Hibachi Chicken Sauce

This Hibachi Chicken Sauce is a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet condiment that adds the perfect finishing touch to grilled chicken. Inspired by the popular “yum yum” sauce served at Japanese steakhouses, it combines mayo and a hint of spices for a flavor-packed dip. Easy to make at home, this sauce elevates any meal with its rich, savory taste.

What is Hibachi Chicken?

Hibachi Chicken is a Japanese-style grilled chicken dish often prepared on a high-heat, flat-top grill called a “hibachi” or “teppanyaki” grill.

The chicken is typically cut into bite-sized pieces, seared until juicy and tender, and seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sometimes a splash of sake or mirin for added flavor.

Often served with fried rice, vegetables, and a variety of dipping sauces, hibachi chicken is popular for its flavorful simplicity and interactive cooking style, especially at Japanese steakhouses where it’s cooked right in front of diners.

What is Hibachi Chicken Sauce?

Hibachi Chicken Sauce, often called “yum yum” sauce, is a creamy, slightly tangy, and mildly sweet dipping sauce served with hibachi-style dishes.

Often made with ingredients like mayonnaise, ketchup, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and sometimes a hint of paprika or hot sauce, this sauce balances richness with a touch of acidity.

It’s a versatile accompaniment, popular not only with chicken but also with seafood, vegetables, and fried rice in Japanese-American hibachi-style dining.

What ingredients are needed to make Hibachi Chicken Sauce?

Vegan Mayonnaise provides the creamy base for the sauce, giving it a rich, smooth texture. It adds a mild tanginess and thick consistency that helps other flavors blend together. Japanese-style mayonnaise, like Kewpie, is sometimes preferred for its slightly sweeter, richer flavor due to its use of rice vinegar instead of distilled vinegar.

Made from toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil adds a distinctive nutty, roasted flavor that complements the umami notes in the sauce. Just a small amount is used, as it’s very flavorful and can be overpowering if overused. Its aroma and depth enhance the sauce’s overall flavor, giving it an authentic Japanese touch.

Often a mild yellow or Dijon mustard is used, adding a subtle kick and slight acidity to balance the sauce. It helps deepen the flavor without being overly spicy, contributing to the sauce’s complex yet subtle bite. The mustard also lends a faint tang, enhancing the sauce’s profile.

Freshly minced garlic or garlic powder can be used, infusing the sauce with a savory, aromatic note. Garlic’s earthy pungency complements the sweetness of the mayo, making the sauce well-rounded. It’s a fundamental flavor in Japanese-inspired sauces, bringing depth and a little zest.

Soy Sauce adds an umami-rich, salty base that enhances the savory qualities of the sauce. Made from fermented soybeans, soy sauce is essential for an authentic Japanese flavor profile, balancing the sweetness and richness in the recipe. Its dark color also deepens the sauce’s hue slightly, adding visual appeal.

Often rice vinegar is used, which is milder and slightly sweeter than regular distilled vinegar. It adds a gentle acidity to the sauce, which helps cut through the richness of the mayonnaise. The vinegar’s brightness lifts the other flavors, preventing the sauce from feeling too heavy.

Each ingredient plays a role in creating the sauce’s creamy, tangy, and umami-rich profile, making it the perfect complement to grilled hibachi-style dishes.

How to make Hibachi Chicken Sauce?

Use a small mixing bowl and combine mayo with sesame oil, mustard, pressed garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. 

Whisk all well together and season with salt and pepper.

With this your Hibachi Chicken Sauce is ready for serving.

Serving Suggestions?

Here are three delicious ways to enjoy Hibachi Chicken Sauce:

1. Serve it as a flavorful dip alongside hibachi-style grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp. The creamy and tangy sauce complements the smoky, savory flavors of the grilled meats perfectly.
2. Add a generous drizzle of Hibachi Chicken Sauce on top of fried rice or stir-fried noodles for an extra layer of flavor. The sauce adds creaminess and a bit of sweetness to balance the savory elements in the dish.
3. Use it as a spread for chicken or veggie wraps, or as a sandwich dressing to replace mayo or mustard. It gives a unique, zesty flavor that pairs well with fresh veggies, grilled meats, and wraps of all kinds.

What to do with leftovers?

If you have leftover Hibachi Chicken Sauce, here are some great ways to use it up:

•  Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, and use it as a creamy dressing for salads, especially for Asian-inspired or coleslaw-style salads.
• Stir a spoonful of the sauce into vegetable or chicken stir-fries for extra creaminess and flavor, or mix it into rice bowls with grilled meats and veggies for a delicious twist.
• Use it as a dip for French fries, sweet potato fries, or fresh veggie sticks. The sauce’s creamy, tangy flavor pairs wonderfully with both cooked and raw veggies, adding a unique flair to snack time.

This way, you can enjoy every last bit of the sauce with a variety of meals!

More Dipping Sauce recipes to try

• Easy Vietnamese Peanut Sauce Recipe for Dipping
• Easy Empanada Sauce Recipe for Dipping
• Homemade Chicken Tenders Dipping Sauce Recipes
• Bread Dipping Oil
• Best Salsa Roja Recipe

I hope you love this Hibachi Chicken Sauce as much as I do. It’s such a fun, flavorful way to bring the hibachi experience right into your kitchen!

If you try it, let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment and a star rating below. I’d love to hear what you think. And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram or Facebook—I can’t wait to see your creations!