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Home » Recipes » Quick dinners

Gyudon ( Japanese Beef Bowl )

Published: Apr 10, 2021 · Modified: May 10, 2021 · by Khin · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Easy Japanese Beef Bowl ( Gyudon ) recipe with tender beef slices, onions, and sweet and savoury sauce. Served over a bowl of steamed rice and poached egg.

Super fast and easy to prepare in under 20 minutes! Incredibly delicious and budget-friendly!

A black bowl filled with japanese beef with wooden chop side on the side.

What is Gyudon?

Gyudon is one of the popular Japanese dish loaded with beef and onion. It is usually serve with Japanese short grain rice and topped with an onsen egg, ginger pickles, and green onions. 'Gyu' means 'Beef' and 'Don' means 'Bowl'.

It's also called 'Gyumeshi', originated in Japan and now available in the menu of most Japanese restaurants across the world.

There are few different types of Gyudon recipes such as Yoshinoya, Sukiya, etc. Every family has its own version, some add dashi stock in the dish and some recipes do not include dashi stock. Some add eggs while cooking the beef and some recipes add onsen egg or poached egg as a topping.

Ingredients

Beef Slices

Thinly shaved beef is ideal for this recipe. Which beef cut to use? You can use rib eye, chuck, sirloin, or any of your favorite steak cut. The key is the slice the meat very thinly.

Thin slices beef on the wooden chopping board.

How to slice beef thinly? Half frozen beef can be cut into very thin slices. Place the beef in an airtight freezer bag and freeze it for one and half hours to two hours. When the beef is firm enough, cut into super-thin slices with a sharp knife.

If you are not a beef fan, you can try this recipe with tender chicken slices and make it an Oyakodon ( Japanese Chicken and Rice Bowl ).

Vegetables

Onions: Use yellow, sweet, or white onion for this recipe. Cut the onion into medium slices. Stir fry until soft and tender before you add the beef.

Spring Onions: Add thin slices of spring onions at the final step and add it on the top.

Sauces

Soy sauce: You can use Japanese soy sauce ( Shoyu) like Kikkoman, Yamasa, or Marukin. If you cannot get Japanese brand soy sauces, use all-purpose soy sauce or light soy sauce for this recipe.

Mirin: Mirin is a Japanese cooking rice wine, that has a subtle sweet flavour. Very low in alcohol percentage, can tenderize the meat, and ideal to add in marinade and sauces. If you cannot find mirin, you can add rice wine vinegar, dry white wine, or dry sherry.

If you wish to make it a non-alcohol or halal mirin version, you can mix sugar syrup/honey + rice vinegar/water. ( ratio is ½ + ½ ).

Sake: Sake is a Japanese rice beverage that can be also used in marinade and sauces in Japanese cooking. It is sweet, acidic, and higher alcohol content than mirin. 

The closest sake substitutes are rice wine, dry sherry, or Shao Xing Chinese cooking rice wine. You can mostly buy sake bottles or cooking sake at Oriental/Asian supermarkets.

Sugar: Brown sugar or white sugar both work well. Combine mirin, sake, soy sauce, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolved.

japanese stir fried beef in the steel pot.

Egg

Japanese Onsen egg known as Onsen Tamago is usually added to the gyudon topping. But for this quick and easy beef bowl recipe, we are adding poached egg instead of Onsen egg.

How to make a quick poached egg? Break an egg in a small bowl. Fill the saucepan with water over half of the saucepan, bring it to boil. Then turn down the heat into low. Stir the water and make it into a whirlpool. Drop the egg gently in the center of the whirlpool and leave it for 2-3 minutes until the egg white is set.

Remove from water and place it over to paper towel to dry out the excess water. Then add it over the beef bowl.

A bowl of japanese style beef stir fry with egg on the side and pickle.

Ginger Pickle

Japanese red pickled ginger ( Shoga ) which is made from julienned ginger and vinegar. Vibrant red in colour and it has a refreshing, tangy, pungent ginger taste. If you cannot find Japanese pickle you can serve with Korean kimchi for this recipe.

Gyudon Recipe Instructions

  1. Freeze the beef in the fridge for 1.5 to 2 hour to half frozen. Slice the beef into paper thin slices. Cut the onion and spring onion into thin slices.
  2. Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
  3. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sautee until the onions are soft and translucent.
  4. Then follow with the beef slices, and ginger paste cook until beef is no longer pink.
  5. Pour the sauce mix in and stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
  6. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is thick. Then turn off the heat and sprinkle the chopped spring onions in.
  7. Served over the bed of steamed rice. Topped with poached egg, spring onions and Japanese ginger pickle.

Which rice is best for this recipe?

Japanese short-grain rice or Thai jasmine rice is perfect for a beef bowl or Asian rice bowl recipes. But you can serve with any of your favourite cooked rice, brown rice, or even taste great with simple egg fried rice or noodles.

Wooden chop stick holding stir fried japanese beef.

