Gyūdon (beef bowl) · 牛丼

牛丼 · Gyūdon

Thin beef and onion simmered in a sweet soy sauce over rice — Japan’s fast, cheap everyday meal.

Kind: Rice, Meat
Cooking: Braised / simmered
Taste: Sweet, Soy sauce, Filling meal, Easy to eat alone, Breakfast · Not spicy
Served · texture: Hot · Tender beef, sauce-soaked rice

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients, including hidden ones

Basis: General recipe. Shops differ and unlisted ingredients can be present; this is not an allergy guarantee.

VARIANTS

General variants; not every brand sells every one.

CHAINS

Currency

Prices in local currency (JPY).

Brand	Menu item	What’s different	Serving	Price
Yoshinoya 吉野家	Gyudon, regular 牛丼並盛 Regular menu · Plain gyudon	Official note: beef, onion and rice all chosen with care. 453 yen before tax.	Regular size (namimori), one bowl	¥498 Dine-in · Official · source · 2026-10-18
Yoshinoya 吉野家	Cheese gyudon, regular チーズ牛丼並盛 Regular menu · Cheese gyudon	No brand description	Regular size (namimori), one bowl	¥660 Dine-in · Official · source · 2026-10-18
Sukiya すき家	Gyudon, regular 牛丼並盛 Regular menu · Plain gyudon	Official note: 100% safety-checked beef. Sizes from mini (420 yen) to mega (1,060 yen).	Regular size (namimori), one bowl	¥480 Dine-in · Official · source · 2026-10-18
Matsuya 松屋	Gyumeshi (gyudon), regular 牛めし並盛 Regular menu · Plain gyudon	Official menu: free miso soup when you eat in. Sizes from small (450 yen) to extra large (880 yen).	Regular size (namimori), one bowl	¥480 Dine-in · Official · source · 2026-10-18
Matsuya 松屋	Cheese gyumeshi, regular チーズ牛めし並盛 Regular menu · Cheese gyudon	No brand description	Regular size (namimori), one bowl	¥680 Dine-in · Official · source · 2026-10-18
Matsuya 松屋	Kimchi gyumeshi, regular キムチ牛めし並盛 Regular menu · Kimchi gyudon · Spicy	No brand description	Regular size (namimori), one bowl	¥580 Dine-in · Official · source · 2026-10-18

“Signature” is used only when the brand itself says so. No sales ranking is invented, and no dish is judged tastier than another.

PRICE GUIDE

Separate from chain menu prices. Premium reflects setting and service, not a rip-off.

SIMILAR

Difference	Gyūdon	Butadon
Meat	Beef	Pork
Where	Almost every gyudon chain	Only some chains (confirmed: Yoshinoya)
Taste	Sweet soy sauce	Sweet-savoury, sometimes grilled

ORDERING

えびを抜いてください: No shrimp, please (ebi o nuite kudasai)
魚介類が食べられません: I can’t eat seafood (gyokairui ga taberaremasen)
だしに魚は入っていますか？: Is there fish in the stock? (dashi ni sakana wa haitte imasu ka?)
豚肉が食べられません: I can’t eat pork (butaniku ga taberaremasen)
牛肉が食べられません: I can’t eat beef (gyūniku ga taberaremasen)
卵を抜いてください: No egg, please (tamago o nuite kudasai)
辛くしないでください: Not spicy, please (karaku shinaide kudasai)
アレルギーがあります: I have an allergy (arerugī ga arimasu) — then the ingredient

A request, not a guarantee the ingredient can be removed.

Recipe sources: Wikipedia — Gyūdon (2026-10-18). Photos are Google results AMS does not vouch for; check opening status on Google Maps.