Learn how to make Okonomiyaki Sauce at home with just 4 ingredients! This simple condiment is a must for drizzling over the iconic Japanese savory pancake, okonomiyaki.
Okonomiyaki Sauce (お好み焼きソース) is brushed over the popular Japanese savory pancake, Okonomiyaki. This sweet, savory sauce packed with umami flavor is very similar to Tonkatsu Sauce.
When I make okonomiyaki at home, I often whisk up the sauce quickly to serve with the pancake. The homemade version is very convenient when you don’t have the store-bought okonomi sauce.
To Make Okonomiyaki Sauce
4 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perris Worcestershire Sauce)
- Ketchup (Heinz Simply Tomato Ketchup)
- Sugar (organic cane sugar)
- Oyster sauce (Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce)
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk well together. Have a taste and adjust any seasonings if needed. It’s that simple!
The Best Store-Bought Okonomiyaki Sauce
I have Otafuku brand’s Okonomi Sauce (お好みソース) in my refrigerator all year round. This sauce is by far the most popular and well-known okonomiyaki sauce in Japan.
I was introduced to this sauce by a Japanese friend from Osaka when I was in college. She also told me that people in Osaka season a fried egg (目玉焼き) with okonomi sauce while people in Tokyo/Yokohama area normally drizzle soy sauce to enjoy the egg.
You can get Otafuku Oknomi Sauce at a Japanese grocery store (maybe at an Asian grocery store, too) and Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long the homemade okonomiyaki sauce lasts?
You can keep the sauce in an airtight container or jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It can probably last longer, but you may want to just remake the sauce since you probably have all these condiments already in the fridge.
Can I substitute with other ingredients?
I haven’t tried making the okonomiyaki sauce besides these 4 ingredients I listed. My intention to create okonomiyaki sauce is to replicate the Otafuku’s okonomi sauce, and I think it’s pretty close (I’d say you will need to add a tiny bit more sugar to make it the closest). Therefore, I don’t recommend substitutions for this recipe.
If your substation is due to your dietary restriction, I really hope you can find a good substitution to make your sauce similar to the oknomi sauce!
Can I skip sugar?
The Worcestershire sauce is quite tangy and oyster sauce is salty…so you will need to counterbalance that with sugar. If you think your ketchup is already sweet, you can skip the sugar or gradually add it to your liking.
Okonomiyaki Recipes on Just One Cookbook
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup oyster sauce (I used Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce; if you're allergic to shellfish, use Lee Kum Kee Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce; 76 g)
- 3 Tbsp sugar (I used organic cane sugar; add more sugar, if needed; 39 g)
- ½ cup ketchup (I used Heinz Simply Tomato Ketchup; some ketchup is sweeter than others, so please adjust the amount of sugar; 136 g)
- 7 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (I used Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce; 105 g)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Combine the oyster sauce and sugar in a small bowl. Mix with a spatula or whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix it well, taste the sauce, and adjust it according to your liking.
To Store
- You can keep the sauce in an airtight container or jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
