Country menu guides

Tabehodai and nomihodai: all-you-can-eat and drink in Japan

Tabehōdai (食べ放題) means all you can eat and nomihōdai (飲み放題) means all you can drink: you pay a fixed price per person and order as much as you like within a time limit, typically 90 to 120 minutes. They're common at izakaya, yakiniku and hot-pot restaurants, often bundled into set courses for groups.

Updated 8 October 2026

On the menu: 食べ放題 / 飲み放題tabehōdai / nomihōdai
Meaning: All you can eat (食べ放題) / all you can drink (飲み放題), for a fixed price and time.
Typical amount: Time limits are typically 90–120 minutes, with last orders about 30 minutes before the end.

How the plans work

Time limit (時間制, 120分制). The clock starts when you order the plan. L.O. (last order) usually comes before the end.
Per person (お一人様). The price is per head, often with lower prices for children.
Same plan for the table. Many places require everyone at the table to take the same plan (全員同じプラン).
One glass at a time. For drinks, you often get a new glass only when you hand back the old one (グラス交換制).
Courses. 飲み放題付きコース is a set food course with all-you-can-drink included; 単品飲み放題 is the drinks plan on its own, ordered with à la carte dishes.

Reading the plan on the menu

A typical line reads 飲み放題 2時間 1,980円（税込）L.O. 90分 — all you can drink for two hours, tax included, last order at 90 minutes. A separate list shows which drinks are included; プレミアム飲み放題 adds better beer or sake for more. ソフトドリンク飲み放題 covers soft drinks only.

For food, check what's excluded — premium cuts or seafood may cost extra. Some tabehōdai restaurants state an extra charge for large amounts of food left on the plate (食べ残し). Read the house rules, often printed on the menu or the table.

What to do

Check the time limit, the last order, what's excluded, and whether the whole table must join. Prices may be shown before tax: see 税込 and 税抜. If the menu is only in Japanese, MenuGuide translates the dishes and drinks from a photo and converts the prices to your currency. More in how to read a menu in Japan.

Frequently asked questions

What is nomihodai in Japan?

Nomihōdai (飲み放題) is an all-you-can-drink plan: you pay a fixed price per person and can order drinks from a set list for a limited time, typically 90 to 120 minutes. It's common at izakaya and is often bundled with a food course. A list on the menu shows which drinks are included; premium drinks may cost extra.

How long is all-you-can-drink in Japan?

Usually 90 minutes or two hours. The menu shows it as 90分 or 2時間 (or 120分制). Last orders (L.O.) typically come about 30 minutes before the end, so the effective ordering time is shorter. Some places offer longer plans for a higher price, and a few have no time limit at off-peak hours.

Does everyone at the table have to order nomihodai?

Often, yes. Many izakaya require everyone at the table to take the same plan, so one person can't order all-you-can-drink while others pay per drink. Non-drinkers can sometimes take a cheaper soft-drink plan. The rule is usually printed on the menu as 全員同じプラン or similar; ask the staff if you're unsure.

Is there a penalty for leaving food at tabehodai?

At some restaurants, yes. A few all-you-can-eat places state on the menu that they charge extra if you leave a large amount of food, to discourage waste. Most don't enforce it for normal leftovers. Order small amounts in rounds rather than everything at once, and read the house rules printed on the menu.