8 Phrases You Need to Know Before Going for a Night Out in an Izakaya

Planning to visit an izakaya during your trip to Japan? Whether you’re grabbing drinks with friends or trying to mingle with locals, knowing an izakaya phrase or two can make your experience smoother—and more fun. From walking through the door to asking for the check, this guide will teach you what to say (and what to expect) at every step of your izakaya adventure. Let’s learn the phrases you’ll actually use, so you can enter the store, order with confidence and sound like a pro!

Please note that this article will include mentions of alcohol, which may not be suited for certain audiences.

Table of Contents:

VIDEO LINK: Click Here

Introduction: What is an Izakaya?

An izakaya, or 居酒屋 in kanji, is an establishment where often people go to drink and eat usually in the evening in Japan.

Sometimes called Japanese pubs, izakayas tend to be lively restaurants where locals hang out, in solo to chat with other regulars, or in small and big groups, over some drinks. Izakaya can specialize in one or two food items as well. For instance, Sayaka visited 大衆餃子酒場 ちゃおまる (taishū gyōza sakaba chaomaru = Local Dumpling Liquor Stand Chaomaru) in the video. As the name suggests, the izakaya specializes in Gyōza dumpling menus.

The name 居酒屋 comes from a history during the Edo period when customers at a liquor store (酒屋 = sakaya) started to stay (“居”つづける = itsuzukeru) and drink the liquor supplied at the store with the store owner.

Izakayas tend to stay open until very late, around 11pm or midnight, when the final trains are running for the evening. They are also popular for after-work parties between colleagues.

Step 1: Entering an Izakaya

When you step foot into an Izakaya, often you will hear this Japanese phrase:
「いらっしゃいませ」 (Irasshaimase)

いらっしゃいませ is a polite, formal greeting which essentially means “welcome”. The phrase is connected to the verb, いらっしゃる irassharu, which is used to inform the arrival of someone of higher status.

Answering: How many people?

Promptly after, although inaudible in the video, often customers are asked the following:
「何名さまですか？」(nanmei sama desuka?)

The phrase asks how many patrons are part of the group.

To respond, you can say「＿＿＿です」with the number of people in the blank. The blank should be filled with the word corresponding to the number of people you have as follows:

In the video, Sayaka says 「ふたりです」(futari desu) as she is in a group of 2 entering the store. You could give fingers to show the staff, or use the regular numbers in Japanese too, but native speakers use the 人 (にん/nin) counter to indicate the size of their group. So here’s the first Japanese izakaya phrase you should be able to say:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 1:
＜ひとり / ふたり / ＿＿にん＞です。
＜hitori/futari/ ___ nin＞ desu.
= I am/we are _____ people.

Answering: Do you have a reservation?

Although not in the video, another common questions customers get asked at the door is this:
「ご予約はございますか？」(goyoyaku wa gozaimasuka?)

The question means: do you have a booking or reservation? If yes, you can answer:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 2:
(booking name) で予約しています。
_______ de yoyaku shiteimasu
= I have a reservation under the name: __________.

If not, you can say 「ありません」(arimasen) to say, “no, we don’t have one”.

You can also walk into an izakaya indicating you already have a reservation by saying:
「 (number of people) で予約しています (name) です」
______de yoyaku shiteimasu _______ desu.
= This is _______ with a reservation for ____ people

Being Guided to a table

Generally izakayas can have two types of seating:

• Countertop seating カウンター席 (kaunta- seki)
• Table seating テーブル席 (te-buru seki)

Which means that sometimes the staff may ask for your preference.

「カウンターとテーブル、どちらがご希望ですか？」
kaunta- to te-buru, dochira ga go kibou desuka?
= Which would you like, countertop or table?

To answer this, it is best to say the choice, followed by でお願いします:

• カウンターでお願いします (kaunta- de onegaishimasu)
• テーブルでお願いします (te-buru de onegaishimasu)

The お願いします phrase, which means “please” will appear over and over in this article to it would be a great idea to master that to use in many situations.

Once the izakaya has a table or seat ready for you, they will guide you by sayin

「どうぞ」(douzo)

This is a polite gesture to say when giving something or guiding a person to go somewhere.

Notice that the staff also says どうぞ (douzo) when they hand Sayaka the oshibori. An oshibori is a wet cloth used to wipe the hands, which can come warm or cold depending on the season.

Step 2: At the table

In the video, the server first says thank you for coming to our restaurant:
「ご来店ありがとうございます。」 (goraiten arigatō gozaimasu)
then hands Sayaka an oshibori.

