料理はどうでしたか？
ryouri wa dou deshita ka?
The English phrase "how was the food?" is translated into Japanese as 料理はどうでしたか？ (ryouri wa dou deshita ka?)
This phrase is a question used to ask someone for their opinion about a meal they have already eaten. It is typically used by a host, a waiter or a friend after a meal has been completed to check on the person's satisfaction.
Which one should you use?
While 料理はどうでしたか？ specifically asks about the food, you may also hear ご馳走 は いかがでした か？ (How was the meal?), which is a polite expression or ご飯 は いかがでした か？ (How was the rice or meal?). In casual settings with friends or family, you can drop the polite auxiliary and use 料理はどうだった？
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For higher levels of politeness that can be used with anyone, you can use ご馳走 は いかがでした か？ For informal situations with friends or people you feel comfortable with, use ごちそう は どうだった？ or ごはん は どうだった？
How does it change in a sentence?
The component どうでしたか is the polite past tense form of the question "how was it?"
How do you pronounce it?
ryouri wa dou deshita ka?
Did you know?
- The polite word ご馳走 (gochisou) contains a character that means 'to run', referring to the historical effort of running around to gather ingredients for a guest.
- While asking 'how was the food?' is common for hosts, in Japan, it is also a standard custom for a guest to proactively say ご馳走様でした (gochisousama deshita) to signal they have finished eating and to thank the host.
- In Japan, it is common to answer this question with a vague positive like 美味しかった (it was delicious) even if the food was mediocre, as direct criticism can be seen as rude.
Examples in context
- 料理はどうでしたか？Ryōri wa dō deshita ka?How was the food?
- さっきの料理はどうでしたか？Sakki no ryōri wa dō deshita ka?How was the food from earlier?
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking after dinner at a friend's house.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さん、料理はどうでしたか？Ren-san, ryōri wa dō deshita ka?Ren, how was the food?
- 蓮 Renとても美味しかったです。Totemo oishikatta desu.It was very delicious.
- 結衣 Yuiそれはよかったです。Sore wa yokatta desu.I am glad to hear that.
- 蓮 Ren本当に満足しました。Hontō ni manzoku shimashita.I am really satisfied.
