Marbled beef grilled on a charcoal.

Looking for a truly great BBQ sauce that can kick things up a notch? You need to try Yakiniku Sauce (焼肉のタレ). Sweet, savory, and complex in flavor, you’ll love everything about this sauce!

Sure, it’s a must-have for Japanese BBQ, but it also offers plenty of versatility. Make a batch of my Yakiniku Sauce recipe and use it for fresh spring rolls, teppanyaki, Asian-themed grilling, or on your noodle and rice bowls!

A mason jar and a fluted plate containing Homemade yakiniku sauce (Japanese BBQ sauce) .

What is Yakiniku Sauce?

Yakiniku sauce is the special dipping sauce for a Japanese BBQ meal called yakiniku (焼肉). For this dish, everyone cooks the meat and vegetables on a small grill set in the center of the table, then dip them in the sauce known as yakiniku no tare (焼肉のタレ). Everything tastes tantalizingly fresh and delicious.

The protein and vegetables are not marinated or seasoned prior to grilling. So, it makes sense to place high importance on the dipping sauce—the flavor bomb for barbecue enjoyment!

You can find commercial brands of yakiniku BBQ sauce such as Ebara Foods Sauce or Kikoman, but nothing can live up to the fresh taste of a homemade sauce. It’s simple to make, healthier, and you don’t even have to boil it!

Here’s my complete guide on how to host Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) at home!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • Simple ingredients – They strike the right balance of sweetness, acidity, and umami.
  • Luxurious texture – It’s smooth and rich without being overly thick, with speckles of nutty sesame seeds.
  • Versatile – It’s not only for grilled meat and veggies. Use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, a stir-fry sauce, or a sauce for your rice bowls and noodles.
  • Make-ahead friendly – This sauce keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, so make a big batch and enjoy it for different meals.
Grilling fresh vegetables and beef on a Japanese yakiniku grill top.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Yakiniku Sauce

  • sweet onion – adds natural sweetness and tang
  • garlic and grated ginger – aromatics that lend depth and zest
  • gochujang (Korean chili paste) – a “must” condiment; adds a deep, savory flavor with a note of fruity and slight smoky heat
  • soy sauce – use a Japanese soy sauce for the right flavor and texture
  • roasted sesame oil – you can’t miss out on the amazing aroma!
  • toasted white sesame seeds – for extra nuttiness and texture

How To Make Yakiniku Sauce

  1. Combine in a jar everything except the sesame oil.
  2. Microwave it for 30–35 seconds until it‘s hot enough to dissolve the sugar.
  3. Add the sesame oil to the sauce and mix well.

It’s now ready to enjoy! I love making a batch and keeping any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It stores well for up to 2 weeks and you can use it for many more things to come.

Dipping the grilled beef in the homemade Yakiniku Sauce.

More Ways to Enjoy Yakiniku Sauce

While this sauce is perfect for dipping mouthwatering charred meats, tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables straight off the grill, it can do more than just that. Here are some ideas:

Other Japanese Sauces You’ll Love

A mason jar and a fluted plate containing Homemade yakiniku sauce (Japanese BBQ sauce) .

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Dipping grilled beef in the homemade Yakiniku Sauce.
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4.68 from 80 votes

Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) Sauce

by Namiko Hirasawa Chen
Yakiniku Sauce is a sweet and savory Japanese BBQ sauce that's perfect for dipping thin slices of grilled meat and vegetables. You can also use it in stir-fries, over rice bowls or noodles, or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 jar (⅓ cup, 80 ml per jar)

Ingredients 
 

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients. If you like my previous recipe from 2014, please see the note below.
    Yakiniku Sauce Ingredients
  • Grate ¼ sweet onion. Make sure you collect all the juice.
    Yakiniku Sauce 1
  • Transfer the grated onion and all of its juice to a mason jar or microwave-safe container. Mince or press 3 cloves garlic (I use a garlic press) and add to the jar.
    Yakiniku Sauce 2
  • Grate the ginger (I use a ceramic grater) and collect ⅛ tsp ginger (grated).
    Yakiniku Sauce 3
  • To the jar, add the grated ginger, ¼ tsp gochujang (Korean chili paste), ¼ cup soy sauce, and 2 Tbsp sugar.
    Yakiniku Sauce 4
  • Add ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds. Microwave the sauce for 30–35 seconds until it‘s hot enough to dissolve the sugar.
    Yakiniku Sauce 5
  • Add 1 tsp toasted sesame oil and mix well. The Yakiniku Sauce is now ready to use.
    Yakiniku Sauce 6

To Serve

To Store

  • Store in the refrigerator and use it within 2 weeks.
    A mason jar and a fluted plate containing Homemade yakiniku sauce (Japanese BBQ sauce) .

Notes

If you like my previous recipe from 2014, this is a copycat recipe that I made similar to a local restaurant, Yakiniku Juban (permanently closed). Also here’s my YouTube video.
  • 2 Tbsp sake
  • 2 Tbsp mirin
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp rice vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce
  • ½ tsp miso
  • ¼ tsp katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)
  • ⅛ of an apple
  • 2 tsp roasted white sesame seeds

Nutrition

Serving: 1jar, Calories: 252kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 3849mg, Potassium: 159mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 4IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?

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Editor’s Note: The post was originally published on July 1, 2014. It’s been updated with a revised recipe, more information, and new step-by-step and final images.