5best2buy
The Recipe · No.759 · Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki Sauce, and where to source it

Teriyaki Sauce — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Teriyaki Sauce Japanese 5best2buy.com

Real teriyaki is four ingredients simmered down, not a thickened bottled syrup. Reduce it slowly until it turns glossy and coats the back of a spoon, then brush it on at the end of cooking so the sugars glaze instead of scorch.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep5 min
Cook10 min
Makesabout 1 cup
CuisineJapanese
Cost$
Vegan
Contains  gluten · soy
Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 1 cup
Our ratio, your call. The amounts below are a tested starting point — a version, not the one and only. Anything tagged to taste is the knob you turn: start there, then make it yours.
Soy sauce
The savory base; a naturally brewed soy has real depth, not just salt.
1/2 cuprecommended
Source it →
Mirin
Sweet rice wine that gives the glaze its shine and body.
1/2 cuprecommended
Source it →
Sake
Adds a clean rice-wine backbone; cook off the raw edge. Local.
1/4 cuprecommended
Local / market
Sugar
Balances the salt and helps it lacquer. An unrefined sugar deepens the color.
3 tbsprecommended
Source it →
Ginger
A little grated ginger for warmth. Firm, heavy hands are freshest.
1 tsprecommended
Source it →
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks.
EffortEasy
Cook it with
One-potNo-cook
The Method
  1. CombineAdd soy, mirin, sake, sugar, and ginger to a small saucepan.
  2. SimmerBring to a gentle simmer and cook until the sugar dissolves and it starts to thicken.
  3. ReduceKeep reducing until it turns glossy and coats the back of a spoon.
  4. CoolCool before using; it thickens further as it sits. Brush on at the end of cooking.
The Toolkit

Saucepan · Whisk · Grater

Straight Answers
Can you freeze Teriyaki Sauce? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Teriyaki Sauce ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it keeps in the fridge for several days; stir or shake it before serving.

Is Teriyaki Sauce gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).

Is Teriyaki Sauce vegan? — Yes

Yes — no meat, seafood, dairy, egg, or honey in it as written.

Community Notes

Made it, tweaked it, or recognize which restaurant this tastes like? Leave a note — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More Japanese recipes
TamagoyakiMiso Black CodChicken Teriyaki BowlSushi-Bar Spicy MayoSalmon TeriyakiShoyu Ramen
All Japanese recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.759

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →