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51. At a Restaurant

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Vocabulary

食堂 (しょくどう) shokudou

cafeteria; dining hall

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

学校の食堂で食べます
gakkou no shokudou de tabemasu — I eat at the school cafeteria
この食堂は安いです
kono shokudou wa yasui desu — This cafeteria is cheap
食堂はどこですか
shokudou wa doko desu ka — Where is the cafeteria?
喫茶店 (きっさてん) kissaten

coffee shop; cafe

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

喫茶店でコーヒーを飲みます
kissaten de koohii wo nomimasu — I drink coffee at the cafe
あの喫茶店はいいです
ano kissaten wa ii desu — That cafe over there is good
喫茶店で友達に会います
kissaten de tomodachi ni aimasu — I meet my friend at the cafe
メニュー menyuu

menu

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

メニューを見ます
menyuu wo mimasu — I look at the menu
メニューはここにあります
menyuu wa koko ni arimasu — The menu is here
このメニューはいいですね
kono menyuu wa ii desu ne — This menu is nice, isn't it?

Cultural Notes

Calling the server in Japan

In Japanese restaurants, you call the server by saying すみません (sumimasen) and raising your hand. Many places also have a call button on the table. Servers won't check on you repeatedly like in some countries - you ask when you're ready.

食堂 vs レストラン vs 喫茶店

A 食堂 is a casual, affordable eatery - think university cafeterias or neighborhood diners with simple meals. A レストラン is more upscale. A 喫茶店 is a traditional Japanese coffee shop, quieter and more relaxed than a chain cafe, often run by one person.

Ordering etiquette: お願いします

When ordering, Japanese speakers often point at the menu and say これをお願いします (kore wo onegai shimasu) - 'this one, please.' Using 注文する directly sounds a bit formal in casual restaurants. お願いします is the go-to phrase for placing any kind of request.