BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Japanese Food Difference between rice bowls and donburi

This week's articles feature donburi recipes as requested by Cara, our Philosophy Editor! Thanks for your interest, Cara.

I explain the difference between a teriyaki rice bowl and a donburi in the Teriyaki Beef Bowl recipe. A rice bowl is topped with grilled or stir-fried teriyaki meat and vegetables. A donburi is a lidded, deep porcelain bowl. It is filled with steamed white rice and then topped with meat and vegetables simmered in a light broth. The broth is a nice sauce for the rice and the lid keeps in the heat.

There are many types of donburi dishes. Here are the ones I have on uploaded on the site:

Teriyaki Beef or Chicken Rice Bowl
Oyako Donburi
Japanese Beef Gyudon Recipe
Japanese Shrimp Tendon Recipe

Hope you enjoy!

I was reading your article on rice bowls and donburi earlier today.I grew up on Japanese food. My dad had a Japanese roommate it must have been 65 years ago or more now. They have a pineapple farm on one of the islands in Hawaii. I don�t know if they are still there or not. His daughter stayed with us when she went to college. I remember her as being the sweetest gal. I was very young. But, she used to cook the most amazing food. This created an interest in my mother who continued to cook Japanese food. I like the light Tempura batter too. I really miss Japanese cooking. While we lived in California we had some great Japanese restaurants. Where I live now the closest thing to an ethnic restaurant is Taco Johns and they can�t even make a decent taco.

I lost track of this gal, her name was Ruth. It would be cool if she were to read this and contact me. I miss her. She brought me a pineapple once it was the best I ever had.

Hi Diana,

Ruth is a common name for a Japanese girl in Hawaii. Do you know her last name? And which island? BTW, I am from Hawaii.

Next week, I'll post a recipe for the lacy tempura!

Thanks for posting!

I can't wait for the lacy tempura recipe.

No I don't remember her last name. Whichever island it was they had owned most of it. I am hoping her last name comes to me. My mother just passed away a short while ago, my first thought was to give her a call and ask. My dad passed a short time before that.

I know she studied home economics in college and ended up working I believe for the government in Hawaii somewhere.

If any memories surface I will get a hold of you Thank you

Chi,
Thanks for the wonderful recipes and a good explanation on the difference between donburi & rice bowls. It's been years since I had a donburi of any kind. I truly miss them. I can't believe you listed them all... Oyako Donuri, Gyudon & Tendon! Thank you!!!

It looks like I need to get some mirin at a Asian market here so I can start cooking!

Thanks again!

You are so welcome, Cara!

But don't forget to let your own taste buds tweak the recipes! I found that a lot of traditional Japanese recipes were so so mild--too mild--for me.

Cooking sake also works but is not as sweet as the mirin which is rice wine for cooking!

Great! I have cooking sake! But I still think I will get mirin because I really like the sweet/salty taste in the Donburi sauce. Gosh, I am getting hungry!