Whether you order fish, chicken, or beef, teriyaki sauce is a popular addition 
to many food items in Japanese cuisine. The word teriyaki refers to a method of cooking and combines the words “teri,” meaning luster or gleam, and “yaki,” meaning grilled or broiled.
History
Teriyaki cooking methods have been used for centuries, beginning in the Tokugawa (or Edo) period. During the Tokugawa shoguns dynasty (1603-1867), many changes in urbanization and agricultural methods led to the introduction of new ingredients and styles of cooking.
While shouyu is the primary flavoring used in authentic Japanese cooking, teriyaki became popular in the United States during the 1960s when Japanese immigrants settled in Hawaii. This unique marinade was created using local products such as pineapple juice and brown sugar, which were blended together in soy sauce.
Ingredients
Traditionally, teriyaki sauce is made by mixing and heating three ingredients: sugar, soy sauce, and sake (or mirin). Mirin is a Japanese rice wine, similar to sake, but with more sugar and a lower alcohol content of 14%. However, there are many versions of teriyaki sauce, which include the addition of garlic, ginger, cornstarch, honey, vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
Teriyaki sauce is appealing to many because of its simplicity and the way it makes food look even more appetizing. The mirin or sake, along with the caramelization of the sugar, is what gives the teriyaki sauce its luster and shine.
Preparation
If you want a thick, glossy, and sticky sauce to use as a topping or to serve on the side, then you’ll want to reduce the mixture when cooking. You can do this by combining the ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer until sauce has thickened and reduced by half–about 10 minutes.
Marinating meats and veggies in teriyaki sauce up to 24 hours before cooking is also a popular method of preparation. The teriyaki dishes are then served with steamed white rice, which is eaten with the excess sauce.
Influencing Japan
Teriyaki sauce is not only a favorite in the United States but has become increasingly popular in Japan over the last couple of decades. Fast food chains now offer menu items such as teriyaki burgers, hamburger steak, and meatballs made with teriyaki sauces, as well as other similar sauces, which appeals to both children and adults alike.
Enjoy Your Favorite Dishes with Our Teriyaki Sauce
At Shōgun Japanese Steakhouse, we offer freshly prepared dinners of beef, chicken, shrimp, and lobster. Enjoy your favorite meal with the addition of our delicious teriyaki sauce, and see why so many of our guests order teriyaki dishes time and time again! The combination of our authentic cuisine and the entertainment our teppanyaki chefs provide will surely leave you feeling satisfied. Call us today at 407-352-1607 to reserve your table.
FAQs
Cultural Significance of Teriyaki
Its simplicity and delicious taste have made it a staple in Japanese bento boxes and family meals.
What is the famous sauce in Japan? ›
Shoyu is the most widely used condiment in Japanese cuisine and found in or added to a large number of dishes. The fermented soybean product adds depth to a dish when cooked together or when used as a dipping sauce like for sushi. There are different types of soy sauce, including light and dark ones.
What does teriyaki mean in Japanese? ›
The word teriyaki derives from the noun teri (照り), which refers to a shine or luster given by the sugar content in the tare (タレ), and yaki (焼き), which refers to the cooking method of grilling or broiling.
Where was teriyaki sauce first served? ›
In short, teriyaki (teri: the shine on the food; and yaki: grilling) goes back a few hundred years in Japan, and was associated with a style of grilling fish with a sauce primarily made from soy sauce, sweet rice wine, and sake.
What state is known for teriyaki? ›
Seattle - The Teriyaki Capital
Teriyaki has become an iconic dish of Seattle, just like pizza in New York and cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. Watch Travel Channel's episode on Seattle teriyaki.
What is the most popular soy sauce in Japan? ›
Koikuchi (Dark) Soy Sauce
The most common type of soy sauce in Japan, koikuchi accounts for 80% of all soy sauces on the market, and it is by far the dominant type in Eastern Japan. Koikuchi adds an elegant reddish-brown coloring to raw and fresh ingredients.
What is a Japanese favorite sauce? ›
Ponzu Sauce
Bright, savory, and tangy, ponzu sauce is a very versatile Japanese condiment that goes with everything! The citrus aroma is especially refreshing. Use it as a dipping sauce, marinades, or dressing over salads, noodles, or rice bowls!
What is Japanese mother sauce? ›
Kaeshi is a Japanese version of a French "mother sauce" -- a sauce base from which several "daughter sauces" are made. Kaeshi is used to make dipping sauces for cold and hot noodles, Tempura, and other dishes.
What is the most popular seasoning in Japan? ›
1. Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese Seven Spice Blend) Perhaps the most essential Japanese spice, the shichimi togarashi spice blend is commonly used to enhance the flavor of countless Japanese dishes, from udon to grilled meat to onigiri rice balls.
Is teriyaki sauce healthy? ›
Is Teriyaki sauce healthy? A. While the low amount of calories in teriyaki sauce makes it healthy, the presence of sodium in the sauce in abundance makes it unhealthy. Therefore, the amount of sauce consumed daily determines whether the sauce will prove to be beneficial or not.
The main things that you'll taste when eating anything that's been glazed in teriyaki sauce is sweetness, tanginess and stickiness. You'll also get a big whack of salt and umami flavouring from the soy, which is why it works so well to amp up light fish or veg and bring out the umami flavours in red meat.
How do you eat teriyaki? ›
Teriyaki sauce pairs well with meats such as fish, chicken, beef, and pork. When used as a dipping sauce, teriyaki sauce flavors chicken wings, dumplings, shrimp, and steak. Stir-fries, rice dishes, and vegetables use teriyaki sauce for additional flavor.
What ethnicity is teriyaki? ›
Ultimately, while teriyaki is of Japanese descent and a traditional method of preparing and cooking meats, the origins of the classic teriyaki dish that we know and consume today is Japanese-American. It is the by-product of American colonization, immigration patterns, and cultural collaboration.
What is the difference between Japanese teriyaki and American teriyaki? ›
Teriyaki sauce in Japan is made by mixing together soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, etc. However, in the United States, it is made by adding several unique spices, creating a flavor a bit different from Japanese teriyaki sauce.
Is Japanese teriyaki chicken healthy? ›
Teriyaki chicken may sound like a healthy choice, but again, it depends. If you end up eating too much rice with it or if the chicken was completely covered with sweet, MSG-rich sauce and glazes, it's not a healthy choice. Affordable teriyaki chicken may be using quite some MSG.
Is Hibachi actually a thing in Japan? ›
The hibachi (Japanese: 火鉢, fire bowl) is a traditional Japanese heating device. It is a brazier which is a round, cylindrical, or box-shaped, open-topped container, made from or lined with a heatproof material and designed to hold burning charcoal.
Is Kikkoman popular in Japan? ›
Kikkoman is the most popular brand of soy sauce in Japan and the United States.
What does Japanese teriyaki taste like? ›
What does teriyaki sauce taste like? Teriyaki sauce has a complex flavour; a mixture of sweet and savoury, tangy and salty. The sweetness comes from the sweet wine and the caramelisation of the sugar, honey or syrup, which also gives the sauce its shiny glaze.
Why is soy sauce so popular in Japan? ›
Soy sauce is arguably the most important seasoning in Japanese cooking. Its well-balanced, salty-sweet taste and deep layer of umami richness make nearly all foods taste more delicious and satisfying.
to many food items in Japanese cuisine. The word teriyaki refers to a method of cooking and combines the words “teri,” meaning luster or gleam, and “yaki,” meaning grilled or broiled.