From ramen shops to sushi stands, there’s no doubt that eating out is big business in Japan. But authentic, local dining is off-limits to many foreigners due to the formidable language barrier that persists outside major cities. Could an app get tourists to pick up the chopsticks?

Dining out is evolving. With the restaurant industry now worth over £40 billion in the UK alone, more venues are taking inspiration from theatre, television and film to create story-rich, immersive and highly sensory experiences that entice new diners through the door.

In 2011 Burger & Lobster took the UK by storm. Now, its creators are rolling out the same affordable luxury in the form of Rex & Mariano, a fish restaurant that cuts out the middle man. Aiming to serve quality plates at palatable prices it replaces waiters with iPads. Will it be as successful?

Taking too long to decide what to order at restaurants may irritate your fellow diners, so Pizza Hut is rolling out a digital menu that reads customers' minds instead. The ‘Subconscious Menu’, is to be introduced in refurbished restaurants across the UK.