Restaurant

Eating in Japan is a major part of travel — and restaurants are where your kanji knowledge helps most. Menus reuse characters familiar from Mandarin: 肉, 魚, 野菜, 焼, 揚. With a short list of ordering phrases, you can handle conveyor-belt sushi bars, ramen shops, and izakaya alike.

Types of restaurants

Type	Japanese	What it is
Restaurant	レストラン	General Western or fusion dining
Izakaya	居酒屋(いざかや)	Japanese pub: small plates, drinks, lively atmosphere
Ramen shop	ラーメン屋(や)	Noodle specialist; often ticket vending machines
Sushi shop	寿司(すし)屋(や)	Sushi at the counter or on a conveyor belt (回転寿司)
Set-meal shop	定食(ていしょく)屋(や)	Home-style set meals; good value
Cafeteria	食堂(しょくどう)	Simple, cheap, filling; popular with office workers

Mandarin Bridge 中文橋

居酒屋 breaks down as 居 (dwell), 酒 (alcohol), 屋 (shop): “a place to stay and drink.” Mandarin shares 酒 (jiǔ). 定食 (teishoku) is 定 (fixed) + 食 (meal), like 套餐 (tàocān). 食堂 (shokudō) and Mandarin 食堂 (shítáng) use identical characters.

Entering the restaurant

When you walk in, staff will greet you loudly:

「いらっしゃいませ！」 (Irasshaimase!) — Welcome!

You do not need to respond. A nod or quiet こんにちは is enough. They will ask:

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
何(なん)名(めい)様(さま)ですか	nan-mei sama desu ka	How many people?
二人(にん)です	futari desu	Two people
一人(にん)です	hitori desu	One person (solo dining)
禁煙(きんえん)ですか	kin’en desu ka	Non-smoking? (they may ask)
テーブル席(せき)	tēburu seki	Table seating
座(ざ)敷(しき)席(せき)	zashiki seki	Tatami floor seating

Solo dining is normal in Japan. Say 一人です without hesitation. Ramen shops, izakaya counters, and set-meal restaurants commonly welcome solo diners, and some places have dedicated 一人 counter seats.

▶Listen: two people

Ordering phrases

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
メニューをお願(ねが)いします	menyū o onegai shimasu	Menu, please
お勧(すす)めは何(なん)ですか	osusume wa nan desu ka	What do you recommend?
これをください	kore o kudasai	This one, please (point at menu)
～をお願(ねが)いします	~ o onegai shimasu	~ please
注文(ちゅうもん)をお願(ねが)いします	chūmon o onegai shimasu	I’d like to order
もう少(すこ)し待(ま)ってください	mō sukoshi matte kudasai	Please wait a moment (still deciding)
同(おな)じのを一(いち)つ	onaji no o hitotsu	One of the same (when re-ordering)

Memory Trick 記憶のコツ

You do not need to pronounce dish names perfectly. Point at the menu or food display and say 「これをください」 (kore o kudasai). Add 「お勧めは何ですか？」 if you want the staff’s pick. This works at most restaurants in Japan.

▶Listen: this one, please

You cannot read a dish name on the menu but you know what you want. Which phrase works at almost any restaurant?

A. これをください (pointing at the menu)B. 会計をくださいC. 一人ですD. 禁煙です

Reading the menu: kanji advantage

Ingredients

Kanji	Reading	Meaning	Mandarin
肉(にく)	niku	Meat	肉 — same character
牛(ぎゅう)	gyū	Beef	牛 — same character
豚(ぶた)	buta	Pork	豚 (tún; less common in Mandarin, same character)
鶏(とり)	tori	Chicken	鸡 (jī); traditional form 鶏
魚(さかな)	sakana	Fish	鱼 (yú; same character)
野菜(やさい)	yasai	Vegetables	野菜 — same characters
米(こめ) / ご飯(はん)	kome / gohan	Rice	米 / 饭
麺(めん)	men	Noodles	面 (same character)
卵(たまご)	tamago	Egg	卵 — same character

