Japanese Phrases for Restaurants: Order Food Confidently

Why Knowing Key Phrases Matters

Even basic Japanese phrases transform restaurant experiences from intimidating to manageable. Staff appreciates language attempts, and confidence grows with each successful interaction. This guide provides immediately useful scripts for common scenarios.

Essential Phrases Before Ordering

Upon Entering

"Irasshaimase" (いらっしゃいませ)

• Staff greeting: "Welcome"
• Your response: Smile and nod; no response required

"Yonin desu" (4人です)

• "Party of 4" (substitute your number)
• Substitute any number: san-nin (3), go-nin (5), roku-nin (6)

"Kitsuen desu ka, kitsuen nashi desu ka?" (喫煙ですか、喫煙なしですか)

• Staff asking: Smoking or non-smoking?
• Your response: "Kitsuen nashi onegaishimasu" (Non-smoking, please)

Seating Basics

"Suwari tsugi onegaishimasu" (座り次お願いします)

• "Next available seating, please"

"Tsuki no sekiseki onegaishimasu" (月の石積お願いします)

• "Window seat, please"

"Kaunta seki onegaishimasu" (カウンター席お願いします)

• "Counter seating, please"

Ordering Phrases

Basic Ordering Structure

Simple template: "(Dish name) hitotsu/futatsu onegaishimasu"

• "Ramen hitotsu onegaishimasu" = One ramen, please
• "Gyoza futatsu onegaishimasu" = Two gyoza, please

Requesting Recommendations

"Osusume kudasai" (おすすめください)

• "Recommend something, please" (most useful phrase)
• Staff will suggest popular items

"Shokubutsu-yori na menu onegaishimasu" (植物性メニューお願いします)

• "Vegetarian options, please"

Specifying Preferences

"Karai onegaishimasu" (辛いお願いします)

• "Spicy, please"

"Amai onegaishimasu" (甘いお願いします)

• "Sweet, please"

"Amaku nai onegaishimasu" (甘くないお願いします)

• "Not too sweet, please"

"Atsui onegaishimasu" (熱いお願いします)

• "Hot (temperature), please"

"Tsumetai onegaishimasu" (冷たいお願いします)

• "Cold, please"

Dietary Restrictions

"Peanut arerugii arimasu" (ピーナッツアレルギーあります)

• "I have peanut allergy"

"Seafood alerugii arimasu" (シーフードアレルギーあります)

• "I have seafood allergy"

"Vegetarian desu" (ベジタリアンです)

• "I'm vegetarian"

"Gluten-free onegaishimasu" (グルテンフリーお願いします)

• "Gluten-free, please"

Ordering Beverages

Alcohol Beverages

"Beer hitotsu onegaishimasu" (ビール1つお願いします)

• "One beer, please"

"Sake hitofuki onegaishimasu" (酒一服お願いします)

• "One sake, please"

"Nihonshu onegaishimasu" (日本酒お願いします)

• "Japanese sake, please" (more formal)

"Osusume sake kudasai" (おすすめ酒ください)

• "Recommend a sake"

Non-Alcoholic

"Mizu onegaishimasu" (水お願いします)

• "Water, please" (provided free)

"Tea hitotsu onegaishimasu" (お茶1つお願いします)

• "One tea, please"

"Coffee hitotsu onegaishimasu" (コーヒー1つお願いします)

• "One coffee, please"

During the Meal

Checking In

"Oishii desu" (おいしいです)

• "It's delicious" (compliment staff)

"Gochisousama" (ごちそうさま)

• Said when finishing; signals done eating

"Sumimasen" (すみません)

• Polite attention-getter for staff

Ordering Seconds & Modifications

Adding to Order

"Mou hitotsu onegaishimasu" (もう1つお願いします)

• "One more (of the same), please"

"Osusume no futatsu onegaishimasu" (おすすめの2つお願いします)

• "Two of your recommendation, please"

"Shio sukoshi onegaishimasu" (塩少しお願いします)

• "Less salt, please"

"Abura sukoshi onegaishimasu" (油少しお願いします)

• "Less oil, please"

