otōshi お通し
This small dish arriving is not free, not optional, and not going away. Think of it as your entrance fee.
Common variations:
- Potato salad
- Pickled vegetables
- Mystery fish
- Yesterday’s special
If you’re unlucky, you might end up paying a table charge instead (or on top). Don’t expect anything snackable in return.
Signs indicating a charge:
- お通し otōshi
- テーブルチャージ teeburu chāji (table charge)
- 席料 sekiryō (cover charge)
- 席代 sekidai (cover charge)
- サービス料 sābisuryō (service fee)
Signs indicating no charge:
- All of the above + 無い nai (=there is no)
- ノーチャージ nō chāji (no charge)