Tangy, delicious and perfect on everything, Homemade Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum Sauce Recipe is a terrific homemade yum yum sauce recipe using basic ingredients that you have in the kitchen. It's a yummy sauce that you'll find at hibachi restaurants and grills to use on hibachi vegetables, crab cakes and even french fries! It's great on everything! (We love it on fried rice!)
Yum Yum Sauce, often referred to as the "Famous Japanese Steakhouse Sauce" is a beloved condiment here in the South. It has become synonymous with Japanese Hibachi restaurants.
This creamy, pale pink sauce is a staple at hibachi grills, where it adds a delightful tangy flavor to dishes like teppanyaki and grilled meats.
This Japanese steakhouse shrimp sauce has even found its way into grocery stores, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy its unique flavor at home on fresh vegetables, onion rings, and homemade stir fry. It has come to work its magic not only in Japanese hibachi restaurants but also at home.
Why This Recipe Works:
- This recipe uses ingredients you will have at home instead of tomato paste, rice vinegar other hibachi sauce ingredients.
- Uses main ingredients for this flavorful sauce like onion powder, garlic powder
- Simply store in an airtight jar.
Here’s How It’s Done:
Here's What You'll Need for this Japanese Restaurants Sauce
1. Simple refrigerated ingredients like ketchup, hot sauce and mayonnaise.
2. A few dry ingredients that make for a tangy sauce like cayenne, garlic powder and onion powder.
PRO TIP: To make an exceptional sauce, use Japanese Kewpie Mayo, it makes a creamy sauce and creamy base with terrific flavor.
How to Store Your Own Homemade Yum Yum Sauce
You can choose a
- small bowl with a lid,
- a carafe with a lid,
- a zip top bag or
- a mason jar.
Tips & Tricks
- You might want to add a tiny bit more sugar – according to your tastes. You be the boss in your kitchen!
- Use a whisk to combine the ingredients, you’ll be much more satisfied with the smoothness of the sauce.
- If you are concerned about this being too hot, first let me assure you, it isn’t hot. The spices that you normally associate with “heat” are simply flavor in this recipe.
- Don’t limit yourself to JUST Japanese food with this sauce, you can put it on EVERYTHING!
- As an FYI, this recipe is the same as Shrimp Sauce and Japanese White Sauce – they just have different names depending on what restaurant you are in and who you are talking to.
PRO TIP: Allow this sauce to rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Rest for 24 hours for the best flavor! The ingredients need to meld and get to know each other!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum sauce is often served in Japanese Steakhouses’. You know, the kind of Japanese eatery where you sit in a half circle around a chef who entertains you while preparing your delicious dinner? This is one of the sauces that the chef often offers you!
No, Thousand Island has other ingredients added in like pickles.
Do not let sit out for longer than 2 hours. This sauce will keep refrigerated for 10 days.
You can, but why? It's usually offered at room temperature or cold.
Yes, it does. Among the other ingredients, it contains mayonnaise.
Is This Sauce Spicy?
Generally, this is not spicy, however, if you would like for it to have a little kick, add some cayenne pepper!
What Kind of Mayo Do I Use?
You will want to use a good quality and tasty mayo. We enjoy Hellmans, Dukes, Blue Plate or Aldi Brand. Each of those has it’s own unique taste that blends well with this recipe.
Can I have Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum Sauce While I Am Pregnant?
This depends entirely upon what you are allowed to have in your diet, however, this does NOT have shrimp in it. So, look at the ingredients and see if this is something that you can have.
Can I Buy Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum Sauce?
There are options for purchasing store bought shrimp sauce yum yum sauce, however, why would you buy any when what you can make with this recipe is SO MUCH better and EASY to fix?
Can I Freeze Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum Sauce?
No, you really can’t freeze shrimp sauce yum yum sauce because it contains mayonnaise and it will separate when thawed.
How Do You Make Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum Sauce?
Worry no more! Like me you have probably tried other recipes for Shrimp Sauce, Yum Yum Sauce, Japanese restaurant White Sauce, Hibachi Shrimp Sauce, Dipping Sauce for Shrimp, Benihana Sauce and Terry Ho Sauce that you found on the internet.
All of those store bought sauces left you wanting something, didn’t they, however, this shrimp sauce yum yum sauce is the real deal right here.
Where Did This Recipe Come From?
You might be wondering, “how did you get that recipe for shrimp sauce yum yum sauce anyway”.
A friend who is a line cook shared his recipe with me and I shared my macaroni and cheese recipe with him.
Watch Me Make This Sauce
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Homemade Japanese Shrimp Sauce Yum Yum Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups of Mayonnaise
- ½ Cup Ketchup
- 3 Tbs Sugar
- 1 Tbs Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbs Paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ Cup of water
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha or other hot sauce.
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl – may add extra sugar to taste. Allow to sit in refrigerator for at least an hour before serving so that flavors can meld.
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Notes
- You might want to add a tiny bit more sugar – according to your tastes. You be the boss in your kitchen!
- Use a whisk to combine the ingredients, you'll be much more satisfied with how smooth the resulting sauce is.
