Food & Drink

Introduction

Food is central to Japanese culture, and the slang reflects it. From 飯テロ (food terrorism = posting delicious-looking food photos) to 別腹 (a separate stomach for dessert), food slang is everywhere.

This chapter covers the slang Japanese people use when talking about food, eating out, and drinking.

Themes

All Japanese Slang in This Chapter (80)

1. 飯テロ めしテロ Posting mouthwatering food photos on social media at night or other inconvenient times to torment hungry viewers.
2. 別腹 べつばら The concept of having a 'separate stomach' for dessert — always having room for sweets even when full.
3. 映え ばえ Photogenic or Instagram-worthy — used to describe food, scenery, or anything that looks great in photos.
4. グルメ グルメ Fine food or gourmet cuisine; also used to describe a person who appreciates and seeks out good food — a foodie.
5. 食レポ しょくレポ A food review or tasting report, especially on TV, YouTube, or social media where someone describes the taste and experience of eating.
6. 食い倒れ くいだおれ Eating yourself into financial ruin through excessive spending on food; used more casually to describe a food binge or splurge.
7. 爆食 ばくしょく Binge eating; consuming a massive amount of food in one sitting, often used humorously to describe indulging without restraint.
8. チル飲み チルのみ A relaxed, low-key drinking session with friends, emphasizing a calm and easygoing atmosphere rather than rowdy partying.
9. 宅飲み たくのみ Drinking at home instead of going out to bars or izakayas, often with friends bringing their own drinks and snacks.
10. 飲みニケーション のみニケーション Building relationships and rapport with coworkers through after-work drinking sessions — a portmanteau of 'drinking' and 'communication.'
11. ワンオペ ワンオペ Running an entire operation single-handedly, originally describing lone workers at chain restaurants, now also used for solo parenting.
12. ガッツリ ガッツリ Hearty, filling, and substantial — used to describe a big, satisfying meal that really fills you up.
13. 大盛り おおもり A large or extra-large portion size at a restaurant, usually available for free or a small additional charge.
14. 替え玉 かえだま An extra serving of noodles added to your remaining ramen broth — a refill system originating from Hakata-style ramen shops.
15. ドカ食い ドカぐい Stress eating or binge eating; wolfing down huge amounts of food, often as an emotional response to frustration or exhaustion.
16. チェーン店 チェーンてん A chain restaurant or franchise store — a familiar nationwide brand like Yoshinoya, Gusto, or Starbucks.
17. 食べ放題 たべほうだい All-you-can-eat buffet or unlimited eating deal at a restaurant, typically with a set price and time limit.
18. 飲み放題 のみほうだい All-you-can-drink deal at an izakaya or restaurant, usually with a time limit and set price — a cornerstone of Japanese drinking culture.
19. コンビニ飯 コンビニめし A meal bought at a convenience store — a perfectly acceptable and often surprisingly high-quality meal option in Japan.
20. シメ シメ The final meal eaten to cap off a night of drinking — typically ramen, ochazuke, or udon.
21. ハシゴ酒 ハシゴざけ Bar hopping; going from one bar or izakaya to the next in a single night, like climbing rungs of a ladder.
22. ほろ酔い ほろよい Pleasantly tipsy; the nice buzz stage of drinking where you feel warm and happy but not yet drunk.
23. 二日酔い ふつかよい Hangover — the unpleasant physical aftermath of drinking too much alcohol the night before.
24. ヘルシー ヘルシー Healthy food or lifestyle choice — a trendy, positive descriptor for nutritious and diet-conscious options.
25. ジャンク ジャンク Junk food — greasy, unhealthy but delicious comfort food like burgers, fried chicken, pizza, and snacks.
26. スイーツ スイーツ Sweets, desserts, and trendy confections — a fashionable term that carries a more stylish image than traditional お菓子.
27. ランチ難民 ランチなんみん A person wandering around during lunch hour unable to find an available restaurant seat, especially in busy business districts.
28. ぼっち飯 ぼっちめし Eating alone, especially at school or work — can carry a lonely nuance, though solo dining is increasingly embraced.
29. ギルティフリー ギルティフリー Guilt-free food or snack — marketed as healthy, low-calorie, or virtuous so you can enjoy it without feeling guilty.
30. ヌン活 ヌンかつ The hobby of visiting hotels and cafes to enjoy elaborate afternoon tea sets — afternoon tea hopping as a lifestyle activity.
31. 推し活グルメ おしかつグルメ Themed food and drinks tied to fan activities — character cafe menus, collaboration desserts, and idol-themed treats.
32. 無限ピーマン むげんピーマン A viral easy recipe for seasoned green peppers that you can eat endlessly — the name became a template for any addictively simple vegetab...
33. ずぼら飯 ずぼらめし A lazy person's quick and easy meal made with minimal effort and simple ingredients — comfort food for when you can't be bothered to cook...
34. 時短レシピ じたんレシピ Time-saving shortcut recipe designed for busy people — featuring quick cooking methods, fewer steps, and minimal ingredients.
35. 作り置き つくりおき Meal prep or batch cooking done in advance — typically preparing multiple side dishes on the weekend to eat throughout the workweek.
36. お取り寄せ おとりよせ Ordering specialty or artisanal food from other regions of Japan for home delivery — a way to enjoy famous local delicacies without trave...
37. ご当地グルメ ごとうちグルメ Local specialty food unique to a specific region of Japan — a major draw for domestic tourism and regional pride.
38. B級グルメ ビーきゅうグルメ Cheap but delicious local street food and casual fare — unpretentious, affordable comfort food celebrated for flavor over presentation.
