If you’re keen on boosting your Japanese food vocabulary, you’re in the right place. Imagine confidently pointing to dishes on a menu, chatting with chefs, and savoring every bite without guesswork. In this guide, you’ll pick up essential terms for ingredients, dishes, and polite expressions—so you can navigate Tokyo’s culinary scene like a pro.
We’ll cover everything from rice and noodles to ordering phrases and dining etiquette. By the end, you’ll not only recognize common words like gohan (cooked rice) and ramen, you’ll also know key mealtime expressions and useful etiquette vocabulary. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started.
Understand food terms
Before you shout “itadakimasu,” let’s nail the names of popular Japanese dishes and ingredients. Here’s a quick list of must-know foods, followed by a handy table for essential ingredients.
Common dishes
- Sushi: vinegared rice topped with fish or veggies
- Sashimi: thinly sliced raw fish, no rice
- Ramen: wheat noodles in broth with toppings
- Udon: thick wheat noodles, usually in a simple broth
- Soba: thin buckwheat noodles, served hot or cold
- Tempura: battered and deep-fried seafood or veggies
- Yakitori: skewered grilled chicken, often with sauce
- Okonomiyaki: savory pancake with cabbage and custom toppings
Essential ingredients
| Japanese term | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| gohan | go-hahn | cooked rice or meal |
| kome | koh-meh | raw, polished rice |
| miso | mee-soh | fermented soybean paste |
| shoyu | show-yoo | soy sauce |
| dashi | dah-shee | cooking stock (fish/seaweed) |
| nori | noh-ree | dried seaweed sheets |
| wakame | wah-kah-meh | seaweed for soups/salads |
| tofu | toh-foo | bean curd |
| wasabi | wah-sah-bee | horseradish paste |
| ocha | oh-chah | green tea |
Practice pronouncing these with the japanese pronunciation guide and refer to the katakana hiragana basics if you spot them on menus.
Learn mealtime expressions
Knowing what to say before and after a meal adds a respectful touch. Japanese dining phrases are simple once you get the hang of them.
Before eating
- Itadakimasu (i-ta-da-ki-ma-su): “I humbly receive,” said right before the first bite
- Osusume wa nan desu ka? (oh-su-su-meh wah nahn dess kah): “What do you recommend?”
Use osusume to ask for chef specials or popular items. It pairs nicely with japanese question words.
After eating
- Gochisousama deshita (go-chi-soh-sah-mah dessh-tah): “Thank you for the meal,” said when you’re done (Japan Guide)
- Arigatou gozaimasu (ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mahss): “Thank you very much,” for extra politeness
For more ways to express gratitude, check japanese thank you expressions.
Complimenting dishes
- Oishii! (oh-ee-she): “Delicious!”
- Umai! (oo-mai): “Tasty!” (slightly casual)
- Sugoi! (soo-goi): “Amazing!”
A cheerful oishii or umai is the perfect way to show appreciation to chefs and friends alike.
Practice ordering phrases
Ordering in Japanese often follows a pattern: [item] + o + [counter] + onegaishimasu. Let’s break it down.
Basic order pattern
- Name the dish or drink, like “ramen”
- Add the particle wo (o)
- State the quantity with a counter word
- Finish with onegaishimasu (please)
Example:
“Ramen wo hitotsu onegaishimasu” means “One bowl of ramen, please.”
Counters and quantities
Japanese counters vary by item type. Here are common ones:
| Counter | Use for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ko | small round objects | “tamago wo futatsu onegaishimasu” (2 eggs) |
| tsu | general/universal counter | “okonomiyaki wo mittsu onegaishimasu” (3 okonomiyaki) |
| hon | long cylindrical items | “yakitori wo yonhon onegaishimasu” (4 skewers) |
| hai | cups/glasses of liquid | “ocha wo ippai onegaishimasu” (1 cup green tea) |
To master numbers, see japanese numbers pronunciation and japanese counting system.