- If you are concerned about this being too hot, first let me assure you, it isn't hot. The spices that you normally associate with "heat" are simply flavor in this recipe.
- Don't limit yourself to JUST Japanese food with this sauce, you can put it on EVERYTHING!
Nutrition
This article originally appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on March 31, 2019. It has been updated with new information, an updated recipe card, FAQ's and more.
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John 15:18
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Cindy Albin says
Rockin' sauce!!!!!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Cindy!
Jean says
It doesn't day how much is ONE serving. One tablespoon? One ounce? One cup?
Wendi Spraker says
One serving is 1/4 cup
GouldDaddy says
Great recipe, curious if you ever subbed the water for broth...I wasnt willing to try but still curious?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi! I haven't ever subbed in broth for the water BUT I have left the water off. It tastes great that way but is VERY thick. The water simply thins it down a little. You may like it thicker. It does get a little thicker when you put it in the fridge to rest.
Mama tete says
This is spot on with the ingredients. I love this on everything! I only made a Little bit so didnt use as much of the ingridients as listed here but it was so good! Thanks for the recipe.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi! Thanks so much for leaving a comment and I'm tickled that you love it! Everyone here loves it too. I try not to make it too much because we use it WAY too much on everything! lol. Take care!
Sandra Farrar says
I bought some salt and pepper calamari and needed a sauce to dip them in. I use Yum Yum from the store but didn't have any at this time and didn't want to go to the store just for that so I looked for recipes and chose this one. I couldn't have chosen a better recipe. It was delicious. I gave it 5 stars. My husband liked it very much as well. It was perfect for my calamari.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Sandra, I'm so glad you came back to let me know. Super happy that you and your husband loved it! Please come back and look around for some more recipes that you might enjoy. 🙂 . Thanks for the stars too!
Chantay Proulex says
Great sauce.....very similar to another recipe I have but its scaled down and very do-able.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Chantay, Thank you so much for coming back and leaving a comment! I'm tickled that you loved it! 🙂
Connie Thron says
Excellent sauce!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Connie!
Heather F Strider says
My family loves Japanese seafood, and frequently make it at home. We have tried bottled yum-yum sauce and I have made it from online recipes before. But none of the recipes or store bought sauces were as good as yours! This is better than my favorite local Japanese restaurant, thanks so much. We're having grilled sea scallops and salmon tonight, and I'm going to find something else to serve this sauce on tomorrow. Thanks for sharing it!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks for leaving a comment Heather! I’m so glad you are enjoying it!! 🙂
Jodi Eagle says
I rarely comment on recipes. I have to on this. I've tried othe Shrimp sauces..this is by far the best! My family loved it! Thank you for sharing!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jodi!
Thanks so much for leaving a comment! I appreciate it a lot! I'm tickled that you and your family enjoyed the sauce! 🙂 .
Jessica Driskill says
I've made this multiple times and love it. I ad a tablespoon of melted butter and more Sriracha and cayenne(We love heat). My husband is always extra excited when he comes home to the smell of fried rice; because he knows I will always have some yum yum sauce made too. 🙂 Big thanks to you!
Wendi Spraker says
Awwww. Thanks for the sweet comment Jessica. :). Good times.
Ami says
This is yum 😋 i did notice that it was a little salty ..maybe yhe mayo? I tried adding more sugar but its not helping..
Wendi Spraker says
If it's too salty then you will want to add more mayo and ketchup.
Ann says
Maybe, make sure you are using Garlic POWDER and Onion POWDER, not garlic salt or onion salt. Big difference.
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Ann! You are absolutely right!
Shane Berry says
use kewpie mayonnaise for real for real
Melissa says
Try this on a fried shrimp po boy... 🤤
Wendi Spraker says
Is it good?
Debbie says
Fabulous! Had it with shrimp and chicken tonight, would also be fabulous on rice and vegetables. Easy and yummy. I used 1/2 the cayenne as I was afraid of too much kick and it was just fine, probably would have been fine with the full amount. Definitely a keeper.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Debbie! Thanks for coming back and leaving a comment. :). Glad you love it. We eat it on everything- chip dip, eggs, pasta, rice, veggies, dog biscuits. Lol (JK about the dog biscuits- but I bet they would even taste good with this sauce! Lol).
Sarah says
So very good! I've got the sauce in the fridge chilling, veggies cut up and your daughters teriyaki chicken marinating! Thanks so much for sharing!
Wendi Spraker says
Oh that is fantastic to hear! I'll be right over for lunch!! Lol. What are some of your other favorite recipes that you like to cook Sarah?
Angela says
I have just finished making this sauce to go with our supper tonight! I used Frank's hot sauce, because I had no Sriracha. I also realized I accidentally used smoked Paprika instead of regular. I tasted the sauce before I put it into the refrigerator to meld. Other than a touch of the "smoked" flavor of the Paprika, it tasted delicious, and was NOT spicy at all to me. I cannot wait to put it on my fried rice tonight!
Wendi Spraker says
Awwww Angela! You've made my heart sing. I think smoked paprika probably makes it even better although slightly different than Japanese steakhouse. Yay you!