This yum yum sauce will have your tastebuds saying “YUM-YUM!” It’s creamy, tangy, and perfect for drizzling on hibachi, fried rice, burgers, or using as a dip!
Why you should make this Yum-Yum Sauce
A great sauce can totally make or break a recipe. And this homemade yum yum sauce? It’s the kind that brings everything together, and it’s ready in just 5 minutes!
We drizzle it over hibachi-style steak and veggies, fried rice, burgers, you name it. It’s also our go-to dip for fries, shrimp, chicken… anything that needs a creamy, flavorful boost. It’s tangy, a little sweet, and yes, totally gluten-free!
Want to take your hibachi night to the next level? Whip up a batch of this gluten-free stir fry sauce to go with it. Paired with this yum yum sauce, you’ve got the perfect combo for recreating your own hibachi restaurant.
I keep it simple with regular mayo, but if you want to go all in on that rich, authentic flavor, try it with Japanese mayo (Kewpie Mayo). It adds a little something extra that’s totally worth it!
✅ What Is Yum Yum Sauce?
Yum Yum Sauce is a creamy, slightly sweet, tangy sauce that’s often served at Japanese hibachi restaurants, especially with hibachi-style meals. You’ve probably seen it drizzled over grilled chicken, shrimp, or veggies, or used as a dipping sauce for fried rice and tempura. It’s made with a mayo base, a touch of tomato (like ketchup or paste), and seasonings that give it that signature flavor. Some restaurants call it white sauce, shrimp sauce, or Japanese steakhouse sauce, but whatever the name, it’s the same tasty, pink-orange sauce everyone loves.
Yum Yum Sauce Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: The creamy and tangy base of the yum-yum sauce is silky mayonnaise, I love this avocado mayo.
- Rice vinegar: Rice wine vinegar or Mirin brings tangy notes, or sub with a squeeze of lemon juice. In a pinch you can also use white wine or dry sherry.
- Sugar: I use all natural cane sugar in my cooking and baking.
- Butter: Deepen the sauce flavors with melted butter, use real butter, you just need a bit.
- Ketchup: Just a bit of ketchup brings a slight tomato flavor to the tasty sauce. Other recipes use tomato paste which also works.
- Seasonings: Season the homemade hibachi sauce with garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. If desired, add ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
- Heavy cream: The secret ingredient to my homemade yum yum sauce recipe. Thin the sauce with heavy cream instead of water (FYI, Benihana’s Yum Yum Sauce uses cream).
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Quick Hibachi Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
You couldn’t ask for a simpler recipe. Just mix all ingredients in a small bowl, thinning with a bit of heavy cream.
Cover or transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it.
Add heavy cream, a little at a time, whisking well until a desired, pourable sauce consistency is achieved.
While you can serve it immediately, it’s better after an hour or two of chilling in the refrigerator, giving the ingredients time to hang out and get to know one another.
Fresh Tips
- This recipe makes 10 servings, but you can easily halve or double the ingredients to feed any sized crowd.
- If your sauce comes out a little thick, use water or heavy cream to thin it by adding about a tablespoon until you reach the desired consistency.
If you love making your own sauces at home, check out this creamy and tangy Secret Smashburger Sauce Recipe, perfect for smearing on freshly grilled burgers this summer’s backyard cookouts.
And this easy Homemade Honey Teriyaki Sauce that’s also great for burgers but even better on grilled chicken.
Is Yum Yum sauce gluten-free?
Many yum yum sauces at restaurants or from grocery stores are naturally gluten-free, but you should always look for the GF label to confirm. As far as this homemade sauce recipe goes, it’s entirely gluten-free!
Is Yum Yum sauce healthy?
Yum yum sauce isn’t regarded as a ‘healthy’ sauce. However, it’s perfectly fine to consume in moderation, as with many other recipes and fattening foods. It’s a bit high in calories compared to alternative sauces, but it doesn’t hurt to have it occasionally. Plus, it’s low carb!
Is yum yum sauce keto?
