Kizuna By Graceann

Useful Japanese Phrase:

おすすめは何ですか。

⛩️Useful Japanese Phrase: おすすめは何ですか
Osusume wa nan desu ka.

When you’re traveling in Japan, one of the most exciting parts of the trip is trying new food. However, looking at a Japanese menu can feel overwhelming, especially if there are no pictures or English translations. Instead of guessing what to order, you can learn how to say “What do you recommend?” in Japanese.

Instead of guessing what to order, you can ask a very useful phrase:

📌おすすめは何ですか: How do you say “What do you recommend?” in Japanese

Osusume wa nan desu ka?
“What do you recommend?”

This is a simple and polite phrase you can use at restaurants, cafes, ramen shops, izakaya, and even small local food stands.

Watch the skit here

🤷🏻What does　おすすめは何ですか　mean?

Let’s break it down.

👉おすすめ
osusume
recommendation

👉は
wa
topic marker

👉何ですか
nan desu ka
What is it?

So together:

おすすめは何ですか。
What do you recommend?

You can use this when you want to know what the restaurant is known for, what the staff suggests, or what dish is popular.

✍️A polite way to ask

To sound more polite, add すみません at the beginning.

すみません。おすすめは何ですか。
Sumimasen. Osusume wa nan desu ka.
“Excuse me. What do you recommend?”

This is a great phrase for beginners because it is short, useful, and easy to remember.

🍢Simple Restaurant Script

Here is a short example you can use in a real restaurant:

Customer:
すみません。おすすめは何ですか。
Sumimasen. Osusume wa nan desu ka?
Excuse me. What do you recommend?

Staff:
ラーメンがおすすめです。。
Raamen ga osusume desu.
I recommend the ramen!

Customer:
じゃあ、それをおねがいします。
Jaa, sore o onegaishimasu.
Then, I’ll have that please!

💭When should you use this phrase?

For example, it is helpful when you are not sure what to order. It is also useful when you want to try something popular or ask about the restaurant’s specialty.

This phrase can be especially helpful at smaller restaurants where the menu may only be in Japanese.

Another natural version

You may also hear or use:
おすすめがありますか
Osusume ga arimasu ka?
”Do you have any recommendations？”

Both phrases are useful. However, おすすめは何ですか is very direct and easy for beginners to remember.

✨Small Japan Travel Tip

The next time you are in Japan and do not know what to order, try asking this phrase. It is simple, polite, and a great way to discover something delicious.

💡Final phrase to remember

おすすめは何ですか。
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
“What do you recommend?”

🤍Want to Learn More?

If you’re learning Japanese for travel, food, or real-life conversation, I focus on simple, practical lessons with useful phrases like おすすめはなんですか that help you actually use the language..

👉Book a free 15 minute call here to get started.

Another helpful phrase for restaurants is how to ask for an English menu in Japanese.