How to Order in Japanese: Mastering Every Type of Japanese Dining

How to order food in Japan is important due to the culinary experiences you will encounter, and the phrase you will find most commonly used is お願いします (Onegai shimasu).

Japan offers some of the most incredible dining journeys on the planet. From late-night bowls of tonkotsu ramen in Fukuoka to bustling yakitori stalls in Tokyo, Japan is a true paradise for food lovers. However, for a beginner learning the language, stepping into a local restaurant can feel incredibly intimidating.

You might be wondering: What if I cannot read the characters on the menu? How do I politely get the server’s attention? What is the correct way to ask for three chicken skewers instead of just one?

Do not worry! This comprehensive guide will teach you exactly how to order in Japanese. By learning a handful of essential phrases—starting with the versatile onegai shimasu—foundational vocabulary words, and cultural etiquette, you will be able to navigate any cafe or eatery with absolute confidence. Let’s dive straight into the ultimate guide to eating and drinking your way through Japan!

Order in Japanese: The Basics of Essential Japanese Phrases for Ordering Food

Before we look at complex menus and highly specific dining scenarios, you only need to know two core words to order food anywhere in the country successfully. No matter where you travel in Japan, these two magic words will be your absolute best friends

While both generally mean “please,” onegaishimasu carries a slightly higher level of politeness and is highly recommended when dealing with restaurant staff or customer service. 

To form a sentence, all you need to do is state the name of the food item, attach the particle “を” (o) to act as a bridge, and finish with one of these polite words. 

Example:

*Onegaishimasu is generally considered the more polite and versatile option. Its literal meaning is closer to “I humbly request” or “I am in your care.” Because it focuses on the interaction rather than just the object, it is the safest choice for beginners. 

*Kudasai is the standard way to say “Please give me.” While it is perfectly polite, it is more direct and transactional. It is best used for physical objects that are right in front of you. 

If you are unsure which to use, stick with Onegaishimasu. It is slightly more sophisticated and shows a higher level of respect toward the restaurant staff.

To master the fundamentals and prepare for your first restaurant interaction, read our guide on Dining at Restaurants (Part 1) for a deeper look at essential vocabulary and dining etiquette.

How to Order in Japanese Using “Kore” and Pointing

When you are a beginner, memorizing a long list of complex food vocabulary is nearly impossible. Luckily, Japanese restaurant culture is incredibly accommodating to point-and-order methods. If a menu has beautiful pictures, or if you are looking at the highly realistic plastic food displays outside the restaurant window, using the demonstrative word これ (kore), meaning “this,” will save your life. 

Here are the primary demonstrative words you should memorize for pointing out food.

Order Food Japan: Useful Phrases for Reading Hiragana and English Menus

What happens if you wander off the beaten path into a tiny local shop and there are absolutely no pictures on the menu? Japanese menus often use a sophisticated mix of Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana characters. To a tourist, this can look like a wall of impossible text. 

Your very first strategy should be to ask if an English version is available politely:

If they do not have one, it is a fantastic idea to practice reading Katakana. Because thousands of foreign food words were adapted into the Japanese language over the decades, a surprisingly large portion of a modern menu might be words you already know, just pronounced with Japanese syllables! 

Examples:

• ハンバーグ (Hanbāgu) ー Hamburg steak
• ポテト (Poteto) ー French fries
• サラダ (Sarada) ー Salad

If you are totally lost and want to rely on the chef’s expertise, ask for their top recommendation.

Examples:

• おすすめは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?) ー What do you recommend?
• 人気なのは何ですか？(Ninki na no wa nan desu ka?) ー What’s popular?

Kaedama Meaning: How to Ask for Extra Ramen Noodles

If you visit a specialty tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen shop—especially ones from the Hakata region of Fukuoka—you need to understand kaedama meaning. The word 替え玉 (kaedama) simply refers to a refill or extra serving of boiled noodles. 

