Quick and simple gyudon (牛丼) is a classic Japanese beef bowl. Also, this Japanese beef gyudon bowl and teriyaki chicken rice bowl are great to serve with rice, California rolls and miso soup as a side. Besides, this delicious gyudon beef bowl recipe only takes 15 minutes! Let's learn how to make gyudon beef bowls for your lunch or dinner with step by step photos and a video.
Love Japanese food? Check out these popular California rolls, tonkatsu, chicken udon noodles stir fry, crispy teriyaki tofu, teriyaki sauce and Japanese milk bread rolls recipes.
What is gyudon beef bowl (牛丼)?
Gyudon is a classic Japanese cuisine. In Japanese, "gyudon" (牛丼) is a combination of two words: "gyu" (牛) meaning "beef" and "don" (丼) meaning "bowl." Literally gyudon translates to "beef bowl" in English.
Also, gyudon is a popular Japanese dish that consists of a bowl of steamed rice topped with thinly sliced beef, onions simmered in a savory and slightly sweet soy based sauce. Sometimes it is served with shirataki noodles. And, some like to add a raw egg or a soft poached egg on the beef bowl. Besides, it is often served with beni shōga (pickled ginger) and shichimi (ground seasoned chili pepper) as a condiment.
Because of its simplicity and delicious taste, gyudon has become a popular go to meal for many people in Japan. It is a comfort food and is commonly enjoyed for lunch or a quick dinner. Therefore, it is commonly found in fast food chains, casual restaurants and food stalls throughout Japan.
For example, Yoshinoya is one of the popular Japanese fast food chain restaurants in Asia and the USA. When I go to Yoshinoya for lunch or dinner. I often order beef gyudon. And, it is one of their famous items. Therefore, people often refer to gyudon as a Yoshinoya beef bowl.
What to eat with gyudon beef bowl dish?
Gyudon beef bowl dish is a complete meal on its own because it consists of beef, onions, and rice. It provides a balanced nutrition of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables. Japanese beef bowls are great to serve with miso soup, salad, beni shōga (pickled ginger), boiled edamame (young soybeans), tempura and California rolls.
How do you garnish gyudon beef rice bowls ?
Garnishing gyudon beef rice bowls can add visual appeal and additional flavors to the dish. The common garnishes used for gyudon are green onions, beni shōga (pickled ginger), toasted sesame seeds, shichimi (ground seasoned chili pepper), nori sheets and soft boiled egg.
Pickled gingers provide a tangy and slightly sweet flavor that compliments the richness of the beef. Also, shichimi togarashi is a Japanese spice blend that typically includes chili peppers, sesame seeds, seaweed and other spices. It adds a spicy kick to the gyudon if you enjoy spicy food. You can choose these garnishes based on your preference and the flavors you want to enhance your gyudon.
What kind of beef is gyudon?
Most people use thinly sliced rib bye, tenderloin, sirloin, shabu shabu beef with more fat or some fat. Personally, I like to use leaner beef because it’s healthier. The choice of beef cut can vary depending on personal preference, availability and budget. However, thinly sliced beef is key to achieving the desired texture and tenderness in gyudon.
What are the ingredients for Japanese beef gyudon?
In this gyudon beef bowl recipe, the main ingredients are thinly sliced beef, onion and green onion. In order to keep this beef gyudon recipe simple.
For gyudon sauce, I used soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar and water. Some people like to use dashi (fish and seaweed stock). You can add some sesame seeds before serving, it is optional. Besides, I added some sesame oil at the end to give more flavor to this beef bowl.
Cooking tips for how to make gyudon beef bowl (牛丼 ):
- Stir fry onion and simmer with sauce for a couple minutes until the onion is soft.
- Add thinly sliced beef and simmer for a few minutes. I used lean beef, so I only simmered for a minute or two until it changed color. If you use fatty beef, it’s better to simmer a little longer.
- Turn off the heat and add some sesame oil and green onion.
- Cook 2 cups of Japanese rice with 2 cups of water in an instant pot and press the manual button, adjust time for 6 minutes at high pressure and naturally release the pressure.
FAQs:
I bought them at Asian store. Or, you can ask a butcher at a regular grocery store to slice the meat for you.
If you have a meat slicer, you can do it at home. The best way to freeze the meat, then slice them. If you don’t have a meat slicer, you can use a sharpened knife. Take out the frozen beef an hour before slicing up.
I used Japanese rice. They are wider and shorter. Also, you can use Calrose USA branded rice. 
Instructions for how to make gyudon beef bowl:
1. Wash 2 cups of Japanese rice and drain it very well. Then, put the washed rice into an instant pot and pour 2 cups of water. Next, close the lid and vent. Push the manual button, adjust time to 6 minutes at high pressure and naturally release pressure.
2. While waiting for the rice, slice a medium sized onion.
3. After that, cut 2 sticks of green onion.
4. Pour ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and add sliced onion. Stir fry them a little bit, then add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 tablespoons of mirin, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ cup of water. Let it simmer for a couple minutes until the onion is a little soft.
5. Next, add thinly sliced beef into the sauce. Let it simmer for a minute or two until it changes color.
6. After that, turn off the fire and add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, green onion and mix them well. When rice is done, scoop the beef with sauce over the rice.
Enjoy this easy, simple and delicious Japanese gyudon beef bowl recipe! Also, check out these fresh ramen noodles, instant ramen stir fry, tom yum kung, baked salmon, massaman curry and strawberry muffin recipes.
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Gyudon Beef Bowl
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound Thinly sliced beef
- 1 Onion medium size
- 2 sticks Green onion
- ½ tablespoon Vegetable oil
- ½ tablespoon Sesame oil
- some Sesame seeds optional
Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons Mirin
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
- ½ cup Water
Rice:
- 2 cups Japanese rice
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Wash 2 cups of Japanese rice and drain it very well. Then, put the washed rice into an instant pot and pour 2 cups of water. Next, close the lid and vent. Push the manual button, adjust time to 6 minutes at high pressure and naturally release pressure.
- While waiting for the rice, slice a medium sized onion.
- After that, cut 2 sticks of green onion.
- Pour ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil into a non-stick pan and add sliced onion. Stir fry them a little bit, then add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 tablespoons of mirin, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ cup of water. Let it simmer for a couple minutes until the onion is a little soft.
- Next, add thinly sliced beef into the sauce. Let it simmer for a minute or two until it changes color.
- After that, turn off the fire and add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, green onion and mix them well. When rice is done, scoop the beef with sauce over the rice.
Notes
Cooking tips for how to make gyudon beef bowl (牛丼 ):
- Stir fry onion and simmer with sauce for a couple minutes until the onion is soft.
- Add thinly sliced beef and simmer for a few minutes. I used lean beef, so I only simmered for a minute or two until it changed color. If you use fatty beef, it’s better to simmer a little longer.
- Turn off the heat and add some sesame oil and green onion.
- Cook 2 cups of Japanese rice with 2 cups of water in an instant pot and press the manual button, adjust time for 6 minutes at high pressure and naturally release the pressure.
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