Teishoku Guide
Teishoku is a type of satisfying set meal found in restaurants all around Japan. It is an ensemble of rice, soup, main dish and a selection of sides such as tofu or salad, served up enticingly on a tray. Teishoku meals offer a variety of appetizing flavors and well-balanced nutritional value. These meals have a deep-rooted history originating from Zen temples. Now commonly found at cafeteria-style and family restaurants, they are frequently served with Japanese tea and rice refills.
The set menus are typically named after the meat main dish, however vegetarian options are sometimes available. Self-serve teishoku restaurants tempt you with an array of dishes and let you pick out the ones that take your fancy, to combine into a meal and sink your teeth into. Popular belly-filling teishoku meals include fried chicken, pork, and grilled fish.
An integral part of Japanese cuisine, teishoku is popular with locals and tourists alike. Found in both stand-up and sit-down venues, teishoku menus usually average at around 800JPY. Teishoku dishes can differ from prefecture to prefecture, and town to town, with many independent restaurants offering mouth-watering local cuisine in the mix. This type of meal is often associated with home-style cooking, thanks to the cooking style, wholesome and comforting flavors and the way it is dished up. To find a teishoku restaurant near you, look out for the kanji 定食!