11 Best Teriyaki Sauces in 2025
What is the best teriyaki sauce for your home cooking? What constitutes a good teriyaki sauce in general? In this curated list of the top store-bought options for the sweet-and-savory sauce loved worldwide, we answer these questions and more.
The name “teriyaki” translates roughly to “shiny-grill,“ referring to the glaze-like texture and how it’s often used as a marinade for meats or fish before they get grilled. Of course, teriyaki sauce is also used for stir-fries, dips or finishing sauces, and in other cooking methods too.
Traditionally, this sauce is made with a simple base of soy sauce, mirin/sake and sugar. Westernized versions add ingredients that emphasise the thickness and flavors of the original sauce. It’s safe to say that both versions are quite different but still delicious.
To add a proverbial cherry on top, a study published by the National Library of Medicine found that teriyaki sauces with carvacrol or thymol as ingredients (usually found in oregano or thyme) even helped control certain types of harmful bacteria found in marinated beef, like E. coli and salmonella. That’s all the more reason to explore your teriyaki sauce options, which is exactly what we do in this article.
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The 11 Best Teriyaki Sauce Brands Ranked
11. Sky Valley Organic Teriyaki Sauce
First up on our list is Sky Valley’s Organic Teriyaki Sauce. Sky Valley is not only among the best teriyaki sauce brands but also among sauce brands in general, offering organic, gluten-free and vegan options. This sauce is also low in sodium, which is unique in the world of the best teriyaki sauces.
We found that the product was great because it matched with specific dietary restrictions and featured a uniquely spicy, citrus-like flavor profile as well. Those who don’t like spice should probably stay away from this option, though. Overall, this zesty pick is one of the best teriyaki sauces to pair with different types of sushi and some sake or hot green tea.
10. Kogi Sweet Garlic Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
Next up on our list of the best teriyaki sauce you can buy is a brand that will be familiar to those who know about Kogi, Chef Roy Choi’s famous gourmet food truck. Kogi’s Sweet Garlic Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce is the most convenient version for home cooks everywhere.
This sauce balances flavors from aromatics like garlic and ginger, along with serrano pepper for that extra lively kick. With that said, this is not the best teriyaki sauce option for those avoiding high sodium and sugar, or soy and wheat allergens. Overall, we really enjoyed how the unique flavors and thick texture resulted in a reliable sauce for dipping or topping a dish.
9. Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade
For a classic option from a beloved brand known for its barbeque sauces, Sweet Baby Ray’s offering stands out relatively well among the best teriyaki sauces. Its Sweet Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade is all about that solid, dependable base flavor.
Some say that it’s too sweet and lacks the other flavors that make teriyaki what it is, like the umami or saltiness to balance everything out. Others rely on it consistently. We liked how it was a good option for those who don’t prefer spice whatsoever. As far as the best teriyaki sauces go, there’s a lot of potential for this one since it can be used on its own or as a base for a unique marinade creation.
8. Soy Vay Veri-Veri Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
Another gluten-free option when it comes to the best store-bought teriyaki sauces is Soy Vay’s Veri-Veri Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce. This sauce uses tamari as its main base, a specifically gluten-free soy sauce featuring rich, salty flavors and a natural thickness to it.
While this also results in the con of being higher in sodium compared to some other brands, especially when reduced significantly over heat, this is still one of the best teriyaki sauce options for your shelf. We found that in the right hands, this product is a great gluten-free option for a tasty dinner of marinated meats or sushi for beginners.
7. Blackstone Sesame Teriyaki Sear and Serve
Fun fact: our next pick of the best teriyaki sauce options comes from a brand that also makes grills. Blackstone offers a griddle-ready teriyaki sauce complete with sesame seeds. The seeds add a toasty crunch to the otherwise smooth texture of the sauce, which we enjoyed for its richness and restaurant-like quality.
While this is on the higher end of the best teriyaki sauces on the market and perhaps relatedly, harder to find in stock, it’s worth it for those who prefer a non-spicy option for all their dishes. We really liked how it had a unique homemade flavor as well, which is rare for store-bought options.
6. Annie Chun’s Japanese-Style Teriyaki Sauce
Riffs on original recipes are great, but the bona fide versions of the best teriyaki sauces will always have a place in our hearts. That’s why Annie Chun’s Japanese-style Teriyaki Sauce is our next pick. This is another pleasantly surprising vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free option.
We really like the thinner texture for dipping and adding a final touch to your food, as well as the versatility, since this can still be used as a marinade. You won’t find MSG, preservatives or saturated fats on the ingredient list here either, making it one of the best teriyaki sauces for health-minded folks. While the sodium content is high, enjoying the sauce in moderation should help mitigate the effects of that.
