Words you'll see on a menu

Menus, chalkboards, and hand-written notices use some words that don't translate directly. Knowing them makes ordering easier.

Words that flag a recommendation

• オススメ / 本日のおすすめ (osusume / honjitsu no osusume) — "Recommended" / "today's special." What the shop is currently pushing.
• Handwritten items in red on a chalkboard or notice are often a recommendation or a special price, though not always.

Combos and sharing plates

• 盛り合わせ (moriawase) — An assortment plate combining several items.
• 定食 (teishoku) — A set meal: rice, soup, and a main dish, often with a side, all together.
• セット (setto) — "Set." A main paired with a side or drink.
• 単品 (tanpin) — Ordering just the one item, without a set.
• 一品 (ippin) — "A dish," often used for a single drinking snack rather than a full meal.
• 小鉢 (kobachi) — A small side dish served in a small bowl.

Portion words

• 並 / 大盛 / 特盛 (nami / ōmori / tokumori) — Regular, large, and extra-large portions. 並 is the standard size.
• 半 (han) — Half, or a smaller-than-usual portion.
• 替え玉 (kaedama) — Mainly at ramen shops: ordering a fresh serving of noodles while keeping the broth. See Words about taste and cooking for more.
• おかわり自由 (okawari jiyū) — Free refills of a set item, usually rice or tea, at no extra charge.

Reading "〇〇 free"

Signs like "大盛り無料" (large size free), "ライス無料" (rice free), or "ドリンク無料" (drink free) mean that part doesn't cost extra. Conditions — "lunch only," "first refill only," "with a set order only" — are often printed in small text nearby, so it's worth checking if the fine print applies to you.

Words about the bill

• 時価 (jika) — "Market price." The price isn't printed because it changes with the market.
• 税込 / 税抜 (zeikomi / zeinuki) — Whether the listed price includes consumption tax or not.
• サービス料 (sābisu-ryō) — A service charge added to the bill, mainly at upscale restaurants or hotel dining.
• お通し / 席料 (otōshi / sekiryō) — A small appetizer or seat charge added even if you didn't order it — a custom mainly seen at izakaya.
• 食券 / 先払い・後払い (shokken / sakibarai / atobarai) — Some shops sell a ticket before you sit down; others settle the bill at the end.
• お一人様 (o-hitori-sama) — "Per person," used for quantities or pricing.
• 相席 (aiseki) — Sharing a table with strangers, sometimes requested by staff when the shop is busy.

Related foods

For buying a ticket, see How to read a ticket machine; for payment timing, see Cash-only shops.