Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce Recipe

Benihana’s Yummy Yummy Sauce is one of those condiments that makes everything better. Whether you’ve had it with hibachi shrimp, steak, or fried rice, you know how addictive it can be. Creamy, tangy, and just a touch sweet, this iconic sauce is a must-have in any Japanese steakhouse meal.

The problem is, most of the copycat recipes online miss two key points: the right ingredient and the correct preparation method. That’s why so many versions just don’t taste like the real thing. After countless tests, we’ve finally nailed it-the original Benihana method, just like the Benihana Diablo Sauce.

Today, I’ll walk you through the authentic version and share a slightly upgraded version that adds even more depth of flavor. Once you try this at home, you’ll never go back to bottled sauces again.

What Does Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce Taste Like?

Benihana’s Yummy Yummy Sauce is rich and creamy, with a delicate balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors. The mayonnaise provides a smooth base, while ketchup adds a gentle sweetness and hint of tomato.

The real secret is heavy cream, which gives the sauce a velvety texture that water simply can’t achieve. The spices-garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper-add just the right amount of warmth without overpowering.

When cooled and set, the sauce develops its signature flavor, perfect for dipping steak, shrimp, chicken, or vegetables. It’s versatile, irresistible, and the closest you’ll get to the real thing at home.

Ingredients Required for Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce Recipe

Here’s the list of Ingredients you’ll need to make this Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce

Original Benihana Sauce

• ½ cup Hellman’s mayonnaise
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons ketchup
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 pinches sweet paprika
• 1 pinch coarse ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Upgraded Version (Optional)

• Replace Hellman’s with Kewpie mayonnaise
• Add ½ teaspoon mustard powder
• Add ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• Add ¼ teaspoon white pepper

Kitchen Utensil You’ll Need

1. Mixing bowls
2. Measuring cups and spoons
3. Whisk
4. Small pot
5. Metal bowl (for double boiler setup)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

How to Make Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce

Simply follow the steps given below to make your Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce at home

1: Set up the double boiler
Fill a small pot with 1–2 inches of water and bring it to a boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer, then place a metal bowl on top without touching the water.

2: Mix the base
In one bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, heavy cream, and ketchup until smooth. In another bowl, combine sugar, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

3: Melt the butter
Add unsalted butter to the double boiler and whisk until fully melted.

4: Combine everything
Add the mayonnaise mixture and spice mix into the melted butter. Whisk constantly until smooth, creamy, and fully blended. Avoid overheating to prevent the sauce from breaking.

5: Chill and serve
Remove from heat, let the sauce cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Stir before serving.

Some Tasty Ways To Customize and Serve This Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce

1. With Hibachi Shrimp
We love dipping freshly seared Benihana Hibachi Shrimp into this sauce. The creaminess balances out the smoky, buttery shrimp perfectly.

2. Over Fried Rice
One of our favorite hacks is drizzling it right over homemade fried rice. It instantly gives that restaurant-style flavor at home.

3. With Grilled Steak Bites
We’ve tried it with hibachi-style steak, and wow-it’s amazing. The rich sauce complements the charred beef beautifully.

4. As a Dip for Fries
Trust us, skip the ketchup once and try Yummy Yummy Sauce with hot, crispy fries. It’s addictive and we always end up making extra.

5. With Roasted Vegetables
We drizzle it over roasted broccoli, zucchini, or mushrooms, and it turns simple veggies into something you actually crave.

6. On Burgers or Sandwiches
We’ve swapped out mayo for this sauce on burgers, and it takes them to a whole new level. Creamy, tangy, and a little sweet-it works every time.

7. With Grilled Chicken Skewers
When we serve chicken skewers at home, this sauce is the first thing on the table. It’s the perfect pairing for tender, smoky chicken.

8. As a Sushi Dip
We know soy sauce is traditional, but we’ve dipped rolls into this sauce, and it adds a fun, creamy twist to sushi nights.

9. Over Noodles
We’ve tossed it with simple butter noodles for a quick dinner, and surprisingly, it works! The sauce coats the pasta and makes it comforting and flavorful.

10. With Tempura
Dipping crispy shrimp or vegetable tempura into this sauce has become one of our guilty pleasures. The contrast of crunchy and creamy is unbeatable.

