From Ramen Shops to Izakaya
Welcome to Japan, a country where food is not just sustenance, but an art form, a cultural pillar, and a language all its own. Dining out here is an adventure that goes far beyond simply eating a meal; it’s an immersion into the culture of “omotenashi” (おもてなし), the profound Japanese philosophy of wholehearted hospitality. From the bustling ramen counter to the serene traditional restaurant, every dining experience offers a unique window into the heart of Japan.
However, for a first-timer, this can all seem a little intimidating. What are the rules? How do you order? What do you say? Don’t worry! This guide is designed to demystify the entire process. Therefore, by the time you’re done reading, you will feel equipped with the confidence and knowledge needed for mastering the essential Japanese in restaurants. Let’s begin our culinary journey!
Choosing Your Destination: A Guide to Japanese Eateries
To begin, Japan offers a dazzling array of dining options, each with its own specialty, atmosphere, and etiquette. Understanding the different types of eateries is the first step to confidently using Japanese in restaurants. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types you’ll encounter.
Ramen-ya (ラーメン屋) – Noodle Soup Shops
These are bustling, often small shops dedicated to the art of ramen. The focus is on a quick, delicious, and satisfying meal. You’ll often find counter seating where you can watch the chefs work their magic. Price: ¥
Read also: Japanese you need in a Ramen Shop
Sushi-ya (寿司屋) – Sushi Restaurants
Sushi restaurants range from affordable conveyor belt sushi, known as “kaiten-zushi” (回転寿司), where plates circle the restaurant on a belt, to high-end counters where a master chef, or “itamae” (板前), prepares each piece for you. Price: ¥ to ¥¥¥¥
Read also: Japanese you need in a sushi resturant
Izakaya (居酒屋) – Japanese Pubs
An izakaya is the Japanese equivalent of a gastropub. It’s a lively, casual place where colleagues and friends gather to share a wide variety of small dishes (like Japanese tapas) and drinks. Ultimately, the focus is on socializing and unwinding. Price: ¥¥
Read more here: Japanese in an Izakaya: All you need for your first visit
Shokudō (食堂) / Teishoku-ya (定食屋) – Casual Set Meal Eateries
These are no-frills, neighborhood diners serving “teishoku” (定食), or set meals. A teishoku is a perfectly balanced meal that typically includes a main dish (like grilled fish or pork tonkatsu), a bowl of rice, miso soup, and a side of pickles. It’s a fantastic and affordable way to eat a traditional Japanese meal. Price: ¥
Kissaten (喫茶店) – Old-Fashioned Coffee Shops
A kissaten is a retro-style coffee shop, often with a quiet, nostalgic atmosphere. They serve siphon coffee, teas, and a selection of light meals like toast, sandwiches, and Japanese-style curry. Consequently, it’s a great place for a quiet break. Price: ¥
Yakiniku (焼肉) – Japanese BBQ
At a yakiniku restaurant, you become the chef! The restaurant provides platters of raw, marinated meat and vegetables for you to grill over a small brazier built into your table. It’s a fun, interactive, and delicious dining experience. Price: ¥¥ to ¥¥¥
Okonomiyaki-ya / Monjayaki-ya (お好み焼き屋 / もんじゃ焼き屋)
These restaurants specialize in savory pancakes cooked on a large griddle. “Okonomiyaki” (お好み焼き) is a dense pancake filled with cabbage and other ingredients, while “Monjayaki” (もんじゃ焼き) is its liquidy cousin from the Tokyo region. Often, you cook it yourself at a teppan grill at your table. Price: ¥ to ¥¥
Udon/Soba Shops (うどん/そば屋)
These shops dedicate their menu to thick wheat noodles (“udon” うどん) or thin buckwheat noodles (“soba” そば). Servers bring them either hot in a broth or cold with a dipping sauce. They are typically very fast and affordable. Price: ¥
Vending Machine Restaurants
Commonly found at ramen, soba, and teishoku shops, this system is incredibly efficient. First, you select your meal from a large vending machine, pay, and receive a food ticket, or “shokken” (食券). You then hand this ticket to the staff, and they prepare your food. It’s fast, easy, and requires minimal conversation!
The Arrival: Entering and Being Seated
As you step inside any restaurant, the staff will greet you with a loud, cheerful chorus of “Irasshaimase!” (いらっしゃいませ！), which means “Welcome, come on in!” This isn’t a question, so it doesn’t require a verbal response. A simple smile and a nod are the perfect acknowledgment. Next, the staff will ask how many people are in your group.
二人です。
ふたりです。
Futari desu.
It’s for two people.
二人 (ふたり) = Two people
です (です) = is / it is
Table, Counter, or Tatami?
In some places, the staff may offer you different seating options:
• Table seats: “tēburu seki” (テーブル席)
• Counter seats: “kauntā seki” (カウンター席) – Great for solo diners or watching the chefs.
• Tatami mat seating: “zashiki” (座敷) – A traditional style where you sit on cushions on the floor. Cultural Point: It is essential to take your shoes off before stepping onto the tatami mat area. You’ll usually find a small step-up and a shoe rack nearby.
カウンター席はありますか？
かうんたーせきはありますか？
Kauntā seki wa arimasu ka?
Do you have counter seats?
カウンター席 (かうんたーせき) = Counter seat
は = topic marker particle
あります = do you have? / is there?
か = question particle
Decoding the Menu & Placing Your Order
Once you’re ready to order, you need to get the staff’s attention. While in the West it can be rude to shout for a server, in Japan, it’s a standard and polite practice. A clear, polite “Sumimasen!” (すみません！) – “Excuse me!” – will do the trick. Don’t be shy! This simple word is one of the most useful pieces of Japanese in restaurants. For added convenience, many modern restaurants also provide a call button at the table.
これを お願いします。
これを おねがいします。
Kore o onegaishimasu.
This one, please.
これ = This
を = object marker particle
お願いします (おねがいします) = Please / I request
All-You-Can-Eat & All-You-Can-Drink
For great value, many izakaya, yakiniku, and shabu-shabu restaurants offer time-limited all-you-can-eat or all-you-can-drink plans.
• “Tabehōdai” (食べ放題) – All-you-can-eat.
• “Nomihōdai” (飲み放題) – All-you-can-drink.
Keep in mind there’s usually a time limit (e.g., 90 or 120 minutes), and often the whole table must participate.
飲み放題はありますか？
のみほうだいはありますか？
Nomihōdai wa arimasu ka?
Do you have an all-you-can-drink plan?
飲み放題 (のみほうだい) = All-you-can-drink
は = topic marker particle
ありますか (ありますか) = do you have? / is there?
Essential Dining Etiquette & Cultural Manners
Navigating Japanese table manners is simple once you know a few key rules. Furthermore, following them shows respect for the culture and the food you are about to receive. Mastering proper etiquette is just as important as the spoken words when it comes to Japanese in restaurants.
Before Eating: Before taking your first bite, it is a cherished custom to say “Itadakimasu” (いただきます). This beautiful phrase expresses gratitude for everyone and everything that brought the meal to your table—the farmers, the fishermen, the chef, and nature itself. It’s similar to “Let’s eat” or “Bon appétit,” but with a deeper sense of thanks.
The Wet Towel: Your server will provide a wet towel called an “oshibori” (おしぼり). This is for cleaning your hands *before* you eat. You should use it for your hands only; it is not a napkin and should not be used on your face or mouth. After use, simply fold it neatly and set it aside.
Slurping Noodles: Go for it! Slurping hot noodles like ramen, udon, and soba is not rude at all. In fact, many consider it the proper way to eat them because it helps cool the noodles and is said to enhance their flavor. So, don’t be shy and enjoy the slurp!
Drinking Etiquette: When dining in a group, it is customary to pour drinks for others but not for yourself. Keep an eye on your companions’ glasses and top them up when they get low. In return, someone will do the same for you. Before the first drink, someone will usually initiate a toast of “Kanpai!” (乾杯！) – “Cheers!”.
Chopstick (hashi 箸) Manners: Do’s and Don’ts
- DO: Place your chopsticks on the chopstick rest, or “hashi-oki” (箸置き), when not in use. If there isn’t one, you can rest them neatly on the side of your bowl.
- DON’T: Stick your chopsticks upright in your bowl of rice. People only do this at funerals as an offering to the dead, so it is a major taboo at the dinner table.
- DON’T: Pass food from your chopsticks directly to another person’s chopsticks. This also mirrors a funeral rite. Instead, place the food on a small plate for them to pick up.
- DON’T: Point at people or dishes with your chopsticks.
- DON’T: Spear your food with one or both chopsticks.
Handling Special Requests & Dietary Needs
Communicating dietary needs can be tricky, but knowing a few key phrases can make a huge difference. Communicating these needs is a crucial part of using Japanese in restaurants safely. For this reason, it’s often helpful to have these phrases written down to show the staff.
私は卵アレルギーがあります。
わたしはたまごアレルギーがあります。
Watashi wa tamago arerugī ga arimasu.
I have an egg allergy.
私 (わたし) = I
は = topic marker particle
卵 (たまご) = Egg
アレルギー (アレルギー) = Allergy
が = subject marker particle
あります = to have
肉抜きでお願いします。
にくぬきでおねがいします。
Niku nuki de onegaishimasu.
Without meat, please.
肉 (にく) = Meat
抜きで (ぬきで) = Without / excluding
お願いします (おねがいします) = Please / I request
Finishing Your Meal and Paying the Bill
After Eating: Just as you started the meal with a phrase of gratitude, you also end it with one. When you get up to leave, it’s polite to say “Gochisōsama deshita” (ごちそうさまでした) to the staff. This is a way of saying “Thank you for the feast,” acknowledging all the effort that went into the delicious meal. This final phrase of gratitude is a cornerstone of polite Japanese in restaurants.
Getting the Bill: To ask for the check, you can catch a staff member’s eye and say, “Okaikei o onegaishimasu.” (お会計をお願いします) – “The bill, please.”
別々でお願いします。
べつべつでおねがいします。
Betsu betsu de onegaishimasu.
We’d like to pay separately, please.
別々 (べつべつ) = Separate / individually
で (で) = by / with (particle)
お願いします (おねがいします) = Please / I request
The Payment Process: In the vast majority of Japanese restaurants, people do not pay at their tables. Instead, the staff will either bring a bill to your table or direct you to take a table marker to the cash register, which is almost always located near the exit. You then pay there on your way out.
The Golden Rule: No Tipping. This is one of the most important things to remember. Tipping is not a part of the culture in Japan, as excellent service is already included in the price. If you try to leave a tip, it can cause confusion, and the staff will likely politely refuse it. A sincere “Gochisōsama deshita” is the best tip you can give.
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