Japanese Restaurant Phrases 2026: 50 Must-Know Sentences from Seating to Paying

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated June 17, 2026

Restaurant Japanese is the most essential travel skill. This guide covers the complete flow from being seated to paying, with 50 useful phrases, menu kanji quick reference, and special vocabulary for different restaurant types (sushi, ramen, izakaya).

Essential Restaurant Japanese

Seating: 二人です (two people), 禁煙席をお願いします (non-smoking please)

Ordering: これをください (I'll have this), おすすめは何ですか？ (what do you recommend?), すみません! (excuse me, calling staff)

Paying: お会計をお願いします (check please), カードで払えますか？ (can I pay by card?)

Leaving: ごちそうさまでした (thank you for the meal)

Practice restaurant Japanese at [Nihongo to Japan Grammar Challenge](/challenge).