Bento Recipes: How to Make Gyudon (Beef Bowl)

If you love the idea of bento but don’t have time to prepare multiple small side dishes, a donburi bento is the perfect solution! Donburi (rice bowls) are a staple in Japanese cuisine—hearty, satisfying, and easy to make. One of the most popular donburi dishes is gyudon (beef bowl), a comforting mix of thinly sliced beef and onions simmered in a savory-sweet sauce, served over steaming rice.

What is Gyuudon?

Gyudon (牛丼), which translates to “beef bowl,” is a classic Japanese dish that combines tender beef and onions cooked in a flavorful broth made of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and dashi. It’s typically topped with pickled ginger (beni shouga) and shredded leek or green onions. Gyudon is a favorite for its rich taste and how easy it is to make, a perfect choice for a bento meal!

Our Gyuudon Bento

For this recipe, we prepared our gyudon in the Mayu Don Bento Box, perfect for bringing donburi-style lunches wherever you go. We also used the Yukihira Nabe Pot for cooking, along with our Negi Cutter to effortlessly slice the spring onions used as a topping. 

Watch us make Gyudon here! Recipe continues below. 

Gyudon Recipe (Serves 2)

Ingredients:
400g Hot fresh rice
200g Thinly shaved beef
1/2 Onion
Pickled ginger and shredded leek to taste
Sauce:
1 Tbsp Cooking Sake
2 Tbsp Mirin
2 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp Grated Ginger
200ml Water

Instructions:

1. Slice onion into medium-sized wedges.
   
   
   
   
2. In a pot, add the sliced onion and sauce ingredients.
   
   
3. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. While simmering onions, cut spring onion with our Negi Cutter to use as a topping.
   
   
   
   
5. Add the beef and continue to simmer on low for another 10 minutes until tender.
   
   
   
   
6. Pack the beef and onion mixture into the top compartment of the Mayu Don Bento Box and top with pickled ginger and shredded leek. 
   
   
   
   
7. When it's time to eat, serve over rice in the main compartment and enjoy!
   
   
   
   
   

Why a Donburi Bento?

Unlike traditional bento that may require multiple compartments and side dishes, donburi bento are quick and simple to make. Gyudon packs well and reheats beautifully, making it an easy meal to prepare ahead of time. Just store it in your bento box and enjoy a warm, satisfying lunch wherever you go!

Want to make this for your next lunch? Check out the Mayu Don Bento Box, Yukihira Nabe Pot, and Negi Cutter in our store to get started!