Japanese Restaurant Phrases for Ordering, Asking, and Paying

Start With The Phrases You Will Use Most

• すみません — Sumimasen — Excuse me / Sorry / Hey, over here
• これをください — Kore o kudasai — Please give me this
• おすすめは何ですか — Osusume wa nan desu ka — What do you recommend?
• メニューをください — Menyū o kudasai — Please give me a menu
• 水をください — Mizu o kudasai — Please give me water
• 注文したいです — Chūmon shitai desu — I would like to order
• これでお願いします — Kore de onegaishimasu — This one, please
• 別々でお願いします — Betsu-betsu de onegaishimasu — Separate checks, please
• 会計をお願いします — Kaikei o onegaishimasu — The bill, please
• ごちそうさまでした — Gochisōsama deshita — Thank you for the meal

These are the heavy hitters. If you learn only a few phrases today, make them these. Japanese restaurant staff are usually very helpful, and a little polite Japanese goes a long way. Tiny phrase, big respect. Very convenient. Annoyingly so, for how simple it is.

Useful Phrases For Ordering Food

• メニューをください — Menyū o kudasai — Please give me a menu
• おすすめは何ですか — Osusume wa nan desu ka — What do you recommend?
• 一番人気は何ですか — Ichiban ninki wa nan desu ka — What is the most popular item?
• これにします — Kore ni shimasu — I’ll have this one
• それにします — Sore ni shimasu — I’ll have that one
• これでお願いします — Kore de onegaishimasu — This one, please
• 辛くしないでください — Karaku shinaide kudasai — Please make it not spicy
• 大盛りでお願いします — Ōmori de onegaishimasu — Large serving, please
• 小盛りでお願いします — Komori de onegaishimasu — Small serving, please
• ご飯を少なめでお願いします — Gohan o sukuname de onegaishimasu — Less rice, please

Useful Phrases For Asking Questions

• これは何ですか — Kore wa nan desu ka — What is this?
• これは何が入っていますか — Kore wa nani ga haitte imasu ka — What is inside this?
• アレルギーがあります — Arerugī ga arimasu — I have an allergy
• 卵は入っていますか — Tamago wa haitte imasu ka — Does this contain egg?
• 牛肉は入っていますか — Gyūniku wa haitte imasu ka — Does this contain beef?
• 豚肉は入っていますか — Butaniku wa haitte imasu ka — Does this contain pork?
• 魚は入っていますか — Sakana wa haitte imasu ka — Does this contain fish?
• 辛いですか — Karai desu ka — Is it spicy?
• 温かいですか — Atatakai desu ka — Is it hot?
• 冷たいですか — Tsumetai desu ka — Is it cold?
• 持ち帰りできますか — Mochikaeri dekimasu ka — Can I take it to go?
• 店内で食べます — Tennai de tabemasu — I’ll eat here

A useful note: in Japanese, はいって います means “is included” or “contains,” and it is especially handy for allergies. Because guessing ingredients is a terrible hobby.

Useful Phrases For Paying

• 会計をお願いします — Kaikei o onegaishimasu — The bill, please
• お会計お願いします — Okaikei onegaishimasu — Check, please
• 別々でお願いします — Betsu-betsu de onegaishimasu — Separate checks, please
• 一緒でお願いします — Issho de onegaishimasu — Together, please
• 現金で払います — Genkin de haraimasu — I’ll pay in cash
• カードで払えますか — Kādo de haraemasu ka — Can I pay by card?
• 電子マネーは使えますか — Denshi manē wa tsukaemasu ka — Can I use electronic money?
• 領収書をください — Ryōshūsho o kudasai — Please give me a receipt
• 税込ですか — Zeikomi desu ka — Is tax included?
• ありがとうございました — Arigatō gozaimashita — Thank you very much

80 Useful Restaurant Phrases In One Handy Reference

The table below keeps the phrases together for fast review. It is the kind of thing you want on your phone before you walk into a ramen shop with confidence and zero clue.

Useful Pattern Notes

Japanese restaurant phrases often use a very handy pattern: noun + をください or noun + をお願いします. That means “Please give me…” or “Please do this…” depending on the context.

Also, sumimasen is magical. It can mean “excuse me,” “sorry,” or “hey, waiter, I am human and would like attention.” A true multitasker.

Practice: Swap The Word

Try changing the noun in the sentence pattern. This is a very clean way to make your own restaurant phrases fast.

• 水をください。 → Try: お茶をください。
• 会計をお願いします。 → Try: 領収書をお願いします。
• 豚肉は入っていますか。 → Try: 卵は入っていますか。
• カードで払えますか。 → Try: 現金で払えますか。
• これにします。 → Try: それにします。

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

• Use すみません to get attention politely.
• Use ください for direct requests.
• Use お願いします for softer, more polite requests.
• Use はありますか when asking whether something is available.
• Use でお願いします for payment methods like cash or card.

Quick Reference Summary

If you want to double-check common Japanese words and usage, a plain reference like an English etymology dictionary is not Japanese-specific, but it can still help build your word-learning habit. Language learning loves repetition almost as much as restaurants love good manners.

Final Yak Takeaway

Japanese restaurant phrases do not need to be fancy. A few polite lines, a clear request, and a confident ごちそうさまでした can carry you through most meals. Start with the essentials, then add food words, allergy questions, and payment phrases as needed. Soon enough, ordering in Japanese will feel less like a test and more like lunch.