The Best Store-Bought Teriyaki Sauces In 2023
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When you think of teriyaki sauce, the first image conjured in your foodie mind is probably a dark brown sweet and salty sauce glazed over a piece of meat or served with an assortment of wok-fried vegetables. And at your local supermarket, you can easily find a plethora of teriyaki sauces of every brand, style, and flavor.
Over in Japan, teriyaki isn't really about the sauce. According to the New World Encyclopedia, it is a method of Japanese cooking that consists of protein cooked in a simple sauce of soy, sugar, mirin, and sake. Loosely translated, "teri" means to glaze while "yaki" means to grill. The glaze is typically applied towards the end of the cooking process to prevent it from burning. In the states, however, teriyaki is primarily associated with the sauce or any dish that uses it. Instead of only containing a handful of ingredients, Americanized teriyaki also adds flavor enhancers like ginger, sesame seeds, garlic, and sesame oil and tends to be thicker than traditional versions.
Teriyaki sauce is definitely a condiment that you should keep in your kitchen. Not only can it be used in Japanese-inspired dishes, but it also makes a great dipping sauce and works well as a marinade.
How we selected the following teriyaki sauces
When it comes to teriyaki sauce, personal preference plays a major role. After all, there are multiple ways to utilize this versatile condiment. Vetted and reputable customer reviews from large merchants like Amazon or other big-box retailers are always taken into consideration when determining what makes it to the list of the best. However, it's also important for us to source valued opinions from independent blogs that specialize in food and culture.
It's relevant to note that teriyaki sauces are available in different viscosities — that is, some are thicker than others. At times, this is because the intended use is as a marinade rather than as a sauce. Ingredients — or a lack thereof — have also been taken into account, because not all teriyaki sauces are created equally when it comes to dietary preferences and sensitivities.
Of course, the taste is the main factor in the decision process, because ultimately, you're going to want a teriyaki sauce that has a nice balance of sweet and salty flavors, along with any other ingredients that play a supporting role.
Best gluten-free
As of 2021, the Cleveland Clinic documents that roughly 6% of the American population is dealing with some form of gluten intolerance. While some individuals are born with these issues, others can develop them later in life. It's no surprise that according to a 2020 study reported in New Food Magazine, gluten sensitivities are on the rise.
If you are facing similar dietary restrictions, you might worry that you'll never be able to consume certain foods again or that the gluten-free version will taste bland and boring. Well, when it comes to teriyaki sauce, you're going to be okay, because Soy Vay offers a gluten-free version of its flavor-packed Veri Veri Teriyaki, and it tastes just as good as the original, according to Amazon reviewers.
By omitting the soy sauce and subbing in tamari, Soy Vay created a gluten-free teriyaki that has Amazon customers talking — over 80% rate it 5 stars for overall satisfaction. The only critique is that the price is high, although the same reviewer commented that they loved everything else about it.
If gluten doesn't agree with you but you still want a rich and flavorful teriyaki sauce, Amazon sells Soy Vay's Veri Veri Teriyaki starting at $10 for a 15.3-ounce bottle.
Best keto and paleo
Before Primal Kitchen came into being, founder Mark Sisson realized that when you're trying to eat healthily and clean up your diet, it's the dressings and condiments that can make or break your progress. Primal Kitchen's main focus is to provide healthy, minimal-ingredient condiments that not only do your body good but taste delicious too. The company is incredibly conscious of different dietary preferences — like keto, paleo, Whole30, plant-based, and low-sodium — and it focuses on using real ingredients, like dates, vinegar, and coconut aminos.
Most Amazon customers are in favor of Primal Kitchen's No Soy Teriyaki Organic Sauce & Marinade, and over 70% of 785 reviewers give it 5 stars. One individual even mentioned that it motivates their 12-year-old son to eat vegetables (a feat in and of itself). However, other tasters disagree and more than one Amazon reviewer warns that it tastes nothing like teriyaki sauce and only like its core ingredients: dates and balsamic vinegar.
Independent food review website Shopping with Dave gives this sauce a 3.8 out of 5 stars, noting that it has great flavor, especially for a low-sodium sauce. However, it falls flat as a marinade, presumably because the low sodium content doesn't allow the flavors to fully penetrate the meat.
That being said, if you're looking for a keto-friendly, flavorful teriyaki-style sauce, you should purchase a two-pack of Primal Kitchen's No Soy Teriyaki Organic Sauce and Marinade on Amazon.
