Japanese beef bowls make for a simple weeknight dinner.


Gyudon Recipe: How to Make Japanese Beef Bowls

*Gyudon* (beef bowl) is a type of *[donburi](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/donburi-rice-bowls-guide)* (rice bowl) featuring thin slices of beef and onions. This hearty dish is typically topped with raw egg or *onsen tamago* (poached egg) and other condiments like *beni shoga* (pickled red ginger), sliced scallions, and sesame seeds. Japanese cooks have many takes on this beef-topped bowl of rice, but the most popular variation involves simmering the beef in [dashi](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dashi-explained) stock, a flavorful broth made from [bonito flakes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bonito-flakes-explained) and *[kombu](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kombu-guide)* (kelp). 

Beef became popular in Japan during the Meiji period (1868–1912) when Japanese culture became more Westernized. One of the first Japanese dishes to feature beef was *gyunabe*, beef cooked in a *sukiyaki* (hot pot) with [miso](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/authentic-japanese-miso-soup-recipe) and onions. Soon enough, cooks began to serve *gyunabe* over rice as a cheaper alternative to the all-beef hot pot dish. In 1899, Eikichi Matsuda opened Yoshinoya, a restaurant that served *gyudon* to workers at the Nihonbashi Fish Market in Tokyo, popularizing the affordable beef bowls.

Japanese beef bowls make for a simple weeknight dinner.


Gyudon (beef bowl) is a type of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/donburi-rice-bowls-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/donburi-rice-bowls-guide","linkCopy":"donburi","category":null}'>donburi</a> (rice bowl) featuring thin slices of beef and onions. This hearty dish is typically topped with raw egg or onsen tamago (poached egg) and other condiments like beni shoga (pickled red ginger), sliced scallions, and sesame seeds. Japanese cooks have many takes on this beef-topped bowl of rice, but the most popular variation involves simmering the beef in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dashi-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dashi-explained","linkCopy":"dashi","category":null}'>dashi</a> stock, a flavorful broth made from <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bonito-flakes-explained' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bonito-flakes-explained","linkCopy":"bonito flakes","category":null}'>bonito flakes</a> and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kombu-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kombu-guide","linkCopy":"kombu","category":null}'>kombu</a> (kelp).

What Is Gyudon? 

Beef became popular in Japan during the Meiji period (1868–1912) when Japanese culture became more Westernized. One of the first Japanese dishes to feature beef was gyunabe, beef cooked in a sukiyaki (hot pot) with <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/authentic-japanese-miso-soup-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/authentic-japanese-miso-soup-recipe","linkCopy":"miso","category":null}'>miso</a> and onions. Soon enough, cooks began to serve gyunabe over rice as a cheaper alternative to the all-beef hot pot dish. In 1899, Eikichi Matsuda opened Yoshinoya, a restaurant that served gyudon to workers at the Nihonbashi Fish Market in Tokyo, popularizing the affordable beef bowls.