Yakiniku Japanese BBQ Sauce Recipe

Yakiniku sauce, a dipping sauce for Japanese BBQ, is a soy sauce-based sauce infused with rich flavors of garlic, sesame, and other spices. It serves as a fantastic accompaniment for Teppanyaki meats and vegetables, Yakiniku BBQ, and beyond. It’s almost like a multi-purpose sauce that can elevate many dishes such as stir-fried vegetables, salads, and simple pan-fried meats. Having Yakiniku BBQ Sauce in your Japanese pantry ensures that your dishes will consistently taste delicious without the need to adjust or match many different seasonings.

Japanese Yakiniku developed under the influence of Korean barbecue after World War II, when Korean BBQ culture spread to Japan. The rapid popularity of Yakiniku in Japan spurred the development of various seasonings and sauces. Yakiniku BBQ sauce was adapted to suit Japanese ingredients and tastes, incorporating ingredients such as soy sauce, mirin, sake, garlic, and sesame, resulting in a distinctively Japanese flavor profile. Consequently, Japanese Yakiniku sauce has evolved into a unique taste different from Korean BBQ, becoming an indispensable component of Japanese Yakiniku cuisine. Japan already had a culture of dipping meats in various sauces, such as Shabu Shabu with Ponzu or sesame sauce, and Sukiyaki with raw eggs, so the development of Yakiniku sauce was a natural progression in Japanese food culture.

There are many different kinds of Yakiniku sauces out there, but this recipe is a very mainstream type of Yakiniku sauce—sweet and salty, infused with garlic, full of sesame flavor, and with a hint of spiciness. Start with this base recipe and adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences. You can increase or decrease sweetness or spiciness according to your taste. For serving suggestions, refer to our Teppanyaki recipe. We hope you give it a try!