This recipe shows you how to make a quick & easy Tonkatsu Sauce from scratch. Serve it with tonkatsu or other deep-fried dishes.
Tonkatsu Sauce is served with Tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) and often used for other deep-fried dishes like Ebi Fry and Korokke.
Tonkatsu Sauce mainly consists of vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, prunes, dates, apples, lemon juice, carrots, onions, and celery. It also includes more than 10 kinds of spices along with soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. It’s a lot of work to make it from scratch, but you can definitely make a simplified version that tastes just as good to go with your homemade tonkatsu.
To make a quick & easy Tonkatsu sauce :
Combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce and sugar in a small bowl & whisk well. Taste and adjust any seasonings to your liking.
The popular Tonkatsu Sauce brand is Bulldog (see below) which you can find in a Japanese or Asian supermarket.
Okonomiyaki Sauce / Okonomi Sauce
If you’re looking for Okonomiyaki Sauce, click here for the recipe.
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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This recipe shows you how to make a quick & easy Tonkatsu Sauce from scratch. Serve it with tonkatsu or other deep fried dishes.
- 1 Tbsp ketchup (Some ketchup is sweeter than others, so please adjust the amount of sugar)
- 2 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce (I use Japanese brand "Bulldog" Worcestershire sauce (Usuta-so-su, ウスターソース), which is milder and less sour than Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. Please adjust the taste.)
- 1 ½ tsp oyster sauce (If you're allergic to shellfish, use LEE KUM KEE Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce)
- 1 ⅛ tsp sugar (Add more sugar, if needed)
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together. Adjust the sauce according to your liking.
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You can store in an airtight container and keep in the refrgerator for up to 2-3 weeks or freezer for 3-4 months.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
Delicious Recipes to Go with Tonkatsu Sauce:
- Crispy Baked Tonkatsu
- Chicken Katsu
- Baked Croquette (Japanese Mashed Potato & Meat Cutlet)
- Ham Katsu
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Thank you for posting the Tonkatsu sauce recipe. It’s simple, fast, and tasty. Just used it with tonight’s dinner.
Hi Erlene! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! 🙂
What can I use instead of Worcestershire sauce in this recipe….I haven’t found a gluten free one yet.
Thanks
Diane Harris
Hi Diane! I have this one at home, and according to the website, it’s GF.
http://www.leaperrins.com/products/the-original-worcestershire-sauce.aspx
Amazon sells it online. Worcestershire sauce is main flavor in Tonkatsu sauce, and it’s hard to skip this flavor….
Hope this helps. 🙂
This looks yum, but is there a substitute for oyster sauce or can it be omitted?
Hi Allysha! The one I made include oyster sauce to get the thickness and salty deep flavor in tonkatsu sauce, but I’m sure we can create a version of Tonkatsu Sauce without the oyster sauce. However I don’t know how the measurement of ingredients will be without oyster sauce.
maybe hoisin as a thickener? Wouldn’t taste the same but it’s also sweet and salty
Thanks for your suggestion, Viet! 🙂
i love your website
it is simple and easy to read.
i wish you to add video how to cook properly 😀
In my hometown, they do not sell Worcestershire sauce (or Usutah So-su) or oyster sauce.
so,how i can replace them?
is there any substitute?
Hi Alifa! Thank you so much for following my site! I’m so glad to hear you enjoy it. I already have YouTube channel, and I hope you subscribe there. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/user/justonecookbook
That’s a difficult question. To make Tonkatsu Sauce without going through making it from scratch, I think it’s very difficult to get a closer tonkatsu sauce flavor without those ingredients, especially Worcestershire sauce…. Sorry I am not sure how I can suggest. Hope you can find tonkatsu sauce online.
“In my hometown, they do not sell Worcestershire sauce”
I weep for you. I am so sorry to hear of this travesty in this day and age.
From what I hear you can order groceries through Amazon and other online retailers now. Condiments like that would be perfect to order because they don’t spoil easily and you’d probably get a discount if you got some in bulk to stock up.
Nami, thank you very much. I had eaten Tokastsu at a small japanese restaurant and I loved it, but then they closed last week and I never got the recipy so I ventured yself on doing it and thanks to the recipy its great! Its the same thing! It taste great, thank you very much!
Hi Fernando! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Try my Baked Tonkatsu recipe if you made the regular tonkatsu. 😉 Thank you very much for trying my recipe!
