Sticky, sweet, and instantly recognizable thanks to its neon-red hue, Ah-So Sauce has long been a staple for New England fans of American-style Asian cuisine. Sold in both traditional jars and modern handy squeeze bottles, the garlicky sauce-meets-marinade with the green and white label has been adding Asian-inspired zip to Yankee dinner tables and barbecues for decades with its signature appearance and flavor.
Are you as surprised to learn about the Ah-So/New England connection as I was? To help grow these classic New England foods-related posts, we often ask our Facebook fans which New England-made food brands they can’t live without, and the answers are always an entertaining mix of predictable and surprising. We know, for example, that our fans (whether born here, living here, or Yankee in spirit) love their lobstah, New England Clam Chowder, baked beans, and the New England hot dog bun, but we also hear from transplanted New Englanders about brands they miss. Having lived here my whole life, I’m often blissfully unaware of what doesn’t exist on store shelves outside of southern New Hampshire. Maybe you are, too.
One of those brands is Ah-So Sauce. It claims to be “New England’s Best-Selling BBQ Sauce,” but Ah-So isn’t made in New England (it’s manufactured by Allied Old English, Inc. which is based in New Jersey). Still, the sauce’s primarily northeastern distribution puts it on the list of foods associated with the region, and enough folks mentioned it by name as something they can’t get in Georgia or Colorado (but wish they could) that we thought it deserved a spot on the list.
Never had Ah-So? The contents of each jar are shockingly red, achingly sweet (the top two ingredients are high fructose corn syrup, followed by corn syrup), and flavored with a touch of garlic, but that’s all part of Ah-So’s retro charm. It’s not classy and it’s not trying to be. Just slather it onto your meat of choice (ribs, pork, chicken, meatloaf, etc.), bake or grill low and slow so the sauce won’t burn, then get the stack of napkins ready.
As you can see here, I went with chicken wings.
After an hour in the oven, with several pauses to flip the wings and baste them with a little more sauce, things were looking good. The sauce cooks down to a thick glaze, which might not be fun for the dish-washer (which is a person in my house), but lends an addictive texture and flavor to the meat.
Are you a fan of Ah-So Sauce? If you’ve moved away, do you miss it? And what’s the best way to use it? Let us know, and happy finger-licking and dish-washing!
This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.





Living in Newfoundland and from the Boston area every year I bring home 5 jars of Ah-So. Of course I share and have won over a few fans. I also bring home B&M beans, canned beans here really suck. Natural casing hot dogs,not heard of here. The list is endless. Been all over the world and nothing beats New England Chinese food. 5 weeks I’ll be home
If you’re a New England ex-pat and AH-SO products are scarce in your new location, you’ll find them available on Amazon, along with marshmallow fluff and other brands. I’m not an Amazon fan, just passing that along…..
I think I have a bottle in Fridge from 70’s! Actually it is from 2015….it smells and tastes same as when it was bought it. I use this for grilling…always loved it. This past summer has been too hot to cook indoors out outside! I am in RI and this has always been on shelves here since I was a kid in 50’s. The little store near me has an Asian section, with 5 items. Ah-So Sauce, La Choy aka..Chun King Chow Mein in 3 flavors beef, vegetable and chicken, Chun King “sticks” fried noodles, La Choy Soy Sauce, and Hoo Me Chow Mein. I love the Hoo Me, it comes with a gravy packet and the fried noodles. Tastes like RI Chow mein.
I LEFT BOSTON IN 97 (SAUGUS) TO FLORIDA, MY BONES JUST COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS WEREN’T HERE SO I WENT TO THE STORE MANAGER (PUBLIC’S) AND ORDERED FLUFF AND BIRCHBEER. I THINK I BROUGHT FLUFF TO FLORIDA BECAUSE NOW IT’S EVERYWHERE. NOT SO WITH THE BIRCHBEER, I GUESS I WAS THE ONLY ONE BUYING IT SO THEY STOPPED STOCKING IT. I GUESS WHAT I’M SAYING IS THAT JUST GO TO STORE MANAGER AND HE WILL ORDER IT. BUY THE WAY, SAUGUS HAS THE KOWLOON CHINESE RESTAURANT THAT WAS VOTED # 1 AT ONE TIME IN THE STATES AND THEY USE AH-SO SAUCE ON THEIR BONELESS RIBS, SPARE RIBS, AND PORKSTIPS.
They have it in Georgia at Publix, my local store has it in the Deli section near the cold prepared food. Wings & tater salad & such. What a find! They also have Gaspar’s Linguica near the hot dogs.