Because traditional Hakata ramen noodles are very thin, they get soggy quickly if left in hot broth. So, restaurants serve smaller portions of noodles up front. When you finish your noodles, you don’t drink the remaining soup. Instead, you raise your hand and order a kaedama! The chef will boil a fresh batch of noodles and drop them straight into your leftover broth.

How to Order Food in Japan: Step-by-Step in a Japanese Restaurant

Now that you understand the foundational phrases, let’s walk through the chronological process of eating out. Dining in Japan is highly systematized, which means once you learn the overarching “script,” you will know exactly what to expect everywhere you go.

Ordering Food in Japan: Entering and Getting the Staff’s Attention

When you slide open the door to a Japanese restaurant, you will immediately be greeted by an enthusiastic, often loudly chanted phrase from the staff, いらっしゃいませ！ (Irasshaimase!) meaning “welcome.”

You do not reply to this! Unlike in Western cultures where you respond with a polite “Hello, how are you?” to the host, irasshaimase is simply an announcement of your arrival that requires absolutely no verbal response from the customer. The server will step up and immediately ask how many people are in your party. 

Once seated with a menu, notice this: Japanese servers will rarely visit your table to ask, “Are you folks ready to order?” Checking on tables unprompted is actually considered intrusive. You must confidently call them over.

To get the server’s attention, loudly, clearly, and politely say.

In modern restaurants or family diners (famiresu), there’s also a call button, called a 呼び出しボタン (yobidashi botan), located somewhere on your table. Press it once, and a gentle chime will ring out, alerting the host to head to your table.

Ordering Food in Japanese: How to Order in a Japanese Izakaya

An Izakaya is a lively, traditional Japanese gastropub—a casual establishment where locals gather after a long day of work to drink beer, snack on small sharing plates like yakitori, and socialize. 

When seated at an izakaya, you will usually be served a small appetizer bowl immediately. This is the お通し (otoshi). Do not send it back saying you didn’t order it! The otoshi is basically a mandatory seating or table charge that takes the place of a tip (there is absolutely no tipping in Japan!). 

In an izakaya, you usually do not order all your meal at once; instead you order in casual waves. Many izakayas now feature a digital touch panel, or a system where you can order from your phone. Thankfully for English speakers, 99% of these panels have an “English” language button at the top of the screen! 

If you are feeling thirsty, be sure to ask for the legendary all-you-can-drink special.

Once you are comfortable with the basics, explore more advanced scenarios and local customs in our guide on Dining at Restaurants (Part 2).

Order in Japanese: Drinks, Cafe Culture, and Nightlife

Japan has a robust and deep beverage culture. Whether you want to enjoy a perfectly poured hand-drip artisan espresso in an old Tokyo back alley or guzzle down a giant frosty mug of Sapporo in Osaka, tailoring your drink order is a crucial travel skill.

How to Order Coffee in Japanese: From Chain Shops to Local Cafes

Japanese coffee shops (traditionally known as kissaten) are serious about their roasts. Even if you walk into a familiar international chain, there is still Katakana vocabulary you need to utilize.

Firstly, you need to confidently state your preferred temperature, as Japan clearly divides most menus into Hot and Iced columns:

• ホット (Hotto) ー Hot
• アイス (Aisu) ー Iced

Example:

ホットコーヒーをひとつお願いします。 (Hotto kōhī o hitotsu onegaishimasu.) ー One hot coffee, please.

As for sizes, international chains generally use terms you already know, just spoken with Japanese phonetic sounds:

• ショート (Shōto) ー Short
• トール (Tōru) ー Tall
• グランデ (Gurande) ー Grande

How to Order Decaf and Custom Coffee Orders

If you want to cut back on caffeine or avoid dairy, Japanese cafes are getting increasingly good at accommodating modifications. Here is how you specify your drink: 

• デカフェ (Dekafe) or カフェインレス (Kafein-resu) ー Decaf
• 豆乳 (Tōnyū) ー Soy Milk
• オーツミルク (Ōtsu miruku) ー Oat Milk

Example Custom Order:

アイスラテのグランデを豆乳でお願いします。 (Aisu rate no gurande o tōnyū de onegaishimasu.) ー A grande iced latte with soy milk, please.

