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First of all, what is it called? Table charge? Service charge? Seating charge? Cover charge? As the title says \u201ctable charge\u201d is probably the best translation of what\u2019s called Otoshi (\u304a\u901a\u3057) or Tsukidashi (\u7a81\u304d\u51fa\u3057) in Japanese. So what is this strange table charge in Japan? Some described it as a \u201ccompulsory appetizer\u201d because you\u2019ll get it whether you want it or not!<\/p>\n
Otoshi is a small dish (hot or cold) you\u2019ll get served right after you\u2019ve ordered your food or drinks. It can be anything from a pickled salad, a cube of ice cold tofu to a small bowl of warm miso soup. The cost is usually $2 to $6 per person<\/u>, and they give you this compulsory appetizer – which is really a table charge – for a few reasons:<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s quite easy. You enter the establishment, take a look at the menu and place your order. Then, a couple of minutes later the waitstaff will bring the otoshi along with your drinks. Don\u2019t expect any explanation of why you\u2019re getting a dish you didn\u2019t order and not even what the serving is unless you ask.<\/p>\n When they serve this often weird appetizer you can often hear they drop in the word \u201cotoshi,\u201d and now you\u2019ll know what\u2019s going on! At the end of the night when you get your check, you can see an item of \u00a5200 to \u00a5700 ($1.5 to $6) multiplied by the number of people in your party. This is the Japanese table charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Can you drink the tap water in Tokyo?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The key here is alcohol. It\u2019s usually served in bars and restaurants where you can buy alcohol. It\u2019s most prominent in the traditional Japanese bars called izakayas<\/a>. This is first and foremost a place for drinking, but snacks and food are an integral part of the izakaya experience. So expect otoshi in the form of some slimy beans or pickled vegetables! You don’t get it at fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Taco Bell and the Japanese fast food chain\u00a0Freshness Burger.<\/p>\n You’ll get otoshi and a table charge all over the country. From the metropolitan Tokyo to the tiny izakayas in the rural countryside.<\/p>\n It\u2019s actually called both depending on where in Japan you are. Otoshi (\u304a\u901a\u3057) is probably the most common name<\/strong> for it, and I know for a fact that Otoshi is almost exclusively used in the Kant\u014d region<\/a>\u00a0which of course includes Tokyo. And as far as I know, otoshi is also used north of Kant\u014d and on the island Hokkaido<\/a>.<\/p>\n Then what about tsukidashi (\u7a81\u304d\u51fa\u3057)?<\/strong> From what I\u2019ve been able to find from my research tsukidashi is commonly used in the Kansai region and the West of Japan. To be sure I checked with a friend of mine from Osaka and he confirmed that he was more familiar with tsukidashi<\/em>.<\/p>\n As people move around and also get impulses from TV, radio and the Internet, there are no longer specific regions where you only use one word or the other. But in general, you could say it\u2019s called otoshi from Tokyo and eastwards while they use tsukidashi in western Japan.<\/p>\n The literal translation of otoshi is \u201cto pass.\u201d<\/strong> I couldn\u2019t really understand what \u201cto pass\u201d had to do with a compulsory appetizer so I asked my friend to connect the dots for me. He explained that one theory is that it originally meant \u201cto pass the order to the kitchen\u201d so when you get your otoshi it\u2019s proof that the kitchen received your order. I don\u2019t know if ordering food and not receiving it used to be a common problem back in the day, but I can surely attest to it not being a problem nowadays! The Japanese waitstaff is very attentive and usually provide excellent service.<\/p>\n This is another possible explanation I found online:<\/p>\n Looking at the kanji character used in the word, ot\u014dshi can be thought of as literally meaning \u201cpassing through\u201d (\u901a\u308b t\u014dru), or to make a path between two places (\u901a\u3059 t\u014dsu). This lends weight to notion that the miniature dish was originally intended as something to occupy the customer and keep their hunger at bay between the time they place their order and when their food arrives.<\/p>\n SoraNews24.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The literal translation of tsukidashi is \u201csticking out.\u201d<\/strong> Again, I needed my friend to give me some background. His answer (more like a theory!) was: \u201cSince it sticks out irrespective of the customer’s order.\u201d Not sure if I buy that one!<\/p>\n No one knows exactly, but there are a number of\u00a0different theories. In my opinion, it\u2019s probably a combination of all of them. Let\u2019s just quickly run through some of them.<\/p>\n Cultural<\/strong>: In Japan, you snack while you drink. That\u2019s how it goes, end of discussion. If this is your starting point, I can see something like otoshi come into existence. If everybody eats some sort of snack anyway why not make a bunch of it and make it mandatory?