The first time I sat down at a proper Japanese restaurant in Tokyo, I was handed a menu with zero English and zero pictures. Just kanji. Beautiful, completely incomprehensible kanji. I pointed at something that looked vaguely familiar and confidently ordered what turned out to be raw horse meat（馬刺し / basashi）. It was actually delicious — but that’s not the point. Reading a Japanese menu is a skill, and this guide is going to give it to you before your next restaurant visit. 🍜😅
Whether you’re eating at a ramen shop, an izakaya, a sushi bar, or a kaiseki restaurant — knowing the key words, cooking methods, and ordering phrases transforms the entire experience. You stop pointing at random items and start actually choosing what you want. Let’s get into it. 🇯🇵
🗺️ Quick Navigation
- Types of Japanese Menus
- Essential Menu Kanji to Know
- Cooking Methods Explained
- Menu Words by Restaurant Type
- Drinks Menu Guide
- Dietary Restrictions & Allergies
- How to Order in Japanese
- Paying the Bill
- Useful Restaurant Phrases
- FAQ
📋 Types of Japanese Menus
Before we get into the kanji, it helps to understand what kind of menu you’re looking at — because Japanese restaurants use very different formats depending on the type of establishment. 🏮
| Menu Type | Japanese | Where You’ll See It |
|---|---|---|
| Picture menu | 写真メニュー | Family restaurants, chain restaurants — easiest for beginners |
| Plastic food display | 食品サンプル | Outside many restaurants — point at what you want |
| Written menu only | 筆書きメニュー | Izakaya, ramen shops, traditional restaurants |
| Set menu / Course | コース料理 | Kaiseki, higher-end restaurants |
| Tablet / digital | タブレット注文 | Kaiten sushi, family chains — often has English option |
| Ticket machine | 券売機 | Ramen shops, katsu restaurants — buy ticket first |
💡 Ticket machine（券売機 / kenbaiki）tip: Many casual ramen and katsu restaurants have a vending machine at the entrance where you buy your meal ticket before sitting down. Look for the item with a photo or the biggest button — it’s usually the most popular item. Press, pay, receive ticket, hand to staff. Easy once you know the system. 🎫
🈳 Essential Menu Kanji to Know
You don’t need to read all of Japanese to navigate a menu — you need about 30–40 characters that appear again and again. Learn these and you’ll be able to decode the majority of what you’ll encounter in everyday restaurants. 📖
🥩 Proteins & Main Ingredients
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 牛 | gyū | Beef 🐄 |
| 豚 | buta | Pork 🐷 |
| 鶏 | tori | Chicken 🐔 |
| 羊 | hitsuji | Lamb 🐑 |
| 魚 | sakana | Fish 🐟 |
| 海老 | ebi | Prawn / shrimp 🦐 |
| 蟹 | kani | Crab 🦀 |
| 烏賊 | ika | Squid 🦑 |
| 卵 / 玉子 | tamago | Egg 🥚 |
| 豆腐 | tōfu | Tofu |
🥦 Vegetables & Common Sides
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 野菜 | yasai | Vegetables |
| 玉ねぎ | tamanegi | Onion |
| ねぎ | negi | Spring onion / green onion |
| にんにく | ninniku | Garlic |
| きのこ | kinoko | Mushrooms |
| 大根 | daikon | White radish |
| 白菜 | hakusai | Chinese cabbage / napa cabbage |
| もやし | moyashi | Bean sprouts |
🍚 Carbs & Bases
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ご飯 / 白飯 | gohan / hakuhan | Steamed white rice 🍚 |
| 麺 | men | Noodles (general) |
| うどん | udon | Thick wheat noodles |
| そば | soba | Buckwheat noodles |
| ラーメン | rāmen | Ramen noodles 🍜 |
| パン | pan | Bread |
🌶️ Taste & Flavour Words
| Kanji / Kana | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 甘い | amai | Sweet 🍯 |
| 辛い | karai | Spicy / hot 🌶️ |
| 塩辛い | shiokarai | Salty |
| 酸っぱい | suppai | Sour |
| 苦い | nigai | Bitter |
| 濃い | koi | Rich / heavy flavour |
| あっさり | assari | Light / mild flavour |
| こってり | kotteri | Rich / heavy (often ramen broths) |
🍜 こってり vs あっさり is particularly useful in ramen shops — こってり means a rich, fatty, heavy broth and あっさり means a lighter, cleaner broth. Many shops offer both. Go always goes こってり. I always say あっさり and then eat half of Go’s. 😅
🔥 Cooking Methods: What’s Actually on Your Plate
One of the most useful things to recognize on a Japanese menu is how something is cooked — because the same ingredient prepared differently is a completely different dish. Once you know these words, you can decode a huge amount of any menu. 👨🍳
| Japanese | Reading | Cooking Method | Example Dish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 焼き | yaki | Grilled / pan-fried | 焼き鳥 (yakitori), 焼き魚 (grilled fish) |
| 揚げ | age | Deep-fried | 唐揚げ (karaage / fried chicken), 天ぷら |
| 煮 | ni | Simmered / braised | 煮魚 (simmered fish), おでん |
