Ekiben 駅弁

Food 食 · Stop F03

アレルギー

Food allergies and diets in Japanese

Nishiki Market is called "Kyoto's kitchen." Before you dig in, make sure what's on your plate is safe for you. Explain an allergy or diet, ask what's in a dish, and order without an ingredient.

  • 錦市場 · Set in Nishiki Market, Kyoto
  • 6-minute lesson
  • Free in the app

Phrases

ebi no arerugii ga arimasu

I'm allergic to shrimp.

Swap in your allergen: 卵 (tamago) egg, 小麦 (komugi) wheat, 落花生 (rakkasei) peanut. Your Allergy & Diet card has more.

Pattern: 〜のアレルギーがあります

えびebi · shrimpのno · 's / ofアレルギーarerugii · allergyがga · (subject)ありますarimasu · (I) have

ネギぬきでおねがいします

negi nuki de onegaishimasu

No green onions, please.

Swap in any ingredient: わさび抜き = no wasabi. For a real allergy, say the allergy phrase too.

Pattern: 〜抜きでお願いします

ネギnegi · green onion抜きnuki · left outでde · asお願いしますonegaishimasu · please

にくはたべられません

niku wa taberaremasen

I can't eat meat.

Swap in 豚肉 (butaniku) pork or 魚 (sakana) fish. Clear and polite, whatever your reason.

Pattern: 〜は食べられません

肉niku · meatはwa · (topic)食べられませんtaberaremasen · can't eat

これにたまごははいっていますか？

kore ni tamago wa haitte imasu ka?

Does this have egg in it?

Point at the dish. Listen for 入っています (it does) or 入っていません (it doesn't).

Pattern: これに〜は入っていますか？

これにkore ni · in this卵tamago · eggはwa · (topic)入ってhaitte · put inいますかimasu ka · is it?

すこしでもだめです

sukoshi demo dame desu

Not even a little.

Add this after your allergy so staff know it's serious, not just a dislike.

少しsukoshi · a littleでもdemo · evenだめdame · no goodですdesu · it is

さかなのだしもだめです

sakana no dashi mo dame desu

No fish stock either.

For vegetarians: dashi (soup stock) is usually made from fish, even in dishes with no meat.

魚sakana · fishのno · 's / ofだしdashi · soup stockもmo · alsoだめですdame desu · is no good

What you’ll hear

Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.

arerugii wa gozaimasu ka?

Do you have any allergies?

Some restaurants ask before you order, especially for set courses.

You

ebi no arerugii ga arimasu

I'm allergic to shrimp.

chuubou ni kakunin shite mairimasu

I'll check with the kitchen.

A good sign: they're taking your question seriously.

You

onegaishimasu

Yes, please.

dashi ni sakana o tsukatte imasu

The broth is made with fish.

Key for vegetarians: soups and sauces that look meat-free often use fish stock.

You

dewa, yamete okimasu

Then I'll skip it.

Culture tip

Hidden Fish Stock

Dashi, the stock in miso soup, noodle broth and many sauces, is usually made from bonito flakes or other fish. A dish with no visible meat may still contain fish, so vegetarians should ask about the broth too. Your free Allergy & Diet card in My Cards spells it out.

“If a dish has no visible meat or fish, it's safe for vegetarians in Japan.”

Practice scene

Safe to Eat?

A small udon counter at Nishiki Market. You're allergic to shrimp and egg, and you'd rather skip green onions.

Mrs. Okada · Udon shop owner

  1. irasshaimase. gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?

    Hello. Are you ready to order?

  2. Your turn: Before ordering, tell her about your shrimp allergy.

    ebi no arerugii ga arimasu

    I'm allergic to shrimp.

  3. tenpura udon ni wa ebi ga haitte imasu. kitsune udon wa ikaga desu ka?

    The tempura udon has shrimp. How about kitsune udon?

  4. Your turn: You're allergic to egg too. Point at the kitsune udon and check.

    kore ni tamago wa haitte imasu ka?

    Does this have egg in it?

  5. tamago wa haitte imasen. negi wa daijoubu desu ka?

    There's no egg in it. Are green onions okay?

  6. Your turn: Order it without green onions.

    negi nuki de onegaishimasu

    No green onions, please.

  7. kashikomarimashita. negi nuki no kitsune udon desu ne.

    Got it. Kitsune udon with no green onions.

Phrases from Ekiben content v3