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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Rosemary
I never knew just how easy it was to make yum yum sauce. Thanks for spilling the beans with this recipe. I’m so excited to make it. Thanks for sharing it!!
Cathleen
Can you believe that I have never tried yum yum sauce before?? This needs to change because I have heard so many good things about it! Adding it to my to-do list, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Jacq
This sauce is so good! I have prepared it several times now for a dip for crispy tofu and crispy cauliflower. My kids love the name yum-yum!
Zeke B.
With a name like Yum Yum, how can you go wrong? This seems like a delectable recipe – and I can’t wait to try it!
Jamie
I love how I have all the ingredients in my pantry and how simple this sauce is to whip up!
Jill
Yum Yum sauce is the best. So glad to have this recipe so I can make it at home!
Colleen
This sauce was perfect on our chicken for dinner last night and I will be making it again and again. Thank you!
Jac
Made this with vegan mayonnaise and dipped some crispy tofu in the yum yum sauce and it was amazing. I love how easy the sauce is to prepare 🙂
Judy
I wonder how this would work as the sauce for a pizza…….instead of tomato sauce ?
Comments welcome
Alison
This is such a simple sauce to make, and super delicious!! I had no idea it was so easy to make at home!
Kara
I love this sauce. So versatile and good on EVERYTHING!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kara! So glad that you like it!!
Claudia
Every time we go to the Japanese steakhouse we always wish we knew how to make this and now finding this recipe is a win win cant wait to make it!
Bintu
This is one of my favourite sauces – it is so delicious! I love that it is so easy to put together too!
Megan Lehr
Gosh this is delicious! Perfect for rice bowls!
coral
can we use this as burger sauce????
Beth Pierce
Yes you sure can. It is delicious on burgers!
Katie
Love this sauce! SO flavorful and easy. We use it so often!