How to Order Beer in Japanese: Izakaya Basics and Etiquette

With The Ice Broken…

From here, the whole experience should be a lot of fun. You might even find that your efforts to try fending for yourself in an izakaya will earn you a few new friends. The wait staff will notice those same efforts and you’ll be rewarded with the experience you came for.

If you really get stuck when ordering food, perhaps it’s best to try a platter. “Sashimi moriawase” is a sashimi platter, or “yakitori moriawase” for BBQ chicken skewers. If you know exactly what you want to order, point to the item on the menu and say “kore kudasai” (“this please”).

By now, you should be well on your way to getting your fill of both food and drink. Don’t be afraid to try out any other Japanese phrases you might have been considering trying during your time in the country. A visit to an izakaya really should offer you one of the most social occasions to enjoy in Japan.

When You’re Done

When you’ve had your fill (“onaka ippai” – “I’m full”), it’s time to pay the bill. There’s only two more phrases to remember; “okaikei onegaishimasu” (“bill please”) and “arigatou gozaimasu” (“thank you very much”). With any luck, you can still remember those two after all the “nama biru” you ordered.

Izakaya Etiquette - Things To Keep In Mind

- It’s typical for dishes to be shared. If you were to eat a dish by yourself, this could be considered impolite (especially if you’re sharing your table with a local, obviously).
- Seating is usually offered on a 2-hour basis.
- It’s expected that each person in your group will order at least one drink of some sort (it doesn’t have to be alcoholic).
- If vibrant and noisy isn’t what you’re looking for, then save an izakaya visit for a time when you are. They also tend to get a bit smoky inside too.
- Be polite. Use “onegaishimasu” and “kudasai” when relevant.

Izakaya Vocabulary

Here are some phrases you might want to remember before your first visit to an izakaya.

Otoushi – appetizer
Oshibori – wet face/hand towel
Sumimasen – “Excuse me”
Onegaishimasu – “Please”
Nama biru – “fresh/raw beer” (draught tap beer)
Arigatou gozaimasu – “thank you very much”
Kudasai – In the context of an izakaya, when said after, for example “nama biru kudasai”, means “please bring me”.
Sore wa nan desu ka? – “What is that?”
Kore/sore kudasai – “This/that please”
Okaikei onegaishimasu – (bring me the) “bill please”
Kanpai! - “Cheers!”
Nomihodai - all you can drink
Tabehodai - all you can eat

Enjoy your izakaya experience. Kanpai!