How to Order at an Izakaya in Tokyo: Otoshi, Nomihoudai & the Unwritten Rules (2026)

What You’ll Learn

✅ Full ordering flow — from entering to paying, every step with exact Japanese phrases
⏱️ Time — 2–3 hours typical (no rush like ramen shops)
💰 Cost — ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person (food + drinks), or ¥3,000–¥5,000 for nomihoudai course
⚠️ Pitfalls — the otoshi surprise, the “last order” deadline, splitting the bill

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Step 1: Entering the Izakaya

Look for red lanterns (赤提灯) and noren curtains — the classic signs of an izakaya.

The Door Conversation

Staff: 「いらっしゃいませ！何名様ですか？」(Irasshaimase! Nan-mei-sama desu ka?) — “Welcome! How many?”

You: Hold up fingers. Two fingers = two people. Simple.

Staff: 「カウンターでもよろしいですか？」(Kauntaa demo yoroshii desu ka?) — “Is the counter okay?”

You: Nod yes, or say 「テーブル席はありますか？」(teeburu seki wa arimasu ka?) — “Do you have a table?”

Seating Types

Type	Japanese	What it is	Note
Table	テーブル席	Standard chairs and table	Most common
Counter	カウンター	Bar-style seating	Good for solo/couples
Tatami	座敷 (zashiki)	Floor seating on tatami mats	Remove shoes. Store in the cubby
Private room	個室 (koshitsu)	Enclosed room for groups	Often requires reservation

TRAP: Tatami seating. If you’re led upstairs or to a raised platform, check if there’s a shoe cubby. Sitting on tatami with shoes on is a serious faux pas. If you see everyone else shoeless, take yours off.

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Step 2: The Otoshi — That Dish You Didn’t Order

Within 30 seconds of sitting down, a small dish arrives that you didn’t order. This is otoshi (お通し) or tsukidashi (突き出し).

What it is: A mandatory table charge (¥300–¥500 per person) that comes with a small appetizer — edamame, marinated tofu, pickled vegetables, or whatever the kitchen prepared that day.

It is not a scam. This is standard practice at nearly every izakaya in Japan. Think of it as Japan’s version of a cover charge at a bar, but you actually get food with it.

Can you refuse it? Technically, some chain izakaya let you decline. At independent shops, refusing otoshi is like refusing bread at an Italian restaurant — you can, but it’s awkward and the charge may still appear on your bill.

Counter-intuitive advice: The otoshi is actually useful. It gives you something to nibble on while you decide what to order, and it arrives in the gap between ordering drinks and food. Eat it and move on.

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Step 3: Ordering Drinks First

In Japan, the standard izakaya flow is: drinks → food → more drinks → more food → bill.

The Magic Phrase

You: 「とりあえずビール」(Toriaezu biiru) — “Beer for starters”

This is the single most famous izakaya phrase in Japan. It means “let’s get beer while we figure out the rest.” Your entire table says it. The staff nod knowingly. Beer arrives in 60 seconds. Then you have time to study the food menu.

Drink Menu Cheat Sheet

Japanese	Pronunciation	What it is	Price range
生ビール	Nama biiru	Draft beer (Asahi, Kirin, or Suntory)	¥400–¥600
ハイボール	Haibōru	Whisky + soda (very popular in Japan)	¥350–¥500
レモンサワー	Remon sawā	Shochu + soda + lemon	¥350–¥500
チューハイ	Chūhai	Shochu + soda + fruit flavor	¥350–¥500
日本酒	Nihonshu	Sake (hot or cold)	¥400–¥800
梅酒	Umeshu	Plum wine (sweet)	¥400–¥600
ソフトドリンク	Sofuto dorinku	Non-alcoholic (oolong tea, cola)	¥200–¥400

Staff might ask: 「最初のお飲み物は？」(Saisho no o-nomimono wa?) — “First drinks?”

For hot sake: 「熱燗ください」(Atsukan kudasai) — “Hot sake please”
For cold sake: 「冷酒ください」(Reishu kudasai) — “Cold sake please”
Recommendation: 「おすすめの日本酒は？」(Osusume no nihonshu wa?) — “What sake do you recommend?”

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Step 4: Ordering Food

Izakaya food is designed for sharing — small plates, big variety.

How to Call the Staff

Three methods:

1. Call button (呼び出しボタン) — most chains and modern izakaya have one on the table
2. Tablet ordering — increasingly common at chain izakaya (Torikizoku, Watami, Kin no Kura)
3. Raise your hand and say 「すみません」(sumimasen) — works everywhere

How Much to Order

Rule of thumb: Order 3–5 dishes for 2 people. Izakaya portions are small (designed for sharing). You can always add more later. Nobody orders everything at once — it’s a progression.

