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This China Coast salad dressing is a replica of the delicious dressing that comes on the side salad of your favorite teriyaki plate. In this recipe, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to clone it at home.
Ever been to a teriyaki restaurant and found yourself wondering what was in the delicious dressing on the side salad? This Asian salad dressing is probably one of the most elusive, “top secret” recipes on the planet. If you’re anything like me, you ask for extra and even try to smuggle it home.
Well, let’s end your wandering once and for all. It’s called China Coast salad dressing and it couldn’t be any easier to recreate at home. You’ll be even more surprised to find out that it only requires 6 simple ingredients that you likely already have lying around in your fridge and pantry.
If you’ve never tried China Coast dressing before, get ready to fall in love. It’s creamy, tangy, and earthy, but most importantly it’s addicting. Let’s get to it!
If you want to make a full-blown teriyaki spread, here’s a great recipe for teriyaki chicken. Just don’t forget the steaming bowl of white rice on the side!
How to Make China Coast Dressing
Making China Coast dressing only requires 6 ingredients and two simple steps. Below, find a quick hitter overview of the recipe before you dive in.
- Blend the Ingredients: Toss all the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. You read right, that’s it!
- Refrigerate & Serve: Transfer the dressing into an airtight container or Mason Jar. Refrigerate and marinate until cold. Toss it into any Asian-style salad and enjoy!
Tips for Making the Best China Coast Dressing
Below, find some tips and tricks to help you make the best China Coast dressing on the planet.
- Blend the dressing versus whisking it. Blending the dressing makes it so much more creamy than whisking it.
- Allow the dressing to marinate & chill. Give the dressing time to chill and develop in the refrigerator before you chow down. If you can, let it sit overnight.
- Store leftover dressing in an airtight container. To ensure your dressing doesn’t soak up the smells in your refrigerator, store it in an airtight container or sealable jar.
Serving China Coast Dressing
This Asian sesame dressing goes well on almost any Asian-style dressing. Toss it into this simple cabbage salad in place of the vinegar and oil dressing. You can also dunk raw veggies into it for a healthy snack (think: cucumbers, carrots, and broccoli) or drizzle it over grilled chicken for a tangy pop of flavor.
Storing China Coast Dressing
Store leftover China Coast dressing in an airtight container or sealable canning jar to prevent it from soaking up the smells of your refrigerator. Since the dressing gets more and more flavorful as it marinates in itself in the refrigerator, it’s great to double up the batch and enjoy it over a week or so.
FAQ
What is teriyaki salad dressing made of?
Teriyaki salad dressing, aka China Coast dressing, is made up of mayonnaise, rice vinegar, granulated white sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
How much dressing is in a single serving?
A single serving of this China Coast dressing is about 3 tablespoons.
How far in advance can I make the dressing?
You can make China Coast dressing up to a week in advance. Just make sure to give it a good shake or stir before serving, as there will be natural separation as it sits.
Why did my dressing turn out runny?
China Coast dressing is supposed to be a bit runny versus ultra creamy like ranch or caesar dressing. If you like a thicker dressing, add in some extra mayonnaise.
More Asian Dishes
- Yakisoba Noodles – Japanese style stir-fry
- Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Glass Noodles) – Korean-style sweet potato noodles
- Easy Korean Spicy Noodles – Spicy beef noodles
- Veggie Lo Mein – Chinese-style veggie noodles
Recipe
China Coast Salad Dressing (Teriyaki Restaurant)
Print Pin
Servings
12 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This China Coast salad dressing is a replica of the delicious dressing that comes on the side salad of your favorite teriyaki plate.
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 10 tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 tbsp white granulated sugar
- 4 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
US Units – Metric
Instructions
Place all the ingredients into a blender. Pulse until creamy and well combined.
Pop the dressing into an airtight container and refrigerate until cold. Toss into your favorite Asian-style salad and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
China Coast Salad Dressing (Teriyaki Restaurant)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 286mg12%
Potassium 12mg0%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 12IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 3mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted August 14, 2021
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AlanAug 24, 2024 So friggin amazing I make this once a week. Much better than any teriyaki joint. Tonight it’s short rib.
