
I don't know yet.
Not sure what you fancy eating? Just ask the waiter what he recommends…
お勧め品は何ですか
おすすめ ひん は なん です か
Osusume hin wa nan desu ka?
What can you recommend?
今日の日替わりメニュー / 定食は何ですか
きょう の ひがわり メニュー / ていしょく は なん です か
Kyō no higawari menyū / teishoku wa nan desu ka?
What is the daily special?
今日のスープは何ですか
きょう の スープ は なん です か
Kyō no sūpu wa nan desu ka?
What is the soup of the day?
Here are the names of some dishes and drinks that you might find on the menu…
ミネラル ウォーター
ミネラル ウォーター
Mineraru wōtā
Mineral water
ジュース
ジュース
Jūsu
Juice
ビール
ビール
Bīru
Beer
赤ワイン
あか ワイン
Aka wain
Red wine
白ワイン
しろ ワイン
Shiro wain
White wine
シャンパン
シャンパン
Shanpan
Champers / Bubbly
酒
さけ
Sake
Sake
前菜
ぜんさい
Zensai
Starter
メイン
メイン
Mein
Main
デザート
デザート
Dezāto
Dessert
付け合わせ料理
つけ あわせ りょうり
Tsuke awase ryōri
Side dish
スープ
スープ
Sūpu
Soup
サラダ
サラダ
Sarada
Salad
ソース
ソース
Sōsu
Sauce
野菜
やさい
Yasai
Vegetables
じゃが芋
じゃがいも
Jyagaimo
Potatoes
お米/ご飯
おこめ/ごはん/ライス
Okome/Gohan/Raisu
Rice
肉
にく
Niku
Meat
ラーメン/うどん/蕎麦
ラーメン/うどん/そば
Ramen / Udon/ Soba
Noodles
豚肉
ぶた にく
Buta niku
Pork
鶏肉
とり にく
Tori niku
Chicken
牛肉
ぎゅう にく
Gyū niku
Beef
In order to get the dish you want simply say…
お勘定をお願いします
おかんじょう を おねがいします
Okanjō o onegaishimasu.
The bill, please.
お幾らですか
おいくら です か
Oikura desu ka?
(I would like to pay) How much is it?
Once you finished your meal you ask for the bill…
…を ください
…を ください
…o kudasai
I'll have…
…をお願いします
…を おねがいします
… o onegaishimasu
I would like… please
In Japan, the waiter or waitress will bring the bill to your table but you will have to pay at the cashier, usually at the entrance of the restaurant. If you are eating out with a group you might want to ask to pay together, or separately…
一緒にお願いします
いっしょ に おねがいします
Issho ni onegaishimasu
We will pay together
別々にお願いします
べつ べつ に お願いします
Betsu betsu ni onegaishimasu
We will pay separately
It is not expected to tip in Japanese restaurants. Gratuity is included in the check. If you want to express your gratitude, it is common for Japanese customers to yell out, “Gochisō-sama”, which suggest “I have enjoyed the dinner very much”.
ご馳走様
ごちそう さま
Gochisō sama
Thank you for the food!
That’s it for today’s lesson.
Here are a few recommended Japanese lessons to try next!
- There's lots of wonderful sights in Japan. Let's talk about sightseeing in Japanese.
- Everyone loves talking about sports in Japanese.
- Taking the subway in Japanese.
Mata kondo!
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese
Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement
Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!