Learn Japanese: Ordering Food at a Restaurant – JLPT N5

Introduction

This guide focuses on practical conversational Japanese, specifically geared towards passing the JLPT N5 exam. We’ll learn how to order food comfortably at a restaurant – a common and essential skill. Don’t worry about complex grammar; we’re prioritizing real-world phrases you can actually use.

Essential Phrases & Vocabulary

• Greetings:
• おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) – Good morning
• こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello / Good afternoon
• こんばんは (Konbanwa) – Good evening
• Basic Phrases:
• すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me / I’m sorry
• ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) – Thank you
• どういたしまして (Douitashimashite) – You’re welcome
• Ordering Food:
• これをください (Kore o kudasai) – Please give me this.
• これ何ですか？(Kore nani desu ka?) – What is this?
• これは何ですか？(Kore wa nanidesu ka?) – What is that? (Pointing)
• おすすめは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?) – What do you recommend?
• おいしいです (Oishii desu) – It’s delicious!
• お会計をお願いします (Okaikei o onegai shimasu) – Please take the bill / I’d like to pay.
• Food & Drink Terms:
• ご飯 (Gohan) – Rice / Meal
• 水 (Mizu) – Water
• お茶 (Ocha) – Tea
• ビール (Biiru) – Beer
• ラーメン (Raamen) – Ramen
• 寿司 (Sushi) – Sushi

A Realistic Restaurant Dialogue

Here’s a dialogue between a customer and a restaurant server:

Customer: こんにちは！ (Konnichiwa!)

Server: こんにちは！いらっしゃいませ！ (Konnichiwa! Irasshaimase!) – Welcome!

Customer: メニューをお願いします。 (Menyuu o onegai shimasu.) – Please give me the menu.

Server: はい、どうぞ。(Hai, douzo.) – Here you go.

(Customer looks at the menu)

Customer: ラーメンを一つお願いします。 (Raamen o hitotsu onegai shimasu.) – One bowl of ramen, please.

Server: ラーメンですね。(Raamen desu ne.) – Ramen, right?

Customer: はい、そうです。 (Hai, sou desu.) – Yes, that’s correct.

(After eating)

Customer: お会計をお願いします。(Okaikei o onegai shimasu.) – Please take the bill.

Server: ありがとうございます。 (Arigatou gozaimasu.) – Thank you. 合計は1000円です。(Gōkei wa senpyaku-en desu.) – The total is 1000 yen.

Customer: 1000円を支払います。 (Hyaku en o shiharai masu) – I will pay 1000 yen.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

• Mistake: “これください” (Kore kudasai) – Literally “this please.” While technically correct, it sounds a bit abrupt.
• Correction: “これをください” (Kore o kudasai) – The ‘o’ particle makes the sentence more polite and natural.
• Mistake: Forgetting to say “Arigatou gozaimasu.”
• Correction: Always express gratitude when you receive your food or pay the bill.

Practice & Tips

The best way to learn is through practice! Try reading this dialogue aloud, and then try constructing your own simple orders at home. Start with the basic phrases – greeting, requesting the menu, ordering a single item, and saying “thank you.”