<\/p>\n Historical<\/strong>: When you look at the literal meanings you have a couple of theories. One is that the otoshi is proof that your order got delivered to the kitchen. The other is that the otoshi is a fast and easy filler you get while you wait for your main order.<\/p>\n Commercial<\/strong>: I think this is the most important one. Izakayas used to be small bars with few tables. If you have strict limitations on the number of guests, you\u2019re able to serve it\u2019s important that you get good value out of the guests you do serve. So to drive up the bill, they slap on a compulsory appetizer per person, and with a party of four, they make an extra $8 to $24.<\/p>\n There\u2019s some disagreement here, but the answer is actually: Yes, in theory. When the otoshi arrives at the table, you can refuse it. You can not do it after you receive the check, even if you haven\u2019t touched it.<\/p>\n So legally this \u201ccompulsory appetizer\u201d can be refused, but does that mean you should do it? I had a chat with my friend and asked about his feelings on the subject. This is a copy\/paste from our conversation on Facebook:<\/p>\n Me<\/strong>: Would you ever refuse otoshi? As you probably know, Japan is a very polite society where they value collectivism and not stepping out of line. To refuse otoshi is a major faux pas and personally, I would never ever do it. Not only would I find it extremely embarrassing (not worth it to save $5!) but when I visit other countries and cultures I like to assimilate and play by the local rules.<\/p>\n When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Besides, even though I\u2019ve had a lot of weird otoshi, I really like the tradition. Let\u2019s take a quick look at what\u2019s good about the Japanese table charge.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t mind this phenomenon at all. But I must admit I\u2019m pretty easy-going when it comes to adhering to local customs. For me, it\u2019s one of the main reasons I travel. I like to experience new cultures and different ways of doing things. What I like about otoshi:<\/p>\n I\u2019ve only done this once myself (the squid legs!), and then I just paid two table charges, but I know some places offer free refills, for example, miso soup. If\u00a0you get something, you really love I would definitely ask what it\u2019s called (so you can order it in the future) and possible to get some more.<\/p>\n Although there can be somewhat of a language barrier, I would still ask. People usually like it when you appreciate their food. And you\u2019d be amazed how much you can communicate with just a few English words and some hand gestures.<\/p>\n This is really not common. The otoshi is usually made on a daily basis, and the same otoshi is served the whole day. If you have some dietary restrictions or allergies, you could always ask to get something else.<\/p>\n One time I went to a bare with a vegetarian friend of mine and our otoshi consisted of some sort of salad in vinegar and the small cute fish you see below. She decided only to eat the salad and not touch the fish. I think a pragmatic approach will get you far.<\/p>\n No, you don\u2019t have to. If you\u2019re full or don\u2019t like the otoshi, you don\u2019t have to eat it. No one will get offended. But on a personal note, I would suggest you try different stuff and venture out of your comfort zone. I have to admit when I got the small slimy squid legs I wasn\u2019t thrilled at first but I tried, and I liked it. Maybe you\u2019ll find a new dish you really like?<\/p>\n But just remember, even if you don\u2019t touch your otoshi you still have to pay for it.<\/p>\n They love to serve pickled dishes with vinegar. Check out tsukemono<\/a>\u00a0to see a common type of otoshi.<\/p>\n\n
How Does it Work?<\/h2>\n
Where is Otoshi Served?<\/h2>\n
Is it Called Otoshi or Tsukidashi?<\/h2>\n
What Do Otoshi and Tsukidashi Mean? What\u2019s the Literal Translation?<\/h2>\n
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/thetokyotourist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Table-Charge-Japan-Veggies-Large.jpg\")
Why Did Otoshi Start?<\/h2>\n
Can You Refuse the Otoshi and Thus the Table Charge?<\/h2>\n
\nMasaya<\/strong>: I have never heard anyone refusing it
\nMasaya<\/strong>: I would never ever do it
\nMe:\u00a0<\/strong>What if I do it? \ud83d\ude42
\nMasaya<\/strong>: And I’d hate to see anyone at my table refusing it. It’d spoil the dinner!<\/p>\nNice Things About Otoshi<\/h2>\n
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Can You Order More Otoshi?<\/h2>\n
Can You Chose Your Otoshi?<\/h2>\n
![\"Otoshi.](\"https:\/\/thetokyotourist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Table-Charge-Japan-Otoshi-Cute-Fish-Large.jpg\")
Do You Have to Eat the Otoshi?<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s Usually Served as Otoshi?<\/h2>\n
![\"Table](\"https:\/\/thetokyotourist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Table-Charge-Japan-Otoshi-Ice-Cold-Tofu-Large.jpg\")
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