Gyudon Crisis

Gyudon, minced beef over a bowl of rice, is one of Japan's favorite fast foods, served at hundreds of gyudon fast food outlets across the country for under 300 Yen per regular serving.

These days, however, gyudon restaurants and gyudon lovers are facing a crisis, as the beef reserves of all major gyudon restaurant chains are running out.

The shortage follows an import stop of American beef, initiated by the Japanese government after the recent discovery of a BSE (mad cow disease) infected cow in the United States.

Relying almost exclusively on American beef, the leading gyudon restaurant chains Yoshinoya, Matsuya and Sukiya are now introducing alternative donburi dishes to their menus, while gyudon lovers are storming the restaurants in order to get a last dish before the dry spell.

Yoshinoya

Matsuya

Sukiya