Whether you’re grilling beef, pork, chicken, seafood, veggies, or a mix of everything, this list features 11 easy hibachi sauces that can be made at home.
Perfectly grilled meat covered in thick, flavorful sauces is what hibachi’s all about.
Hibachi, or “fire bowl,” is a Japanese grilling style that traditionally uses a wood or charcoal flame to cook large chunks of meat on an open top.
It’s usually confused with teppanyaki, which uses a flat-top grill.
With hibachi, you get a more robust grilled flavor from the open-flame smoke and char.
Whichever grilling method you prefer, one thing can transform simple grilled meat into something extraordinary: the sauce.
Enjoy the taste of an authentic Japanese steakhouse at home with these 11 fantastic sauces that take no time to whip up.
Try out Ssamjang Sauce for a spicy, umami-filled dip.
What’s more yummy than the famous Yum Yum Sauce?
Knowing how to make this restaurant secret is a real treat.
Watch out for #11 for a sauce with a classic Japanese flavor!
1. Ginger Sauce
First up is a simple ginger sauce that’s a crowd favorite in any backyard grilling session.
We can’t get enough of this one!
The peppery heat and fresh, citrusy fragrance of the ginger cuts through the richness of fatty meats.
Adding a dollop of maple syrup or honey to the mix brings a pleasant sweetness that complements the spice of the ginger.
This sauce is excellent drizzled on top of grilled pork belly, but it can brighten the flavor of any cut of meat or veggies.
It uses Tamari instead of regular soy sauce, which makes for a deeper and richer taste.
If you’re out of rice wine vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or any sweet vinegar as a substitute instead.
Mustard sauce?
More like a must-have sauce because it’s so irresistible!
The heavy cream base thickens the sauce until it reaches a nice consistency for dipping.
Heavy cream also gives the sauce a lot of rich and creamy flavor.
This provides a beautiful balance to the robust aroma and sweet and spicy flavor of the mustard.
Soy sauce seasons the cream-and-mustard blend with a touch of savory umami.
If mustard powder’s hard to come by, you can swap it out for turmeric.
This spice is similar in taste to mustard and can give your sauce a more intense yellow color.
You’ve got it right!
This is the famous Yum Yum sauce from Japanese steakhouses.
Now that you’re in on the not-so-secret recipe, the next step is to wow your dinner guests with it.
It might be a restaurant sauce, but it’s surprisingly convenient to make at home.
All it takes is some mayonnaise, ketchup, and some yummy spices.
The tartness of the ketchup works so well with the rich and thick mayonnaise.
Garlic powder adds savory undertones to the sauce that goes with the earthiness of the paprika.
It’s always worth making a big batch of this sauce since it’s versatile.
Just make sure this mayo-based sauce is correctly stored so you can enjoy it for longer.
The following recipe is great if you want something with a lot of room for creativity.
Soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar are a basic combo that ticks all the boxes when it comes to flavor and ease.
It’s incredible how much flavor you can create from simple pantry ingredients.
Soy sauce gives the steak sauce a deep meaty, and savory flavor.
A bit of sugar provides just the right amount of sweetness to mellow down the brininess of the soy sauce.
The acidity of the vinegar makes this sauce great for buttery steak and vegetables.
Try it with paprika to add a layer of peppery, smoky kick to this sauce.
If you’re looking for something that can work as a sauce, dip, or marinade for various cuts of meat, this recipe has you covered.
This recipe uses mirin, a traditional Japanese rice wine, to give a distinct sweetness to many dishes and sauces.
Its sweet flavor is best paired with the tang of the rice wine vinegar and the fragrance of the ginger and other aromatic spices.
The sauce has a nutty roasted flavor from the toasted sesame seeds and the toasted sesame oil.
You can play with the proportion of the ingredients to get the exact taste you like!
This one is for all the almond people out there.
The secret to making this creamy sauce without milk, cream, or butter?
Almond milk!
It is a phenomenal dairy-free alternative that is also vegan- and vegetarian-friendly.
It has a nutty creaminess and a silky smooth texture that’s great for sauces.
Coconut aminos are similar in taste, color, and texture to soy sauce, but it has a more pronounced sweetness.
This sauce is excellent to have on hand, especially if you enjoy munching on something fresh, like celery sticks or other crisp vegetables.
Whether you’re on the keto diet trend or just looking for a tasty sauce, which happens to be keto-friendly, try out this recipe!
This recipe uses a lot of mayo and butter for a vibrant, luscious taste and mouthfeel.
The bright zing of the rice vinegar and ketchup provides a pleasant contrast to the richness of the butter and mayo.
Make this sauce your own by mixing your favorite fresh herbs and ground spices.
Korean barbecue is all about gathering friends and family for good times and even better food.
The best part is that it’s so effortless to do at home!
There’s no better way to replicate the flavors of Korean BBQ than using an authentic sauce.
This BBQ sauce features gochujang, a chili paste with an intense red color and deep fermented savory taste.
Fish sauce is optional for this recipe, but its complex umami brings the sauce to a whole new level.
This sauce is delicious when brushed on ribs before baking.
The slow cooking process allows it to intensify and develop a sticky texture that covers the ribs.
If you’re out of gochujang, you can use fresh red peppers or other substitutes.
This list wouldn’t be complete without Tonkatsu Sauce.
Tonkatsu is a sweet Japanese sauce with a powerful umami punch.
It takes almost no effort to make this sauce.
You just need to mix a few pantry staples, and you’re done!
Worcestershire sauce is made with anchovies, molasses, and tamarind.
It’s a concentrated blend of umami, sweetness, and acidity that adds magic to any dish.
If you find the sauce a little bit salty, you can always add more sugar to even everything.
Tonkatsu sauce is a classic condiment for crispy, deep-fried meat, such as pork or chicken.
10. Ssamjang Sauce
“Ssam” means wrapped food in Korean—and who doesn’t love them?
There’s something about eating food wrapped in a neat, ready-to-eat package that just makes the entire experience better.
If you love wrapped food, you’ll surely enjoy this sauce.
It’s made with a bunch of fermented ingredients, giving it an umami kick and a hint of sourness.
The tuna version of this sauce can also be served as a tasty side dish.
Pair it with freshly steamed white rice, and you have a satisfying meal.
Ssamjang sauce is a condiment for lettuce wraps in traditional Korean barbecue.
11. Teriyaki Sauce
This sauce is as easy as one-two-three because that’s how many ingredients you need to make it.
Teriyaki is a well-known Japanese flavor for a good reason.
The combination of sweet, briny, and savory is hard to beat.
All you need are soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and some water to create this flavorful sauce.
The basic sauce is excellent for many dishes, like a quick stir-fry with garlic, shrimp, mushrooms, or grilled chicken breast.
Feel free to add your favorite aromatics to the base recipe to give it a personal touch.
The bottom line
Savory, sweet, sticky, zesty hibachi sauces make a great dip for grilled meat and veggies.
With these sauces, you don’t even have to marinate meat to make them insanely good.
Remember to keep these recipes in mind whenever you bring out your trusty grill!
Easy Hibachi Sauces
Whether you’re grilling beef, pork, chicken, seafood, veggies, or a mix of everything, this list features 11 easy hibachi sauces that can be made at home.
Ingredients
- Ginger sauce
- Hibachi Mustard Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Hibachi Steak Sauce
- Ginger Soy Dipping Sauce
- Almond Sesame Mustard Sauce
- Keto Yum Yum Sauce
- Gochujang Korean BBQ Sauce
- Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
- Ssamjang Sauce
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Hibachi Sauces list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start making and make us proud!