Japanese Menu Differences: Will This Become More Common?

If you’ve ever traveled to Japan, you probably know the thrill of stepping into a tiny ramen shop tucked between buildings, steam rolling out the door like a warm welcome. But then comes the moment you flip open the Japanese menu—and then the English one—and the prices don’t match. One is more expensive than the other, and it leaves you surprised. 

This exact situation recently blew up online, sparking a debate that’s still rolling. Learn more about the debate over price differences between English- and Japanese-language menus. Is it fair? Is it shady? Let’s dig deeper.

The Gadoya Discovery: A Big Price Gap

One of the biggest sparks in this conversation comes from Gadoya, a ramen restaurant in Osaka known for its vending machine ticket system. Like many ramen shops, you pick your ramen on a touchscreen, buy a ticket, and hand it over to the staff. It’s straightforward and uncomplicated. 

Until it did become a bit complicated. Gadoya’s touchscreen changes its prices depending on which language you choose. On the Japanese-language screen, a medium bowl of regular ramen costs 864 yen (around $5.60), which is pretty typical. But switch to the English menu, and suddenly that same bowl, with the same name and the same size, is priced at 1,500 yen (about $9.72). And that pattern repeats across the menu.

Some differences are so large that they could buy another entire bowl of ramen on the Japanese menu. The extra-large Green Onion Braised Pork Ramen, for example, is 1,455 yen (about $9.43) in Japanese but 2,700 yen (around $17.49) in English. That’s a massive jump just for clicking the English button!

According to Gadoya’s owner, the English menu isn’t simply a translation. The items on it are supposedly “special premium ramen” meant for customers who can’t navigate the customization options available on the Japanese menu. According to him, these versions are designed to be universally appealing, so no explanation is needed.

But even with that explanation, the reaction was pretty intense. Many people felt that ordering in English shouldn’t come with a price tag that feels like a penalty, especially when the dishes are seemingly identical.

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Are the price differences between menus fair?

Let’s be honest: finding out the English-translated one costs more than the Japanese menu doesn’t sit right. Even if you understand that running a business isn’t easy, you might still question why you’re paying more for the same item.

There’s a sense that tourists get judged as people with more spending power or who simply won’t question the prices. While it’s understandable why locals would feel that way–and sometimes this thinking does reflect reality–it can still feel appalling. Even if you were willing to spend money on your trip, you could have used it to cover these extra costs for food and experiences!

When do price differences become okay?

However, different pricing does make sense in certain situations. Restaurants offering English menus spend time and money translating them. Printing separate menus costs more. Staff also often spend longer explaining dishes to visitors. This is especially vital in ramen shops where you can customize your meal while everything runs at lightning speed!

Most of the time, these places are family-run and operate with very thin profit margins. So, a slight difference can also reflect the extra effort needed to help non-Japanese-speaking customers enjoy their dining experience. As long as the difference is reasonable, paying extra can be the tourists’ way of showing appreciation for the consideration the staff is giving!

“Fair” Price Gap Between English and Japanese Menus

If restaurants want to balance fairness and practicality, there are smoother ways to handle pricing than having two dramatically different menus. One option is to add a small, clearly stated translation or service fee so customers understand exactly what they’re paying for. Another option is to avoid separate menus entirely by creating a single menu with photos, simple descriptions, or visual guides that anyone can follow. 

Restaurants could also openly explain why certain prices differ, since transparency goes a long way toward trust. And if translating menus truly costs a lot, raising all prices slightly is a more respectful approach than charging visitors significantly more. Fairness doesn’t have to be complicated. For situations like this, clarity and honesty are key to diffusing the confusion!

Should restaurants in Japan charge different prices?

Charging different prices can be understandable in reasonable amounts. After all, menus translated into different languages do require extra time, work, and resources. For small restaurants, it can add to their business and shopping list of tasks! But the line should be drawn when the price gap is almost (or even more than) double the original price. 

The best thing to do when you’re traveling in Japan? Learn a bit about the local language. Request the Japanese menu at restaurants and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most restaurant owners and staff in Japan are kind, hardworking people who are happy to explain! Ramen definitely tastes best when both the broth and the treatment feel comforting. What do you think about the different prices on English and Japanese menus? Let us know in the comments!