My fiancé has a severe fish allergy so he can’t use Worcestershire sauce. But if you have it HP sauce is very similar in taste but without the fish sauce. You can try it and see if HP sauce will work.
Hi Winnie! Thank you so much for sharing the information! 🙂
This was perfect! Easy and delicious. I was cooking my first tonkatsu and another sauce recipe I tried just didn’t taste right (too much worcestershire and no oyster sauce). So I whipped this one together at the last minute, and… yipee! Thanks for helping to make my first tonkatsu attempt a hit. 🙂
Hi Heather! I’m so glad the recipe worked out for you and thank you for your kind feedback! 🙂 Hope you try my Baked Tonkatsu recipe, which is easier and just like deep fried version! 🙂
Hi,
Thank you for the amazing recipes! I was wondering can I use something else or not use the oyster sauce at all? Is there a vegetarian option that I can use instead of the oyster sauce? Did you try making the sauce without the oyster sauce?
Thank you very much. 🙂
Hi Zainab! Sure you can omit. It’s not one of crucial ingredients. I add the oyster sauce to add thickness, saltiness, and depth of flavor. 🙂
I want to find a good brand of oyster sauce, but I can’t decide which one. Should I get one with MSG flavoring or one without? Do you have a preference?
Thanks!
Hi Kandi! I don’t use too much oyster sauce in my cooking, so once I buy it, it lasts long time… I now use this brand:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00023T3J4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00023T3J4&linkCode=as2&tag=jusonecoo-20&linkId=D74OQTQC5QBHUVRO
Since I don’t use it often, I haven’t looked into MSG-free one. When I see it next time, I’d definitely get that one. 🙂
How long can this be kept for if fridged? I am thinking of doubling the recipe so I will have it on hand.
Thank you
Hi Emily! Since there is no water in the ingredients, it should last pretty long time. Keep it in the airtight jar and should last about 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it if you make a lot. 🙂
Thank you! (:
I used same amount of fish sauce instead of oyster sauce and added grated fresh ginger to taste plus 2tsp. sour cherry preserve. Delicious!
Hi Maken! I’m glad it worked out for you! Thank you for your comment! 🙂
Hi Nami!
Can I replace the oyster sauce with fish sauce?
Hi Nikki! Oyster sauce and Fish sauce are completely different things, and it can’t be used as substitute for each other… SO sorry! You can just omit it. 🙂
Ah I see that now. I found some at the store and should be good now. Thanks!
Hi Nikki! Good to hear! Tonkatsu sauce is really delicious. We sometimes pour over fried eggs to eat too (just an example of quick use of this sauce…). 🙂
Yum! Finally was able to make some and tried it with my okonomiyaki! Tastes just like the stuff my dad used to make for me when I was a kid! Thanks for this!
Hi Nikki! I’m so glad to hear you liked the recipe! Thank you so much for your kind feedback! 🙂
awesome!
Thanks!
Hi can i ask if what kind of ketchup you use ? Is it tomato ketchup or banana ketchup or it doesnt matter what ketchup i can use. Thnks have a great day..
It’s regular tomato ketchup. 🙂
Great sauce but I also added 1 table spoon of apple sauce. It tasted a little more authentic. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Yoshie! That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Made some Okonomiyaki sauce today. Turned out great, little sweet, tangy, salty, and nice peppery heat afterwards. Takes up alot of ingredients though (but I kind of had most of this around the house anyway)
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (I used Lea and Perrins)
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 teaspoon molasses
1 garlic glove minced
1 in of ginger minced
salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1/8 teaspoon of each)
Combine and mix well in a bowl, adjust to taste before pouring it into a small saucepan and reducing the sauce with 2 tablespoons of water until desired thickness.
Hi Hondo! Thank you for sharing your Okonomi sauce! 🙂
This is the best Tonkatsu sauce I have tried! Thank you so much!
P.S. I also love your Tonkatsu recipe / tutorial!
Hi Julie! Aww thank you so much for your kind feedback! 😀
The tonkatsu sauce is oh so yummy! ???? Btw,since i don’t have a worcestershire sauce on hand. I’ve tried to make a subsitute and it went well. So,for those folks who will probably don’t have it. You’re welcome to try it. ????
*If you’re out of Worcestershire sauce, use 2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice,1/4 teaspoon sugar and a dash of hot sauce for every tablespoon Worcestershire the recipe calls for.
