Name: Yum Yum Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Mayonnaise; 2 Tablespoon Ketchup; 1 Tablespoon White Sugar; 1/2 Tablespoon paprika; 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar; 2-3 tsp Garlic Powder; 1-3 Tablespoon Water

This easy Yum Yum sauce Recipe is perfect for dipping. In less than 5 minutes, you can make your favorite Japanese hibachi restaurant sauce at home. It's so easy and tastes fantastic.

Yum Yum Sauce

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This sauce is the perfect combination of sweet with a bit of tang.

Every Japanese hibachi steakhouse restaurant has a unique house version. You can use this base recipe to change the ratios for the perfect flavor.

I love that you can use Yum Yum Sauce in many different ways. Below is a list of our favorite uses.

We had always been buying store-bought Yum Yum Sauce and wanted to see if we could make it ourselves and save money. We made a huge batch that we enjoyed for an entire week.

Yum Yum Sauce is also known as hibachi sauce, yummy sauce, shrimp sauce, white sauce (even though it isn't white), Japanese Steakhouse Mayo, pink sauce, steakhouse sauce, Japanese vegetable sauce, Japanese seafood sauce, Sakura Sauce, and Japanese steakhouse sauce.

Wow! There are so many names for this epic sauce. While its names can be confusing since they are everywhere, this sauce takes less than 5 minutes to make and works on many things.

We keep finding more and more things to put this sauce on. It is a weekly recipe on my menu planning since we love it so much. Between this and fry sauce, I am stocking the fridge full of epic dipping sauces right now, especially with the sheer number of air fryer recipes we have been working on.

What's in Yum Yum Sauce?

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making an epic Yum Yum Sauce! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Sugar
Paprika
Apple Cider Vinegar or Rice Vinegar
Garlic Powder
Water

Ketchup - If you want a less sweet sauce you can use tomato paste and add in a tiny bit of sugar.

Mayonnaise - You can use any mayonnaise including Japanese Mayonnaise which has a slightly richer flavor.

Optional

To add a bit of heat - add hot sauce or cayenne pepper.

For a smokier version - add smoked paprika

For a bit of zing - use sweet chili sauce

For more flavor - add in a splash of mirin or sherry.

Equipment Needed

Large Mixing Bowl - We are big fans of this glass batter bowl that has a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
Whisk
Tablespoon/Measuring tools

How to make Yum Yum Sauce

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Whisk ingredients minus the water together until smooth in a medium bowl. Slowly add in more water as needed until you reach your desired consistency.

We like to keep it thick so it coats what we are dipping.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour so flavors can meld together. The longer it sits, the more the flavors develop.

Preparation and Storage

Make Ahead:

This Yum Yum Sauce is a make-ahead recipe! It tastes best when refrigerated for at least an hour so the flavors can develop.

Try to make it at least a day before you need it. This will give the flavors time to blend well. So you can experience the famous Japanese steakhouse sauce at home!

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them within five days.

Freezing/How to Freeze:

We do not suggest freezing this homemade Yum Yum Sauce recipe. It will not be the same when thawed.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

If you want a less sweet sauce, use tomato paste instead of ketchup and add some sugar.

You can use any mayonnaise, including Japanese Mayonnaise, which has a slightly richer flavor.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option:

This Yum Yum Sauce is vegetarian but not vegan. Vegans can use a vegan mayonnaise to make it suitable for a plant-based diet.

Gluten-Free:

This dipping sauce recipe should be gluten-free, but if you are highly sensitive, look for a gluten-free label on each ingredient to avoid cross-contamination.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings:

The written recipe makes ten servings and adjusts easily to any serving size. Use the slider in the recipe card to get the right amount of each ingredient.

Make It Spicy: Add hot sauce or cayenne pepper for heat.

Sugar-Free:

The written recipe contains 2 grams of sugar per serving. Replace the white sugar with a sugar-free substitute and check that your ketchup has no added sugars to make it sugar-free.

Tips for the Best Yum Yum Sauce

For a smokier version, add smoked paprika.
Use sweet chili sauce for some zing.
For more flavor, add a splash of mirin or sherry.
Be prepared that this may taste different from the version served at your local Japanese hibachi grill restaurant. They will most likely have a unique version.
Add this hibachi sauce to a squeeze bottle to get fancy as you spread it over a dish. Squeezing it from a squeeze bottle will give you more control over any designs you want to create on the plate.

What to Serve with Yum Yum Sauce

Pair this homemade version of a Japanese hibachi classic with other Chinese-American and Japanese-American classics for an Asian-inspired feast at home! Here are some menu pairing suggestions and cocktails that would go well.

Sides: Easy Fried Rice, Crock Pot Rice, Air Fryer Cream Cheese Rangoons

Main Dishes: Orange Chicken and Broccoli, Crock Pot Cashew Chicken, Asian Flank Steak, CrockPot Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps, CrockPot Teriyaki Chicken, CrockPot Beef and Broccoli

Desserts: Mandarin Orange Jello Salad, Sriracha Caramel Corn, Mandarin Orange Angel Food Cake, 2 Ingredient Coconut Macaroon Cookies, Tropical No-Bake Truffles

Drinks: Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini, Orange Moscow Mule, Kamikaze Shot, Green Tea Shot, Restorative Basil Drop, Mai Tai