Food in Japanese: 80 Common Foods, Drinks, and Phrases

At the Restaurant — Essential Ordering Phrases

These are the phrases you will hear most often in Japanese restaurants, and the ones you will need to order, ask questions, and pay.

Tip: いただきます (itadakimasu) is said before eating — it is an expression of gratitude for the food. ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita) is said after eating, often directly to the chef or when leaving the restaurant.

Food Types Vocabulary — 30+ Foods by Category

Japanese menus organize food into clear categories. Here are the most essential food words you need to recognize and use.

Meat & Fish (肉・魚)

Vegetables (野菜)

Noodles, Rice & Sushi (麺・ご飯・寿司)

Cooking Method Vocabulary (調理法)

Japanese menus often indicate how food is prepared. Knowing these cooking method words helps you understand dishes and avoid unwanted preparations.

Taste & Texture Adjectives (味・食感)

Japanese has rich vocabulary for describing how food tastes and feels. These adjectives appear frequently on menus and in recipe descriptions.

Grocery & Supermarket Vocabulary (スーパー)

Navigating a Japanese supermarket is a rewarding experience. Here are the key vocabulary words you need to find products, read labels, and ask for help.

Label tip: 賞味期限 (shōmi kigen) means "best before" — the food is still safe but quality may decline after this date. 消費期限 (shōhi kigen) is the strict "use by" date and should not be exceeded for food safety.

Build a Restaurant Order Step by Step

Use the vocabulary as a short decision sequence. The aim is not to memorize every food name; it is to make a polite, complete order when the menu is unfamiliar.

Practise by choosing one dish, one drink, and one question from the chart. For travel-specific situations such as hotels and transport, continue to Japanese travel phrases.

5 Common Ordering Mistakes

1. Saying すみません too aggressively to call a waiter. While すみません (sumimasen) is correct, in many traditional restaurants you are expected to raise your hand or make eye contact first. Yelling is not appropriate. In newer restaurants with tablet ordering, you may not need to call staff at all.
2. Forgetting that set meals come with sides. A 定食 (teishoku) includes rice, soup, and side dishes. Ordering extra rice separately is usually unnecessary and will result in far more rice than you need.
3. Mispronouncing お会計 (o-kaikei). The kanji 会計 is often mispronounced by learners. It is ka-i-ke-i, not "kaikei" compressed into two syllables. The polite prefix お- is always added when speaking to staff.
4. Confusing 辛い (karai = spicy) with 熱い (atsui = hot temperature). If you want to say something is too hot to eat, use 熱い (atsui) — not 辛い, which only means spicy. Similarly, hot weather is 暑い (atsui, different kanji).
5. Not knowing that tipping is not done in Japan. Tipping is not part of Japanese restaurant culture and can sometimes be considered rude or confusing. The phrase ごちそうさまでした (thank you for the meal) when leaving is the most appreciated form of thanks.

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