Gyudon
Gyudon
Gyudon is Japan's most popular quick weekday meal, a bowl of hot steamed rice topped with thinly sliced beef and soft, sweet onions simmered together in a light sauce of dashi, soy sauce and mirin. The name translates simply as beef bowl, and it delivers exactly what that description promises: a deeply satisfying, uncomplicated combination that can be prepared in under fifteen minutes and that consistently provides the kind of comfort that a meal eaten in a hurry rarely achieves. Gyudon chains like Yoshinoya and Matsuya are fixtures of Japanese city life, but the homemade version is easy to produce and noticeably better.
The key to good gyudon is the beef: it should be sliced paper-thin, which allows it to cook in seconds and soak up the seasoning rapidly. Japanese butchers routinely produce this cut, known as gyudon-you or usugiri, and it is also available in frozen form from Japanese grocery stores. The sauce should be made with proper dashi rather than water, even a quick one made from Hondashi granules is significantly better than plain water, and the ratio of soy to mirin determines the flavour balance. A little sake adds depth and removes any remaining meatiness from the broth.
The equipment required is minimal. A medium saucepan or skillet, a rice cooker or regular pot for the rice, and a set of donburi rice bowls for serving are sufficient. The donburi bowl matters more than it might seem, its depth keeps the rice warm under the topping and its wide mouth allows the ingredients to be arranged properly.
A shichimi togarashi chilli blend on the side is the standard finishing touch in Japan.
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Serve in our donburi bowls and use a quality saucepan for the broth.
Showing 21 products
AVAILABILITY: In stock (4 items)
Tsubamesanjo Stainless Steel Chopsticks are precision-crafted chopsticks from Japan's Tsubame-Sanjo metalwork region - renowned for producing some of the world's finest stainless steel cutlery and kitchenware. Region of Origin Tsubamesanjo, Japan 🇯🇵 In the Box 1 Pair of Premium Metal...
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Sori Yanagi Kitchen Tongs are iconic Japanese stainless steel tongs designed by legendary industrial designer Sori Yanagi - a perfectly balanced, ergonomic tool that reflects the same design philosophy as his famous butterfly stool. Designer Sori Yanagi (柳宗理) Product Type...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (-4 items)
This Japanese microwave rice cooker lets you cook perfect fluffy white rice in under 15 minutes without a dedicated rice cooker. Compact, BPA-free, and easy to clean. Includes 1 rice cooker + measuring cup Dimensions 14 × H14 × 13.6...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (2 items)
Kanagawa Rice Bowls are Japanese ceramic chawan rice bowls with a design inspired by Hokusai's Kanagawa wave woodblock print - bold ocean blue brushwork for a dramatic and iconic Japanese table presence. In the Box Set of 2 Japanese Bowls...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (500 items)
Kujira Chopsticks, part of the coordinated Kujira whale tableware collection. Smooth lacquered chopsticks with non-slip tip for comfortable everyday use. Country of Origin MADE IN JAPAN Package Includes 2 Pairs of Handcrafted Wooden Chopsticks Material Natural Wood with Protective Acrylic...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (498 items)
Nami Donburi bowls with lids, a set of two with the wave Nami pattern in blue and white porcelain. Ideal for rice bowls, donburi, or noodle dishes. Includes 2 bowls + 2 matching lids, 545g each Dimensions 15 × H10.5...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (498 items)
The Maneki Neko Bowls Set is a charming collection of ceramic bowls decorated with the iconic lucky cat Maneki Neko motif. An auspicious and joyful gift set for Japanese culture enthusiasts. In the Box Set of 5 Japanese Ceramic Bowls...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (-2 items)
Mirin Sauce, Japanese sweet rice wine that adds gentle sweetness and a beautiful glaze to teriyaki, simmered dishes, and sauces. An essential element alongside soy and sake. Contents 500 ml Origin Made in Japan 🇯🇵 Browse also: gyudon tools, sukiyaki...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (499 items)
Suba Kitchen Tongs, Japanese stainless steel tongs with silicone tips for safe use with non-stick cookware. Precise grip for turning, plating, and serving hot foods. Includes 1 pair of kitchen tongs Length 14.7 cm (5.7") Material 18-0 stainless steel Origin...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (2 items)
Kanagawa Red Rice Bowls are Japanese ceramic chawan inspired by Hokusai's Great Wave in a bold red colourway - a striking, contemporary riff on one of Japan's most celebrated woodblock prints. In the Box Set of 2 Japanese Bowls &...
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Authentic Japanese Pantry Staples | Premium Aonori Green Seaweed Powder Unlock the rich, earthy depth of traditional Japanese street food right from your home spice rack! **Aonori** (dried green laver seaweed flakes) is a universally beloved finishing seasoning celebrated for...
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The Hana Rikyu Bowl is a Japanese ceramic rice bowl with the delicate Hana flower Rikyu wabi-style decoration - a quietly beautiful everyday bowl that elevates even the simplest Japanese meal. Provenance Hasami-yaki (Nagasaki Prefecture) 🇯🇵 In the Box 1...