How to Order Beer in Japanese: Drafts, Bottles, and More

Nothing marks the start of an amazing evening in Japan quite like the famous local phrase: とりあえず生で！ (toriaezu nama de!). This enthusiastically translates to, “For now, we’ll start with draft beers!” 

Here are the basic nightlife drink terms you need to know:

• 生ビール (Nama Bīru) ー Draft Beer (literally “raw beer”)
• 瓶ビール (Bin Bīru) ー Bottled Beer
• お水 (O-mizu) ー Cold Water

How to Order in Japanese: Special Requests, Water, and Modifications

Throughout your meal, you might need extra items for the table. One of the greatest parts of Japanese hospitality is that green tea or ice water is almost universally served entirely for free!  When you take your seat, waitstaff will bring water and a warm/cold rolled wet towel. This hygiene towel is called an おしぼり (oshibori). 

If you drop a utensil or need an extra glass of water, wave down the staff and ask:

• お水 (O-mizu) ー Water
• ナプキン (Napukin) / 紙おしぼり (Kami oshibori) ー Paper Napkin
• お箸 (O-hashi) ー Chopsticks
• 取り皿 (Torizara) ー Small sharing plate

Example:

お水をもらえますか？ (O-mizu o moraemasu ka?) ー May I have some water, please?

Dealing with Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

Dietary restrictions can make international travel stressful, but proper vocabulary keeps you safe. In Japanese, the direct loanword for allergy is アレルギー (arerugī). 

To clearly declare a food allergy, or ask if a hidden ingredient is present, memorize these key templates:

[Ingredient] のアレルギーがあります。 ([Ingredient] no arerugī ga arimasu.) ー I have a [Ingredient] allergy.

[Ingredient] は入っていますか？ ([Ingredient] wa haitte imasu ka?) ー Does this dish/drink have [Ingredient] in it?

If you prefer to omit something simple due to personal taste, such as raw onions, use the terms なし (nashi) or 抜き (nuki), both of which mean “without” or “left out.”

玉ねぎなしでお願いします。(Tamanegi nashi de onegaishimasu.) ー Without onions, please.

Key Vocabulary to combine with these phrases:

• ピーナッツ (Pīnattsu) ー Peanuts
• 肉 (Niku) ー Meat
• 魚 (Sakana) ー Fish
• 小麦 (Komugi) ー Wheat/Gluten

Okawari Meaning: Getting Drink and Rice Refills

To cap off our vocabulary, let’s explore the meaning of “okawari”, a term you will absolutely want to use if you are enjoying your meal. おかわり (okawari) simply means a refill, seconds, or another round of whatever you are currently having.

For instance, many set-meal restaurants offer unlimited free refills of white rice. Rather than learning how to ask for rice all over again, you simply hold up your empty rice bowl and say.

The beauty of okawari is that it applies to alcohol, too! If you drain your pint of draft beer and just want the same beverage without fumbling with the menu, you catch the bartender’s eye, point to your empty glass, and say: おかわりをお願いします！ (Okawari o onegaishimasu! ー Another round, please!)

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Pro Tip: If you want to learn more about paying for your meal, see this article: Check Please in Japanese: How to Ask for the Bill and Navigate Restaurant Etiquette

Conclusion

If you want to order in Japanese confidently, learning these fundamental phrases is the most empowering step you can take before your flight lands in Tokyo or Kyoto. It elevates you from an observant tourist into an active traveler who connects directly and respectfully with local culture. 

Do not let the fear of imperfect grammar keep you from entering an incredible, authentic eatery. The Japanese concept of hospitality means waitstaff are invariably patient, intensely polite, and deeply appreciative of foreigners attempting to use their language.

Start simply: fall back on “Kore o onegaishimasu” to point, boldly call out “Sumimasen!” without guilt, and when you exit the restaurant full of incredible food, give a hearty ごちそうさまでした！ (Gochisousama deshita! ー Thank you for the meal!) to the chefs. An entirely new world of flavor awaits you!