Great places for delicious gyudon (beef Rice bowl) in Tokyo's Shinjuku and Okubo area
Photograph:TAKEGOJP
Tatsuya is a gyudon (beef Rice bowl) shop with a long history dating back to 1969, just a short walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station and Shinjuku Station.
The aroma of dashi (Japanese soup stock) fills the shop and is said to whet your appetite. There is counter seating only, and the place has an atmosphere that makes it easy to stop by even on your own.
Photograph:焼鬼斬り
The best thing about this restaurant's "gyudon (beef bowl)" is that it comes with simmered tofu. The tofu is said to be fully infused with the flavor of the dashi (Japanese soup stock).
The beef is surprisingly tender, and the sweetness of the fat pairs beautifully with the sauce. For an extra charge, you can change it to a set meal style that comes with miso soup and pickles.
Photograph:mit_gourmet
They also offer several kinds of Rice bowl dishes, including "toridon (chicken rice bowl)" and "oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl)," and reviews say they are all good.
The "katsudon" is topped with a cutlet that is fried only after you order, and people say it is very filling. There were also reviews praising its approachable flavor, just what you would expect from a neighborhood Rice bowl shop.
・Gyudon (beef bowl)
With tofu on the side, it looks almost like sukiyaki (Japanese beef hotpot) condensed into a rice bowl. The sweet and savory sauce, rich and full bodied, coats the tender simmered beef and rice perfectly. One bite fills your mouth with the savory flavor of carefully made dashi (Japanese soup stock), and you instantly understand why it has been loved for so many years.
Source:https://www.doom.now.cc/en/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13025431/dtlrvwlst/B524165658/
マサイ族の最期
The tori-don (chicken Rice bowl), soaked in a mildly sweet and savory yet light sauce, is excellent. Adding tartar sauce gives it more punch and makes it even more satisfying. Besides the tori-don, they also have katsu Rice bowl and gyu Rice bowl. I’ve tried them all, but in the end, the tori-don is still my pick.
Source:マサイ族の最期's review
Tatsuya
Shinjuku Sanchome Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl), Katsu-don (Pork cutlet bowl)
東京都新宿区新宿3丁目35-2
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:mikadojin
"Yakiniku Rice bowl Tare Sakura" is a popular Yakiniku Rice bowl specialty restaurant located inside a facility directly connected to Shinjuku-sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Fukutoshin Line, known for serving tasty gyudon (beef bowl) with special attention to the sauce and rice.
The clean and tidy interior has an atmosphere that makes it easy to stop by alone. It has counter seats and table seats.
Photograph:はるくんの食べ歩き
The Gyudon (beef rice bowl) uses a special miso sauce made with shiro miso (white miso) from a miso shop in Kyoto, and its sweet-savory taste and toasty aroma go great with rice.
The photo shows the "Premium Wagyu Kalbi Rice bowl." The meat is not too fatty, has great flavor, and offers a highly satisfying taste.
Photograph:おのまめし
It looks like they offer a lineup of Rice bowl dishes starring all kinds of meats, including beef, pork, and Horumon. The “Gyu Karubi Bibimbap Rice bowl” is also well received.
It uses lots of ingredients, including sweet and savory miso sauce, beef short plate, and fresh vegetables, and it is said to get even tastier the more you mix it.
yu-ka0427
・Premium Wagyu short rib Rice bowl
The fragrant grilled Wagyu short rib is coated in a special miso sauce made with shiro miso (white miso) from a long-established miso maker in Kyoto! It had rich flavor but was still mellow, with an amazing balance of sweetness and umami... it was so good that I kept eating more and more rice.
Source:yu-ka0427's review
mikadojin
・Beef and Pork Combo Rice bowl
The beef has a rich umami taste, while the pork has a pleasant sweetness from its fat, and the nice thing about the Combo is that you can enjoy the best of both at once. Add to that the right level of heat and tang from the kimchi plus the punch of roasted garlic, and it stays satisfying all the way to the last bite. It is filling, but the flavors are so well balanced that it never feels heavy.
