Japanese for Restaurant Staff
Taking orders, kitchen communication, serving food, and closing — real restaurant Japanese.
Restaurant work in Japan runs on precise communication and teamwork. Whether you're at an izakaya, family restaurant, or ramen shop, these are the phrases your coworkers and customers expect you to know.
Taking Orders
ご注文はお決まりですか？
Gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?
Are you ready to order?
ご注文を繰り返します。
Gochuumon wo kurikaeshimasu.
Let me repeat your order.
ラストオーダーのお時間です。
Rasuto oodaa no ojikan desu.
It's last order time.
こちらのメニューはただいま品切れです。
Kochira no menyuu wa tadaima shinagire desu.
This menu item is currently sold out.
少々お待ちください。確認いたします。
Shoushou omachi kudasai. Kakunin itashimasu.
One moment please. Let me check.
Kitchen Communication
オーダー入ります！
Oodaa hairimasu!
Order coming in!
〇番テーブルお願いします。
[Number]-ban teeburu onegaishimasu.
Table [number], please.
上がりました！
Agarimashita!
Order's up!
食材が足りません。
Shokuzai ga tarimasen.
We're running low on ingredients.
アレルギー確認お願いします。
Arerugii kakunin onegaishimasu.
Please check for allergies.
Serving
お待たせいたしました。
Omatase itashimashita.
Sorry for the wait.
こちら、〇〇になります。
Kochira, [dish name] ni narimasu.
Here is your [dish name].
お飲み物のおかわりはいかがですか？
Onomimono no okawari wa ikaga desu ka?
Would you like a refill?
お皿をお下げしてもよろしいですか？
Osara wo osage shitemo yoroshii desu ka?
May I clear your plates?
Closing
お会計は〇〇円になります。
Okaikei wa [amount] en ni narimasu.
Your bill is [amount] yen.
レジの締め作業をします。
Reji no shime sagyou wo shimasu.
I'll do the register closing.
テーブルの片付けお願いします。
Teeburu no katazuke onegaishimasu.
Please clear the table.
ありがとうございました！
Arigatou gozaimashita!
Thank you very much!
お忘れ物はございませんか？
Owasuremono wa gozaimasen ka?
Do you have everything with you?
Cultural Tips
- In Japanese kitchens, shouting is normal. Calls like "Oodaa hairimasu!" and "Agarimashita!" keep everyone in sync. Don't be shy — a quiet kitchen call means nobody heard you.
- Always repeat the order back to the customer. This prevents mistakes and shows professionalism. Skip this and you'll hear about it from your senior staff.
- When a customer leaves, the entire staff shouts "Arigatou gozaimashita!" together. Even if you're washing dishes in the back, join in.
FAQ
What's the difference between izakaya and family restaurant work?
Izakaya work is more fast-paced with alcohol service and late hours. Family restaurants (famiresu) are more structured with set menus and shift systems. Both require the same core phrases, but izakaya adds drink-mixing and late-night cleanup vocabulary.
Can I use SayLy during restaurant work?
During busy service, probably not. But during prep time or breaks, you can use SayLy to look up specific food terms, practice set phrases, or translate a customer's allergy question quickly.
With SayLy, just type in your language and send natural Japanese. No memorization needed.
Download on the App StoreFree to use. No account needed.
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