You’re standing in front of a ramen shop in Tokyo. The ticket machine has 20 buttons — all in Japanese. Or you’re at an izakaya (居酒屋 / いざかや), the waiter hands you a menu with no pictures, and your friends are waiting for you to order.
This guide gives you the exact kanji and vocabulary to handle both situations like a local.
Part 1: Ramen Shop (ラーメン屋)
The Four Main Broth Types
Every ramen shop starts with broth. These are the four kanji you’ll see on every menu and ticket machine:
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 醤油 | しょうゆ (shouyu) | Soy sauce | Clear brown broth, savory & classic. The “original” ramen flavor. |
| 味噌 | みそ (miso) | Miso (fermented soybean) | Rich, hearty, slightly sweet. Popular in Hokkaido-style ramen. |
| 塩 | しお (shio) | Salt | Light, clear broth. Delicate chicken or seafood base. |
| 豚骨 | とんこつ (tonkotsu) | Pork bone | Creamy white broth. Thick, rich, iconic Hakata/Kyushu style. |
Combo variations you’ll see:
豚骨醤油 (とんこつしょうゆ) — Pork bone + soy sauce blend
味噌豚骨 (みそとんこつ) — Miso + pork bone blend
担々麺 (たんたんめん) — Spicy sesame (Sichuan-style)
Noodle Options
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | What to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 麺 | めん (men) | Noodles | The base word. Appears in almost every menu item. |
| 細麺 | ほそめん (hosomen) | Thin noodles | Pairs with tonkotsu. Cooks fast. |
| 太麺 | ふとめん (futomen) | Thick noodles | Chewy. Great with miso and tsukemen. |
| 麺硬め | めんかため (men katame) | Firm noodles | Ask for this at Hakata-style shops. Very popular. |
| 麺柔らかめ | めんやわらかめ (men yawarakame) | Soft noodles | Less common request but always available. |
| 替え玉 | かえだま (kaedama) | Noodle refill | Extra serving of noodles added to remaining broth. Usually 100–200 yen. |
| つけ麺 | つけめん (tsukemen) | Dipping noodles | Cold noodles dipped in hot, concentrated broth. |
Size & Quantity
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 並 | なみ (nami) | Regular size |
| 大盛 | おおもり (oomori) | Large serving |
| 特盛 | とくもり (tokumori) | Extra-large serving |
| 半 | はん (han) | Half portion |
| 小 | しょう (shou) | Small |
| セット | setto | Set meal (combo) |
Common Ramen Toppings
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 叉焼 / チャーシュー | ちゃーしゅー (chaashuu) | Roasted pork slices |
| 味玉 / 煮卵 | あじたま / にたまご | Seasoned soft-boiled egg |
| 海苔 | のり (nori) | Seaweed sheets |
| 葱 | ねぎ (negi) | Green onion |
| もやし | moyashi | Bean sprouts |
| メンマ | menma | Bamboo shoots |
| 辛味 | からみ (karami) | Spicy |
| バター | bataa | Butter (Sapporo-style topping) |
| 全部のせ | ぜんぶのせ (zenbu nose) | All toppings |
Ticket machine tip: Look for 食券 (しょっけん “meal ticket”) or 食券機 (しょっけんき “ticket machine”) at the entrance. Insert bills/coins first, then press your choice. The machine gives change. Hand the ticket to the cook when you sit down.
Part 2: Izakaya Menu (居酒屋メニュー)
Izakaya menus are organized into sections. Learn these section headers and you can navigate any menu:
Menu Sections
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | What You’ll Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| 前菜 | ぜんさい (zensai) | Appetizers | Small starter dishes. 枝豆 (えだまめ edamame) is the classic. |
| 刺身 | さしみ (sashimi) | Raw fish | Sliced raw fish/seafood. Often listed by fish type. |
| 焼き物 | やきもの (yakimono) | Grilled items | 焼き鳥 (やきとり yakitori), 焼き魚 (やきざかな grilled fish). |
| 揚げ物 | あげもの (agemono) | Fried items | 唐揚げ (からあげ karaage), 天ぷら (てんぷら tempura). |
| 煮物 | にもの (nimono) | Simmered dishes | Slow-cooked food in broth. 肉じゃが (nikujaga) etc. |
| 炒め物 | いためもの (itamemono) | Stir-fried dishes | 野菜炒め (やさいいため stir-fried vegetables). |
| 鍋物 | なべもの (nabemono) | Hot pot dishes | Shared pot dishes. もつ鍋 (もつなべ offal hot pot) etc. |
| ご飯物 | ごはんもの (gohanmono) | Rice dishes | おにぎり (onigiri), チャーハン (chahan fried rice). |
| 麺類 | めんるい (menrui) | Noodle dishes | 焼きそば (やきそば yakisoba), うどん (udon). |
| 一品料理 | いっぴんりょうり (ippin ryouri) | Single dishes / à la carte | Individual portion items. |
| 甘味 / デザート | かんみ / dezaato | Desserts | Sweet items to finish the meal. |
Drinks (飲み物 / のみもの)
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生ビール | なまビール (nama biiru) | Draft beer |
| 日本酒 | にほんしゅ (nihonshu) | Sake (Japanese rice wine) |
| 焼酎 | しょうちゅう (shouchuu) | Distilled spirit (shochu) |
| 梅酒 | うめしゅ (umeshu) | Plum wine |
| 酎ハイ | ちゅうハイ (chuuhai) | Shochu highball (mixed drink) |
| 飲み放題 | のみほうだい (nomihoudai) | All-you-can-drink |
| ソフトドリンク | sofuto dorinku | Soft drinks (non-alcoholic) |
| 烏龍茶 | ウーロンちゃ (uuron cha) | Oolong tea |
| 飲み放題 | のみほうだい (nomihoudai) | All-you-can-drink plan |
飲み放題 (のみほうだい) decoded:
飲み (のみ “drinking”) + 放題 (ほうだい “as much as you want”)
Usually 90–120 minutes. Prices range from ¥1,000–¥2,500 per person. A separate menu lists the included drinks. Look for ラストオーダー (rasuto oodaa “last order”) near closing time.