39. モーニング モーニング A breakfast set deal at a cafe where ordering a drink comes with free or cheap toast, eggs, and sides — a beloved cafe culture tradition.
40. 推しメニュー おしメニュー Your personal go-to or favorite menu item at a restaurant — the dish you always order and recommend to others.
41. ワンコイン ワンコイン A meal or item that costs just one coin — specifically 500 yen or less. Used to describe budget-friendly lunch deals.
42. 食テロ しょくテロ Posting mouthwatering food photos late at night on social media, torturing hungry viewers — 'food terrorism.'
43. 夜食 やしょく A late-night snack or midnight meal eaten after dinner, often associated with guilt and indulgence.
44. 居酒屋 いざかや A Japanese-style pub or tavern serving drinks alongside a wide variety of small dishes, central to Japan's social drinking culture.
45. カフェ巡り カフェめぐり Café hopping — visiting multiple cafés as a hobby, often to enjoy different atmospheres, speciality drinks, and photogenic interiors.
46. 味変 あじへん Changing a dish's flavor partway through eating by adding condiments, toppings, or seasonings to create a fresh taste experience.
47. 背徳飯 はいとくめし A sinfully indulgent guilty-pleasure meal — the kind of food you know is terrible for you but tastes heavenly.
48. 飯ウマ めしウマ Delicious food; an exclamation that the food tastes amazing. Short for 飯がうまい (the food is good).
49. 激辛 げきから Extremely spicy — used to describe food that is intensely hot, or spice challenge menus at restaurants.
50. 激うま げきうま Insanely delicious — an emphatic way to say something tastes incredibly good.
51. 鬼リピ おにリピ Obsessively reordering or repurchasing the same item — repeat-buying something because it is just that good.
52. ペロリ ペロリ Devouring a meal effortlessly and quickly — polishing off a dish in no time as if it were nothing.
53. パ活 パかつ Bread-baking or bakery-hopping as a hobby — actively seeking out and enjoying artisan bakeries.
54. ラー活 ラーかつ Ramen-shop hopping as a hobby — actively visiting different ramen restaurants to compare styles and find favorites.
55. サク飲み サクのみ A quick, casual drink — grabbing one or two drinks before heading home, without committing to a full drinking session.
56. 角打ち かくうち Drinking at a liquor shop's standing bar — buying a drink at a bottle shop and enjoying it on the premises.
57. センベロ センベロ Getting pleasantly drunk for just 1,000 yen — describes ultra-cheap bars and izakayas where you can eat and drink on a tiny budget.
58. ネオ居酒屋 ネオいざかや A trendy, modern-style izakaya with stylish interiors, creative dishes, and a hip atmosphere — a new-wave Japanese pub.
59. ペアリング ペアリング Food and drink pairing — a curated dining experience where each course is matched with a complementary beverage.
60. 映えスイーツ ばえスイーツ Instagrammable photogenic desserts — sweets designed to look stunning in photos, often with colorful or elaborate presentation.
61. 罪悪感ゼロ ざいあくかんゼロ Zero guilt — used to describe healthy or low-calorie snacks and desserts that you can enjoy without feeling bad.
62. 完飲 かんいん Drinking every last drop — finishing a bowl of ramen soup or a beverage completely without leaving anything behind.
63. 完食 かんしょく Finishing every last bite of a dish — eating absolutely everything on your plate, especially an impressively large portion.
64. チートデイ チートデイ Cheat day — a planned break from dieting where you eat freely and guilt-free.
65. フードコート フードコート A food court — the communal dining area in a shopping mall or commercial facility with multiple restaurant counters.
66. テイクアウト テイクアウト Takeout — getting food to go rather than eating at the restaurant.
67. UberEats勢 ウーバーイーツぜい People who constantly order food delivery through Uber Eats — the 'Uber Eats faction' who rely on delivery instead of cooking.
68. 冷凍食品ガチ勢 れいとうしょくひんガチぜい A serious frozen food connoisseur — someone who is deeply knowledgeable about and committed to frozen foods.
69. 夜パフェ よるパフェ Late-night parfait — the trend of enjoying elaborate parfaits after dinner or drinks, especially popular in Sapporo.
70. モグモグタイム モグモグタイム Munching time or snacking time — a playful way to describe a snack break, popularized by the Japanese curling team.
71. エナドリ エナドリ Energy drink — the abbreviated slang for エナジードリンク, referring to drinks like Monster, Red Bull, or ZONe.
72. ストゼロ ストゼロ Strong Zero — Suntory's popular high-alcohol (9%) canned chuhai, infamous for being extremely cheap and potent.
73. レモサワ レモサワ Lemon sour — a hugely popular lemon-flavored shochu cocktail that has become Japan's go-to casual drink.
74. つまみ つまみ Snacks or small bites eaten alongside alcoholic drinks — bar food, drinking nibbles.
75. お一人様 おひとりさま Solo dining or being a solo customer — eating out, going to karaoke, or enjoying activities by yourself.
76. モッパン モッパン Mukbang — an eating broadcast where someone eats large amounts of food on camera, originating from Korean internet culture.
77. ASMR飯 エーエスエムアールめし ASMR eating content — food videos that focus on satisfying crunchy, slurpy, or chewy sounds to trigger a relaxing sensory response.
78. バズ飯 バズめし A viral recipe or dish that blew up on social media — food that went viral and everyone is making or trying.
79. コンカフェ コンカフェ A concept café — a themed café such as a maid café, anime-themed café, or other themed dining experience.
80. サ飯 サめし The post-sauna meal — food eaten after a sauna session, considered the ultimate reward of the sauna experience.