Yum Yum Sauce

This creamy yum yum sauce has the best flavor and features a combination of tangy and sweet in just the right amounts.

Table of Contents

Yum Yum Sauce Ingredients
What is Yum Yum Sauce?
Homemade Yum Yum Sauce Substitutions and Additions
How to MakeYum Yum Sauce
How To Serve Yum Sauce
Storage Tips for Yum Yum
Popular Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
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Who doesn’t love the yum yum sauce that’s popular at many hibachi restaurants? It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and it goes with just about everything, whether you’re serving chicken, pork, or fish.

overhead shot of Yum Yum Sauce in a cup with shrimp

Yum Yum Sauce Ingredients

Yum Yum Sauce raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
4 tablespoons water
2½ tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1½ tablespoons rice vinegar
1½ tablespoons salted sweet cream butter, melted
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika

What is Yum Yum Sauce?

This famous Japanese steakhouse sauce is a versatile sauce you’ll find at your favorite restaurants. Sometimes called hibachi sauce, white sauce, shrimp sauce, or seafood sauce, it’s the ideal addition to a wide range of foods. It’s delicious on hibachi vegetables, tofu satay, seafood such as shrimp, and hibachi chicken. Some people even use it as fry sauce or to dip their onion rings!

While sometimes called sakura sauce, it’s more of a nickname, likely due to the pale pink color. Yum yum sauce itself is not a traditional Japanese recipe, but rather a popular condiment in United States teppanyaki restaurants.

Thanks to this simple and easy recipe made at home, you can enjoy this tasty topping anytime you want.

Homemade Yum Yum Sauce Substitutions and Additions

Everyone knows about how delicious soy sauce is when dining out at a Japanese steak house. But this flavorful and rich condiment has the best flavor that you’ll soon enjoy on a variety of dishes!

SPICY: If you prefer a spicier version of this tangy sauce, add one to two teaspoons of hot sauce, sriracha, a dash of cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or crushed red pepper flakes. White pepper is another tasty option!

ONION POWDER: In this delicious recipe, you can substitute garlic powder for the onion powder.

PAPRIKA: In this creamy sauce, you can substitute Spanish paprika for Hungarian paprika.

KETCHUP: For a deeper tomato flavor, try using roasted tomato ketchup.

RICE VINEGAR: If you don’t have rice vinegar, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used in a pinch, but they might have a slightly sharper bite.

GARLIC: For a garlicky kick, add a teaspoon of minced fresh garlic.

OIL: You can also add a drizzle of sesame or olive oil.

MIRIN: This sweet rice wine is a common ingredient in yum yum sauce. Add one to two tablespoons of mirin along with the rice vinegar for a more authentic flavor profile. You’ll think you’re eating at your favorite Japanese hibachi restaurant!

Mirin adds a touch of sweetness and depth that complements the other ingredients nicely. You can find mirin in the Asian section of most grocery stores.

Mirin has a slightly higher sugar content than rice vinegar, so you might want to reduce the amount of added sugar in the recipe by half a teaspoon if you use it.

How to MakeYum Yum Sauce

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

If you like this yummy sauce, make a double batch and keep it in the fridge for future dipping.

STEP ONE: Add all the sauce ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk until the ingredients are completely incorporated and smooth.

PRO TIP:

A spoon may not be able to combine this sauce well enough. A whisk should give you the desired smooth texture.

sauce ingredients whisked together in a bowl

STEP TWO: Spoon the sauce into an airtight jar or squeeze bottle with a lid. Chill in the refrigerator for one hour before serving.

PRO TIP:

The longer the sauce sits before you use it, the better as it gives time for the flavors to meld.

How To Serve Yum Sauce

This versatile Japanese steakhouse sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for so many dishes. Serve in a small bowl alongside french fries, grilled chicken breasts, shrimp, or pork. You could also use it as a salad dressing or topping on hot dogs and hamburgers.

Our homemade sweet and sour sauce and copycat Chick Fil A sauce are two more homemade dipping sauces that you need to add to your fridge.

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Storage Tips for Yum Yum

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftover creamy yum yum sauce in the refrigerator in a covered container or mason jar for up to seven days.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this recipe as the sauce may lose its creamy texture once thawed.

a jar of Yum Yum Sauce poured into a cup

This favorite of Japanese restaurants and hibachi grills will also be a great alternative to ketchup for all your dipping needs.

This homemade yum yum sauce has a tangy flavor and is made with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. The sauce is a delicious way to top off your meal no matter what you are serving.

Frequently Asked Questions for Yum Yum Sauce

Can I freeze this sauce?

We don’t recommend freezing this pale pink sauce as the consistency will not remain nice and creamy once thawed.

Is yum yum sauce spicy?

This homemade version of the popular sauce is not spicy, but has plenty of flavors. If you want to add more spice, a dash of hot sauce or sriracha will do the trick.

How long will the sauce keep in the fridge?

This popular sauce should keep well in an airtight container or mason jar for up to a week.

What is the difference between yum yum sauce and bang bang sauce?

Although both have a creamy base, bang bang sauce is a little sweeter because it has the addition Thai sweet chili sauce.

Popular Recipes You’ll Love

Yum Yum Sauce

5 from 2 votes

This creamy yum yum sauce has the best flavor and features a combination of tangy and sweet in just the right amounts.

Prep Time 5

Total Time 1 5

Servings pint

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
4 tablespoons water
2½ tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1½ tablespoons rice vinegar
1½ tablespoons salted sweet cream butter, melted
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika

Instructions

Add all of the sauce ingredients to a medium mixing bowl and whisk until the ingredients are completely incorporated and smooth.
Spoon the sauce into a squeeze bottle or jar with a lid. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.

Notes

If you are a fan of this yummy sauce, make a double batch and keep it in the fridge for future dipping.
A spoon may not be able to combine this sauce well enough. A whisk should give you the desired smooth texture.
The longer the sauce sits before you use it, the better as it gives time for the flavors to meld.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!