The important phrase you may want to hear out for is how to call your server. In the video the server pointed at the buzzer and explained:

「お決まりになりましたら、ベルでお知らせください。」
okimarini narimashitara, beru de oshirase kudasai
= When you have decided, let us know using the buzzer

They also proceeded to point at the menu by pointing out:

「あちらがメニューになります」
　achira ga menyu- ni narimasu.
= over there is the menu.

If they hand you the menu directly, they will say こちらがメニューになります。(kochira ga menyu- ni narimasu). Remember that こちら (kochira) is a polite way of addressing something that person speaking is holding or is within proximity of the speaker.

If you do not get an explanation on how to call the server, it IS appropriate in Japanese izakaya to raise your hand and call out,

「すみません！」
sumimasen!
= excuse me!

CULTURE NOTE:
Unlike North America or other parts of the world, you are allowed in Japan to call for your server instead of waiting for them to come to you.

Or they may pull out a quick “passport please?” for tourists.

Step 3: Looking at the Menu

Sayaka starts viewing the menu on the first page, which happens to be all just 餃子 (gyōza) menus, as they are in an izakaya specializing in 餃子.

In the video, Sayaka notices some words on the menu such as:

These are keywords izakaya owners put on their menus to hint at their specialities or popular menu items.

Navigating the Drink Menu

After looking at the 餃子 (gyōza) menu, Sayaka flips to the drink menu. Apart from izakaya phrases to communicate with your server, you will want to know these liquor names in Japanese. Here’s a quick summary of different types of drinks that can be offered in izakayas.

ビール (bi-ru) – Beer. Menus also often refer to draught beer (beer on tap) as 生ビール (nama bi-ru)

ハイボール (hai bo-ru) – Highball. In Japan, highball menus also include sweeter mixed drinks. For example, lemon juice mixed with high ball or or even green tea with high ball.

チューハイ (chūhai) – Shōchū highball. Often this term refers to a drink that mixes barley shōchū with carbonated water and lemon. Think Strong Zero if you are familiar with convenience store canned liquor.

サワー (sawa-) – Sours. Do not be confused with sour beer here – this popular drink is another carbonated, sweet spirit mix, very similar to チューハイ. The writer’s favorite drink is a キウイサワー (kiwi sawa-) and also a カルピスサワー (kalpis sawa-).

梅酒 (umeshu) – sweet plum liquor.

焼酎 (shōchū) – Japanese liquor distilled from grains and plants such as sweet potato, barley, rice.

日本酒 (nihonshu) – Japanese sake, often distilled from rice. Note that saying sake in Japanese would mean all types of alcohol, so you must say 日本酒 in Japan to get sake.

ホッピー (hoppi-) – Hoppy. Beer-flavored carbonated low alcohol drink.

ワイン (wain) – wine.

ノンアルコール (non-aruko-ru) – Alcohol-free liquor

ソフトドリンク (sofuto dorinku) – Soft beverages such as juice, pop, and tea will be under this heading.

Step 3: Order!

Now you have made up your mind. It is time to order.

Sayaka presses the buzzer, and the server immediately yells a はーい (ha-i). You might know はい (hai) as yes, but it can also be used as a response for when you are called by someone else. Then, the server appears saying,

「失礼します」
shitsurei shimasu

The phrase is often used as a gesture of apology for interrupting someone’s space or conversation, similar to “excuse me”. The server says this each time he arrives at Sayaka’s table to deliver drinks and food as well. Once the server arrives, Sayaka starts her order:

「まずドリンクが…ビール1つと…あとジンジャエールを1つお願いします」
mazu dorinku ga, bi-ru hitotsu to, ato jinjae-ru wo hitotsu onegaishimasu
= Starting with drinks… 1 beer and…1 ginger ale as well please.

Remember what お願いします means? It means please. This is the phrase you want to master first. Next, you want to know what you are ordering. Then, you want to add quantities as well:

Add this before ください and you will sound like a native speaker.

As a result, the phrase for ordering at an izakaya or any food establishment sounds like this:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 3:
(item) + (quantity) と (item) + (quantity) お願いします。
to* onegaishimasu.

* = only add と (to) particle if you are requesting more than one item

When you have a menu with pictures and you are not sure how to say a menu item name, you can point at the picture and say これ (kore) instead of the item name.

After receiving the order, the server says かしこまりました (kashikomari mashita) to communicate that he got the order.

