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–+ servings

10-Min Yakiniku Don (Japanese BBQ Style Beef Bowl)

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Author Yuto Omura
Servings 2 portions

Ingredients 
 

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • ½ tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp garlic paste or 1 crushed clove
  • 1 tsp ginger paste or grated fresh ginger
  • ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • ½ tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp apple juice

Yakiniku Don

Instructions 

  • Measure out all of the sauce ingredients (2 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu), 2 tbsp mirin, ½ tbsp tomato ketchup, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp garlic paste, 1 tsp ginger paste, ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil, ½ tbsp toasted white sesame seeds, ½ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ¼ tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp apple juice) into a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
    Mixing yakiniku sauce in a bowl
  • Heat a frying pan on high. Once hot, add a small drizzle of oil and 300 g thinly sliced beef. Sear on both sides (don't cook all the way through).
    thin slices of yakiniku meat frying in a frying pan
  • Once seared, add the sauce and stir fry the meat for 1 minute 30 seconds. Mix continuously to prevent burning.
    Yakiniku beef coated in sauce
  • Remove the pan from the heat and prepare 2 portions cooked Japanese short-grain rice. Arrange the meat on top of the rice and drizzle the sauce in the pan over the top.
    Yakiniku meat stacked on rice
  • Sprinkle each bowl with chopped spring onion and place an egg yolk or boiled egg on top (optional).
    Yakiniku don topped with spring onion and soft boiled egg
  • Enjoy!
    Yakiniku style beef bowl (Yakiniku donburi) topped with spring onion and an egg yolk

Notes

  • Use thin "yakiniku-style" cuts from short loin, outside skirt, or short ribs with some fat for the best results.
  • Substitute beef with pork or chicken if desired, but cook non-beef meats longer until fully cooked.
  • Add more vegetables if you like, try quick-cooking options like onions, bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, asparagus, or sweetcorn. 
  • To add vegetables to this dish, use the same pan and fry them to your desired softness before adding the beef and sauce.
  • Serving suggestions: miso soup, pickles, or a fresh side salad.
  • This recipe was updated with an improved sauce in August 2024. You can find the original recipe on my youtube video here.