This easy yum yum sauce takes just 5 minutes to make and tastes better than takeout! Creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet, it’s the perfect sauce for hibachi, grilled meats, seafood, veggies, and more!
If you ask me, a good sauce can make or break a meal — and yum yum sauce? It absolutely makes it. Creamy, savory, slightly tangy, and just the right amount of sweet, this sauce is the secret behind why hibachi meals are so addictive.
The best part? You don’t need to wait for a special night out at your favorite Hibachi restaurant to enjoy it. This homemade yum yum sauce is quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. Once you try it, you’ll be drizzling it over everything from grilled chicken and sautéed vegetables to this quinoa fried rice and egg roll in a bowl — I know I certainly did!
Why You’ll Love This Yum Yum Sauce
- Better than store-bought – No preservatives, just fresh, simple ingredients!
- Takes 5 minutes – Whisk it together in minutes and it’s ready to go!
- Customizable – Adjust the spice level, sweetness, or thickness to your taste.
- Super versatile – Use it as a dip, drizzle, or spread — it works with everything!
- Meal prep-friendly – Stays fresh in the fridge for up to a week so you can add flavor to meals all week long.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This homemade yum yum sauce recipe comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need:
- mayonnaise – the creamy base of the sauce. Use a good-quality mayo for the best flavor. I like to use the Primal Kitchen avocado oil mayo because it’s made without seed oils or artificial sweeteners.
- water – helps thin out the sauce to your preferred consistency.
- tomato paste – adds a subtle tang and depth of flavor.
- rice vinegar – gives the sauce a slight tangy kick.
- coconut sugar – a touch of sweetness balances out the tang and spice.
- garlic powder and onion powder – essential seasonings that give the sauce its signature flavor.
- paprika – adds a hint of smokiness. Use smoked paprika for an extra depth of flavor.
- cayenne – just a tiny pinch gives the sauce a subtle heat. Add more if you like a spicier kick.
- salt and black pepper – enhances all the flavors and ties everything together.
Easy Ingredient Substitutions
- Make it lighter: Swap the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, or use a mix of half Greek yogurt and half mayo for a lighter version that still stays creamy.
- No coconut sugar? Regular white sugar, honey, or maple syrup all work as a substitute for the coconut sugar.
- Rice vinegar alternative: Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can work in a pinch, though rice vinegar gives the best mild tang.
How to Make Yum Yum Sauce
This sauce couldn’t be easier to make — just whisk and serve. Easy peasy!
Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl, starting with 1 tablespoon of water.
Step 2: Whisk until smooth and creamy, then add additional water to reach your desired consistency.
Brittany’s Tips for the Best Flavor!
- Start with less water: Begin with 1 tablespoon of water, then add more as needed to reach your desired consistency. Some people prefer it thicker, while others like it more drizzle-friendly!
- Whisk well: Make sure everything is fully combined, especially the tomato paste and seasonings, to avoid any clumps.
- Balance the sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter sauce, you can add a little more coconut sugar. If you want it less sweet, simply reduce the sugar to taste.
- Add more spice: For a spicier kick, try increasing the cayenne pepper or adding a dash of hot sauce or sriracha. Adjust to your preferred heat level!
- Enhance the tanginess: If you like a tangier sauce, increase the rice vinegar slightly for more zip. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can overpower the other flavors.
- Experiment with seasonings: While garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika are typical, you can also experiment with adding a small pinch of ground ginger, or a dash of soy sauce to give the sauce extra depth.
Ways to Serve Yum Yum Sauce
Once you make this sauce, you’re going to want to drizzle it on everything — trust me! Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Drizzled over hibachi-style meals – The classic move! This sauce is made for grilled chicken, steak, grilled shrimp, and veggies — just like at your favorite Japanese steakhouse.
- On rice bowls – Whether it’s a quinoa bowl, poke bowl, or sushi bowl, a little drizzle of yum yum sauce will take it to the next level.
- As a dipping sauce – French fries (like my baked sweet potato fries), roasted potatoes, baked chicken tenders, even raw veggies… if you can dip it, this sauce works.
- On tacos & wraps – Swap out your usual sauce and try this on fish tacos, chicken wraps, or even burgers — so good!
- As a salad dressing – Thin it out with a splash of water and toss it with slaws or chopped salads for a creamy, tangy dressing.
How to Store Your Sauce
- In the refrigerator: Store your yum yum sauce in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. The flavors actually get better over time, so letting it sit for a few hours before serving is a great move! Just give it a good stir before serving.
- Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing this sauce, as mayo-based sauces tend to separate once thawed. It’s best made fresh and stored in the fridge.
Storage Tip!
For easy use, store your yum yum sauce in a squeeze bottle so you can drizzle it on all your favorite recipes without the mess!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yum yum sauce is a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet condiment that’s often served at Japanese steakhouses with hibachi-style dishes, grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables. It’s typically made with mayonnaise, tomato paste, rice vinegar, and a variety of seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Although the name ‘yum yum sauce’ is most widely recognized, it can sometimes be referred to by different names, such as Hibachi sauce, Japanese steakhouse sauce, ‘yummy sauce,’ shrimp sauce, and white sauce.
It’s creamy, slightly tangy, a little smoky, and just a touch sweet. Think of it like a cross between a mild spicy mayo and a tangy aioli, but with a little extra depth from the tomato paste and paprika.
Yum yum sauce thickens slightly as it sits in the fridge. If it gets too thick just stir in a little water one teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Not really! Yum yum sauce typically has a mild level of spice. The cayenne pepper adds just a hint of heat, but it’s not overwhelmingly spicy. If you prefer a spicier sauce, you can easily adjust the heat by adding more cayenne or incorporating other spicy ingredients, like sriracha or hot sauce, to suit your taste.
Yes! While mayonnaise is the classic base for yum yum sauce, you can make a mayo-free version by using Greek yogurt, sour cream, or even a vegan mayo. These substitutes will give you a similar creamy texture, although the flavor might vary slightly depending on the option you choose.
Yes, yum yum sauce can be made ahead of time! In fact, it often tastes even better after sitting for a few hours or overnight, allowing the flavors to meld together. Simply store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and it will stay fresh for about 5–7 days. Just give it a good stir before serving!
More Sauces and Dips
Be sure to check out all of the sauce and condiment recipes on EBF!
