Japanese Conversation in a Restaurant

This post is well suited to anyone about to take a baito job at a Japanese restaurant.
Have a look through and learn the sentence patterns most used in a restaurant in Japanese.

1. おのみものは　いかがですか？
(Onomimo no wa ikaga desuka)
Would you like anything else to drink:

2. きょうは　なにを　おめしあがりですか。
(kyou wa nani wo omeshi agari desu ka)
To ask what they would like to eat, say:

3. To ask whether they would like anything more to eat, there are two ways:

おついかは　いかがですか？
(O tsuika wa ikaga desu ka)

Or

おたべものは　いかがですか？
(Otabemo no wa ikaga desu ka)

4. To ask whether they would like wine by the bottle or by the glass, say:
ワインを　どうやって　のみたいですか？びんのそのままとか、コップでのみますか？
(wine wo douyatte nomitai desu ka? Bin no sonomama toka, cup de nomimasuka)

5. Before serving, say:

“I am…. and I will be serving you today. I look forward to it.”
きょう、たんとうさせていただきます your name です。よろしくおねがいします。
(Kyou, tantou sasete itadakimasu your name desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu)

6. To strike up a conversation with a customer, politely ask their name first and then repeat it. Remember that once you know their name you should no longer use “anata” when speaking to them; try to use their name, because otherwise they will think you impolite.

しつれいですが、おなまえは？
(shitsurei desu ga, onamae wa?)

～さんですね。はじめまして。よろしくおねがいします。
(~san desu ne. Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu)

7. Japanese names are often rather long, and if you cannot remember one, smile and say to the customer:

”Excuse me. As it is rather long, may I call you by a shorter name? Usually the customer will understand and be glad to let you shorten their name.”
すみませんが。ちょっと　ながいですから、かんたんに　いわせていただけないでしょか？
(Sumimasen ga, chotto nagai desu kara, kantan ni iwasete itadakenai deshou ka)

8. To begin with, you might ask which part of Japan the customer is from?
にほんのどこですか？
(Nihon no doko desu ka)

9. How many times have you been to Vietnam?
ベトナムへ　なんかい　きましたか?
(Betonamu e nankai kimashita ka)

10. Have you visited anywhere in Vietnam yet?
ベトナムで　どこか　けんぶつしましたか？
(Betonamu de dokoka kennbutsu shimashita ka)

11. What does that mean?
それはどういう意味ですか?
(Sore wa dou iu imi desuka?)

12. I am afraid I have not understood what you mean.
おっしゃることがよく分からないのですが。
Ossharu koto ga yoku wakaranai no desu ga…

13. I am sorry, I did not understand what you meant.
すみません。おっしゃったことが分かりませんでした。
Sumimasen. Osshatta koto ga wakarimasendeshita

14. Could you explain in more detail?
もっと詳しくそれを説明していただけますか。
Motto kuwashiku sore wo setsumeishite itadakemasu ka

15. Could you be more specific?
もっと具体的にお願いできますか。
Motto guai teki ni onegai dekimasu ka?

16. Could you explain what it is?
それが何か説明してもらえませんか。
Sore ga nanika setsumei shite moraemasen ka?

Once you have understood what the customer means, say :

17. Now I understand. Thank you.
はい、今度は分かりました。ありがとうございます。
Hai, kondo wa wakarimashita. Arigatou gozaimasu.

18. What would you like to order? / Have you decided on your order?
ご注文はお決まりですか
(go chuumon wa okimari desuka):

19. Ask the customer whether they have any further requests
何がおすすめですか？
(Nani ga osusume desu ka)

Confirm the order with the customer once more and then ask :

20. Is that everything?
以上でよろしいでしょうか？
(ijou de yoroshii deshou ka):

And when you bring the dishes out, the standard phrase is always :

Sorry to have kept you waiting.
お待たせ致しました
(Omatase itashimashita)

If you are on reception, you can say as the customer leaves:
また　お越しください。
(mata okoshi kudasai)
Please come and see us again.

21. おもしろかったですか？プレゼントに　なにを　かってきましたか。
(Omos hirokatta desu ka? Purezento ni nani wo katte kimashita ka)
Did you enjoy it? Did you buy anything to take home?

22. もう　いちど　そこに　もどりたいですか。
(Mou ichido sokoni modoritai desu ka)
Would you like to go back there again?

23. ベトナムのりょうりを　たべたことがありますか？
(betonamu no ryouri wo tabeta koto ga arimasu ka)
Have you ever tried Vietnamese food?

24. ベトナムのりょうりは　どう　おもいますか？
(betonamu no ryouri wa dou omoimasu ka)
What do you think of Vietnamese food?

25. なにが　いちばん　すきですか？
Nani ga ichiban sukidesu ka?
Which dish do you like best?

26. いらっしゃいませ。何名さまでいらっしゃいますか?
Irasshai mase, Nanmei sama de irasshai masu ka?
Welcome. How many are you? ( when the customer comes into the restaurant)

27.  何になさいますか?
Nani ni nasai masu ka?
What would you like?

28. きょうはこてんますので、ごあいせきでよろしいでしょうか?
kyoo wa konde imasu node, go aiseki de yoroshii deshoo ka?
As we are busy today, would you mind sharing a table?

29. どうぞ、こちらへ。
douzo, kochira e
This way, please.

30. あのう、メニューをみせてください。
Anou, menyuu o misete kudasai.
Customer: May I see the menu.

てにん: はい、どうぞ。。。。ごちゅうもんはおきまりですか?
tenin: hai, Doozo. gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?
Staff: certainly, here you are. Have you chosen?

もうちょっとかんがえさせてください.
Moo chotto kagae sasete kudasai.
Customer: Let me think for a moment.

See also:
Japanese Vocabulary for Dishes and Food
Common Japanese Vocabulary for Eating Out