Japanese Food Vocabulary: 100+ Words for Sushi, Ramen & More
Master Japanese food vocabulary! Learn to order sushi, ramen, and more with 100+ essential food words, phrases, and restaurant tips for your Japan trip.
Text byKanaDojo Team
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Japanese food is one of the most beloved cuisines in the world – and knowing food vocabulary transforms your dining experience! Whether you're ordering at a Tokyo ramen shop, deciphering a sushi menu, or cooking Japanese recipes at home, these words will help you eat (and speak) like a local.
Hungry for some vocabulary? Let's eat! 🍱
Essential Restaurant Phrases
Before diving into food words, master these ordering essentials:
Japanese
Romaji
Meaning
いただきます
itadakimasu
Said before eating (like "bon appétit")
ごちそうさまでした
gochisousama deshita
Said after eating (thanks for the meal)
〇〇をください
__ wo kudasai
Please give me __
〇〇をおねがいします
__ wo onegai shimasu
I'd like __ please
おすすめは何ですか
osusume wa nan desu ka
What do you recommend?
お会計をお願いします
okaikei wo onegai shimasu
Check, please
美味しい！
oishii!
Delicious!
おかわりください
okawari kudasai
Another serving, please
Sushi Vocabulary 🍣
Types of Sushi
Japanese
Romaji
Description
寿司 / すし
sushi
Sushi (general term)
握り
nigiri
Hand-pressed sushi
巻き
maki
Rolled sushi
手巻き
temaki
Hand roll (cone-shaped)
軍艦
gunkan
"Battleship" sushi (wrapped in nori)
ちらし
chirashi
Scattered sushi bowl
押し寿司
oshi-zushi
Pressed sushi
Popular Fish (Neta)
Japanese
Romaji
English
Notes
まぐろ
maguro
Tuna
The most popular!
サーモン
saamon
Salmon
Especially loved by tourists
はまち
hamachi
Yellowtail
Buttery and rich
えび
ebi
Shrimp
Often cooked
いか
ika
Squid
Mild flavor
たこ
tako
Octopus
Chewy texture
いくら
ikura
Salmon roe
Orange "caviar"
うに
uni
Sea urchin
Creamy, acquired taste
たまご
tamago
Egg omelet
Sweet, often last course
ほたて
hotate
Scallop
Sweet and tender
あなご
anago
Conger eel
Lighter than unagi
うなぎ
unagi
Freshwater eel
Sweet soy glaze
Tuna Cuts (Maguro)
Japanese
Romaji
Description
赤身
akami
Lean tuna (deep red)
中トロ
chuu-toro
Medium-fatty tuna
大トロ
oo-toro
Fatty tuna (premium, marbled)
Sushi Terms
Japanese
Romaji
Meaning
わさび
wasabi
Wasabi
しょうゆ
shouyu
Soy sauce
がり
gari
Pickled ginger
のり
nori
Seaweed sheet
お茶
ocha
Green tea
あがり
agari
Tea (sushi shop term)
一貫
ikkan
One piece of nigiri
Ordering Sushi
サーモン二貫ください
Saamon ni-kan kudasai
Two pieces of salmon, please
わさび抜きでお願いします
Wasabi nuki de onegai shimasu
Without wasabi, please
Ramen Vocabulary 🍜
Ramen Types by Broth
Japanese
Romaji
Description
醤油ラーメン
shouyu raamen
Soy sauce broth (classic Tokyo style)
味噌ラーメン
miso raamen
Miso-based (hearty, Sapporo style)
塩ラーメン
shio raamen
Salt-based (lighter, clear)
豚骨ラーメン
tonkotsu raamen
Pork bone broth (creamy Hakata style)
つけ麺
tsukemen
Dipping noodles (separate broth)
Ramen Toppings
Japanese
Romaji
English
チャーシュー
chaashuu
Sliced pork
煮卵 / 味玉
nitamago / ajitama
Soft-boiled seasoned egg
メンマ
menma
Bamboo shoots
ねぎ
negi
Green onion
のり
nori
Seaweed
もやし
moyashi
Bean sprouts
コーン
koon
