When visiting Japan, it’s only natural that you might want to enjoy the Japanese dining experience and get a taste of living like a local. Sure, there’s plenty of dining options in the busy tourist areas with staff who have enough English to save your frustration or embarrassment, and of course, if you say “Big Mac” enough times at the Golden Arches, then you won’t go hungry. But that’s not why you’re visiting Japan, right?
What Is An Izakaya And Why Should You Visit One?
Picture: Theselby
The second part to that question could perhaps be rephrased to “…why should you visit as many as you can?” Once you get the hang of it enough to discard those initial feelings of intimidation, you’ll almost certainly be visiting more than once. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Literally translated into English, “izakaya” means “dine-in sake shop”. It’s an informal affair where you order drinks alongside small dishes of food. It’s all about eating, drinking and being merry – Japanese style. This is the place where friends meet up or for co-workers to get together. It’s a place for an office worker or “salaryman” to loosen both tie and tongue. Basically, it’s a uniquely Japanese take on a bar or pub.
If it sounds great, that’s because it is! However, for a non-Japanese speaker to get the most out of the experience there are a few pieces of information you’ll want to arm yourself with before stepping inside.
First Things First – Getting Seated
Picture: Japan-guide
Upon entry, simply hold up as many fingers as there are people in your party (wear a smile if you have one) and follow the staff member to your table. Here’s where the fun begins…
If you’re from a country where tipping is part of the drinking or dining deal, then you might want to consider the idea of the “otoushi” the Japanese substitute. It’s an appetizer you’ll be given before your first drink arrives and is included in the final cost, whether you want it or not. The charge is only small and is, more often than not, delicious. You’ll also be given an “oshibori” (wet hand towel) too.
How To Order At An Izakaya
Picture: Japan-guide
The first thing you’re probably going to want to do is order a beer. Raise your hand and say (you might have to do it loudly) “onegaishimasu” (please) to get a staff member’s attention.
Asking for “nama biru” and putting a “kudasai” on the end of it to be polite, will get you a draught beer or you can order other drinks as well. Again, you might want to hold up fingers to signal how many beers you would like, or if you’re feeling game, “hitotsu” (1), “futatsu” (2), “mittsu” (3), “yottsu” (4), “itsutsu” (5).
Some izakaya will have menus with pictures and others won’t. If you’ve walked into the latter, you’re going to have to tackle this problem next, and here’s where you might like to consider the nature of an izakaya. While in general, Japan might be considered a polite and reserved country, it’s inside the walls of an izakaya where things liven up. This is your best chance to seek out that satisfying interaction with locals.
Now is the time to try out a few phrases. Don’t be afraid to ask someone near you for a recommendation (“osusume wa nan desuka?”). If someone near you is eating something that looks good, ask “sumimasen, sore wa nan desu ka?” (“Excuse me, what is that?”).
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!
Related article:
EXPLORE JAPAN’S IZAKAYA: TYPICAL IZAKAYA FOOD MENU
WHAT’S ON THE DRINK MENU AT A TYPICAL IZAKAYA IN JAPAN?
THE UNAVOIDABLE SEATING CHARGE IN JAPAN“OTOSHI”
Article: Matcha JP (Nathan)