Gyudon (Beef bowl) are popular among Japanese and foreigners alike, and are now available everywhere in the world. Such a bowl of rice topped with a generous amount of beef stewed in a thick sauce is a high-calorie dish.
But don’t worry. Gyudon restaurants in Japan have low-carbohydrate, healthy options for enjoying beef bowls. This article introduces Japanese gyudon chain restaurants and their recommended menu items for dieters.
3 Major Gyudon Chain Stores
Japan has three major Gyudon (beef bowl) chain restaurants: Sukiya, Yoshinoya, and Matsuya. Although they are all the same, they differ slightly in taste and menu items, and some customers will only visit the Gyudon restaurant of their preferred taste.
Of the three companies, Sukiya is the most well-known. Not only does it have by far the largest number of stores in Japan, but it also has more than 600 stores in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, Taiwan, and other countries. Sukiya has a large number of female and family customers and offers a wide variety of menu items.
The next most popular restaurant is Yoshinoya, and the last is Matsuya. Yoshinoya’s Gyudon has a history of more than 100 years and is loved by men and people in their 50s and older. The company has expanded overseas more than Sukiya, with nearly 1,000 stores in the U.S., China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries.
Gyudon to choose while on a diet
Now, let us introduce a menu with less than 500kcal to enjoy a Gyudon without feeling guilty even if you are on a diet.
すき家(Sukiya)
Gyudon Light:427kcal (regular)
Tofu is used instead of rice, and salad and beef are served on top.
Oroshi Ponzu Gyudon Light:451kcal (regular)
Tofu is used instead of rice. Salad and beef are topped with grated radish and ponzu sauce.
Gyudon Light with Wasabi Yamakake:466kcal (regular)
Tofu is used instead of rice. Served with grated yam and wasabi on top of salad and beef.
Beef・Meal Salad:369kcal
Six kinds of vegetables including lettuce and broccoli are topped with 16-grain rice, in-house bacon and beef.
Chicken・Meal Salad:275kcal
Six kinds of vegetables, including lettuce and broccoli, are topped with 16-grain rice, in-house bacon, and steamed chicken.
吉野家(Yoshinoya)
Kimchi Beef Salad:415kcal
Kimchi, beef, chicken, broccoli, and a half-boiled egg on top of the salad provide a well-balanced protein intake.
松屋(Matsuya)
Beef yakiniku raw vegetable set:374kcal
This set is a set meal menu without rice.
https://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/english/
Incidentally, the regular beef bowl small size at each restaurant is around 500 kcal, so those who want to eat meat with rice should choose the small size!