Visiting Japan · Lesson 3

Eating out

Eating out is one of the best parts of a trip to Japan. This lesson takes you from the door to the bill: how many people, ordering, allergies, and what to say before and after the meal. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.

15 phrases for eating out

Each card shows the phrase, how to say it in English letters, and a short line using it. Tap "Show English" for the meaning and a note on when to say it, and tap the speaker to hear it.

G01

何名様なんめいさまですかNanmeisama des ka?restaurant

いらっしゃいませ。何名様なんめいさまですか？
Irasshaimase. Nanmeisama des ka?

how many people? (staff) · Welcome. How many people?
You'll hear this at the door. Answer with the number of people, or hold up fingers.
G02

一人ひとりですHitori des.restaurant

一人ひとりです。
Hitori des.

one person · Just one.
A special word: 一人ひとり, not ichinin.
G03

二人ふたりですFutari des.restaurant

二人ふたりです。
Futari des.

two people · Two of us.
Also a special word: 二人ふたり. From three on, see the table.
G04

英語えいごのメニューはありますかEigo no menyū wa arimas ka?restaurant

すみません、英語えいごのメニューはありますか？
Sumimasen, eigo no menyū wa arimas ka?

is there an English menu? · Excuse me, is there an English menu?
Many places have one, or a menu with pictures.
G05

おすすめは何なんですかOsusume wa nan des ka?restaurant

今日きょうのおすすめは何なんですか？
Kyō no osusume wa nan des ka?

what do you recommend? · What's today's recommendation?
A friendly way to order when you can't read the menu.
G06

これをくださいKore o kudasai.restaurant

これを二ふたつください。
Kore o futatsu kudasai.

this, please · Two of these, please.
Point at the menu as you say it. これをお願ねがいします is just as polite.
G07

お水みずをお願ねがいしますOmizu o onegai shimas.restaurant

すみません、お水みずをお願ねがいします。
Sumimasen, omizu o onegai shimas.

water, please · Excuse me, some water, please.
Water or tea is usually free. In some places you help yourself.
G08

〜のアレルギーがあります… no arerugī ga arimas.restaurant

卵たまごのアレルギーがあります。
Tamago no arerugī ga arimas.

I'm allergic to … · I'm allergic to eggs.
Say it when you order. For a serious allergy, carry a card that explains it in Japanese too.
G09

〜は入はいっていますか… wa haitte imas ka?restaurant

これに卵たまごは入はいっていますか？
Kore ni tamago wa haitte imas ka?

does it have … in it? · Does this have egg in it?
Point at the dish on the menu and ask.
G10

〜が食たべられません… ga taberaremasen.restaurant

豚肉ぶたにくが食たべられません。
Butaniku ga taberaremasen.

I can't eat … · I can't eat pork.
For anything you don't eat, for any reason.
G11

いただきますItadakimas.restaurant

いただきます。
Itadakimas.

(said before eating) · (before eating)
It means “I humbly receive”. Say it to yourself, hands together, just before you start eating. It isn't “bon appétit”: you don't say it to others to wish them a good meal.
G12

おいしかったですOishikatta des.restaurant

とてもおいしかったです。
Totemo oishikatta des.

it was delicious · It was really delicious.
At the end of the meal or when paying. Staff will be pleased.
G13

ごちそうさまでしたGochisōsama deshta.restaurant

ごちそうさまでした。
Gochisōsama deshta.

thank you for the meal · Thank you for the meal.
Say it when you finish eating, and to the staff on your way out. A lovely touch people appreciate.
G14

お会計かいけいをお願ねがいしますOkaikei o onegai shimas.restaurant

すみません、お会計かいけいをお願ねがいします。
Sumimasen, okaikei o onegai shimas.

the bill, please · Excuse me, the bill, please.
In many places you take the bill to the till by the door and pay there.
G15

カードで払はらえますかKādo de haraemas ka?restaurant

すみません、カードで払はらえますか？
Sumimasen, kādo de haraemas ka?

can I pay by card? · Excuse me, can I pay by card?
Most places take cards now, but small restaurants may be cash only. Ask before you order if you're not sure.

How many people?

Staff ask 何名様なんめいさまですか as you come in. One and two are special words; from three on it's the number plus 人にん (four is 四人よにん).

People	Say	Pronunciation
1	一人ひとりです	Hitori des
2	二人ふたりです	Futari des
3	三人さんにんです	Sannin des
4	四人よにんです	Yonin des
5	五人ごにんです	Gonin des
Before and after the meal
Just before eating	いただきます	Itadakimas
After eating, and leaving	ごちそうさまでした	Gochisōsama deshta

No tipping. Tipping isn't done in Japan and can cause confusion. Say ごちそうさまでした on your way out instead.
Calling staff. It's normal to raise a hand and say すみません to call a waiter. Some tables have a call button.
Paying. You often take the bill to the till by the door. At some ramen shops you buy a ticket from a machine before you sit down.
Fingers work too. When asked how many, you can just hold up fingers.

Three patterns to use today

〜のアレルギーがあります

Swap in what you're allergic to: 卵たまご egg, 小麦こむぎ wheat, えび prawns, ナッツ nuts, 乳製品にゅうせいひん dairy.

小麦こむぎのアレルギーがあります。

Komugi no arerugī ga arimas.

I'm allergic to wheat.

えびのアレルギーがあります。

Ebi no arerugī ga arimas.

I'm allergic to prawns.

〜人にんです

Three or more people: the number plus 人にん.

三人さんにんです。

Sannin des.

Three of us.

四人よにんです。

Yonin des.

Four of us.

〜をお願ねがいします

Ask for something at the table.

生なまビールをお願ねがいします。

Nama bīru o onegai shimas.

A draught beer, please.

スプーンをお願ねがいします。

Supūn o onegai shimas.

A spoon, please.

Say it in Japanese

Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.

1. Five of us.
2. Two of us.
3. Is there an English menu?
4. What do you recommend?
5. I'm allergic to nuts.
6. I can't eat meat.
7. Some water, please.
8. It was delicious.
9. The bill, please.
10. Thank you for the meal. (leaving)