After ordering food, Sayaka asked the question:
「なんかそれ以外におすすめってありますか？」
nanka sore igaini osusume tte arimasuka?
= Is there anything other than that’s recommended?

We can take the key word of that sentence and use this phrase to ask for recommendations:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 4:
おすすめは何ですか？
osusume wa nandesuka?
= what are your recommendations?

End of the Order

After putting in your order, the server usually questions,

「以上でよろしいでしょうか？」
ijyou de yoroshii deshouka?
= is that all?

If you do not have anything else to order, you can use this phrase:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 5:
以上で！
ijyō de!
= that’s all.

Consequently, many people use this phrase at the end of their order without having the server ask if that is all. To sound native at an izakaya, there is no reason to not use 以上で at the end of your order.

Step 4: Cheers!

Ever heard that Japanese society values hierarchy? That is true even at the izakaya table. This rule especially applies when you are drinking with colleagues and your boss.

When your glass touches with a senior, the end of your glass has to be LOWER than your senior’s. On the other hand, a comedic situation happens when two people of similar or equal hierarchy. Both hands go lower and lower before the glasses click, knowing that lowering their glass shows more respect for the other side. You can see Sayaka reenact that in her own hands in the video.

Regardless, the word for cheers in Japanese is:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 6:
乾杯
kanpai
= Cheers!

Step 5: Paying for the Bill!

Ready to pay and leave? First, you will need to know where to pay. Some izakayas will allow you to pay at the table. If an izakaya has a tablet for ordering, you may need to confirm your bill on the screen before proceeding to the cashier. Other times, the server leaves the bill at the table after each order, and you will have to take that to the cashier.

When Sayaka takes her bill to the receipt, she called out:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 7:
お会計お願いします。
okaikei onegaishimasu
= May I pay my bill?

You can use this izakaya phrase at a restaurant as well. If you are unsure where to pay, you can always ask this question to your server at the table first, then they will direct you to where to pay.

At the cashier, Sayaka then asked the question:

カード使えますか？
ka-do tsukaemasuka?
= Can I use credit card?

This question is useful anywhere to see if your credit card works to pay. However, sometimes, the server will inquire first:

お支払い方法いかがですか？
Oshiharai hōhō ikagadesu ka?
= How would you like to pay?

To respond to that, you can say:

Tips and the Otōshi Charge

In case you were wondering about tips, you do not have to pay a tip.

However, izakayas often include a charge in your bill called お通し (otōshi). Some people think this is a table charge, but it is actually different. This お通し pays for the small appetizer or snack that is automatically served at many Japanese izakaya when you sit down — before you order anything. It’s something to nibble on while waiting for your food or drinks. You cannot typically refuse it or choose what you get. Examples include edamame, cabbage with sesame oils, and other kinds of small dishes. You may want to look at reviews of potential izakayas to look out for this extra charge – they should often between 300 and 800 yen. Any higher, you may want to avoid, unless you have good reasons.

If you want to know all about paying at a cashier, go check out this blog article, which has a complete guide on convenience store conversations!

Step 6: Leaving in Style

When leaving the store, your server and other workers will say thank you:

ありがとうございました！
arigatō gozaimashita

You may be tempted to say the same thing back. However, the best greeting to say is:

Must Know Izakaya Phrase 8:
ごちそうさまでした。
gochisōsama deshita

You may have learnt this greeting as a way to say “thank you for the meal” at the dining table. At a restaurant, you can say this in a moderate voice to the restaurant to show gratitude. This is the last izakaya phrase you should know!

Mini Quiz

Check: How many did you get correct? Leave your answer and your favorite izakaya in the comment.

Ready to learn more?

Today you learned 8 Essential Izakaya Phrases. These izakaya phrases will make your visit less stressful and more enjoyable. You also learned some cultural notes on how things work in an izakaya such as why people order beer for the 乾杯 (kanpai). Whether you go to an izakaya with another friend, a colleague, or family, you have now mastered how to communicate with your server and the people at your table.

Have you…

• Ever thought of learning Japanese, but have no access to classes?
• Learned Japanese, but want to speak more?
• Given up on speaking Japanese before?
• Been tired of your unmotivated classmates?
• OR are you UNMOTIVATED to study Japanese?

Then you should check out Sayaka’s Beginners Japanese lessons! With engaging weekly lessons covering task-based conversation practice, kanji, grammar for different situations, and useful phrases, you will for sure fall in love with all the fun and warmth you will experience in Sayaka’s class. Check her 101/102/103 and 104 classes out here!

Follow Sayaka on SNS:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Facebook