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 26, 2024 I love hearing that you're making this dish a weekly staple—clearly, it’s a winner! Short rib is such a rich, flavorful choice. Enjoy!
Robert Paul SponenburgJul 8, 2024 Looked years for this recipe. Absolutely the bomb. I'll keep this forever.
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 8, 2024 Thank you so much for the awesome feedback! I'm thrilled that you loved the recipe. It's comments like yours that make sharing these recipes so rewarding. 🙂
JacquieMay 26, 2024 This looks great but what is the size of each serving in ounces, tablespoons??? Please specify. 😊
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 27, 2024 Hey Jacquie, A serving is approximately 3 tablespoons. Enjoy!
OrinocoJan 30, 2024 Putting the list of ingredients at the very bottom, after all the unnecessary yada yada and all the ads makes me never want to use this website again. Not even a "jump to recipe." Epic fail.
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 30, 2024 Hey Orinoco, Under the recipe title there is a "jump to recipe" option. I hope this helps for next time.
MooseOct 31, 2023 Followed the recipe exactly. I’ve eaten teriyaki regularly since the 90’s and though this dressing is good because my wife liked it. It doesn’t taste like the salad dressing from any of the very many teriyaki places I’ve eaten at in my life. For one thing, I cannot stand the flavor of sesame oil. I can handle it in very small doses if there are a bunch of other flavors but sesame oil is so repugnant to me that it tends to ruin dishes easily for me, in which it did for me with this recipe. My wife liked it but also said it doesn’t taste like the dressing either.
I also called 2 teriyaki restaurants to ask if they use sesame oil in their dressing and one of them couldn’t answer my question for some reason, but the other said they do not.
I’m only giving it one star based on the claims that it’s supposed to be like teriyaki restaurant salad dressing and it does not.
If you like sesame oil though I wouldn’t be surprised if you loved it, however it’s very runny.
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 1, 2023 Hey Moose, The amount of sesame oil or even vinegar can easily be adjusted to taste. I appreciate you taking the time to write your feedback!
JennyAug 21, 2023 With a few tweaks it’s just like the restaurants! But everyone has there own taste. But all the ingredients you provided are it thank you for sharing!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 21, 2023 Hi Jenny, I'm so happy to hear you loved it! Thanks for the feedback.
Cara FMar 31, 2023 Oh my goodness this was so yummy! I once had a recipe for this dressing but I couldn't remember the measurements & exact ingredients. This one is now an all time favorite! Tasted so good. I used it for an oriental salad of course with; frozen panko crusted chicken, shaves of carrot & chow mein crunchy noodles. Thank you!!
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 31, 2023 Hi Cara, that sounds absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing your process and feedback with me. Enjoy it dear!!
MYeomansMar 13, 2023 I’ve made this delicious salad dressing for many years. I use 4tbsp of pure maple syrup instead of sugar. It comes out perfect every time. It’s sweet, savory, and tangy.
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 13, 2023 Hi there, wow! That is so interesting, thank you so much for sharing! I will have to give it a try . Enjoy!
KristyMar 27, 2022 To clarify.. did you use seasoned rice vinegar? And was it toasted sesame oil? Thanks 🙂
MeganMay 22, 2023 Seasoned rice vinegar has sugar added to it, so I would recommend using plain rice vinegar since there are 4TB of added sugar to this recipe...or just use the seasoned rice vinegar and omit the extra sugar 🙂
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 23, 2023 Megan, thank you for sharing your tips. I love it!
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 28, 2022 Hi Kristy- I don't think it was seasoned rice vinegar, just regular (the Marukan brand) but I think they can most likely be used interchangeably. As for the sesame oil- either toasted or not works fine. Hope this helps!
