← Guides · By Ray Lei · Published 2026-11-14

What should I order at an izakaya?

Q: What is nomihodai at an izakaya?

Nomihodai (飲み放題) means 'all you can drink' — a fixed charge added to your bill that gives unlimited access to a list of drinks (usually beer, house sake, shochu highballs, soft drinks, and sometimes wine) for a set time, typically 90 or 120 minutes. It is offered as an option at the start of the meal. When the time runs out, the server announces last order. Food is ordered and charged separately.

Q: What is karaage and how is it different from regular fried chicken?

Karaage (唐揚げ) is Japanese fried chicken made with bone-in thigh pieces or boneless chunks marinated in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sake, then dredged lightly in potato starch and deep-fried. The starch creates a thinner, crispier crust than flour-based batters, and the soy-ginger marinade gives the inside more flavor than most Western fried chicken. It is served with lemon and kewpie mayonnaise.

Order drinks first (beer or a highball), then start with edamame and karaage. Add a sashimi plate, a couple of yakitori skewers, agedashi tofu, and gyoza. Order rice or noodles toward the end. The menu is designed for sharing and no particular order is required.

An izakaya (居酒屋) is a Japanese gastropub — a casual drinking-and-eating establishment where the drink order comes first and the food is shared in small plates over a few hours. The name combines the characters for "stay," "alcohol," and "shop." Izakaya are the most common format for after-work socializing in Japan, and their menus reflect that: dozens of small plates designed to accompany drinks, served at the table's own pace throughout the evening.

For a first-time visitor, the izakaya menu can be overwhelming. Some run to 80 or 100 items. The strategy is not to study it comprehensively — it's to pick one item from each category (snack, seafood, grilled, fried, vegetable), order drinks, and let the evening build from there.

Dishes to order at an izakaya

Japanese	Romaji	English	Description	Allergen notes
枝豆	Edamame	Boiled salted soybeans	Standard opening snack; squeeze pods to eat beans, discard pods	Soy
唐揚げ	Karaage	Japanese fried chicken	Soy-ginger marinated chicken, potato starch battered and deep-fried; crispy exterior, juicy inside. Served with lemon and mayo	Wheat (may vary); soy; egg in some versions
焼き鳥	Yakitori	Grilled chicken skewers	Chicken pieces grilled over charcoal; ordered by cut — momo (thigh), negima (thigh with leek), tsukune (minced patty). Two seasonings: tare (sweet soy glaze) or shio (salt)	Soy in tare; wheat in some tare versions
揚げ出し豆腐	Agedashi tofu	Deep-fried tofu in dashi broth	Silken tofu lightly coated in potato starch, fried, served in a dashi-based broth with grated daikon and bonito flakes	Soy; fish (dashi contains bonito)
卵焼き	Tamagoyaki	Rolled omelette	Sweet or savory Japanese rolled egg; served sliced. Mildly sweet, light, satisfying	Egg; soy in some versions
餃子	Gyoza	Pan-fried dumplings	Pork and cabbage dumplings; crispy on the bottom, tender on top. Served with soy-vinegar dipping sauce and chili oil	Wheat; pork; soy; egg in some versions
刺身盛り合わせ	Sashimi moriawase	Assorted sashimi platter	Chef's selection of raw fish slices; typically tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and one or two seasonal items. Served with wasabi and soy	Fish; shellfish possible; soy; wasabi
冷奴	Hiyayakko	Chilled tofu	Block of cold silken tofu topped with grated ginger, bonito flakes, green onion, and soy sauce; light and refreshing	Soy; fish (bonito flakes)
納豆	Natto	Fermented soybeans	Strongly flavored fermented soy; stringy, sticky texture. Divisive — a good test of how adventurous you want to be. Served with mustard and soy sauce over rice or as a snack	Soy
お好み焼き	Okonomiyaki	Japanese savory pancake	Thick batter of flour, egg, shredded cabbage, and toppings (pork belly, squid, shrimp) cooked on a griddle; topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayo, bonito, and nori	Wheat; egg; pork or seafood; fish (bonito)
やきおにぎり	Yaki onigiri	Grilled rice balls	Rice balls grilled until crispy on the outside, brushed with soy sauce; smoky and savory, good for absorbing sauces or ending the meal	Soy; gluten-free (rice) but soy sauce contains wheat
馬刺し	Basashi	Raw horse sashimi	Raw horsemeat sliced thin, served with ginger and soy. A specialty of Kumamoto and some izakaya; mild, slightly sweet, lean. Worth trying if curious	Soy; this is an unusual menu item — confirm with staff

