Ramen Japanese

列

れつ

retsu

queue / line

Ask where to join before standing beside a door or machine.

最後尾

さいこうび

saikōbi

end of the queue

A sign marked 最後尾 points to the back of the line.

待ち時間

まちじかん

machi-jikan

waiting time

An estimate can change as service continues.

満席

まんせき

manseki

all seats occupied

Wait for staff to guide you; an opening is not a reservation.

空席

くうせき

kūseki

vacant seat

A visibly empty seat is not automatically available to take.

相席

あいせき

aiseki

sharing a table with other guests

This concerns seating, not splitting a dish.

カウンター

kauntā

counter seating

Follow any seat assignment or staff direction.

テーブル

tēburu

table

A table for a group may not be available.

食券

しょっけん

shokken

meal ticket

This records the meal you bought; it is not necessarily a receipt.

券売機

けんばいき

kenbaiki

ticket machine

Buttons, screens and payment methods vary.

購入

こうにゅう

kōnyū

purchase

You may see this word on a confirmation button.

売り切れ

うりきれ

urikire

sold out

Signs may shorten this to 売切.

返却

へんきゃく

henkyaku

return / refund

On a machine this may return inserted money; read the label and ask if unsure.

お釣り

おつり

otsuri

change from a payment

Collect both your change and your meal ticket.

両替

りょうがえ

ryōgae

changing money into smaller denominations

Here it means smaller notes or coins, not a currency-exchange service.

千円札

せんえんさつ

sen-en-satsu

1,000-yen banknote

Check which notes the machine accepts.

麺

めん

men

noodles

A menu can specify noodle type, amount or firmness separately.

細麺

ほそめん

hosomen

thin noodles

Thickness does not tell you the portion size.

太麺

ふとめん

futomen

thick noodles

Thick noodles are not automatically an extra-large portion.

縮れ麺

ちぢれめん

chijiremen

wavy noodles

This describes shape rather than firmness.

ストレート麺

ストレートめん

sutorēto-men

straight noodles

A shape description, not a request for extra noodles.

硬め

かため

katame

firmer noodles

Use this only if a firmness choice is offered, and before cooking.

普通

ふつう

futsū

regular / the standard option

The question tells you whether this refers to firmness, quantity or something else.

柔らかめ

やわらかめ

yawarakame

softer noodles

Some menus write やわらかめ or やわめ.

スープ

sūpu

soup in the bowl

Its appearance does not reveal all its ingredients.

醤油

しょうゆ

shōyu

soy sauce

In a ramen name it usually describes the seasoning, not the entire stock.

塩

しお

shio

salt

Shio ramen can still use animal or seafood ingredients.

味噌

みそ

miso

miso paste

Miso-seasoned ramen does not imply a meat-free broth.

豚骨

とんこつ

tonkotsu

pork bones / pork-bone broth

Do not confuse tonkotsu with tonkatsu, a breaded pork cutlet.

鶏白湯

とりぱいたん

tori paitan

cloudy chicken broth

White-looking soup is not necessarily made with milk.

煮干し

にぼし

niboshi

small dried fish used for stock

A key fish-stock word to recognize on menus.

だし

dashi

stock used as a flavor base

The word alone does not identify the ingredients.

チャーシュー

chāshū

chashu meat topping

Often pork; other meats and preparations exist. Check the menu.

味玉

あじたま

ajitama

seasoned egg

Short for 味付け玉子; preparation and doneness vary.

メンマ

menma

seasoned bamboo shoots

Seasonings are separate from the visible bamboo shoots.

海苔

のり

nori

nori seaweed

A topping name does not describe the rest of the bowl.

ねぎ

negi

green onion / leek

The variety and cut depend on the shop.

もやし

moyashi

bean sprouts

A vegetable topping does not make the whole bowl vegetarian.

きくらげ

kikurage

wood-ear mushroom

Often sliced thinly as a topping.

ニンニク

にんにく

ninniku

garlic

Omitting added garlic does not establish that the broth or kitchen is garlic-free.

並盛り

なみもり

namimori

regular serving

Regular amounts differ between shops.

大盛り

おおもり

ōmori

large serving

Usually ordered as a larger initial portion; it is not the same as kaedama.

小盛り

こもり

komori

small serving

A small option may not be offered. 小 on a Jiro-style menu can still be substantial.

少なめ

すくなめ

sukuname

less than the usual amount

Say what you want less of; a lower price is not implied.

増し

まし

mashi

extra / increased amount

At a topping call, name the topping. Amounts and charges vary.