Hi Gretch! Thanks so much for sharing your tip on substituting Worcestershire sauce! Awesome! 🙂
I make my sauce a little differently – I used equal parts ketchup, worcestershire, and honey + I add a little freshly grated ginger since we love it so much. It comes out nice and thick and if you need to thin it down just had a little water. I don’t use oyster sauce in mine.
Thanks for sharing, Moggy!
This is the best Tonkatsu sauce I have tried. Thank you so much!
Hi Julie! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for your feedback! 🙂
I am allergic to shellfish. So is there a substitute for oyster sauce? Thanks!
Hi Anna! You can omit it, and it is still okay. The flavor is slightly different, but I can’t think of a good sub for oyster sauce…
Is there something I can use in replace for ketchup?
Hi Mykala! Ketchup is a big part of tonkatsu sauce here… so the resulting taste will change if you don’t use it. Tomato sauce is not quite the same as ketchup… we’re relying that specific flavor, but if you’re okay with the taste difference, you can use tomato sauce. 🙂
Thank you for this recipe Nami. It’s a life saver I went to several big supermarket here where I live but can’t find any tonkatsu sauce in a bottle. This recipe is so easy that I made extra and put in the squirt bottle to use anytime when it’s katsu time ^^ The taste is spot on.
Hi June! Yay! I actually filmed a recipe that uses Tonkatsu sauce and I used this recipe. I really think this sauce is pretty good too! I thought I should ditch and only use homemade one from now on… 🙂 Glad to hear you liked it too! 🙂
Just made the sauce and it’s amazing! Thank you for the recipe! 😀
Hi Carrisa! I am so happy to hear you liked the recipe! 🙂
What other ingredients can we use instead of worcestershire sauce?
Hi Opalyn! I’d say Tonkatsu sauce can’t be made without worcestershire sauce… Sorry, but it’s REALLY the key ingredient. Like tomato in ketchup… so please look for it, if you want to make quick shortcut Tonkatsu sauce… 🙂
Just make this sauce for lunch to go with vegie pancake, it taste beautiful….. Thank you for the great recipe!!????
Yay! So happy to hear yours came out well. Thank you for using my recipe, Wai! 🙂
This recipe is prefect with a splash of sioy sauce
Thank you Matthew! 🙂
Putting this on almost any fried food with breading is really good. especially on fried chicken, Fried pork and even burgers.
Hi Reone! Yes, and even on fried sunny side up for breakfast. 🙂
I’m allergic to fish so Worcester shire sauce is,put ź anchovy paste. Oyster sauce is out – oysters.
Any substitutions with no fish stuff? I’m hypersensitive to fish & can’t even touch it.
Hi Amy! I see… I searched online and some people make it without without oyster sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Ketchup (3 Tbsp), miso (1.5 Tbsp), soy sauce (1 Tbsp), sugar (2 tsp), and ground sesame seeds (2 Tbsp). I haven’t tried this yet, but I’m curious how it tastes like… maybe not exactly like Tonkatsu sauce, but hopefully delicious.
The recipe comes from this link: https://cookpad.com/recipe/3145328
thank you Namiko I made sweet potatoes instead of potatoes and so yummy!!
Hi Jazmin! Did you make Korokke with sweet potatoes? Delicious! 🙂
my family loves japanese food. thank you very much for sharing your recipes. God bless!!
Hi Carmen! I’m happy to hear your family enjoys Japanese food! 🙂
超美味しい!
Do you know if this recipe can be made in advance and stored in the fridge? If so, how long would it be expected to last? Love the recipe, but don’t totally fancy having to dirty extra utensils/bowls if I don’t have to! 😛
Hi Daniel! うれしい！ I’m so happy you liked this recipe! I think you can keep it up to 4 weeks or so if you keep it in airtight package/jar properly. 🙂
This is just the recipe I was looking for. I have a cookbook with a tonkatsu recipe, but no ingredients for the sauce. Thanks!
Hi Amanda! That’s great! Hope you enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
riight if you cannot find tonkatsu sauce in your local shjop, then just find Worcestershire sauce to make it… thanks, may you tell me, where can i find that?
If there is no local Japanese/Asian grocery store, it’s harder to find Tonkatsu sauce. You can get Worcestershire sauce pretty easily in a regular grocery stores.
Sorry, I should have asked if you’re based in the US (sorry, majority of my readers are from the US, so I assumed)… Is your area hard to find Worcestershire sauce?
Hi, can I substitute something else for the oyster sauce? I’m allergic to seafood. Thanks!
