When you cook, you want to make your food as flavorful and delicious as possible. Liquid condiments like soy sauce can elevate your dish to the next level while adding extra depth. Find out which soy sauce is best and other information on this seasoning.
Soy Sauce Shopping Considerations
Soy sauce is often considered a staple in Asian cuisine, but Americans are catching up to the hype. Its market in the United States is expected to earn a revenue of $5,541.1 million in 2025. While ketchup and mayonnaise still reign supreme, interest is increasing.
However, health enthusiasts should consider several things before buying a bottle or two for their pantry. For instance, soy sauce typically has a higher sodium content than other condiments as it contains salt, MSG and other ingredients. If you have heightened salt sensitivity, look at the nutritional label first.
Soy sauce is made from various ingredients, including soybeans and wheat. Some are fermented while others are chemically produced. There are numerous variations of this condiment to pick from, so don’t be afraid to explore and see what works for your personal tastes.
The Best Soy Sauce Brands
Many people will wonder which soy sauce is best as they wander the grocery store’s aisles. The correct answer can vary from person to person. Here’s a collection of the best brands you simply have to sample.
1. San-J
| Type | Tamari soy sauce |
| Origin | Japan |
| Ingredients | Water, soybean, salt, alcohol |
| Available sizes | 10, 20 and 64 fluid ounces |
San-J is the most authentic soy sauce from Japan, staying true to the fermentation process. Its signature Tamari Soy Sauce is much richer and less salty compared to regular versions of soy sauce. Plus, its simplified ingredients list makes it vegan and free of GMOs and gluten.
What makes San-J one of the best is its broad selection. If you’re trying to regulate your salt intake, you can get the brand’s beautifully brewed soy sauce with 28% or 50% less sodium. Some versions utilize organic soybeans and alcohol too, which is key for environmental sustainability.
2. Lee Kum Kee
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | China |
| Ingredients | Water, salt, soybeans, sugar, wheat four, caramel coloring |
| Available sizes | 8.4, 59 and 64 fluid ounces |
Lee Kum Kee is another popular soy sauce brand, and for good reason. It is brewed quite traditionally, and the umami flavor is further elevated with enhancers. Sodium benzoate is added for extra preservatives to keep its shelf life relatively long.
The classic Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce is recommended for marinating and cooking. Other alternatives include its Brown Braising Sauce, a soy sauce formulated explicitly for cooking Chinese braising dishes like pork belly.
3. Kikkoman
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | Japan |
| Ingredients | Water, soybean, wheat, salt |
| Available sizes | 5 fluid ounces, 40 fluid ounces, 2 quarts |
Kikkoman is an iconic condiment that originated in Japan before it was introduced and produced in America. It utilizes the classic fermentation process, which creates a rich and dark soy sauce. The formulation has no preservatives added and is non-GMO.
There are gluten-free and organic versions of the Kikkoman Soy sauce, which still maintain the well-known reddish and brownish hue. You can also get double-fermented soy sauce, which heightens the umami flavor.
4. American Garden
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | U.S. |
| Ingredients | Distilled vinegar, hydrolyzed soy protein, salt, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, caramel color |
| Available sizes | 295 milliliters |
The American Garden is known for procuring a variety of sauces, from the Habanero and Tabasco Pepper Sauce to the Steak Sauce Classic. Its Soy Sauce Classic is an interesting take that’s perfect for those seeking dairy-free and vegetarian options.
The variant utilizes hydrolyzed soy protein to achieve the umami flavor, maintaining a little bit of the sweetness with corn syrup. While it skips traditional brewing, the components still eliminate artificial flavoring.
5. Silver Swan
| Type | Dark and light soy sauce |
| Origin | Philippines |
| Ingredients | Water, soybean protein, wheat flour, iodized salt, coloring agent |
| Available sizes | 34 and 128 fluid ounces |
Hailing from Manila’s Chinatown, Silver Swan offers a unique soy sauce that truly alters the depth of your dish. Like most condiments from the Philippines, it’s a bit sweeter. However, it utilizes high-quality soybeans to achieve a good amount of saltiness.
Silver Swan has two main variants — the Regular Lauriat Chinese Soy Sauce has the rich consistency that dark soy sauces are known for. If you want a lighter texture and color, the Lauriat Chinese Light Soy Sauce is for you.
6. Kroger Soy Sauce
| Type | Dark and light soy sauce |
| Origin | U.S. |
| Ingredients | Water, hydrolyzed soy protein, salt, dextrose, caramel color |
| Available sizes | 10 fluid ounces |
The Kroger Soy Sauce is another chemically produced soy sauce that utilizes hydrolyzed soy protein. Its original and lite versions take inspiration from Chinese condiments, which tend to be saltier than Japanese ones.
Kroger comes in a standard size, and is also marketed as Kosher. The term refers to food that meets Jewish dietary regulations from the laws of kashrut, which may prohibit certain meat and ingredients unless prepared a certain way.
If you want a more traditional preparation, check out Private Selection under Kroger’s umbrella of house brands. They have a Premium Soy Sauce that uses water, defatted soybeans, wheat, salt and yeast extract, all aged 180 days to create a rich umami flavor.
Private Selection has a relatively more viscous texture than other options on the market. It is ideal when you need thicker sauces for stir-fried rice or noodles. Some also regard it as slightly less salty despite its darker color, which is an excellent introduction for those new to soy sauces.
7. Pearl River Bridge
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | China |
| Ingredients | Water, soybeans, salt, sugar, wheat flour |
| Available sizes | 5, 150, 500 and 600 milliliters |
Pearl River Bridge is another brand with plenty of renown around the States. Its Superior Dark Soy Sauce maker is the brand’s standout product, undergoing more than 100 days of fermentation to get its potent fragrance and taste. A little goes a long way!