I just found it in our local Stop and Shop.
Seeing the first two ingredients HFCS & CORN SYRUP, both unhealthy. Research the health probs with HFCS, scary. Any food / sauce item with these ingredients is a no-no on my shopping list. There are other less problematic sugar products that can be used. I’m not a health nut, just informed and research what I’ll consume.
Like anything in life . Moderation is important. Having grown up in western Mass Ah- So was a family favourite. I’d cover everything I could in it when it was being served. And I’d wash it down with a cold glass of Coke. Obviously my diet growing up was not based around these products. And as a perfectly healthy adult with all my teeth , im glad i was aloud to enjoy this. Just reading this article brought back memories of my backyard, the grill, and our old picnic table. I havnt seen it in Delaware though. Maybe there’s no room for it with all the scrapple. I will be ordering it online, and making some new Ah- So memories with my own kids.
I avoid HFCS and CS in general at all costs. I eat primarily Organic and NON-GMO and read every product label. BUT growing up in NE, Ah So Sauce on Pork Ribs is something I indulge in maybe 2-3 times a YEAR. Moderation is key to enjoying a few foodie guilty pleasures.
I have friends that look for a visit that brings them Ah-So Sauce, Cain’s Mayo and Salada tea. They have been down there for over twenty years and still miss the hometown favorites.
Oh, how I miss Cains mayo!
Does anyone remember that it came with a brush attached to the jar by its wire handle wrapped around the lid?
My mother could not get a handle on low and slow so she was way ahead of the trend with her blackened chicken.
Yes, I do recall the brush attached. Brings back memories of sumptuous, sticky goo! Put it on country-style spare ribs. Had it with potato salad and B & M beans.
I grew up in Waltham in the 60s. My Dad always used this on chicken wings, at that time the cheapest part of the bird. Back then it was made in Waban, a village of Newton, Mass.
I live in Alabama now and can find Ah-So in Publix..which makes me happy because I use to have to order it off Amazon. Country Style Ribs marinated over night with Ah-So, then cooked on grill. I love when they get a little burnt, cause it’s delicious!
Moxie is my absolute fave and I used to have to order it straight from company.. expensive!! But it is a guilty pleasure and I wanted it. I found that Cracker Barrel here in my town sells Moxie in the bottles!! So I got and buy out their stock every once in a while to keep my addiction satisfied.
Butchers Blockrib sauce is better, and made in Boston
Football Sunday tradition Pork chops & AH-SO sauce in a crock pot. Set it & forget it then enjoy the games.
I’ve lived in California for the past12 years and cannot find it anywhere. Was telling my friends about it and we just happen to be going to a cook out this weekends! It has been pretty expensive to order online on Amazon but I found it this week on Walmart.com $20 for 6 bottles!! Came in 3 days with no shipping cost since is spent $40 total getting some other New England Classics (B&M Brown bread in a can and some Baked Beans) I’m so excited to throw on the grill this weekend!
Born and raised in Boston. You can now order Ah So sauce from Amazon.
I have devoured Ah-So sauce my entire life and currently have a bottle in my fridge, which is a “mandatory supply” to have on hand. I like the squeeze bottle!
Devour the Ah-So pork on the Pu-Pu platter at Singapore in Fitchburg, MA. Yum! Note: Singapore has been in business serving its iconic Pu-Pu platter for at least forty or fifty years. What a great restaurant to profile in New England Today *hint, hint, nudge, nudge. 😉
There’s a roadhouse restaurant in West Wareham on rte 28 called Vel’s ,and their house dressing is Ah-So mixed with white vinegar and spices. Try it at home.
Grew up in Salem Ma, we always had Ah-So on chicken and also used it to “paint” steaks before putting on the BBQ. Yum!
I bought some to try… Other than chicken wings any other good recipes/ideas to share? LMK
I Put it on ribs in a crock pot on low for about 8 hours, basting and turning them occasionally. Then I put them on the grill for just a few minutes and you will have ribs line those you get in a Chinese restaurant in Boston. I use either baby back or St Louis styles ribs
When you live out of the region……This is where you say “Thank God” for Amazon
I lived in Mew England my who,e life…..born in NH, but moved to RI when I was 14. I met my husband when I was in my early 30’s, and we moved to NJ where he was stationed at McGuire AFB. I wasn’t able to find Ah-So sauce, devil dogs, and Habitat Pea Soup. Every time we came back home for holidays, I stocked up on all 3. We just moved back to NH, built our dream house, and never plan on leaving. New England is the best!!!