Source:mikadojin's review
Yakiniku Don Tare Zakura
Shinjuku Sanchome Sta. / Buta-don (Pork bowl), Gyu-don (Beef bowl), Izakaya (Japanese style tavern)
東京都新宿区新宿3-4-8京王フレンテ新宿三丁目 B2F
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:弥生ぃ(つ∀｀*)
Yoshinoya Shinjuku Keio Mall Ten is a gyudon (beef Rice bowl) shop directly connected to Shinjuku Station, located in the underground shopping area by the South Exit. Its easy to stop by without worrying about the weather is part of the appeal.
There are counter seats only, and you order using a tablet installed at each seat. The bright and cheerful service also leaves a good impression.
Photograph:keibambam
Starting with the standard gyudon (beef rice bowl), the lineup of gyudon menu items is extensive, including the Oni Oroshi Wasabi Gyudon and Kimchi Gyudon.
The beni shoga (pickled red ginger) topping available free at the table is also recommended. Its sharp acidity and spiciness balance the rich flavor of the sweet and savory simmered beef fat, making the Rice bowl easy to enjoy all the way to the last bite, according to reviews.
Photograph:小田切警視
If you want to enjoy the rice and beef separately, a set meal style menu is a good choice.
The photo shows the "Beef Kalbi set meal." The beef kalbi is served piping hot with a special soy sauce based sauce, and it is said to be so tasty that it goes perfectly with rice.
はだのあにい
At Yoshinoya Shinjuku Keio Mall Ten in Shinjuku Keio Mall, I ate a gyudon (beef bowl) in Regular size. The beef and onions soaked in the sweet and salty sauce mixed well with the rice, making me nod and think, "Yes, this is it" at that familiar, reliable taste. Pile on a big helping of beni shoga (pickled red ginger) from the table, and it instantly refreshes your mouth, so you just can’t stop scooping with the spoon.
Source:はだのあにい's review
バカシタカ
The moment I start craving gyudon (beef Rice bowl), Yoshinoya comes to mind. It is just the right place for a quick lunch break while out and about. This Keio Mall Ten has an open layout, and each seat is set at an angle, so you feel less conscious of the person next to you than with seats lined up in a straight row.
Source:バカシタカ's review
Yoshinoya Shinjuku keiou mo-ru ten
Shinjuku Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl)
東京都新宿区西新宿1-1南口地下街
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:ランチ向上委員会
If you want to casually enjoy gyudon (beef Rice bowl), Matsuya Shinjuku Nishiguchi Ten is another must-visit from this major nationwide gyudon chain.
With the concept of wanting to be everyone’s everyday table, it serves gyudon, curry, set meals, and more. The seating is counter seats only, so it is perfect for solo diners or small groups.
Photograph:グルメスター1993
Based on the original gyu-meshi (beef Rice bowl) served since the restaurant first opened, they offer a wide variety of beef Rice bowl dishes such as cheese gyu-meshi and kimchi gyu-meshi.
One recommended point is that when you order a Rice bowl dish in the restaurant, it comes with miso soup free of charge. The slightly thick slices of beef are said to have a nice sweetness and a refined finish.
Photograph:suicagenki
In addition to gyudon (beef Rice bowl), they offer a wide range of menu items, including (assorted varieties available) set meals and Rice bowls made with chicken, and you can also enjoy limited-time menu items.
They also have a full curry lineup, from the standard Sogyo Beef Curry to the restaurant-limited Sogyo Beef Rosu-katsu (pork loin cutlet) Curry, with a varied selection that stands out.
グルメスター1993
The gyumeshi (beef bowl) has that classic, comforting taste, and the sweet-savory sauce goes perfectly with the rice. The miso soup also has plenty of ingredients, and the salad is crisp, which is a nice plus. It was a lunch that felt worth more than the price, with unbeatable value for money. The food comes out quickly even during the busy lunch rush, and table turnover is smooth, so it is easy to stop by.
Source:グルメスター1993's review
かずのり23
I was craving curry. Matsuya serves good gyudon (beef bowl) and set meals, and I really respect the work they put into coming up with bold new menu items, but their best dish is curry. It is so good that I am truly grateful you can eat it at this price.
