Lesson 6: チーズバーガーをおねがいします – Ordering Food in Japanese

Ordering food at restaurants, understanding menus, and counting items.

This lesson focuses on restaurant vocabulary, ordering food, understanding menu items, and using counters for objects. You'll learn how to order at different types of Japanese eateries including izakaya, fast food restaurants, and cafes.

Key topics:

・Restaurant and cafe vocabulary
・Ordering food and drinks
・Menu items and food categories
・Counters for objects (つ)
・Fast food and izakaya culture
・Asking about quantities and sizes
・Restaurant etiquette and phrases

Vocabulary

ある

aru

to have / to exist

Example

チーズバーガーがあります.

Chiizubaagaa ga arimasu.

There are cheeseburgers.

あいすくりーむ

aisukuriimu

アイスクリーム

ice cream

Example

あいすくりーむを下ください.

Aisukuriimu o kudasai.

Ice cream, please.

あと

ato

also

Example

コーヒーと、あとサンドイッチを下ください.

Koohii to, ato sandoicchi o kudasai.

Coffee, and also a sandwich please.

うーろんちゃ

uuroncha

ウーロン茶ちゃ

oolong tea

Example

うーろんちゃを下ください.

Uuroncha o kudasai.

Oolong tea, please.

おはし

ohashi

お箸はし

chopsticks

Example

おはしを下ください.

Ohashi o kudasai.

Chopsticks, please.

グラス

gurasu

glass

Example

みずのグラスを下ください.

Mizu no gurasu o kudasai.

A glass of water, please.

さしみ

sashimi

刺身さしみ

sashimi (sliced raw fish)

Example

さしみがすきです.

Sashimi ga suki desu.

I like sashimi.

ダブル

daburu

double

Example

ダブルチーズバーガーを下ください.

Daburu chiizubaagaa o kudasai.

Double cheeseburger, please.

チキン

chikin

chicken

Example

チキンバーガーを下ください.

Chikin baagaa o kudasai.

Chicken burger, please.

とりざら

torizara

取とり皿ざら

serving plates

Example

とりざらを下ください.

Torizara o kudasai.

Serving plates, please.

__ ばーがー

baagaa

バーガー

__ burger

Example

チーズばーがーを下ください.

Chiizu baagaa o kudasai.

Cheeseburger, please.

ふらいどぽてと

furaido poteto

フライドポテト

French fries / fried potatoes

Example

ふらいどぽてとを下ください.

Furaido poteto o kudasai.

French fries, please.

やきとり

yakitori

焼やき鳥とり

grilled chicken

Example

やきとりをみっつください.

Yakitori o mittsu kudasai.

Three yakitori, please.

あいすコーヒー

aisu koohii

アイスコーヒー

iced coffee

Example

あいすコーヒーを下ください.

Aisu koohii o kudasai.

Iced coffee, please.

えす

esu

small

Example

えすさいずを下ください.

Esu saizu o kudasai.

Small size, please.

えむ

emu

medium

Example

えむさいずを下ください.

Emu saizu o kudasai.

Medium size, please.

える

eru

large

Example

えるさいずを下ください.

Eru saizu o kudasai.

Large size, please.

からあげ

karaage

唐揚からあげ

fried chicken

Example

からあげを下ください.

Karaage o kudasai.

Deep-fried chicken, please.

けちゃっぷ

kechappu

ケチャップ

ketchup

Example

けちゃっぷを下ください.

Kechappu o kudasai.

Ketchup, please.

スプーン

supuun

spoon

Example

スプーンを下ください.

Supuun o kudasai.

A spoon, please.

たんぴん

tanpin

単品たんぴん

single item

Example

たんぴんでお願ねがいします.

Tanpin de onegaishimasu.

As a single item, please.

デザート

dezaato

dessert

Example

デザートを下ください.

Dezaato o kudasai.

Dessert, please.

ドリンク

dorinku

drink

Example

ドリンクはなににしますか？

Dorinku wa nani ni shimasu ka?

What will you have for a drink?

ハンバーガー

hanbaagaa

hamburger

Example

ハンバーガーをひとつください.

Hanbaagaa o hitotsu kudasai.

One hamburger, please.

アップルぱい

appurupai

アップルパイ

apple pie

Example

アップルぱいを下ください.

Appurupai o kudasai.

Apple pie, please.

いざかや

izakaya

居酒屋いざかや

izakaya (Japanese-style pub)

Example

いざかやにいきます.

Izakaya ni ikimasu.

I'm going to an izakaya.

えだまめ

edamame

枝豆えだまめ

edamame (green soybeans in the pod)

Example

えだまめを下ください.

Edamame o kudasai.

Edamame, please.

おしぼり

oshibori

wet hand towel

Example

おしぼりを下ください.

Oshibori o kudasai.

A wet towel, please.

ぎゅうどん

gyuudon

牛丼ぎゅうどん

beef bowl

Example

ぎゅうどんをたべます.

