Teriyaki Sauce has become a go-to sauce to add flavor to almost any meal. Luckily, bottled teriyaki sauce is now easily available in almost every food shop. Go with us to see our top picks for the best teriyaki sauce.
In A Hurry? Here is The Quick Look on Our Best Choice For Teriyaki Sauce:
- Ingredients: Wine | Fructos Corn Syrup | Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce | Water | Vinegar | Salt | Spices | Onion Powder | Succinic Acid | Garlic Powder | Sodium Benzoate: Less 1/10 of 1% as a preservative.
- Net Weight: 1.25 Qt ~ 40 oz
Pros:
- Authentic flavor, great for grilled chicken.
- Thin consistency makes for a good marinade.
- Versatile enough to use in different recipes.
Cons:
- Contains High Fructose Corn Syrup.
- Mild flavor.
- Contains preservatives.
A short note about Teriyaki Sauce: Teriyaki style cooking has been practiced in Japan for many centuries now. The original blend for the teriyaki sauce is a combination of sugar, mirin, and soy sauce. This brings out a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors when added to meat and vegetable recipes.
During the 1960s, the Japanese migrants living in Hawaii started integrating local ingredients like brown sugar, pineapple juice, ginger, and many more. The amazing sauce was warmly embraced in America and it slowly found its way to home kitchens and restaurants everywhere.
What to Consider Before Buying Teriyaki Sauces?
Here are the 5 factors to consider, according to our research, that can quickly help you find the right Teriyaki Sauce for your need:
#1. Your Style of Cooking
Traditionally, the teriyaki sauce has been used as either a marinade or glaze in various Japanese recipes. The word teriyaki is the combination of two Japanese words, “Teri” and “yaki”. “Teri” is a noun that refers to the caramelized sheen that comes from the sugar content in tare, the general word for a condiment in Japan. Meanwhile, “yaki” is the Japanese term for the method of grilling and broiling.
When used as a marinade, a thinner consistency is usually preferred so it can easily be absorbed and combined in the cooking process. The thinner sauce is also ideal when used to baste meat and vegetables while grilling and baking. The thicker variant is easier to use as a dipping sauce. It can also be used as a final glaze on fried and grilled recipes.
It all boils down to preference, though. Some people really like the mildness of a thin sauce. It’s more of an accompaniment than the star of the show. Others prefer the boldness of thick sauces. It wouldn’t hurt to try out different cooking techniques and match them with your chosen blend of teriyaki sauce.
#2. Nutrition & Ingredients
With all things, it is good to check the label for ingredients and nutritional values you’d like to watch out for. It is mandatory for store products to print a list of ingredients and nutrition facts in their packaging. Since most teriyaki sauces contain soy sauce, sugar, and mirin, it’s best to find out first if you are sensitive to any of the ingredients listed.
Do look at the ingredients of the soy sauce they use. Oftentimes, the soy sauce contains ingredients like MSG and wheat. Soy sauce is usually made by crushing and fermenting soybeans and wheat together. There are people who are sensitive to these ingredients so double-check the labels. The gluten-free versions will either use tamari which is combined with rice instead of wheat, or liquid and coconut amino. The liquid and coconut amino are non-fermented alternatives for soy sauce.
Soy sauce commonly has high sodium content as well. High sodium diets can spike up the blood pressure leading to damaged blood vessels and can contribute to forming fatty plaques in the body. This also raises the risk of heart disease.
Another ingredient to look out for is fructose corn syrup. This form of sweetener is derived from cornstarch and has a higher glycemic index than sugar. Consuming foods with a high glycemic index increase the risk of type-2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and colorectal cancer.
When checking the label on your teriyaki sauce, compare the sodium and sugar content to your recommended daily values. Common teriyaki sauces have a relatively high sodium count of 600-680 milligrams and between 2-10 grams of sugar per tablespoon. So, is teriyaki sauce healthy? Is teriyaki sauce good/ bad for you? It depends on how aware you are of the product when buying.