The ordering flow at an izakaya

Understanding the structure of an izakaya visit makes the experience much smoother:

Drinks first. The first order at an izakaya is always drinks. The classic first-round phrase is "toriaezu biiru" (とりあえずビール, "beer for now"). Beer, sake, shochu highballs, chuhai (flavored sparkling drink), and soft drinks are all standard. Ordering food before drinks is unusual.
Otoshi (お通し) will arrive automatically. Shortly after you sit and order drinks, a small appetizer dish will appear at each seat. This is otoshi — a mandatory small charge that functions as a cover charge. You cannot refuse it. Eat it; it is usually good and sets the tone for the evening.
Nomihodai (飲み放題) is optional. If the restaurant offers all-you-can-drink, the server will ask at the start. It applies to a list of drinks for a fixed time window. Decide at the start of the meal; you cannot add it midway through.
Last order (ラストオーダー). Japanese restaurants announce a final ordering time, usually 30 minutes before closing. When you hear "last order" or see it displayed, place any remaining food or drink orders immediately.
Paying. At izakaya, payment is typically made at the register on the way out, not at the table. The server will not bring the bill unprompted. When ready to leave, say "okaikei onegaishimasu" (お会計お願いします) or go to the register.

Practical notes

Izakaya menus are long. Focus on one or two items per category rather than trying to read the whole menu at once.
Sharing plates is the norm. At a table of three or four, order enough dishes for everyone to try one or two bites of each — roughly one dish per person per round, ordered in waves throughout the evening.
Yakitori skewers are ordered individually by cut. A table of three might order two or three skewers of each type per round. Specify "tare" (sweet soy glaze) or "shio" (salt) for each order.
Basashi (raw horse meat) appears on some izakaya menus and is easy to mistake for a regular sashimi item. If you see it on the menu and want to know before ordering, ask the server or scan the menu with an AI tool.
To scan an izakaya menu and see translations and descriptions of every item, ChefBear handles handwritten and printed Japanese menus and generates AI photos of dishes you have not seen before.

Frequently asked questions

What is an izakaya?

An izakaya (居酒屋) is a Japanese gastropub — a casual bar-restaurant where people drink and share small plates over a few hours. The word combines "i" (to stay), "sake" (alcohol), and "ya" (shop). Izakaya serve beer, sake, shochu, and cocktails alongside a wide menu of small dishes designed for sharing.

What is otoshi and do you have to pay for it?

Otoshi (お通し) is a small appetizer dish brought automatically when you sit down. It is charged to your bill as a kind of cover charge, typically a small amount per person. You cannot usually refuse it. Think of it as a mandatory first course that covers the cost of the table and service.

What is nomihodai at an izakaya?

Nomihodai (飲み放題) means "all you can drink" — a fixed charge added to your bill that gives unlimited access to a list of drinks for a set time, typically 90 or 120 minutes. It is offered as an option at the start of the meal. Food is ordered and charged separately.

What is karaage and how is it different from regular fried chicken?

Karaage (唐揚げ) is Japanese fried chicken made with pieces marinated in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sake, then dredged in potato starch and deep-fried. The starch creates a thinner, crispier crust than flour-based batters, and the soy-ginger marinade gives the inside more flavor. It is served with lemon and kewpie mayonnaise.

Is izakaya food good for vegetarians?

Vegetarian options at a standard izakaya are limited but exist: edamame, agedashi tofu, cucumber with miso, and plain grilled rice balls are typical options. Many other dishes contain dashi (fish broth) even when they appear vegetarian. Ask about dashi in each dish and consider a tofu restaurant or shojin ryori establishment for a fully vegetarian meal.