Ramen vocabulary cheatsheet
A pocket reference for the Japanese words that actually come up at a Tokyo ramen counter. Skim it before you go, bookmark it on your phone, use the tables when the ticket machine isn't in English.
The two phrases that cover 90% of situations
Before the tables, two phrases. If you remember nothing else, remember these:
- "Sumimasen" (すみません)— "Excuse me" / "I'm sorry". Use it to get staff attention, to apologize for a mistake, to ask for anything. It works everywhere.
- "Onegai shimasu" (お願いします) — "Please". Attach it to any request: kaedama onegai shimasu (noodle refill please), ohmori onegai shimasu (large please). Staff will understand.
Ramen styles
The category of bowl, written on most shop signs and menus.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ラーメン | ramen | Standard ramen |
| つけ麺 | tsukemen | Dipping noodles |
| まぜそば | mazesoba | Brothless mixed noodles |
| 油そば | abura-soba | Brothless, oil-based |
| 担々麺 | tantanmen | Sesame-chili ramen |
| 家系 | iekei | Yokohama-style |
| 二郎系 | jiro-kei | Jiro-style (big portion) |
Broths
The base flavor. At a shoyu-specialty shop you won't see most of these — but at a general ramen shop or chain, the broth name is often the first word on the menu.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 醤油 | shoyu | Soy sauce |
| 塩 | shio | Salt |
| 味噌 | miso | Miso |
| 豚骨 | tonkotsu | Pork bone |
| 鶏白湯 | tori-paitan | Creamy chicken |
| 煮干し | niboshi | Dried sardine |
| 鶏がら | tori-gara | Chicken bone |
Noodle firmness and portion
At tonkotsu (especially Hakata-style) shops and most chains, you'll be asked how you want the noodles cooked. Default if unsure: katame(firm). It's the most popular answer and travels best.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 硬め | katame | Firm (most popular) |
| 普通 | futsuu | Normal |
| 柔らかめ | yawarakame | Soft |
| バリカタ | barikata | Very firm (Hakata tonkotsu) |
| 粉落とし | kona-otoshi | Flash-boiled (extra-firm Hakata) |
| 替玉 | kaedama | Noodle refill (¥100–200) |
| 大盛 | oomori | Large portion (+¥100–150) |
| 並 | nami | Regular portion |
Broth strength
Mostly relevant at tonkotsu and Hakata shops. You can usually ask when ordering if the menu offers customization.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 濃いめ | koime | Strong / salty |
| 薄め | usume | Light / less salty |
| 脂多め | abura-oome | More oil |
| 脂少なめ | abura-sukunaeme | Less oil |
| ニンニク | ninniku | Garlic (Jiro: say "yes" or it's omitted) |
Toppings
Standard Tokyo toppings. The first four — chashu, ajitama, menma, nori — are in almost every bowl. The rest are style-specific.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| チャーシュー | chashu | Roast pork slices |
| 煮玉子 / 味玉 | nitamago / ajitama | Seasoned soft-boiled egg |
| メンマ | menma | Fermented bamboo shoots |
| のり | nori | Dried seaweed sheet |
| ネギ | negi | Green onion |
| もやし | moyashi | Bean sprouts |
| ほうれん草 | horensou | Spinach (iekei) |
| コーン | koon | Corn (miso) |
| バター | bataa | Butter (miso, +¥100–150) |
| キャベツ | kyabetsu | Cabbage (Jiro) |
| 豚 / ブタ | buta | Extra pork (Jiro) |
Sets and sides
A "setto" (set) adds rice, gyoza, or fried rice for around ¥200–400 extra. At iekei (家系) shops, rice is frequently free at lunch and designed to be eaten with the leftover broth.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| セット | setto | Set meal (ramen + side) |
| ライス | raisu | Rice (often free at iekei) |
| 半ライス | han-raisu | Half rice |
| 餃子 | gyoza | Pan-fried dumplings |
| チャーハン | chaahan | Fried rice |
Ticket machine vocabulary
For the kiosk at the entrance. See our full ticket machine guide for step-by-step photos.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 券売機 | kenbaiki | Ticket machine |
| 確定 | kakutei | Confirm (touch-panel) |
| 完売 | kanbai | Sold out (button won't light) |
| おすすめ | osusume | Recommended / popular |
| 現金のみ | genkin nomi | Cash only |
| お会計 | okaikei | The bill |
Full phrases to practice
The complete sentences. Listen to the romaji out loud a few times before you go in — Japanese staff will meet you halfway if you sound confident.
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| I'll have the signature bowl, please | 一番人気をお願いします | ichiban ninki wo onegai shimasu |
| Firm noodles, please | 麺硬めでお願いします | men katame de onegai shimasu |
| One noodle refill, please | 替玉お願いします | kaedama onegai shimasu |
| I made a mistake (at the ticket machine) | 間違えました | machigaemashita |
| Excuse me (to call staff) | すみません | sumimasen |
| Thank you for the meal (after eating) | ごちそうさまでした | gochisousama deshita |
| Is there an English menu? | 英語のメニューはありますか？ | eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka? |
| Can I pay by credit card? | クレジットカードは使えますか？ | kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? |
Use it in a real shop
Once you've scanned the tables, pick one shop to practice at. The easiest first visit is a touch-panel machine with English — so start with Rokurinsha or Afuri. For a classic button machine where the vocabulary really counts, try Fuunji or Kikanbo.
By your second or third bowl, you won't need this page anymore.