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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Yolanda
I have never tried Yum Yum sauce before! It sounds like a great all-rounder and very easy and quick to put together. I will make this and see how it is next time I am cooking up some crispy chicken strips!
Colette
This is just like the yum yum sauce I get when we go out to eat! I love it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Colette! We love the sauce, too!
Shadi H
Omg this was so good! We served it with some shrimp and everyone loved it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Shadi!
Elizabeth
Love this Yum Yum Sauce Recipe, so much better than store bought and so incredibly easy to make. I could not find Japanese mayo so I used regular mayo and it was still delicious. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Elizabeth!
Holly
My new favorite yum yum sauce! This sauce recipe is better than the restaurant’s in my opinion!
Beth Pierce
I would agree, Holly!
Skylar
Better than store-bought and so much more wholesome without all those additives and preservative! So easy and tasty with so many dishes but my favorite is your chicken fried rice. Thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Skylar!
Donalyn
I love this sauce and your version is so good!
RoseAnn
I love that it’s so versatile. I’ve tried it with mayo but I’d like to try making it with Japanese Mayo to see the differences!
Zane
The best yum yum sauce recipe that I have tried to date.
Marley
This is such a delicious sauce. I adjusted the spice level – I like a more spicy version! This sauce is great for dipping any stir fry in, especially shrimp!
Randy
My taste buds are doing a happy dance! I can’t wait to add a touch of Japanese hibachi magic to our dishes. Thanks for the delicious inspiration.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Randy! Enjoy!
Lisa
I’ve never made this sauce, but my friends have, and man was it good. I think over the holidays I’m going to try and create this sauce myself.
Ed
I could eat this sauce on everything. Have you tried it on fried cod? It is so yummy and just as good as my favorite japanese restaurant.
Jen S
This sounds delicious. I always wondered what ingredients you needed for yum yum sauce. Now I can make it. I can’t wait. Thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Jen! Enjoy!
Ben
I love yum yum sauce. I guess I never realized how easy it was to make. I’m glad I found this! The recipe is spot on.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ben! So glad that you found the recipe!
Frank
This is the best recipe for this sauce. It tastes just like my neighborhood Japanese steak house. Thanks for sharing the recipe.