#3. The Teriyaki Sauce Brands That Stand Out
We think we won’t have to say much about the importance of the brands. Brands speak for quality & taste itself. Here are the top 5 Teriyaki Sauce Best Brands according to our research:
Kikkoman
The company has been making soy sauce, or Shoyu in Japanese, for over a century now. The company started in 1917 in Japan. In 1957, they started manufacturing in Wisconsin, USA. With years of product development and manufacturing, it’s no wonder their version of the teriyaki sauce always ends up in the top lists.
Aloha Teriyaki Sauce
Earlier in the article, we mentioned how teriyaki sauces started to become prevalent in Hawaiian cooking during the 1960s. The Hawaiian teriyaki sauce is usually richer and thicker since brown sugar is more accessible in the area. The Aloha Teriyaki Sauce is a good find with the sweet Hawaiian flavor.
This is the choice for American taste, as we thought it would. We tried this for several times and we think it’s the best fit that an American person want to find in a teriyaki sauce.
Mr. Yoshida
This brand has a nice background story to it. Mr. Junki Yoshida moved to Seattle in 1968 at age 19. With a lot of hard work and not much money to live by, he eventually became the chief instructor at the Japan Karate Federation in Washington.
During one of the holidays, he decided to gift bottles of their family’s 60-year-old teriyaki sauce recipe since it would be a less costly gift for the students. The “Mr. Yoshida Sweet Teriyaki Sauce” was a hit! He started selling the sauce in local grocery stores. Today, you will find it in stores all over the US. As the teriyaki sauce made its way to more and more households in the US, American brands like Soy Vay and La Choy flourished and made more options for teriyaki cooking.
Soy Vay
The brand started making their teriyaki sauce in the 80s. They wanted to create sauces with their own unique twist. A notable twist to their sauce is the addition of sesame flavor.
The product from this brand is in high quality but really affordable in general. We do have a product review for Soy Vay only and a pick in this article for this wonderful brand.
La Choy
Asian cuisine has become more accessible in the US with La Choy’s line of condiments. Their version of the teriyaki sauce is thicker with the addition of cornstarch in its ingredient list.
With more and more people having different health and taste requirements craving for the sweet and savory sauce, more brands have started to offer different takes on the original Japanese sauce. Some brands now offer gluten-free, sugar-free, and low sodium options in the market.
There are over 40 different brands selling teriyaki sauces in the US market (both online and offline). In short, customers can have a wide variety of products to choose from. Here, we hope that we’ve provided you some good information about the 5 notable brands you should take a look at.
#4. Pricing
Teriyaki sauce price is another criterion to look for. With more variations of teriyaki sauces comes varying price ranges as well. There are teriyaki sauces now that use higher-end ingredients to suit different tastes and dietary requirements. The price tags on these ones can end up being higher as well.
If you’re working with a tight budget, don’t worry, there are still plenty of brands out there making reasonably priced teriyaki sauces. Don’t hesitate to scout for them in your local supermarkets and online retail stores. Check out our pick for the best budget-friendly teri yaki sauce in our list below.
#5. Make Sure There is A Suitable Place in Your House to Store Teriyaki
A great thing about teriyaki sauces is that they can be prepared and stored for later use. If you’re following the traditional recipe, the shelf life is actually pretty long. Teriyaki sauce usually has high sodium content and sodium is a natural preservative.
If unopened, it’s good to store the sauce in a cool, dry environment. For both homemade and store-bought teriyaki sauces, the best way to preserve the quality and flavor is to store them in tightly sealed containers in the fridge after opening.
Do note that it would have to be consistently kept in the fridge if you’ve previously chilled the sauce. When the product sweats after being chilled, this affects flavor and quality.
