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
Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Amanda
I made this vegan by using vegenaise. I air fried some teriyaki tofu with a bag of TJ veg fried rice. Tasted just like hibachi!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Amanda! Glad that you liked it and were able to adapt to your needs and wants!
Alyssa
Tried it last night since Kroger didn’t have any yum yum sauce available and I must say it was almost like the kind that I would get from the Hibachi restaurants here. ??
Beth Pierce
Awesome Alyssa! So glad that you liked it! We love it too!
Brittany
Can’t wait to try this! Do you think honey would be an okay substitute for sugar? I’m trying to not use refined sugar right now and don’t have agave or I’d try that.
Beth Pierce
Yes I think that would be fine!
Alyssa
I used honey in mine and it worked fine
J Gordon
I made this last night and served it today with a hibachi style shrimp appetizer. It was a huge hit. How long will it keep in the fridge? I have a lot left! I put in in a sealed squeeze bottle. I hope it keeps for at least a week.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it. If you put it in the fridge pretty quickly after your party it should last up to a week.
Enjoli
Is that the same sauce they put on the salad?
Beth Pierce
Not that is a delicious ginger dressing.
Jason
We have Mokoto ginger dressing at Walmart and Publix in Florida. It’s kept in the cold section near the salad. So sooo good. I can’t wait to try this recipe tho. Looks great
Laura Reese
This sauce is so amazing! It makes every recipe better! Love it.
Suzy
I had no idea how easy this would be to make at home! We always order extra when we go to the restaurants! Love it!
Stephanie
This was fantastic! Forget cocktail sauce, this is my new go-to for shrimp.
Liz Cleland
I always bought store brands. Realizing how easy this was to make and using this recipe I will never buy it pre-made again!
Kristyn
Wow..this really is yum!! We love dips & this has everything we love in it! Can’t wait to make it!!
Sandra
This is such a great recipe! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Catalina
Looks like a must make sauce! I will make for dinner tonight!
Jacque
I was just looking for this sauce at the grocery store the other day, and they didn’t stock it! So glad I can easily make this from home; yum!
Krista
This sauce is exactly as it says – it’s YUM YUM!
Erin
This is seriously making me hungry! YUM!!! I love this delicious version!!!
Kimberly Bullard
My family LOVE “Yum-Yum” sauce, so I would go & buy it from the nearest Kroger! We LOVE it on everything!! From dipping our chicken, shrimp & steak to dipping celery, carrots & french fries!! My daughter LOVES Yum-Yum better than Ranch!! I’m going to try ur recipe & wanted to say “THANK YOU” for letting us know that “Dukes” mayo can be used in this recipe!! Dukes is the ONLY mayo I use (my family loves it as well!!)
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Kimberly! I hope you and your family love it! Dukes really is the best.
Tosha
Good recipe. It wasn’t an exact replica of our local hibachi place’s yum yum sauce but definitely very tasty. I plan to use it on Asian style tacos.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Tosha! I am glad that you enjoyed it