Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'restaurant' depends on the type of cuisine, formality, and context. The most general term is レストラン, but many specific words are used in daily life.
Let's go to a restaurant.
What's your favorite restaurant?
The speaker wants to refer to a restaurant in general, especially one serving Western food or in a neutral context.
The speaker wants to refer to a restaurant serving traditional Japanese cuisine.
A casual term for a Japanese food restaurant. Often used in conversation.
The speaker wants to name a restaurant by its specialty cuisine.
The speaker wants to refer to a casual, inexpensive restaurant.
The speaker wants to refer to an upscale dining establishment.
The speaker wants to refer to a casual Japanese pub that serves food.
The speaker wants to refer to a small restaurant where you sit at a counter.
A restaurant with counter seating, common for sushi, ramen, etc.
Adding 屋 (や) to a food type creates a casual word for a restaurant specializing in that food. For example: ラーメン屋 (ramen shop), 寿司屋 (sushi restaurant), パン屋 (bakery). This is very common in everyday conversation.
The croissants at that bakery are amazing.
While レストラン is the direct translation, it often implies a Western-style restaurant. For Japanese, Chinese, or other Asian cuisines, using specific terms like 和食屋 or 中華料理店 is more natural.
This restaurant is famous for its ramen.
Often 店 (みせ) is used instead of レストラン for small eateries.
Let's eat at a restaurant tonight.
There are many restaurants in this area.
A delicious Japanese restaurant opened in my neighborhood.
A more formal term for a Japanese cuisine restaurant.
That Japanese restaurant requires a reservation.
A high-end traditional Japanese restaurant, often with private rooms and geisha entertainment.
We had a dinner meeting at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Short for Italian restaurant. Very common in casual speech.
I went to an Italian restaurant yesterday.
Chinese restaurant. Often shortened to 中華屋 (ちゅうかや) in casual speech.
A new Chinese restaurant opened in front of the station.
Yakiniku (Korean BBQ) restaurant. The suffix 屋 (や) is common for casual restaurant names.
Want to go to a yakiniku restaurant tonight?
Sushi restaurant. Can range from casual conveyor belt to high-end.
That sushi restaurant is always crowded.
Ramen shop. Extremely common and casual.
I ate lunch at a ramen shop.
A casual dining hall or cafeteria-style restaurant, often serving set meals (定食).
The university cafeteria is cheap and delicious.
A restaurant specializing in set meals (teishoku), usually casual and affordable.
I ordered a grilled fish set meal at a teishoku restaurant.
Short for 'family restaurant', a casual chain restaurant with a wide menu.
I had dessert at a family restaurant.
Literally 'high-class restaurant'. Used for expensive, elegant dining.
I reserved a high-end restaurant for our anniversary.
Short for French restaurant, often implying high-end dining.
He is a chef at a French restaurant.
A Japanese-style pub where you can order various small dishes and drinks. Often translated as 'Japanese pub' or 'tavern'.
After work, I went to an izakaya with my colleagues.
At a counter-style restaurant, I ate while watching the chef's skills.
We had dinner at a nice restaurant.