When made with sugar-free ketchup and an alternative sweetener, yum yum sauce fits a keto diet. Most store-bought products or restaurant sauces are not naturally keto-friendly.
How to Make Yumm Sauce Vegan
While my recipe calls for mayonnaise, heavy cream, and butter, making it not vegan by default, it’s super easy to adapt! Just swap in a vegan mayo, use plant-based milk or cream (like oat or soy), and substitute your favorite vegan butter. That’s it! With those quick changes, you’ll have a creamy, tangy, totally satisfying vegan yumm sauce.
Yum Yum Sauce vs. Spicy Mayo
Yum yum sauce and spicy mayo are often confused because they look similar and build off a mayo base. They do differ in taste, though. Yum yum sauce is more savory and tangy, while spicy mayo is creamy with a kick!
While yum yum sauce has a base of mayonnaise, vinegar, cream, and savory seasonings, spicy mayo can be as simple as mayonnaise mixed with hot sauce.
Variations & Substitutions
Vinegar Alternatives: When I don’t have rice vinegar on hand, I replace it with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, or even a little lemon juice.
Sugar-Free Yum Yum Sauce: Choose sugar-free ketchup and replace the granulated sugar with monk fruit or another alternative.
Spicy Yumm Sauce: Add a touch of spice by including a splash of Sriracha sauce, cayenne pepper, or your favorite chili pepper spice. Classic hot sauce works great, too!
Storage Tips
Refrigerate Leftovers – This creamy hibachi-style sauce keeps well in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Just store any leftover sauce in a clean jar or an airtight container. The flavors actually get better with time.
Can You Freeze It? – Freezing isn’t recommended. Because of the mayo, butter, and cream, this white sauce tends to separate and lose its smooth texture once thawed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Yum yum sauce is also known as hibachi sauce, Japanese white sauce, shrimp sauce, yum sauce, yumm sauce, yummy sauce, and others.
Hibachi yum yum sauce is a common dressing, dipping, and stir-fry sauce served at Japanese steakhouses found in the United States and Canada. It has a base of mayonnaise, vinegar, tomatoes, and other seasonings, resulting in a creamy, tangy, and flavorful taste. You won’t find it on the menus of restaurants in Japan because it is an Americanized element of the not-to-authentic Japanese cuisine that our country is familiar with.
It’s a common question! Even though this hibachi-style sauce is more pink or peach in color, many Japanese steakhouses still call it “white sauce.” The name stuck because it’s lighter than soy-based or teriyaki sauces, and often one of the few creamy sauces served with grilled meats and veggies. It might not look white, but that’s what makes it stand out on the plate!
What to serve with Yumm Sauce
Make this famous Japanese steakhouse sauce your own! Enjoy it drizzled on Hibachi steak and shrimp, this super easy Fried Rice and of course on these Hibachi vegetables, all Benihana copycat recipes you will fall in love with!
Use quality ingredients for the best tasting sauce and don’t forget to refrigerate for 2 hours before serving, extra YUM!
Best Dishes for Homemade Yum Yum Sauce
Besides the three delicious hibachi style recipes above, yum yum goes great with classic Chicken Fried Rice made on the Blackstone Griddle in just 30 minutes or less. Or try our easy crispy Korean Fried Chicken Recipe, or this Ground Pork Stir Fry with Holy Basil, otherwise known as Pad Kra Pao – YUM!
11 Ways to Serve Yumm Sauce
- Dipping Sauce: Serve yum yum sauce as a flavorful dipping sauce for grilled meats, seafood, or vegetables. And don’t forget french fries, these zucchini corn fritters and so much more.
- Drizzle over Bowls: Add a generous drizzle of yum yum sauce over rice bowls, poke bowls, or grain bowls.
- Sandwich Spread: Use yum yum sauce as a tasty spread for sandwiches, wraps, or burgers.
- Salad Dressing: Transform your salads by using yum yum sauce as a unique dressing. Its creamy texture and tangy flavor can elevate a simple green salad or a refreshing coleslaw.
