Tomato Don (Rice bowl topped with tomatoes and beef)
Sweet and savory beef meets the refreshing tang of tomato

About Tomato Don (Rice bowl topped with tomatoes and beef)

Tomato Don, created in the renowned hot-spring town of Gero in Gifu Prefecture, is a creative local specialty made with regional ingredients. It features tender, juicy Hida beef simmered in a sweet-and-savory sauce and generously topped with fruit tomatoes grown in Gero. The rich juices of the beef pair with the tomatoes’ refreshing acidity, making this dish popular with both locals and visitors.

Around Gero, tomatoes are grown at elevations of approximately 600 meters, where the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures helps bring out their sweetness. Highly regarded across Japan, these tomatoes are a source of local pride. Tomato Don was developed as part of an effort to make the most of this produce and establish a regional brand. After much experimentation, the dish was created with the aim of offering a light, refreshing rice bowl that would be easy for women and older diners to enjoy.

Tomato Don is served at several restaurants in Gero, each with its own take. Hida beef is commonly used, but some versions feature Hida Nattoku pork or locally grown maitake mushrooms. Tomato varieties also vary, including fruit tomatoes and summer–fall tomatoes, so the dish offers a taste of local produce in season. It has also been served in school lunches, introducing children to a flavor of their region.

In 2010, Tomato Don was featured among notable B-class gourmet dishes on the television program SmaSTATION!!, helping establish it as a local specialty for visitors. Today, it is one of Gero’s best-known dishes, alongside hōba-zushi and gohei-mochi. When visiting Gero Onsen, try the “one-of-a-kind Tomato Don” prepared by one of the town’s restaurants and enjoy the flavors of Gifu’s natural surroundings and food culture.

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