Japanese restaurant names

Tips for naming a japanese restaurant

• Choose one Japanese word, such as kaze, yama, or umi, and keep the rest of the name simple in English.
• Seasonal or nature words signal the care and restraint guests expect from Japanese cooking.
• If you serve ramen, izakaya, or donburi, name that style in the business name or tagline so the menu is clear at a glance.
• Keep romanization consistent with the menu and signage, since guests will search for exactly what they see.
• Calm, short names read as more premium than long compound names in this category.

What to avoid

• Avoid anime, samurai, or ninja imagery in the name, which reads as novelty rather than craft.
• Avoid mixing several unrelated Japanese words in one name, since it can sound like a random list.
• Avoid names so close to well-known ramen or sushi chains that search results blend your listing with theirs.

Before you commit to a name

Search the name with your city on Google and Maps, check your state's business registry and the USPTO trademark database, and confirm the domain and social handles are free. These ideas are starting points; any of them may already be in use near you.

Once it's yours, put it on a free menu template and give it a home guests can order from directly with commission-free online ordering.