How to Say 'No Onions, Please' and 'Extra Sauce' in Japanese
Learn to customize your food order in Japanese by requesting no onions or extra sauce, using the versatile pattern ~nuki de and ~oomori de.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When ordering food in Japan, you might want to customize your dish to suit your preferences. Whether you dislike onions or just want more sauce, knowing how to express these requests politely in Japanese is essential. This lesson teaches you two key patterns: ~nuki de for 'without ~' and ~oomori de for 'extra ~'. You'll learn to say 'No onions, please' and 'Extra sauce' naturally, and understand how to use these patterns with other ingredients. By the end, you'll be able to confidently modify your order at restaurants, izakayas, or fast-food counters.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a dish without a specific ingredient using ~nuki de.
- request extra sauce or other condiments using ~oomori de.
- understand and respond to a server's questions about customizing my order.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
玉ねぎ抜きでお願いします。
No onions, please.
Tamanegi nuki de onegaishimasu.
Use this when ordering a dish and you want it without onions. 抜き (nuki) means 'without' or 'removed'.
ソース大盛りでお願いします。
Extra sauce, please.
Sōsu ōmori de onegaishimasu.
Use this to ask for a larger portion of sauce. 大盛り (ōmori) means 'large serving' or 'extra portion'.
玉ねぎ抜きで。
Without onions.
Tamanegi nuki de.
A shorter, casual version. You can use this with friends or in casual settings, but it's still polite enough for many restaurants.
ソース大盛りで。
Extra sauce.
Sōsu ōmori de.
Short and casual. Use when you're familiar with the staff or in a quick-service setting.
玉ねぎは抜いてもらえますか？
Could you leave out the onions?
Tamanegi wa nuite moraemasu ka?
A more polite request form. Use this when you want to be extra courteous or if the restaurant seems formal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern for requesting without an ingredient is: [ingredient] + 抜き (nuki) + で (de) + お願いします (onegaishimasu). For example, 玉ねぎ抜きでお願いします (tamanegi nuki de onegaishimasu) means 'No onions, please.' You can replace 玉ねぎ (tamanegi) with other ingredients, such as にんじん (ninjin, carrot) or チーズ (chīzu, cheese). For extra portions, use [item] + 大盛り (ōmori) + で + お願いします. For instance, ソース大盛りでお願いします (sōsu ōmori de onegaishimasu) means 'Extra sauce, please.' You can also use 大盛り for rice: ご飯大盛りで (gohan ōmori de) means 'Extra rice.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when ordering food at restaurants, cafes, or fast-food places. The ~nuki de pattern is perfect for omitting ingredients you don't like or can't eat. However, note that for severe allergies, you should clearly explain your allergy, as ~nuki de might not guarantee complete removal. The ~ōmori de pattern is for requesting a larger portion of a specific item, like sauce, dressing, or rice. It's not typically used for main dishes; for a larger main dish, you'd say 大盛り (ōmori) alone. For example, ラーメン大盛りで (rāmen ōmori de) means 'Large ramen, please.' Both patterns are polite when followed by お願いします (onegaishimasu). In casual situations, you can drop お願いします and just say the phrase with a rising intonation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、玉ねぎ抜きでお願いします。
Excuse me, no onions, please.Sumimasen, tamanegi nuki de onegaishimasu.かしこまりました。ソースはどうしますか？
Certainly. What about the sauce?Kashikomarimashita. Sōsu wa dō shimasu ka?ソース大盛りでお願いします。
Extra sauce, please.Sōsu ōmori de onegaishimasu.はい、玉ねぎ抜き、ソース大盛りですね。少々お待ちください。
Yes, no onions and extra sauce. Please wait a moment.Hai, tamanegi nuki, sōsu ōmori desu ne. Shōshō omachi kudasai.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, customizing orders is generally accepted, but it's important to be polite. Using お願いします (onegaishimasu) adds politeness. Some traditional restaurants may have set dishes that cannot be modified, so it's best to ask politely if customization is possible. Also, the ~nuki pattern is common for removing ingredients, but for allergies, clearly state your allergy to avoid misunderstandings. Tipping is not customary, so a polite request is sufficient.
One thing to watch for
Using 抜き (nuki) for extra portions, e.g., ソース抜き (sōsu nuki) to mean 'extra sauce'.
Try this instead: 抜き means 'without', so ソース抜き would mean 'no sauce'. For extra, use 大盛り (ōmori): ソース大盛り (sōsu ōmori).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'No cheese, please' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
チーズ抜きでお願いします。 (Chīzu nuki de onegaishimasu.)
This uses the pattern [ingredient] + 抜き + で + お願いします. チーズ (chīzu) means cheese. You could also say チーズ抜きで (chīzu nuki de) in casual settings.
2What does ソース大盛りで mean?
Show a sample answer
Extra sauce.
ソース (sōsu) means sauce, and 大盛り (ōmori) means large portion. So it means 'extra sauce' or 'large serving of sauce'. It's a request for more sauce.
3How would you politely ask 'Could you leave out the onions?' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
玉ねぎは抜いてもらえますか？ (Tamanegi wa nuite moraemasu ka?)
This uses the te-form of 抜く (nuku) + もらえますか (moraemasu ka), meaning 'could you do for me?'. It's a polite request. Alternatively, 玉ねぎ抜きでお願いします is also polite.
Use ~nuki de for 'without' and ~ōmori de for 'extra' when customizing your food order in Japanese. Always add お願いします for politeness.
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