Your first restaurant order: the phrases that carry the interaction

For a first restaurant order, これをお願(ねが)いします is enough when you can point to the menu. If you can name the dish, use the dish plus をお願(ねが)いします.

Get the server's attention

Japanese teaching material records すみません as a common call before making a request.

You can then point and place the order.

Name the item

The pattern is:

ください is also used

Both Nをください and Nをお願(ねが)いします are recorded for requesting goods or ordering in a restaurant. This lesson uses お願(ねが)いします as one dependable pattern; it does not treat the two expressions as word-for-word English rules.

If you need a moment

Government learning material for restaurant ordering records ちょっと待(ま)ってください as a short way to ask for time.

Common mistake

These examples use standard polite request forms suited to a customer ordering from staff. The interaction can remain short: get attention, identify the item, and make the request.