Conversation · beginner

Ordering Food in Japanese — Restaurant Phrases for Beginners

Learn essential Japanese restaurant phrases. How to order food, ask for the menu, request the check, and common food vocabulary for JLPT N5.

Ordering food in Japanese follows a polite pattern. Get attention with すみません, request the menu, order with を おねがいします, and close with おかいけい おねがいします for the bill. Before eating, say いただきます and after eating, say ごちそうさまでした. These phrases will carry you through any restaurant in Japan.

Key Vocabulary

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
メニューmenyuumenu
おねがいしますonegaishimasuplease (requesting)
おすすめosusumerecommendation
おかいけいokaikeithe check / bill
いただきますitadakimasusaid before eating
ごちそうさまでしたgochisousama deshitasaid after eating

Example Sentences

  • すみません、メニュー おねがいします
    sumimasen, menyuu onegaishimasu
    Excuse me, the menu please
  • これ を おねがいします
    kore wo onegaishimasu
    This one, please
  • おすすめ は なんですか
    osusume wa nan desu ka
    What do you recommend?
  • おかいけい おねがいします
    okaikei onegaishimasu
    The check, please

Study Tips

  • 1Point to the menu and say これ を おねがいします — it always works
  • 2いただきます before eating is essential Japanese etiquette
  • 3ごちそうさまでした after eating thanks the cook
  • 4すみません (excuse me) is how you get a waiter's attention

Next Topic

Shopping in Japanese — Essential Phrases for Buying in Japan

Continue Learning

ConversationJapanese Self Introduction — 自己紹介 Guide for BeginnersConversationShopping in Japanese — Essential Phrases for Buying in JapanGrammarJapanese Particles は が を に で — Complete JLPT N5 Guide

Practice What You Learned

Take your learning further with interactive lessons, flashcards, and the SkillDojo 30-day study plan.

Start the 30-Day Course