Oyster Sauce vs Hoisin Sauce

A side-by-side guide to substituting Hoisin Sauce for Oyster Sauce (or vice versa).

Quick answer

Use 0.5 tbsp of Hoisin Sauce for every 1 tbsp of Oyster Sauce.

Side-by-side

Oyster Sauce

Base unit: tbsp

Read the full guide: Oyster Sauce

Hoisin Sauce

Conversion: Use 50% as much (0.5 tbsp per 1 tbsp)

Tags: common

Notes: Sweeter and thicker with star anise notes; use ½ tbsp hoisin per 1 tbsp oyster sauce. Best for glazes and braised dishes.

Read the full guide: Hoisin Sauce

Calculate the exact swap for your recipe in seconds.

Open calculator →

When to use Hoisin Sauce instead of Oyster Sauce

Sweeter and thicker with star anise notes; use ½ tbsp hoisin per 1 tbsp oyster sauce. Best for glazes and braised dishes. The conversion is use 50% as much (0.5 tbsp per 1 tbsp).

Common questions

Can I substitute Hoisin Sauce for Oyster Sauce?

Yes — Sweeter and thicker with star anise notes; use ½ tbsp hoisin per 1 tbsp oyster sauce. Best for glazes and braised dishes. Ratio: Use 50% as much (0.5 tbsp per 1 tbsp).

What's the conversion ratio for Oyster Sauce to Hoisin Sauce?

Use 50% as much (0.5 tbsp per 1 tbsp). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.

Are Oyster Sauce and Hoisin Sauce interchangeable?

They are similar in most uses, but Sweeter and thicker with star anise notes; use ½ tbsp hoisin per 1 tbsp oyster sauce..

Is Hoisin Sauce a better substitute than other options for Oyster Sauce?

Hoisin Sauce is one of the options SubSwap lists for Oyster Sauce. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Oyster Sauce substitutes.

Looking for more Oyster Sauce substitutes beyond Hoisin Sauce?

See all Oyster Sauce swaps →