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Japan Know How archive

otoshi

Japanese Food

Why a Small Plate Arrives Before You Order

The unexplained dish served at an izakaya usually is not free. Learn how an otoshi works, where its per-person price appears, when you can decline it, and how to calculate the real cost before sitting down.

Kaori Miyata

Japanese Food

Ordering, Paying and the Rules Nobody States

Ticket machines, seat charges, no tipping, and paying at the register instead of the table. The systems behind a Japanese meal, venue by venue.

Kaori Miyata