- Stir-Fry Sauce: Incorporate yum yum sauce into your stir-fries for a burst of flavor. Add it towards the end of cooking and toss your veggies, noodles, and protein in the sauce for a delicious finish.
- Marinade Enhancer: Take your marinades to new heights by mixing in some sauce. It adds depth of flavor and helps tenderize the meat while infusing it with its distinctive taste.
- Veggie Dip: Serve the sauce as a dip for raw or roasted vegetables. It can make a plate of crudités or roasted veggies more delish.
- Grilled Seafood Topping: Elevate your grilled seafood dishes by spooning the white sauce on top. It complements grilled fish, scallops, lobster, or shrimp, adding a creamy and tangy element.
- Topping for Sushi: Use this pink sauce as a tasty topping for sushi rolls or sashimi, especially delish on this sushi bake.
- Drizzle over Tacos: Add a dollop or drizzle of yum yum sauce to your tacos for a delightful twist. It pairs well with various fillings such as grilled chicken, shrimp, fish, or even vegetarian options.
- Egg Dishes: Whether you use it on deviled eggs, over scrambled eggs, you name it, this is a delicious sauce.
More Restaurant-Quality Sauce Recipes
- Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Authentic Italian Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Gluten-Free)
- Rocky Mountain Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Best Homemade Italian Marinara Sauce Recipe
- Pizza Sauce
- Salted Caramel Bourbon Vanilla Sauce
I hope you loved this Homemade Hibachi Yum Yum Sauce Recipe— if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
Like this recipe?
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Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise my favorite is Avocado mayo
- ½ tablespoon rice vinegar or Mirin
- ½ tablespoon granulated sugar replace with Monk fruit for keto
- ½ tablespoon melted butter
- 2 teaspoons ketchup use sugar free for keto
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- heavy pinch kosher salt
- pinch black pepper
- 2-3 teaspoons heavy cream for thinning (or use water)
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients except cream n a medium bowl until smooth.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ tablespoon rice vinegar, ½ tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ tablespoon melted butter, 2 teaspoons ketchup, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, heavy pinch kosher salt, pinch black pepper
- Slowly stir in a little cream at a time until pouring or drizzling consistency is reached. Chill for 2 hours for best results.2-3 teaspoons heavy cream
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks; freezing is not recommended. Variations
Replace rice vinegar with regular, apple cider vinegar or Mirin
Replace sugar with monk fruit, a sugar replacement for keto yum yum sauce
Add a touch of spice by adding a splash of Sriracha sauce, cayenne pepper or your favorite chile pepper spice. How to Use Yum Yum Sauce Drizzle on your favorite Asian inspired dishes; try my Hibachi Steak & Shrimp, Hibachi Fried Rice, Hibachi Vegetables and this Chicken Fried Rice.
Nutrition
Ned
This sauce is a game changer! Seriously! Thank you!
Thank YOU!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
Such a delicious sauce and I love that I can make this at home using ingredients I already have.
Yes!! Me too!
Emily
This was perfect for Taco Tuesday! Everyone loved this sauce and couldn’t get enough of it!
Yay!!!
Elisa
Love this Best Hibachi Sauce Recipe (Yum Yum Sauce) I have heard that name before but really not made it and did not know the ingredients. Looks yummy and easy to make. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you!
Saif
I love hibachi sauce. I use it on my meat and tempura. It’s delicious..
Perfect!! Thank you!
Elizabeth
I enjoy making my own condiments like this sauce because you can source all of your own healthy ingredients. This sauce is great for drizzling on grilled chicken too!
It sure is!! Thank you, Elizabeth!
Rebecca
Mmmmm, we love Yum Yum Sauce and this recipe tasted so good. We used it on Rice bowls and let everyone choose their own veggies. It was perfect.
Love it! Thank you!
Lynn
Made some of this for our Father’s Day spread and I might as well have given my sons straws. Delicious!!
Haha! I love it!