食(た)べ放題(ほうだい)

たべほうだい
noun
all-you-can-eat; buffet
1. all-you-can-eat; buffet; unlimited eating
a dining arrangement where customers pay a fixed price to eat as much as they want within a time limit
2000円(えん)で焼肉(やきにく)食(た)べ放題(ほうだい)だ。
It's all-you-can-eat yakiniku for 2,000 yen.
食(た)べ放題(ほうだい)のケーキバイキングに行(い)った。
I went to an all-you-can-eat cake buffet.
制限時間(せいげんじかん)は90分(ふん)で食(た)べ放題(ほうだい)だ。
It's all-you-can-eat with a 90-minute time limit.

FORMATION:
食(た)べる (to eat) + 放題(ほうだい) (as much as one wants)

PATTERN:

The ～放題(ほうだい) pattern is productive:

  • 飲(の)み放題(ほうだい) (all-you-can-drink)
  • 歌(うた)い放題(ほうだい) (all-you-can-sing/karaoke)
  • 見(み)放題(ほうだい) (watch all you want, e.g., streaming)
  • 乗(の)り放題(ほうだい) (unlimited rides)

TYPICAL FEATURES:

  • Fixed price (定額(ていがく))
  • Time limit (制限時間(せいげんじかん)) - usually 60-120 minutes
  • May have extra charges for premium items
  • Often penalty fees for leftover food

ALTERNATE TERMS:

  • バイキング (Viking - used for buffets in Japan)
  • ビュッフェ (buffet)

RELATED:

  • 飲(の)み放題(ほうだい) (all-you-can-drink)
  • バイキング (buffet)
  • 定額(ていがく) (fixed price)
general
Added 2026.1.25 20:44
08000/08291_tabehoudai