Cultural · Dining

Thank you for the wonderful meal. It was absolutely delicious.

Excuse me, could you show me how to hold chopsticks correctly?

May I have seconds please? It's absolutely delicious.

Please, allow me to pour for you.

Let's split the bill today. / Let's go Dutch.

Please avoid sticking chopsticks upright in food, or passing food from chopstick to chopstick.

In Japan, slurping noodles is not considered bad manners.

Popular restaurants often have long queues, but it's worth the wait.

It's perfectly fine to eat sushi with your hands.

First, let me gather everyone's orders. Shall we start with drinks?

Do not hesitate to take any plate that catches your eye. Please help yourself while it comes around.

This one's done! Here you go, help yourself!

Well then, cheers!

Is there anything you dislike eating?

Would you like a second helping?

I've had more than enough. It was absolutely delicious.

What kind of sushi is this?

Slurping ramen is perfectly normal here — it actually signals you're enjoying it.

Is it possible to take this to go?

Well then, let us eat. (ritual phrase said before meals)

This is absolutely delicious. You must have put so much care into making it.

Passing food from chopstick to chopstick is a funeral custom, so it's taboo during regular meals.

Cheers! It's good to keep your glass a little lower than the other person's.

Let's all say 'itadakimasu' together before we start eating. Please join in.

Excuse me! May I place an order?

Japanese shops often serve you green tea, don't they. That's the spirit of omotenashi — genuine hospitality.

Kaiseki cuisine follows a sequence starting from appetizers, then clear soup, sashimi, and grilled dishes.

Let's split the bill today. Or actually, this time it's my treat.

Then let's make a toast! Thanks for all your hard work today!

Excuse me, two draft beers and one edamame please.

I will now receive and enjoy the tea. Thank you so much.

Excuse me, I am unable to eat pork — is it included in this dish?

This is truly delicious. I haven't had a meal this wonderful in a very long time. Thank you.

This is my first visit here — could you tell me what the seasonal recommendations are?

Are you going for rich, heavy broth or light, clear broth? Do you prefer thick or thin noodles?

Thank you so much for inviting me today. Please excuse my intrusion. Here — please accept this.

This wagashi (Japanese sweet) pairs wonderfully with the tea. Which confectionery shop is it from?

Excuse me, one of this and one of that, please. And could I also have one more beer?

Excuse me, could I have a refill of rice?

Shall we split the bill today? Or shall I treat you this time?

What do you recommend here? Could you tell me if you have time?

Itadakimasu!' You say this before eating, right? I think it's a wonderful custom.

Could you teach me the proper way to use chopsticks? I've heard there are some things you should never do, so I want to be careful.

Please don't go to any trouble. Thank you.

Would it be alright to have a refill?

Shall we split the bill today? That comes to [amount] yen each.

This is my first time at an izakaya. Could you recommend something from the menu?

Then I'll have just a little, thank you.

Let's split the bill today. How much is my share?

For starters, a beer please!

Thank you for the wonderful meal. It was absolutely delicious. Thank you so much.

Please help yourself to more if you'd like. Have a little extra.

This is the otoshi — a small appetizer included as part of the table/seating charge.

Please help yourself without any hesitation. Feel free to take whatever you like.

In Japan, sticking chopsticks upright in rice or passing food from chopstick to chopstick is considered bad manners.

We will now begin your kaiseki course meal. Each dish will be served one at a time. Please take your time and savor every course.

Excuse me, could you teach me how to hold the bowl properly?

The osechi dishes are truly colorful and beautiful. I heard each one has its own meaning.

Where should I place the lid of the bowl?

Oh, your glass is empty. Shall I pour you some?

I'll trust your choice. There's nothing I particularly dislike.

You can actually slurp soba — it's allowed.

Please allow me to drink first. I've heard it's customary to take three sips — is that correct?

What's the traditional order for eating tempura?

Oh, thank you, you're so kind.

Should I hold the teacup with both hands?

Around this season, I always start craving mizu-yokan.

With donburi, do you pour the sauce over the rice? Or eat the toppings first?

I hear black beans symbolize 'working diligently' (a pun on 'mame' meaning beans and 'diligent').

Shrimp carries the wish to live long enough for your back to curve like the shrimp's.

A kaiseki meal begins with sakizuke, followed by hassun, mukouzuke, and owan (soup).

At a sushi counter, starting with white-fleshed fish and ending with rolled sushi is considered refined.

For ichijuu-sansai (one soup, three dishes), rice goes on the left, soup on the right, and the main dish in the back.

It's okay to slurp soba noodles loudly when you eat them.

Passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks is taboo — it recalls the bone-collecting ritual at cremations.

Would you care for some ochazuke? (Kyoto idiom: "It's getting late, perhaps you should head home.")

For your family's ozouni, are the mochi round or square?

It's fine to pick up the bowl and drink miso soup directly from it.

Kaiseki cuisine begins with sakizuke and ends with mizugashi, served at a leisurely pace.

After eating the soba, you pour the soba broth water into the dipping sauce and drink it.

I'll have your omakase course, please. I have no particular dislikes.

Kanto oden is dark with strong soy sauce, Kansai is light with kelp broth, and Kyushu uses chicken stock.

They say Sapporo ramen is miso-based, Hakata is tonkotsu, and Kitakata is soy sauce.

Kaiseki' refers to modest cuisine accompanying tea ceremony; '会席' refers to elaborate banquet cuisine.

It's often said that Kanto is soba culture, while Kansai is udon culture.

For ozouni, Kanto typically uses chicken and komatsuna greens, but Kansai uses white miso with taro root.