Source:かずのり23's review
Matsuya Shinjuku nishiguchi ten
Shinjuku Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl), Curry, Cafeteria
-
JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999
-
- JPY 999
-
-
東京都新宿区西新宿1-13-3西新ビル 1F
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:わらb
Sukiya Shinjuku Minami Ten is a popular gyudon (beef bowl) chain known for its overwhelming number of restaurants and convenience. It is in an easy-to-access location, about a 1-minute walk from the Southeast Exit of Shinjuku Station.
The restaurant has both counter and table seating, and seats on the second floor are also available.
Photograph:和虎男爵
One of the main draws of this place is its wide variety of menu items, including gyudon (beef Rice bowl), curry, and kaisendon (seafood Rice bowl).
The photo shows a lunch set with a regular-size gyudon, plus salad and miso soup. The beef is said to have a light texture but a well-seasoned flavor that goes great with the rice.
Photograph:teTsuya
The gyudon (beef rice bowl) also comes with a wide range of toppings, so you will want to try all kinds of combinations.
If you love cheese, the “Toro~ri 3-shu no Cheese Gyudon” is a great pick. The mild richness of the cheese blends beautifully with the sweetness of the beef, and they pair extremely well together.
ここかじり
Sukiya Shinjuku Ten is very convenient when you want to grab a quick meal thanks to its great location. The interior is bright and clean, and with plenty of seats, it feels relatively easy to get in even when it is busy. The food comes out quickly, and the gyudon (beef Rice bowl) has a consistently good taste and a solid portion size. The staff work efficiently, which makes it easy to use smoothly even during busy hours.
Source:ここかじり's review
ピーナッツバター76933
Gyudon (beef Rice bowl) topped with sweet and savory simmered beef and onions fills the steaming bowl. The meat lifted with chopsticks looks tender, coated in a glossy sauce. It goes perfectly with the rice, making this piping hot bowl really whet your appetite. It has a home style taste that feels comforting.
Source:ピーナッツバター76933's review
Sukiya Shinjuku tounanguchi ten
Shinjuku Sanchome Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl)
東京都新宿区新宿3-32-2
See all reviews for this restaurant
Tokyo [Ueno & Asakusa Area] Restaurants with Great Gyudon (Beef Rice Bowl)
Photograph:和牛ジャーナル
Asakusa Imahan Kokusai-dori Honten is a long-established restaurant for sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, with a history going back to 1895. It is located near Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express in Asakusa, Tokyo.
It is known for its calm atmosphere and attentive service, and you can enjoy your meal at a relaxed pace. It offers a wide variety of seating, including Private rooms, raised tatami seating, and large banquet halls.
Photograph:oishii---
If you want to enjoy beef in a casual way, lunch is recommended, with a limited 20-serving Rice bowl and jubako boxed meal menu.
The "Hyakunen Beef Rice bowl" uses large, tender slices of Domestic beef, and the slightly sweet seasoning is said to be irresistible. The flavor also seems to soak well into ingredients like tofu and onions.
Photograph:あきたいぬじかん
The "Meiji Sukiyaki Rice bowl," enjoyed with a soft onsen tamago (hot spring egg), also uses Domestic kuroge wagyu (Japanese Black Wagyu).
Along with the high quality meat with a luxurious feel, it comes packed with mushrooms and vegetables, and is said to have a gently sweet and savory seasoning.
豆太郎mm
The lunch-only Meiji Sukiyaki Rice bowl and Hyakunen Gyudon (100-year beef bowl) are popular menu items that let you enjoy high quality meat at a reasonable price. At night, the menu features a rich lineup including the Gokujo Shimofuri Sukiyaki Gozen set and Kobe Beef Gozen set, making it ideal for a meal on a special occasion. The calm interior has a tasteful Japanese feel, and the attentive service is pleasant as well. Expect a line, but it is still a place worth visiting.
Source:豆太郎mm's review
熊72
・Hyakunen Beef Rice bowl
They use large slices of Domestic female Japanese Black Wagyu beef for the meat. Female cattle at this price is a great value. It is tender and delicious. They make the sauce with warishita (sukiyaki broth), so it has the same flavor as Imahan's high end sukiyaki. The sweet savory taste is perfect with the beef and rice. The onions and tofu besides the meat were also well seasoned and tasty.
