MyTastr

Best soy sauce, according to chefs

Four picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Nate Appleman, Hiroko Shimbo, Leina Horii, Matthew Kammerer and 3 more. Recommendations come from foodandwine.com, thekitchn.com and nymag.com.

International Pantry · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Kikkoman Naturally Brewed

    Chosen by
    “For daily restaurant use, nothing beats Kikkoman” (Horii). Three Japanese chefs polled by Simply Recipes all chose it too.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodandwine.com ↗
  2. 2

    Ito Shoten Denemon Tamari

    Chosen by
    Aged three years in cedar casks: “thick, caramel-like, smoky, meaty, deep umami… not very salty.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodandwine.com ↗
  3. 3

    Zhongba Handcrafted Soy Sauce (1-year, Sichuan)

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Her premium finishing soy: “inky and thick and luscious tasting. I use it for dipping or drizzling on a steamed fish… if I’m going to spend that much money for olive oil, why don’t I spend that much money for soy sauce?” (2025). Andrew Zimmern calls Zhongba’s aged soy sauces “just stunning” for Chinese cooking.
    Where to buy · themalamarket.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: thekitchn.com ↗
  4. 4

    Pearl River Bridge Superior Light

    Chosen by
    Picked after tasting dozens for her restaurants: “rich and perfectly balanced, with a hint of natural sweetness.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodandwine.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best soy sauce, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Kikkoman Naturally Brewed, chosen by Leina Horii (F&W Best New Chef); Nate Appleman; Hiroko Shimbo. “For daily restaurant use, nothing beats Kikkoman” (Horii). Three Japanese chefs polled by Simply Recipes all chose it too. Source: foodandwine.com ↗
What are the other top picks for soy sauce?
No. 2 is Ito Shoten Denemon Tamari, chosen by Matthew Kammerer (F&W Best New Chef). No. 3 is Zhongba Handcrafted Soy Sauce (1-year, Sichuan), chosen by Andrea Nguyen (Vietnamese Food Any Day). Each card above links to the original source.
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

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