Japanese Restaurant Phrases: 35 Essential Phrases for Ordering

Walking into a Japanese restaurant and hearing いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase) for the first time can be overwhelming. But the truth is, you only need about 35 phrases to handle every situation — from entering the restaurant to paying the bill.

This guide covers everything: ordering from menus, asking about ingredients, handling allergies, paying, and the specific etiquette for izakayas, sushi bars, and ramen shops.

Entering the restaurant

When you walk in, the staff will shout いらっしゃいませ. You do not need to respond — a nod or smile is enough.

Looking at the menu and ordering

Special requests and modifications

Handling allergies and dietary needs

Japan is getting better with allergy awareness, but you should always state your needs clearly. Use this pattern: [allergen]アレルギーがあります (arerugii ga arimasu — I have a [allergen] allergy).

Common allergens in Japanese: 小麦（こむぎ / komugi — wheat）, 卵（たまご / tamago — egg）, 乳製品（にゅうせいひん / nyuuseihin — dairy）, エビ（ebi — shrimp）, カニ（kani — crab）, ピーナッツ（piinattsu — peanuts）, 大豆（だいず / daizu — soy）.

Paying the bill

Phrases you will hear from staff

Knowing what the staff says helps you respond confidently:

Izakaya-specific phrases

Izakayas (居酒屋 / いざかや) are Japanese-style pubs. They have their own flow:

• とりあえずビール！（toriaezu biiru）— “Beer for starters!” The classic izakaya opener.
• 飲み放題はありますか。（のみほうだい は ありますか / nomihoudai wa arimasu ka）— “Do you have all-you-can-drink?”
• お通し（おとおし / otooshi）— A small appetiser that comes automatically. It is not free — typically ¥300–¥500.
• 乾杯！（かんぱい / kanpai）— “Cheers!” Always wait for the group toast before drinking.
• もう一杯お願いします。（もう いっぱい おねがいします / mou ippai onegai shimasu）— “One more drink, please.”

Sushi bar etiquette

At a counter sushi bar (回転寿司 / かいてんずし is conveyor belt; カウンター is the chef's bar):

• サーモンを一貫お願いします。（サーモン を いっかん おねがいします）— “One piece of salmon, please.” Sushi uses the counter 貫 (かん / kan).
• おまかせでお願いします。（おまかせ で おねがいします）— “Chef's choice, please.”
• ガリをください。（gari o kudasai）— “Pickled ginger, please.”
• わさび抜きでお願いします。（わさびぬき で おねがいします）— “Without wasabi, please.”

Ramen shop survival phrases

• Many ramen shops use 食券機（しょっけんき / shokkenki — ticket vending machine）. Buy your ticket, hand it to the staff, sit down.
• 麺の硬さはどうしますか。（めん の かたさ は どうしますか）— “How hard do you want your noodles?” Answer: 硬め（かため / katame — firm）, 普通（ふつう / futsuu — normal）, or 柔らかめ（やわらかめ / yawarakame — soft）.
• 替え玉お願いします。（かえだま おねがいします / kaedama onegai shimasu）— “Refill noodles, please.” Available at many tonkotsu ramen shops.

Essential before and after eating phrases

Common mistakes to avoid

• ✗ Tipping. → ✓ Never tip in Japan.
  It can be seen as rude or confusing. The service charge is included.
• ✗ Saying “check please” in English. → ✓ お会計お願いします.
  Even in tourist areas, using Japanese is appreciated and understood faster.
• ✗ Sticking chopsticks upright in rice.
  This resembles a funeral offering (立て箸 / たてばし / tatebashi). Lay them on the 箸置き (はしおき / hashioki — chopstick rest).
• ✗ Pouring soy sauce directly on sushi. → ✓ Dip the fish side lightly.
  Dipping the rice side soaks the sushi and is considered wasteful.
• ✗ Forgetting いただきます.
  Always say it before eating, especially when someone is hosting or treating you.

Practising these phrases before your trip? Use ZISTICA MOJIIQ's free grammar checker to verify your Japanese sentences are natural and grammatically correct.

For more travel vocabulary, check out our Japanese travel phrases guide and Japanese food vocabulary.

Frequently asked questions