Best low-sodium
Do you follow a paleo or keto diet, deal with gluten intolerance, sensitivity to salt and/or sugar, or have an allergy to soy? Then it's time to rejoice because Kevin's Natural Foods has created a soy-free teriyaki sauce that is safe for all the abovementioned. (It's also vegan!) This all-natural, non-GMO certified teriyaki sauce is made with coconut aminos, which are naturally low in sodium and contain no soy, wheat, or gluten. (And no, they don't taste like coconut.) To boost the umami taste that a traditional teriyaki sauce normally has, Kevin's Natural Foods lists dehydrated shiitake mushrooms as one of the few ingredients.
Kevin's Natural Foods No Soy Teriyaki Sauce has mainly favorable reviews on Amazon with over 70% of tasters rating it 5 stars for overall satisfaction. Consumers cite that the taste and quality are worth the price (though others find it a bit too expensive). Some individuals on the brand website have remarked that it's a bit too sweet, but this is all up to personal preference.
If you're looking to limit your sodium intake but still want all the flavors of a traditional teriyaki sauce, you can find Kevin's Natural Foods No Soy Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade starting at $10 on Amazon.
Best sugar free
In the past, sauces and condiments that were labeled as sugar-free and still palatable were few and far between. You can only imagine how difficult it was to find a sugar-free teriyaki sauce since one of the four main ingredients in a basic recipe is sugar. Luckily, award-winning pit master G. Hughes has created a teriyaki sauce and marinade that is sugar-free, contains no artificial preservatives, and is safe for anyone with gluten sensitivities. (Tamari is used in place of soy.)
Keto and low-carb followers on Influenster say that it's hard to believe that G. Hughes' sugar-free teriyaki marinade contains no carbs, making it perfect for people following keto or macrobiotic diets. One minor caveat is that it does contain sucralose, which some individuals don't tolerate well.
If you're trying to stay away from unnecessary excess sugar but want all the flavor, you can find G. Hughes Sugar Free Teriyaki Marinade on Amazon starting at $10.
Best plant-based
While you would think that most teriyaki sauces on the market are plant-based and suitable for vegans or vegetarians, you'd be surprised to know that unless stated on the label, that isn't always the case (via Vegans First). This is because certain ingredients utilize some type of animal product during processing or they may contain sweeteners like honey. While some of these ingredients are questionable — as in they may or may not be vegan (take lactic acid, for example, which PETA has placed on its list of animal-derived ingredients) — it's safe to say that Wicked Foods Sticky Teriyaki Sauce is 100% plant-based, because that's what the company is all about.
Folks on the plant-based review website abillion give Wicked Foods Sticky Teriyaki Sauce a solid 4 out of 5 stars, noting that it has a great balance between sweet and salty flavors and also a bit of a surprising kick. In fact, the spice level has people in the UK less than enthused, stating that it's much too spicy (via Tesco). This could just be a matter of personal preference, as British food is commonly viewed as being bland (via The Outside).
If you're a fan of bold, spicy, and sticky condiments — and are looking for more plant-based foods to incorporate into your world — purchase Wicked Foods Sticky Teriyaki Sauce on Amazon.
Best for stir-fry
A stir-fry isn't just the name of a dish. It's also a Chinese cooking method that basically involves frying ingredients in a wok over high heat so that the food becomes crispy but doesn't burn (via MasterClass). If you want to get authentic, you can add San-J's Gluten-Free Teriyaki Stir-Fry & Marinade to the mix. This preservative-free tamari-based sauce is a bit thinner than your standard store-bought option, which makes it great for basting, marinating, and steaming.
The Gluten Freedom Project, a blog focused on celiac disease and gluten intolerance, states that the tamari content keeps the sodium level down, and the addition of ginger and garlic purees, plum juice, and apple cider vinegar make it an incredibly flavorful sauce. The outlet goes on to praise its versatility, noting that it does wonders for burgers and wings. Amazon reviewers also mention that this gluten-free teriyaki works on just about everything, adding that it's not too sweet and has just the right level of heat. Some consumers warn that the heat is just a little too overpowering and that it tastes too salty. But as mentioned before, not all taste buds are created equal.
If you're looking for a gluten-free stir-fry sauce that's not too sweet, has balanced heat, and can be used across multiple different cuisines, find San-J Gluten-Free Teriyaki & Marinade on Amazon starting at $12 for two 10-ounce bottles.
Best Japanese-style
In Japan, teriyaki sauce is typically made with only a few simple ingredients, and cornstarch and other thickening agents are usually omitted from the mix. That's because traditionally, the sauce is meant to be more fluid and not so thick (via New World Encyclopedia). If you're perusing the aisles for something that's less Americanized and more in tune with true Japanese cuisine, try Yamasa's Artisanal Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce.
Amazon customers love the fact that this artisanally crafted teriyaki sauce is non-GMO with no added MSG or preservatives. Others have commented that Yamasa's artisanal teriyaki has well-balanced flavors and makes a great dipping sauce for pot stickers, as well as a nice umami boost for soba noodles and soups. While this multifaceted teriyaki was rated 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, one home cook was confused as to whether it could be considered a true teriyaki sauce, since it seemed to be lacking in the sweetness department.
