{"id":28213,"date":"2019-11-13T15:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-11-13T15:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=28213"},"modified":"2023-05-31T01:52:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T01:52:24","slug":"eating-out-and-how-to-get-by-japanese-phrases-used-in-a-restaurant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/eating-out-and-how-to-get-by-japanese-phrases-used-in-a-restaurant\/","title":{"rendered":"Order up! Japanese to use at a restaurant"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019ll need to navigate your way around it with some useful Japanese words to use at a restaurant. Don\u2019t worry though, going to a restaurant in Japan is similar to anywhere else in the world.<\/p>\n

Familiarising yourself with Japanese to use at a restaurant is one of the first real-life applications of the language that you\u2019ll have as a beginner. Read on to learn the most essential phrases<\/b> to know when you head out for a bite to eat.<\/p>\n

Entering the restaurant & getting seated<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you have made a reservation, or you\u2019re meeting someone who has made a reservation, you\u2019ll want to let the staff know when you walk through the door. There are various ways you can say this:<\/p>\n

Hello\/Good evening, I have a reservation under Anna.
<\/b>\u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f \/ \u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u308f, \u30a2\u30f3\u30ca\u306e\u4e88\u7d04\u3067\u3059\u3002
Konnichiwa\/Konbanwa, Anna no yoyaku desu.<\/i><\/p>\n

Or you can also say:
\u4e88\u7d04\u3092\u3057\u305f\u3002 \u30a2\u30f3\u30ca\u3067\u3059\u3002
Yoyaku o shita. Anna desu.<\/i><\/p>\n

Hello\/Good evening, I have a reservation at 6:30 for two people under Anna.
<\/b>\uff16\u6642\u534a\u304b\u30892\u540d\u3067\u4e88\u7d04\u3092\u3057\u305f\u30a2\u30f3\u30ca\u3067\u3059\u3002
Rokujihan kara nimei de yoyaku o shita Anna desu.<\/i><\/p>\n

You may also be asked if you have a reservation<\/b>:
\u4e88\u7d04\u3092\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b?
Yoyaku o shite imasuka?<\/i><\/p>\n

Or if you don\u2019t 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?
<\/b>\u4f55\u540d\u69d8\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Nanmei sama desuka? <\/i><\/p>\n

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<\/strong>” is different compared to “two people<\/strong>” in Japanese.<\/p>\n

Hello\/Good evening, one person\/two people\/three people
<\/b>\u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f \/ \u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u308f, \u4e00\u4eba\/\u4e8c\u4eba\/\u4e09\u4eba \u3067\u3059\u3002
Konnichiwa\/Konbanwa, hitori\/futari\/sannin desu.<\/i><\/p>\n

For more on Japanese counters<\/strong>, read our article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/b> (\u30c6\u30fc\u30d6\u30eb t\u0113buru<\/i>) or the counter<\/b> (\u30ab\u30a6\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc kaunt\u0101<\/i>).<\/p>\n

Useful Japanese to use at a restaurant in this situation are:
A non-smoking table please.
<\/strong>\u7981\u7159\u5e2d\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
Kinen seki onegaishimasu<\/em> <\/i><\/p>\n

A smoking table please.
<\/strong>\u55ab\u7159\u5e2d\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/strong>Kitsuen seki onegaishimasu<\/em><\/p>\n

Did you know that quite often there are private rooms available in some restaurants? To ask for this use koshitsu wa arimasuka?<\/strong><\/em> (\u500b\u5ba4\u306f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f)<\/p>\n

If you need an English menu<\/b>, you can ask staff if they have one:
\u82f1\u8a9e\u306e\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\u304c\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f
<\/i>Eigo no meny\u016b ga arimasuka?<\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Ordering food and drinks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you have decided what you would like to order, you can call staff by raising your hand and saying, \u201csumimasen<\/i>\u201d or \u201conegaishimasu\u201d. Or just press the call button if there is one on your table.<\/p>\n

To add an extra layer of politeness, when the staff member comes over, you can say to them:
Could I make an order please?
<\/b>\u6ce8\u6587\u3057\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Ch\u016bmon shite mo ii desuka?<\/i><\/p>\n

When ordering, it\u2019s 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\u2019re trying to remember all your counters again! Remember to use \u3068 (to<\/em>) between each item you order and at the end of the sentence add \u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059 (onegaishimasu<\/em>).<\/p>\n

For example:
Two beers and one shochu highball<\/strong> please<\/strong>
\u30d3\u30fc\u30eb\u3092\u4e00\u3064\u3068\u713c\u914e\u30cf\u30a4\u30dc\u30fc\u30eb\u3092\u4e00\u3064\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/strong>Biiru wo futatsu to shochu haibooru wo hitotsu onegaishimasu<\/em><\/p>\n

If you’re feeling unsure about how to pronounce the menu items, you can always point and politely say:
<\/strong><\/em>This one please<\/strong>
<\/strong><\/em>\u3053\u3061\u3089\u3092\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong>
<\/strong>Kochira wo onegaishimasu\u3002 <\/em><\/p>\n