| 蒸し | mushi | Steamed | 茶碗蒸し (chawanmushi / steamed egg) |
| 炒め | itame | Stir-fried | 野菜炒め (stir-fried vegetables) |
| 生 | nama | Raw | 生魚 (raw fish), 生ビール (draft beer 🍺) |
| 漬け | zuke | Marinated / pickled | 漬物 (tsukemono / pickles) |
| 和え | ae | Mixed / dressed | 白和え (shiro-ae / tofu dressing) |
⚠️ Important: 生（nama / raw）appears frequently and isn’t always obvious. 生ビール means fresh draught beer — totally fine. 馬刺し（basashi）is raw horse — also fine if you’re adventurous. 生卵（namatamago）is raw egg served on rice or ramen. Worth knowing what you’re getting before you order. Trust me on this. 🥚
🏮 Menu Words by Restaurant Type
🍜 Ramen Shop（ラーメン屋）
Ramen menus can look intimidating but they follow a very consistent pattern. The key words to know:
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 醤油 | shōyu | Soy sauce broth |
| 塩 | shio | Salt broth (lighter) |
| 味噌 | miso | Miso broth (richer) |
| 豚骨 | tonkotsu | Pork bone broth (creamy, heavy) |
| チャーシュー | chāshū | Braised pork slices |
| メンマ | menma | Bamboo shoots |
| 海苔 | nori | Dried seaweed sheet |
| 味玉 | ajitama | Marinated soft-boiled egg |
🍣 Sushi Restaurant（寿司屋）
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| にぎり | nigiri | Hand-pressed sushi — fish on rice |
| 巻き | maki | Rolled sushi |
| 軍艦 | gunkan | Battleship sushi — seaweed cup with topping |
| 刺身 | sashimi | Raw fish without rice |
| まぐろ | maguro | Tuna |
| サーモン | sāmon | Salmon |
| いくら | ikura | Salmon roe |
| うに | uni | Sea urchin |
🍢 Izakaya（居酒屋）
Izakaya menus are the most diverse — and the most fun to navigate. Food comes in small sharing portions（おつまみ / otsumami）to accompany drinks. Common sections:
| Japanese | Reading | Section / Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おつまみ | otsumami | Snacks / bar food to go with drinks |
| 焼き鳥 | yakitori | Grilled chicken skewers 🍢 |
| 唐揚げ | karaage | Japanese fried chicken |
| 枝豆 | edamame | Steamed salted soybeans |
| 刺身盛り合わせ | sashimi moriawase | Sashimi platter |
| サラダ | sarada | Salad |
🍛 Set Meal（定食 / テイショク）
定食（teishoku）is a complete set meal — a main dish with rice, miso soup, and small sides. It’s the most economical and complete way to eat at most casual restaurants. Look for 〇〇定食 on the menu — it almost always includes everything. 🍱
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 定食 | teishoku | Complete set meal with rice + soup |
| 日替わり | higawari | Daily special — changes every day |
| ランチセット | ranchi setto | Lunch set — usually cheaper than dinner |
| お任せ | omakase | Chef’s choice — leave it to the chef |
| 大盛り | ōmori | Large portion (often free or +¥100) |
| ライス付き | raisu tsuki | Comes with rice |
💡 大盛り（ōmori / large portion） is one of the most useful words on any menu. At most casual restaurants it’s free or costs just ¥100 extra. Always worth asking: 「大盛りにできますか？」(Can I get a large portion?) 🍚
🍺 Drinks Menu Guide
Japanese drinks menus deserve their own section — especially at izakaya where the drink menu is often as long as the food menu. Here’s what you’ll encounter: 🍶
| Japanese | Reading | Drink |
|---|---|---|
| 生ビール | nama bīru | Draft beer — the default “beer” at izakaya 🍺 |
| 日本酒 | nihonshu | Sake — Japanese rice wine 🍶 |
| 焼酎 | shōchū | Japanese distilled spirit (sweet potato, barley) |
| ハイボール | haibōru | Whisky highball — very popular in Japan |
| 梅酒 | umeshu | Plum wine — sweet, approachable 🍑 |
| サワー | sawā | Sour cocktail (lemon, yuzu, etc.) |
| ウーロン茶 | ūroncha | Oolong tea (non-alcoholic staple) |
| ソフトドリンク | sofuto dorinku | Soft drinks / non-alcoholic options |
🍺 飲み放題（nomihōdai） means all-you-can-drink — a fixed price (usually ¥1,500–¥2,500 for 90–120 minutes) covering unlimited drinks. Very common at izakaya for group dinners. Check the menu for the 飲み放題コース section. Go and I discovered this on our first izakaya visit in Shinjuku and were delighted. The limits are real though — 90 minutes goes faster than you think. 😅
🥗 Dietary Restrictions & Allergies
This is genuinely the most important section for some readers — Japan’s food culture uses certain ingredients so extensively that navigating dietary restrictions requires specific knowledge. 🙏
⚠️ Common Hidden Ingredients
Japan’s food uses certain ingredients in ways that aren’t always obvious. Before you assume a dish is safe for your diet, be aware:
- 🐟 Dashi（だし） — The base stock in almost everything: miso soup, noodle broths, sauces, pickles. Usually made from katsuobushi（鰹節 / bonito flakes）or kombu（昆布 / kelp）. Not vegetarian if it contains bonito.
