Easy Yum Yum Sauce Recipe (Japanese Hibachi Style)

If you’ve ever sat at a Japanese hibachi restaurant table and found yourself completely mesmerized by that mysterious pinkish-white sauce that seems to make everything taste infinitely better, you’re not alone. This beloved condiment, known affectionately as Yum Yum Sauce, has developed a cult following that extends far beyond restaurant walls. The good news? You can recreate this addictive, creamy, tangy sauce in your own kitchen using simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. In just minutes, you’ll have a batch of this restaurant-quality sauce that transforms ordinary vegetables, grilled meats, and fried rice into something truly extraordinary.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Japanese Restaurant Yum Yum Sauce

The magic of this Yum Yum Sauce lies in its perfect balance of creamy richness, subtle sweetness, and gentle heat that complements rather than overpowers other flavors. Unlike many copycat recipes that rely on ketchup, this version uses tomato paste and butter, creating a deeper, more complex flavor profile with better texture and color. The combination of garlic and onion powders provides savory depth without the harsh bite of fresh aromatics, while a touch of cayenne adds warmth without overwhelming heat. The mayonnaise base creates the signature creamy consistency that clings beautifully to food, making every bite a perfect delivery system for this irresistible flavor combination.

Where Did the Name Yum Yum Sauce Come From?

Although the mystery of who was the first to serve white sauce at a hibachi restaurant remains, uncovering the source of the name Yum Yum Sauce is simple. To answer that question, we only need to look back to 2012.

Terry Ho, a Taiwanese immigrant and owner of multiple hibachi restaurants in the US, found the guests at his restaurants were obsessed with his white sauce. Customers routinely purchased pints of the stuff from the staff. Ho was no fool, and he knew he was on to something that could become the next big US condiment. But there was a big problem when it came to the name.

While the sauce was appealing, the name was certainly not. It didn’t take Ho long to come up with a new name he liked: Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce.

What’s in Yum Yum sauce?

Ingredients

Base Components:

• Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy, rich foundation and signature smooth texture
• Tomato paste – Provides subtle tomato flavor and the characteristic pinkish color
• Butter = Adds richness and helps create a complex flavor profile

Flavor Enhancers:

• Sugar – Balances acidity and adds the subtle sweetness that makes this sauce so appealing
• Garlic powder – Contributes savory depth without the sharpness of fresh garlic
• Onion powder – Adds aromatic complexity and umami richness
• Cayenne pepper – Provides gentle heat that enhances rather than dominates
• Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances the sweetness

Using butter and tomato paste instead of ketchup makes this the best yum yum sauce recipe. It’s thick, rich, and deeply flavored with garlic, onion, and cayenne.

How to Make Yum Yum Sauce

Creating the Base

1. In a medium mixing bowl, measure out 1 cup of mayonnaise, ensuring you’re using a high-quality brand for the best flavor and texture.
2. Add the tomato paste to the mayonnaise. The tomato paste should be at room temperature for easier mixing.
3. Melt the butter completely and allow it to cool slightly before adding to prevent the mayonnaise from breaking.

Building the Flavor Profile

4. Add the sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt to the bowl with the mayonnaise mixture.
5. Using a whisk or large spoon, stir all ingredients together thoroughly until completely combined and no streaks remain.
6. The mixture should be smooth, creamy, and have a light pinkish color from the tomato paste.

Perfecting the Sauce

7. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more cayenne for heat, sugar for sweetness, or salt for balance.
8. For the best flavor development, cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
9. This resting time allows all the flavors to meld together and creates the signature taste that makes this sauce so addictive.

Final Preparation

10. After resting, give the sauce a final stir and transfer to a serving bowl or squeeze bottle for easy application.
11. The sauce should have a smooth, pourable consistency that’s thick enough to cling to food but thin enough to drizzle.

Tips For Making and Serving Yum Yum Sauce

• Do you like it spicy? Feel free to increase the amount of cayenne pepper to your liking.
• How to use Yum Yum Sauce: You can use the sauce as a dip for raw veggies, french fries, or just about anything else. It also works well as a salad dressing or sandwich spread.

Check out these other copycat Hibachi recipes

• Fried Chicken Katsu
• Best Shrimp Tempura Recipe
• Benihana Copycat Fried Rice
• Hibachi Grill Salad Dressing
• Hibachi Steak
• Benihana Ginger Dipping Sauce
• Japanese Mustard Dipping Sauce

More Popular Sauces

• Chick Fil A Secret Sauce
• Easy Jack Daniels Sauce
• Katsu Sauce
• McDonalds Special Sauce Recipe
• Sonny’s BBQ Sauce
• Garlic Sauce for Pizza Crust
• Red Sweet and Sour Sauce

Take a look at all the copycat sauce recipes and Asian food.

Never miss a new recipe by following us on Facebook!