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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Jen
This seems so simple! I never thought about making my own sauces before. I usually just get them with takeout but this is perfect for all my homemade fried rice recipes.
Emily
The best sauce for chicken and shrimp fried rice. We loved it. We will make it again and again.
Cathy
This yum-yum sauce is perfect for snacks or for fried dishes. I’ll definitely make this again. So ceamy and delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Cathy! So glad that you liked it.
Jack
Great yum yum sauce recipe. It really tasted delicious with my spring rolls and chapatti. Thanks for sharing.
Natalie
Ouh this was amazing! It is delicious with potstickers and egg rolls. So yummy!
Mary
I have always wondered how to make this. Now I can enjoy it with all of homemade fried rice recipes. Thank you!
Barbie
I absolutely love this yum, yum sauce! My boyfriend has made it a few times, and we use it quite a bit. It is really easy to make and we use it on a lot of different foods
Melanie E
It was very tasty and easy to make. Just as good as the Japanese steak house down the street. Thanks for the recipe, Beth.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Melanie! I am so glad that you liked it.
Melissa
So much better than that bottled stuff from Walmart. I have tried several recipes but I think I like yours best. I will definately make it again.
Ramil
Your detailed recipe and clear instructions were fantastic. It’s great to see how you break down the process step by step, making it accessible even for someone like me who isn’t a professional chef. I served it with your shrimp fried rice recipe and it was the perfect combination of flavors.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ramil. I am glad that you liked it.
Stephanie
I’ve made a very similar sauce at home before when we have chicken fried rice. I’ve never used mirin in mine before, though, so I will have to try that next time!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stephanie! Enjoy!
Maureen
Great sauce! We not only use it with our Asian food but we like it with French fries, fried shrimp, hamburgers, and wraps. Thanks for the recipe.
Deb
When I visited Biloxi a gentleman at the Japanese Steakhouse made his homemade and it was delicious. So I decided this was a must try. It was just as delicious and now I can make it anytime I want without having to travel to Biloxi.
Asia
Didn’t have rice vinegar on hand, so I substituted apple cider and it was still delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Btw how long does this last in the fridge before needing to be discarded?
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it! About 5-7 days in an airtight container.
Brad Beverlin
What about bottling it, will it last longer?
Beth Pierce
No. It has all fresh ingredients so it definately has a refrigerator life of at the most 10 days.
Bernadette Walsh
Best recipe out there for yum yum sauce.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Bernadette! So glad that you like it!
Alison
I could put this Yum Yum sauce on everything! So good and easy to make with simple ingredients!
Eden
After whisking all of the ingredients together, I couldn’t help but dip my finger to see the results…I screamed!!! Taste exactly like the shrimp sauce at the hibachi steak house restaurants! I used some that same night, I couldn’t wait 24-hrs then I refrigerated the rest! Lol Thank you soo much!!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you like it. We think it is yummy too!