Choosing a restaurant in Japan can be a worrisome affair:
Will I be able to communicate with the staff ? Can they speak English? Do they have an English menu?
We at JTFA want to take away all of these questions for you. If they display the yellow sticker, you know all the answers will be YES! they are Verified English speaking restaurants and the menu has also been checked for English.
So here is a brief guide to the ordering and paying system in Japan.
Before you enter, you may notice that many establishments might have food displays in their front window; if all else fails, take a photo of what you want and show it to the staff.
Upon entering a restaurant, customers might be greeted with the expression “irasshaimase” (i’ra’shy’mas’say) meaning welcome, please come in”. The waiter will ask you how many people are in your party (you can hold up your fingers) and will then lead you to a table. Don’t go in and seat yourself.
After you have been seated, you will normally be served a free glass of water or tea. If it isn’t served, free water or tea is usually available for self-service somewhere in the restaurant, everyone will also receive a wet towel which is used to clean your hands before you eat.
Some restaurants provide illustrated menus-so pictures of the food items with the Japanese will be written; others may only have Japanese menus, and for some of the older style places and tachinomis (standing bars) the food items will be on yellow “stickers” hanging on the walls.
If the bar or restaurant is a JTFA member restaurant, rest assured they will have an English menu for you with foreign friendly, English speaking staff.
Once you have decided what you want to order, simply press the button on the table, or call out “sumimasen” (su’me’ma’sen). The waiter will come and take your order and read it back to you for confirmation. Just smile, nod your head and say “yes”.
The check/bill will usually be placed on your table as you receive your meal, although nowadays a lot of resturants take your order on handheld ordering systems. If the check is in paper form oat your table, just take it to the cashier near the exit when you leave and pay there-it is not common practice in Japan to pay at the table.
Cash payments are still the most common way to pay, but more and more places now accept credit cards or IC cards.
You shouldn’t tip in Japan (restaurants, bars, taxis, hotel staff) as it is not their custom.
Instead, it is polite to say “thank you / thank you for the meal “as you leave.
So there you have it; it can be intimidating when eating out in Japan as their English is limited so if you are worried have a look at the JTFA website to be sure you are going to and English verified restaurant or bar. Enjoy eating out in Japan.
