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.
One of the key characteristics of Okonomiyaki is the thick, sweet brown sauce that is drizzled over the savory pancake. Without it, the savory pancake would be bland and missing the right flavor. Simply known as Okonomiyaki Sauce (お好み焼きソース), the condiment is packed with umami flavor that is similar to Worcestershire sauce or Tonkatsu Sauce.
You can find ready-made okonomiyaki sauce at Japanese or Asian grocery stores, but it is really easy to make with just a few ingredients at home.
When I make okonomiyaki at home, I often reach my pantry to whisk up the sauce quickly to serve with the pancake. The homemade version is convenient when you don’t have or run out of 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 usually have a bottle of Otafuku brand’s Okonomi Sauce (お好みソース) in my refrigerator. 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 Japanese grocery stores (maybe at well-stocked Asian grocery stores, too) and Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I store the homemade okonomiyaki sauce?
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 might as well make a fresh batch since you are likely to have all these condiments 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 exact flavor as the Otafuku’s okonomi sauce, and I think it’s pretty close (I’d say you will need a tiny bit more sugar to achieve the exact taste). Therefore, I don’t recommend substitutions for this recipe.
If you need to modify certain things due to dietary restriction, I really hope you can find a good substitution that helps yield the right flavor.
Can I skip sugar?
The Worcestershire sauce is quite tangy and the 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
With the homemade okonomiyaki sauce, you can make the pancake anytime you like! On my blog, I offer two classic versions:
- Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki – This one is layered with shredded cabbage, fried egg, and yakisoba noodles!
- Osaka-style Okonomiyaki – A simpler recipe anyone can attempt at home. The key ingredients include You’ll find plenty of ingredient ideas in my recipe post.
Other Homemade Japanese Sauces & Condiments
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Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup oyster sauce (76 g; I used Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce; if you‘re allergic to shellfish, use Lee Kum Kee Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce)
- 3 Tbsp sugar (39 g; or more, to taste)
- ½ cup ketchup (136 g; to taste)
- 7 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (105 g; I used Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Combine ¼ cup oyster sauce and 3 Tbsp sugar in a small bowl. Mix with a spatula or whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Tip: I used organic cane sugar.
- Add ½ cup ketchup and 7 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce. Tip: I used Heinz Simply Tomato Ketchup. Some ketchup is sweeter than others, so please adjust the amount of sugar to taste.
- Mix it well, taste the sauce, and adjust it according to your liking.
To Serve
- To enjoy, drizzle Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce on your favorite Japanese savory pancake. Try my recipes for homemade Okonomiyaki and Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki.
To Store
- You can keep the sauce in an airtight container or jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Tastes like weird ketchup, just buy the real thing online.
Hi Riley! Thanks for trying this recipe. It really depends on the brand of ketchup you use (We noticed that especially when we are making bbq sauce etc with different brands of ketchup). I’m sorry this recipe didn’t’ work out for you.
I’m trying to make a low carb okonomiyaki sauce. I’m wondering the main source of the carb is from sugar only. If so, I will try to substitute the sugar with Splenda to make the amount of carb as close as zero (1 g should be low enough).
I appreciate if you can share your thought!
Hi Stella! I’ve never used Splenda before so I can’t tell how it goes when it turns of taste. If you give it a try, let us know. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the okonomiyaki!
try honey
Hi, just wanted to say thank you for this recipe. This is my first time visiting your blog. Keep up the good work!
Hi Kristin! Thank you so much for your kind feedback! Hope you enjoy the sauce. 🙂
I’m searching for an authentic okonomiyaki sauce recipe that is not based on worstershire and ketchup. Do you happen to know how to make a fermented version completely from scratch?
Thank-you.
Tina
Hi Tina! I’m so sorry I don’t know. I’ve looked up in Japanese too, but there is no one making all the way from scratch from fruits and vegetables, vinegar, and spices.
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This recipe comes out too sweet. You can add the tangy flavour it needs by adding rice wine vinegar (1 tblsp) and less tomato and a bit of soy (1/2 table spoon)
Hi Philip! Thank you for your kind feedback!
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Bought some sauce (the one in the pic above) and made this recipe and to be honest they are completely different. No comparison. The only similarity is the colour.
Hi Peter! Thanks for trying this recipe. If you compare the ingredients, it’s not easy to make a copycat with condiments you have in the fridge. But I did side by side comparison to make it similar to Okonomi Sauce. I’m glad you can purchase Okonomi Sauce where you live as many people said they can’t purchase this brand.
I think if I was to try it again I’d only use about half of the tomato sauce as this is the dominant flavour and may be masking the other flavours.
I used organic ketchup – pretty healthier one for this recipe. Maybe that might be our difference?
You guys are amazing, i made great takoyakis using your instructions.
Hi Sharmake! Thanks so much for trying my Takoyaki recipe and for your kind feedback. 🙂
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I’ve been making my own Hoisin Sauce now for two years- and it is so superior to anything commercial that I am sure this Oyonomiyaki Sauce will be a huge success too. Making my own sauces also allows me to replace sugar with rice bran syrup, which tastes better and is healthier.
Hi Jan! SUPER impressive!! I wish I can taste your homemade Hoisin Sauce and Okonomiyaki Sauce!
Nami, I had no idea Okonomiyaki sauce was so easy to make! And I have all these ingredients already:) When we run out, we have to make a special trip to the Japanese grocery store more than an hour away… Thank you for sharing!
Hi Heather! Yay! Hope you like it! 🙂