How to say "tasty" in Japanese

• おいしいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers the core sense of 'tasty': food or drink that tastes good. It is the word to reach for when you simply want to say a dish or drink is delicious.
  おいしい食事しょくじをありがとう。↗

  Thanks for the delicious meal.
• うまいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveAlso means food or drink tastes good, largely interchangeable with おいしい for that use; beyond flavor, it can also mean good in the sense of skillful.
  あそこの食べ物たべものはうまいし値段ねだんも安やすいが、地ちの利りが悪わるいのが難点なんてんだね。↗

  That place's food is great, and their prices are good, but the fly in the ointment is their terrible location.
• 乙おつJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveReally describes things that are stylish, chic, smart or witty rather than flavor; its link to 'tasty' is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for saying food is delicious.
  彼女かのじょの着物きものと帯おびの取り合とりあわせはおつだね。↗

  Her kimono and obi combination is smart, isn't it?

For food that tastes good, 「おいしい」 and 「うまい」 are the everyday choices and largely overlap, 「うまい」 also covering 'good' as in skillful; 乙 instead describes style and wit and is only marginally about taste.

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

• おいしいgood(-tasting)
• んまいdelicious
• まーさんdelicious
• おいちいgood(-tasting)
• うまいdelicious
• 乙おつstylish