Country menu guides
What is teishoku? Japanese set meals explained
Teishoku (定食) is a Japanese set meal: one main dish served on a tray with a bowl of rice, miso soup and pickles, often with a small side dish. It's the standard lunch in Japan, found at diners, chains and izakaya that open for lunch, and the price on the menu covers the whole tray.
- On the menu
- 定食teishoku
- Meaning
- Set meal — a main dish served with rice, miso soup and pickles.
What comes on the tray
A teishoku tray usually holds:
- ご飯 (gohan) — a bowl of white rice;
- 味噌汁 (misoshiru) — miso soup;
- 漬物 (tsukemono) — pickles;
- 主菜 (shusai) — the main dish the set is named after;
- often a 小鉢 (kobachi) — a small side such as simmered vegetables or cold tofu.
Names like 御膳 (gozen) or セット (setto) mean much the same thing. Gozen is often a bigger, more elaborate tray.
Common teishoku on menus
- 焼き魚定食 (yakizakana teishoku) — grilled fish, often mackerel or salmon;
- 生姜焼き定食 (shōgayaki teishoku) — pork stir-fried with ginger;
- 唐揚げ定食 (karaage teishoku) — fried chicken;
- とんかつ定食 (tonkatsu teishoku) — breaded pork cutlet with shredded cabbage;
- 刺身定食 (sashimi teishoku) — raw fish;
- 日替わり定食 (higawari teishoku) — the daily special set, usually the cheapest.
What to do
Order the teishoku if you want a full meal, or 単品 if you only want the dish. Miso soup is usually made with fish-based dashi, and the pickles and sides often contain soy and sesame — ask if you avoid them. A photo of the menu in MenuGuide shows each set translated with its original name, so you can see what the main dish is before you pick. More in how to read a menu in Japan.
Frequently asked questions
What does teishoku mean?
Teishoku (定食) means "set meal". It's a main dish such as grilled fish, fried chicken or a pork cutlet served on a tray with rice, miso soup and pickles, often with a small side. One price covers the whole tray. It's the most common lunch format in Japan, at diners, chains and many izakaya that open for lunch.
What is the difference between teishoku and tanpin?
Teishoku is the full set meal with rice, miso soup and pickles; tanpin (単品) is the main dish on its own, à la carte. Tanpin is cheaper and suits people who want to share dishes, are not hungry, or are drinking at an izakaya. Menus often list both prices next to each other.
Is rice refill free with teishoku?
Often, but not always. Many set-meal restaurants offer free extra rice, and sometimes free shredded cabbage with tonkatsu, marked おかわり自由 (okawari jiyū) or ご飯おかわり無料. Others charge a small amount for a refill or for a large portion (大盛り). If the menu doesn't say, ask the staff before you order more.
What is higawari teishoku?
Higawari teishoku (日替わり定食) is the daily changing set meal. The main dish rotates each day, and it's often the cheapest set on the lunch menu. Look for it on a board outside or at the top of the menu, and ask "kyō no higawari wa nan desu ka?" ("What's today's daily set?").
