We tried some of the lowest-carb, store-bought teriyaki sauces and ranked them on taste, ingredients and carbs. Find out about our favorites!
With more low-carb and keto-friendly teriyaki sauces hitting the market, you don't have to make homemade teriyaki sauce if you're short on time.
Often times, teriyaki sauces can be higher in carbs since they're typically sweetened with sugar, which increases the carbs. For example, one tablespoon of Mr. Yoshida's teriyaki sauce is 10 grams of net carbs, 8 of which are added sugar. But, there are several brands of teriyaki sauce that are lower in carbs and sugar and can easily fit in a low carb and keto diet.
It's important to note that American and Japanese teriyaki sauces vary in ingredients and flavor. Japanese teriyaki sauces are typically made with soy soy, mirin, sake and sometimes sugar. American-style teriyaki sauces are typically stronger in flavor since they can include ginger, garlic, pineapple juice (or other juice), sugar, and/or sesame oil or seeds.
We tried some of the lowest-carb, store-bought teriyaki sauces and ranked them based on taste, ingredients and carbs (with a limit of 3 grams net carbs per tablespoon). Since we all have different flavor preferences, we noted the style of teriyaki sauce, Amazon customer ratings, and some customer comments (in terms of taste).
We love teriyaki sauce since it can be used in a variety of ways, including as a marinade, glaze, stir-fry sauce or dipping sauce. We hope this review helps you in finding a favorite low-carb or keto-friendly teriyaki sauce!
Disclaimer: For the integrity of our food blog, we do not engage in brand partnerships nor do we accept free products. We only review and recommend the products we enjoy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
REVIEW OF LOW-CARB & KETO TERIYAKI SAUCES
1. Seal Sama, Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce
Seal Sama Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce is a sweet, full-flavored American-style teriyaki sauce that tastes similar to standard American-style teriyaki sauces. That said, some Amazon reviewers found it too sweet (it's the sweetest in this review). However, the flavor stands strong when used as a marinade, which wasn't the case with other sauces in this review. In terms of consistency, it's not too thin or thick. Although the ingredients include pineapple juice and cornstarch, it's still rather low in carbs (2 grams net carbs). However, if you don't like a sweeter teriyaki sauce, then you may want to consider another sauce this review.
Net Carbs: 2 grams net carbs per 1 tablespoon
Ingredients: Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Pineapple Juice, Rice Vinegar (Water, Rice), Cornstarch, Dehydrated Garlic, Sucralose
Amazon Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
PROS:
- A tasty sweeter, American-style teriyaki sauce (although some reviews found it too sweet); flavor stands strong when used as a marinade
- Decent consistency — not too thin or thick
- Uses alternative sweetener (sucralose)
CONS:
- Ingredients include pineapple juice and cornstarch
- Higher in cost: $15.00 for 12 ounces ($1.25 / Ounce)
- Not available at many grocers, but available on Amazon
- Some may consider too sweet
2. San-J Gluten Free Teriyaki Sauce
San-J Teriyaki Sauce is one of the best tasting teriyaki sauces in this review since it achieves a tasty balance of sweet and salty. It's more of a simplistic, Japanese-style sauce in terms of flavor and is thinner in consistency, somewhat similar to soy sauce. It's not a sugar-free teriyaki sauce since it includes organic sugar, honey and plum juice concentrate in the ingredients. However, it's still somewhat low in carbs at 3 grams net carbs.
Net Carbs: 3 grams net carbs per 1 tablespoon
Ingredients: Tamari soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, alcohol), water, organic sugar, organic honey, sake (water, rice, salt), apple cider vinegar, garlic puree (garlic, water), rice vinegar, ginger puree (ginger, water, salt), plum juice concentrate, inactive yeast, canola oil, arrowroot, xanthan gum, spice.
Amazon Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
PROS:
- A tasty, well-balanced, Japanese-style teriyaki sauce that is sweet and salty (although some reviews thought it was a little too salty)
- Gluten free (some Amazon reviewers report it's the best gluten-free sauce)
- Available at larger grocers
CONS:
- Ingredient include organic sugar, honey, plum juice concentrate
- Thinner sauce similar in consistency to regular soy sauce
3. California Olive Ranch Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce
California Olive Ranch, a popular olive oil maker, now makes an olive-oil Teriyaki sauce that is fairly tasty. It's much more savory in flavor with soy sauce and roasted sesame oil undertones. There's a slight sweetness to the sauce, but it's rather minimal. In terms of taste, it's more similar Kinder's teriyaki sauce, which has sesame oil and smoky flavor undertones. The ingredients do include cane sugar and pear juice, so those on a strict keto diet should be aware. However, it's still only 3 grams net carbs per tablespoon. It's not yet on Amazon, but can be found at Whole Foods or Walmart.
Net carbs: 3 grams net carbs (the 3 grams are added sugar) per 1 tablespoon
Ingredients: Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Water, Cane Sugar, Rice Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Pear Juice Concentrate, Roasted Sesame Oil, Sea Salt, Garlic, Ginger, Xanthan Gum, Korean Gochugaru Pepper Flakes.
