Hi, I am Shingo SATO, a native speaker with more than 10 years of experience teaching Japanese.
Japan is an amazing country with a rich culinary tradition that has captured the hearts and taste buds of people across the globe. Japanese food is known for its exquisite taste, presentation, and the attention to detail that goes into every dish. As a foodie, visiting Japan is an experience like no other, but knowing how to order food in Japanese is essential to fully appreciate the nation’s cuisine.
The Japanese food culture is deeply rooted in the nation’s history and traditions. From sushi to ramen and tempura to sake, Japan’s culinary scene is a delightful blend of flavors, textures, and techniques that make it truly unique. In this post, I will share the essential language skills you need to order food in Japanese, ask about ingredients and ask for the recommendation.
In conclusion, basic Japanese phrases for ordering food are as follows.
N、お願いします。
N, onegai shimasu.
N, please.
N、ください。
N, kudasai.
N, please.
To ask ingredients, you can use the following phrases.
N1、N2（を）使っていますか?
N1, N2（o）tsukatte imasu ka?
Does N1 use N2?
N1、N2（が）入っていますか?
N1, N2（ga）haitte imasu ka?
Does N1 contain N2?
And you can use the following phrase to ask for the recommendation.
おすすめは何ですか?
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What would you recommend?
Please read on for more detail.
Basic Japanese Phrases for Ordering Food
If you are a foodie venturing to Japan, it is important to learn some basic Japanese phrases for ordering food. While many Japanese restaurants and cafes in larger cities may have English menus, learning a few key phrases can help you feel more confident and ensure that you get exactly what you want.
Here are some essential phrases to get you started.
N、お願いします。
N, onegai shimasu.
N、ください。
N, kudasai.
You can simply substitute N, which means “Noun”, with what you want to order. Here are some examples.
唐揚げ、お願いします。
Karaage, onegai shimasu.
Karaage（deep-fried chicken）, please.
ウーロン茶、ください。
Uuroncha, kudasai.
Oolong tea, please.
Both phrases can be used to order food, and “N、お願いします。（N, onegai shimasu.）” is more polite than “N、ください。（N, kudasai.）”.
To say how many to order, say the number before “ください（kudasai）” or ” お願いします（onegai shimasu）as you can see in the following examples.
唐揚げ、4つお願いします。
Karaage, yottsu onegai shimasu.
Four karaage（deep-fried chicken）, please.
ウーロン茶、2つください。
Uuroncha, futatsu kudasai.
Two oolong tea, please.
The following video will help you better understand the situation.
You can learn more about these phrases in the following posts.
These basic phrases are just the beginning, but they will help you feel more comfortable when ordering food in Japan. As you become more familiar with the language, you can expand your vocabulary to better communicate your preferences and dietary requirements.
Japanese Phrases for Asking about the Ingredients
If you have any food allergies or special dietary needs, it is essential to know how to ask about the ingredients.
Here are some phrases to ask about ingredients.
N1、N2（を）使っていますか?
N1, N2（o）tsukatte imasu ka?
Does N1 use N2?
N1、N2（が）入っていますか?
N1, N2（ga）haitte imasu ka?
Does N1 contain N2?
N1 is the dish you want to order, and N2 is the ingredient you cannot eat for allergic or religious reasons（or other reasons）.
Here are some examples.
この料理、卵を使っていますか?
Kono ryoori, tamago o tsukatte imasu ka?
Does this dish use eggs?
これ、エビが入っていますか?
Kore, ebi ga haitte imasu ka?
Does this have shrimp in it?
If you want to know if a dish is Halal or not, you can ask like this:
これ、ハラルですか?
Kore, Hararu desu ka?
Is this Halal?
If you want to learn vocabulary about allergens, you can access Irodori Online Course.
To use the e-Learning materials, please make sure:
- You are enrolled in all levels of Irodori Japanese Online Course.
- You are logged in to Irodori Japanese Online Course.
In this online course, you will learn not only grammar, but also related vocabulary through listening comprehension exercises.
Japanese Phrases for Asking for Recommendations
Here is a phrases you can use when asking for recommendations at a restaurant.
おすすめは何ですか?
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What would you recommend?
Let’s look at an example conversation.
A: おすすめは何ですか?
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What would you recommend?
B:人気があるのは、天ぷら定食です。
Ninki ga aru no wa, tempura teeshoku desu.
A popular choice is the tempura set meal.
A: じゃあ、それにします。
Jaa, sore ni shimasu.
I’ll have that one then.
In this conversation, when asked for a recommendation, B san uses the sentence pattern “〜のは、Nです（〜no wa, N desu）” to say N as new information to A san.
On the other hand, A san uses the sentence pattern “Nにします（N ni shimasu）” to say that A san has made a decision on what to eat.
The following video will help you better understand the situation.
If you want to learn more about this conversation, you can access Irodori Online Course.
To use the e-Learning materials, please make sure:
- You are enrolled in all levels of Irodori Japanese Online Course.
- You are logged in to Irodori Japanese Online Course.
In this online course, you will learn not only grammar, but also related vocabulary through listening comprehension exercises.
How to Order Food in Japanese – Step by Step Guide
Now that you are familiar with some essential phrases and vocabulary for ordering food in Japanese, let’s walk through the process step by step.
Following these steps will help you navigate the process of ordering food in Japanese and ensure that you have an enjoyable dining experience.
Conclusion
In this post, I have shared the essential language skills you need to order food in Japanese, ask about ingredients and ask for the recommendation.
In conclusion, basic Japanese phrases for ordering food are as follows.
N、お願いします。
N, onegai shimasu.
N, please.
N、ください。
N, kudasai.
N, please.
To ask ingredients, you can use the following phrases.
N1、N2（を）使っていますか?
N1, N2（o）tsukatte imasu ka?
Does N1 use N2?
N1、N2（が）入っていますか?
N1, N2（ga）haitte imasu ka?
Does N1 contain N2?
And you can use the following phrase to ask for the recommendation.
おすすめは何ですか?
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What would you recommend?
Ordering food in Japanese is an essential skill for any foodie visiting Japan. By learning some basic phrases and vocabulary, you can have a more enjoyable and authentic dining experience.
I hope this post will help you master the art of ordering food in Japanese and fully appreciate the unique flavors and traditions of Japanese cuisine!
Leave a Reply