Cooking methods

Kanji	Reading	Meaning	Mandarin
焼(や)	yaki	Grilled	烧 — same character
揚(あ)	age	Fried	扬 (yáng) — related
煮(に)	ni	Simmered / boiled	煮 — same character
蒸(む)	mushi	Steamed	蒸 (same character)
生(なま)	nama	Raw	生 (same character)
炒(いた)	ita	Stir-fried	炒 (same character)

Portion & style

Kanji	Reading	Meaning	Mandarin
定食(ていしょく)	teishoku	Set meal	定食 — same characters
大(おお)盛り	ōmori	Large portion	大 = big
小(しょう)	shō	Small	小 (same character)
特(とく)盛(も)	tokumori	Extra large	特 = special
丼(どん)	don	Rice bowl	丼 (same character)
刺身(さしみ)	sashimi	Raw fish slices	刺身 — same characters

Memory Trick 記憶のコツ

Many dish names follow [Protein] + [Cooking method]. 豚 (pork) + 焼 (grilled) gives 豚焼 (grilled pork). 牛 (beef) + 丼 (bowl) gives 牛丼 (beef bowl). Scan for kanji you recognize — the rest often becomes guessable from context.

Sushi guide: 寿司の世界

Sushi is one of Japan’s defining food experiences. Whether you visit a high-end counter (寿司(すし)屋(や)), a casual conveyor-belt restaurant (回転(かいてん)寿司(ずし)), or grab a pack at a convenience store, knowing the vocabulary makes everything more enjoyable.

Sushi styles

Japanese	Reading	Meaning	Notes
握(にぎ)り	nigiri	Hand-pressed sushi	Fish on a small rice mound; the classic form
巻(ま)き	maki	Rolled sushi	Rice and filling wrapped in のり (seaweed)
手巻(てま)き	temaki	Hand roll	Cone-shaped のり wrap; eat with your hands
散(ちら)し	chirashi	Scattered sushi	Fish pieces over a bowl of sushi rice
軍艦(ぐんかん)巻(ま)き	gunkan maki	Battleship roll	のり wall around rice, topped with いくら or うに
押(お)し寿司(ずし)	oshizushi	Pressed sushi	Osaka specialty; pressed in a wooden mold
刺身(さしみ)	sashimi	Raw fish slices	No rice; pure fish

Mandarin Bridge 中文橋

握 (niǎi/wò) = grip/grasp → 握り = hand-pressed. 巻 = 卷 (juǎn) = roll → 巻き = rolled. 散 (sǎn) = scatter → 散らし = scattered. 軍艦 = 军舰 (jūnjiàn) = warship → the shape resembles a battleship. The kanji tell you the shape of each sushi style.

Sushi neta (ネタ): what is on top

These are the fish and toppings you will see at any sushi restaurant. Many have kanji that connect to Mandarin.

