MyTastr

Best japanese barbecue sauce, according to chefs

One pick, tied to named tasters and public sources — from Ifrah F. Ahmed, Remi Cruz Parsons and Fred Hernandez. Recommendations come from thedinnerplan.substack.com and tastingtable.com.

International Pantry · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Bachan’s Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Ahmed: “I love to use it on everything from short ribs to salmon to sweet and spicy meatballs… when I want to turn my chef brain off,” and she likes the simple ingredients: mirin, garlic, ginger, green onion, sesame oil. Cruz Parsons uses it as “a thick, one-step teriyaki sauce” on chicken, shrimp, steak or tofu. Made in small batches without thickeners or preservatives; Tasting Table’s taste test of 13 Bachan’s flavors put Hot Honey first and the Original a close second.
    Where to buy · bachans.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: thedinnerplan.substack.com ↗

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on MyTastr. It never affects the ranking. Disclosure

Questions, answered

What is the best japanese barbecue sauce, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Bachan’s Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce, chosen by Ifrah F. Ahmed (chef, author of Soomaaliya); Remi Cruz Parsons (author, Let’s Get Cooking). Ahmed: “I love to use it on everything from short ribs to salmon to sweet and spicy meatballs… when I want to turn my chef brain off,” and she likes the simple ingredients: mirin, garlic, ginger, green onion, sesame oil. Cruz Parsons uses it as “a thick, one-step teriyaki sauce” on chicken, shrimp, steak or tofu. Made in small batches without thickeners or preservatives; Tasting Table’s taste test of 13 Bachan’s flavors put Hot Honey first and the Original a close second. Source: thedinnerplan.substack.com ↗
Why is there only one pick for japanese barbecue sauce?
Bachan’s Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce is a rare one-pick exception: no second brand sold nationally has an unpaid backer strong enough to rank yet. Regional, single-chain and weaker national brands were checked and left off until one clears the bar.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

More international pantry

See every ranking →