Hi Tabitha! Hmmm either you can use vegetarian oyster-flavored sauce (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014KM7B46?ie=UTF8) or you can just omit it. Slightly different flavor (no salty kick) though.
Thank you for this recipe! We really loved it!
Hi Midori! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it. Thank you for your kind feedback!!
I made Tonkatsu, but ran out of the store purchased Tonkatsu Sauce and my local Asian store that carried it was just too far away to drive for that one purchase. I found your recipe for Tonkatsu Sauce and I had all the ingredients. I was pleasant surprised at how good the homemade Tonkatsu Sauce tasted. I’m never going to buy another store purchase Tonkatsu Sauce again. Thank you!!!
Hi Daniel! Aww I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this Tonkatsu sauce! Thanks so much for trying this recipe. 🙂
Is it possible to post the ‘complicated’ recipe for these sauces?
Hi Grace! Hmm…. I’ll think about it. It’s pretty easy to get condiment and I haven’t received requests for complicated recipe. If I get enough requests I’ll test recipe and will share! 🙂
I love your Tonkatsu sauce recipe it’s so much better than Bulldog sauce!!
I used it not only on Tonkatsu but on Okonomiyaki and avocado toast with Bonita flake on top it delicious!
Hi Barbra! Aww thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy this recipe. 🙂
This is a very good and easy substitute for store-bought katsu sauce. I also use with karaage. I won’t be buying store-bought again. Thanks!
Hi Sharon! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your kind feedback. xoxo
I absolutely love your recipes, and your tonkatsu and tonkatsu sauce are a big hit at my home. Is there anyway you can make and share Sichuan Cumin Beef? It’s one of my favorites but I can never find a decent recipe with the tingly warmness of the sichuan peppers. Help!
Hi Molly! Thank you so much for your kind words and I’m glad to hear you enjoy Tonkatsu and Tonkatsu sauce recipes.
Unfortunately, I don’t know Sichuan Cumin Beef recipe…. Have you checked my blogger pal Elaine’s site?
https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/
Amazing! Our tonkatsu consumption sky-rocketed after I discovered this sauce recipe. Also the consumption of ketchup, oyster sauce and Worcestershire sauce that used to lie around in the fridge literally for years, and now I even keep back-up bottles in the pantry 🙂 Thank you for sharing it!
Hi Olesya! Haha, Tonkatsu sauce is my favorite. My friend in Osaka told me that people in that region eat fried eggs with Tonkatsu sauce (while we eat a fried egg with soy sauce in Tokyo area). Since then I enjoy tonkatsu sauce on my egg too! 😀 Glad to hear you like this recipe and thank you for your kind feedback!
Is there a way to make this sauce with no ketchup?
Hi Angel! Hmmm you can omit it, but it will not taste like Tonkatsu sauce?
Thank you for sharing this. I can’t buy Tonkatsu Sauce where I live so this is such a life saver!
Love,
Casey
Hi Casey! I’m so happy to hear that you liked this recipe. Thank you for your kind feedback! 🙂
Tried this sauce recipe and my kids love it!!! Added more sugar to achieve the sweeter side dip we Filipinos love to have! Thanks for this recipe,, truly one for keeps! 😊
Hi Kat! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your kind words and feedback! 🙂
Hi Nami, I recently discovered your site while learning to make sushi. It turned out great… Thank you!! Tonight making your Hambagu steak. Having much fun making the foods I love.from someone I trust. I so enjoy watching your videos, you’re so sweet, you make my heart smile. Tnx for all the great info and recipes!!
Hi Trish! Welcome to JOC! I’m glad your sushi turned out well! 🙂 Hope hambagu went well too. Thank you for trying out my recipes and for your kind feedback. Your comment made me happy too. Thank you! xo
Can you use fish sauce instead of oyster sauce?
Hi Denise! It’s different flavor profile, so you can’t substitute with fish sauce. The worst case you can skip it. 🙂
You are right on the money. This is my first time making tonkatsy. it came out perfect!
Hi Danielle! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for your kind feedback! xo
Hi Nami, I am writing from Melbourne Australia and I want to say thank you for your excellent website and email that comes each week. Tonight we are having your oven baked tonkatsu with your home made tonkatsu sauce plus Japanese coleslaw and a radish pickle and steamed brown rice. Yummo….
If you ever put out a hard copy of your recipes you’ll be a smash.