Japanese	Reading	English	Mandarin connection	Price range
まぐろ	maguro	Tuna (lean)	鮪 — the 魚 radical + 有	Mid
中トロ	chūtoro	Medium fatty tuna	中 = medium; トロ = fatty melt	High
大トロ	ōtoro	Fatty tuna belly	大 = big/premium; the most luxurious cut	Very high
サーモン	sāmon	Salmon	Katakana loanword; most popular neta in modern Japan	Mid
えび	ebi	Shrimp	海老(えび): 海 (sea) + 老 (old) — the curved back resembles an elder	Mid
甘えび	amaebi	Sweet shrimp	甘 (sweet) + えび; served raw	Mid
いか	ika	Squid	烏賊(いか): complex kanji, usually written in hiragana	Low-mid
たこ	tako	Octopus	蛸(たこ); more common in hiragana	Low-mid
うに	uni	Sea urchin	雲丹(うに): 雲 (cloud) + 丹 (red) — the color	Very high
いくら	ikura	Salmon roe	イクラ from Russian ikra! Not English	High
たまご	tamago	Egg omelet	卵(たまご) or 玉子(たまご); the sweet, mild option	Low
あなご	anago	Conger eel	穴子(あなご): 穴 (hole) + 子; they live in holes	Mid
うなぎ	unagi	Freshwater eel	鰻(うなぎ); grilled with sweet sauce; a specialty by itself	High
ほたて	hotate	Scallop	帆立(ほたて): 帆 (sail) + 立 (stand) — the shell opens like a sail	Mid-high
はまち	hamachi	Yellowtail (young)	Seasonal favorite; firm and buttery	Mid
サバ	saba	Mackerel	鯖; often served 〆サバ (shimesaba, vinegar-cured)	Low-mid
イカゲソ	ikageso	Squid tentacles	ゲソ = “wooden clog” — the tentacles’ shape	Low
ネギトロ	negitoro	Minced tuna with green onion	ネギ (scallion) + トロ (fatty tuna); popular maki filling	Mid

Sushi ordering phrases

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
おまかせでお願(ねが)いします	omakase de onegai shimasu	Chef’s choice, please (the chef selects for you)
サーモンを二(に)貫(かん)	sāmon o ni-kan	Two pieces of salmon (貫 = sushi counter)
サビ抜(ぬ)きでお願(ねが)いします	sabi-nuki de onegai shimasu	No wasabi, please
わさび多(おお)めで	wasabi ōme de	Extra wasabi, please
おすすめは何(なん)ですか	osusume wa nan desu ka	What do you recommend?
お会計(かいけい)をお願(ねが)いします	okaikei o onegai shimasu	Check, please

▶Listen: check, please

回転寿司 (conveyor belt sushi): how it works

Conveyor belt sushi (回転寿司, kaiten-zushi) is affordable, fun, and perfect for travelers. Here is how it works:

1. Seat yourself or take a number at the entrance. Solo counter seats are common.
2. Grab plates from the belt, or order by touchscreen (タッチパネル). Most screens have English and Chinese.
3. Plates are color-coded by price: ¥100–500+ per plate. Two pieces per plate is standard.
4. Hot water for tea is at your seat — press the お茶 button or use the powder and hot water tap.
5. Gari (ガリ, pickled ginger) and soy sauce (醤油) are free at your table.
6. Stack your plates when done. Staff count them to calculate your bill.

Popular chains: スシロー (Sushiro), くら寿司 (Kura Sushi), はま寿司 (Hama Sushi). All offer excellent quality for the price.

Sushi etiquette

Do	Do not
Eat nigiri in one bite if possible	Dunk the rice side into soy sauce (dip fish side down)
Use hands or chopsticks for nigiri — both are correct	Rub chopsticks together (implies the restaurant is cheap)
Eat ginger between different fish to cleanse your palate	Put ginger on top of sushi
Say おいしい！(delicious!) to the chef	Leave large amounts of soy sauce in the dish

Memory Trick 記憶のコツ

Sushi counters are the most common unit: 一貫 (いっかん, one piece), 二貫 (にかん, two pieces). At conveyor belt restaurants, just grab a plate. At a counter, order by name + 貫: 「まぐろを二貫」(two pieces of tuna).

Ramen guide: ラーメンの世界

Ramen is arguably Japan’s most beloved comfort food. Every city has its own style, and many shops are standing-only affairs with a ticket machine at the entrance. Knowing the vocabulary lets you customize your bowl exactly how you want it.

Broth types (スープ)

Japanese	Reading	English	Flavor profile
醤油(しょうゆ)	shōyu	Soy sauce ramen	Clear brown broth; Tokyo’s classic style
味噌(みそ)	miso	Miso ramen	Rich, savory; originated in Hokkaido’s Sapporo
塩(しお)	shio	Salt ramen	Light, clear broth; delicate flavor
豚骨(とんこつ)	tonkotsu	Pork bone ramen	Creamy white broth; Fukuoka/Hakata origin
つけ麺(めん)	tsukemen	Dipping ramen	Noodles and broth served separately; dip and eat
担々麺(たんたんめん)	tantanmen	Spicy sesame ramen	Japanese adaptation of Sichuan 担担面

Mandarin Bridge 中文橋

醤油 = 酱油 (jiàngyóu) — same characters for soy sauce. 味噌 uses 味 (wèi, flavor) + 噌. 豚骨 = 猪骨 (zhūgǔ) — 豚 (tún) is pig in Japanese. 塩 = 盐 (yán) — same meaning. 担々麺 comes directly from 担担面 (dàndàn miàn), though the Japanese version is usually creamier and less spicy.

Common toppings (トッピング)

Japanese	Reading	English	Mandarin
チャーシュー	chāshū	Roast pork slices	叉烧 (chāshāo) — same origin!
煮(に)卵(たまご) / 味(あじ)玉(たま)	nitamago / ajitama	Marinated soft-boiled egg	煮 = boiled; 卵 = egg
メンマ	menma	Bamboo shoots	筍 (sǔn); fermented bamboo
ネギ	negi	Green onion	葱 (cōng) — same character
のり	nori	Seaweed sheet	海苔 (hǎitái)
もやし	moyashi	Bean sprouts	豆芽 (dòuyá)
海苔(のり)	nori	Dried seaweed	Same as above; full kanji form
コーン	kōn	Corn	Common in miso ramen
バター	batā	Butter	Hokkaido-style addition
紅(べに)生姜(しょうが)	beni shōga	Red pickled ginger	Common in tonkotsu ramen

Ordering at the ticket machine (食券機)

Many ramen shops use a vending machine (食券機(しょくけんき), shokkenki) at the entrance instead of a waiter:

1. Look at the machine — buttons show dish names and prices. Some have photos. Many now have English/Chinese language buttons.
2. Insert money (cash or IC card). The machine lights up available options.
3. Press the button for your ramen. The machine prints a ticket (食券(しょっけん)).
4. Hand the ticket to the staff or place it on the counter.
5. Wait — your ramen arrives in 3–5 minutes.

Common ticket machine buttons:

Button	Meaning
ラーメン	Standard ramen
チャーシュー麺	Ramen with extra pork
大盛り (おおもり)	Large portion
替え玉 (かえだま)	Extra noodles (refill; common in tonkotsu shops)
ライス	Rice (side)
餃子(ぎょうざ)	Gyoza (dumplings; a classic side order)

Customizing your ramen

At many shops (especially tonkotsu chains), staff will ask you to customize:

Japanese	Reading	Meaning	Options
麺(めん)の硬(かた)さ	men no katasa	Noodle firmness	かため (firm) / ふつう (regular) / やわらかめ (soft)
味(あじ)の濃(こ)さ	aji no kosa	Flavor intensity	こいめ (strong) / ふつう (regular) / うすめ (light)
脂(あぶら)の量(りょう)	abura no ryō	Oil/fat level	多め (more) / ふつう (regular) / 少なめ (less)

Memory Trick 記憶のコツ

When in doubt, say 「ふつうで」 (futsū de, “regular, please”) for everything. As you visit more ramen shops, experiment with かため (firm noodles) — many regulars prefer it because the noodles hold up better in hot broth.

Slurping noodles is expected and even encouraged — it cools the noodles and is considered a sign of enjoyment. Do not be shy.

Dietary needs

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
アレルギーがあります	arerugī ga arimasu	I have allergies
ベジタリアンです	bejitarian desu	I’m vegetarian
～抜(ぬ)き	~ nuki	Without ~
卵(たまご)抜(ぬ)き	tamago nuki	Without egg
肉(にく)抜(ぬ)き	niku nuki	Without meat
辛(から)くないのは何(なん)ですか	karakunai no wa nan desu ka	What’s not spicy?

