How to say you have multiple food allergies in Japanese
The word for food allergy is 食物アレルギー (shokumotsu arerugi). To tell someone you have one, you say:
For multiple allergies, connect each allergen with と (to, meaning "and"):
That's the grammar. The harder part is knowing the Japanese names for each allergen, and making sure kitchen staff understand the full scope — including hidden ingredients like soy sauce, dashi stock, and shared fryer oil. A list of three or more allergens spoken aloud in a busy restaurant rarely lands. That's where a written card helps.
Common allergens in Japanese
The kanji is large enough to show a waiter directly from your phone if needed. Allergens marked with a red border are part of Japan's mandatory 8 — these must be disclosed on all packaged food.
Useful phrases for restaurants
These are phrased the way Japanese guests would actually speak to staff — polite, indirect, and natural. Direct commands land badly in service contexts.
These phrases work for simple situations. But with multiple allergens, spoken communication breaks down — staff may catch the first item and miss the rest. A written card stays on the table, can be re-read, and can be passed directly to the kitchen.
Common questions
How do you say "I have multiple food allergies" in Japanese?
List each allergen connected with と (to, meaning "and"): 小麦と卵と乳のアレルギーがあります (komugi to tamago to nyuu no arerugi ga arimasu). Listing each allergen individually is more useful to kitchen staff than saying you have "multiple allergies" in the abstract — they need to know exactly which ones.
Do Japanese restaurants understand food allergies?
Awareness varies. Chain and family restaurants often have allergen menus (アレルギー表) listing the mandatory 8 allergens. Small independent restaurants may not have formal protocols but are usually willing to help if you can communicate clearly. A written card in Japanese helps bridge the gap, especially at smaller places where staff may not speak English.
What's the difference between an allergy card and a chef card?
Same thing, different names. "Chef card" is the term used by allergists and dietitians. "Allergy card" or "allergy translation card" is more common among travelers. Both refer to a written explanation of your dietary restriction in the local language that you show restaurant staff.
Can I use Google Translate for food allergies in Japan?
For simple phrases it can work, but allergy communication requires precision that machine translation often misses. For example, translating "I am allergic to milk" may produce phrasing that sounds like you dislike drinking milk, rather than flagging hidden dairy in sauces, breading, or stock. Kitchen staff need concise, actionable instructions — not a literal translation of conversational English.
Does Japan's allergen labeling cover restaurants?
No — only packaged food. Japan mandates disclosure of 8 specific allergens on packaged products, and recommends disclosure of 20 more. Restaurants have no legal obligation to disclose allergens, though many chains voluntarily provide allergen menus on request. For details on reading Japanese food labels, see the labeling guide.