Walking in: the questions you will hear first
The first exchange happens before you sit down and is nearly identical everywhere. Staff will greet you with irasshaimase, which needs no reply, then ask how many people you are and sometimes whether you want smoking or non-smoking seating or a counter versus a table.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 何名様ですか？ | Nanmei-sama desu ka? | How many people? (what you will hear) |
| 二人です。 | Futari desu. | Two people. |
| 一人です。 | Hitori desu. | One person. |
| 三人です。 | Sannin desu. | Three people. |
| 禁煙席をお願いします。 | Kin'en-seki o onegaishimasu. | Non-smoking seats, please. |
| カウンターで大丈夫です。 | Kauntā de daijōbu desu. | The counter is fine. |
| 予約していません。 | Yoyaku shite imasen. | I do not have a reservation. |
Getting the staff's attention
Japanese restaurants do not expect you to wait for eye contact. Say sumimasen clearly, at normal volume, and someone will come. Many casual restaurants have a call button on the table; press it once. In izakaya-style places, a slightly louder sumimasen is expected and not rude.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| すみません。 | Sumimasen. | Excuse me. |
| 注文お願いします。 | Chūmon onegaishimasu. | I would like to order, please. |
| メニューをください。 | Menyū o kudasai. | The menu, please. |
| 英語のメニューはありますか？ | Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka? | Do you have an English menu? |
Ordering dishes
The simplest pattern is dish plus o kudasai. Pointing at a menu item and saying kore o kudasai works in every restaurant in Japan. Asking for a recommendation is a great way to start a short conversation and usually leads to the best dish in the house.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| これをください。 | Kore o kudasai. | This one, please. (while pointing) |
| ラーメンを一つお願いします。 | Rāmen o hitotsu onegaishimasu. | One ramen, please. |
| おすすめは何ですか？ | Osusume wa nan desu ka? | What do you recommend? |
| じゃあ、それにします。 | Jā, sore ni shimasu. | Then I will have that. |
| 以上です。 | Ijō desu. | That is all. |
| とりあえずビールをお願いします。 | Toriaezu bīru o onegaishimasu. | A beer to start, please. |
Counting your order
Japanese uses general counters for dishes and drinks. The native number series below works for almost any menu item and is what staff use themselves.
| Quantity | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一つ | hitotsu |
| 2 | 二つ | futatsu |
| 3 | 三つ | mittsu |
| 4 | 四つ | yottsu |
| 5 | 五つ | itsutsu |
Put the counter after the dish: gyōza o futatsu (two orders of gyoza). If you hear staff repeat your order back, that is normal; reply with hai to confirm.
Allergies, dietary needs, and special requests
These are the sentences to practise until you can say them slowly and clearly under pressure. Japanese kitchens take allergies seriously once they understand, so the key is being specific.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| アレルギーがあります。 | Arerugī ga arimasu. | I have an allergy. |
| ピーナッツのアレルギーがあります。 | Pīnattsu no arerugī ga arimasu. | I have a peanut allergy. |
| 卵は食べられません。 | Tamago wa taberaremasen. | I cannot eat eggs. |
| 豚肉は入っていますか？ | Butaniku wa haitte imasu ka? | Does this contain pork? |
| ネギ抜きでお願いします。 | Negi nuki de onegaishimasu. | Without green onion, please. |
| 辛くしないでください。 | Karaku shinaide kudasai. | Please do not make it spicy. |
| 肉と魚は食べません。 | Niku to sakana wa tabemasen. | I do not eat meat or fish. |
During the meal
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| お水をください。 | Omizu o kudasai. | Water, please. |
| お代わりをお願いします。 | Okawari o onegaishimasu. | A refill, please. |
| 取り皿をもらえますか？ | Torizara o moraemasu ka? | Could I have a small plate for sharing? |
| まだ来ていないんですが。 | Mada kite inai n desu ga. | It has not arrived yet. |
| すごくおいしいです。 | Sugoku oishii desu. | It is really delicious. |
Saying itadakimasu quietly before eating and oishii to staff during the meal are small gestures that Japanese diners make constantly. They are not required, but they are noticed.
Paying and leaving
In most restaurants you pay at the register near the door rather than at the table. Ask for the bill, or simply pick up the slip on your table and walk to the register. Card and IC card payment are common in cities but not universal, so it is worth asking.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| お会計お願いします。 | Okaikei onegaishimasu. | The bill, please. |
| 別々でお願いします。 | Betsubetsu de onegaishimasu. | Separately, please. (split the bill) |
| 一緒でお願いします。 | Issho de onegaishimasu. | Together, please. |
| カードは使えますか？ | Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka? | Can I use a card? |
| 領収書をお願いします。 | Ryōshūsho o onegaishimasu. | A receipt, please. |
| ごちそうさまでした。 | Gochisōsama deshita. | Thank you for the meal. (said when leaving) |
Etiquette that keeps things smooth
- Do not tip. Leave the exact change or pay by card and simply say thank you.
- Use the tray at the register for cash and cards rather than handing money directly.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick.
- Slurping noodles is fine. Blowing your nose at the table is not.
- Ordering one item per person is expected in sit-down restaurants; sharing a single dish between two people can be awkward.
Rehearse the whole visit before you go
The phrases above are easy to read and surprisingly hard to produce when a server is waiting. The fix is rehearsal under mild pressure. Unihongo's cafe and restaurant roleplay missions play the staff role, ask the real questions in the real order, and give you an objective to complete, such as ordering for two people with one allergy and paying separately. Run the mission a few times with different orders and the phrases stop needing thought.