LyubaOct 2, 2022 hello this is Lyuba why I blended this dressing and not white but little light brown. Please explain why
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 3, 2022 Hello Lyuba- It should be a cream color, that would be from the soy sauce. But mine has never come out light brown..I'm not sure what that happened for you! How is the taste of it?
Natalya DrozhzhinOct 4, 2022 Hi JCR- sorry to hear that! Thank you for providing feedback.
SethApr 27, 2023 Toasted sesame oil is much stronger than regular sesame oil, 4tbsp of toasted would be overkill. I did 1 tsp of toasted sesame oil and the rest avocado oil. If I had regular sesame, I probably would’ve followed the recipe as is. Turned out great!
Natalya DrozhzhinApr 27, 2023 Hi Seth, thank you for sharing your insight with me. I am so glad that the recipe was a success with your adjustments. Enjoy!
DebbieFeb 13, 2022 Seattle native for 61 years....this dressing tastes EXACTLY like the best teriyaki restaurant dressing 🙂
AlanMar 22, 2022 It sure does. Just made tossed it with prepackaged slaw. Delish. Thanks
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 22, 2022 Hi Alan- you're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 13, 2022 Thank you for the kind feedback, Debbie! Enjoy!
Manny Manolo ElizondoJan 19, 2022 I used to live in Tacoma for about 15 years. I live in Chicago now and let me tell you. Chicago has the best food I think in any city EXCEPT!!!!! … Teriyaki spots. It’s horrible here and only offered in expensive restaurants. So I make my own and it’s not like back in the PNW. Ok .. so know thing I most the most was this dressing and let me tell you now that my taste buds agrees that this is right on. I LOVE IT. THANK YOU for sharing this recipe.
MannySee AlsoTomato Spinach One Pot PastaNatalya DrozhzhinJan 19, 2022 Hey Manny - Oh man, my family misses the Asian food in the PNW so much. Every time we go home to Seattle, we have to get ramen, pho, sushi, and teriyaki. It's a MUST. So glad you enjoyed the dressing. Have you tried our chicken teriyaki yet? It's pretty bomb: https://momsdish.com/recipe/1…. Let me know that you think and thanks for reaching out!
InessaNov 18, 2021 Definitely wish I read all the comments before making this recipe. It’s a lot more tangy than they have in the restaurants, so after making the sauce according to the recipe, I had to double the recipe again, excluding the rice vinegar. So start by adding only 5 tbsp of the rice vinegar and then keep adding more to your liking!
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2021 Thanks for the feedback, Inessa. We definitely like ours on the tangy side. Good call on adding the vinegar gradually to suit your taste buds. Hope you enjoyed having the extra dressing/were able to make good use of it!
Trish PuchalskiNov 1, 2021 Have you tried substituting any of the mayo with yogurt? What's your opinion if you have?
Natalya DrozhzhinNov 2, 2021 Hey Rish, no we haven't tried it. I honestly don't think it would taste as good.
TeriSep 22, 2021 Can I use sweet Rice wine instead of rice vinegar?
Natalya DrozhzhinSep 23, 2021 Hey Teri, I haven't tried using Sweet Rice wine, my concern is that the dressing would be too sweet. If you do try it, please let us know! Thank you
mavee125Aug 30, 2021 This salad dressing recipe is really so delicious and flavorful! Glad I got to get all my needed authentic Asian ingredients in Karman Foods, fast and hassle-free. My salad dressing version was extra flavorful than I expected it to be, So love it!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 30, 2021 I'm so glad you enjoyed the salad dressing, thank you for your feedback!
SaraAug 20, 2021 THANK YOU THANK YOU. been looking for this dressing EVERYWHERE. I just made it and it's great!!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 20, 2021 So glad you enjoyed it!!
BethAug 15, 2021 This dressing is such a light and very delicious dressing! I couldn’t wait to try this, so delicious on the salad I made for dinner last night! Excited to make this again and keep this on hand!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 16, 2021 I'm glad you enjoyed the dressing, Beth!