Top Picks of Teriyaki Sauces For Different Purposes – List of The Best Teriyaki Sauce on The Market
What is the best teriyaki sauce? It’s the one that covers your need and is more than just a need, it’s flavor experience. Ready to get a taste of a good teriyaki sauce? Here’s our list of the best teriyaki sauce to buy on the market:
#1. Editor’s Choice – Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade Sauce
Our holy grail for the most authentic teriyaki flavor. This has a thin consistency and is best used as a marinade for meat and poultry.
- Ingredients: Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce | Wine | Fructos Corn Syrup | Water | Vinegar | Salt | Spices | Onion Powder | Succinic Acid | Garlic Powder | Sodium Benzoate: Less 1/10 of 1% as a preservative.
- Net Weight: 1.25 Qt ~ 40 oz
Pros
- Authentic flavor, great for grilled chicken.
- Thin consistency makes for a good marinade.
- Versatile enough to use in different recipes.
Cons
- Contains High Fructose Corn Syrup.
- Mild flavor.
- Contains preservatives.
As mentioned earlier, Kikkoman has been making Japanese Shoyu since 1917 –that’s more than a century ago! Their own version of the teriyaki sauce was developed in 1961 in their Wisconsin plant in the US. What makes the Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce special is that it uses its original blend of soy sauce.
The sauce brings a sense of authenticity and nostalgia to the product. It is also easy to use for a variety of recipes. It is well balanced so you can tweak the flavors to your liking.
#2. American Flavor Pick – Aloha Teriyaki Sauce Hawaiian Style
This one is what we call: “Stays true to the teriyaki sauce with Hawaiian influences!”
- Ingredients: Water | Sugar | Wheat Gluten | Salt | Soybean | Caramel Coloring | Sodium Benzoate | Potassium Sorbate as a preservative | Ginger | Garlic.
- Net Weight: 24 oz
Pros
- Interesting Hawaiian flavors.
- Tasty as a dipping sauce.
Cons
- Runny consistency.
- Contains preservatives & food coloring.
The Hawaiian influence brought the teriyaki sauce to a whole new level. The Aloha Teriyaki Sauce is a simple and tasty sauce that’s versatile enough to use for different styles of cooking. It’s also a really good dipping sauce to enhance food flavor even further.
#3. Budget Pick – La Choy Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce
This is our pick for the best budget-friendly teriyaki sauce which is a good teriyaki sauce. This product has a thicker consistency and is best for stir-fry cooking.
- Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Lactic Acid) | Sugar | Cooking Wine | Salt | Potassium Sorbate | Corn Syrup Solids | Pineapple Juice Concentrate | Distilled Vinegar | Less than 2 % of Caramel Color | Garlic Powder | Modified Corn Starch | Natural Flavors | Pineapple Juice Powder.
- Net Weight: 10 oz
- Calories: 50 Cal/ 1 tbsp.
Pros
- Budget Friendly.
- Rich flavor.
- Thick consistency.
Cons
- High sugar content.
- Contains preservatives & food coloring.
The La Choy Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce has more of a thicker and richer consistency since one of its ingredients is cornstarch. This also leads to higher levels of carbohydrates per 1 tablespoon of serving (12g, 8g of which are sugars). If you’re not really cautious about this and your palate prefers a sweeter blend, then this would be a good choice for you. The higher sugar content also helps make a thicker, richer sauce when used in cooking.
#4. Premium Quality Pick – Stonewall Kitchen Sesame Ginger Teriyaki Sauce
The most gourmet sauce on our list. Stonewall Kitchen uses high-quality ingredients for the most premium teriyaki sauce. We have to say the best teriyaki sauce you’ll ever taste? Let’s find out!
- Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt) | Cider Vinegar | Pure Cane Sugar | Brown Sugar | Ginger (Ginger, Citric Acid) | Honey | Sesame Oil | Dried Garlic | Modified Food Starch.
- Net Weight: 11 oz
Pros
- Premium ingredients with no high fructose corn syrup.
- Great flavor with good consistency.
- Versatile sauce.
Cons
- Bottle easily leaks (reported by some customers).
- High sugar content.