Just recently moved to MD from MA, and I couldn’t find this at my new local Walmart or grocery stores. Darn shame too, since I don’t generally use anything else when doing up some pork chops.
Market Basket now carries it at two for five dollars
Pare boil chicken wings first? I’m using Ah-So sauce
No need to parboil wings. Put them in the oven for 25 minutes, skin side down, then turn and put back in for 20 min or so.
I love the stuff but have not found it in the Phoenix/Tempe area yet
My friends send me jars. Just got 2 jars and 2 cans of BnM brown bread. I miss home
Huh. I think I live in the southwestern New England. LOL. I’m in AZ, about 30 miles or so east of Phoenix, and am able to purchase Ah So, and fluff. I know a store used to carry devil dogs, but I am not sure if they still do.
Since I have move to Cincinnati OH, motto far from me in Fairfield there is this awesome grocery store named Jungle Jims. They have been featured on tv as a wild and crazy grocery store. Well a long story short, Ah-So is stocked and I grab it whenever I need a taste of home……
Ooh. I am doing that tonight! I never mixed honey with it.
i live in Ocala Florida,the public here doesn’t have it,can anyone tell me where I can find the ah-so sauce PLEASE
I first found this when I lived in West Palm Beach, FL! I’m now in Eastern PA and NO stores had it here. I called ShopRite and they ordered it for me and are now carrying it on the shelves. Yay! But you can always buy it online. Amazon has it, and AhSo probably has a website. Love this stuff!!
Publix in Viera, FL carry Ah-So. You may want to request your local Publix to do the same.
Amazon has it in several sizes and bottle types.
I grew up in NH. Lived there all my life until a year and a half ago when I moved to Grand Island, FL. I buy Ah So sauce at either Publix or Winn Dixie in Eustis…one of them usually have it….
Publix on 441, Eustis I’m going down this week. Hanniford in the Villages, Now gone, use to carry good hot dog rolls in the bakery, Moxie, Polar Beverage and Friendly’s Ice Cream. Boy I miss that.
Back in the mid 1980s I left Boston and headed out West to Utah and Idaho for college and other things. I grew up with Ah-So sauce and was shocked to discover nobody had even heard of it out there. When I came back home for break, the first thing I did was grab a jar and check the label, at which point I swear I read that it was made (or, at least, distributed by a company) in Waban, Massachusetts.
I eventually made it back to the Boston area and now happily keep my cabinet stocked with the heavenly glow-in-the-dark elixir of all that is tasty. In fact, I just grilled some ribs slathered with the stuff and my taste buds are in full orgy mode right now.
Life without Ah-So sauce truly isn’t worth living.
Ah-So has been sold here in Florida at Publix for at least 7 or 8 years @ $4.99 per jar … at first … but they have since lowered the price because Wal Mart started carrying it in greater Orlando for about $3.49.
I live in Ca. now. Originally from Boston. Of all places wal mart just started stocking Ah So at some of their stores!
I moved to Tennessee and my relatives back in New England send us care packages now and then consisting of: Fluff, Devil Dogs, White Polar Birch Beer, Moxie, and Pure Maple Syrup. Now the Devil dogs are made in Tennessee, but I have to get them from New Hampshire… go figure…
Ah-So sauce is definitely of New England origin, devised by a dear friend and Yale College classmate, Harvey Edlin. He was a New Haven CT native and distributor of supermarket barbecue equipment in the early days of that development. He sold the sauce business to a NJ company.
I moved away over 39 yrs ago and couldn’t find Ah-So anywhere. It was even hard to find on trips home for a while. And then I searched the Internet and was delighted to find it on Amazon. I get a regular shipment now of both Ah-So and marshmallow Fluff!!
Love our Ah-So sauce! I take 1 cup Ah-So sauce and 1/4 cup honey. Marinate steak tips overnight and grill. There are never any leftovers.
If you’re near a Spec’s liquor store,
they often have Moxie. It’s been my saviour a few times!
I live in Texas now no AH-SO here, or Moxie, have been able to find “snap dogs”, but not as good as Schonlands.
I also moved to Fl, they sell it in Publix in the deli.
I moved to San Francisco 25 years ago and the 2 things I miss most from the Boston area are Ah-So sauce and Fluff. Both bring such happy memories. I know I can find these items on line but I love when my family sends me these in a care package. And I do miss lobstah and steamahs too but I found a place that serves this close to my home!
When I moved to Florida, I almost gave up finding many of the brands of food that I was used to. However, thanks to online shopping I was able to find Ah So Sauce and many other New England treats. One such site is famousfoods.com, it has been my saving grace.