10 Popular Japanese Sauces Anyone Can Make at Home (2024)

Here are the easy and popular Japanese sauces that go well with everything! From the citrusy ponzu sauce to yakiniku BBQ sauce to all-purpose miso, each of them is going to make your dishes more delicious, and your life more flavorful.

Homemade sauces are the secret to delicious Japanese foods at home. And in our opinion, the truly good sauce is not only versatile, but it also takes only a few pantry ingredients to make.

These Japanese sauces are the ones that you will need in rotation. Use them as dressings, dipping sauces, marinade proteins, flavor your steamed vegetables, and so much more. Learn how to make them all!

Easy and Popular Japanese Sauces For Flavorful Meals

1. Homemade Ponzu Sauce

Bright, savory, and tangy, ponzu sauce is a very versatile Japanese condiment that goes with everything! The citrus aroma is especially refreshing. Use it as a dipping sauce, marinades, or dressing over salads, noodles, or rice bowls!

2. Teriyaki Sauce

Everyone can make teriyaki sauce with this authentic Japanese method. Only 4 ingredients are needed. It will be your keeper sauce for chicken, salmon, beef, tofu, or even meatballs!

3. All-Purpose Miso Sauce

This all-purpose miso sauce adds delicious depth and complexity to everything it touches. It’s great on chicken, seafood, vegetables, and pretty much everything! little depth or complexity.

4. Tonkatsu Sauce

If you make Japanese deep-fried dishes such as tonkatsu cutlet, chicken katsu, korokke, and ebi fry at home regularly, you will want to serve them with this quick and easy Tonkatsu Sauce. Only 4 pantry ingredients are needed!

5. Teppanyaki Sauce

Sweet, savory, and flavorful,teppanyaki sauce is a Japanese BBQ sauce that complements grilled short ribs, vegetables, and other grilled goodies.

6. Unagi Sauce

Don’t let the name stop you from making this golden brown sauce! It’s not just for unagi eel, but a multitude of BBQ dishes. The richness and caramelized flavor can transform any bland dish. It’s seriously good on smoked ribs, grilled fish, grilled tofu, grilled mushrooms, and grilled rice ball (yaki onigiri).

7. Okonomiyaki Sauce

This simple condiment is a must for drizzling over the iconic Japanese savory pancake, okonomiyaki.

8. Yakisoba Sauce

This yakisoba sauce is the default to season the popular Japanese fried noodles, but you can use it in any of your stir fry recipes too!

9. Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) Sauce

This sweet and savory Japanese BBQ sauce is perfect for dipping thin slices of well-marbled beef short ribs and other grilled delicacies.

10. Sesame Sauce (Goma Dare)

Creamy, flavorful, and savory, this sesame sauce can be enjoyed as a dipping sauce forshabu shabuhot pot or try it with steamed vegetables, cold or hot tofu, green salad, and somen or udon noodles.

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