The multi-awarded company prides itself on using only high-quality ingredients from the best farms. Stonewall Kitchen believes that the best food is made with the best ingredients so the same goes for their Sesame Ginger Teriyaki Sauce.
Sesame gives a full-bodied flavor to the sauce. The ginger brings in a bright, zesty taste to keep you craving for more. Use it as a tasty marinade or a base for stir-fries. It even works as a dressing.
#5. Sugar-Free Pick – Seal Sama Teriyaki Sauce
If you want to avoid sugar but still want the sweet-savory flavor teriyaki brings, then the Seal Sama Teriyaki Sauce would be the top pick for you.
- Ingredients: Water | Soy Sauce | Pineapple Juice | Rice Vinegar | Corn Starch | Garlic | Sucralose Instead of sugar they use sucralose – a zero-calorie sweetener derived from processing sucrose. They actually use Splenda which is a brand of sucralose (learn more about sucralose).
- Net Weight: 12 oz
Pros
- Sugar-free.
- Great flavor.
Cons
- Expensive (compared to the teriyaki sauce market counted by $ per oz).
- You can taste the sugar substitute.
The recipe was developed by Peggy Whiting in Utah. She wanted to come up with low sodium (300mg/serving), low carb (1g), and sugar-free teriyaki sauce that won’t sacrifice on flavor and consistency.
#6. Gluten-Free Pick – Kikkoman Gluten-Free Teriyaki Sauce
If you follow a gluten-free diet, Kikkoman has got you covered.
- Ingredients: Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Vinegar) | Wine | Sugar | Water | Salt | Vinegar | Onion Powder | Natural Flavorings | Succinic Acid | Garlic Powder.
- Net Weight: 10 oz
Pros
- Certified gluten-free.
- Preservative-Free.
- Good Marinade.
- Flavorful dipping sauce.
Cons
- Expensive (compared to the teriyaki sauce market counted by $ per oz).
- Mild flavor.
- Runny Consistency.
To make a gluten-free sauce, you’d have to steer away from the traditional ingredient in soy sauce –wheat. Kikkoman used rice instead of wheat in the fermentation process to get a gluten-free soy sauce. They call this the Tamari Soy Sauce. The teriyaki sauce is certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG).
You still get to enjoy the elegant flavor of a Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce without worrying about teriyaki sauce has gluten.
#7. Vegan & No Soy Pick – Primal Kitchen No Soy Teriyaki Organic Marinade & Sauce, Two Packs
The low sodium, all organic, soy-free choice. This has made teriyaki sauce more accessible.
- Ingredients: Water, Organic Aminos (Organic Coconut Syrup, Himalayan Salt) | Organic Balsamic Vinegar | Organic Dates | Organic Orange Juice Concentrate | Sea Salt | Organic Tapioca Starch | Organic Ginger | Organic Garlic | Organic Tamarind | Organic Sesame Seeds | Organic Distilled Vinegar | Organic Sesame Oil | Organic Yeast Extract.
- Net Weight: 8.5 oz x 2 bottles.
Pros
- Low-sodium & All Organic
- Paleo-friendly & Gluten-free.
- Whole30 approved.
Cons
- Strong vinegar taste.
- Mild flavor.
- Runny Consistency.
This is far from the traditional teriyaki sauce. There is no soy sauce, no sugar, with Mirin replaced with vinegar and it works. Products like these are important innovations to make more recipes accessible to a wider range of people.
The sodium levels are really low (220mg/serving) and it is all organic. Mark Sisson, the founder of Primal Kitchen wanted real-food pantry staples for people who have unique dietary requirements. This teriyaki sauce from Primal Kitchen is even Whole30 approved!
It is also paleo-friendly, gluten, grains, and soy-free. Their company’s tagline is, “Eat as your life depends on it”. It has managed to replicate the teriyaki flavor closely but you will still taste some differences, of course.