Ordering flow:

1. Round 1 (with drinks): 2–3 quick dishes — edamame, karaage, potato salad
2. Round 2: 2–3 more — yakitori, sashimi, grilled fish
3. Round 3 (finishing): Rice or noodles — ochazuke, yakisoba, or onigiri

The Safe-Order Menu (Can’t Go Wrong)

Japanese	Pronunciation	English	Why order it
枝豆	Edamame	Salted soybeans	The universal izakaya starter
唐揚げ	Karaage	Japanese fried chicken	Crispy, juicy, universally loved
ポテトサラダ	Poteto sarada	Potato salad	Creamier and better than you expect
焼き鳥 盛り合わせ	Yakitori moriawase	Grilled chicken skewer platter	Get the assortment — 5–6 types
刺身盛り合わせ	Sashimi moriawase	Sashimi platter	Fresh raw fish assortment
たこわさ	Takowasa	Octopus with wasabi	Crunchy, spicy, addictive
厚揚げ	Atsuage	Fried tofu	Crispy outside, soft inside. Good vegetarian option
焼きそば	Yakisoba	Fried noodles	Great finishing dish
お茶漬け	Ochazuke	Rice with tea/broth poured over	The perfect end to a night of drinking

For Adventurous Eaters

Japanese	English	Notes
もつ煮込み	Stewed organ meat	Rich, hearty. A Tokyo izakaya classic
ホルモン	Grilled organ meat	Chewy texture, strong flavor
なんこつ唐揚げ	Fried chicken cartilage	Crunchy, surprisingly good
馬刺し	Raw horse meat sashimi	Lean, mild. A delicacy in some regions
ユッケ	Raw beef tartare	Rich, egg yolk on top

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All-You-Can-Drink (飲み放題): The Best Deal in Tokyo

Nomihoudai (飲み放題) = unlimited drinks for a fixed time and price. Available at most chain izakaya and many independent ones.

How It Works

Detail	Typical terms
Price	¥1,500–¥2,500 per person (drinks only)
Course price	¥3,000–¥5,000 per person (drinks + 5–8 dishes)
Duration	2 hours (sometimes 90 min or 3 hours)
What’s included	Beer, highball, chuhai, sake, shochu, soft drinks. Cocktails sometimes extra
What’s NOT included	Premium sake, premium whisky, wine (usually)
Last order	30 min before time expires

How to Order Nomihoudai

You: 「飲み放題ありますか？」(Nomihoudai arimasu ka?) — “Do you have all-you-can-drink?”

Staff: 「2時間で¥1,980です」— “2 hours for ¥1,980”

You: 「お願いします」(Onegaishimasu) — “Yes please”

TRAP: The “last order” clock. Staff will announce 「ラストオーダーです」(rasuto ōdā desu) 30 minutes before your time is up. Order everything you want at that moment — there’s no second chance. Most tables order 2–3 drinks at last order to coast through the final 30 minutes.

Counter-intuitive advice: The nomihoudai course (food + drinks) is almost always a better deal than ordering food and drinks separately. Even if the food selection is limited, the math works out cheaper for groups of 3+.

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Step 5: Paying the Bill

How to Ask for the Bill

You: 「お会計お願いします」(Okaikei onegaishimasu) — “Check, please”

Or: Make an X with your index fingers (the Japanese gesture for “check please”). Staff understand this.

Where You Pay

Most izakaya: At the register near the exit. Staff give you a bill, you take it to the register, pay there.

Some izakaya: Table payment (staff bring a handheld terminal).

Payment Methods

Method	Acceptance at izakaya
Cash	100% — always works
Credit card (Visa/Mastercard)	~70% of chain izakaya, ~40% of independent
PayPay	~60% — surprisingly common even at small shops
Suica / IC card	~50% at chains, rare at independents

Cash is safest. Small, old-school izakaya with handwritten menus and 10 seats? Cash only, guaranteed. See our payment methods guide for details on what works where.

Splitting the Bill

Japanese izakaya culture defaults to 割り勘 (warikan) — splitting evenly among the group, regardless of who ate or drank more.

If you need to split: 「別々でお願いします」(Betsubetsu de onegaishimasu) — “Separate checks, please.” Not all izakaya can do this — simpler to pay one bill and Venmo/PayPay each other.

No tipping. Zero. Not negotiable. Leaving extra money confuses the staff.