Thanks again and keep up the delicious work. Our appetites for Japanese dishes are counting on you.
Kind regards, sally fisher.
Hi Sally! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and for your kind feedback. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this dish! Yeah, a hard copy of my cookbook one day… I’m currently busy posting to my blog and YouTube channel and I barely have time for anything else. Maybe when my kids are in college… 🙂
Hi Ms. Nami. I would like to ask how long is the fridge life for this sauce? Actually, I made some last September 2019 and there is still some left until now. When I tasted the sauce, it still tastes the same. Do you think it is still good?
Thank you,
Julia
Hi Julia! I’m sorry for my late response. Hmmm that’s about 8 months? I’d probably cook it to make sure there is no bacteria. Ideally, it should be used in 2-3 weeks or so. To save for a long time, the food should contain lots of sugar (like jam), vinegar, or salt, and I am not sure if this sauce is safe enough for a long storage. 🙂
Thank you for your response Ms. Nami. 🙂
Thanks Nami, this work from home thing has recently made me try several of your recipes and they are great. I never really like tonkatsu sauce when eating at restaurants because they either taste too sour or has strong vinegar smell or something? But this is actually much better. I made this for your Chicken katsu don recipe and my wife liked it too. She even ate it with steamed potato and it goes very well.
I adjusted it by adding more Worcestershire sauce as it was a bit sweet, probably because of my ketchup.
Hi Benny! Thanks so much for your kind feedback. I’m glad this recipe worked out for you. I agree, based on a ketchup brand, the sweetness level is quite different. I’m glad you could adjust. Thank you again! I’m so happy to hear you and your wife enjoyed this recipe! xo
I have used this with a few recipes. So far this has made an excellent sauce on top of my stir fry and fried rice. I am sure I have many more meals to test this sauce with. Thanks for this.
Hi Nicole! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind feedback! xo
Perfect!
Hi Robert! Thanks so much for your kind feedback!
I love that you have add a suggestion for a shell fish allergy.
Hi Theresa! Thank you! 😀
Hi. This was fantastic. Tastes just like tonkatsu sauce. If I was out of oyster sauce could I use dashi granules?
Hi Leigh! I’m so glad you liked the sauce! Hmm just skip it? If it lacks the bold saltiness, you may want to add a bit of salt. Rely on the oyster sauce for that strong salty flavor.
This was really disappointing. Maybe I have bad ingredients but this tasted *exactly* like ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and nothing at all like what I want from tonkatsu sauce. I’ve eaten a LOT of tonkatsu in the last 20 years, and am only here because it seems covid screwed up the Bulldog sauce supply chain and I can’t get it right now. I will keep trusting you for other Japanese cooking but this recipe was a total miss for me.
Hi Will! Thanks for trying this recipe. As you read the reviews from others, you can see mostly positive and few negatives. After initial recipe testing, I was very confident. But after receiving a few negative comments, I did check my recipe again to make sure I didn’t miscalcurate or mismeasured. And I thought it’s pretty close to the Bulldog Tonkatsu sauce, just like the time I posted this recipe.
After that, I also asked several friends (Japanese moms who came from Japan, all 40’s like me) to make this recipe and give me feedback after comparing it with Bulldog tonkatsu sauce side by side.
To make the story short, they thought the recipe is pretty good considering it’s a mixture of 4 condiments. One person suggested I could add a tiny bit of acidiy, like lemon juice or rice vinegar, when/if using Japanese Worcestershire sauce (it’s sweeter than western one). But other than that, overall feedback was great.
So my confidence level is back, with their approval, and I really think everyone can’t make the same sauce if they don’t use exactly same condiments. And ketchup alone has so many variations in flavors and sweetness. Worcestershire sauce also varies in acidity and flavors… just too many variables to adjust.
Since I can’t control everyone’s condiment choices and brands, everyone just has to make and adjust the sauce accordingly. I can only give the baseline with what condiments I used. Hope this make sense. 🙂
I made your Baked Korokke tonight with Piedmontese lean beef and your Tonkatsu sauce recipe (used organic unfiltered honey instead of sugar) .
It was a phenomenal hit, everyoned loved it, with our 11-year old showering praise nearly every other bite & asking to make it regularly.
Had to make extra tonkatsu sauce half way through the meal.
I got 14 croquettes.
No leftovers 😊
Hi CO! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed both recipes! Thank you so much for taking the time to write your kind feedback! It made me so happy!