One of the signature flavors of Okonomiyaki is the thick, sweet brown sauce drizzled on top. Without it, this Japanese savory pancake would be missing the right taste. Simply known as okonomiyaki sauce (お好み焼きソース), it’s a condiment packed with umami flavor similar to Tonkatsu Sauce. While you can find ready-made okonomiyaki sauce at Japanese or Asian grocery stores, it is really easy to make at home with just four pantry ingredients. The homemade version is so convenient! I often look in my pantry to quickly whip up the sauce when I made okonomiyaki at home. Let me show you how quick and easy it is!
What is Okonomiyaki?
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a savory Japanese green cabbage pancake. This well-known dish of Japanese cuisine is an Osaka specialty and popular street food that’s now a staple of Japanese cooking at home. It’s made from a special okonomiyaki batter of flour, dashi soup stock, tempura scraps (tenkasu), grated yam (nagaimo or yamaimo), eggs, baking powder, and salt. The name translates to “grilled as you like it”—okonomi (as you like it) + yaki (grill). It’s highly adaptable with the different proteins like pork belly slices, shrimp, squid, octopus, and other seafood. You can also add condiments of your choice like Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, dried seaweed (aonori), dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi), pickled ginger, and/or green onions/scallions. The one thing that we always add, though, is okonomiyaki sauce!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Worcestershire sauce – I use Lea & Perrins brand sugar – I use organic cane sugar; adjust to your taste ketchup – I use Heinz Simply Tomato Ketchup; some ketchup is sweeter than others, so please adjust the sugar to taste oyster sauce – I use Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce; if you’re allergic to shellfish, use Lee Kum Kee Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce
How to Make Okonomiyaki Sauce
The instructions for this recipe are so easy!
The Best Store-Bought Okonomiyaki Sauce
I usually have a bottle of Otafuku brand’s Okonomi Sauce (お好みソース) in my refrigerator. It’s by far the most popular and well-known okonomiyaki sauce sold in Japan. I tried to recreate its flavor in my homemade okonomiyaki sauce recipe, and I think it’s pretty close! You’d need to add a touch more sugar to achieve the exact taste. I was introduced to this sauce by a Japanese friend from Osaka when I was in college. She also told me that people in Osaka season a fried egg (目玉焼き) with okonomi sauce while people in Tokyo/Yokohama area normally drizzle on soy sauce to enjoy the egg.
How long can I store homemade okonomiyaki sauce?
You can keep the sauce in an airtight container or jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It can probably last longer, but might as well make a fresh batch since you are likely to have all these condiments in the fridge.
Can I substitute with other ingredients?
I haven’t tried making the okonomiyaki sauce besides these 4 ingredients I listed. My intention to create okonomiyaki sauce is to replicate the exact flavor of Otafuku’s okonomi sauce. I think it’s pretty close, although you’d need to use more sugar to achieve the exact taste. If you want to keep this similar flavor, then I don’t recommend substituting other ingredients. If you need to modify certain things due to dietary restriction, I really hope you can find a good substitution that helps yield the right flavor.
Can I skip the sugar?
The Worcestershire sauce is quite tangy and the oyster sauce is salty, so you will need to counterbalance that with sugar. If you think your ketchup is already sweet, you can skip the sugar or gradually add it to your liking.
Okonomiyaki Recipes on Just One Cookbook
With this homemade okonomiyaki sauce, you can make this Japanese savory pancake anytime you like! On my blog, I offer two classic versions:
Osaka-style Okonomiyaki – This is the classic recipe that anyone can attempt at home with key ingredients of green cabbage and sliced pork belly with a variety of delicious toppings! Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki – This one has delicious layers of shredded cabbage, fried egg, and yakisoba noodles.
Other Homemade Japanese Sauces & Condiments
Japanese Mayonnaise (Kewpie Mayo) Yakisoba Sauce Takoyaki Sauce
