Japanese phrases for restaurants

Most restaurants in Japan are welcoming to visitors, but many small places have no English menu and staff who are shy about speaking English. These phrases cover the whole visit, from the door to the bill. Tap ▶ to hear each one; the romaji line shows how to say it.

Phrase · Pronunciation · Meaning · ▶ Listen

At the door

二人です。

Futari desu.

Two people. (Answer when staff ask 何名様ですか — how many?)

一人です。

Hitori desu.

Just one person.

予約しています。名前は〇〇です。

Yoyaku shite imasu. Namae wa ... desu.

I have a reservation. The name is ...

予約していません。大丈夫ですか?

Yoyaku shite imasen. Daijōbu desu ka?

We don't have a reservation. Is that OK?

どのくらい待ちますか?

Dono kurai machimasu ka?

How long is the wait?

禁煙席はありますか?

Kin'en-seki wa arimasu ka?

Do you have non-smoking seats?

Ordering

すみません!

Sumimasen!

Excuse me! (The normal way to call staff — say it clearly.)

英語のメニューはありますか?

Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka?

Do you have an English menu?

これをください。

Kore o kudasai.

This one, please. (Point at the menu.)

これを二つください。

Kore o futatsu kudasai.

Two of these, please.

おすすめは何ですか?

Osusume wa nan desu ka?

What do you recommend?

あれと同じものをください。

Are to onaji mono o kudasai.

I'll have the same as that. (Useful when you see a dish at another table.)

水をください。

Mizu o kudasai.

Water, please.

生ビールを一つください。

Nama bīru o hitotsu kudasai.

One draft beer, please.

取り皿をください。

Torizara o kudasai.

Could we have small plates for sharing?

Allergies and diets

えびアレルギーがあります。

Ebi arerugī ga arimasu.

I'm allergic to shrimp.

卵が食べられません。

Tamago ga taberaremasen.

I can't eat eggs.

これに豚肉は入っていますか?

Kore ni butaniku wa haitte imasu ka?

Does this contain pork?

肉なしでできますか?

Niku nashi de dekimasu ka?

Can you make it without meat?

ベジタリアンです。魚のだしも食べません。

Bejitarian desu. Sakana no dashi mo tabemasen.

I'm vegetarian. I don't eat fish stock either.

辛くしないでください。

Karaku shinaide kudasai.

Please don't make it spicy.

During the meal

いただきます。

Itadakimasu.

Said before eating — like 'let's eat', with thanks.

おいしいです!

Oishii desu!

It's delicious!

これは何ですか?

Kore wa nan desu ka?

What is this?

これは注文していません。

Kore wa chūmon shite imasen.

I didn't order this.

持ち帰りできますか?

Mochikaeri dekimasu ka?

Can I take this to go?

Paying

お会計お願いします。

Okaikei onegai shimasu.

The bill, please.

カードで払えますか?

Kādo de haraemasu ka?

Can I pay by card?

別々に払えますか?

Betsubetsu ni haraemasu ka?

Can we pay separately?

ごちそうさまでした。

Gochisōsama deshita.

Said when leaving — thanks for the meal. Staff will be happy to hear it.

Tips that save the situation

Tipping is not done in Japan. Leaving money on the table usually makes staff run after you to return it.
Many ramen and set-meal places use a ticket machine at the entrance: choose the dish, pay, and hand the ticket to the cook.
You often pay at the register by the door, not at the table. Take the bill slip with you.
A wet towel (oshibori) is for your hands, not your face — at least in nicer places.
Allergy cards are worth carrying: Japanese menus rarely list ingredients, and dashi stock made from fish is in many dishes that look vegetarian.

When the phrasebook runs out

A phrasebook covers the first sentence. Then the other person answers — fast, with words that are not on the list. Sabai translates the whole conversation live: you speak, the phone says it in Japanese, the other person replies into the same phone, and you read the answer in your language with a short explanation of what they meant.

Try it in the browser — no install

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Questions

Is 'sumimasen' rude for calling a waiter?

No. It is the normal, polite way to get attention in Japan. Raising your hand slightly at the same time helps in a busy place.

Do I need to speak polite Japanese?

The phrases on this page are already in the polite form (desu/masu). That is the right level for any restaurant.

What if the staff answer with something I don't understand?

That is where a phrasebook ends. A live translator such as Sabai lets the staff answer into your phone and shows you the translation, with a short note when the answer is a polite 'no'.

More phrasebooks

Updated: 2026-10-12