How to order drinks at an izakaya versus a cafe
Culinary Adventures: How to Order Food & Drinks in Japanese Restaurants: How to order drinks at an izakaya versus a cafe
Ordering drinks at an izakaya versus a cafe in Japan differs mainly in the style and etiquette of ordering, as well as the atmosphere and language used.
At an izakaya:
- It is common to start with a draft beer (usually called “nama” or “nama beer”) for the first drink, often ordered with phrases like “生中一つください” (nama chū hitotsu kudasai) meaning “One medium draft beer, please” or simply using counters like 一つ, 二つ for quantity without overly formal language.
- You can order multiple drinks and dishes together while raising your voice slightly to get staff attention in the lively setting.
- Politeness can be more casual, and sometimes “です” and “ください” are omitted or replaced with simpler forms.
- You might get an automatic small appetizer called “otoshi” with your drink.
- When ordering sake or shochu, specify hot or cold (あつかん atsukan for hot sake, れい Rei for cold sake).
- It is a social setting where pouring drinks for others and toasts with “乾杯” (Kanpai) is typical.
At a cafe:
- Ordering is more straightforward and polite; typically use full phrases like “[drink name] + をください” (wo kudasai) or “[drink name] + をお願いします” (wo onegaishimasu).
- Specify if you want your drink hot (ホット hotto) or cold/iced (アイス aisu).
- Drinks are often coffee varieties or soft drinks, and you may be asked if it is for here or to-go.
- The atmosphere is calmer, and the language is more formal compared to an izakaya.
In summary, ordering drinks at an izakaya is more informal, relaxed, and social, often starting with a beer using simple quantity counters, while ordering at a cafe typically involves polite, clear requests specifying temperature and style of drink. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6