Pearl River Bridge also has a Superior Light Soy Sauce, which uses the same soybeans from Southern China. If you want a more health-conscious variant, the Gluten Free Low Salt Soy Sauce from its line is also an excellent choice.
8. Bourbon Barrel Foods
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | U.S. |
| Ingredients | Water, soybeans, wheat, sea salt and yeast |
| Available sizes | 100 milliliters, 32 ounces |
Bourbon Barrel Foods offers Bluegrass Soy Sauce, a handcrafted condiment from Kentucky that takes inspiration from Japanese soy sauces. Bourbon Barrel Foods uses Limestone-filtered Kentucky spring water, Kentucky-grown non-GMO soybeans and soft red winter wheat.
Solar-evaporated sea salt is mashed in before aging for saltiness. Variations include the Bourbon Smoked Soy Sauce, which slow-smokes the Bluegrass Soy Sauce as a base in a white oak bourbon barrel for a more complex flavor.
9. Sempio
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | Korea |
| Ingredients | Water, defatted soybeans, wheat, salt, high fructose corn syrup, alcohol, yeast extract, licorice extract, sucralose |
| Available sizes | 150, 500 and 860 milliliters, and 1.7, 5 and 15 liters |
Sempio has been in the business for about 70 years and is known as one of the bestselling naturally brewed soy sauces in Korea. While it is categorized as a dark soy sauce, it is slightly lighter and less salty than other Asian soy sauces.
Sempio ferments each bottle for about 6 months with healthy yeast and lactic acid for a clean flavor profile. The product is tagged as Kosher and SQF, so you can ensure that it’s safe and good for those with Jewish dietary regulations.
10. Shibanuma
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | Japan |
| Ingredients | Defatted processed soybeans, wheat, table salt |
| Available sizes | 10.14 fluid ounces |
Shibanuma has been developing artisanal soy sauce for decades in Japan. Its classic Shiho soup is its standard option with a mellow flavor. Ohitachi is also popular for sashimi and sushi, undergoing more than a year of fermentation to be more umami.
You can also try out the Shiho-no-Shizuku, an unheated pure soy sauce that retains the salty richness you’d expect from this condiment. It can be handy for marinating and softening fish, meats and vegetables. Others also use it as an alternative to regular table salt.
11. La Choy
| Type | Dark soy sauce |
| Origin | U.S. |
| Ingredients | Water, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, corn syrup, caramel coloring, potassium sorbate |
| Available sizes | 10 and 15 ounces |
La Choy has been a go-to brand for Asian essentials since 1922. It started with the humble canned bean sprouts before the La Choy Soy Sauces were created. The brand has become such a hit that food giant Conagra decided to pick it up and expand its line.
Despite the long journey, La Choy retains its authentic soy sauce flavor that many people love and enjoy. The smaller size is perfect for those who want to limit their salt intake, though you can also seek the brand’s low-sodium variant to keep your health goals intact.
FAQs About Soy Sauce
While you finally know which soy sauce is best, you may still have queries about this infamous condiment. Here are some frequently asked questions to help clarify.
How Do You Choose Your Soy Sauce?
Choosing your soy sauce comes down to personal preference. Do you prioritize having bigger bottles in your kitchen? Or are you mainly seeking the best flavor? If you’re picking between light or dark soy sauce, consider the use. The former is primarily utilized for seasoning and marinades, while the latter changes color and completely alters the taste.
What Are the Best Benefits of Soy Sauce?
Soy sauce is a great way to gradually increase your salt intake when needed. It also has antioxidants to prevent cell damage from free radicals, though further research is needed to confirm. It’s still best to use this in recipes with moderation.
How Much Soy Sauce Is Too Much?
Soy sauce has a high sodium content. Having one tablespoon of it fulfills more than a third of the general recommended daily sodium intake. If you’re cooking one serving of a dish for the day, it’s best to stick to that amount. Granted if you are meal prepping or marinating, you can adjust the amount as you please.
How Long Does Soy Sauce Last?
Soy sauce lasts a pretty long time, especially when it’s left closed on the shelf. The fermentation process and preservatives contribute to its long shelf life. That said, its peak freshness is three to six months after opening the bottle. Refrigerate the seasoning to preserve it.
Where To Use Your Soy Sauce
Once you finally get the soy sauce, you can start trying out various recipes. Here are a few suggestions to get you started on your new and improved culinary journey.
Dipping Sauce
One of the simplest ways to use soy sauce is a dipping sauce. You can use it for plain boiled chicken, raw vegetables and even for dumplings. To do this, mix your favorite brand with sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and pepper. You can add cilantro if you want to add a herby taste. Use sparingly and store away the excess for your next meal.
Stir Fry Sauce
Stir-fry sauce is another essential that you can have at your disposal. You can whip it out when you have leftover rice and noodles, along with shrimp, tofu, veggies and other kinds of food. This recipe starts with vegetable stock before incorporating soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger and sugar. Use cornstarch to thicken and red pepper flakes for spice.
Salad Dressing
If you have a simple salad and want to avoid the regular Thousand Island dressing, consider creating this Asian ginger dressing. It’s best to mince fresh garlic and ginger for the most potent flavor. Mix in olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey. Dilute with water and adjust it according to your preferences.
Soup Base
Soy sauce is an excellent ingredient for making quality soup. One of the most popular iterations is shoyu ramen, which Japanese chefs train to cook to perfection. The broth consists of your favorite soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, chicken stock, dashi soup stock and sake. Sugar and salt are added to taste.
Find The Best Soy Sauce
Answering which soy sauce is best is challenging, as numerous options are on the market. Use the list to narrow things down and taste the finest ones. Remember to put your personal tastes and health concerns first when choosing your condiments.