Handling special cases
- Gunkan sushi: pour a little shoyu on top instead of dipping (Japan Guide)
- Nigiri: dip fish-side down to avoid soggy rice (Japan Guide)
- Mixed bowls (donburi): often served in large single servings, order with hitotsu
And remember, you can always point and nod if you get tongue-tied.
Master polite phrases
A little politeness goes a long way in Japan. Here are must-know courteous words.
Excuse me and apologies
- Sumimasen (soo-mee-mah-sen): “Excuse me” or “I’m sorry” (japanese excuse me phrases)
- Gomennasai (goh-men-nah-sigh): “I’m sorry” (casual apology)
Sumimasen is your go-to for getting a server’s attention, passing through crowds, or saying sorry.
Greetings and titles
- Irasshaimase (ih-rassh-ee-mah-seh): “Welcome,” you’ll hear this on arrival
- [Name]-san: polite suffix after a person’s name (e.g., Tanaka-san) (japanese honorifics usage)
Using ‑san shows respect, especially when talking to staff or business people.
Addressing staff and chefs
- Onegaishimasu (oh-neh-gai-shee-mahss): “Please” (use when ordering or requesting)
- Arigatou gozaimashita (ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mahsh-tah): past tense “thank you for what you did”
Explore etiquette vocabulary
Beyond words, you’ll spot behaviors tied to language. Let’s cover key etiquette terms so you blend right in.
Chopstick do’s and don’ts
- Do rest sticks on a chopstick rest or wrapper when pausing
- Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice—it resembles a funeral rite (JaBistro)
- Don’t pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks—again tied to funerals
Drinking and toasting
- Kampai (kahm-pie): “Cheers!” say this when everyone raises a glass (Japan Guide)
- Okawari kudasai (oh-kah-wah-ree koo-dah-sigh): “Refill, please” for drinks or even rice (Girl Eat World)
Slurping and finishing
- Slurp noodles: it’s a compliment to the chef (JaBistro)
- Don’t leave half-eaten sushi—eat nigiri in one bite or cover your mouth if it’s large
- Clear your dishes and return utensils to their original positions (Japan Guide)
Test your knowledge
Ready for a quick check? Match the Japanese word to its meaning:
- 1. Itadakimasu
- 2. Yakitori
- 3. Sumimasen
- 4. Gochisousama deshita
- 5. Tsukemono
A. Grilled chicken skewers
B. “Thank you for the meal”
C. Pickled vegetables
D. “Excuse me”
E. Said before eating
Answers: 1-E, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B, 5-C. How did you do?
Key takeaways and steps
- Build a core set of food terms for dishes and ingredients
- Learn mealtime expressions to show respect before and after eating
- Practice ordering with the “[item]+wo+[counter]+onegaishimasu” pattern
- Use polite words like sumimasen, onegaishimasu, and address with ‑san
- Follow etiquette—don’t stick chopsticks upright, slurp noodles, and always say kampai
Try using one new phrase today when you order or dine, and see how locals respond. The small effort goes a long way.
Frequently asked questions
1. How can I remember Japanese food words more easily?
Make flashcards with the Japanese term, reading, and an image. Review them before meals or while waiting in line at a restaurant.
2. What’s the difference between ramen, udon, and soba?
Ramen uses wheat noodles in a rich broth, udon features thick wheat noodles in a light broth, and soba uses thin buckwheat noodles often served cold or hot.
3. Can I mix wasabi into soy sauce?
Traditionally you place a dab of wasabi directly on sushi before dipping fish into shoyu. Mixing it in the sauce is seen as a restaurant faux pas (JaBistro).
4. How do I ask for the bill?
Say “Okaikei onegaishimasu” to request the check, or simply bring your bill to the counter—tipping is not practiced in Japan.
5. Which polite form should I use when ordering?
Stick to the masu-form (onegaishimasu, arigatou gozaimasu). It’s simple, safe, and appreciated by servers and chefs alike.
Enjoy exploring Tokyo’s flavors with confidence and courtesy—happy eating!
