すみません！注文してもいいですか？ — Excuse me! May I place an order? (Cultural · Dining, Polite to Staff, JLPT N5)

Gesture & etiquette

Raise your hand at table level — not waving frantically, just a clear, held hand signal. Make brief eye contact with the nearest staff member. In izakaya, it's common to order multiple items at once for the whole table rather than ordering one at a time.

At most Japanese restaurants, you call staff by raising your hand and saying 「すみません！」— a buzzer or waiter-summoning device (呼び出しブザー) may also be available. Unlike some cultures, calling loudly is perfectly acceptable and expected. 「いらっしゃいませ！」is the staff greeting — respond with your order or 「少々お待ちください」if you need more time.