5. 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Teriyaki Sauce
If the options are to go big or go home, 365 by Whole Foods goes all the way with its organic teriyaki sauce. This is one of the best teriyaki sauces because it hits all the Whole Foods advantages: it’s organic, low-sodium and low-calorie. We liked how it balances sweet and umami flavors, along with garlic notes, in a thinner, more traditional-style texture sauce.
If you're looking for the best teriyaki sauce options for everything from elaborate dinners to sides that accompany lunch food ideas, this is it. While the thinness will be disliked by some and cause it to be criticized as more of a soy sauce by others, it does make it easier to customize the thickness with some cornstarch. Overall, this is a more affordable, healthier option than many.
4. Bourbon Barrel Foods Kentuckyaki Sauce
Imagine a beautiful glass bourbon bottle filled with delicious Kentucky-style teriyaki sauce. That’s Bourbon Barrel Food’s rendition of the best teriyaki sauce with tons of twists. This fusion sauce is all-natural, vegetarian, infused with Kentucky bourbon and sweetened with Kentucky-grown sorghum syrup to finish.
It takes the best of teriyaki sauce and adds an American twist, resulting in a versatile smoky marinade for both Western and Eastern dishes. We found that this product was a refreshing and inventive experience to try. It plays with the delicious concept of teriyaki while adding its own spin. With that said, the texture is on the thinner side, which may be a deterrent for some.
3. Kona Coast Island Teriyaki Marinade and Grilling Sauce
No one knows sauce like Kona Coast, a familiar household staple for many. Its Hawaiian-style island teriyaki sauce takes on a fruity undertone. We really liked the smoky finish and the sesame seeds for texture. It’s among the best teriyaki sauces for grilling, especially as a marinade. You can also use it in other recipes that call for sweeter sauces to add that extra layer of flavor.
Of course, the high sodium and sugar content aren’t great traits that should be considered when using this sauce. In moderation, this is the best teriyaki sauce to throw onto different dinner food ideas. It adds a homemade feel that’s hard to beat.
2. Yamasa Teriyaki Artisanal Marinade and Sauce
Landing within our top two choices for the best store-bought teriyaki sauce is Yamasa, an artisanal marinade and sauce. It comes in an elegant bottle with a slick white label to contrast the dark sauce inside. Speaking of, this sauce is only brewed with recognizable ingredients, such as soy sauce, water and added sugars, as well as alcohol, rice vinegar, spice extracts (for some kick) and lactic acid.
There aren’t any preservatives or MSG involved, making this a more natural Japanese-style sauce. While it’s higher in sodium and carbohydrates, consider balancing that out by adding it to some of the low-carb dinner ideas you've been wanting to make. Thanks to its authentic, high-quality ingredients, we stand firm in our belief that this is the second-best teriyaki sauce on the market.
1. Kikkoman Original Takumi Teriyaki Sauce
Across the board, Kikkoman’s original teriyaki sauce from its Takumi Collection is perhaps the best teriyaki sauce you can buy today. The reliable brand makes great products in general, so it makes sense for its teriyaki sauce to be on par with that standard. Traditionally brewed with ingredients like soy sauce, sweet rice wine and aromatics, along with sesame seeds on top, this thick sauce is great for marinating or topping dishes off.
We really like how the flavors layer well with each other, especially the notes of ginger for a subtle kick. The high sodium and sugar levels are drawbacks, but otherwise, this is simply one of the best teriyaki sauce options because it hits the goal of offering a perfectly balanced sweet-savory flavor.
What Is the Best Teriyaki Sauce?
When it comes right down to it, we believe the best teriyaki sauce depends on the meal you’re making and the flavors you want to accentuate. Some sauces lean towards the sweeter side, while others are saltier or focused on that subtle umami taste. Ultimately, different recipes will call for different flavors.
Of course, your own preferences play a part too. The best part about a store-bought sauce is that it works well on its own or as a base for your creative ideas and what you like, whether that’s a thinner or thicker sauce, or one with extra sesame seeds and other garnishes.
The next time you’re walking down the grocery aisle on the hunt for the best teriyaki sauce to keep at home, you’ll be well-prepared to make an informed choice. Or at the very least, now you’ll know what to look for. There are tons of options, from gluten-free and vegetarian to traditional-style sauces, and even fusion creations.
Overall, a good teriyaki sauce is a choice that varies from person to person and what they’re looking for. With all the choices available today, there’s sure to be a solid contender for everyone.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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