増し増し

ましまし

mashimashi

extra-extra / a larger increase

This is not a fixed quantity. Check the shop’s options first.

替え玉

かえだま

kaedama

extra noodles for the broth you have left

Availability and the ordering method vary. It is not a fresh bowl of soup.

半分

はんぶん

hanbun

half

Ask before preparation and specify noodles or the item you mean.

あっさり

assari

light, clean-tasting

A flavor impression, not a promise of low salt or low calories.

こってり

kotteri

rich, heavy-tasting

It does not specify every ingredient or a nutrition value.

濃いめ

こいめ

koime

stronger seasoning / flavor

Different from requesting chili heat.

薄め

うすめ

usume

lighter seasoning / flavor

Ask whether the shop offers an adjustment.

脂

あぶら

abura

fat

At some topping calls アブラ means added back fat. Oil is also pronounced abura.

辛い

からい

karai

spicy / chili-hot

In this ramen context, this describes heat from spice.

辛め

からめ

karame

on the spicier side

Ordinary 辛め concerns spice. At a Jiro-style call, カラメ can mean stronger seasoning.

カラメ

からめ

karame

stronger seasoning at a Jiro-style call

In this context it is not a request for chili. Ask which options this shop offers.

ラーメン

rāmen

ramen

The name alone does not tell you all the ingredients.

つけ麺

つけめん

tsukemen

noodles served with separate dipping soup

Dip the noodles in the soup; follow any shop-specific guidance.

まぜそば

mazesoba

noodles mixed with sauce and toppings

Usually served without a full bowl of broth. Recipes vary.

油そば

あぶらそば

abura soba

noodles with oil and tare instead of a bowl of soup

Similar styles may overlap with mazesoba; the shop’s name and recipe matter.

家系

いえけい

iekei

Iekei ramen style

Read いえけい, iekei. A style name does not identify one chain or guarantee identical ingredients.

二郎系

じろうけい

Jirō-kei

Jiro-style ramen

A style label does not mean an official Ramen Jiro branch or a universal ordering script.

冷やし

ひやし

hiyashi

chilled / served cold

Ask what is chilled; seasonal dishes and serving methods differ.

スープ割り

スープわり

sūpu-wari

broth to dilute dipping soup

Ask whether it is offered. It is not a noodle refill.

水

みず

mizu

water

Staff may say お水, omizu. Water may be self-service.

箸

はし

hashi

chopsticks

Use お箸, ohashi, in a polite request.

れんげ

renge

ramen soup spoon

A small request can help if you cannot find one.

取り皿

とりざら

torizara

small side plate

Do not assume it is available or that sharing a bowl is permitted.

紙エプロン

かみエプロン

kami epuron

paper apron

Available at some shops; ask instead of reaching behind the counter.

ティッシュ

tisshu

tissues

A useful word for the counter or self-service area.

お手洗い

おてあらい

otearai

restroom

A shop may not have a customer restroom.

荷物

にもつ

nimotsu

bags / belongings

Keep aisles clear and ask where your bag can go.

会計

かいけい

kaikei

bill / payment

Ask for お会計 at a pay-after-eating shop; avoid paying twice for a meal ticket.

現金

げんきん

genkin

cash

現金のみ means cash only.

カード

kādo

card

Ask which payment cards are accepted; a card symbol is not a universal guarantee.

電子マネー

でんしマネー

denshi manē

electronic money / e-money

Supported systems and availability differ by shop and machine.

領収書

りょうしゅうしょ

ryōshūsho

formal receipt

You may be asked for the name to put on it; requirements vary.

レシート

reshīto

itemized sales receipt

At a machine, printing a receipt may be a separate step.

税込

ぜいこみ

zeikomi

tax included

This describes the displayed price, not whether extras are included.

追加料金

ついかりょうきん

tsuika ryōkin

extra charge

Check before adding noodles or toppings.

お好み

おこのみ

okonomi

your preference

Staff may be asking about offered noodle or seasoning options.

こちら

kochira

this / here / this way

The meaning depends on what staff point to.

あちら

achira

over there / that way

Look for the place staff indicate.

どうぞ

dōzo

please / go ahead

Often an invitation to take something or proceed, depending on context.

少々

しょうしょう

shōshō

a moment / a little

Often part of a polite request to wait briefly.

お待ちください

おまちください

omachi kudasai

please wait

Wait for the next instruction instead of guessing the next step.

