Question
I’m planning to travel to Japan for a culinary tour. I want to make sure I avoid any dishes with shellfish as I’m allergic. How do I ask a restaurant staff, “Does this dish contain shellfish?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
この料理（りょうり）に貝（かい）が含（ふく）まれていますか。
Kono ryouri ni kai ga fukumareteimasu ka?
Does this dish contain shellfish?
This is a crucial question when dining out, especially for those with food allergies. “Kono ryouri” means “this dish,” which you can point to on a menu or dish. “Kai” means “shellfish,” and “fukumareteimasu ka” means “is contained.” So, you can use the phrase to check the ingredients of a dish you’re interested in trying.
It’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the word for your allergen and the phrase “fukumareteimasu ka” so you can replace “kai” with anything specific you might be allergic to.
