Japanese Food and Dining Phrases

Getting a table

Reservations and menus — the two-minute window between the door curtain and your first order.

1. 1 よやくをしたいのですが yoyaku o shitai no desu ga — I'd like to make a reservation
2. 2 よやくなしでだいじょうぶですか yoyaku nashi de daijoubu desu ka — Is it okay without a reservation?
3. 3 メニューをみせてください menyū o misete kudasai — Please show me the menu
4. 4 きょうのおすすめメニューはなんですか kyou no osusume menyū wa nan desu ka — What do you recommend today?

Ordering

Point at the menu, name your drink, and you're in business. これをください plus a menu photo is a complete ordering strategy.

1. 5 これをください。 kore o kudasai — This one, please
2. 6 みずをください mizu o kudasai — Water, please
3. 7 おちゃ ocha — Green tea
4. 8 とりあえずビール toriaezu biiru — Beer for now

   The classic izakaya opener — order a round first, decide the food later.

5. 9 なまビールをください nama biiru o kudasai — A draft beer, please
6. 10 コーヒーをもういっぱいください kōhii o mou ippai kudasai — One more coffee, please
7. 11 わりばしをください waribashi o kudasai — Disposable chopsticks, please

Tastes

The flavor words — for raving about dinner, and for the moment the wasabi wins.

1. 12 おいしい oishii — Delicious
2. 13 からい karai — Spicy
3. 14 あまい amai — Sweet
4. 15 しょっぱい shoppai — Salty
5. 16 からすぎて たべられない karasugite taberarenai — Too spicy to eat
6. 17 あまくないコーヒーがいい amaku nai kōhii ga ii — I'd like my coffee not sweet

Hungry and thirsty

Appetite, announced. Each of these works as a complete sentence — no assembly required.

1. 18 おなかがすいた onaka ga suita — I'm hungry
2. 19 のどがかわいた nodo ga kawaita — I'm thirsty
3. 20 ごはんをたべましょう gohan o tabemashou — Let's eat
4. 21 もうじゅうぶんです。 mou juubun desu — That's plenty for me

Compliments and the bill

End the meal like a local: praise the food in the past tense, then settle up at the register by the door.

1. 22 おいしかったです oishikatta desu — It was delicious
2. 23 おかいけいをおねがいします okaikei o onegai shimasu — The check, please
3. 24 べつべつにおかいけいできますか betsubetsu ni okaikei dekimasu ka — Can we pay separately?
4. 25 にほんではチップはいりません nihon de wa chippu wa irimasen — Tips are not necessary in Japan

In real life: ordering at an izakaya