Why Do Japanese Izakayas Serve Food You Didn’t Order? (Otoshi Explained)

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The first time I took a foreign friend to an izakaya in Tokyo, he whispered to me,

“Did they mess up our order? We didn’t ask for this.”

If this has happened to you too, don’t worry — it confuses almost everyone the first time.

That dish is called “otoshi”.

It is a small appetizer served automatically at many izakayas.

If you don’t want to eat it, or can’t eat it for cultural or dietary reasons, you can politely leave it untouched.

You will usually still be charged for it — but no one will force you to eat it. So don’t feel pressured.

Otoshi is not free. It usually costs around 300–500 yen per person.

Some foreigners get upset when they see otoshi on the bill.

I’ve even seen people argue with staff about it.

But even Japanese customers get otoshi. You are not being treated differently as a tourist.

In many countries, charging for something you didn’t order feels unfair.

But in Japan, otoshi is part of how izakayas work.

It covers your seat, the service, and gives you something to eat while waiting for your main dishes.

So it’s not a trick — it’s simply a different dining culture.

If a small dish suddenly appears, remember:

It’s otoshi — not a mistake, not a scam, not rude.

Just enjoy it, relax, and experience Japan the way locals do.

If otoshi surprised you, there are a few more things in Japan that might confuse you too — like no tipping or paying before eating.