Useful Phrases at Restaurants (While Dining & When Leaving) (2024)

Published: Oct 06 2017Last updated:

  • tsunagu Japan
  • tsunagu Japan

When visiting restaurants during your Japan travels, knowing some simple Japanese phrases can make the whole dining experience a lot smoother and pleasant. So far, we've introduced phrases that are often used when entering restaurants or ordering in them. This time, we’d like to introduce some useful phrases that you can use during your meal and when leaving the store!

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Below is an explanation using text and images. If you haven't seen our videos or articles on great phrases to use when entering Japanese restaurants or ordering in them, then check those out too!

When You Want a Knife or Fork

You're often served chopsticks, but sometimes you just need a knife or fork, correct? When those times come, note the following phrases:

Sumimasen. Naifu to Foku wo kudasai.
Excuse me. Can you pass me a knife and fork?

Hai. Shouchi shimash*ta.
Of course.

Reference) Utensil Names
Naifu / Fuoku / Supun / Ohashi / Osara / Koppu
Knife / Fork / Spoon / Chopsticks / Plate / Cup

"Shouchi shimash*ta" is a polite phrase used to show that the listener fully understood what the speaker said. Restaurant staff muster up all their respect for the customer when saying this.

When You Want Water

Water is usualy free at Japanese restaurants.
It is usually the first thing that restaurant staff bring after guiding guests to their seats.
This does not happen in izakaya (Japanese pubs), as these places are for people whowant to enjoy alcoholic drinks. That said, if you ask the staff, they can bring some water for you!

Omizu wo kudasai.
Excuse me. I'd like some water, please.

Oikutsu omochi shimasuka?
How many cups should I bring?

Futatsu onegai shimasu.
Two, please.

Ofutatsu desune.Shouchishimash*ta.
Two cups, correct? Understood.

When You Want to Pay

Some restaurants will ask you to pay at the register, while others will go through the payment process at your table.
If they require you to pay at the register, do not forget to bring important itemslike the bill or slip containing your table numberwith you!
If they go through the payment process at your table, then please use the following phrases:

Okaikeiwo onegai shimasu.
Check, please.

Hai.Shouchishimash*ta.
Okay.

Useful Phrases at Restaurants (While Dining & When Leaving) (1)

When Leaving

After paying, try to say the following phrase to the staff before leaving.

In Japan, after eating, it is polite and common to say "Gochisousama".

Gochisousama desh*ta.
It tasted great, thank you.

Arigatou gozaimash*ta.
Thank you.

Next time you visit Japan, use all the phrases we've introduced up until now to tackle and try various kinds of restaurants!

(With the Cooperation of) STANDING BAR PARE

This store has a standing bar on the 1st floor, table seats on the 2nd floor, and actual bar seats on the 3rd floor. They have over 100 different types of drinks available, such as co*cktails, whiskies, and sake. They have many dishes that go well with alcohol, so this bar is recommended to anyone looking to enjoy a drink at a reasonable price.

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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Useful Phrases at Restaurants (While Dining & When Leaving) (2024)

FAQs

What are useful phrases for dining out? ›

7 English phrases you need to know for eating out
  • I'd like to make a reservation. For some restaurants, you'll need to call in advance to book a table. ...
  • Could you repeat that, please? ...
  • We need another minute.
  • I'd like/I'll have…
  • Could you bring …?/Do you have …? ...
  • This isn't what I ordered. ...
  • Check, please!

What to say when leaving a restaurant? ›

ごちそうさま (でした) – (Gochisousama (desh*ta)) means simply, "Thank you for the food or drink." This expression is usually used at the end of a meal, either at a friend's place or a restaurant. At a restaurant, you can also use it as a sign that you have finished eating, you appreciate the meal, and would like the check.

