Yum Yum Sauce
After tasting this easy homemade yum yum sauce, you’ll never go back to the Japanese hibachi restaurants again! If you’re craving hibachi, you HAVE to make this along with your chicken and rice. Whip up a batch of this mouthwatering sauce today, and thank me later!
Yum Yum Sauce
So, what is yum yum sauce? If you’ve ever been to a Japanese steakhouse like Benihana and had hibachi, then you should already be familiar with this famous Japanese steakhouse sauce. If not, prepare to fall in love! It’s one of the reasons why we frequent our favorite restaurants so often. It’s that good!
This homemade Yum Yum sauce recipe is a creamy, tangy sauce that perfectly compliments dishes like hibachi chicken, rice, and veggies. No hibachi meal is ever really complete without this mayo-based sauce on the side! It’s equally delicious as a salad dressing or dipping sauce for French fries.
It’s also so much more than just mayo, though. Made with flavorful ingredients like rice vinegar, paprika and garlic powder, it’s pretty impossible to not crave this sauce. Just ask my family – as soon as they know I’m making hibachi for dinner, the first question is always, “you’re making yum yum sauce, right?”
Once you taste this sauce, you’ll understand why we’re all so enamored by it. It’s SO easy to make, has simple and inexpensive ingredients, and is beyond delicious. Simply put, it’s the best!
Ingredients for Yum Yum Sauce
- Mayonnaise – Homemade mayonnaise or your favorite brand, we’re partial to Kewpie Mayo, adds tanginess to the sauce. Traditionally, yum yum sauce is made with raw egg yolks but mayo just makes it easier.
- Ketchup – Some recipes call for tomato paste but ketchup has more flavor so I like to use that instead.
- Butter – Melted butter makes the sauce ethereally smooth.
- Mirin – A type of rice wine, it’s common in Japanese recipes.
- Rice vinegar – I like this vinegar for its tart sweetness. If you can’t find rice vinegar, you can substitute with lemon juice.
- Seasoning – Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and sugar add flavor and depth. Season with kosher salt and white pepper, if desired.
For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.
How To Make Yum Yum Sauce
You probably already have almost all of the simple ingredients you need to make this popular sauce in your kitchen now. For being such a mouthwatering sauce, you’d never believe how simple it really is!
You only need about 5 minutes to actually make the sauce. Crazy, right?! The only hard part is waiting for it to chill in the fridge. Your patience will pay off, though!
- Mix it up! This is the fun part, obviously. If you have kids in the house, they’ll love helping out with this step! Toss all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and stir thoroughly until everything is fully combined. You can use a whisk or stirring spoon!
- Let it chill. Once you’re done mixing it all up, cover the bowl and let it chill for at least 2 hours before serving. However, for the best flavor results, let it chill overnight.
- Serve or store it. To store the hibachi sauce, simply put it in an airtight jar in the fridge, where it’ll stay fresh for up to a week! Or, you know, you could just serve it right away if you’re like me and just can’t wait that long. Either way, enjoy!
How to Store Leftovers
Transfer any leftover sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
I do not recommend freezing Yum Yum Sauce.
How should I serve yum yum sauce?
If you ask my kids, this sauce should be served with a straw. Really though, you can add it to literally everything with your hibachi meal! Use it to dip in your Chicken Katsu, hibachi steak and hibachi vegetables, or mix it with your hibachi fried rice. I swear, I love a good hibachi dinner, but I think adding the yum yum sauce to my plate is the best part. I find myself craving the sauce more than anything else!
Can I make Yum Yum Sauce Thinner
I prefer my yum yum sauce to be extra decadent and creamy. However, if you want it less creamy, feel free to add water to your mixture! Just add little by little as you go until you reach the desired texture. Remember, you can always add more water, but you can’t take it out if you accidentally add too much.
How To Make Spicy Sauce
Spicy yum yum sauce might not be my thing, but plenty of people love it! I’d recommend making it spicy by adding a tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce, like sriracha! You can even toss in a little sprinkle of cayenne pepper or a dash of red pepper flakes if you’re really looking to turn up the heat.
More Homemade Sauces
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
- The Very Best Creamy Horseradish Sauce
- Easy Bearnaise Sauce
- Easy Spanish Romesco Sauce
- Easy Homemade Steak Sauce
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Get the Recipe: Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup quality mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Equipment
- bowl
Instructions
- Thoroughly combine all the ingredients in a small bowl, cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Preferably overnight for best flavor results.
- Store in an airtight jar in the fridge where it will keep for up to a week.