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The Unwritten Rules

1. Pour for Others, Not Yourself

At a group gathering, pour drinks for others (especially seniors or bosses). Hold the bottle with two hands when pouring. When someone pours for you, hold your glass with both hands. Never pour your own drink when dining with Japanese colleagues — someone else will notice and fill your glass.

2. The Kampai Ritual

Nobody drinks until everyone has a drink and someone says 「乾杯！」 (Kanpai! — “Cheers!”). Wait for it. Clinching glasses is common but not required.

3. Don’t Move Dishes to Your Plate with Chopsticks

Use the serving utensils or flip your chopsticks around to use the clean end. Never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick — it resembles a funeral ritual and deeply unsettles Japanese people.

4. Shoes Off on Tatami

This isn’t optional. If you’re on a raised tatami platform, shoes come off at the step. Socks stay on (bare feet on tatami is slightly uncouth).

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Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Solution
”A dish arrived that I didn’t order”	That’s otoshi (table charge)	Eat it. It’s ¥300–¥500 and included automatically
”I can’t read the menu at all”	Japanese-only menu, no photos	Point at other tables’ food and say 「あれと同じものください」(are to onaji mono kudasai — “same as that, please”)
“The staff keep ignoring me”	They’re waiting for the call button or すみません	Press the button or say すみません louder (it’s not rude in Japan)
“I’m still hungry”	Izakaya portions are small	Order more dishes. This is normal and expected. The kitchen stays open
”My bill seems too high”	Otoshi charge + tax (10%) + possible table charge at premium izakaya	Check for otoshi line items (お通し). 10% consumption tax is added at some places
”I need to leave but nomihoudai time isn’t up”	Schedule conflict	You can leave anytime. You’ve already paid for the time

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Chain Izakaya Worth Knowing

For tourists and residents who want reliable, affordable, and foreigner-friendly izakaya:

Chain	Per-person cost	Specialty	English menu	Notes
Torikizoku (鳥貴族)	¥2,000–¥3,000	Yakitori (all items ¥350)	Tablet (EN)	Best value yakitori chain
Shinjidai (新時代)	¥1,500–¥2,500	Dengushi chicken skin (¥50/skewer)	Limited	Fast-growing, ultra-cheap
Watami (和民)	¥2,500–¥4,000	General izakaya	Tablet (EN)	Good nomihoudai courses
Kin no Kura (金の蔵)	¥2,000–¥3,500	General izakaya	Tablet (EN)	Cheap nomihoudai
Uotami (魚民)	¥2,500–¥4,000	Seafood-focused	Tablet (EN)	Good sashimi for a chain

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FAQ

What is otoshi and can I refuse it?

Otoshi (お通し) is a mandatory appetizer/table charge of ¥300–¥500 per person at most izakaya. It’s a standard Japanese custom, not a tourist trap. Some chain izakaya will let you decline if you ask, but the charge may still apply. At independent izakaya, refusing is socially awkward and won’t save you money. Just eat it.

Is nomihoudai worth it?

Yes, if you drink 3+ drinks. A single beer is ¥400–¥600. Three beers = ¥1,200–¥1,800. Nomihoudai starts at ¥1,500 for unlimited drinks for 2 hours. The math is simple. For groups of 3+, a nomihoudai course with food is almost always cheaper than ordering everything separately.

Can I go to an izakaya alone?

Absolutely. Counter seating is designed for solo diners. Some izakaya are even built around solo dining (think of it as bar seating with better food). You won’t look out of place. Order 2–3 dishes and a couple of drinks. Perfect weeknight dinner.

What if I don’t drink alcohol?

Every izakaya has soft drinks: oolong tea, cola, ginger ale, orange juice. Order 「ソフトドリンクのメニューありますか？」(sofuto dorinku no menyuu arimasu ka?). Non-alcoholic beer (ノンアルコールビール) is increasingly popular and available at most chains. You can also join a nomihoudai plan with soft drinks only (usually cheaper).

How late are izakaya open?

Most chain izakaya: until midnight or later (some until 5 AM). Independent izakaya: typically 5 PM – midnight. Last order is usually 30–60 minutes before closing. Late-night options: late-night restaurant guide.

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Related Guides

• How to Eat Sushi in Tokyo — Conveyor belt to omakase
• How to Order at a Ramen Shop — Ticket machines and ramen customs
• How to Order at Any Restaurant in Japan — General restaurant guide
• Payment Methods in Japan — Cash, cards, IC cards
• Late-Night Restaurants in Tokyo — When izakaya close and you’re still hungry

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Last verified: February 2026 at Torikizoku Shibuya, Shinjidai Shinjuku, and independent izakaya in Yurakucho.