#8. Best Teriyaki Sauce Store-Bought Pick, Great for Gifts – Kikkoman Roasted Garlic Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
This is a wildcard pick. If you want a more robust flavored teriyaki, try this out.
- Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Sugar, Wine, Crushed Garlic, Salt, Vinegar, Natural Garlic Flavor, Xantham Gum, Roasted Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate; less than 1/10 of 1% as a preservative, Natural Flavors, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid.
- Net Weight: 10 oz x 2 bottles.
Pros
- Bold flavor.
- Good Marinade.
- Flavorful dipping sauce.
Cons
- High Sodium.
- Contains preservatives.
Another goodie from Kikkoman, their Roasted Garlic variant has a bolder flavor than the traditional teriyaki sauce. This is nice to try out during dinner parties and barbecues. The hint of smokiness makes it a really good marinade and dipping sauce for savory recipes.
If there’s one thing to note about it is that it actually has higher sodium content than the more common teriyaki sauces. Its sodium level is at 740mg per tablespoon of serving or 32% of the recommended daily values. Regular teriyaki sauces are usually just between 24-26% of recommended daily values for sodium.
#9. Best Teriyaki Sauce in a Bottle – Soy Vay, Veri Veri Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce
A very flavorful glaze for barbecues & best for Asian cuisine. This is definitely the best teriyaki sauce bottle!
- Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Sugar, Wine, Crushed Garlic, Salt, Vinegar, Natural Garlic Flavor, Xantham Gum, Roasted Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate; less than 1/10 of 1% as a preservative, Natural Flavors, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid.
- Net Weight: 21 oz.
Pros
- Great flavor and texture.
- No High Fructose Corn Syrup.
- Preservative-Free.
- Kosher certified.
- Socially responsible packaging.
Cons
- Sesame seeds get stuck in the spout.
- Lid easily breaks.
An interesting ingredient here is the sesame seeds. It kicks up the “Asian vibe” a notch higher and livens up your cooking and eating experience. I’m also loving the fact that both their less sodium and original teriyaki sauces are free from preservatives. We think this makes the flavors shine even more.
Longtime patrons of Soy Vay might be surprised that they’ve shifted to using plastic bottles from their previous glass bottles. Soy Vay made sure to guarantee you through their website that this was done with utmost consideration in terms of carbon footprint and product safety.
We think companies now have greater environmental responsibilities when it comes to the product packaging and I’m glad Soy Vay is doing its best to accommodate this.
#10. Tradition-like Pick – Mr. Yoshida Original Sweet Teriyaki Marinade
This is the classic sweet teriyaki sauce that tastes like home.
- Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Yoshida’s Mirin (Water, Dextrose, Mirin [Rice, Alcohol, Enzymes, Salt], Lactic and Succinic Acids), Water, Dehydrated Garlic, Spice, Modified Corn Starch, Sunflower Oil.
- Net Weight: 17 oz.
Pros
- Sweet delicious flavor.
- Tastes home-made.
- Versatile sauce.
Cons
- Higher sugar content.
- Bottle leaks easily.
We mentioned this brand earlier as the teriyaki sauce with a happy background story. His teriyaki sauce is fun and unique, just like his product’s history. Mr. Yoshida’s teriyaki sauce is delightfully sweet. It’s hard not to like. It blends well as a marinade and is a thick, yummy sauce for stir-fry and stew.
FAQ about Teriyaki Sauces
Here we have collected all the questions people might wonder about teriyaki sauce. For each question, we do give an answer with practical tips/ links to the content that can help you. We hope that you will find this helpful!
Does teriyaki sauce have gluten in it? Is teriyaki sauce gluten-free?
Is there Gluten in Teriyaki Sauce? Since teriyaki sauce uses soy sauce as one of its ingredients, there are cases when gluten is present. This is because the manufacturing process of traditional soy sauce involves fermenting crushed soybeans and wheat together.
But today, more and more people are able to come up with gluten-free teriyaki sauces. As mentioned in our list, Kikkoman was able to use rice instead of wheat in their fermentation process.
