
Sweet soy-simmered beef over steamed rice
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2
2 bowls
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Moderate
$$
Sweet soy-simmered beef over steamed rice
Paper-thin slices of beef simmered with onions in a sweet soy-mirin broth, served over a steaming bowl of rice. Gyudon is Japan most popular fast-food bowl and the epitome of quick comfort.
5m
Prep Time
15m
Cook Time
20m
Total Time
2
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Moderate $$
Cost
(Updated )
Gyudon is the meal that fuels Japan. From late-night salarymen to busy students, everyone turns to this sweet, savory beef bowl for a fast, satisfying meal that feels like a hug.
Simmer sliced onion in 1/2 cup dashi (or water) with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar for 5 minutes until soft.
Add beef slices and spread them out. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until just cooked through.
Do not stir aggressively; gently move the beef to keep the slices intact.
Scoop rice into bowls and ladle the beef, onions, and broth over the top.
Garnish with pickled red ginger (beni shoga) and optionally top with a raw or onsen egg.
Serve over steamed jasmine or sticky rice
Pair with a side of pickled vegetables or kimchi
Add a drizzle of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor
Pork bowl version is equally popular and more budget-friendly
Mix 1 tbsp rice wine with 1 tsp sugar
Test Kitchen Pick
Mirin
Helpful Pantry Staple
Mirin quietly rounds out sauces like this with sweetness and gloss. It is one of those ingredients you notice more when it is missing.
This adds balance, not just sweetness.
A bottle of mirin becomes surprisingly versatile once it is in the pantry.
Shop mirin for this recipeFreeze the beef for 30 minutes before slicing for the thinnest possible cuts.
Ask your butcher for shabu-shabu-cut beef for perfectly thin slices without effort.
Refrigerate beef and sauce for up to 3 days. Store separately from rice.
Warm gently in a saucepan. Serve over freshly steamed rice.
Per serving (60mg) · 2 servings
A hearty, energy-rich serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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