Japanese restaurant phrases for ordering food and drinks

Walk into a busy ramen shop or a family restaurant in Japan and the first problem is rarely the food — it is knowing what to say when the server looks at you. Pointing works for a minute. Then someone asks a question, and the room goes quiet.

These Japanese restaurant phrases cover drinks, food, the menu, the bill, special requests, and takeout. Read the kanji when you can; romaji is only a bridge. The same short patterns show up in izakaya, cafés, and chain counters.

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Japanese phrases for restaurants

Below is a practical set of sentences you hear and use at restaurants and similar places. Notice how kudasai and onegai shimasu finish most orders — they are the everyday “please” of Japanese dining. For more on that pair, see the difference between kudasai and onegai.

Ordering drinks in Japanese

ワインをいただきます。
Wain o itadakimasu.

I’ll have some wine. / We would like wine.

水を一杯下さい。
Mizu o ippai kudasai.

A glass of water, please.

ジュースをください。
Jūsu o kudasai.

Juice, please.

コーヒーをもう１杯飲みたいのですが。
Kōhī o mō ichi hai nomitai no desu ga.

I would like another cup of coffee.

紅茶を１杯お願いします。
Kōcha o ichi hai onegai shimasu.

A cup of black tea, please.

ワインを一杯いただけますか。
Wain o ippai itadakemasu ka.

Could I have a glass of wine?

オレンジジュースを２杯ください。
Orenji jūsu o ni hai kudasai.

Two glasses of orange juice, please.

コーヒーをもう１杯いただきたい。
Kōhī o mō ichi hai itadakitai.

I would like another cup of coffee.

Calling staff is usually simpler than memorizing a long script: raise a hand and say すみません (sumimasen) — “excuse me.” It works for refills, orders, and the check. If you want the nuance between that and a full apology, read sumimasen vs. gomennasai.

Ordering food in Japanese

ビーフをお願いします。
Bīfu o onegai shimasu.

Beef, please.

トースト２枚と紅茶１杯をください。
Tōsuto ni mai to kōcha ichi hai o kudasai.

Two slices of toast and a cup of tea, please.

デザートにはケーキをいただきたい。
Dezāto ni wa kēki o itadakitai.

I would like cake for dessert.

お飲み物は何ですか。
O-nomimono wa nan desu ka.

What would you like to drink? (staff to guest)

これをお願いします。
Kore o onegai shimasu.

This one, please. (pointing at the menu or a photo)

これをください。
Kore o kudasai.

This, please. — the safest order when you do not know the name.

Menu and information

メニューを見せていただけませんか。
Menyū o misete itadakemasen ka.

Could I see the menu, please?

日替わり定食にしませんか。
Higawari teishoku ni shimasen ka.

Shall we go with the daily set meal? — this is a suggestion between diners, not “What is today’s special?” For that question, try Higawari wa nan desu ka?

おすすめは何ですか。
Osusume wa nan desu ka.

What do you recommend?

英語のメニューはありますか。
Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka.

Do you have an English menu?

Calling staff, seats, and the bill

すみません、注文お願いします。
Sumimasen, chūmon onegai shimasu.

Excuse me — I would like to order.

ウエーターさん、注文お願いします。
Uētā-san, chūmon onegai shimasu.

Waiter, I would like to order. (less common than plain sumimasen)

給仕さん、水をいただけませんか。
Kyūji-san, mizu o itadakemasen ka.

Server, could I have some water?

会計をお願いします。
Kaikei o onegai shimasu.

The bill, please.

お会計をお願いします。
O-kaikei o onegai shimasu.

The check, please. — the polite form you hear most often today.

お愛想お願いします。
O-aiso onegai shimasu.

The bill, please. — older or regional wording; many places still understand it.

窓側の席がありますか。
Madogawa no seki ga arimasu ka.

Do you have a seat by the window?

隅のテーブルがいいのですが。
Sumi no tēburu ga ii no desu ga.

We would prefer a table in the corner.

角のテーブルがいいのですが。
Kado no tēburu ga ii no desu ga.

We would prefer a corner table.

カードで払えますか。
Kādo de haraemasu ka.

Can I pay by card?

Remarks and special requests

マスタードを別に持ってきてください。
Masutādo o betsu ni motte kite kudasai.

Please bring the mustard on the side.

ソースを別にください。
Sōsu o betsu ni kudasai.

Sauce on the side, please.

これは注文したものと違っています。
Kore wa chūmon shita mono to chigatte imasu.

This is not what I ordered.

熱いココアを下さい。
Atsui kokoa o kudasai.

Hot cocoa, please.

ケチャップを別に持ってきてください。
Kechappu o betsu ni motte kite kudasai.

Please bring ketchup on the side.

これは私が注文した物ではありません。
Kore wa watashi ga chūmon shita mono de wa arimasen.

This is not the item I ordered.

○○抜きでお願いします。
… nuki de onegai shimasu.

Without …, please. (allergy or preference — fill in the ingredient)

Japanese phrases for fast food

At chains and quick counters, the first question is almost always eat-in versus takeout. Answer with a short phrase; the rest of the order often follows the same … o kudasai pattern as above.

持ち帰りですか。それともここで食べますか。
Mochikaeri desu ka. Soretomo koko de tabemasu ka.

Is it for takeout, or will you eat here? (staff)

こちらで召し上がりますか、それともお持ち帰りにしますか。
Kochira de meshiagarimasu ka, soretomo o-mochikaeri ni shimasu ka.

Will you eat here, or take it away? (polite staff form)

こちらで召し上がりますか。
Kochira de meshiagarimasu ka.

Will you be eating here?

お持ち帰りですか。
O-mochikaeri desu ka.

Is this for takeout?

ここで召し上がりますか、それともお持ち帰りですか。
Koko de meshiagarimasu ka, soretomo o-mochikaeri desu ka.

For here or to go?

持ち帰ります。
Mochikaerimasu.

I’ll take it home. / Takeout, please.

お持ち帰りでお願いします。
O-mochikaeri de onegai shimasu.

Takeout, please. (polite customer form)

フライポテトのラージサイズをください。
Furai poteto no rāji saizu o kudasai.

A large fries, please.

Itadakimasu and gochisōsama

Before eating, people often say いただきます (itadakimasu) — a short thanks for the meal. When you finish, ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita) thanks the kitchen and can also signal that you are done. Both sit beside ordering phrases, not instead of them. The longer cultural reading is in itadakimasu and gochisōsama deshita.

いただきます。
Itadakimasu.

Said before the first bite.

ごちそうさまでした。
Gochisōsama deshita.

Thank you for the meal — at the table or as you leave.

Quick memory tips

• Sumimasen gets attention; kore o kudasai orders what you point at.
• Drink and food names + o kudasai / o onegai shimasu cover most menus.
• O-kaikei o onegai shimasu is the standard check request in modern restaurants.
• Staff lines like takeout questions are for listening; answer with mochikaerimasu or “for here” in simple Japanese or a gesture if needed.
• For broader daily speech beyond the restaurant, browse everyday Japanese phrases.