Other alternatives for soy sauce would be liquid amino from soybeans and coconut amino. Both are not fermented and have a pretty similar taste to soy sauce. In the article, we mentioned the Gluten-free choice if you are looking for a teriyaki sauce without gluten.
Does Teriyaki Sauce have Xylitol?
Xylitol is a low-calorie sweetener that doesn’t cause spikes in sugar levels. It can be derived from some fruits so it is considered natural. Teriyaki sauce doesn’t traditionally use Xylitol as a sweetener but home recipes have started using this as an alternative to sugar and fruit juices.
Can you have teriyaki sauce on the keto diet? Is teriyaki sauce keto?
Keto doesn’t allow ingredients like sugar and starches but people have found ways to replicate the sweetness and consistency of teriyaki sauce by using Lakanto maple syrup.
What kind of teriyaki sauce do restaurants use?
It really depends on the restaurant’s budget, format, and over-all flavor preference. Some restaurants use store-bought teriyaki sauces for quicker service. Others would prepare their own sauce to get a specific blend to match their menu.
Is teriyaki sauce dairy-free?
Yes, traditional teriyaki sauce is dairy-free. The most basic blend is still sugar, soy sauce, and Mirin. Although, some people do find that butter goes well with teriyaki sauce.
Does teriyaki sauce have soy? Is teriyaki sauce the same as soy sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is not the same as soy sauce. Soy sauce is a common ingredient in teriyaki sauce so most would have soy in it. But, as mentioned earlier, people have found alternatives to mimic the taste of soy sauce.
Does teriyaki sauce have carbs? Is teriyaki sauce low fodmap?
Sugar is a form of carb. If you have to consume foods that are considered low fodmap, then avoid teriyaki sauces made with soybeans, fruits, sugars, and syrups.
Does teriyaki sauce have sugar?
Some old recipes in Japan only make use of wine and soy sauce. Although this doesn’t necessarily include refined sugar, there is still some presence of sugar in the wine. If you are trying to avoid sugar, find recipes and even bottled teriyaki sauces that are sugar-free.
Is teriyaki sauce acidic? Is teriyaki sauce bad for acid reflux?
The ingredients in teriyaki sauce, specifically salt and sometimes fruits and onions, are considered triggers of acid reflux. If you are really sensitive to these ingredients, it’s best to find alternatives or just avoid teriyaki sauce altogether.
Is teriyaki sauce whole30 approved?
The Primal Kitchen Teriyaki Sauce we mentioned above has been able to come up with a whole30 approved recipe. The traditional recipe wouldn’t be whole30 approved since it contains soy and sugar.
Is teriyaki sauce bad for dogs?
It’s nice sharing the teriyaki sauce with your pup. But will it safe to do so? Can dogs eat food with teriyaki sauce? Here is the answer: NO. Or if you want to give them some, you should only feed them a little teriyaki sauce. This is why: Teriyaki sauce contains a high amount of sodium & soy.
- Sodium: This can cause salt poisoning to your pup. The high amount of salt can damage a dog’s kidney. Symptoms might include vomiting, diarrhea, quick urination, or seizure.
- Soy: is in the soy sauce – one of the teriyaki’s ingredients. Soy contains estrogen, which can decrease thyroid hormones and your pup might have seizures or heart problems.
If you, unfortunately, feed your dog with teriyaki sauce and your pup starts to have symptoms, please bring him to the vet as soon as possible. The quick solution in such a moment is to give your dog as much water as you can, then you can have some time to take him to the vet.
Final Words
Teriyaki sauce is a simple recipe that was able to introduce a piece of Japanese culture to the entire world. It represents how we are able to share a lot about ourselves through food. It’s also amazing how the recipe has evolved to accommodate more and more pilates.
How about you? Have you found your favorite teriyaki sauce? Do we miss out on anything? Let us know in the comment section below & thanks for visiting Kitchen Barr