Corn (especially in miso)
バター
bataa
Butter (Sapporo style)
Noodle Firmness
Many shops ask how you like your noodles:
Japanese
Romaji
Firmness
柔らかめ
yawarakame
Soft
普通
futsuu
Normal
固め
katame
Firm
バリカタ
barikata
Very firm
ハリガネ
harigane
"Wire" (extra firm, Hakata)
Ordering Ramen
醤油ラーメン、麺固めで
Shouyu raamen, men katame de
Soy sauce ramen with firm noodles
味玉追加でお願いします
Ajitama tsuika de onegai shimasu
Add an egg, please
Rice & Noodle Dishes 🍚
Rice Dishes
Japanese
Romaji
Description
ご飯
gohan
Cooked rice / meal
白ご飯
shiro gohan
Plain white rice
おにぎり
onigiri
Rice ball
丼
donburi
Rice bowl dish
カツ丼
katsudon
Pork cutlet bowl
牛丼
gyuudon
Beef bowl
親子丼
oyakodon
Chicken and egg bowl
カレーライス
karee raisu
Japanese curry rice
チャーハン
chaahan
Fried rice
おかゆ
okayu
Rice porridge
Noodle Dishes
Japanese
Romaji
Description
うどん
udon
Thick wheat noodles
そば
soba
Buckwheat noodles
焼きそば
yakisoba
Fried noodles
ざるそば
zaru soba
Cold soba with dipping sauce
天ぷらうどん
tempura udon
Udon with tempura
きつねうどん
kitsune udon
Udon with fried tofu
素麺
soumen
Thin summer noodles
Japanese Home Cooking 🏠
Common Dishes
Japanese
Romaji
Description
味噌汁
miso shiru
Miso soup
焼き魚
yakizakana
Grilled fish
肉じゃが
nikujaga
Meat and potato stew
唐揚げ
karaage
Fried chicken
卵焼き
tamagoyaki
Rolled omelet
豚カツ
tonkatsu
Pork cutlet
すき焼き
sukiyaki
Beef hot pot
しゃぶしゃぶ
shabushabu
Hot pot with thin sliced meat
天ぷら
tempura
Battered and fried food
刺身
sashimi
Raw sliced fish
お好み焼き
okonomiyaki
Savory pancake
たこ焼き
takoyaki
Octopus balls
Side Dishes (Okazu)
Japanese
Romaji
Description
漬物
tsukemono
Pickles
おひたし
ohitashi
Boiled greens with sauce
冷奴
hiyayakko
Cold tofu
納豆
nattou
Fermented soybeans
枝豆
edamame
Boiled soybeans
煮物
nimono
Simmered dishes
Ingredients 🥬
Vegetables (野菜 - Yasai)
Japanese
Romaji
English
野菜
yasai
Vegetables
大根
daikon
Daikon radish
人参
ninjin
Carrot
玉ねぎ
tamanegi
Onion
じゃがいも
jagaimo
Potato
キャベツ
kyabetsu
Cabbage
ほうれん草
hourensou
Spinach
トマト
tomato
Tomato
きゅうり
kyuuri
Cucumber
なす
nasu
Eggplant
きのこ
kinoko
Mushroom
Meat (肉 - Niku)
Japanese
Romaji
English
肉
niku
Meat
牛肉
gyuuniku
Beef
豚肉
butaniku
Pork
鶏肉
toriniku
Chicken
ひき肉
hikiniku
Ground meat
和牛
wagyuu
Japanese beef
Seafood (魚介 - Gyokai)
Japanese
Romaji
English
魚
sakana
Fish
鯖
saba
Mackerel
鮭
sake
Salmon (as ingredient)
タイ
tai
Sea bream
かに
kani
Crab
アサリ
asari
Clams
Flavors & Cooking Terms
Tastes (味 - Aji)
Japanese
Romaji
Meaning
甘い
amai
Sweet
辛い
karai
Spicy
しょっぱい
shoppai
Salty
酸っぱい
suppai
Sour
苦い
nigai
Bitter
旨い / うまい
umai
Delicious / savory (umami)
Cooking Methods
Japanese
Romaji
Method
焼く
yaku
Grill / Bake
煮る
niru
Simmer / Boil
揚げる
ageru
Deep fry
蒸す
musu
Steam
炒める
itameru
Stir fry
生
nama
Raw
Drinks 🍵
Non-Alcoholic
Japanese
Romaji
English
水
mizu
Water
お茶
ocha
Green tea
紅茶
koucha
Black tea
コーヒー
koohii
Coffee
ジュース
juusu
Juice
牛乳
gyuunyuu
Milk
ラムネ
ramune
Ramune soda
Alcoholic
Japanese
Romaji
English
ビール
biiru
Beer
日本酒 / 酒
nihonshu / sake
Sake
焼酎
shouchuu
Shochu (distilled spirit)
ワイン
wain
Wine
ハイボール
haiboru
Highball
梅酒
umeshu
Plum wine
乾杯！
kanpai!