Vivian OakesAug 15, 2021 This is way better than any restaurant! So full of flavor!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 16, 2021 I am so happy to hear that, thank you for your feedback!
BetsyAug 15, 2021 Delicious dressing! Loved it on chicken. Perfect on salad! Wonderfully tangy and really great flavor!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 16, 2021 Glad you loved the recipe!
April FAug 2, 2021 Please remember the quality of the ingredients also matters! Something people may not realize is that in the PNW we have access to many of the Asian brands as well.
When trying this recipe I used:
Expensive Japanese black garlic soy,
The Kewpie brand Mayo,
Fresh squeeze paste garlic from local market.
Then went with the wildly available:
C and H sugar,
Kadoya pure sesame oil,
Nakano rice vinegar in the “natural” formulation (mild and mellow).This turned out amazingly! So I urge you to make sure you choose ingredients that you would use in other dishes. If you don’t like an ingredient play with it, find a different formula/brand that you do like! Remember recipes are a guide, you make the art!
I saw comments about adding miso and such as well. Since this is first try with the recipe I wanted to keep it as true as I could using what I have on hand (yeah I am honestly out of garlic powder however that happened). I look forward to adding miso paste to the next batch to try that out!
Natalya DrozhzhinAug 3, 2021 April, thank you for your feedback and tips, I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
AngelaJul 17, 2021 Soooo excited to find this dressing! I had been looking for a recipe that replicated the coleslaw at teriyaki take-out restaurants. This is it! Only one I could find. Been using it for a year. To the earlier reviews-- just tweak the ratios to your taste as needed.
Natalya DrozhzhinJul 17, 2021 Angela, I am so glad to hear that, thank you for your feedback!
Michael GreissingerMay 1, 2021 I love this dressing. Great job. I added some ginger and it was great. Thank you.
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 1, 2021 Thank you, Michael!
DonnaMar 27, 2021 So easy and delicious. I didn't need a blender; I just stirred it. Works with Wholesome Zero Sugar in place of White sugar.
Natalya DrozhzhinMar 27, 2021 Donna, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for the feedback!
Linda WirshupFeb 22, 2021 Can you please tell me how many tablespoons in a serving? I am unable to do the math! Thanks
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 22, 2021 Hey Linda, about 3 tbsp. Enjoy
JodiFeb 17, 2021 Just made it, looking forward to it. Thank you.
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 17, 2021 I hope you love them! Let me know what you think when you try them 🙂
KelseyFeb 4, 2021 I’ve been searching for a recipe for the salad dressings they have at teriyaki restaurants. So many recipes I’ve tried were just not quite right. This one is spot on!!! Thank you so much!!!
Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 4, 2021 I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Kelsey! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Rick FoxxJan 31, 2021 made the dressing , a couple little tweaks on the amounts, came out good.
Now for the glaze or topping foe the meats. do you have that. noting in the stores is even close,
TIA.
Seattle local.Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 1, 2021 Are you asking about teriyaki sauce?
Rick FoxxMay 19, 2021 yes
Natalya DrozhzhinMay 20, 2021 I do not have a homemade teriyaki sauce recipe, but in this is the teriyaki sauce I use, you will see a photo of it in the recipe. I hope this helps! Recipe: https://momsdish.com/recipe/1…
Caitlin BoyerJan 22, 2021 Mines super liquidy. I’m assuming from volume of vinegar. Anything I can do to thicken it up? I’ve already added extra mayo and am now out :). Was thinking maybe a cornstarch slurry?
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 23, 2021 Hey Caitlin, it's supposed to be runny not a thick dressing.
apolloniaJan 5, 2021 I had to tweak this recipe a little but has the right ingredients. I added miso paste for more umami taste.
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 5, 2021 Thank you for sharing your tips, I hope you loved the outcome!
Alla SiroshDec 31, 2020 Delicious!! I added 6 tablespoons of vinegar and it was perfect! Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Natalya DrozhzhinJan 1, 2021 Thank you for the tip! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
