Elevate your meals with a homemade Yum Yum Sauce — a tangy, creamy Japanese steakhouse-style sauce that complements fried rice, grilled proteins, vegetables, and more. Ready in minutes, this savory-sweet mayo-based condiment is simple to make and transforms weeknight dinners and gatherings into something special.
If you love the signature white sauce served at many hibachi and teppanyaki restaurants, you’ll be pleased to know you can recreate it easily at home. This Yum Yum Sauce blends basic pantry ingredients into a balanced, creamy sauce that works as a dip, spread, or drizzle. Use it with shrimp, chicken, steak, hamburgers, fries, vegetables, or fried rice for instant restaurant-style flavor.
The recipe is straightforward and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand. It requires only a few minutes to combine and about an hour in the refrigerator for flavors to meld, so it’s ideal for both quick weeknight meals and entertaining.
Why You’ll Love Yum Yum Sauce
- Quick and Easy: Whisk together in minutes and chill for the best flavor.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses common pantry staples like mayonnaise, ketchup, and seasonings.
- Crowd-Pleasing: A flexible sauce that guests keep coming back for — double the batch for gatherings.
- Highly Versatile: Adjust sweetness, spice, or tang to match your tastes and pair it with many dishes.
Ingredients
Printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions appears below.
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Melted butter
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Water (to thin)
- Granulated sugar
How to Make Yum Yum Sauce
- Combine: In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Start with 2 tablespoons of water and add up to an extra 1/2 tablespoon, if needed, to reach a thick, pourable consistency.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld. Serve chilled with hibachi-style dishes, grilled meats, seafood, fried rice, fries, or as a sandwich spread.
Equipment Needed
- Small mixing bowl
- Fork or whisk
- Measuring spoons
What to Serve with Yum Yum Sauce
- Shrimp and seafood
- Grilled chicken or steak
- Hamburgers and hot dogs
- French fries and sweet potato fries
- Potstickers, wontons, and onion rings
- Vegetables and salads
- Fried rice, pasta salad, and potato salad
- Baked potatoes
Variations and Substitutions
- Adjust the Seasoning: Taste as you go and increase or decrease spices to suit your preference.
- Spicy Version: Add hot sauce, cayenne, or spicy ketchup for heat.
- Sweeter Version: Add more sugar or a touch of honey for a sweeter profile.
- Tangier Version: Increase the rice vinegar or swap in apple cider vinegar if you don’t have rice vinegar.
- Vegan Option: Use vegan mayonnaise and ensure other ingredients are plant-based to make a vegan-friendly sauce.
Storage Instructions
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Because it’s mayonnaise-based, keep it chilled and use within the recommended timeframe for best quality and safety.
Can I Freeze?
Freezing is not recommended. Mayo-based sauces separate when frozen and thawed, changing the texture and consistency.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Chill before serving: Refrigerating at least one hour improves flavor and texture.
- Scale up easily: Double or triple the recipe for parties — mix in a larger bowl.
- Use as a base: Treat this as a starting point to craft your own signature sauce by experimenting with spices, sweeteners, or heat.
- Try with different dishes: Use it as a dip, spread, or drizzle — works with grilled foods, fried sides, and salads.
What is Yum Yum Sauce?
Yum Yum Sauce—also called white sauce or sakura sauce in some places—is a creamy, mayo-based condiment served often at hibachi and teppanyaki restaurants in North America. Its balanced tangy and sweet profile, with hints of garlic and onion, enhances a wide range of dishes.
What Does It Taste Like?
The sauce is creamy and slightly sweet with a gentle tang from vinegar and subtle savory notes from onion and garlic powders and smoked paprika. It’s rich without overpowering the food it accompanies.
Can I Make Ahead?
Yes. This sauce stores well in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, making it a convenient option for meal prep or preparing ahead for events.
Recipe Card
Yum Yum Sauce
A tangy, creamy Japanese steakhouse-style sauce ready in minutes. Perfect for dipping, drizzling, and spreading.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until smooth using a fork or spatula.
- Add water a little at a time (start with 2 tablespoons and add up to ½ tablespoon more if needed) until the sauce reaches a smooth, thick consistency.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Note: Makes about 2 cups.
FAQ
This recipe yields about 2 cups of sauce and can be easily doubled or tripled for larger groups.
Chill for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld; overnight resting will deepen the flavor even more.
Nutrition (per serving estimate)
Calories: 103 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 0.2 g | Fat: 11 g | Sodium: 101 mg
Make this versatile Yum Yum Sauce ahead of time and enjoy a delicious, hibachi-inspired condiment at home. Try it with shrimp, grilled meats, fries, rice, and more — and adjust the flavor to suit your taste by dialing up the heat, sweetness, or tang.