お決まり

おきまり

okimari

decided / settled

ご注文はお決まりですか asks whether you have chosen your order.

以上

いじょう

ijō

that is all / the above

In 以上でよろしいですか, staff are checking whether your order is complete.

原材料

げんざいりょう

genzairyō

ingredients / raw materials

Ask about the whole dish, including stock, sauce, noodles and toppings.

小麦

こむぎ

komugi

wheat

Knowing the word does not establish whether a dish is suitable for you.

卵

たまご

tamago

egg

An egg topping is only one possible part of the dish.

乳

にゅう

nyū

milk, as a label term

You may also see 乳成分. Appearance is not a reliable ingredient check.

大豆

だいず

daizu

soybean

Ingredients can appear in seasonings as well as visible toppings.

ごま

goma

sesame

Ask staff to check the actual dish and its preparation.

ラード

rādo

lard

Pork fat can be present even when no pork topping is visible.

魚介

ぎょかい

gyokai

fish and shellfish / seafood

This broad word does not identify every species or ingredient.

最後尾はどこですか？

Saikōbi wa doko desu ka?

Where is the end of the queue?

Look for signs first, then ask if the end is unclear.

待ち時間はどのくらいですか？

Machi-jikan wa dono kurai desu ka?

How long is the wait?

The answer is an estimate, not a guaranteed seating time.

二人一緒に座れますか？

Futari issho ni suwaremasu ka?

Can the two of us sit together?

Staff may offer separate seats or ask you to wait.

こちらで待てばいいですか？

Kochira de mateba ii desu ka?

Should I wait here?

Point clearly and follow the staff’s direction.

このお札は使えますか？

Kono osatsu wa tsukaemasu ka?

Can I use this banknote?

Accepted notes depend on the machine.

食券が出てきません。

Shokken ga dete kimasen.

My meal ticket has not come out.

Ask for help before paying again.

お釣りが出てきません。

Otsuri ga dete kimasen.

My change has not come out.

Check for a change-return button, then ask staff.

このボタンで合っていますか？

Kono botan de atte imasu ka?

Is this the right button?

Point to the button you mean.

麺の量はどのくらいですか？

Men no ryō wa dono kurai desu ka?

How big is the noodle portion?

Portion names and amounts vary by shop.

麺を半分にできますか？

Men o hanbun ni dekimasu ka?

Could you make it with half the noodles?

Ask before cooking. Availability and price are up to the shop.

どのくらい辛いですか？

Dono kurai karai desu ka?

How spicy is it?

This asks about chili heat, not Jiro-style カラメ seasoning.

トッピングは別料金ですか？

Toppingu wa betsuryōkin desu ka?

Do the toppings cost extra?

Confirm the particular topping before ordering.

おすすめの食べ方はありますか？

Osusume no tabekata wa arimasu ka?

How do you recommend eating this?

Useful when a serving method is unfamiliar.

スープ割りはありますか？

Sūpu-wari wa arimasu ka?

Do you offer broth to dilute the dipping soup?

Ask after tsukemen; it is not a request for extra noodles.

れんげをいただけますか？

Renge o itadakemasu ka?

Could I have a soup spoon?

Staff may point you to a self-service area.

取り皿をいただけますか？

Torizara o itadakemasu ka?

Could I have a small plate?

This does not establish that sharing a bowl is allowed.

荷物はどこに置けばいいですか？

Nimotsu wa doko ni okeba ii desu ka?

Where can I put my bag?

Keep the entrance and aisle clear.

別々に支払えますか？

Betsubetsu ni shiharaemasu ka?

Can we pay separately?

Some shops cannot split a bill; ask before paying.

合計はいくらですか？

Gōkei wa ikura desu ka?

How much is it altogether?

Ask about the actual order, including any extras.

これは税込みですか？

Kore wa zeikomi desu ka?

Does this price include tax?

Point to the displayed price you mean.

もう少し考えてもいいですか？

Mō sukoshi kangaete mo ii desu ka?

Could I have a little more time to decide?

A polite request when you have not chosen yet.

注文を確認してもいいですか？

Chūmon o kakunin shite mo ii desu ka?

Could I check my order with you?

Use this to clarify a misunderstanding before preparation.

これには何が入っていますか？

Kore ni wa nani ga haitte imasu ka?

What is in this?

A general answer may not cover every component or shared equipment.

原材料を確認していただけますか？

Genzairyō o kakunin shite itadakemasu ka?

Could you check the ingredients for me?

Explain your actual needs separately. An ingredient check is not a safety guarantee.