How to say "diner" in Japanese

• ダイナー
  nounThe loanword, for the American-style restaurant that the English word names; use it when you mean that specific kind of eatery. It is less common than 食堂.
• 一膳飯屋いちぜんめしや
  nounReally denotes a simple and inexpensive restaurant; 'diner' is only a loose equivalent. Being less common, it is seldom the word you want for an American-style diner.
• 食堂しょくどうJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe common, general word for an eating place, covering 'restaurant', 'eatery', 'snack bar' and 'diner' alike. Use it whenever you simply mean a place that serves meals.
  私は角かどを曲まがって、開店かいてん早々そうそうの食堂しょくどうを見みつけた。↗

  I turned the corner and caught sight of a newly opened restaurant.

For the American-style restaurant the English word names, 「ダイナー」 is the direct loanword; 食堂 is the common general word whose senses include 'diner'; 一膳飯屋 really means a simple, inexpensive restaurant and is seldom what you want.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ダイナーdiner
• 一膳飯屋いちぜんめしやsimple and inexpensive restaurant
• 食堂しょくどうrestaurant