PROS:
- Decent savory flavor with olive oil and roasted sesame oil undertones (note: not that sweet if that is what you are looking for in a sauce)
- Decent consistency — not too thick or thin
- Goes for $6 online or at Whole Foods
CONS:
- Ingredients include cane sugar and pear juice concentrate
- Not yet available on Amazon and only a a few larger grocers (Whole Foods, Walmart)
4. Primal Kitchen Organic No Soy Teriyaki Sauce & Marinade
Primal Kitchen's Teriyaki Sauce is a slightly sweeter, American-style teriyaki sauce with citrusy undertones, which makes it taste different from other sauces (and some may or may not like). It's a slightly thinner sauce (although not as thin as San-J or Kikkoman) that could almost be used as vinaigrette due to it's sweet, somewhat citrusy taste. Overall the taste is decent, but it's not your standard-tasting teriyaki sauce. Although the ingredients don't include sugar, it's still sweetened by dates, orange juice concentrate and tapioca starch, which may not be appropriate for some on a strict keto diet.
Net carbs: 3 grams net carbs (the 3 carbs come from sugars) per 1 tablespoon
Ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Aminos (Organic Coconut Syrup, Himalayan Salt), Organic Balsamic Vinegar (Organic Wine Vinegar, Organic Concentrated Grape Must), Organic Dates, Organic Orange Juice Concentrate, Sea Salt, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Ginger, Organic Garlic, Organic Tamarind, Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Distilled Vinegar, Organic Sesame Oil, Organic Yeast Extract
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
PROS:
- Decent flavor; sweet, somewhat citrusy in flavor (some Amazon reviewers thought it was even sour); however, not a standard-tasting teriyaki sauce
- Available at many large grocers and Amazon
CONS:
- Not a typical-tasting teriyaki sauce
- Slightly thinner consistency
- Ingredients include dates, orange juice concentrate and tapioca starch
5. Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce
Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce is more in line with a Japanese-style teriyaki sauce and is much more salty than sweet. In fact, along with many Amazon reviewers, we agree that this teriyaki sauce is quite salty and tastes more similar to soy sauce than anything else. It's a thinner consistency (similar to soy sauce) and can be found at most grocers for a decent price. It's not marketed as a low-carb, sugar-free or keto-friendly sauce since it includes high fructose corn syrup. But, it's lower in carbs at 3 grams of net carbs per tablespoon. If you're on a strict keto diet, then you may want to avoid since it's made with high fructose corn syrup.
Net Carbs: 2 grams net carbs per 1 tablespoon (which come from sugar)
Ingredients: Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Wine, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate.
Amazon Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
PROS:
- Okay flavor with strong salty, soy sauce taste (which some may or may not like)
- Available at most grocers
- Low in cost at $6.49 for 20 ounces ($.32/ ounce)
CONS:
- Almost too salty in flavor
- Thinner consistency similar to soy sauce
- Ingredients include high fructose corn syrup (not meant to be sugar-free, but is lower in carbs compared to other sauces)
6. Kinder's Zero Sugar Marinade and Sauce Teriyaki
Kinder's Zero-Sugar Teriyaki Sauce is more of a savory, even smoky-flavored teriyaki sauce that tastes quite different from other sauces on this list. But the savory, sesame oil-infused and smoky flavor of the sauce is decent, especially if that is something you might like. Even though it's sweetened with pineapple juice and sucralose, the sauce does not taste sweet (there is only a hint of sweetness). If you're strict keto, you should be aware that the ingredients include pineapple juice.
Net Carbs: 3 gram net carbs per 1 tablespoon with zero added sugar
Ingredient: Water, Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol), Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Garlic, Vinegar, Sesame Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose.
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
PROS:
- Okay flavor; strong savory flavor with sesame oil and smokey flavor undertones
- Decent consistency; not too thick or thin
- Sweetened with alternative sweetener (sucralose)
CONS:
- Ingredients include pineapple juice concentrate
- Little to no sweetness in flavor (which may be a positive or negative)
- Harder to find at large grocers, but is on Amazon
7. G Hughes Sugar Free Original Teriyaki Marinade Sauce
G Hughes makes a sugar-free teriyaki sauce that's sweeter and more American-style in flavor. Although it gets a lot of positive reviews on Amazon, we didn't like the flavor as much since it has somewhat of a strange aftertaste — similar to what you might taste with an alternative sweetener. Also, when we used it as a marinade, the flavor was not that noticeable. However, it is the lowest in carbs on this list at 1 gram per tablespoon. It's also pricier than other teriyaki sauces in this review.
Net Carbs: 1 gram net carbs per 1 tablespoon
Ingredients: Water, Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol), Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Garlic, Vinegar, Sesame Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose.
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
PROS:
- Very low in carbs at 1 gram per tablespoon (lowest in this review) and uses alternative sweetener
- Decent consistency; not too thin or thick
- Sweetened with alternative sweetener (sucralose)
CONS:
- Strange aftertaste; not that flavorful when used as a marinade
- Ingredients include pineapple juice concentrate
- Higher in cost: $15.00 for 13 ounces on Amazon
Disclaimer: For the integrity of our food blog, we do not engage in brand partnerships nor do we accept free products. We only review and recommend the products we enjoy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Leave a Comment