Let's make some homemade Yum Yum Sauce (aka Hibachi sauce). The recipe tastes just like the sauce they serve at your favorite Japanese Steakhouse. The popular pale pink sauce recipe is easy to make and it is certainly tastier than store bought versions of hibachi Japanese steakhouse sauce.
Use as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken and other meats, sushi and appetizers or pour Yum Yum sauce over your fried rice or noodles... so good! The yummy sauce is even great as a hamburger condiment or to dunk sweet potato fries into.
Yum Yum Sauce
Yum yum sauce is a mayonnaise based sauce is often served in Japanese hibachi restaurants as a dipping sauce for shrimp and rice balls or drizzled on fried rice or grilled meats. The sauce is sometimes referred to as Sakura sauce or white sauce at these venues. Though white sauce is also made with soy sauce and no tomato products at some establishments. This likely more authentic Japanese cuisine, as what we know as the sauce is actually pink.
Japanese mayonnaise (aka Kewpie mayo) is the best choice for making this sauce, but a thick grocery store mayo will still give you great results.
The hibachi steakhouse sauce is somewhat similar to fry sauce, but Yum Yum sauce does not contain mustard. I personally prefer to use it mostly as a shrimp sauce or for dipping fresh vegetables in.
It is a fabulous Japanese vegetable sauce too. Use it as a dipping sauce for raw or lightly steamed vegetables. Try dunking some grilled chicken or battered chicken planks in the delicious sauce too.
Japanese restaurants also use Yum Yum sauce as a salad dressing. As you can see the sauce is very versatile. The consistency of Yum Yum sauce is not quite as thick mayonnaise, but is not thin by any means. and can be swapped in for it.
I love adding it to recipes to give a flavor boost. While not traditional uses, the Japanese steakhouse sauce works well as a sandwich spread or a dressing for shrimp, chicken or even potato salads or pasta salads too. I have even used Yum Yum sauce to bread chicken instead of straight mayo, for more flavor.
Yum Yum sauce is also a yummy way to cut down on the amount of soy sauce you use on food, if sodium is a concern for you!
My version of the Japanese hibachi sauce does not include hot sauce, since my daughter isn't a fan of spicy foods. Feel feel to add a splash or two when mixing your batch though. It is a tasty addition.
How to Make Yum Yum Sauce
Yum Yum Sauce is so easy to make seasoned mayonnaise tomato based sauce. Don't buy it bottled, the simple ingredients you need to make it are probably already in your pantry and the homemade flavor is better. Printable recipe card below. Also see below for a low carb version for those on the Keto diet.
The recipe yields 30 tablespoon servings.
Prep Time: 3 mins
Yum Yum Sauce Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make homemade Yum Yum sauce:
- mayonnaise, ketchup* (tomato paste + rice vinegar)
- sugar*(erythritrol)
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika**
- cayenne pepper
Some also like to add 1 tablespoon melted butter stirred into the sauce.
*The ketchup and sugar are only items you will need to swap to make Keto Yum Yum sauce. Substitutions are in parentheses.
** smoked paprika is a nice swap, especially to serve with vegetarian dishes
Instructions:
Scoop mayo into a medium mixing bowl.
Add the spices (paprika, cayenne pepper, onion and garlic powder) and mix well, with a spoon or whisk.
Now add the sugar or erythritrol to the mayo mixture.
Mix in the ketchup or tomato paste next. It is best to refrigerate the sauce a few hours before using, but you can serve it right away if you need to.
As it is known as a seafood sauce (and even referred to as Japanese shrimp sauce by some), it is not surprising it's a great dip for my baked Popcorn Shrimp.
Don't ignore the french fries or veggies though, the sauce is delicious on those as well. I love it on my air fryer sweet potato fries!
Keto Yum Yum Sauce
Substitute tomato paste for the ketchup and erythritrol for the sugar in the recipe below. Measurements will remain the same. The Keto version has less than a half gram of carbohydrate per tablespoon (about 0.4 grams), yet still has the great flavor you expect.
Other Variations
The great thing about making your own homemade Yum Yum sauce is that you can adjust it to suit your tastes, or the particular dish you are serving it with.
- Rice vinegar is often added to this sauce. While the Yum Yum sauce I taste matched to did not seem to need it, you may wish to add a teaspoon of the rice vinegar to yours. This would be particularly good if you want to use the sauce as a dressing rather than dip or spread. If you want even a little more tang to the recipe use apple cider vinegar.
- Making Hot and Spicy Yum Yum sauce is as easy as adding some hot sauce into the mixture. Sriracha sauce would be the obvious choice and it would not thin down the desired consistency of the sauce. Of course if you are a fan of spicy sauces, you could simply increase the amount of ground cayenne in the yum yum sauce recipe or add dried red pepper flakes.
Store leftover sauce can in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container, such as a mason jar. The sauce actually benefits from being left to sit overnight in the refrigerator.
Make this famous Japanese steakhouse sauce like they serve at the hibachi grills yourself and skip artificial flavor of store bought knock offs.
Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup (use 1 tablespoon tomato paste + ½ tablespoon if rice vinegar in keto version)
- 2 tablespoons sugar or substitute (use erythritrol for keto/diabetic)
- ½ teaspoon paprika regular or smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- rice vinegar optional, use to thin to desired consistency for dressing
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Refrigerate a few hours to let flavors meld together (can be used immediately, if need be). Always store in refrigerator and use within a week.
Andie Thueson says
I love dipping sauces and this one looks delish! Living in Utah it resembles our beloved fry sauce but love the addition of the spices!
Renee Goerger says
Yum, yum is right! I could eat this sauce on just about anything!
Genie Fryman says
This was my first time making Yum Yum Sauce. I made the regular version and we loved it. I'll try the keto one next time. We aren't on that diet, but it just looks healthier so worth trying.
Sharon says
Are the Keto substitutions an equal amount as the original?
Robin Gagnon says
Yes, the the tomato paste is a direct swap and erythritrol would be an even swap.
If you used another sweetener that may vary unless it is also measure for measure.
Kailyn says
I'm not sure how you get zero or 1 carb. Tomatoes have natural sugar in it so there would be 12g with the tomato paste for the whole batch.
Robin Gagnon says
Nutrition calculators and industry round off and this is under a 1/2 gram of carbs per serving. I did mention there are trace amounts, but calculates at zero. I do agree that with the strictness of carb counts for keto that is probably not adequate and am updating the information to make it more clear. Thank you.
Emily says
What's a serving size? 1 Tbsp?
Robin Gagnon says
Yes one tablespoon. If you are counting carbs and use it in a recipe or something there are about 1.6 net grams in a 1/4 cup of the keto version.
Erica Schwarz says
We love your yum yum sauce! So easy to make, and I appreciate the keto variation.
Brandy says
So much better than store bought! Thank you for the recipe!
Jane Hiller says
I Get tons of compliments on this fresh japanese pink sauce. I serve it as an alternative to cocktail sauce with shrimp.
Robin Gagnon says
I love yum yum sauce with most anything!
Kenneth Waterman says
The hibachi sauce was fantastic! Just like the one at the steakhouse.
Jane says
Made it last night it was excellent
Susie tyler says
There is sugar in mayonnaise, so it isn’t keto
Robin Gagnon says
Most mayos do have a tiny amount of sugar in them, but are generally accepted as keto friendly. Hellmann's (pictured in the recipe), has less than a 1/2 gram since the label reads zero carbs. I use Sir Kensington's Avocado Oil Mayonnaise quite often which does not contain any sugar at all.