📖 Frequently Asked Questions
❓ How do you get a waiter's attention and order food in Japanese?
Call out 「すみません！」(Sumimasen!) to get the staff's attention. Then order with 「〇〇をください」(〇〇 wo
kudasai) = I'll have 〇〇, or 「〇〇をひとつ、お願いします」(〇〇 wo hitotsu, onegaishimasu) = One 〇〇 please. If you need more
time: 「まだ決まっていません」(Mada kimatte imasen) = We haven't decided yet. Many restaurants have picture menus or
plastic food displays outside—pointing works too.
❓ What essential Japanese food vocabulary should every traveler know?
Core menu vocabulary: ラーメン (Raamen) = ramen noodles, 寿司 (Sushi), 天ぷら (Tempura), 焼き肉
(Yakiniku) = Korean-style BBQ, 定食 (Teishoku) = set meal, おすすめ (Osusume) = recommended dish, 辛い (Karai) =
spicy, 甘い (Amai) = sweet, アレルギー (Arerugii) = allergy. For dietary needs say: 「〇〇アレルギーがあります」(〇〇 arerugii ga
arimasu) = I'm allergic to 〇〇.
❓ How do you ask for the bill and pay at a Japanese restaurant?
Say 「お会計をお願いします」(Okaikei wo onegaishimasu) = Check please, or use the universal hand gesture
of making an 'X' with two fingers. Most Japanese restaurants have you pay at the cashier counter, not at the
table. For splitting the bill: 「別々でお願いします」(Betsubetsu de onegaishimasu) = Separate bills please. Tipping is
not practiced in Japan—excellent service is considered standard.