More Family Favourite Japanese Recipes

Here is more of our family's favourite Japanese recipes that you might like:

  • 2 hands holding the grey plate filled with japanese stir fry noodle with a small bowl of ginger pickle.
    Yakisoba Recipe ( Stir Fried Japanese Noodles )
  • A black plate with Japanese style fried chicken and lemon wedges on the plate.
    Tori Karaage (Japanese fried chicken)
  • A white bowl containing stir fry udon noodles, stir fry beef slices and finely chopped spring onions
    Beef Udon Stir Fry
  • A white bowl containing Japanese thick wheat udon noodles with colourful vegetables.
    Easy Chicken Yaki Udon

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📖 Recipe

japanese stir fry beef on the white rice with a side of poached egg and spring onions

Japanese Beef Bowl Gyudon

Tender beef slices, onion cooked with sweet and savoury Japanese sauce. Served over rice and topped with poached egg.
4.94 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: japanese cuisine
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 752kcal
Author: Khin

Ingredients

  • 400 g Beef ( Half frozen steak cut )
  • 1 Onion ( medium-size )
  • 1 tbsp Oil ( Vegetable or neutral flavour oil )
  • 1 tsp Ginger ( finely grated or paste )

Sauce

  • 3 tbsp Soy sauce ( all purpose soy sauce or light soy sauce )
  • 2 tbsp Mirin ( rice wine or dry sherry )
  • 1 tbsp Sake ( Sake or rice wine )
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar ( or white sugar )

To serve

  • Spring Onions
  • 2 Egg
  • Japanese red ginger pickle ( or kimchi )

Instructions

  • Freeze the beef in the fridge for 1.5 to 2 hour to half frozen. Slice the beef into paper thin slices. Cut the onion and spring onion into thin slices.
  • Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Stir fry the onion until soft and tender.
  • Then follow with the beef slices, and ginger paste cook until beef is no longer pink.
  • Pour the sauce mix in and stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
  • Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is thick. Then turn off the heat and sprinkle the chopped spring onions in.
  • Served over the bed of steamed rice. Topped with poached egg, spring onions and Japanese ginger pickle.

Nutrition

Calories: 752kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 306mg | Sodium: 1840mg | Potassium: 756mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 239IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 6mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @KhinsKitchen or tag #KhinsKitchen!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gina Stoldt says

    July 03, 2024 at 2:00 am

    5 stars
    We were missing some key ingredients but worked with what we had and it turned out delicious! Cooking is always an adventure! Thank you for the recipe.❤️

    Reply
  2. toni borchman says

    May 08, 2024 at 11:40 pm

    5 stars
    I have made this dish a few times. its a keeper

    Reply
  3. Rhowena Wardle says

    November 12, 2022 at 2:55 am

    4 stars
    Easy to understand recipe.Can’t wait to share this with my family

    Reply
    • Khin says

      November 12, 2022 at 11:58 pm

      It's one of our go-to dinner recipe. Hope you enjoy it, Rhowena.

      Reply
  4. Rochelle says

    January 03, 2022 at 3:51 am

    Thanks, Khin. This was excellent! It was simple and flavorful, and I was able to add broccoli and carrots to the bowl without getting pushback from my hubby. I sprinkled some toasted sesame seeds and seven spice along with the scallions. I will definitely try other recipes on your site.

    Reply
    • Khin says

      January 05, 2022 at 11:28 pm

      Love the idea of adding extra vegetables and toasted sesame seeds. I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Rochelle. Thank you for taking the time and sharing feedback.

      Reply
  5. Tanna says

    December 06, 2021 at 1:52 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing your recipes,now i can cook different kind of dish,and very simple to follow.I love your recipe because it’s all non pork🙂

    Reply
    • Khin says

      December 06, 2021 at 5:46 pm

      You are most welcome Tanna. I am happy that you enjoyed my recipe.

      Reply
  6. Louie Maligon says

    December 01, 2021 at 8:17 am

    5 stars
    I like the revioe. I have to try it yet but I'm sure it's good. Thank you so much for sharing this.

    Reply
    • Khin says

      December 02, 2021 at 11:11 pm

      Hope you enjoy this recipe, Louie.

      Reply
  7. Patricia says

    July 11, 2021 at 10:30 am

    Looks really good. It’s a must try

    Reply
    • Khin says

      July 14, 2021 at 11:26 am

      Thank you Patricia! Hope you enjoy our Gyudon recipe!

      Reply
  8. Helen says

    July 11, 2021 at 6:59 am

    5 stars
    I just love all your recipes! Do you have videos?

    Reply
    • Khin says

      July 14, 2021 at 11:29 am

      Hi Helen, So glad that you enjoy our recipes. You can find all of our recipe videos on Khin's Kitchen YouTube channel. We'll update the video on the website too. Thank you so much!

      Reply
  9. Ana says

    June 04, 2021 at 11:07 am

    5 stars
    Best and most simple recipe to follow. Great instructions for substitutions for non-alcoholic dish.

    Reply
    • Khin says

      June 08, 2021 at 9:53 pm

      Thank you so much Ana. I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
4.94 from 16 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Hi, I'm Khin! This blog is all about my family home cooking recipes. I want to share how to make delicious meals from simplest method with step-by-step cooking videos.

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