Common Izakaya Food Items
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 枝豆 | えだまめ (edamame) | Salted soybeans (starter classic) |
| 唐揚げ | からあげ (karaage) | Japanese fried chicken |
| 焼き鳥 | やきとり (yakitori) | Grilled chicken skewers |
| 冷奴 | ひややっこ (hiyayakko) | Cold tofu |
| 刺身盛り合わせ | さしみもりあわせ (sashimi moriawase) | Assorted sashimi platter |
| 焼き魚 | やきざかな (yakizakana) | Grilled fish |
| 鶏肉 | とりにく (toriniku) | Chicken |
| 豚肉 | ぶたにく (butaniku) | Pork |
| 牛肉 | ぎゅうにく (gyuuniku) | Beef |
| お通し | おとおし (otooshi) | Appetizer charge (automatic small dish) |
About お通し (おとおし): Most izakayas bring a small appetizer to your table automatically. This is not free — it’s essentially a table charge (¥300–¥500 per person). It will appear on your bill. This is normal and expected in Japan.
Part 3: Allergen Kanji
Japan’s labeling law requires disclosure of 7 major allergens (plus 21 recommended). Here are the ones you’re most likely to need:
| Kanji | Reading | Allergen |
|---|---|---|
| 卵 | たまご (tamago) | Egg |
| 乳 | にゅう (nyuu) | Dairy / Milk |
| 小麦 | こむぎ (komugi) | Wheat |
| 海老 / えび | えび (ebi) | Shrimp |
| 蟹 / かに | かに (kani) | Crab |
| 落花生 | らっかせい (rakkasei) | Peanut |
| 蕎麦 | そば (soba) | Buckwheat |
| 大豆 | だいず (daizu) | Soybean |
Useful phrase: 「〇〇アレルギーがあります」 (... arerugii ga arimasu / “I have a ... allergy”)
Part 4: Ordering Phrases
You don’t need perfect Japanese to order. These phrases cover 95% of situations:
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me | Call a waiter |
| これをください | kore wo kudasai | This one, please | Point at menu item |
| 〇〇を一つお願いします | ... wo hitotsu onegai shimasu | One ..., please | Order by name |
| おすすめは何ですか？ | osusume wa nan desu ka? | What do you recommend? | Ask for suggestions |
| 辛いですか？ | karai desu ka? | Is it spicy? | Check spice level |
| お会計お願いします | okaikei onegai shimasu | Check, please | Ask for the bill |
| 別々でお願いします | betsubetsu de onegai shimasu | Separate checks, please | Split the bill |
| カードは使えますか？ | kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? | Can I use a card? | Ask about payment |
Part 5: Payment Kanji
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 会計 | かいけい (kaikei) | Bill / Check |
| 税込 | ぜいこみ (zeikomi) | Tax included |
| 税抜 | ぜいぬき (zeinuki) | Tax excluded (before tax) |
| 現金 | げんきん (genkin) | Cash |
| 領収書 | りょうしゅうしょ (ryoushuusho) | Receipt |
| 割引 | わりびき (waribiki) | Discount |
| 円 | えん (en) | Yen |
Decoding a Real Ramen Menu
Let’s decode what you might see on a typical ramen shop ticket machine:
醤油ラーメン 並 ¥850
しょうゆラーメン なみ
Soy sauce ramen, regular size, ¥850
味噌チャーシュー麺 大盛 ¥1,100
みそチャーシューめん おおもり
Miso ramen with roasted pork, large size, ¥1,100
特製豚骨つけ麺 味玉付き ¥1,050
とくせいとんこつつけめん あじたまつき
Special pork bone dipping noodles with seasoned egg, ¥1,050
替え玉 ¥150
かえだま
Noodle refill, ¥150
Decoding an Izakaya Menu
A typical izakaya menu page might look like this:
【焼き物】（やきもの — Grilled Items）
焼き鳥盛り合わせ（5本）… ¥780
やきとりもりあわせ（ごほん）— Assorted yakitori skewers (5 pieces)
豚バラ串 … ¥280
ぶたバラくし — Pork belly skewers
手羽先塩焼き … ¥480
てばさきしおやき — Salt-grilled chicken wings
【飲み放題コース】¥2,500（120分）
のみほうだいコース — All-you-can-drink course, ¥2,500, 120 minutes
生ビール・酎ハイ・日本酒・ソフトドリンク含む
Includes: draft beer, chuuhai, sake, soft drinks
Related Reading on Kanjijo
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飲み放題 means “all-you-can-drink.” It’s a fixed-price plan (usually 90–120 minutes) where you can order unlimited drinks from a set menu. Most izakayas offer this option, often combined with 食べ放題 (たべほうだい “all-you-can-eat”) as a set deal.
Most ramen shops use a 食券機 (しょっけんき / ticket vending machine) at the entrance. Insert money, press the button for your desired ramen, and hand the ticket to the staff. Look for 醤油 (soy sauce), 味噌 (miso), 塩 (salt), or 豚骨 (pork bone) to identify the broth type.
Say “〇〇アレルギーがあります” (... arerugii ga arimasu / “I have a ... allergy”), filling in the allergen name. Key kanji: 卵 (たまご egg), 乳 (にゅう dairy), 小麦 (こむぎ wheat), 海老 (えび shrimp), 蟹 (かに crab), 落花生 (らっかせい peanut).
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