1人です
Hitori desu
Just one person
Hold up fingers too. They'll ask 人数はお一人様ですか？ (Ninzuu wa o-hitorisama desu ka?)
何名様ですか？
Nanmei-sama desu ka?
How many people? (what staff will ask you)
This is the question you'll hear at almost every restaurant entrance. Staff say 何名様 (nanmei-sama) — the polite form. Your answers: 1人 (hitori), 2人 (futari), 3人 (san-nin). Always hold up fingers at the same time.
禁煙席をお願いします
Kinen-seki wo onegaishimasu
Non-smoking table please
禁煙 (kinen) = no smoking. 喫煙席 (kitsuen-seki) = smoking section. Many restaurants in Japan still have both. Request this when being seated.
カウンター席でもいいですか？
Kauntaa-seki demo ii desu ka?
Is a counter seat okay?
Staff may offer a counter seat (bar-style, solo or two people facing the kitchen) if tables are full. Solo diners are often seated here. You may hear this as a question — answer はい to accept or テーブルがいいです to request a table.
メニューをください
Menyuu wo kudasai
Menu please
Many places have picture menus.
これを一つください
Kore wo hitotsu kudasai
One of these please
Point at menu item. 一つ (hitotsu) = one. 二つ (futatsu) = two.
おすすめは何ですか？
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What do you recommend?
Staff love this question.
お会計をお願いします
Okaikei wo onegaishimasu
The bill please
In Japan you usually pay at the register, not at the table.
別々に払えますか？
Betsu betsu ni haraemasu ka?
Can we pay separately?
別々 (betsubetsu) = separately. Very useful for groups. Some restaurants may not support split bills — they may ask you to calculate and hand over separate cash instead.
美味しい！
Oishii!
Delicious!
Say this to any chef or cook.
卵アレルギーがあります
Tamago arerugii ga arimasu
I have an egg allergy
Swap allergen as needed.
辛くしないでください
Karakunshinaide kudasai
Please don't make it spicy
Useful at ramen and curry shops.
お水をください
Omizu wo kudasai
Water please
Free in most restaurants.
お水を〇つお願いします
Omizu wo [X]-tsu onegaishimasu
Water for ___ people please
Ordering water for your group all at once. Hold up fingers to match the number.
持ち帰りでお願いします
Mochikaeri de onegaishimasu
To go please
Konbini staff will ask: お温めますか？ (O-atatatemasu ka?)
店内で食べます
Tennai de tabemasu
I'll eat here
Konbini staff will ask this.
ラーメンは何時間待ちますか？
Raamen wa nan jikan machimasu ka?
How long is the wait for ramen?
Listen for 分 (minutes) or 時間 (hours).
二人です
Futari desu
Two of us
二人 (futari) is irregular — not ni-nin. From three people onward the pattern becomes regular: 三人 (san-nin), 四人 (yo-nin).
三人です
San-nin desu
Three of us
三人 (san-nin) is the regular counter pattern used from 3 people onward (四人 yo-nin, 五人 go-nin, etc.).
二つください
Futatsu kudasai
Two of these please
二つ (futatsu) = two, the generic item counter. Point at the menu.
三つください
Mittsu kudasai
Three of these please
三つ (mittsu) = three. The generic counter (一つ, 二つ, 三つ, 四つ, 五つ...) is irregular up through 十 (too) = ten.
別々に会計できますか？
Betsubetsu ni kaikei dekimasu ka?
Can we pay separately?
別々 (betsubetsu) = separately. Some smaller shops in Japan don't allow split bills — ask before ordering if it matters.
一緒にお願いします
Issho ni onegaishimasu
Together please (one bill)
Say this when asked 別々ですか、ご一緒ですか？ (Betsubetsu desu ka, go-issho desu ka?) — Separate or together?