Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (2024)

5 Minute Recipes/ Asian Recipes/ Condiments and Sauces/ Japanese/ Recipes

02/10/2019 (Last Updated: 22/02/2023)

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A super simple recipe for homemade Takoyaki Sauce, PERFECT for drizzling over crispy golden takoyaki (Japanese octopus snacks). Sweet, tangy and oh-so-delicious, this amazingJapanesesauce works well with other Japanese dishes likeJapanese savoury pancakes andyakisoba noodles too.

Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (1)

Why We Love This

With asweet, fruity flavourandclassic Japanese umamihit, takoyaki sauce is so delicious you’ll want to drizzle it over anything and everything. It’ssuper simple and easy to make,especially if you regularly enjoyJapanese cuisineat home.

This sauce is so versatile you can use it for way more than just takoyaki. Why not try it out as a marinade or basting sauce for meat!

And okay, yes you COULD buy pre made sauce at an Asian grocery or import store. But if you don’t have that option nearby or just love tinkering in the kitchen creating your own sauce blends, then this recipe is for you!

Related: Yakisoba Sauce / Okonomiyaki Sauce / Yakitori Sauce

Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (2)

What is Takoyaki Sauce made of?

You’ll need only four ingredients to make this quick and easy homemade takoyaki sauce: Worcestershire sauce, mentsuyu (try our homemade mentsuyu if you can’t source this locally), ketchup or tomato sauce, and sugar!

How to make Takoyaki Sauce from scratch

This simple homemade sauce couldn’t be easier:

  • Simply pop all your ingredients into a small bowl and mix together.
  • Taste your sauce and add more of any ingredient until you’re satisfied with the flavour.
  • Enjoy!
Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (3)

Wandercooks Tips

  • You can use store bought or homemade mentsuyu.
  • European style worcestershire sauce tends to be quite tangy, while Japanese-style worcestershire sauces are often sweeter. If you know your worcestershire sauce brand is QUITE tangy, you might like to adjust the amount in your version to compensate. Ultimately it’s up to your personal flavour preference!
  • Feel free to use leftover sauce for other Japanese recipes – it’s a winner for okonomiyaki and yakisoba too! Or why not try it as your next marinade or sauce for oysters kilpatrick!

FAQs

Are okonomiyaki sauce and takoyaki sauce the same?

Okonomiyaki sauce and takoyaki sauce are quite similar, and you could use either as a substitute for the other in a pinch. There are subtle differences in flavour, fruitiness, colour and thickness which make each sauce the best choice for its chosen dish.

What does takoyaki sauce taste like?

The blend of fruity, tangy worcestershire sauce and aromatic kombu/soy flavours in mentsuyu give this sauce a delicious umami kick. The sauce is also a little sweeter than other Japanese brown sauces, offsetting the saltiness of crispy golden fried takoyaki balls perfectly!

How long does it last?

For the best flavour and quality, use up your sauce within one week. Always store any unused sauce in the refrigerator, so it stays nice and fresh.

Variations

  • If you don’t feel like making mentsuyu or can’t source it locally, you can leave it out. Optionally, try adding a dash of soy and a pinch of kombu dashi powder diluted in 2 tsp water.
  • For our Australian readers, ketchup can be substituted with regular tomato sauce.

Now that you’ve mastered the recipe for the sauce, it’s time to cook takoyaki! So, get your hands on our delicious takoyaki recipe here!

Love Japanese food? Here’s our most popular recipes to try next:

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Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (7)

★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below!

Takoyaki Sauce

A quick and easy recipe for homemade Takoyaki Sauce, PERFECT for drizzling over crispy golden takoyaki (Japanese octopus snacks). Sweet, tangy and oh-so-delicious, it’s also an amazing sauce for other Japanese dishes likeokonomiyaki(savoury pancakes) andyakisoba(crispy fried noodles).

5 from 14 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Japanese

Servings: 1 jar

Calories: 158kcal

Author: Wandercooks

Cost: $5

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp mentsuyu homemade or store-bought
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tsp tomato sauce / ketchup (tomato sauce)
  • 2 tsp honey
  • ½ tsp garlic minced or powder
  • ½ tsp ginger minced or powder

MetricUS Customary

Instructions

  • Simply pop all your ingredients (mentsuyu, worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce, tomato sauce, honey, garlic and ginger) into a small bowl and mix together.

    4 tbsp mentsuyu, 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp tomato sauce / ketchup, 2 tsp honey, ½ tsp garlic, ½ tsp ginger

  • Taste your sauce and add more of any ingredient until you’re satisfied with the flavour.Enjoy!

Video

Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (9)

Recipe Notes

  • You can use store bought, ormake your own at home
  • European style worcestershire sauce tends to be quite tangy, while Japanese-style worcestershire sauces are often sweeter. If you know your worcestershire sauce brand isQUITEtangy, you might like to adjust the amount in your version to compensate. Ultimately it’s up to your personal flavour preference!
  • Feel free to use leftover takoyaki sauce for other Japanese recipes – it’s a winner forokonomiyakiandyakisoba too! Or why not try it as your next marinade or basting sauce?
  • Are okonomiyaki sauce and takoyaki sauce the same?Okonomiyaki sauce and takoyaki sauce are quite similar, and you could use either as a substitute for the other in a pinch. There are subtle differences in flavour, fruitiness, colour and thickness which make each sauce the best choice for its chosen dish.
  • What does takoyaki sauce taste like?The blend of fruity, tangy worcestershire sauce and aromatic kombu/soy flavours in mentsuyu give takoyaki sauce a delicious umami kick. Takoyaki sauce is a little sweeter than other Japanese brown sauces, offsetting the saltiness of crispy golden fried takoyaki balls perfectly!
  • How long does takoyaki sauce last?For the best flavour and quality, use your hHomemade takoyaki sauce within one week. Always store any unused sauce in the refrigerator.