Gyuudon o tabemasu.

I eat beef bowl.

さいず

saizu

サイズ

size

Example

さいずはどれにしますか？

Saizu wa dore ni shimasu ka?

Which size will you have?

セット

setto

set

Example

セットでお願ねがいします.

Setto de onegaishimasu.

As a set, please.

チーズ

chiizu

cheese

Example

チーズばーがーを下ください.

Chiizu baagaa o kudasai.

Cheeseburger, please.

てりやき

teriyaki

照てり焼やき

teriyaki

Example

てりやきを下ください.

Teriyaki o kudasai.

Teriyaki, please.

なまビール

nama biiru

生なまビール

draft beer

Example

なまビールを下ください.

Nama biiru o kudasai.

Draft beer, please.

フィッシュ

fisshu

fish

Example

フィッシュばーがーを下ください.

Fisshu baagaa o kudasai.

Fish burger, please.

マヨネーズ

mayoneezu

mayonnaise

Example

マヨネーズを下ください.

Mayoneezu o kudasai.

Mayonnaise, please.

ひとつ

hitotsu

1つ

one (for thing)

Example

ハンバーガーをひとつください.

Hanbaagaa o hitotsu kudasai.

One hamburger, please.

ふたつ

futatsu

2つ

two (for things)

Example

ハンバーガーをふたつください.

Hanbaagaa o futatsu kudasai.

Two hamburgers, please.

みっつ

mittsu

3つ

three (for things)

Example

やきとりをみっつください.

Yakitori o mittsu kudasai.

Three yakitori, please.

よっつ

yottsu

4つ

four (for things)

Example

からあげをよっつください.

Karaage o yottsu kudasai.

Four pieces of fried chicken, please.

いつつ

itsutsu

5つ

five (for things)

Example

やきとりをいつつください.

Yakitori o itsutsu kudasai.

Five yakitori, please.

むっつ

muttsu

6つ

six (for things)

Example

からあげをむっつください.

Karaage o muttsu kudasai.

Six pieces of fried chicken, please.

ななつ

nanatsu

7つ

seven (for things)

Example

えだまめをななつください.

Edamame o nanatsu kudasai.

Seven edamame, please.

やっつ

yattsu

8つ

eight (for things)

Example

やきとりをやっつください.

Yakitori o yattsu kudasai.

Eight yakitori, please.

ここのつ

kokonotsu

9つ

nine (for things)

Example

からあげをここのつください.

Karaage o kokonotsu kudasai.

Nine pieces of fried chicken, please.

いくつ

ikutsu

how old

Example

おこさんはいくつですか？

O-ko-san wa ikutsu desu ka?

How old is your child?

Conversation

なになさいますか？

Nani nasaimasu ka?

What would you like?

Example Usage

ごちゅうもんはなになさいますか？

Gochuumon wa nani nasaimasu ka?

What would you like to order?

おうかがいします

oukagai shimasu

Can I take your order?

Example Usage

ごちゅうもんはおうかがいします.

Gochuumon wa oukagai shimasu.

May I take your order?

やきとりをみっつください.

Yakitori o mittsu kudasai.

Three yakitori, please.

Example Usage

やきとりをみっつと、なまビールをひとつください.

Yakitori o mittsu to, nama biiru o hitotsu kudasai.

Three yakitori and one draft beer, please.

おもちします

omochi shimasu

I'll bring them to you.

Example Usage

はい、おもちします.

Hai, omochi shimasu.

Yes, I'll bring them to you.

こちらでおめしあがりですか？

kochira de omeshiagari desu ka?

Would you like to eat in?

Example Usage

こちらでおめしあがりですか？

Kochira de omeshiagari desu ka?

Would you like to eat here?

こちらでたべます.

Kochira de tabemasu.

I'll eat here.

Example Usage

こちらでたべますか、テイクアウトですか？ - こちらでたべます.

Kochira de tabemasu ka, teikuauto desu ka? - Kochira de tabemasu.

Will you eat here or take out? - I'll eat here.

ここ、いいですか？

koko, ii desu ka?

Can I sit here?

Example Usage

すみません、ここ、いいですか？

Sumimasen, koko, ii desu ka?

Excuse me, can I sit here?

おもちかえりですね

omochikaeri desu ne

That's to take out, right?

Example Usage

おもちかえりですね.

Omochikaeri desu ne.

That's to take out, right?

テイクアウトで

teikuauto de

To take out, please.

Example Usage

テイクアウトでお願ねがいします.

Teikuauto de onegaishimasu.

To take out, please.

どうですか？

dou desu ka?

How is it?

Example Usage

てりやき、どうですか？

Teriyaki, dou desu ka?

How is the teriyaki?

おいしいです！

Oishii desu!

It's delicious!

Example Usage

このてりやき、おいしいです！

Kono teriyaki, Oishii desu!

