Kyoto-style side dish; home-style side dish
Refers to traditional Kyoto home-style side dishes, often made with seasonal vegetables and simple seasonings. Can also refer to a meal consisting of several such small dishes. The reading おばんさい is a variant.
See also: 総菜
I ate obanzai at a long-established restaurant in Kyoto.
My mother makes several obanzai dishes every day.
惣菜 is a general term for prepared side dishes sold at supermarkets or delis, while おばんざい specifically refers to Kyoto-style home cooking with a traditional, simple aesthetic.
Rare kanji form.
Rare kanji form.
Rare kanji form.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The word is strongly associated with Kyoto culinary culture, and the prefix お- adds politeness. The kanji 番菜, 晩菜, etc. are likely ateji or later associations.