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.
レストランに行きましょう。
Let's go to a restaurant.
好きなレストランはどこですか？
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 most common and general word for 'restaurant', often implying Western-style food. Safe to use in most situations.
あのレストランは美味しいです。
That restaurant is delicious.
今夜はレストランで食べましょう。
Let's eat at a restaurant tonight.
A formal term for 'eating and drinking establishment', used in business or official contexts.
この地域には多くの飲食店があります。
There are many restaurants in this area.
The speaker wants to refer to a restaurant serving traditional Japanese cuisine.
A casual term for a Japanese food restaurant. Often used in conversation.
近所に美味しい和食屋ができた。
A delicious Japanese restaurant opened in my neighborhood.
A more formal term for a Japanese cuisine restaurant.
あの日本料理店は予約が必要です。
That Japanese restaurant requires a reservation.
A high-end traditional Japanese restaurant, often with private rooms and geisha entertainment.
The speaker wants to name a restaurant by its specialty cuisine.
Short for Italian restaurant. Very common in casual speech.
昨日はイタリアンに行った。
I went to an Italian restaurant yesterday.
Yakiniku (Korean BBQ) restaurant. The suffix 屋 (や) is common for casual restaurant names.
Sushi restaurant. Can range from casual conveyor belt to high-end.
あの寿司屋はいつも混んでいる。
That sushi restaurant is always crowded.
Ramen shop. Extremely common and casual.
The speaker wants to refer to a casual, inexpensive restaurant.
A casual dining hall or cafeteria-style restaurant, often serving set meals (定食).
大学の食堂は安くて美味しい。
The university cafeteria is cheap and delicious.
A restaurant specializing in set meals (teishoku), usually casual and affordable.
Short for 'family restaurant', a casual chain restaurant with a wide menu.
The speaker wants to refer to an upscale dining establishment.
Literally 'high-class restaurant'. Used for expensive, elegant dining.
記念日に高級レストランを予約した。
I reserved a high-end restaurant for our anniversary.
Short for French restaurant, often implying high-end dining.
The speaker wants to refer to a casual Japanese pub that serves food.
A Japanese-style pub where you can order various small dishes and drinks. Often translated as 'Japanese pub' or 'tavern'.
仕事の後、同僚と居酒屋に行った。
After work, I went to an izakaya with my colleagues.
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.
カウンター席のお店で、職人の技を見ながら食べた。
At a counter-style restaurant, I ate while watching the chef's skills.
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.
あのパン屋のクロワッサンは最高だ。
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.
この店はラーメンが有名です。
This restaurant is famous for its ramen.
Often 店 (みせ) is used instead of レストラン for small eateries.
いいレストランで夕食を食べました。
We had dinner at a nice restaurant.
料亭で会食をしました。
We had a dinner meeting at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Chinese restaurant. Often shortened to 中華屋 (ちゅうかや) in casual speech.
駅前に新しい中華料理店がオープンした。
A new Chinese restaurant opened in front of the station.
今夜は焼肉屋に行かない？
Want to go to a yakiniku restaurant tonight?
I ate lunch at a ramen shop.
定食屋で焼き魚定食を頼んだ。
I ordered a grilled fish set meal at a teishoku restaurant.
ファミレスでデザートを食べた。
I had dessert at a family restaurant.
彼はフレンチのシェフです。
He is a chef at a French restaurant.