Main image courtesy of Bachan’s
From sriracha, Tapatio, ranch dressing, to teriyaki sauce, they have all become part of the American culture of drowning our foods in flavortown.
I can not live without Red Rooster Louisiana hot sauce for my fried chicken, Tapatio on my cheeseburger from 1/4 lb Giant Burger (in Hayward, CA), to occasionally some ranch dressing on a combination pizza maybe because like Guy Fieri, us American’s all want to live in flavortown.
Before you check out these Asian sauces, keep in mind these are small American start-up producers, so this post will help you to understand:
- All the basic details: get all the basic information about the product from what it is, size, to price in an easy simple format (one producer, I had to search for their bottle size because it was not easy to find).
- Recommended use (the most important category): like with any product, you’re not going to go out and get it, if you don’t have a use for it. Unlike ketchup, A1, to Tabasco, these sauces will be all new to you which is why I will have some suggested uses.
- “Shrimp on a yacht”: yea, I have never tried any of these sauces, so you are probably asking “well, how the frick are you trying to tell us to go out and buy it?” The answer, well you have never eaten shrimp on your own personal yacht, but don’t tell me you don’t want to eat shrimp on your own personal yacht named “seas the day” (yes, you do).
- Not a paid endorsement: yup, not a single cent, and no free products because I am doing it to support our fellow Americans who want to make an honest living. So that they can afford 5.56/9mm ammo, donating to the American eagle foundation, and to be able to afford kosher hot dogs for the family on the 4th of July.
Switch up your sauce game with these three sauces (do it for America)
These are our fellow compatriots who are putting up the good fight to allow you and your family a chance to not live in blandtown.
- Abokichi: Okazu Chili Miso
- Bachan’s: the Original BBQ Sauce
- Olokoi: all Purpose Sauce
ABOKICHI (“Fortunate Avocado”)
Okazu Chili Miso
Why you should care about Abokichi: Jess Mantell, a Toronto native, and Fumi Tsukamoto, a Japanese national, is the team you want for a product like the one they are selling.
Our story began when Abokichi co-founder Jess first encountered onigiri (Japanese rice balls) as a healthy and convenient snack or meal while living in Tokyo. After returning to Canada, Jess had difficulty finding healthy, natural, and minimally processed food to eat on the run. As a result, she decided to introduce onigiri as a healthy option for busy people in Canada, selling at farmer’s markets in the Toronto area with her business and life partner, Fumi. Abokichi has also welcomed Bobby to the team. He is in charge of production and logistics.
Today, the three of us entrepreneurs work tirelessly, along with our dedicated team, to deliver you healthy and delicious Japanese food.
| Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario Canada? |
| Core ingredients/flavor profile: ORIGINAL CONTAINS: sunflower oil, sesame oil, garlic, miso past (oragnic soybeans, rice, salt), tamari soy sauce (non-GMO soybeans, salt, sugar), sugar, chili powder, white sesame seeds. CHILI & SPICY OKAZU CONTAINS: sesame, soybeans. May contain: mustard. CURRY OKAZU CONTAINS: sesame, soybeans, mustard. All Natural, no MSG. |
| Heat Level: mild-medium |
| Recommended use (in their own words): “Your new cooking BFF! You can add this to virtually everything. Try it on rice, on meat or tofu, in your burger, ramen and pretty much anything. These award winning products will have your taste buds lingering for more…and potentially create an addiction.” |
| A few reason why you will love their sauce: Okazu is all natural and preservative-free. |
| Does it require refrigeration: Yes, please refrigerate after opening (product separation is normal). |
| Bottle size: 230ml |
| Price: $13.99 ($36 3x tasting set) |
| Buy online: abokichi.com/collections/all |
| Website: www.abokichi.com |
| Social media: Faceook YouTube |
| My Thoughts: Every time I see the name “okazu” I find it confusing because in Japanese it means “side dish,” so if I had an American sauce and named it “side dish,” I think people would be like WTF. |
BACHAN’S (slang for “Grandmother”)
The Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce
Why you should care about Bachan’s: they are a cool Asian American family out of NorCal.
Judy Yokoyama, known to our family as Bachan, was born in Sebastopol in 1936. One of six kids, her family was a cornerstone from the start. From her time at Camp Amachi internment camp to living and working on an apple ranch, her childhood was challenging but filled with joy surrounded by family. She inherited a hard work ethic, which she has passed down. Justin, who always shared her values, fondly remembers Bachan listening for hours as he shared his childhood entrepreneurial dreams. Family was always her biggest priority. Attending every grandkids’ sporting event, helping with homework, holding weekly Sunday dinners, she always strengthened her family and offered sage advice. These words of wisdom have lifted up generations, inspiring Justin as a kid, and now encouraging his daughters. Today, we proudly share these “Bachanisms” with you.
| Headquarters: Sebastopol, CA (NorCal), USA |
| Core ingredients/flavor profile: Non-GMO soy sauce, hon-mirin, organic garlic, organic ginger, organic green onion. For their full listing of ingredients, you can click here. |
| Recommended use: great as a sauce or marinade on meat, fish, veggies, rice, and anything in-between. |
| A few reason why you will love their sauce: family recipe, small batch, fresh ingredients, cold-filled bottle, and non-GMO certified. |
| Does it require refrigeration: the sauce is shelf stable and does not need to be refrigerated until opened. Once opened, it’s recommended to keep refrigerated to prolong the flavors of the sauce (no preservatives used). |
| Bottle size: 16 oz. |
| Price: $13.99 |
| Buy online: bachans.com/shop |
| Website: www.bachans.com |
| Social media: |
| My Thoughts: they use an octopus as part of their branding, but it does not contain octopus, it’s not specifically for octopus, so it’s just a random octopus enjoying the sauce with its arms all up in it. Also Japanese don’t BBQ, so this if you want it to anything Japanese, it is more on par with a Japanese “tare” or basting sauce although this product is an Asian American version. |
OLOKOI
All Purpose Sauce
Why you should care about Olokoi: well because I have chatted with Julie (a fellow Orange Countian’), and she’s a cool person, that’s why.
680 Foods is the culmination of family and food. Our goal is to share a part of our world with you. 680 is the country code of our island home and that is where our first product, Olokoi, originates from. 680 Foods will explore the culinary flavors of surrounding islands including how our influence has found its way into modern day dining. Our mission is to bring those exotic flavors within reach to your home or during your next restaurant visit.
| Headquarters: Costa Mesa, CA (SoCal), USA |
| Core ingredients/flavor profile: a seasoned soy sauce that is citrusy with a spice which creates a unique umami experience. |
| Recommended use: if you are a meal prepper, this is the sauce you will want because it has major flavor, is low cal, low sodium, contains no sugar, and is vegan friendly. You’ll want to dip your chicken and anything and everything into this sauce. |
| A few reason why you will love their sauce: this is your chance to try a sauce that is a blend of Micronesian (Pacific Islands) and American culture (You should know this one). |
| Does it require refrigeration: N/A |
| Bottle size: 10 oz. |
| Price: $7.95 |
| Buy online: olokoi.com/olokoi-products |
| Website: olokoi.com |
| Social media: |
| My Thoughts: it looks as though this is a very new company, so a lot of the questions you might have about the product are not that easy to come by which is why this post exists (to learn everything you need to know). |
I do not take free products although if I did I’d probably know how things tasted by now
I do not want to come off as biased if I take products, and I would rather support these individuals by purchasing their product although I am lagging on trying their products (the negative byproduct of not taking free stuff).
