Yum Yum Sauce lives up to the name! This sweet, tangy Japanese steakhouse mayo sauce is easy to make, and you’ll want to put it on everything !

A Reader’s Review
“Delicious!! I love that it doesn’t have as much sodium as the store bought sauce but is still super yummy…. Thank you!”
Why You Need Yum Yum Sauce In Your Life!
- Tried-and-True Ratios ! My homemade yum yum sauce recipe has been tested to perfection! I’ve listened, changed up a couple of ratios of the ingredients, and I know you’re gonna LOVE it.
- Game Changer! This sauce is that creamy, tangy, sweet magic you didn’t know you needed. Shrimp , sushi bake , french fries —put it on everything or you’re doing life wrong.
Ingredients Needed

- The Brand of Mayo Matters! Kewpie mayo is the best, but Hellman’s (Best Foods) or Dukes are the next best.
- Make It Spicy! This Yum Yum sauce is delicious as-is, but you can spice it up with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes!
How to Make Homemade Yum Yum Sauce
This dipping sauce is so easy that you’ll wonder why you’ve waited so long to make it. It will taste better than anything you get at a hibachi restaurant. The exact measurements are in the recipe card below!
- Combine: Whisk together the mayonnaise, rice vinegar, tomato paste, paprika, garlic powder, sugar, and butter in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill: Add water as needed to get your desired consistency, then cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Alyssa’s Pro-Tip
Resting is Essential! For the best flavor, I recommend letting it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

How to Store Leftovers
- In the Refrigerator: Store this yum yum sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. However, this is so easy to make; you can make small batches and make it fresh every time you need it.
- Make it Ahead of Time: The longer this sauce sits, the better it gets. Letting it rest gives the flavors time to meld and become even more irresistible!

What to Serve with Yum Yum Sauce
Popular sauces that are made from scratch are so easy and so much better. Think homemade Famous Fry Sauce , Alfredo sauce , Tzatziki Sauce , and Homemade Cheese Sauce . Now the real question—what to serve them with? Here are a few of my faves!

Dinner
THEE BEST Grilled Shrimp
1 hour 20 minutes

Appetizers
Crispy Onion Rings (Baked or Fried!)
30 minutes

Recipe Skill Levels
Hibachi Chicken
30 minutes

Dinner
California Roll
45 minutes
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Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup mayonnaise preferably Kewpie brand
- ▢ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ▢ 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon melted salted butter
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ 2-3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add 1 cup mayonnaise , 1 tablespoon tomato paste , 1 tablespoon rice vinegar , 1 teaspoon paprika , 1 teaspoon garlic powder , 1 tablespoon granulated sugar , 1 tablespoon melted salted butter , and salt and pepper to taste.
- Whisk to combine, then add 2-3 tablespoons water as needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info

The Ultimate Yum Yum Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise preferably Kewpie brand
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon melted salted butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add 1 cup mayonnaise , 1 tablespoon tomato paste , 1 tablespoon rice vinegar , 1 teaspoon paprika , 1 teaspoon garlic powder , 1 tablespoon granulated sugar , 1 tablespoon melted salted butter , and salt and pepper to taste.
- Whisk to combine, then add 2-3 tablespoons water as needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
QR code
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The Ultimate Yum Yum Sauce https://therecipecritic.com/yum-yum-sauce/