To utilize effectively sardine as a material of pickled products, we investigated on processing of vinegar pickled sardine. The moisture, the crude ash and histamine contents showed a little change during vinegar pickling of salted sardine. The pH and viable cell counts decreased during vinegar pickling of salted sardine. The pickled sardine processed with vinegar seasoning solution mixed antioxidants was retarded in lipid oxidation during processing. The principal taste compounds of vinegar pickled sardine were organic acid (acetic acid), IMP and free amino acids such as histidine, lysine, glutamic acid and arginine. The vinegar pickled sardine was higher in the contents of limiting amino acids of cereal such as lysine, and 20 : 4 and polyunsaturated fatty acid such as 20 : 5 and 22 : 6 than those of other processed foods.