The Best Teriyaki Sauces, Ranked

Going into this taste test, I knew I liked teriyaki sauce. That being said, I didn’t really know what defined teriyaki sauce. I always thought of it as a sticky, sweet sauce that you could order at some Japanese restaurants. But, according to Google, teriyaki sauce is a combination of soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake. Apparently, Westernized versions often add cornstarch for thickening and some additional flavors like ginger, garlic, or honey.

Once I had a better handle on teriyaki, it was time to gather the Sporked staff to find the best store-bought version. Greg Johnson, Mythical’s director of short form, joined us for this taste test. He came in as a teriyaki lover, and now I’m proud to say that I’m one too.

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Best of the Best

Kikkoman Original Teriyaki Sauce

$3.42 Walmart

$5.49 Instacart

$5.59 Vons

Gwynedd Stuart, Sporked managing editor, pointed out that Kikkoman Original Teriyaki Sauce has “a little bit of everything,” and that’s why it’s so delicious. This Japanese-based company’s teriyaki sauce snags our #1 spot 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 would be wonderful as a marinade or a dipping sauce, and I think you should use it as both!

Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Budget

365 Garlic Teriyaki Sauce

$3.99 Amazon

365’s Garlic Teriyaki Sauce promises garlic and, thankfully, it gives full-force garlic flavor. It has a great sweetness and mild soy taste that compliments the small chunks of garlic peppered throughout the sauce. I probably wouldn’t use this 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. This was Greg’s personal favorite because he is a self-proclaimed “garlic girl” and, honestly, same.

Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best for Grilling

Blackstone Sesame Teriyaki Griddle Ready Sear & Serve Sauce

$6.88 Walmart

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 perfect for heat haters. If, however, you’re a spice lover like me, mix this with some sriracha for a perfect stir fry sauce.

Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best for Wings

Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade

$2.99 Instacart

$2.69 Target

$2.48 Walmart

I know and love their BBQ sauce, but Sweet Baby Ray’s also makes phenomenal teriyaki sauce! Because this sauce is “thic with six Cs,” according to Greg, it reminded him of the teriyaki wings he always orders from his local pizza place. It has that classic teriyaki taste that Mark Catangui, Sporked social media manager, 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.

Credit: Ryan Martin / Instacart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Spicy

Wicked Kitchen Wicked Sticky Teriyaki Sauce

$5.49 Kroger

Wicked Kitchen Wicked Sticky Teriyaki Sauce was my personal favorite of all the teriyaki sauces we tried. It is actually spicy and would add a great kick to anything you slathered 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 excellent on grilled salmon and I’m trying to meal prep for the week.

Credit: Ryan Martin / Instacart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks