Japanese Beef Rice Bowl Recipe (Gyudon)

Japanese-style beef rice bowl or ‘gyudon‘ is a quick, hearty, and satisfying meal that comes together in just 15 minutes. It’s a simple yet satisfying dish that is made of thinly sliced beef and aromatics cooked in a sweet and savory sauce and served over a bowl of steaming rice.

My first time having this was at Yoshinoya, a popular Japanese fast-food chain known for its beef rice bowls. While they offer a variety of other bowls, I always order the gyudon set – which comes with a side of salad, soup, and a raw egg.

The yolk is usually separated and placed on top of the gyudon as a topping, and let me tell you… it’s delicious! For this recipe, I wanted to recreate the gyudon in a way that I enjoyed the most!

Why you’ll love this recipe

With juicy beef smothered in a sweet and savory sauce, a warm bowl of gyudon will hit all the right spots. The thinly sliced beef absorbs the deliciously sweet and savory sauce that consists of dashi stock, mirin, sake, soy sauce, and sugar. With the mildly sweet onions served over a bed of warm rice, it’s a meal that’s both filling and satisfying.

Like most rice bowls, this beef rice bowl is also incredibly versatile. While I served mine with an egg yolk, scallions, and homemade furikake, the topping options are endless. The best part is it all comes together in as fast as 15 minutes so you can whip this recipe up whenever you need a quick and comforting meal!

Japanese Beef Rice Bowl Ingredients & Substitutions

Thinly sliced beef: beef is the main star of this recipe so you want to use high-quality and fresh beef. Opt for a cut of beef that’s tender and has marbling like ribeye or sirloin. I’m using thinly sliced ribeye shabu beef, which is beef used for hot pot.

Cooked white rice: no rice bowl is complete without freshly cooked rice! I’m using medium-grain rice for this dish, but you can also use short-grain rice or sushi rice.

Onion: onion is used to enhance the flavor profile of the dashi stock.

Garlic cloves: similar to onion, garlic cloves provide a burst of garlicky flavor and aroma to the dashi stock.

Scallion: scallion adds freshness to the gyudon.

Neutral oil: any neutral-tasting oil will work well for sauteing the aromatics, including vegetable, canola, corn, sunflower seed, grapeseed, peanut, or avocado oil.

Dashi stock: dashi stock is used as the base for the sauce. You can also substitute it with 1 to 2 teaspoons of dashi powder.

Egg yolks: runny egg yolks make great toppings for the gyudon because they add richness and creaminess.

Sesame oil: a drizzle of sesame oil on top of the beef rice bowl adds a subtle nutty taste and aroma.

Dashi Stock Ingredients & Substitutions

Water: water is used to make the dashi broth.

Dashi powder packet: dashi powder packet is a quick way to prepare dashi stock. I used a dashi packet that I purchased from Dashi Okume in Brooklyn, NY. They sell pre-packed dashi packets, which I purchased for this recipe! If you can’t get a hold of dashi packets, you can substitute them with dashi powder, which you can easily find at any Asian supermarket. Alternatively, you can make your own dashi broth by combining water, kelp, and katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and boiling it down into a broth. Check out the recipe below!

Dashi Broth (Makes about 1 cup)

• 1 (3×3) piece dried kelp
• 1/2 cup dried bonito flakes katsuobushi
• 2 1/2 cups water

1. In a pot, combine water and dried kelp. Simmer on low for 10 minutes then remove the kelp from the pot.
2. Add the dried bonito flakes. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat then set aside for 10 minutes.
3. Strain and your dashi broth is ready!

Seasoning Sauce Ingredients & Substitutions

Soy sauce: soy sauce is the main seasoning ingredient for the sauce. You can also use low-sodium soy sauce for a less salty sauce.

Mirin: mirin adds a subtle sweetness to the seasoning sauce. You can also substitute it for sake or skip it.

Sake: sake also adds a hint of sweetness to the sauce. It can be substituted with mirin or you can omit it.

Sugar: the sweetness of the sugar balances out the salty and umami flavors of the sauce.

How do to prepare Japanese Beef Rice Bowl (Gyudon)

Once your ingredients are ready, this gyudon recipe takes no time to assemble. To start, just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Prepare the dashi stock

Prepare the dashi stock by combining the dashi powder packet and water in a pot. Bring to a boil for 4 to 5 minutes, or follow the preparation instructions on the package. If you’re using dashi powder, you can skip this step.

Step 2: Prepare the seasoning

Since this recipe yields two beef rice bowls, be sure to divide the recipe ingredients in half since each bowl will need to be prepared separately.

In a bowl, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. Mix until they’re well combined.

Step 3: Saute onion and garlic

Heat a pan with neutral oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 1 minute. Next, add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Step 4: Cook the beef

Add the dashi stock and seasoning sauce in the same pan. Then, simmer for 2 to 3 minutes before adding the thinly sliced beef. Allow them to cook for 2 minutes or until the beef is fully cooked. Turn off the heat and drizzle sesame oil on top.

Step 5: Assemble the rice bowl

Transfer the cooked beef over a bowl of cooked rice, leaving the sauce in the pan. Then, bring the sauce back up to a boil over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes until it’s slightly reduced. Pour the sauce over the beef. Repeat the step of reheating the sauce and pouring it into the second bowl.

Step 6: Garnish and serve

Garnish both rice bowls with scallions and runny eggs. Serve and enjoy!

Cooking Tips for Japanese Beef Rice Bowl

To help you make the most delicious beef rice bowl at home, here are a few quick tips you can keep in mind:

• Use fresh and good-quality beef since it is the star of the recipe. Opt for a cut of beef that’s tender and has marbling like ribeye or sirloin. You’ll know it’s fresh if it has a bright red color, feels firm to the touch, and doesn’t have an off-odor.

• If you’re using scallions as garnish and want to make it look fancy, slice the scallions into thin strips and soak them in cold water while you finish preparing the rest of the dish. Aside from freshening them up, this will also make them curl up for a more appealing garnish.

• You don’t want to overcook the beef. Once it’s no longer pink, it should be ready to serve. Overcooking the beef will cause it to turn dry.
• Feel free to experiment with different toppings based on ingredients and flavors that you enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use day-old rice for Japanese Beef Rice Bowl?

While I prefer using freshly cooked rice for this recipe, day-old rice would also work. Simply reheat the rice in the microwave before assembling the dish.

Can I make this without sake or mirin?

Sake and mirin are traditional ingredients and add an authentic flavor however you can substitute them if necessary. Substitute them with a combination of water and a pinch of sugar.

What is dashi powder packet made of?

It depends on the brand, but most dashi powder packets contain kombu (dried kelp) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). Other brands like to add other flavorings, such as roasted ago (flying fish) or iwashi (sardines).

Can I store gyudon in the fridge?

Yes, you can store leftover gyudon in the fridge. Keep it in an airtight container so it stays fresh for up to 2 days. If you want to reheat it, place the dish in the microwave or stovetop until warm. You can add a bit of water to help loosen up the rice and revive the sauce.

Looking for more easy & delicious Japanese-inspired recipes?

1. Miso Udon Noodle Soup – if you’re in the mood for warm comforting noodles, this recipe is for you. It’s made of a variety of toppings, such as fish cakes, tofu skin, and sauteed oyster mushrooms served in a savory miso soup for a protein-packed meal.

2. Air Fryer Katsu – love tonkatsu but hate the excess grease? This air fryer katsu is a healthier alternative that retains its crispiness and juiciness!

3. Spam Onigirazu – Onigirazu is the perfect dish for when you’re on the go. It’s filled with kimchi, spam, cheese, and avocado but you can fill it with whatever ingredients you like!

4. Homemade Matcha Latte – quench your thirst with this refreshing and delicious homemade matcha latte recipe. It’s the perfect pick-me-up any time of the day!

5. Pan Seared Miso Salmon – elevate your weeknight meals with this flavorful salmon recipe. The miso and mushroom glaze creates a delicious savory flavor that gets you hooked!