Ordering Food

Q: How do you say "I'll have this, please" in Japanese?

"これをください" (Kore wo kudasai) — I'll have this, please. Point at the menu item or food display and say this. Universal in restaurants.

Q: How do you say "Water, please" in Japanese?

"水をお願いします" (Mizu wo onegai shimasu) — Water, please. Tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan. Some restaurants serve free iced water (mizu) automatically.

Q: How do you say "Please show me the menu" in Japanese?

"メニューを見せてください" (Menyuu wo misete kudasai) — Please show me the menu. Many restaurants display plastic food models outside. Pointing works too!

Q: How do you say "I'm vegetarian" in Japanese?

"ベジタリアンです" (Bejitarian desu) — I'm vegetarian. Japanese 'vegetarian' often includes fish. Also learn 'niku nashi' (no meat) and 'sakana mo dame' (no fish either).

Q: How do you say "I have an allergy" in Japanese?

"アレルギーがあります" (Arerugii ga arimasu) — I have an allergy. Follow with the allergen: 'ピーナッツアレルギー' (piinattsu arerugii) for peanut allergy.

Q: How do you say "Can I get chopsticks?" in Japanese?

"箸をもらえますか？" (Hashi wo moraemasu ka?) — Can I get chopsticks?. Never pass food from chopstick to chopstick — this is done only in Buddhist funeral ceremonies.

Q: How do you say "The check, please" in Japanese?

"お会計お願いします" (O-kaikei onegai shimasu) — The check, please. In many restaurants you bring the check to the register. "Gochisousama deshita" (thanks for the meal) is polite on the way out.

Q: How do you say "It's delicious" in Japanese?

"美味しい" (Oishii) — It's delicious. A standard compliment. 'Oishii desu' is polite. Start your meal with 'Itadakimasu' (I humbly receive).

Question 1

これをください

Kore wo kudasai

How do you say "I'll have this, please" in Japanese?

Point at the menu item or food display and say this. Universal in restaurants.

Question 2

水をお願いします

Mizu wo onegai shimasu

How do you say "Water, please" in Japanese?

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan. Some restaurants serve free iced water (mizu) automatically.

Question 3

メニューを見せてください

Menyuu wo misete kudasai

How do you say "Please show me the menu" in Japanese?

Many restaurants display plastic food models outside. Pointing works too!

Question 4

ベジタリアンです

Bejitarian desu

How do you say "I'm vegetarian" in Japanese?

Japanese 'vegetarian' often includes fish. Also learn 'niku nashi' (no meat) and 'sakana mo dame' (no fish either).

Question 5

アレルギーがあります

Arerugii ga arimasu

How do you say "I have an allergy" in Japanese?

Follow with the allergen: 'ピーナッツアレルギー' (piinattsu arerugii) for peanut allergy.

Question 6

箸をもらえますか？

Hashi wo moraemasu ka?

How do you say "Can I get chopsticks?" in Japanese?

Never pass food from chopstick to chopstick — this is done only in Buddhist funeral ceremonies.

Question 7

お会計お願いします

O-kaikei onegai shimasu

How do you say "The check, please" in Japanese?

In many restaurants you bring the check to the register. "Gochisousama deshita" (thanks for the meal) is polite on the way out.

Question 8

美味しい

Oishii

How do you say "It's delicious" in Japanese?

A standard compliment. 'Oishii desu' is polite. Start your meal with 'Itadakimasu' (I humbly receive).