Japan Travel Fixes
How do I order food when there's no English menu?
Point at pictures or plastic food displays if available, use your phone's camera translation feature on the printed menu, or show the staff a translation phrase asking for help.
Many casual restaurants, especially ramen shops and izakaya, only have Japanese menus, sometimes with photos.
Restaurants with a food ticket machine (shokken) at the entrance often have a photo above each button, so you can match the picture rather than read the text.
Your phone camera's built-in translation (or a translation app) can usually read a printed menu well enough to get the gist, even if the layout is imperfect.
If all else fails, showing the phrase below and pointing to what a nearby table is eating is a normal, accepted way to order in Japan.
Show this to staff if you're stuck
おすすめは何ですか？
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What do you recommend?