8 Delicious Japanese Beef Dishes

Beef has been increasingly consumed in Japan since the late 19th century, as the influence of Western cuisine began to arrive in the country, and it is still considered to be a luxury food in Japan.

Like other adopted European dishes, Japanese farmers have refined their techniques, culminating in wagyu beef; breeds of domestic cattle which are raised to produce a distinct marbled steak. But wagyu steak isn’t the only way you can enjoy Japanese beef, read on to see our top picks.

Japanese Beef Dishes and Delicacies:

• Gyutan
• Gyukatsu
• Gyu Kushi
• Hambagu
• Teppanyaki
• Wagyu Sushi
• Wagyu Croquette
• Hayashi Rice

Gyutan

Gyutan is cow’s tongue and is considered a delicacy in the northern city of Sendai. Thick slices of tongue are charcoal grilled to give it a smoky taste, and seasoned with salt. The springy texture is what makes the dish appealing, and it is also high in protein and low in fat.

Gyutan is often eaten with rice mixed with grated sweet potato.

Gyukatsu

Gyukatsu means ‘beef cutlet’ and is a more recent dish than others mentioned here. The beef is coated in breadcrumb batter and quickly fried, so the centre still remains rare. The gyukatsu is then cooked on a hot stone to your liking if you prefer a cooked steak.

The dish is often served with rice and pickles, and is similar to the pork dish tonkatsu which is also coated and fried.

Gyu Kushi

Gyu kushi means ‘skewered beef’; small chunks of beef are skewered on sticks, coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried. The skewers are then paired with a tangy Worcestershire dipping sauce and cabbage.

It is said Osaka is the place of origin of gyu kushi and is a popular street food found throughout Japan.

Hambagu

A hambagu steak could be seen as the Japanese hamburger, but only in relation to the patty shape it is served. The ground patty steak is glazed with a demiglace sauce and is usually served on a hot cast-iron plate with a choice of rice or potato side, with no bun in sight.

Several toppings are also available, in the same way as hamburgers. Hambagu is found at many family restaurants, and there are also chain restaurants throughout Japan that specialise in this dish.

Teppanyaki

Combining food and entertainment, teppanyaki is food freshly grilled at the table. The chef places the ingredients on a hot teppan griddle and flips and tosses the food until it is cooked to your preference.

Beef is a popular choice for teppanyaki, alongside pancakes known as okonomiyaki. Most often, teppanyaki is served with garlic fried rice which has been cooked in the juices from the meat.

Wagyu Sushi

Though not as widely available as raw fish, wagyu sushi is considered a delicacy in Japan. The marbled beef is served on rice and dipped in soy sauce with a dash of wasabi and is one of the best ways to enjoy wagyu beef.

Wagyu Croquette

As beef is considered a delicacy and a treat dish, you may think you have to spend a lot to enjoy it, but that is not the case due to wagyu croquettes! These Japanese-style French imports of seasoned beef are delicious when freshly fried, and are an affordable way to enjoy the delicacy without paying for a whole steak.

Hayashi Rice

"Hayashi rice" by Hiratake, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

This dish is one of the earliest types of Western food adopted into Japanese cuisine. It is a beef stew made with onions, mushrooms and carrots served with rice. The thick demiglace sauce containing red wine and tomato sauce gives it a dark brown colour and it is still one of the most popular Western-style dishes in Japan.

If you are thinking about having a go at making these beef dishes at home, be sure to take a look at the quality ingredients in our online Japanese supermarket, which can be delivered straight to your home.

And if you need something to wash all this delicious food down, look no further than our selection of traditional sake.