Lately, lots of these lessons have been talking about grammar.

Which is kind of... well... boring.

Instead, let's talk about something fun.

Like, for example, my favorite place in Japan:

居酒屋！
izakaya

There's no real word for izakaya in English, I think.

The (horrible) definition on Weblio says it's "a (Japanese-style) bar," and they also include this most misleading phrase:

"An izakaya is the equivalent of an English pub, where they serve snacks to accompany your drinks."

But I think an izakaya is closer to a restaurant than it is to a bar.

For one thing, you very rarely will meet new people at an izakaya.

Often you'll be sitting in private booths, too.

There's something that I find so relaxing about having a cheap beer at one of these laidback dining establishments.

Causing me to drink and eat more often than I probably should... whenever I'm in Japan, at least.

Also causing me to have no money for functional-people stuff like clothes and movie tickets.

So yeah, let's look at...

7 Phrases You Can Straight-Up Memorize for Use at Izakaya and Restaurants

#1

すいません！
sumimasen!
Excuse me.

(Note: You can pretty much yell this while you're in an izakaya to get a waiter's attention... for example, when you want to order. Don't expect them to come and check on you like they do in American restaurants... which is really a flawed system, if you think about it.)

#2

飲み放題いくらですか。
nomihoudai ikura desu ka.
How much is the all-you-can-drink course?
(Literally: "all-you-can-drink + how much + is + か")
(Note: Replace 飲み放題 with whatever item you want to know the price of.)

#3

とりあえず生二つください。
toriaezu nama futatsu kudasai.
Could we get two beers to start, please?
(Literally: "for the time being + raw/draft + two + please.")

(Note: This is pretty much a set phrase at izakaya... I'm not sure why, but beer is the go-to first drink at izakaya in Japan [though I also have a lot of friends that don't drink... so don't feel pressured!].)
(Note #2: Those little things of food are called お通し [otooshi], which is basically a little bit of food they forcefully give you when you sit down at anizakaya, as a sort of "seating fee." Sometimes it's tasty food, like fresh edamame... other times, well...)

#4

唐揚げ一つとフライドポテト一つください。
karaage hitotsu to furaido poteto hitotsu kudasai.
One order of fried chicken and one order of french fries, please.
(Literally: "fried chicken + one + and + french fries + one + please.")

(Note: Yeah, they eat a lot of fried chicken and french fries at these places. Not sure why. You can replace any food item before 一つ, or say 二つ [futatsu] if you want two, 三つ [mittsu] if you want three, and so on... save the ください for the end, because this indicates not only "please," but also that you're done ordering.)
(Note #2: That pic is not really regular "french fries," it's さつまいも (satsumaimo, "sweet potato"), and the dipping sauce is a mix of cream cheese and 黒蜜 (kuromitsu), which is like a black, sugary syrup.)

#5

これ下げてもらえますか。
kore sagete moraemasu ka.
Could you take this/these away, please?
(Literally: "this + lower + could I receive + か.")
(Note: Say this when you want them to take away old plates and/or glasses.)

#6

注文いいですか。
chuumon ii desu ka.
Is it all right to order right now?
(Literally: "order + good + is + か.")

(Note: When someone comes by to drop off food at your table, for example, you can say this if you want to order something right then.)

#7

お会計お願いします。
okaikei onegaishimasu.
Could I get the check, please?
(Literally: "check + please.")

If you practice saying these phrases with a language exchange partner or teacher, get your pronunciation perfected, and drill this all into your brain, you can probably impress some people during your next trip to Japan!

Good luck ^_^

Bonus Phrases

居酒屋行こう。
いざかや　いこう。
Let's go to an izakaya.

お通しあげる。
おとおし　あげる。
You can have my otoshi.
Note:お通し is actually a seating fee, but it also comes with a tiny plate of food you receive when sitting down.

りんご三つ買ってきて。
りんご　みっつ　かって　きて。
Will you go buy three apples?

さつまいも食べたい。
さつまいも　たべたい。
I feel like eating sweet potato. // I want to eat sweet potato.

黒蜜って何からできてんの？
くろみつ　って　なに　から　できてん　の？
What is kuromitsu made of?
Literally: kuromitsu + って + what + from + making + の？
Note:Kuromitsu is like a brown/black sugary honey. Also, this できてんの？ is a casual abbreviation of できているの？