kaiseki-ryori

Japanese cuisine

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese multicourse meal prepared with seasonal ingredients, typically served on special occasions. The term can refer to two types of meals: cha-kaiseki, a light meal before a tea ceremony, or kaiseki-ryori, a more elaborate meal often accompanied by sake.12

A kaiseki meal can include various courses such as appetizers (sakizuke), seasonal highlights (hassun), soup (suimono), sashimi (mukozuke), grilled items (yakimono), simmered dishes (takiawase), rice (shokuji), fried items (agemono), a savory dish (shiizakana), and dessert (mizumono). The precise number of courses varies based on ingredient availability and the chef's creativity.2

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kaiseki
Kaiseki (会席), also known as kaiseki-ryori, is an elaborate meal accompanied by sake and ending with tea. The kanji characters translate roughly to “social gathering with seating” and refer to a formal occasion. The term kaiseki, in its modern use, generally refers to the more contemporary, elaborate cuisine.
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Kaiseki (会席), also known as kaiseki-ryori, is an elaborate meal accompanied by sake and ending with tea. The kanji characters translate roughly to “social gathering with seating” and refer to a formal occasion. The term kaiseki, in its modern use, generally refers to the more contemporary, elaborate cuisine.
Read More