Variations & Substitutes

  • If you don’t feel likemaking mentsuyuor can’t source it locally, you can leave it out. Optionally, try adding a dash of soy and a pinch of kombu dashi powder diluted in 2 tsp water.
  • For our Australian readers, ketchup can be substituted with regular tomato sauce.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Takoyaki Sauce

Amount per Serving

Calories

158

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Sodium

5597

mg

243

%

Potassium

561

mg

16

%

Carbohydrates

33

g

11

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

20

g

22

%

Protein

8

g

16

%

Vitamin A

51

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

7

mg

8

%

Calcium

80

mg

8

%

Iron

4

mg

22

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Hey hey – Did you make this recipe?We’d love it if you could give a star rating below ★★★★★ and show us your creations on Instagram! Snap a pic and tag @wandercooks / #Wandercooks

Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (10)

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About Wandercooks

Wandercooks is an Australian recipe site reaching over 9 million views annually. Our recipes are here to inspire you with fresh and exciting food ideas from a range of Asian, European and Australian cuisines. As seen on Google.com, Today.com, Buzzfeed, Jetstar Asia and Lonely Planet.Read more...

Takoyaki Sauce - Super Simple Japanese Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is takoyaki sauce made of? ›

Takoyaki sauce is typically made with a combination of Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and dashi stock.

What can I use instead of takoyaki sauce? ›

Okonomiyaki sauce and takoyaki sauce are quite similar, and you could use either as a substitute for the other in a pinch.

What are the main ingredients in takoyaki? ›

Takoyaki (Japanese: たこ焼き or 蛸焼) is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger (beni shoga), and green onion (negi).

Can you buy takoyaki sauce? ›

Takoyaki Sauce - 10.6oz by Otaf*cku. : Amazon.ca: Grocery & Gourmet Food.

Can I use tonkatsu sauce for takoyaki? ›

Oliver Tonkatsu Sauce 360g

Less sweet than the average tonkatsu sauce but has a strong spicy punch that can be used for okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) or takoyaki (octopus dumplings), which are commonly eaten in the western Japan. The texture is quite thick that it makes your dish richer and more full-bodied.

Is takoyaki sauce the same as yakisoba sauce? ›

You can swap it for yakisoba sauce, tonkatsu sauce, or okonomi sauce. The balance of sweet and savory flavors, ingredients, and viscosity slightly differ, but it won't be a huge noticeable difference. Unless you plan to make huge batches of takoyaki in the future, it's OK to substitute with other Japanese brown sauces.

What is a substitute for Japanese sauce? ›

The Best Soy Sauce Substitutes
  • Tamari. The easiest swap by far is tamari, which is basically soy sauce's gluten-free twin. ...
  • Liquid Aminos or Coconut Aminos. Maybe you have liquid aminos or coconut aminos from that time you went on a paleo kick? ...
  • Ponzu Sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki Sauce. ...
  • Worcestershire Sauce. ...
  • Fish Sauce. ...
  • Mushroom Broth.
Mar 16, 2023

What is the moving ingredient in takoyaki? ›

Bonito flakes - known as katsuobushi in Japanese - are a strange food upon first sight. They are known to move or dance when used as a topping on foods such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki. It can be an odd sight upon first viewing if moving food makes you squeamish. However, it is nothing to be alarmed about.

How healthy is takoyaki? ›

Takoyaki or “octopus balls”, are not an especially healthy snack compared to other snacks of the region. They are generally high in carbs and deep-fried, causing a dual dietary dilemma to healthy eaters everywhere.

Why are bonito flakes moving? ›

Everyone knows fish can swim, and a few overachieving fish can fly. But in Japan, they can dance. Bonito flakes—the dried, smoked shavings of skipjack tuna—are so light that any amount of steam makes them waver and curl, as if swayed by an ocean current. As a result, the pink flakes move when placed atop hot dishes.

What is the gooey stuff in takoyaki? ›

The soft and creamy interior is what sets it apart from other street foods. The creaminess of takoyaki is contributed by the runny batter, tender octopus meat, and the watery consistency from dashi stock and soy sauce. Adding tenkasu, the fried tempura bits, also adds a crunchy element to the balls.

What is similar to takoyaki sauce? ›

Takoyaki sauce is similar to Okonomiyaki sauce, but this sauce has thicker consistancy and a bit sweeter and milder. Please try this sauce not only with Takoyaki, but also with any seafood dishes you like. Blended using 20 different fruits and vegetables to make this Okonomi sauce.

What sauce is used on takoyaki? ›

Takoyaki is served with Worcestershire sauce-like “takoyaki sauce”, followed by some squirt of Japanese mayo. You can: Buy a store-bought takoyaki sauce. Make a quick homemade takoyaki sauce (recipe) with several condiments.

Do you eat takoyaki with soy sauce? ›

In addition to the octopus pieces, the dumplings can also contain other ingredients such as cheese and sausage, and other sauces such as ponzu and soy sauce can be used as condiments to add a variety of flavors and tastes. Takoyaki parties are also a popular event to invite family and friends to enjoy.

Why do bonito flakes move? ›

It can be an odd sight upon first viewing if moving food makes you squeamish. However, it is nothing to be alarmed about. The bonito flakes move due to their thin and light structure upon the hot food and are not alive.

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