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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Published: May 20, 2021 · Modified: Jul 22, 2021 by Julia · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

    Gyudon (Japanese Beef Rice Bowl)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    What is gyudon (beef bowl)?

    Gyudon is a popular Japanese quick meal consisting of thinly sliced beef simmered in a delicious savory-sweet sauce made up of mirin, sake, and soy sauce. Eggs are incorporated into the stir-fried beef at the end for extra protein and fluffy texture. This Japanese beef rice bowl is great for those on the go, but still looking for something extra flavorful.

    Packaged gyudon can even be found in convenience stores across Asia as its simply beef and rice over a bowl of rice. A couple minutes of microwaving and you're set with a meal that will hold you over for the rest of the day. However, making it at home is just as easy and anything homemade is always more delicious!

    Gyudon recipe ingredients

    • Beef: Use either beef chuck or beef ribeye. You can usually ask your butcher to thinly slice the meat as it can be difficult to achieve that level of thinness at home. Sometimes, Asian grocery stores will sell thinly slice meat for Korean BBQ, those are also great for gyudon!
    • Onion
    • Neutral oil
    • Sake, mirin, soy sauce: These three ingredients make up the savory sauce (with some sugar). If you prefer to make this dish non-alcoholic, you can replace the sake with water instead.
    • Eggs: We add the eggs at the end, and gently steam them so they are soft and fluffy and help to fill out the dish. I have typically beaten the eggs and incorporated into the beef, but other recipes make onsen eggs and add it as a separate topping. The soft egg yolk is great with the fattiness of the beef.
    • Scallions and sesame seeds
    overhead photo of gyudon

    How to make gyudon at home

    1. Prepare a cup of cooked rice before you start making the protein. To prepare a cup of rice, wash ½ cup of uncooked rice and drain. Put in pot with 1 cup of clean water. Bring water to a rolling boil, then lower heat and place lid on the pot. Let simmer for 20 minutes. Turn down the heat and let the rice sit for 10 minutes.
    2. Thinly slice onion and beef (if bought whole).
    3. Heat oil in a pan and cook down the onions. Stir frequently until onions are soft, this can take about 10 minutes.sliced onions in pan
    4. Add beef into the pan with sugar. Cook until beef is no longer pink and browned. beef and sugar into pan for gyudon
    5. Add sake, mirin, and soy sauce and cook for 3-5 minutes.
    6. Pour lightly beaten eggs evenly over the beef so its evenly coated. Place a lid onto the pan to gently steam the egg so its still runny (and not overcooked!).eggs into gyudon
    7. Gently slide the egg, beef, and onions over a bowl of steaming white rice. Top with chopped scallions and optional sesame seeds.
    close up photo of gyudon

    Tips for the best gyudon

    • Be patient with the onions! You want to make sure they're soft and cooked down, you don't want to be bite down on raw onion in this sweet/savory dish.
    • You don't have to slice the beef at home! Many Asian grocery stores sell sliced beef as "hot pot beef" or "shabu beef" in the frozen section.
    • Beat the egg lightly and don't overcook it! We don't want scrambled eggs, but a runny egg that almost holds the beef like a fluffy omelette. A couple minutes of steaming with a lid on the pan should be enough to get this level of texture.

    Looking for more quick 10-minute recipes?

    Having to make lunch everyday can be such a headache when you're so busy with everything else. Try my 10-minute shrimp and egg stir-fry or quick and easy kimchi fried rice for healthy meals you can make in a pinch!

    bowl of beef rice bowl gyudon
    Print Pin
    5 from 17 votes

    Gyudon (Japanese Beef Rice Bowl)

    A traditional Japanese recipe, gyudon (Japanese beef rice bowl) is a an easy protein-rich dish. Served with thinly sliced onions and a perfectly silky egg, this is the ultimate comfort food.
    Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine Japanese, Korean
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 2
    Author Julia

    Ingredients

    • 1 white onion (thinly sliced)
    • ½ lb beef chuck or ribeye (thinly sliced)
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 2 teaspoon sugar
    • 2 tablespoon sake
    • 2 tablespoon mirin
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
    • 2 scallions (chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds (optional)
    • 1 cup cooked white rice

    Instructions

    • Prepare one cup of rice.
    • Thinly slice beef and onions.
    • Heat up oil in a pan. Cook the sliced onion until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir often.
    • Add sliced beef to the pan and sugar. Cook beef until browned and no longer pink.
    • Add sake, mirin, and soy sauce. Reduce heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
    • Lightly beat two eggs in a separate bowl. Pour over beef evenly.
    • Cover pan until egg is cooked but still runny.
    • Scoop rice into a bowl and top with beef and eggs.
    • Top with optional sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Freya says

      May 20, 2021 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      This was so delicious and packed with flavour!

      Reply
    2. Audrey says

      May 21, 2021 at 4:51 am

      5 stars
      This is a great weeknight recipe.

      Reply
    3. Pam Greer says

      May 21, 2021 at 8:06 am

      5 stars
      Love all the flavors in this!

      Reply
    4. Nora says

      May 21, 2021 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious! Can't wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Emily Flint says

      May 21, 2021 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      Love all of the flavors going on here, this looks delicious!

      Reply
    6. Natalie says

      May 22, 2021 at 2:41 am

      5 stars
      I love the added sake in this recipe. Sounds delicious. I will save this to try. Thanks for the lovely dinner idea.

      Reply
    7. Toni says

      May 22, 2021 at 6:19 am

      5 stars
      This is so good! Quickly became a favorite at my house!

      Reply
    8. Jessica Formicola says

      May 22, 2021 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      Our family loves rice bowls, and this Japanese beef version looks incredible! We will definitely be making this often at our house!

      Reply
    9. Alexandra says

      May 24, 2021 at 4:34 am

      5 stars
      This is so tasty - what a great meal!

      Reply
    10. Swathi says

      May 24, 2021 at 5:57 am

      5 stars
      This is ultimate comfort food in a bowl . Love it

      Reply
    11. Nora says

      May 24, 2021 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      What a quick, easy, and delicious bowl! So tasty! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    12. Amy Roskelley says

      May 24, 2021 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      That IS quick and Easy! Thanks so much! My kids love this!

      Reply
    13. Chef Dennis says

      May 24, 2021 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      This Gyudon is making my tummy growl!

      Reply
    14. Amy says

      May 25, 2021 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      This was crazy delicious! The kids smashed it.

      Reply
    15. Toni says

      May 25, 2021 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious dinner for weeknights!

      Reply
    16. Jamie says

      May 25, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      Oh I can't wait to make this for my family!

      Reply
    17. Swathi says

      May 26, 2021 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      Japanese beef rice bowl looks delicious love it.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm J! I'm a marketer by day, food photographer and recipe-tester by any other time available. The Floured Camera was born from my need to make quick, delicious, and (sometimes) healthy dishes for when I'm craving my favorite Asian childhood dishes!

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