How to order sake in an izakaya
In an izakaya you order sake by the serving: 一合 (ichi-gō, 180 ml) is the usual small carafe, グラス is a glass, and for most sake you can choose it chilled (冷酒) or warm (お燗); point at the menu line and say 「これをください」 (kore o kudasai, "this one, please").
What sizes can I order?
Sake is sold by the serving, not by the bottle. A 一合 comes in a small flask (徳利, tokkuri) with small cups (お猪口, ochoko) to pour into. Two people can share one, and a second flask is easy to add.
| Menu word | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| グラス | about one serving | The size differs by shop. Some menus print it in ml. |
| 一合 (ichi-gō) | 180 ml | The standard small carafe |
| 二合 (ni-gō) | 360 ml | For two or three people |
| 飲み比べ (nomikurabe) | three small pours | A way to try several styles |
| 四合瓶 / ボトル | 720 ml | A full bottle, for a group |
The prices are per serving, so a 一合 and a 二合 of the same sake are two different prices on one line. See how to read a Japanese sake menu for the other words on the line.
How do I choose the temperature?
The menu may show the temperature next to the drink, or the staff may ask. The main words:
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 冷酒 | reishu | Chilled sake |
| 冷や | hiya | Room temperature. On a sake menu it does not mean cold. |
| ぬる燗 | nurukan | Lukewarm, about 40 °C |
| 熱燗 | atsukan | Hot, about 50 °C |
As a rule, fragrant sake such as ginjo and daiginjo is best chilled, while rich junmai and honjozo can be good warm. If you are unsure, ask for the staff’s choice: 「おすすめの温度でお願いします」. More in temperature and how to drink and how to warm sake.
What can I say?
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| これをください | kore o kudasai | This one, please (pointing at the menu) |
| 一合ください | ichi-gō kudasai | One gō, please |
| 冷たいのでお願いします | tsumetai no de onegai shimasu | Chilled, please |
| お燗でお願いします | okan de onegai shimasu | Warm, please |
| 辛口でおすすめはありますか | karakuchi de osusume wa arimasu ka | Do you have a dry one you recommend? |
| 飲み比べはできますか | nomikurabe wa dekimasu ka | Can I have a tasting set? |
| お水をください | omizu o kudasai | Water, please |
| お会計をお願いします | okaikei o onegai shimasu | The bill, please |
Water has its own tradition: a glass of water drunk between sips of sake is called 和らぎ水 (yawaragi-mizu), and asking for it is normal.
What if I cannot read the menu?
Photograph the menu with KIKI’s menu scan. Tap a drink and choose 注文カード (order card): it shows the line in large Japanese with 「これをください」 and the number you want, ready to show the staff. How the menu scan works.
Good to know
- Many izakaya serve a small starter with a cover charge (お通し, otoshi) that is not on the menu. It is usual, and it is added to the bill.
- It is common to pour sake for each other rather than for yourself. You can always pour your own.
- The word for “cheers” is 乾杯 (kanpai).