If you're looking to try a culturally authentic teriyaki sauce and marinade brewed by a company that has been in business for over four centuries, you can find Yamasa Artisanal Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce on Amazon starting at $6.
Best Hawaiian-style
The soy sauce brand Aloha Shoyu might not sound familiar to those living in the contingent United States, but in Hawaii it claims 65% of the soy sauce market, making it one of the leading brands in the industry. The name Aloha Shoyu is a combination of the company's Japanese and island heritage; shoyu refers to soy sauce in Japanese, while aloha is commonly used as a greeting in Hawaii, and represents significant values in the local culture (unity, kindness, perseverance, and humility).
As mentioned, traditional Japanese teriyaki sauce does not contain thickening agents and consequently, tends to be on the thinner side. The texture is something multiple Amazon reviewers commented on, though most found it to be quite flavorful overall. One Amazon foodie stated that it was both great as a sauce and also highly recommended as a marinade. Despite the confusion regarding its viscosity, Amazon tasters rate Aloha Shoyu's sauce 4.5 out of 5 stars.
If you're a fan of well-blended flavors and sauces that add a little something extra to your dishes, head to Amazon and grab a bottle of Aloha Hawaiian Style Teriyaki Sauce starting at $15.
Best for ginger lovers
Does the thought of wasabi get you excited? Do you add Cholula hot sauce to any savory dish you eat? Can you confidently claim that you aren't afraid of ghost peppers? Then perhaps it's time to taste Ginger People's Spicy Ginger Teriyaki Sauce. This potent condiment balances sweet, salty, and spicy elements of the flavor world by adding three unique ingredients: red bell pepper puree, candied ginger, and jalapeños.
Amazon reviewers are enamored with this gingery teriyaki because it has a bright, crisp, clean taste that's arguably better than a homemade teriyaki sauce, as reported by an enthusiastic comment. Other Amazon reviewers claim that it makes a great dipping sauce, meanwhile, an Influenster notes that the spice factor brings their food to a whole other level. While taste is obviously a personal preference, some contributors found it to be much too salty. It's also important to mention that more than once, customers commented that their Ginger Teriyaki Sauce arrived broken (which is more of a packaging complaint than an issue with the sauce itself).
If you can't imagine a dish without heat and think that the more ginger the better, you can purchase a two-pack of Ginger People's Ginger Teriyaki Sauce on Amazon starting at $20.
Best for chicken and steak
If you're in search of the best store-bought teriyaki sauce for chicken or steak, Kinder's Organic Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce just may be what you're looking for. One Amazon reviewer describes this sauce as a "must-have for chicken or slices of beef," while another satisfied reviewer loves using it to marinate chicken and chuck steaks before cooking on the grill or stovetop.
A reviewer on the Kinder's website describes this sauce as the absolute best for teriyaki chicken, but you can also use Kinder's Organic Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce to boost the flavor (and sweetness) of all kinds of chicken and beef recipes. For example, one Reddit user enjoys using this sauce to make glazed chicken wings. A Costco Food Database reviewer recommends adding this sauce to your slow cooker with pre-cooked frozen meatballs, as well as using it for dipping.
This sweet and salty sauce is not only a great option for chicken and steak, but it also works in other dishes. It's so good that an Amazon reviewer describes it as their all-time favorite teriyaki, not just for chicken and beef — but for every kind of meat. Not only is this teriyaki sauce versatile, but it's also organic — which is another great reason this condiment deserves a spot in your pantry.
Buy Kinder's Organic Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce on Amazon for $21.31.
Best overall
Kikkoman has been producing traditionally crafted shoyu for over three centuries, making it one of the oldest and most established soy sauce brands on the market. While it has been making the umami-enriched sauce for quite some time, the Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce is a little bit younger (Kikkoman first started bottling and selling it in 1961). This particular sauce is thin, putting it in the category of a traditional Japanese teriyaki. Its consistency means that the sauce is ideal as a marinade, but also works well for dipping, basting, and even as an umami-boosting enhancement in soups and broths.
On Influenster, reviewers mention that Kikkoman's Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce has great flavor and can be used in place of soy sauce. Others enjoy the condiment's versatility factor, noting that it really transforms grilled burgers, tofu, and chicken. One Amazon customer originally discovered the sauce as a child living in Hawaii and has been a faithful follower for over 30 years. The one minor issue that some Amazon critics warn of is that it's saltier than expected.
If you're interested in a versatile, umami-boosting condiment backed by over three centuries of experience, you can find Kikkoman's Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce on Amazon starting at $17 for a 64-ounce jug.