Cheers!
Sweets & Snacks 🍡
Japanese
Romaji
Description
お菓子
okashi
Sweets / Snacks
和菓子
wagashi
Traditional Japanese sweets
餅
mochi
Rice cake
大福
daifuku
Mochi with filling
どら焼き
dorayaki
Red bean pancake
たい焼き
taiyaki
Fish-shaped cake
抹茶
matcha
Green tea (powdered)
あんこ
anko
Sweet red bean paste
アイスクリーム
aisu kuriimu
Ice cream
ポッキー
pokkii
Pocky
せんべい
senbei
Rice crackers
Restaurant Types
Japanese
Romaji
Type
レストラン
resutoran
Restaurant
居酒屋
izakaya
Japanese pub
焼肉屋
yakinikuya
BBQ restaurant
回転寿司
kaiten-zushi
Conveyor belt sushi
定食屋
teishokuya
Set meal restaurant
屋台
yatai
Food stall
食堂
shokudou
Cafeteria/diner
カフェ
kafe
Café
コンビニ
konbini
Convenience store
Dietary Needs
Allergies & Restrictions
Japanese
Romaji
Meaning
アレルギー
arerugii
Allergy
〇〇アレルギーがあります
__ arerugii ga arimasu
I have a __ allergy
卵
tamago
Egg
乳製品
nyuuseihin
Dairy
小麦
komugi
Wheat
ナッツ
nattsu
Nuts
貝類
kairui
Shellfish
ベジタリアン
bejitarian
Vegetarian
ビーガン
biigan
Vegan
ハラール
haraaru
Halal
Useful Phrases
肉は入っていますか？
Niku wa haitte imasu ka?
Does this contain meat?
〇〇抜きでお願いします
** nuki de onegai shimasu
Without **, please
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I order at a Japanese restaurant?
01Look at the menu or plastic food displays
02Say [item] をください / おねがいします
03For quantity: [item] を [number] つ ください
What if I can't read the menu?
Point and say これをください (This one, please)
Ask おすすめは？ (Recommendations?)
Look for picture menus
Is it okay to slurp noodles?
YES! Slurping ramen and soba is expected and shows you're enjoying the food. It also helps cool the noodles and enhances flavor!
Do I tip at restaurants?
NO! Tipping is not customary in Japan and can even be confusing or offensive. Great service is simply expected.
Conclusion: 食べましょう！(Let's Eat!)
Now you're equipped with 100+ food words to navigate Japanese cuisine like a pro! From ordering おまかせ (chef's choice) sushi to customizing your ramen, food vocabulary opens up amazing experiences.
Key takeaways:
✅ Learn いただきます and ごちそうさま first
✅ Memorize basic sushi fish names
✅ Know your ramen broth types
✅ Practice ordering phrases
✅ Don't forget 美味しい！