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How to Say ‘Restaurant / diner’ in Japanese

食堂

shokudou

[SHOH-koo-doh]

🇯🇵 In Japan: 食堂 suggests a casual, inexpensive eatery or a cafeteria, like a set-meal diner or a staff canteen. These places rarely take bookings; for reservations you'll more often be calling a レストラン "restaurant" or an 居酒屋 "izakaya, Japanese pub".

Phrase Breakdown

食堂

shokudou

[SHOH-koo-doh]

dining hall; cafeteria; diner

A place where meals are served, such as a casual restaurant or canteen.

Example

駅の近くの食堂で昼ご飯を食べました。

I ate lunch at a diner near the station.

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