SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ja-recommend

How do you ask a restaurant chef 'What do you recommend?' in Japanese?

Osusume wa nan desu ka. (おすすめは何ですか。)

Start playing free

  1. Osusume wa doko desu ka. (おすすめはどこですか。)
  2. Osusume wa nan desu ka. (おすすめは何ですか。) ✔
  3. Osusume wa ikura desu ka. (おすすめはいくらですか。)

Why: Nan means what, so you are asking what the recommendation is. The wrong choices would ask where it is and how much it costs.

Huh, didn't know that: In NHK's skit, the chef's recommendation is a seafood bowl with salmon roe and sea urchin.

The dad joke
What did the sushi say to the bee? Wassabee!
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Osusume wa nan desu ka. (おすすめは何ですか。). Nan means what, so you are asking what the recommendation is. The wrong choices would ask where it is and how much it costs.

  1. NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese, Lesson 20 www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/lesson/en/lessons/20.html
    Osusume wa nan desu ka. What do you recommend?
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

LanguagesWhich question asks 'Which one is the most popular?' in Japanese?LanguagesHow do you ask a sushi chef 'Please don't put wasabi in' in Japanese?LanguagesHow do you ask 'How do I eat this?' at a Japanese restaurant?

That's stuff everyone should know.