Jordan Myrick
Justine Sterling
What’s the best teriyaki sauce? It depends on your definition of teriyaki sauce. Traditional Japanese teriyaki sauce is a thin combination of soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake. But the stuff you find at the grocery store—and probably the stuff you’re thinking of if you grew up eating Americanized teriyaki in the U.S.—is thick and savory-sweet. That’s the stuff we were looking for in our taste tests for this ranking of the best store bought teriyaki sauce.
How we chose the teriyaki sauces for this taste test
We looked for the most widely available teriyaki sauce brands on the market—and we also looked for a variety of sauces for different uses. We wanted to find the best teriyaki sauce for Spam musubi, for chicken, for salmon, etc. And we also tried to taste a variety of flavors. In our second taste test, we specifically looked for garlic teriyaki sauce and Hawaiian teriyaki sauce.
How we tasted the teriyaki sauces
We tasted these teriyaki sauces straight off a spoon. We wanted to appreciate all the flavors and textures of each sauce.
What we looked for in the best teriyaki sauce
To us, the best teriyaki sauce is more than just sweet and savory. It’s complex. It should add tons of umami to your recipes without being overly salty. It should be sweet without being saccharine. And, if it was advertised as spicy, it better bring the heat. Ditto for garlic. If it’s labeled as garlic teriyaki sauce, then we better be able to taste the garlic. And when it comes to texture, the best bottled teriyaki sauce is on the thicker end—but it shouldn’t be gloopy.
Here’s all the best store bought teriyaki sauce for your everyday cooking needs.
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- Kogi Sweet Garlic Teriyaki
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Can’t find a Kogi BBQ truck nearby? Roy Choi has gone national with his signature sauces, so you can approximate the experience at home. And this garlic teriyaki sauce is a great place to start. The garlic flavor comes through, for sure, but it’s not overwhelming and it doesn’t taste super fake. There’s also serrano pepper in the mix, which gives it a splash of heat that balances out the sweetness of the sauce. If you like your teriyaki with a little bit more pizzazz, this is the best teriyaki sauce to buy—especially if you’re looking for the best chicken teriyaki sauce. Put it on a fried chicken sandwich and thank me later. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Wicked Kitchen Wicked Sticky Teriyaki Sauce
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Wicked Kitchen Wicked Sticky Teriyaki Sauce was my personal favorite of all the teriyaki sauces we tried in our initial taste test. It is actually spicy and will add a great kick to anything you slather it on. It has all the notes you’d expect, like soy and sesame, but also has notes of chili pepper and worcestershire sauce. I took this bottle home after our tasting because I am absolutely positive that it will be the best teriyaki sauce for salmon and I’m trying to meal prep for the week. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade
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I know and love their BBQ sauce, but Sweet Baby Ray’s also makes some of the best teriyaki sauce! This teriyaki sauce is seriously thick and it has that classic teriyaki taste that one taste tester labeled as “timeless.” I like to think of it as the little black dress of teriyaki sauces: simple, dependable, and something you should always have on hand. That classic quality makes the best teriyaki sauce for Spam musubi, but it’s also our pick for the best teriyaki sauce for chicken wings. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Blackstone Sesame Teriyaki Griddle Ready Sear & Serve Sauce
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I guess it’s no surprise that a company that makes grills makes a delicious sauce for grilled meat. Blackstone Sesame Teriyaki Griddle Ready Sear & Serve Sauce is filled with delicious, nutty flavor and, more surprisingly, tons of texture. The sesame seeds add a crunch that I didn’t know I wanted from teriyaki sauce. This sauce is on the sweeter side, so it’s some of the best teriyaki sauce for heat haters. If, however, you’re a spice lover like me, mix this with some sriracha for a perfect stir fry sauce. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- 365 Garlic Teriyaki Sauce
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Whole Foods 365 Garlic Teriyaki Sauce promises garlic and it gives full force garlic flavor. It has a great sweetness and mild soy taste that complements the small chunks of garlic scattered throughout the sauce. It’s not the best store bought teriyaki sauce to use as a marinade because the garlic might burn and become bitter, so douse your food with this after it’s cooked. And when I say douse, I mean douse. It tastes so good. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Kona Coast Island Teriyaki
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Made by the sauce maestros over at Mezzeta, this Hawaiian-style teriyaki sauce is so, so good. There’s no pineapple juice in the ingredients, but I swear I taste some tropical fruit. Along with that fruity tang is an incredible savoriness. And it finishes just a hint smoky. It’s thick, making it a great dip, and is packed with lots and lots of sesame seeds, which add both texture and flavor. I brought this bottle home and have used it as a stir fry sauce, a dip, and a marinade. It’s good stuff and definitely some of the best store bought teriyaki sauce available. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Kikkoman Original Teriyaki Sauce
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Gwynedd Stuart, Sporked’s managing editor, pointed out that Kikkoman Takumi Teriyaki Sauce has “a little bit of everything,” and that’s why it’s so delicious. This Japanese-based company wins the title of best teriyaki sauce brand because it was the most well-rounded of the bunch. There are hints of ginger, it’s a little sweet, and the soy is definitely present. The tasteful amount of sesame seeds adds a great textural element without overpowering the flavor of the sauce. This is the best Japanese teriyaki sauce to use as a marinade or a dipping sauce. Or just eat it by the spoonful. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Best Spicy Garlic Teriyaki
Best Spicy
Best for Wings
Best for Grilling
Best Not Spicy Garlic Teriyaki
Best Hawaiian Teriyaki
Best of the Best
Other teriyaki sauces we tried: Soy Vay Island Teriyaki, Kikkoman Takumi Teriyaki Garlic & Green Onion, Kikkoman Takumi Teriyaki Sauce Triple Ginger, Naked & Saucy Teriyaki Sesame Ginger, Simple Truth Organic Sesame Teriyaki
Danny Palumbo
Gwynedd Stuart
Sporked Staff
