Japanese for Travel 2: Phrases for Ordering Food

Phrases for Ordering Food in Japanese

When visiting Japan, ordering food at a restaurant is an unforgettable
experience. However, communication can be challenging if you’re not fluent in
Japanese. To help, here are some common phrases used for ordering food. Each
phrase includes kanji, romaji, and its meaning to make it easier to
understand.

1. Greeting and Starting Your Order

Before ordering, you can start with a polite greeting to get the server’s
attention.

This is used to politely call the server. 

Use this phrase to begin your order.

2. Asking for the Menu

If you need the menu or want to inquire about the food, use the following
phrases:

This is helpful to ask about the ingredients or type of food.

3. Placing an Order

When ordering, you can directly mention the quantity and the name of the dish.

Typically used while pointing at the menu or a picture of the dish.

• [Dish name] を一つください
  ([Dish name] o hitotsu kudasai)
• “One [dish name], please.”

Replace hitotsu with other numbers if ordering more than one, such as futatsu
(two) or mittsu (three).

• 飲み物はありますか？ (Nomimono wa arimasu ka?)
• “Do you have drinks?”

4. Customizing Your Order

You can also customize your order, such as requesting no spice or avoiding
certain ingredients.

• 辛くしないでください (Karaku shinaide kudasai)
• “Please make it not spicy.”

• アレルギーがあります (Arerugī ga arimasu)
• “I have allergies.”

Useful for informing the restaurant staff about specific food allergies.

5. Paying the Bill

After finishing your meal, here are some phrases to use when paying the bill.

• お会計をお願いします (Okaikei o onegaishimasu)
• “The bill, please.”

• カードで払えますか？ (Kādo de haraemasu ka?)
• “Can I pay by card?”

• いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)
• “How much is it?”

Example Conversation

Here’s a simple example of a conversation between a customer and a waiter:

• Customer:
  すみません！メニューを見せてください。(Sumimasen! Menyū o misete kudasai.)
• “Excuse me! Please show me the menu.”
• Waiter: はい、どうぞ。(Hai, dōzo.)
• “Sure, here you go.”
• Customer:
  この料理は何ですか？ (Kono ryōri wa nan desu ka?)
• “What is this dish?”
• Waiter:
  これは照り焼きチキンです。(Kore wa teriyaki chikin desu.)
• “This is teriyaki chicken.”
• Customer:
  照り焼きチキンを一つください。(Teriyaki chikin o hitotsu kudasai.)
• “I’d like one teriyaki chicken, please.”
• Waiter: かしこまりました！(Kashikomarimashita!)
• “Certainly!”

Understanding simple phrases for ordering food can make your dining experience
in Japan more enjoyable and comfortable. From calling the server to completing
the payment, these phrases will be incredibly useful during your trip. So,
practice these expressions the next time you visit a Japanese restaurant and
see the difference!