Homemade Yum Yum Sauce 

Homemade Yum Yum Sauce is the perfect combination of savory and sweet in a Japanese-American steakhouse staple. It can be used with chicken, shrimp, or fried rice. Give it a try to add a delicious sauce to your hibachi night at home.

Try making the perfect Hibachi night meal at home by pairing this delicious yum yum sauce with Hibachi Vegetables, Hibachi Fried Rice, and Hibachi Chicken. 

Try making the perfect Hibachi night meal at home by pairing this delicious yum yum sauce with Hibachi Vegetables, Fried Rice, and Hibachi Chicken. 

One of my favorite types of restaurants to visit for casual dining is any hibachi restaurant or Japanese steakhouse. It's a great way to have dinner and entertainment at the same time because the meal is prepared on a hibachi grills right in front of you. The cooks usually grab your attention by turning a stack of sliced onion rounds into a flaming choo choo train or spinning around their big metal spatulas in interesting ways.

If you've never been, then I encourage you to try it. However, you can get the same great flavors at home in your very own kitchen including your own homemade yum yum sauce. 

Let's get started!

Why You'll Love This Sauce? 

• It's similar to the famous Japanese steakhouse sauce!
• Thick and creamy enough to pour on top of fried rice or use it to dip french fries and onion rings. 
• Has a deliciously sweet and tangy flavor. 

What Is Yum Yum Sauce?

Yum yum sauce is a condiment or dipping sauce that is commonly found at Japanese-American hibachi steakhouses. It's usually pink or pale orange in color and has a savory, sweet, and smoky flavor that goes perfectly with fried rice, chicken, and shrimp. The delicious sauce is creamy and loaded with seasoning. 

It may also be referred to as Japanese white sauce, Sakura sauce, Yummy sauce, or Hibachi shrimp sauce. 

Yum Yum Sauce Ingredients Needed

1. Mayonnaise - The main ingredient in this mayo-based sauce. Use any that you prefer and can easily find at your local grocery store. This ingredient provides the creaminess of the sauce with a slightly tangy flavor. 
2. Ketchup - Adds a slightly sweet flavor to the sauce. 
3. Sriracha - Gives the sauce a dash of heat but does not make it overly spicy. 
4. Rice Vinegar - Also known as rice wine vinegar at many grocery stores, adds some much needed acid to the sauce and helps to smooth it out a bit. 
5. Sugar - Use cane sugar or granulated sugar to provide sweetness to the sauce. No worries, it will not make it too sweet. 
6. Garlic Powder - Provides dry garlic flavor to the sauce. 
7. Ground Ginger - A warming spice that is a great addition to the sauce. Gives it an earthly and slightly nutty flavor. 
8. Dry Mustard - Helps to make this a tangy sauce. 
9. Smoked Paprika - Gives a smokey flavor to the sauce. 
10. Salt and Ground Black Pepper - Adds spice to that sauce and helps to bring all of the ingredient flavors together. Adjust as needed. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How To Make Homemade Yum-Yum Sauce 

Place the mayonnaise in a small bowl. Add in the water, rice vinegar, ketchup, and sriracha sauce. Whisk everything together.

Add the sugar, garlic powder, ground ginger, dry mustard, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, and salt. Whisk all the ingredients together until thoroughly combined and smooth.

Once you've reached your desired consistency. Store in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator or use immediately. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations & Substitutions

The yum yum sauce that is served at Japanese hibachi restaurants has a distinct look and taste. This recipe is fairly close to that, but the great thing about making it at home yourself, you can adjust the ingredients to better suit your taste. Don't be afraid to taste the sauce as you're making it and make adjustments. Here are a few suggestions:

• Use regular full fat mayonnaise, but Japanese mayo (Kewpie mayo) is a great substitute. 
• Distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar may be used instead of rice vinegar. 
• For a more spicy version, simply increase the amount of sriracha or add a little cayenne pepper or hot sauce. 
• If you prefer a more creamy sauce, add more mayo or even a little olive oil or melted butter. 
• This sauce isn't as pink/orange as some other sauces, you may add a little tomato paste or more smoked paprika to deepen the color of the sauce. 
• Don't be afraid to use other spices such as onion powder. 

Storage

Storage. If you have any leftover sauce or unused sauce, place it into an airtight container, sealed container, or jar with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. When ready to use it again, please give it a stir before serving. 

Make Ahead. This sauce is perfect to make ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. The flavors have a chance to come together and settle into the sauce. 

Want Some Recipes To Pair This Yummy Sauce With? Try These:

• Hibachi Ginger Dressing 
• Hibachi Fried Rice
• Garlic Butter Shrimp 
• Hibachi Vegetables
• Hibachi Chicken
• Cast Iron Chicken Breast 
• Ribeye Steak
• Fried Brown Rice 
• Hibachi Shrimp

Do you have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this Homemade Yum Yum Sauce Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 02/28/2020. Updated 2/24/2024.