What phrases are used in the restaurant? ›

Some common words and phrases used by waiters at nice restaurants include:
  • "A table for two, please."
  • "May we sit at this table?"
  • "The menu, please."
  • "What's on the menu?”
  • "What's Irish Stew like?"
  • "We're not ready yet."
  • "The steak for me, please."
  • "Can you bring me the ketchup, please?"
Oct 22, 2016

What do you say after eating in a restaurant? ›

After you've enjoyed your food, it's customary to say “Gochisosama desh*ta” as a way to express your gratitude for the meal. You can even make the same gesture you did before you ate—pressing your palms together and making a slight bow.

What are buzz phrases in restaurant? ›

7 foodservice buzzwords trending now
  • Blended burgers.
  • Frozecco and frose.
  • Goth food.
  • Hemp.
  • Single-item restaurants.
  • Sushi burger.
  • Upcycling.
Oct 15, 2017

What is top in restaurant lingo? ›

This is the number of guests you seat at a table. The host will typically use this term when informing the server their table has been sat with new guests. A 2-top has 2 people, a 4-top has 4, and so on and so forth. “I just sat you with a 4-top near the bar.”

How do you say goodbye smartly? ›

17 Smart Ways to Say Goodbye in English
  1. 17 Smart Ways to Say Goodbye in English.
  2. Bye. This is the standard goodbye. ...
  3. Bye bye! ...
  4. See you later, See you soon or Talk to you later. ...
  5. I've got to get going or I must be going. ...
  6. Take it easy. ...
  7. I'm off. ...
  8. Goodbye.

How do you say goodbye to a waitress? ›

You could say, “Thank you for choosing our restaurant tonight, it was a pleasure to have you dine with us! We hope to see you back again soon.” This is a polite and friendly way to say goodbye that leaves guests feeling appreciated and valued.

What should a waitress say to customers? ›

Answer:
Instead ofTry
“You guys” as in “Are you guys ready to order?”“You/your” (it's plural already!) as in “May I take your order?” or “Are you ready to order?”
“Can I get you anything else?”“I would recommend our chocolate cake paired with coffee or an after-dinner drink.”
“No problem.”“My pleasure.”
1 more row
Mar 3, 2023

What does 6 top mean in restaurants? ›

Definition: A number with “top” following it refers to the amount of people in a party dining at the establishment. Example: Hey Michelle, you've got a 6-top coming in so be ready. 86'd. Definition: When the restaurant (as in bar, kitchen, or service station) runs out of a certain ingredient or menu item.

What are some words or phrases that waiters at nice restaurants use? ›

Proper Waiter Language
YesThank You
Not a problemHave a good one
No worriesTake it easy
Right away!Take care
My pleasureCome again
2 more rows
Dec 11, 2009

How do you say "check please" in a restaurant? ›

In this case you would say, excuse me, can I get the check please? Again we have excuse me to get the attention of your server, and then the casual question form can I get and the thing that you want, check and of course the polite please. So all together that's - excuse me, can I get the check please?

What is the polite expression that is said before a meal? ›

In English, before meals we say bon appetit, in the sense of "(have a) good meal," from French.

What is a good phrase about food? ›

Food Quotes
  • If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. ...
  • There is no sincerer love than the love of food. ...
  • You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six. ...
  • One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

What are the words for dining outside? ›

What is another word for outdoor meal?
picniccookout
excursionouting
alfresco mealal fresco meal
fête champêtregarden party
weiner roastdining alfresco
8 more rows

What is another word for dining out? ›

What is another word for eating out?
diningfeeding
banquetingbanquetting
faringpartaking
victualingrefreshing
devouringconsuming
11 more rows

What are some food idioms? ›

Let's get started.
  • Piece of cake. What do you think this idiom means? ...
  • To go bananas. This English food idiom is quite amusing to me, so I decided to include it on this list. ...
  • Bring home the bacon. ...
  • Hard nut to crack. ...
  • Like two peas in a pod. ...
  • Have bigger fish to fry. ...
  • Walk on eggshells. ...
  • Eat like a horse.
Jul 3, 2023

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