This teriyaki is delicious!

Kanji

魚さかな

fish

魚🎬

fish

Example

さしみをさかなを下ください.

Sashimi o kudasai.

Sashimi, please.

肉にく

meat

肉🎬

meat

Example

にくを下ください.

Niku o kudasai.

Meat, please.

好き(な)

to like (na-adjective)

好🎬

like, fond

Example

すきなドリンクはなんですか？

Suki na dorinku wa nan desu ka?

What drink do you like?

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Ordering food and drinks politely

Structure: Item + おがんいします／ Item + 下ください

Used to order something at a restaurant or shop. Say the item you want, then add おがんいします or 下ください afterward. おがんいします is a polite request directed at the other person and is more polite than 下ください, which literally means 'please give me.'

How to use: Place the item (often with を, though it's frequently dropped in speech) before おがんいします or 下ください. おがんいします is the safe default in restaurants and shops; 下ください is fine among friends or for simple requests. For multiple items, list them with と.

💡 Pro Tip: おがんいします is also used far beyond ordering — it works as 'please' for almost any request, and as a greeting when entering a shop or starting a meeting. 下ください attaches to nouns directly, but when you use a verb it must be in て-form (～て下ください). Don't confuse noun + 下ください (下ください = 'give me') with verb-て + 下ください (下ください = 'please do').

Examples

ホットコーヒー、おねがいします.

Hotto koohii, onegaishimasu.

Hot coffee, please.

これ、下ください.

Kore, kudasai.

I'll have this.

Rule 2: Saying what you have decided on

Structure: N + に + します

Used to announce the item you have decided to have. Add the particle に before します in the form ～にします to mark your choice. It literally means 'I'll make it ~' but functions as 'I'll have ~' or 'I'll go with ~' when ordering or choosing.

How to use: Attach に to a noun and follow with します (polite) or する (plain). To ask what someone will have, use the interrogative 何なに + にしますか？. The past form ～にしました shows a decision already made.

💡 Pro Tip: ～にします implies you made the decision at that moment, often choosing from options — perfect for restaurants, cafés, and shopping. Contrast with ～を下ください, which just requests an item without emphasizing the choice. You can also use ～はどうですか？ to suggest an option and ～にします to accept it.

Examples

わたしは、うどんにします.

Watashi wa, udon ni shimasu.

I'll have the udon.

何なににしますか.

Nani ni shimasu ka.

What will you have?

Rule 3: Ordering by quantity with counters

Structure: Item + [number] + つ + おがんいします／下ください

Used to state how many of something you want when ordering. General objects and food can be counted with the native つ counter: ひとつ, ふたつ, みっつ, and so on. The number comes after the item, e.g. 生なまビール３つ、おがんいします..

How to use: Say the item first, then the number + つ. To order multiple items, join them with と. おがんいします or 下ください comes at the very end of the whole order. The つ counter works for up to ten items; beyond that, specific counters (本ほん, まい, こ, etc.) are used.

💡 Pro Tip: The つ counter is a lifesaver when you don't know the specific counter for something — most native speakers will understand it for everyday items. Watch the sound changes: 1 is ひとつ, 2 is ふたつ, but 3–10 mostly follow みっつ、よっつ、いつつ. For drinks in bottles or glasses, 本ほん or はい are more natural, but つ is fine in casual ordering.

Examples

生なまビール３つと、ウーロン茶ちゃ１つ、おねがいします.

Nama biiru mittsu to, uuroncha hitotsu, onegaishimasu.

Three draft beers and one oolong tea, please.

えだまめ２つ、下ください.

Edamame futatsu, kudasai.

Two orders of edamame, please.

Rule 4: Asking if something is available

Structure: N + （は）+ ありますか？

Used to ask whether something is available, in stock, or on hand. Very common at restaurants when asking for an item you want. The particle は may be omitted, making the question even more casual and direct.

How to use: Put the item you're asking about first, optionally followed by は, then ありますか？. This pattern is for inanimate things (あります). For people or animals, use いますか？ instead. To ask about a place where something exists, use に + あります.

💡 Pro Tip: Dropping は makes the question sound more like a quick check, which is normal in restaurant and shop settings. If you're asking about a person (e.g., 'Is Tanaka here?'), switch to いますか. Also, ありますか is used for events/plans too, like あらかじめていはありますか？ = 'Do you have plans?'.

Examples

マヨネーズ、ありますか？

Mayonēzu, arimasu ka?

Do you have mayonnaise?

おしぼりはありますか？

Oshibori wa arimasu ka?

Do you have wet towels?

Lesson 6: チーズバーガーをおねがいします – Ordering Food in Japanese

Ordering food at restaurants, understanding menus, and counting items.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Ordering food and drinks politely

Rule 2: Saying what you have decided on

Rule 3: Ordering by quantity with counters

Rule 4: Asking if something is available

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20