Prepare a bilingual allergy card before entering the restaurant.
Show the card before ordering, not after food arrives. Ask about broth, sauce, toppings, and frying oil when the allergy is serious.
How to ask about allergy ingredients
Use a prepared allergy card, ask before ordering, and avoid dishes where staff cannot confirm hidden broth, sauce, or shared oil.
Fast decision card
Use this before reading the full guide.
Relying on English menu names only.
Asking after the kitchen has already started cooking. Forgetting that broth, dashi, sauce, and shared oil can contain hidden ingredients.
Allergy Card
Useful for communication planning, not medical advice. For severe allergies, use professional medical guidance and avoid uncertain kitchens.
Steps
- Prepare a bilingual allergy card before entering the restaurant.
- Show the card before ordering, not after food arrives.
- Ask about broth, sauce, toppings, and frying oil when the allergy is serious.
- Leave politely if staff cannot confirm the ingredient risk.
Common mistakes
- Relying on English menu names only.
- Asking after the kitchen has already started cooking.
- Forgetting that broth, dashi, sauce, and shared oil can contain hidden ingredients.
- Treating a "maybe" answer as safe.
Next branch
Use the quick steps above first. Open the full detail only when you need examples, edge cases, or the next task.
Detailed guide Full notes, examples, and recovery steps
The fast rule
Do not improvise allergy communication at the table. Prepare the card first, show it early, and make the safe decision before the restaurant has committed to your order.
What to show
Use a simple bilingual card that says the ingredient, severity, and what must be avoided. For example: I cannot eat peanuts. Even a small amount or shared oil can make me sick.
Keep the card visible while ordering. Staff may need to show it to the kitchen.
What to ask about
The visible ingredient is only part of the risk. Ask about:
- Soup stock and dashi.
- Sauces, marinades, and dressings.
- Toppings and powders.
- Shared frying oil.
- Pre-made mixes or packaged sauces.
When to leave
If staff look uncertain, cannot check with the kitchen, or answer only with a vague probably okay, choose another restaurant. In Japan, staff may be polite even when they cannot guarantee safety.
Safer ordering pattern
Pick simpler dishes, avoid complex sauces, and choose restaurants with clear allergen handling when the allergy is serious. Convenience store packaged food may have ingredient labels, but machine translation still needs caution.