Kewpie mayonnaise

Before I shell out at the Chopping Block or Mitsuwa, I want to know: is it worth buying? What makes it great?

My room mate frequently travels to Japan and is an afficionado of Okonomiyaki, and consequently a huge fan of Kewpie mayo. The weird medical implant- like bottle threw me off at first, but I have to say, I love it and it is the only mayonaise in our fridge these days. Apparently it is made with rice vinegar, which adds a sweeter touch, I suppose. I have also read that mustard is also an ingredient, which may set it a notch above in my book. It is obviously appropriate for Japanese dishes, but we eat it on sandwiches, french fries, and even fried chicken! I am a big fan.

I'm likewise a fan. It's significantly unique enough that my fridge always contains a jar of Hellman's and a bottle of Kewpie... and frequently a little tub of homemade. I... uh... like mayo.

I tend to mostly use it in tuna and egg salad, probably because Japanese tuna and egg salad is fricking awesome and using Kewpie is the only way I've been able to get close to it. It's also a really good foil for sweet soy-based sauces, hence the use with okonomiyaki. I also wouldn't want any other kind of mayo on takoyaki. Not that I make takoyaki.

In any case, the difference is significant and definitely merits a try, even if it doesn't end up working its way into your regular condiment rotation.

The Japanese LOVE their mayonaise. Kewpie is everywhere in Japan. However, no one has mentioned the texture of it...it is thinner than regular mayo, thus the squeeze bottle.

And, yes, it's worth the price

The MSG.

Seriously, unlike American mayo's, Japanese bottled mayo's all have MSG. That's one significant difference.

We've got a bottle in the fridge.

We usually use it for Japanese potato salad, okonomiyaki and a spicey mayo sauce we sometimes use for seared ahi or "spicey" tuna.

Stephen Colbert's take on the mayo restaurant

Pete wrote:Stephen Colbert's take on the mayo restaurant

Wow. Guess I know where I'M going next time I'm in Tokyo.

fleurdesel wrote:Before I shell out at the Chopping Block or Mitsuwa, I want to know: is it worth buying? What makes it great?

It's probably much cheaper than the Chopping Block at a place like H-Mart or one of the markets in Chinatown or near Argyle.

tried this yesterday and was a bit grossed out... probably a comination of the in my opinion just plain weird packaging and also the runniness of it... going 2 half to stick to hellman's

Kewpie is great though not as a replacement to Hellman's which is a different beast. For a good spicy mayo, Kewpie is best and also for other uses as Dmknly suggests.

Dom, the Japanese tuna and egg salad sounds interesting. Would you share the recipe please?

I think Kewpie mayo is soy-based, and in theory pairs well with Japanese dishes. Can anyone confirm the ingredient list?

I actually think the container is pretty well though out. It keeps air out and helps to keep it fresher. It kind of works like a pastry bag.

Kewpie + Japanese 7 spice (shichimi togarashi) is one of my favorite condiments, but a distant second to Sriracha, of course.