Teishoku (Set Meal)
"Teishoku is a balanced set meal: a main dish (grilled fish, ginger pork, fried chicken karaage, or mackerel), steamed rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables (tsukemono), and sometimes a small salad. It's the real lunch of Tokyo—fast, healthy, affordable (¥800-1,200), and served at chains like Ootoya, Yayoiken, or local shokudo (cafeterias). You get a complete, nutritious meal in 15 minutes."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Balanced, efficient
Duration
20-30 minutes
Best For
Lunch
The Backstory
Teishoku emerged in the early 1900s as factory worker meals, providing balanced nutrition cheaply. Post-WWII, teishoku restaurants (shokudo) became standard for lunch. In the 1980s-90s, chains like Ootoya standardized the format. The concept reflects Japanese ideas of balanced eating (ichiju-sansai: one soup, three dishes).
Local Secret
"Chains like Ootoya and Yayoiken have picture menus and English. Popular mains: saba no shioyaki (grilled salted mackerel), shogayaki (ginger pork), karaage (fried chicken). Free rice refills are common—ask 'okawari kudasai.' The meal is balanced by design—eat rice, main, soup, and pickles in rotation. It's solo-friendly; no one judges."