- 🌾 Gluten — Soy sauce（醤油）contains wheat. Mirin contains alcohol. Tempura batter contains wheat flour. Hidden everywhere.
- 🥜 Sesame — Common in dressings, sauces, and as a garnish. Usually visible but worth asking.
- 🦐 Shellfish traces — Many Japanese kitchens use shared equipment across shellfish and non-shellfish dishes.
🗣️ Useful Phrases for Dietary Needs
| Situation | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I have an allergy | アレルギーがあります。 | I have an allergy. |
| Does this contain 〇〇? | 〇〇は入っていますか？ | Does this contain 〇〇? |
| I can’t eat meat | 肉が食べられません。 | I can’t eat meat. |
| I’m vegetarian | ベジタリアンです。 | I’m vegetarian. |
| No shellfish please | 貝類は抜きでお願いします。 | Please remove shellfish. |
| No pork please | 豚肉は抜きでお願いします。 | No pork please. |
💡 Honest tip: Strict vegetarian and vegan dining in Japan requires research and specific restaurants. Most traditional Japanese restaurants use fish-based dashi in almost everything — even dishes that appear vegetarian. Dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants（ベジタリアン / ビーガンレストラン）exist in Tokyo and major cities and are increasingly common. Apps like HappyCow are helpful for finding them. 🌿
🙋 How to Order in Japanese
The mechanics of ordering in Japan vary by restaurant type — but the core phrases are the same everywhere. Master these and you’ll handle any situation. 😊
📢 Getting the Waiter’s Attention
In Japan you don’t wave your hand or make eye contact hopefully — you say:「すみません！」(Sumimasen!) clearly and the waiter will come immediately. This is the universal restaurant signal. Some modern restaurants have a call button（呼び出しボタン）at the table — press it and staff arrive.
🍽️ Ordering Phrases
| Situation | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I’ll have this | これをください。 | I’ll take this one. (Point at menu) |
| One of these please | これをひとつください。 | One of these please. |
| Two of these please | これをふたつください。 | Two of these please. |
| What do you recommend? | おすすめは何ですか？ | What do you recommend? |
| What’s popular here? | 人気のメニューは何ですか？ | What’s your most popular dish? |
| I’ll have the same | 同じものをください。 | Same as that please. |
| Large portion please | 大盛りでお願いします。 | Large size please. |
| Without 〇〇 please | 〇〇抜きでお願いします。 | Without 〇〇 please. |
🎯 The point-and-order method works perfectly in Japan. If you can’t read the menu, simply point at an item and say「これをください」— it’s completely normal and staff won’t be bothered at all. The plastic food displays outside restaurants exist precisely for this reason. 👆
💴 Paying the Bill: What You Need to Know
Paying in Japan has its own set of customs that trip up first-time visitors. The most important one: you don’t pay at the table in most Japanese restaurants. You pay at the register on your way out. Sitting and waiting for someone to bring the bill is how you stay there for an extra hour by accident. 😅
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お会計 | okaikei | The bill / check |
| お会計をお願いします。 | Okaikei o onegai shimasu. | The bill please. |
| 別々にお願いします。 | Betsubetsu ni onegai shimasu. | Separate bills please. |
| 一緒でお願いします。 | Issho de onegai shimasu. | Together please. |
| カードで払えますか？ | Kādo de haraemasu ka? | Can I pay by card? |
| 現金のみ | genkin nomi | Cash only ⚠️ |
| サービス料 | sābisu ryō | Service charge (rare but exists) |
| お通し | otōshi | Automatic starter charge at izakaya |
⚠️ お通し（otōshi）warning: At most izakaya, you’ll automatically receive a small appetiser when you sit down and be charged ¥300–¥600 for it. This is standard practice — not a mistake. You can’t refuse it. Think of it as a seating charge that comes with a snack. 🥢
💡 Tipping in Japan: Do not tip. It’s not customary and can cause confusion or even offense. The service is included in the price. Simply say「ごちそうさまでした」when leaving — that’s the appropriate expression of appreciation. 🙏
Related: for a full guide to cashless payment in Japan and which cards work where, check our cashless payments guide for foreigners. Some restaurants in Japan are still cash only — worth knowing before you sit down. 💳
