Restaurant Etiquette 101

Few things consistently drive me to the brink of violent insanity as sharing a meal with a person who has food in their mouth while talking, mannerless dinner table texters, etc. We aren’t barbarians! We live in a nation where the delicate etiquette defines you. This is our how to restaurant special where we teach you to dine like Japanese royalty and avoid torpedoing your personal relationships.

Communal Plates of Food

Your western practicalities may cause you to take food directly from a communal plate of food to your filthy foreign mouth. Don’t do this. Use the designated serving chopsticks to transport the food to your individual plate that acts as a landing zone between your mouth and the original plate.

Oshibori

Upon entering most restaurants, you will be gifted with a warm or cold oshibori, the Japanese hand towel, designed to clean your hands. Depending on your company, wiping your face could be a low level faux pas… a refreshing and revitalizing faux pas that feels incredible. Know your company and call an audible. I personally indulge when possible.

Chopsticks

When the meal begins, fellow Japanese diners will ritualistically and unrelentingly praise your chopstick wielding prowess. They have now publicly invested in your ability to use your chopsticks, the pressure is on, don’t mess this up. When you are not using your chopsticks, place them on the chopstick rest. Do not point with them and do not shove them in the rice like a grave digger, simply use them to eat and be done with them.

Some Phrases!

In an attempt to fit in I recommend that you learn two simple phrases. Before eating loudly (and in unison) announce “Itadakimasu!” It translates to I humbly receive and this phrase can also be used when you receive gifts. As you leave, yell out “Gochisosama deshita!” which translates to “It was a grand meal!” This is an easy way to score some brownie points (sushi points?).

Shells

In Hiroshima, Oysters are a local specialty. After you have consumed all of the delicious life from the shell, leave the shell in the same bowl from which it came.

Stinky Feet

If you are invited to a resturant in Japan, be prepared! There is a 52.57% chance that the restaurant will require you to take off your shoes. I have been caught stinky footed a few times and it’s always embarrassing if there isn’t another foreigner to blame it on. Be prepared!

If you got some more tips, let us know in the comments down below!

-Avoiding social blunders, one meal at a time.