Cafe and restaurant in Japanese
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Japanese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Japanese phrases in this lesson
- ใตใใใงใfu-ta-RI des
- A table for two
- ใกใใฅใผใใ้กใใใพใMEH-nyoo o o-ne-GAI shi-mas
- The menu, please
- ใใใใใฏไฝใงใใo-SU-su-meh wa NAN des-ka
- What do you recommend?
- ...ใฏ้ฃในใพใใwa ta-BE-ma-sen
- I don't eat...
- ...ใขใฌใซใฎใผใงใa-REH-ru-gee des
- I'm allergic to...
- ่NI-ku
- Meat
- ้ถ่to-RI-ni-ku
- Chicken
- ้ญsa-KA-na
- Fish
- ใใใใใงใoy-SHEE des
- It's delicious
- ไนพๆฏkan-PAI
- Cheers
Literally "we are two". Staff greet you with ใใใฃใใใใพใ (welcome) and ask how many; answer with this or just hold up fingers. Hitori for one, futari for two, sannin for three.
Many restaurants have photo menus, plastic models, or ticket machines by the door where you pay first. The machine restaurants are ideal: zero conversation, excellent ramen.
่ใฏ้ฃในใพใใ (NI-ku wa ta-BE-ma-sen), I don't eat meat. Dashi broth often contains fish.
Literally "I am ... allergic": ๅตใขใฌใซใฎใผใงใ (ta-MA-go a-REH-ru-gee des).
Yakitori is grilled chicken on skewers.
Say it mid-bite with feeling; it is the compliment chefs actually want. Before eating, ใใใ ใใพใ (i-ta-da-ki-MAS); after finishing, ใใกใใใใพใงใใ (go-chi-soh-sa-ma DESH-ta), the graceful thanks for the meal.
Literally "dry glass". Wait for everyone to be served and toast together before drinking; sipping early is the one izakaya faux pas. Glasses touch low, eye contact optional.