Deliciously Fun: Learn Japanese Food Vocabulary Today!

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
1. Yakitori
1. Sumimasen
1. Gochisousama deshita
1. 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!