yudon means “beef bowl” in Japanese. It is one of the most common everyday meals in Japan. You can find it in fast casual restaurants like Sukiya or Yoshinoya, but it is also very common home food.
Thin beef slices are cooked in a light sauce made from soy sauce, mirin and sugar, together with onions. It is always served over hot rice.
😌 Difficulty: Easy
⏱️ Preparation time: 10 min
🔥 Cooking time: 15 min
⏳ Total time: 25 min
👥 Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 300 g thinly sliced beef (ribeye or beef for stir-fry)
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 200 ml water
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp sake (or dry white wine)
For serving:
- 150 g Japanese short-grain rice
- Pickled ginger (beni shoga – optional but traditional)
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package instructions until soft and fluffy. Keep warm.
- In a medium pan, add water, soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake.
- Heat over medium until the sugar dissolves.
- Add sliced onion and cook 4-5 minutes until soft and slightly transparent.
- Add the sliced beef. Spread it gently in the pan.
- Cook 4-5 minutes until the beef is no longer pink. Do not overcook.
- Let everything simmer gently 2-3 more minutes so the sauce slightly reduces. The liquid should be light but flavorful, not dry.
- Place hot rice in bowls. Spoon beef and onions on top. Add a little sauce over the rice.
- Serve immediately.
SpinThatCuisine Tip 💡
In Japan, gyudon is often topped with a raw egg yolk. The heat from the beef gently warms it and makes the dish extra creamy.