Donburi is a Japanese dish consisting of a large bowl of rice with various toppings such as meat, fish, or vegetables. Specific dishes are named with the suffix “-don” and can include gyudon, oyakodon, katsudon, tendon, kaisendon, and tekka-don. Donburi is a popular fast food lunch or late-night meal in Japan, with many restaurant franchises offering it. Donburi recipes vary by region and season, and it is also a popular comfort food in Japanese households.
Donburi is the Japanese word for a large bowl. Sometimes spelled “domburi,” the word also refers to a type of Japanese food that consists of a large bowl of plain white rice with one or more toppings. For such a simple dish, donburi has many interpretations. Toppings can be made from any type of meat, fish, or vegetable, which can be prepared in a variety of ways and sometimes include a sauce. There are, however, specific types of donburi dishes that are named based on the ingredients in the toppings.
The word donburi is abbreviated with the suffix “-don” for the names of these specific dishes. One of the most common examples is Gyudon, which means “bowl of beef”. To make gyudon, thinly sliced meat and onions are simmered with soy sauce and mirin, a sweet sake that cooks wine. Another donburi favorite is oyakodon. The name means “mother and child bowl,” which refers to its main ingredients, chicken and eggs.
Donburi can also be served with fried toppings. A popular example is katsudon, a bowl of rice topped with breaded pork cutlet. Donburi can also be coated with tempura. This dish is called tendon and typically features breaded and fried shrimp and vegetables.
Some dishes are seasoned with raw materials. Kaisendon is topped with sashimi, which are thin slices of raw fish. For this dish, the fish is served with sushi rice seasoned with sweetened vinegar and a side of soy sauce. Tekka-don, another raw dish, is topped with spicy tuna. A similar take on this dish is negitoro don, fatty tuna belly with spring onions.
Donburi is especially popular as a fast food lunch or late night meal. In Japan, there are many restaurant franchises where donburi is readily available, cheap, and quickly served. The most popular donburi restaurants in Japan are Yoshinoya, Matsuya and Sushiya. Yoshinoya was founded in 1899 and has since expanded its franchise to countries throughout Asia as well as New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the United States.
Donburi recipes vary from one region to another, and the hot sauces can change according to the seasons. Some Chinese restaurants in Japan serve their own versions, called chukadon or gomoku. A dish known as makanaidon is popular as an after-hours meal for restaurant employees, with the day’s leftovers served over a generous bowl of rice. In home kitchens, donburi is also a popular comfort food for many Japanese households.
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