A beef bowl is called “gyudon” in Japanese. “Gyu” means beef and don is short for “donburi” which is food served on top of rice in a bowl. There are many gyudon restaurants in Japan and it is very popular, especially for men. It’s kind of like fast food, but much healthier. Many gyudon restaurants are open for 24 hours, and men typically go there after a night of drinking.
Yield: 2 servings
Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb sliced beef (sukiyaki style if you can find it)
- 1 medium onion (sliced)
- 2 bowls of steamed rice
Spices
(soup stock powder)Preparation
- Place hon-dashi, sliced onion, and 1 cup of hot water in a medium saucepan
- Boil, then simmer for 6 minutes over medium heat
- Add mixed spices (soy sauce, sake, sugar, ginger) and beef
- Boil, then simmer on medium heat (covered) for 10 minutes
- Serve gyudon atop a bowl of steamed rice, along with some liquid from the saucepan (adjust to your preference, but it shouldn’t be soupy)
I was in Yokosuka for two years and absolutely loved this dish. My question is about all the different sauces you can put on it. I know one is soy but there was another brown sauce and a white sauce that I can not remember the names of. Can you help so I can try and find them here in Michigan?
If you are interested in rice bowls in the area, you might want to try Donburiya in the 1300 block of Robson Street. Of cousre, it is 5 or so blocks aways so it might also depend on how much time you have! Then there is H-Mart (though, of cousre, Korean). Otherwise, my next but even better suggestion would be Tenhachi in the Fairview area (12th near Oak).
Thanks so much for this awesome recipe! It actually came out tasting like the real thing, unlike most of my attempts at Japanese cooking, hoho~
Hi Mai..
I just returned from Tokyo last night, one of the first things I wanted when I got there was Gyudon..found a street market with an amazing number of street shops, places I love to wander around..Gyudon was fantastic and you could order a beer as well AND stand at a small c ounter on the street..loved it! just wish i could have stayed longer..
Almost all the recipes are simply and useful
パーフェクト私はあまりを楽しむ 感謝.
Nevermind, just saw your post about using stir fry beef. lol. Arigatou.
Mai, what is the best kind of beef to use for this?
Arigatou
Found this website the other day … then bought all the necessary ingredients needed for a couple of recipe. I was so thrilled to try out some of your dishes. Made this Gyudon for our lunch today and everyone loved it. Doubled your recipe for 5 people. Nothing was left on the plate. Thank you Mai for sharing this.
Zoe,
As a college student, I can’t afford sake or mirin. However, a Japanese exchange student told me that Natti Lite (or similarly watered-down beers) is actually an excellent substitute for sake. I’ve tried it and it’s true. As for mirin, use cooking sherry.
What is the nutritional information for a bowl?
Hi was wondering what other ingredient can sake be substituted with? We love japanese food but due to religious reasons we cant hv wine in our cooking. Thanks in advance!
I’m making this with high school students. The school won’t allow sake. Even for cooking. Can I use something else in it’s place?
Hello Mai,
I was wondering if you meant tablespoons (tbs) and not teaspoon (tsp). They quite a big difference in size. Thank you. I used to live in Kobe and went to Kyoto once and really liked it.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! My three boys miss Japanese food so much since we have returned home and it is wonderful to finally have a resource to make all of our favorite foods.
Hi,
I live in a country where sake and mirin are not really available. Can I use something else instead?
Many thanks.
Zoe
Hi Mai ,
Your recipe was great . I tried and got so good result . All my family love it .
Thanks !
Greetings from Kamaishi, Iwate!!
I am a kiwi south african who has lived in Japan for quite a few years but finally only yesterday decided its about time I learn Japanese cooking, sad I know.
Thank you so much for putting up this web site… It really helps. My family loved my Guydon last night!! Mwhah
Mai,
Thank you for all your help in teaching me how to cook Japanese food. I use this recipe at least once a week!
I also add a potato or two in mine. I suppose it’s just the American mentality that potatoes and beef go together!
-Brian from Tokyo
Hi Kitsune,
Please use regular 日本酒. Mirin is a common ingredient too, and I call it out as such when required. Thanks!
Hi Mai,
you listed sake on there, do you mean regular 日本酒 or something along the lines of mirin? I’m assuming mirin but I’ve never tried my hand at gyudon so not quite sure.
Hi Rob, I haven’t tried gyudon with cheese before, so I’m not sure what kind of cheese they served you, or what would taste good, but it sounds like a good experiment!
Add beef in a soup and boil for 10 minutes;)
Hi Mai,
I love Gyudon! My question is, when I used to live in Japan the beef bowl down the street used to put cheese on it. Do you know what cheese they use and can I buy it in Canada?
So you put the beef in raw, and then drain it before adding it on top of the rice, right?
My favorite Japanese food, I like it best with an egg mixed into the beef and onion just before it’s put over rice. Then the sauce turns silky and melts into the rice. Yum!
Hi Michael,
You can just buy the beef for stir-fry and slice it thin. That should do it.
Great recipe–thanks! If you were shopping in an American grocery store, what would “sliced beef” be exactly? Best regards,
- Michael
my e-mail: michaelwbeyer@hotmail.com
Are you referring to strawberry shortcake? Could you send me a picture of what you had and I can try to make it?
Correction: Desserts :)
Well I do have a few recipe ideas. What about deserts? I loved the strawberry cakes and lthe bakeries that Japan has. They seem so light and fluffy. They didn’t make me feel as if I was packing on the calories.
You’re welcome! Please let me know if you have any other questions or recipe ideas!
Thank you for checking that out for me! I love your website because I can cook the foods that I miss so much from Japan. It’s hard to find an authentic Japanese resturaunt in the U.S.
Thanks Again :)
Krystal
Krystal, I’ve never eaten the gyudon at Sukiya, but I asked my brother and he dropped by and found out that it’s an original chili sauce recipe. Apparently they keep it secret. :(
Hi Mai,
I was wondering if you could tell me what the hot/spicy sauce is that you get from Sukiya’s when you order the Beef Bowl’s. I miss it so much since we’ve moved back to the U.S. and I can’t seem to find it. Thank You!
Hi Kuri. Mirin is rice wine for cooking. You can find it here: Amazon.com
Hi im gonna try this recipe out but i was wondering what mirin is? when looking at other Gyudon recipes online some ask for mirin?
Thanks!
ふぁ～いと～