Source:熊72's review
Selected for Tabelog Hot Pot "Tabelog 100" 2024
Asakusa Imahan Kokusai dori honten
Asakusa Sta. / Sukiyaki (Japanese sweet soy hotpot), Shabu shabu (Japanese hotpot), Gyu-don (Beef bowl)
-
JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999
-
JPY 4,000 - JPY 4,999
-
-
東京都台東区西浅草3-1-12
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:キターブ
Gyudon Senmon Sambo is a gyudon (beef Rice bowl) specialty restaurant located on the way from Ueno toward Akihabara. It is well liked for its classic, tasty gyudon.
The interior is said to have a homey feel that brings back memories. There are counter seats and spacious table seats, so it looks easy to visit whether you are on your own or with a group.
The menu is simple, and it seems that for the gyudon (beef Rice bowl), you only choose the portion size and whether to add egg and miso soup.
The beef and onions are well soaked in the sauce, and one of its appeals is that the meat has little fat, giving it a light taste.
Photograph:day.a505
If you want to enjoy the rice and beef separately, the "Osara (plate)" is a good pick.
The beef, shirataki (konjac noodles), onion, and tofu are served on a separate plate from the rice, and if you add an egg set, you can enjoy it in a sukiyaki-style setup.
JUN爺2020
You can enjoy your meal in this historic storefront and atmosphere with a touch of nostalgia. The beef, simmered over a long time, has a gentle flavor, and while the portion is filling, it is nice that you can dig right in and finish it in one go. This is a place I hope will be around for many years to come.
Source:JUN爺2020's review
シャーガルシア
・Plate
The flavor is on the sweet side, like sukiyaki (Japanese hot pot with sweet soy-based sauce). It comes with a hearty portion of meat, plus tofu soaked in the broth, onions, and ito-konnyaku (thin konjac noodles), making for a perfect lineup. It is very simple, but tasty. The interior has a unique atmosphere that somehow feels nostalgic, almost like stepping back in time several decades.
Source:シャーガルシア's review
Gyu-don Senmon Sanbo
Suehirocho Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl), Japanese Cuisine
-
- JPY 999
-
- JPY 999
-
Thursday
東京都千代田区外神田3-14-4国際ビル １Ｆ
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:サリーちゃん❤️
This restaurant serves karubi Rice bowls made with carefully selected meat during the day, and izakaya dishes in the evening featuring fresh ingredients from Hokkaido.
The inside has a friendly, homey feel, and it is said to be an easy place to use for many occasions, whether dining alone or having drinks with friends.
Photograph:Tokiya
They offer Rice bowl menu items topped with high quality Hokkaido beef, carefully grilled slice by slice.
The photo shows the "Tokachi Saimi-gyu (Tokachi Saimi beef) Kalbi Rice bowl." It uses a popular branded beef from Tokachi, Hokkaido, and is said to be packed with rich flavor. The rice uses Nanatsuboshi, a Hokkaido rice brand.
Photograph:えびちゃん0701
If you prefer pork over beef, the award-winning “Mochibuta Karubi Rice bowl” is a great pick.
It comes with about five fairly large slices of pork, and the sweetness of the pork with the rich sauce makes the rice go down fast. If you want both beef and pork, the “Aimori Karubi Rice bowl” is just right.
sololunch93523a
The Beef Kalbi Rice bowl arrived in about 5 minutes. It came with miso soup and kimchi. There were about 9 slices of beef kalbi on top. It was grilled well and had a nice, toasty aroma. The slices were slightly thick with a firm bite, and I could really taste the flavor of the meat. The meat was good, but the rich sweet and savory sauce was just as tasty. The way that sauce mixed with the fat from the meat was spot on. I think I could eat the rice with just this sauce alone (lol).
Source:sololunch93523a's review
かず19600306
・Mochi-buta (glutinous rice-fed pork) kalbi Rice bowl
The flavor is really good, and the pork is nicely browned with a pleasant bite, making it incredibly tasty. I mixed in some kimchi partway through and added shichimi (Japanese seven-spice blend), and it was so good that I ended up eating too fast and finished it in no time. It made me love pork Rice bowls.