Some Tips on This Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce Recipe

1. Use real mayo
We like Hellman’s or Kewpie. They make the sauce creamy and rich. Don’t use light mayo-it’s too thin.

2. Add heavy cream, not water
Heavy cream is the secret! It makes the sauce smooth and yummy, just like at Benihana.

3. Don’t skip the butter
Melted butter gives the sauce a warm, rich taste. It’s what makes it special.

4. Mix spices in a bowl first
When we mix the spices together before adding them in, the flavor blends better.

5. Use a double boiler
This keeps the sauce warm without cooking it too much. A metal bowl over simmering water works great.

6. Whisk, whisk, whisk
Keep whisking so the sauce doesn’t separate. Slow and steady makes it creamy.

7. Don’t let it get too hot
If the sauce starts to look oily, take it off the heat and keep whisking. That saves it!

8. Cool before the fridge
We let the sauce cool to room temp before putting it in the fridge. This keeps it smooth.

9. Chill overnight
The sauce tastes best after sitting in the fridge for a few hours. Overnight is even better!

10. Stir before serving
When you take it out of the fridge, give it a quick stir. Then dip, drizzle, and enjoy!

How to Store and Reheat Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce

Store Yummy Yummy Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It’s best served cold, so there’s no need to reheat. Just give it a quick stir before enjoying.

Common Queries on This Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce Recipe

Here, we’ve got you covered with some common questions about the Benihana Yummy Yummy Sauce that people often ask.

1. What is Benihana Yum Yum Sauce made of?

From our kitchen tests, it’s a mix of mayonnaise, heavy cream, ketchup, sugar, garlic powder, paprika, butter, and a little salt and pepper. The heavy cream is the secret-most copycat recipes leave it out!

2. What is the sauce they serve at Benihana?

The most famous one is Yum Yum Sauce. It’s that creamy pink sauce they give you with shrimp, steak, and veggies. They also serve ginger sauce and mustard sauce, but Yum Yum is the crowd favorite.

3. What is the Yum Yum Sauce made of?

It’s basically a creamy mayo-based sauce with a touch of ketchup for sweetness, spices for flavor, and heavy cream to make it silky. We’ve made it dozens of times, and it tastes just like the restaurant when done right.

4. What is the hibachi sauce they cook with?

That’s usually soy sauce mixed with garlic butter. While they cook hibachi dishes with soy-based sauces, the dipping sauce you get on the side is usually Yum Yum or ginger sauce.

5. Do I really need a double boiler to make Yum Yum Sauce?

Yes! We’ve tried just mixing everything in a bowl, and it never comes out the same. The double boiler helps the butter and cream blend without cooking the sauce.

6. Can I make it without heavy cream?

We’ve tested that too, but it’s not quite right. The sauce ends up thinner and less rich. Heavy cream gives it the exact texture you taste at Benihana.

7. How long should I chill the sauce before eating?

At least 3 hours, but honestly, overnight is best. We’ve noticed the flavors really develop and taste perfect the next day.

8. How long does Yum Yum Sauce last in the fridge?

In our experience, about 5 days in an airtight container. We always stir it before serving since it can separate a bit while sitting.

9. Can I use Kewpie mayonnaise instead of Hellman’s?

Definitely! We’ve tried both. Kewpie makes it richer and a little tangier. It’s an upgrade if you want a more complex flavor.

10. What foods taste best with Yum Yum Sauce?

Honestly, everything! We use it on hibachi steak, shrimp, chicken, veggies, fried rice, and even as a burger spread or French fry dip. Once you start, it goes on just about everything.

Benihana’s Yummy Yummy Sauce is more than just a dipping sauce-it’s the flavor that makes hibachi night unforgettable. With its creamy texture, gentle sweetness, and rich depth from heavy cream and spices, it’s a recipe worth keeping on repeat. Once you try making it at home, you’ll see how easy and fun it is to recreate restaurant-quality flavor. Give it a try, share it with family, and enjoy the magic of hibachi right in your own kitchen!

Feel free to share your experience with this recipe by trying it out. Don’t forget to drop a comment and provide your feedback on the blog for us to read.