Ordering food in Japan can feel intimidating—especially when menus have kanji, staff speak quickly, or you don’t know how to ask for what you want. The good news is that you only need a handful of simple Japanese phrases to order politely and confidently in any restaurant, café, or convenience store.
This beginner-friendly guide teaches the most useful restaurant Japanese, including:
- How to order politely
- How to ask questions
- How to customize your order
- How to handle problems politely
- Essential food-related vocabulary
Let’s make eating out in Japan easier—and more enjoyable!
🍽️ 1. Important Customer Phrases to Start With
① すみません。
— Excuse me.**
Use this to call staff. (Don’t raise your hand silently—just say すみません confidently.)
② お願いします。
— Please.**
A must-have. Add it to almost any request.
③ ○○をください。
— I’d like ___, please.**
Super simple, natural, and polite.
Example:
ラーメンをください。＝ One ramen, please.
📖 2. How to Order Food Politely
① ○○をお願いします。
“___ please.” (More polite than ください)
Example:
カレーをお願いします。
② セットにします。
“I’ll have the set meal.”
③ ここで食べます / 持ち帰ります。
“Eat here / Take out.”
Useful at convenience stores, cafés, bakeries, etc.
❓ 3. How to Ask Questions About the Menu
① おすすめは何ですか？
“What do you recommend?”
② これは何ですか？
“What is this?”
(Point to a menu picture)
③ 英語のメニューはありますか？
“Do you have an English menu?”
④ 辛いですか？
“Is it spicy?”
⑤ ベジタリアンの料理はありますか？
“Do you have vegetarian dishes?”
(Changeable to vegan, halal, pork-free, etc.)
🧂 4. Customizing Your Order
① ○○を抜いてください。
“Please remove ___.”
Example:
玉ねぎを抜いてください。＝ No onions, please.
② 少なめ / 多めでお願いします。
“Less / More, please.”
Example: ご飯少なめでお願いします。
(less rice)
③ アレルギーがあります。○○は食べられません。
“I have an allergy. I cannot eat ___.”
This is extremely useful and taken seriously in Japan.
😕 5. Handling Problems Politely
① すみません、注文していないものが来ました。
“Excuse me, this is not what I ordered.”
② もう一度確認していただけますか？
“Could you please check again?”
③ まだ来ていない料理があります。
“One of my dishes hasn’t arrived yet.”
Polite and very natural.
🧾 6. Useful Words on Menus & Receipts
Sizes
- 大（だい）= large
- 中（ちゅう）= medium
- 小（しょう）= small
Types of meals
- 定食（ていしょく）= set meal
- 単品（たんぴん）= à la carte
- 飲み放題（のみほうだい）= all-you-can-drink
- 食べ放題（たべほうだい）= buffet
Common foods
- 牛肉（ぎゅうにく）= beef
- 豚肉（ぶたにく）= pork
- 鶏肉（とりにく）= chicken
- ご飯（ごはん）= rice
- 麺（めん）= noodles
💡 7. Restaurant Etiquette Tips
- Say すみません to call staff
- Don’t tip! Japan does not use tipping, and may even consider it rude to receive one.
- Wait to be seated unless the sign says “ご自由にどうぞ”
- Place cash on the tray, not in the staff’s hand
- Say ごちそうさまでした when leaving (very polite and appreciated)
🎯 Want to Learn Real Japanese for Daily Life?
Join our 4 free beginner lessons covering conversation, reading, and daily situations like restaurants and shopping.
👉 Start your free Japanese lessons now!
