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Japanese Food and Ordering
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Order with ください, say いただきます properly, handle ramen counters and izakaya, and pay at the register.
Ordering with ください
The magic pattern: 〜をください (…o kudasai — …please): ラーメンをください, お水をください (water, please). At counters: これをください (this one, please) with a point. Asking what's good: おすすめは何ですか (what do you recommend?). Allergic: 〜アレルギーがあります. Vegetarian: ベジタリアンです — then specify, since dashi (fish stock) hides everywhere.
いただきます and ごちそうさま
Before eating, hands together: いただきます (itadakimasu — I humbly receive). After: ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita — thank you for the feast). These are said to the cook, the ingredients, everyone — skipping them reads as rude. At someone's home add おいしいです! (it's delicious!) early and often.
Ramen counters and izakaya
Ramen shops: buy a ticket from the machine (食券 shokken), hand it to staff, state noodle firmness (かため — firm) and extras. Slurping is CORRECT — it cools noodles and signals enjoyment. Izakaya (pubs): first shout とりあえずビール! (for now, beer!), share everything, pour for others — never for yourself. お通し (otōshi) is the mandatory table-charge nibble.
Chopsticks and paying
Never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick (hiroibashi — funeral bone ritual), never spear, never stand them in rice (tatebashi). Lay them on the hashioki rest. Paying: most restaurants are pay-at-the-register (レジ) — staff announce your total; some take trays for cash. Tipping is NOT done — it confuses and can offend. お会計をおねがいします (bill, please).
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 〜をください | …please — the ordering pattern |
| いただきます | I humbly receive — before eating |
| ごちそうさまでした | thanks for the feast — after eating |
| おすすめは何ですか | what do you recommend? |
| お会計をおねがいします | bill, please |
| おいしいです! | it's delicious! |