This Yum Yum Sauce Recipe brings the iconic creamy dip from Japanese hibachi grills straight to the home kitchen, only cleaner, fresher, and shockingly easy to make. Inspired by the popular bottled sauces stacked on the store shelves, this homemade version skips artificial additives in favor of affordable, pantry-friendly ingredients like Kewpie mayo, ketchup, butter, and rice vinegar. Whether paired with grilled meats, stir-fried rice, tempura shrimp, or vegetables, the sauce delivers a perfectly balanced richness and mellow tang. It’s not just a sauce, but a secret weapon behind restaurant-style flavor without the price tag or preservatives!

The Best Homemade Yum Yum Sauce Recipe

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

3/4

cup

Prep time

minutes

Total time

minutes

A creamy, tangy, slightly sweet sauce inspired by Japanese hibachi grills. Made with pantry staples and no additives, this easy Yum Yum Sauce comes together in minutes and is perfect for grilled meat, rice, and more. Chill before serving for best flavor.

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Ingredients

½ cup Kewpie Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
1 tbsp Melted Unsalted Butter
1 tsp Granulated White Sugar
½ tsp Garlic Powder
¼ tsp Sweet Paprika
1 tsp Rice Vinegar (Sub: Apple Cider Vinegar)
1 tbsp Water
½ tsp Hot Sauce

Directions

Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Whisk everything together until perfectly combined and smooth
Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Overnight is ideal for peak flavor.

Recipe Video

Notes

This recipe yields about 3/4 cup of sauce, enough for dipping, drizzling, or dressing up meals for 3–4 servings.
Ideal for fried rice, grilled meats, seafood, or roasted veggies.
Adjust the sweetness with more sugar or bring the heat with extra hot sauce.
This sauce stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 5–7 days in an airtight jar. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving, or overnight for optimal flavor development.