Furthermore, if you don’t know what you’re asking for you can use:
What is this?<\/strong>
\u3053\u308c\u306f\u4f55\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Kore wa nan desuka? <\/em><\/p>\n

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?
<\/strong> \u30ca\u30c3\u30c4 <\/span>\u304c\u5165\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Nattsu ga haitteimasuka?<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m allergic to eggs. Is it possible to leave out the egg?
<\/b>\u5375\u30a2\u30ec\u30eb\u30ae\u30fc\u304c\u3042\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3001\u5375\u629c\u304d\u3067\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Tamago arerug\u012b ga aru node, tamago nuki de ii desuka?<\/i><\/p>\n

I\u2019m vegetarian, so I don\u2019t eat meat
<\/b>\u30d9\u30b8\u30bf\u30ea\u30a2\u30f3\u306a\u306e\u3067\u3001\u8089\u3092\u98df\u3079\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/strong>
Bejitarian na node, niku o tabemasen.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more about being vegetarian in Japan in our blog article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I am gluten intolerant, so I absolutely cannot eat it.
<\/b>\u5c0f\u9ea6\u30b0\u30eb\u30c6\u30f3\u30a2\u30ec\u30eb\u30ae\u30fc\u306a\u306e\u3067\u3001\u7d76\u5bfe\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002
Komugi guruten arerug\u012b na node, zettai taberaremasen.<\/i><\/p>\n

You can read more about being gluten-free in Japan here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you’d like to replace an item then you can say:
Can you replace the pork with chicken?<\/strong>
\u8c5a\u8089\u306e\u4ee3\u308f\u308a\u306b\u9d8f\u8089\u306b\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b?
Butaniku no kawari ni toriniku ni dekimasuka?<\/em><\/p>\n

Note that it\u2019s not a widespread practice in Japan for restaurants to adjust their dishes on the spot based on customer requests. Therefore don\u2019t be surprised if staff might seem confused or hesitant to respond to you immediately. Similarly, don\u2019t be surprised or offended if the restaurant is unable to meet your request.<\/p>\n

You should have everything you need on your table but you may need the phrase torizara wo nimai kudasai<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(\u53d6\u308a\u76bf\u3092\u4e8c\u679a\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044) which are the small plates when sharing food. Kozara<\/em><\/strong> (\u5c0f\u76bf ) is also used for this purpose.<\/p>\n

Now before you dive into your food, don\u2019t forget to be thankful. You’ll almost certainly have heard itadakimasu<\/strong><\/em> (\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u307e\u3059) said before people start a meal. There are also some rules around drink etiquette but the easiest and most important phrase is kanpai<\/strong><\/em> (\u4e7e\u676f) before you all start your drinks!<\/p>\n

A useful phrase that many people forget until they\u2019re desperate is asking where the toilet is:
Toire wa doko desu ka?<\/strong><\/em> (\u30c8\u30a4\u30ec\u306f\u3069\u3053\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f) – Where is the toilet?<\/p>\n

At the end of the meal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Getting the bill at the end of the meal is relatively straight forward. First, get the waiters attention:
Sumimasen<\/strong><\/em> (\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093) – Excuse me.<\/p>\n

Then ask for the bill:
Okaikei kudasai<\/strong><\/em> (\u304a\u4f1a\u8a08\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044) – <\/em>Bill please.<\/p>\n

If you wish to ask whether they accept payment by card, you can say:

Can I use my credit card?
<\/b>\u30af\u30ec\u30b8\u30c3\u30c8\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9\u3092\u4f7f\u3048\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Kurejitto k\u0101do o tsukaemasuka?<\/i><\/p>\n

If you want to ask if they can split the bill, you can say:<\/p>\n

Is it possible to split the bill?
<\/b>\u5225\u3005\u306b\u3067\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f
Betsubetsu ni dekimasuka?<\/i><\/p>\n

Note that many places only allow one bill, so it\u2019s often easier for everyone to put in their share in cash and then pay everything together at the cashier.<\/p>\n

Finally, don\u2019t forget to thank the staff before you leave:<\/p>\n

Thank you for the meal
<\/b>\u3054\u3061\u305d\u3046\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3057\u305f
<\/i>Gochisousamadeshita<\/i><\/p>\n

This phrase is commonly used at the end of a meal and means, “It was a lot of work (to prepare the meal)”.<\/p>\n

\"Japanese<\/p>\n

Those are some of the most common and basic Japanese words to use at a restaurant. If you\u2019re interested in learning beginner Japanese<\/b>, check out our online course<\/a>. Developed together with Akamonkai Japanese Language School, this course is designed to get you through the most essential foundations of the Japanese language.<\/p>\n

Got questions or other situations you\u2019d like to learn some Japanese for?<\/b> Contact us<\/b><\/a> or leave us a comment below!<\/b><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019ll need to navigate your way around it with some useful Japanese words to use at a restaurant. Don\u2019t worry though, going to a restaurant in Japan is similar to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":28233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[404],"tags":[668,666,680],"class_list":["post-28213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-japanese","tag-eating","tag-language","tag-study-in-japan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28213"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28213\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}