Sourcing Brief · K-Food and Foodservice
Korean Sauces for Restaurants and Cafes: Flavor Without a New Prep Station
Seven sauces, two kitchen jobs, and one easy first test.
A guest orders the fried chicken, and the first bite is the reason they come back. A dependable Korean sauce can carry that bite without adding a prep station, which is why sauces are one of the simplest ways for a kitchen to bring in a Korean flavor.
Sauces Do the Work for Your Kitchen
A good Korean sauce shortens a menu item from a recipe to a step. For a restaurant or cafe, that means a dependable flavor on the plate without a new prep station. The choice below splits into sauces for fried and snack-bar items, and sauces for home-style cooking.
Product Highlights
Fried chicken and snack bar
Coating and dipping sauces for the fryer and the street-food style menu.
Samyang
Buldak Mayo Sauce (250g)
A mayonnaise-based sauce with chicken seasoning, soy sauce, chilli and black pepper. The product page suggests it as a dip for snacks and fried foods, a drizzle over rice bowls or eggs, or a spread for sandwiches.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
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Pelicana
Seasoned Chicken Sauce, Original (300g)
A prepared sauce for coating chicken. The product page directs warming it or using it at room temperature, then tossing with freshly fried chicken until coated. It can also be used as a dipping sauce or glaze.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
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Sempio
Skewer Rice Cake Sauce for Spreading & Dipping (105g)
A sweet-savory gochujang and ketchup sauce made for grilled or pan-fried rice cake skewers. The product page also suggests it as a dip or coating for chicken, dumplings and nuts.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
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Otoki
Mala Sauce with Sichuan Pepper & Chili (200g)
A sauce with domestic red chili pepper, Sichuan pepper (sancho), soybean oil, soybean paste and garlic, which the product page suggests as a seasoning or dipping sauce for Korean, Chinese or mixed dishes.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
Source This ProductHome-style kitchen sauces
Cooking sauces that turn a few ingredients into a finished dish.
Nongshim
Jjapagetti All-Purpose Sauce (280g)
A black-bean-based cooking sauce with soy sauce, onion and garlic. The product page directs adding about 30g to fried rice ingredients and mixing until absorbed.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
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Nongshim
Baehongdong All-Purpose Sauce (300g)
A cooking sauce that the product page suggests for tteokbokki, fried foods and seafood dishes, used as a dipping sauce or a flavor base.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
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Sempio
Andong Jjimdak Sauce (210g)
A soy sauce-based sauce with garlic and chili extract for braised chicken. The product page directs simmering it with chicken, potatoes and green onions, then adding glass noodles. Contains soy and wheat.
Single, Dozen, and Box available.
Source This ProductTrying Sauces in a Kitchen
- Pick one sauce for a menu item you already sell, such as fried chicken or fried rice, so the test is easy to measure
- Check each product page for allergens before listing the dish, since several sauces contain soy, wheat or sesame
- Add a second sauce only after the first has found a place on the menu
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Korean sauces suit a restaurant that is not Korean?
Dipping and coating sauces such as a mayo-style sauce or a chicken sauce slot into fried and snack items on most menus without a new prep station.
Do Korean cooking sauces contain allergens?
Several contain soy, wheat or sesame. Each product page lists the allergens, so check them before putting a dish on the menu.
What is the minimum order for a sauce trial?
Minimum order details are confirmed during sourcing. Request a product recommendation and we will confirm the terms for your market.
Tell us your menu and we’ll suggest a first sauce.
Request a Product Recommendation