Source:かず19600306's review
Hokkaido Maruha no Izakaya Okachimachi 1 gou ten
Okachimachi Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl), Izakaya (Japanese style tavern)
-
JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999
-
- JPY 999
-
-
東京都台東区上野5-25-8御徒町グランディアビル 1F
See all reviews for this restaurant
Photograph:ジャッキー社長
Tenkaku is a popular spot known for its Gyudon (beef Rice bowl) made with aged beef sourced from a butcher in Minami-Kusatsu, Shiga.
It is located in a slightly hard-to-find spot under the elevated tracks at Asakusabashi Station in Taito City, Tokyo, and is said to have a hideaway-like atmosphere. The restaurant appears to offer both counter and table seating.
Photograph:iryu2011
The only meal option is the Jukusei UMAMI Beef Rice bowl, with Large size options available for both the meat and rice.
They pay close attention not only to the meat but also to the rice, using Joetsu Kakizaki-mai (rice from Kakizaki, Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture). It also comes with miso soup, which is said to have a gentle flavor.
The meat used in the gyudon (beef Rice bowl) changes each time, and they seem to explain it before cooking. On this day, they served meat from Omi gyu (Omi beef) and Aka ushi (Japanese Brown cattle).
Omi gyu is known for its fine texture and gentle sweetness, while Aka ushi seemed to let diners fully enjoy the appeal of lean meat without tendon. Eating them alternately seems to keep the meal enjoyable without getting boring.
00non00
Basically, it is open only for lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. They use Aged meat delivered from Sakaeya in Shiga Prefecture. For the beef Rice bowl, they carefully season and grill each slice of the two kinds of meat one by one, then finish it by arranging it in the bowl. There is no way it would not be delicious.
Source:00non00's review
mad_method
The one that is incredibly tender, with the good taste of just the right amount of fat standing out, is Omi gyu (Omi beef). The one that is springy yet tender, with a rich flavor that builds as you chew, is Brown Swiss. The one that hits you with a strong wave of umami is akaushi (Japanese Brown beef). These three kinds of beef each have completely different flavors, and when they are coated in a mildly sweet and salty sauce... your mouth fills with flavor and it is almost overwhelming.
Source:mad_method's review
Tenkaku
Asakusabashi Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl)
-
-
-
JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999
-
Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday
東京都台東区浅草橋1-16-32F
See all reviews for this restaurant
Gyumeshi Fukuchan is a restaurant in Tokyo's Asakusa area, located near Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station. It seems to serve Rice bowl menu items including gyudon (beef bowl), as well as dishes that go well with drinks.
The interior, with both counter and table seating, is said to have a classic atmosphere that feels just like old-school Asakusa.
The popular gyu-meshi (beef rice bowl) comes in a slightly large rice bowl, topped with an assortment of simmered beef tendon from the restaurant's large pot.
A key feature is that it is topped with kimchi instead of the usual ginger, which is said to give the flavor of the beef more contrast.
Photograph:バイスちゃん0820
The beef tendon stew served on top of the "gyumeshi (beef rice bowl)" can also be ordered A la carte as a snack to go with drinks.
The beef tendon is simmered well until it turns meltingly tender, and the rich flavor of the meat soaks into the tofu and konnyaku (firm yam cake) too, making it excellent. Reviews also say it is not too sweet and tastes surprisingly light.
fiveroyales
・Beef Rice Bowl
Though it came in a small bowl, the generous topping of beef was not overly greasy. That made it easy to keep eating without getting tired of it. The konnyaku (yam cake) soaked with flavor also tasted great. Its springy, jelly-like texture balanced well with the beef. The large pieces of tofu also made a nice accent.
Source:fiveroyales's review
tanuki747
The stewed beef tendon comes topped with tender, slow-cooked beef tendon, konnyaku (firm yam cake), and silken tofu. The rice is soaked with plenty of broth. I shoveled in the rice and stewed beef tendon with my chopsticks and could really taste how good it was. This is a highly recommended bowl.
Source:tanuki747's review
Gyumeshi Fukuchan
Asakusa Sta. / Gyu-don (Beef bowl), Izakaya (Japanese style tavern)
東京都台東区浅草2丁目7-13
See all reviews for this restaurant
