Sukiya and Yoshinoya Gyudon, Japanese Beef Bowl

Friday, May 14, 2021

Sukiya and Yoshinoya Gyudon, Japanese Beef Bowl

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Japan in 2019. While we were in Japan, we had gyudon (牛丼), Japanese beef bowl, at Skiya (すき家) and Yoshinoya (吉野家) restaurants because gyudon is one of my favorite Japanese foods. You can check out my previous entry, My Top 15 Must Eat Foods in Japan - My Favorite Japanese Foods.

In Japan, there are some gyudon restaurant chains such as Yoshinoya (吉野家), Matsuya (松屋), Sukiya (すき家) and Nakau (なか卯). They serve affordable and delicious gyudon for around 350 yen. You might think, "Which gyudon restaurant should I try?" If you want to try original gyudon, go to Yoshinoya, which was established in Japan in 1899. However, I always choose a restaurant near me because all gyudon restaurants serve pretty good gyudon. ;)

The 4 Major Japanese Gyudon Restaurant Chains
*They have been engaged in a price war for many years. The price of gyudon sometimes goes up and down.

Yoshinoya (吉野家)
・387 yen for regular size gyudon
・original gyudon restaurant (since 1899)

Matsuya (松屋)
・320 yen for regular size gyudon
・free miso soup
・Their curry is also popular.

Sukiya (すき家)
・350 yen for regular size gyudon
・a wide selection of gyudon

Nakau (なか卯)
・380 yen for regular size gyudon
・high quality 　

Sukiya (すき家)

We went to Sukiya (すき家), Japanese beef bowl restaurant chain, in our hometown, Fukuoka. The last time I had visited this restaurant was five years ago. You can check my previous entry, Sukiya - Beef Bowl Restaurant in Japan.

Skiya Menu

Medium Size Gyudon, Miso Soup and Raw Egg

I ordered this medium size gyudon (牛丼並盛), miso soup (みそ汁) and raw egg (生たまご) for 480 yen.

Medium Size Gyudon, Pork Curry Miso Soup and Raw Egg

He ordered this medium size gyudon (牛丼並盛), pork curry miso soup (カレー豚汁) and raw egg (生たまご) for 590 yen.

Raw Egg with Soy Sauce

My favorite way to eat gyudon is adding beating raw egg with soy sauce on gyudon. You might think that eating raw egg is insane but people in Japan eat raw egg indeed. Especially tamago kake gohan (卵かけご飯), raw egg on rice, is always popular menu as quick breakfast in Japan. Unlike Japan, eating raw egg is never acceptable for people in most countries because raw egg might be contaminated with salmonella. However, most Japanese people have been eating all their life with no problems. Because Japanese people eat raw egg, those are sold on the premise of being consumed raw in Japan. That's why egg producers make eggs perfect cleaning before marketing those. If you are outside Japan, you'd better think twice about the risk though. That's why I don't eat raw egg in the U.S., but when I visit Japan, I always love to eat raw egg there.

Raw Egg with Soy Sauce

Anyway, after beating egg and soy sauce, I added it over gyudon. It was perfect! If you visit Japan and want to try eating Japanese raw egg, I recommend you to go to gyudon restaurants and try a raw egg on gyudon. 😋 If you don't want to try a raw egg, you can still enjoy delicious gyudon though. Gyudon is always delicious even without a raw egg.

Raw Egg on Gyudon

Yoshinoya (吉野家)

We also went to Yoshinoya, gyudon restaurant, at Narita International Airport (成田国際空港). I think Yoshinoya is the most famous gyudon restaurant chain internationally since they have so many branches outside Japan too.

Yoshinoya Menu

Once in a while, I go to Yoshinoya restaurant in the U.S., but obviously, they don't serve a raw egg in the U.S. That's why when I visit Youshinoya restaurant in Japan, I always add a raw egg! At Yoshinoya, medium size gyudon was 392 yen, and a raw egg was 65 yen. Gyudon in Japan is more delicious somehow, and its price is cheaper than one in the U.S.