False Friend 偽りの友

Vegetarianism is not widely understood in Japan. Fish stock (だし) appears in many dishes, including ones labeled vegetable. Say 「肉と魚を食べません」 (I don’t eat meat or fish) for clarity. Buddhist temple cuisine (精進料理) is the most reliably vegetarian option.

Paying

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
お会計(かいけい)をお願(ねが)いします	okaikei o onegai shimasu	Check, please
別(べつ)々(べつ)に	betsu betsu ni	Separately (split bill)
クレジットカードは使(つか)えますか	kurejitto kādo wa tsukaemasu ka	Can I use a credit card?
現金(げんきん)のみ	genkin nomi	Cash only
領収書(りょうしゅうしょ)をください	ryōshūsho o kudasai	Receipt, please

In most restaurants you pay at the register, not at the table. Look for レジ (register) or follow staff toward the front. At izakaya, the bill may arrive on a small tray — take it to the register to pay.

You finished your meal and want to pay. What do you say, and where do you usually pay in Japan?

Hint: 会計 uses the same kanji as Mandarin 会计.

Think about it... then click to reveal

Dining etiquette

Custom	What to do
いただきます	Say before eating — “I humbly receive” (like grace)
ごちそうさまでした	Say after eating — “Thank you for the feast”
おしぼり	Hot towel for hands only — not for your face
Chopsticks	Never stick upright in rice (funeral ritual); do not pass food chopstick-to-chopstick
Slurping noodles	Common and acceptable — it cools the noodles
No tipping	Not expected, same as at hotels
Refilling others’ drinks	In izakaya, pour for companions; they pour for you

いただきます and ごちそうさまでした are not religious formulas — they acknowledge the people who prepared and served the meal. Staff generally appreciate the effort even when pronunciation is imperfect.

Restaurant vocabulary

Japanese	Reading	Meaning	Mandarin
料理(りょうり)	ryōri	Cuisine / dish	料理 — same characters
味(あじ)	aji	Flavor / taste	味道
辛(から)い	karai	Spicy	辛
甘(あま)い	amai	Sweet	甜
塩(しお)	shio	Salt	盐
醤油(しょうゆ)	shōyu	Soy sauce	酱油 — same characters
箸(はし)	hashi	Chopsticks	筷子
茶(ちゃ)	cha	Tea	茶 (same character)
酒(さけ)	sake	Alcohol / sake	酒 (same character)
水(みず)	mizu	Water	水 (same character)
お冷(ひや)	ohiya	Cold water (restaurant term)	冷
注文(ちゅうもん)	chūmon	Order	注文 (same characters)
会計(かいけい)	kaikei	Bill / check	会计 (same characters)
定食(ていしょく)	teishoku	Set meal	定食 — same characters
弁当(べんとう)	bentō	Boxed lunch	便当 (same characters)
寿司(すし)	sushi	Sushi	寿司 — same characters
天(てん)麩(ぷら)	tempura	Tempura (fried)	天妇罗
刺身(さしみ)	sashimi	Raw fish	刺身 (same characters)
丼(どん)	don	Rice bowl dish	丼
麺(めん)	men	Noodles	面
汁(しる)	shiru	Soup / broth	汁
デザート()	dezāto	Dessert	甜点
お箸(はし)	ohashi	Chopsticks (polite)	筷子
おしぼり()	oshibori	Hot hand towel	—
持(も)ち帰(かえ)り	mochikaeri	Takeaway	带走
店内(てんない)飲食(いんしょく)	tennai inshoku	Eat in	店内饮食

Most dish names combine protein and cooking-method kanji in predictable ways. When a name is still unclear, pointing at the menu and saying これをください remains a practical fallback.

Key takeaways

• Point and say これをください when you cannot read a dish name
• お会計をお願いします gets the bill — pay at the register in most places
• Say いただきます before eating and ごちそうさまでした after — staff appreciate the effort

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