Decoding Japanese Menus: A Visual and Linguistic Guide

You’ve found a tiny, local Izakaya with no English menu and no pictures. This is usually where the best food is, but it’s also where many tourists turn away. Don’t! By learning a few key Kanji for common ingredients and cooking styles, you can order a spectacular meal with confidence.

Meats and Seafood

• Pork (豚 - Buta/Ton): Look for this in ramen or Tonkatsu.
• Chicken (鳥 - Tori): Essential for Yakitori (grilled chicken).
• Beef (牛 - Gyu): Found in Gyudon or steak.
• Fish (魚 - Sakana): The general character for fish.
• Salmon (鮭 - Sake): Note that this is the same Kanji as “alcohol” but pronounced differently. Or rather, “Sake” (alcohol) is 酒. Pay attention to the radical!

Cooking Styles

• Grilled (焼 - Yaki): Found in Yakitori, Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki.
• Fried (揚 - Age): Found in Karaage (fried chicken).
• Boiled/Simmered (煮 - Ni): Found in Nimono (simmered dishes).
• Raw (生 - Nama): Usually means “Draft” when applied to beer (Nama-biru) or “Raw” for seafood.

Common Menu Words

• Price (値段 - Nedan)
• Set Meal (定食 - Teishoku): Often includes rice, soup, and pickles.
• Rice (飯 - Meshi/Gohan)
• Drink (飲物 - Nomimono)

Conclusion

Ordering in a foreign language is a fun challenge. Even if you only recognize one or two Kanji, you’re halfway to a great meal. When in doubt, point at what someone else is eating and say “Kore wo kudasai” (This one, please).