Customization

"Toranpu nashi onegaishimasu" (とんかつなしお願いします)

• "Hold the pork cutlet" (customize specific items)

"Extra sauce onegaishimasu" (エクストラソースお願いします)

• "Extra sauce, please"

At the Checkout

Getting the Bill

"Okaikei onegaishimasu" (お会計お願いします)

• "Check/bill, please" (most common)

"Kaikei onegaishimasu" (会計お願いします)

• "Bill, please" (more formal)

Payment Discussion

"Cledit cado arimasu ka?" (クレジットカードありますか？)

• "Do you accept credit cards?" (staff may ask you)

"Cash dake desu" (現金だけです)

• "Cash only" (if staff tells you this)

"Tsuri wa ii desu" (釣りはいいです)

• "Keep the change" (tipping not expected; rarely used)

Apologetic/Polite Phrases

If You're Confused

"Sumimasen, wakarimasu ka?" (すみません、わかりますか？)

• "Excuse me, do you understand?" (asking if they speak English)

"Sumimasen, yukkuri onegaishimasu" (すみません、ゆっくりお願いします)

• "Excuse me, slowly please"

"Sumimasen, eigo hanashimasu ka?" (すみません、英語話しますか？)

• "Excuse me, do you speak English?"

Common Staff Responses

"Shoushou omachi kudasai" (少々お待ちください)

• "Please wait a moment"

"Monaku nai desu" (申し訳ないです)

• "I'm sorry" (if they can't accommodate request)

Numbers for Ordering

Japanese Number System

• 1: ichi (いち)
• 2: ni (に)
• 3: san (さん)
• 4: yon/shi (よん/し)
• 5: go (ご)
• 6: roku (ろく)
• 7: shichi (しち)
• 8: hachi (はち)
• 9: kyuu (きゅう)
• 10: juu (じゅう)

Ordering example: "Gyoza san-nin onegaishimasu" = Three portions of gyoza, please

Special Situations

If You Don't Like Something

"Chotto minai desu" (ちょっとみないです)

• "A little different than expected" (polite)

"Oishiku nai desu" (おいしくないです)

• "It doesn't taste good" (more direct; rare to say)

"Kaeshi onegaishimasu" (返しお願いします)

• "Return/exchange, please" (if truly problematic)

Time Concerns

"Hayaku onegaishimasu" (早くお願いします)

• "Quickly, please" (subtle; staff already rushing)

"Kukkii ika?" (クッキーいか？)

• "How long?" (asking wait time for food)

Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1: Entering & Ordering

1. Staff: "Irasshaimase, nannin desu ka?" (How many people?)
2. You: "Futatsu desu" (Two people)
3. Staff: Seats you
4. You: "Osusume kudasai" (Recommend something)
5. Staff: Suggests items
6. You: "Ramen hitotsu, gyoza futatsu onegaishimasu" (One ramen, two gyoza)

Scenario 2: Special Request

1. You: "Sumimasen, vegetarian menu arimasu ka?" (Do you have vegetarian?)
2. Staff: Shows options
3. You: "Karai onegaishimasu" (Spicy version, please)
4. Staff: Confirms and takes order

Pronunciation Tips

Japanese Vowels (Always Consistent)

• A: "ah"
• E: "eh"
• I: "ee"
• O: "oh"
• U: "oo"

Common Mistake

Pronunciation mistakes are forgiven; effort appreciated. Staff will understand even if accent imperfect.

Building Confidence

Start Simple

• Master 3-5 core phrases first
• Use translation app for complex requests
• Gradually expand vocabulary
• Staff patience builds with each visit

When Confidence Grows

• Attempt more complex sentences
• Combine phrases creatively
• Ask clarifying questions
• Engage in small talk

Final Tips

Pro tip: Write down key phrases phonetically on your phone. Reading them to staff is often clearer than attempting pronunciation.

Remember: Staff encounters non-Japanese speakers daily. Your attempts appreciated; imperfect pronunciation understood. Confidence grows with practice, and each restaurant visit builds skill.

Last updated: May 2025. Information verified for the current travel season.