🗣️ Complete Restaurant Phrase Guide
| Situation | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Entering the restaurant | （お店に入る） | Wait to be seated unless there’s a sign saying 自由席（jiyūseki / seat yourself） |
| Table for one | 一人です。 | Just one person. |
| Table for two | 二人です。 | Two people. |
| Do you have English menu? | 英語のメニューはありますか？ | Do you have an English menu? |
| This is delicious | おいしい！ | Delicious! 😋 |
| A little more please | もう少しください。 | A little more please. |
| No thank you | 結構です。 | No thank you / I’m fine. |
| Leaving the restaurant | ごちそうさまでした。 | Thank you for the meal. 🙏 |
❓ FAQ
Q: What do I do if I can’t read anything on the menu at all?
Three options that always work: (1) Look at the plastic food display outside and point at something before entering. (2) Ask「おすすめは何ですか？」(What do you recommend?) and trust the staff. (3) Look around at what other people are eating and point at something that looks good — “これと同じものをください”（the same as that please）. All three work perfectly in any Japanese restaurant. 👆
Q: Is it rude to use Google Translate to read the menu?
Not at all — in fact, many Japanese restaurant staff appreciate that you’re making the effort to understand what you’re ordering. The Google Translate camera function has become remarkably accurate for Japanese menus. Hold it over the menu and it translates in real time. A genuinely useful tool and no one will mind. 📱
Q: What does 本日のおすすめ mean?
本日のおすすめ（honjitsu no osusume）means “today’s recommendation” or “today’s special” — written on a chalkboard or separate sheet. This is usually the freshest ingredient of the day and often excellent value. If you see it, it’s worth asking about. 📋
Q: What is 食べ放題 and how does it work?
食べ放題（tabehōdai）means all-you-can-eat — a fixed price for unlimited food within a time limit (usually 90–120 minutes). Very common at yakiniku（焼肉 / Korean BBQ），sushi conveyor belts, and shabu-shabu restaurants. The menu is usually simplified — you order from a set list. ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person is typical. 🍖
Q: Why did I get charged for something I didn’t order?
Almost certainly the お通し（otōshi）— the automatic starter charge at izakaya. Every customer receives a small appetiser automatically and is billed ¥300–¥600 for it. It’s standard practice across Japan and not a mistake. You’ll see it listed on the itemised bill. Not optional — just factor it into your budget. 🥢
Q: Do Japanese restaurants have children’s menus?
Family restaurants（ファミリーレストラン）like Gusto（ガスト）, Saizeriya（サイゼリヤ）, and Jonathan’s（ジョナサン）always have kids’ menus（お子様メニュー / okosama menyū）. Traditional restaurants and izakaya usually don’t — but most dishes can be shared. Japan is very family-friendly in general and staff are accommodating. 👨👩👧
🐈 A Message from Yuki & Ruka’s House:
Yuki has reviewed every menu category in this guide and has strong opinions. She endorses the 刺身（sashimi）section wholeheartedly and believes 大盛り（large portion）should be the default for all meals. Ruka, meanwhile, has been sitting in front of the refrigerator for twenty minutes using a technique she believes is telepathic ordering. It has not worked yet. They both agree that the most important phrase in any Japanese restaurant is「おいしい！」— and that you should say it loudly, because the chef will hear you and it will make their day. Cook for someone, feed someone well, say thank you. That’s all restaurants anywhere are really about. 🐾
⚠️ Disclaimer: Menu vocabulary and restaurant customs vary by region and establishment type. Dietary information in this guide is for general reference only — always confirm ingredients directly with restaurant staff if you have serious allergies or dietary restrictions. Prices and practices may change over time.
Last updated: May 2026 | Written by Sunny & Go — a multicultural couple learning Japanese in Tokyo 🇭🇰🇰🇷🇯🇵
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