This homemade Yum Yum Sauce Recipe is a delectable, savory, easy seven-ingredient Japanese Hibachi sauce that comes together in less than five minutes. It is just as tasty as the one you get at those expensive Japanese Hibachi Restaurants but at a fraction of the cost.
I love dipping my pork dumplings, egg rolls, and chicken and broccoli stir fry into this sauce. It is so delicious! You are going to love it! This sauce is best after one to two days, so a little advanced preparation is in order.
One of our favorite restaurants is a Japanese Steakhouse about twenty minutes from the house. We love the whole experience, from the chef cooking and entertaining us to the delectable fried rice, seafood, crispy cooked vegetables, and tender, juicy chicken. My family is particularly fond of this addictive, famous Japanese Steakhouse sauce. We love to dip our shrimp and fried rice in this yummy sauce.
We can’t always go to the hibachi grills as much as we would like to. Sometimes, it is the weather, but most of the time, we must be frugal and watch our budget. You can make this delicious recipe right in your kitchen at a fraction of the price of dinner at the Japanese Steakhouse.
What is Yum Yum Sauce?
Also known as White Sauce, Sakura Sauce, Seafood Sauce, or pale pink sauce, this dipping sauce is commonly found in Japanese steak houses. It takes about five minutes to prepare, and its main ingredient is Japanese mayonnaise. You can make it with mayo from your local grocery store if it is unavailable. I have had success with the taste of both Hellmann’s and Duke’s mayonnaise.
It is so yummy that we enjoy dunking our hibachi vegetables, such as broccoli and zucchini, in it. We also like to dip French fries in it. We use it as a condiment on grilled hamburgers, wraps, sandwiches, and salad dressing.
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
- Mayonnaise is preferably Japanese mayo like Kewpie, but I have also made it with Duke’s, which is still delicious.
- Ketchup: organic or sugar-free
- Rice vinegar: apple cider vinegar would be the next closest match
- Mirin: If you have trouble finding mirin, use white wine, dry sherry, or vermouth and a bit of sugar.
- Seasonings: garlic powder, smoked paprika, and a pinch of cayenne if you like a little heat
Preparation Tips
- To substitute for mirin, mix 1 tablespoon of white wine, dry sherry, or vermouth with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- Tomato paste can be substituted for the ketchup, but you may want to include 1-3 teaspoons of granulated sugar to sweeten it a little.
- Add a couple of pinches of cayenne pepper for a little extra kick.
- If the sauce is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of cold water until the desired consistency.
Serving Suggestions
- Main meal: sushi, grilled shrimp, steak, grilled chicken, chicken fried rice, and moo shu pork
- Appetizers: fried wontons, crab rangoon, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, gyoza, and onion rings.
- Sides: stir fry vegetables, lo mein, sweet potato fries, and steamed broccoli.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. However, they are so quick and easy to make that you can mix up a fresh batch anytime.
Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise preferably Japanese mayo like Kewpie
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mirin see notes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons cool water
Instructions
- Whisk together mayo, ketchup, rice vinegar, mirin, garlic powder, paprika, and water. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
Notes
- As a substitute for mirin, mix 1 tablespoon white wine, dry sherry, or vermouth with 1 teaspoon sugar.
- Tomato paste can be substituted, but you may want to include 1-3 teaspoons of granulated sugar to sweeten it a little.
- Add a couple pinches of cayenne pepper for a little extra kick.
- If the sauce is too thick to your liking, add 1 teaspoon cold water until desired consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Nutrition
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Cookilicious
Its always so interesting to learn about world cuisine. Saving this recipe for future.
Heidy
This looks like a wonderful Yum Yum sauce to use on that juicy shrimp. I am almost considering making my husband stop after work to fetch a few ingredients and make this tonight. If not tomorrow for sure.
Beth Pierce
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it! I need to get my hubby to run more errands!
Pam
Oh my gosh! We love this sauce! I had no idea it was so easy to make! I can’t wait to surprise my husband with it, he is crazy about this sauce!
Beth Pierce
That sounds like a great plan! Thanks Pam! Enjoy!!
Emily
This sauce looks amazing! Love to make restaurant quality sauce like this at home!
Anita
Oooo I love this sauce. I never knew it is this easy to prepare at home, and I have all the ingredients to boot! Got to go to the store and grab some shrimps and some dumplings. 😀
Mykki
Oh this is perfect!
I already have all these ingredients in my kitchen, but I really want to try it with Japanese mayo so I’ll definitely add that to my list the next time I hit up the local Asian grocer.
Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.
Beth Pierce
That is fabulous! I love it with Japanese mayonnaise!
Erin
I have never tried Yum Yum Sauce but it looks delicious and I can tell why you are totally in love with it. I cannot believe it is so easy to make and some hard-to-find ingredients are replacable by other condiments.
Heather
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this but I can see why they named it that. Looking at the ingredients, it must be good.
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
Oh my gosh, this is my favorite sauce ever. I’ve never made it at home before, I’ll have to give it a swing.
Tracy
One question: Is it “regular” (unseasoned) or seasoned rice vinegar that you use? The recipe looks tasty and I’d love to try it! 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks! It is unseasoned rice vinegar. Enjoy!
Linda
I can’t wait to try this! I have one problem, my small town does not carry rice vinegar. What can I use instead of it? Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Apple cider vinegar would be the best substitution!
Porsha
Omg I live for those sauces! They are amazing!
Beth Pierce
Me too! Thanks Porsha!
Roy
Yum yum sauce looks yummy. I think it will go very well with any snack. Would love if I can get down to making it sometime soon.
emman
I love yum yum sauce as it is a versatile dip. I usually dip shrimps or celery sticks on this sauce. So good!
Kiwi
Wow Yum yum sauce sounds amazing and easy to make. I would love to dip some shrimp in some yum yum sauce.
GiGi Eats
Dare I say… YUM YUM! I totally want to make this and dip shrimp in it, it seems like it would be INSANELY good! 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! It is insanely good!
Sara
I am so glad I saw this recipe! My family and I just had hibachi and I was wondering what that sauce was called; it is so delicious and I bet yours is even better than the restaurant version!
Stacie
I have always thought Yum Yum sauce was aptly named. That stuff is super tasty. I love to dip everything in it – Asian food or not.
Emilia
OMGG CANT WAIT TO TRY IT,MY FAM WILL LOVE IT!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Emilia! I hope you enjoy it!
Cathy Urban
I was wondering if you have the recipe for Golden Sauce?
Beth Pierce
Sorry Cathy! I do not.
marny aten
You should be able to find something on the net. I just made some yellow sauce from a recipe i found and my is it ever good. hope this helps.
Seema
Perfect name for a dipping sauce. I see the bottled ones in Japanese stores, but never thought it would be so simple to make.