How to Order Alcohol at an Izakaya in Japanese

If you’re visiting Japan and want to experience the local drinking culture, going to an izakaya (居酒屋) is a must! These Japanese style pubs are great places to enjoy drinks, food, and a lively atmosphere. But how do you order alcohol in Japanese? Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through some simple phrases and key vocabulary to help you order like a pro. Step 1: Getting the Staff’s Attention

When you’re ready to order, you can call the staff by saying:

• Excuse me.

  (Sumimasen.)

  すみません。 This is a polite and common way to get someone’s attention, whether it’s a server or anyone nearby.

Step 2: Ordering Your Drink

Here are some basic phrases you can use to order different types of drinks:

1. Beer ( bīru / ビール)

• One draft beer, please.

  (Nama bīru o hitotsu onegaishimasu.)

  生ビールを一つお願いします。
  

  • draft beer (nama bīru) 生ビール

  • one (used for ordering) (hitotsu) 一つ
    

2. Whiskey ( uisukī / ウイスキー)

• One whiskey on the rocks, please.

  (Uisukī no rokku o hitotsu onegaishimasu.)

  ウイスキーのロックを一つお願いします。

• One whiskey with soda, please.

  (Uisukī no sōda wari o hitotsu onegaishimasu.)

  ウイスキーのソーダ割りを一つお願いします。

  
  

  • whiskey  (uisukī) ウイスキー

  • on the rocks (rokku) ロック

  • whiskey mixed with soda (sōda wari) ソーダ割り
    

3. Sake ( nihonshu / 日本酒)

• One hot sake, please. (Atsukan o hitotsu onegaishimasu.) 熱燗を一つお願いします。

  One cold sake, please. (Reishu o hitotsu onegaishimasu.) 冷酒を一つお願いします。

  
  

  • hot sake (atsukan) 燃熱

  • cold sake (reishu) 冷酒

4. Shochu ( shōchū / 焼酒)

• One shochu with water, please.

  (Shōchū no mizuwari o hitotsu onegaishimasu.)

  焼酎の水割りを一つお願いします。

  
  

  • distilled Japanese liquor (shōchū) 焼酒

  • mixed with water (mizuwari) 水割り

5. Wine ( wain / ワイン)

• One red wine, please. (Aka wain o hitotsu onegaishimasu.) 赤ワインを一つお願いします。

  One white wine, please. (Shiro wain o hitotsu onegaishimasu.) 白ワインを一つお願いします。

  
  

  • red wine  (aka wain) 赤ワイン

  • white wine (shiro wain) 白ワイン

6. Soft Drinks ( sofuto dorinku / ソフトドリンク)

• One orange juice, please.

  (Orenji jūsu o hitotsu onegaishimasu.)

  オレンジジュースを一つお願いします。
  

• One coke, please. (Kōra o hitotsu onegaishimasu.) コーラを一つお願いします。

  
  

  • orange juice (orenji jūsu) オレンジジュース

  • coke (kōra) コーラ

Ordering drinks at an izakaya in Japanese is easy with a few key phrases. Start by getting the staff’s attention with "Sumimasen." (Excuse me.). Then, use phrases like ”Nama bīru o hitotsu onegaishimasu.” (One beer please. ) or  "Aka wain o hitotsu onegaishimasu" (One red wine please.). By practicing these phrases, you can confidently enjoy your time at an izakaya!