| Specializing in bubbling tofu soup and wide array of veggies |
Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 3/28/2005
Rating: 8.5
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After sitting on our wish list for months, finally got a chance to visit Tofu House in Santa Clara. It's one of Eddies favorite places and I can see why. The people are very nice to you and the entire lunch process is quite an ordeal...at least for the waitress. She has to bring out 10+ small dishes and a this insanely hot stone bowl.
I probably should have went with their speciality Tofu Soup but went with the Korean BBQ. My BBQ came out on a hot plate with enough meat to share with a another person. Served on a hot steel plate layered with onions, thin slices of beef, green onions, and mushrooms. The beef wasn't too sweet and could tell the beef is marinated for some time as it was very tender.
I forgot to take a picture of the bowl of rice but it's brought out on hot stone pot where the waitress will scoop out small servings and place it in stainless steel bowls. I don't know why I'm even writing about this, I guess this is the norm for korean restaurants? It's just cool to experience a different lunch.
I was jealous when they brought out Eddie's hot pot. The soup was boiling and looked like a mini cauldron. They give you a raw egg to drop on top of your soup. It's funny how Korean restaurants can get away with having their customers cook their own food but it's fun. I was able to sample the tofu soup and ooohhwweee its spicy. I like it, it was much better than my BBQ beef.
If you dont eat Korean food often, go out and try the Tofu House. There's a large array of cold veggies and kimchi to try, they bring out your dishes on super hot stone containers, you get to cook some of your food, and it's fairly cheap. Tofu House is the real deal for jatbar.
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Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 739
Reviewed: 4/3/2005
Rating: 8
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I wasn't able to make it to lunch this day with Jason and Eddie so they brought me back my food. I didn't get the food in the freshest possible situation, yet that didn't bother me. I found Tofu House to have a nice vegetarian selection that appealed to me greatly.
The Tofu soup was amazing. With a strong flavorful base and many chunks of tofu inside it was VERY filling as well as delicious. Next time I will just order this alone and be satisfied.
The guys also picked up a dish for me as well. It was the Kimchee plate with white rice. The Kimchee was decent and while I'm not the biggest fan of the stuff, it was tasty enough and had a good burn to it. The other vegetables on the plate were also fresh tasting and pleasing to me. I would have no problems ordering this again, except that the Tofu Soup was so good and filling.
I am happy to now have another tasty vegetarian lunch destination to pick from.
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Reviewer: tanya
Total Reviews: 14
Reviewed: 4/12/2006
Rating: 8.5
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I love eating at the Tofu House (in Santa Clara)their soup always comes out with the right amount of flavor of saltiness and I always get it Spicy HOT. There are some places that make their tofu soup a little bland, so I prefer this soup at Tofu House.
I do agree that their panchang little plates aren't too impressive but I come for the tofu soup and that always leaves me satisfied. If I can eat this every week I would, I especially love the raw egg you get to crack into the soup and bury until it cooks to the degree of firmness you want.
Although their menu is small I think that's a good sign because it means it's mainly tofu soup that is their focus so it should be good if it's their bread and butter. |
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Reviewer: ne00
Total Reviews: 187
Reviewed: 12/7/2005
Rating: 7
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I frequently eat at the Tofu House in Milpitas, but wanted to wait writing my review until Ive confirmed that the one in Santa Clara is the same franchise. Located within the Walgreens plaza, next to Floral Drive (where the Sunnyvale DMV resides nearby), its just one of the many other eateries available within the square. Its very unassuming restaurant.
The restaurant has two sections, so its much bigger than the Milpitas Tofu House. Theres plenty of seating even though the back room was already filled. Often time people wait at the front door to eat at the Milpitas location, but this does not seem to be the case in Santa Clara. Partly its because the space is much bigger and the other part is they space some of the smaller tables so close together, its possible to sit next to a stranger half an arm lengths away.
We were given water in tiny cups and given these tiny menus. Theres not much to choose from at Tofu House. You either select a few of their specialty items or go for their sizzling hot plates with choice of meat or their tofu pot selection. I usually choose the combination with either chicken or pork and tofu or I go for the combination mushroom tofu. Today I went with the mushroom variety.
Some differences between Santa Clara Tofu House and Milpitas Tofu House:
1. Milpitas Tofu House is smaller but tables are more spread out for privacy.
2. Milpitas Tofu House has better looking and better designed menus with better pictures of the food selections.
3. Milpitas Tofu House uses some funky tea drink to pour into the rice pot and use it as a drink. SC Tofu House use water.
4. Milpitas Tofu House serve better free side dishes, such as anchovies, a free plate of rice noodles, dried seaweed, spicy potato cubes, etc. SC Tofu House side dishes are not even worth the time.
5. Milpitas Tofu House has better taste, more flavor and spiciness.
6. SC Tofu House has 3 sizzling plates (beef, pork, chicken) with mushrooms on top. Milpitas Tofu House serve the original Korean beef plate.
7.
We were instantly served our tofu pots as they probably already have it cooked in the back. Its boiling hot and you defiantly dont want any of that to spill on you. We each cracked in our egg and fixed it around.
Its odd that when they were scooping the rice from the rice pot they wanted to take away our extra rice bowl that was scooped. If were paying for it with our meal why would we want them to take it away? Usually the rice pot can scoop out 2 and a half bowls of steaming hot rice. The rice bowls are aluminum so watch out as they can get hot really fast.
I would rate the SC Tofu House a 7 and the Milpitas Tofu House a 7.5. The Tofu House franchise makes the best tofu pots as Ive tried other tofu restaurants. Its defiantly more flavorful here and they serve more, but it also costs more. Our meal ran $20 after tip for two people. Tofu is a great meal if you want something light.
Ive also tried their sizzling Korean beef and its very good, but a bit on the expensive side going for $13.00 a plate. It has great flavor and should be ordered if youre among friends and everyone is willing to split the bill for this.
How do I know SC and Milpitas are owned by the same owner? They both serve melon flavored gum when they bring your bill.
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Reviewer: pyunnyhana
Total Reviews: 47
Reviewed: 12/10/2006
Rating: 8.5
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My mom was working and my dad was out of town so I decided to take my sister and cousin out for Korean food on this cold and rainy night. Tofu House seemed like the best decision because I've always wanted to try the tofu soup.
The interior was quite bland. Just white washed walls, but the owner's personality makes the environment very lively. He goes around from table to table, asking if the food's ok, and says bye those who are leaving.
My party walked in and we are immediately given a menu and had our orders taken [this is before we are even seating since we had to wait a little for a table to clear up] I ordered the Kimchee Tofu Soup with beef, my sister chose the beef plate and my cousin chose the chicken plate.
We are seated and the banchang comes out, along with perfect fluffy rice. Banchang is banchang, so no big deal, but the kimchee was pretty good. Our orders came out within 10 minutes and my tofu soup was boiling hot! I cracked an egg and waited for it to cook and cool down while I freeloaded off my sister and cousin. Despite the limited menu, the dishes were VERY good. I LOVED the beef dish as it went well with the rice. Chicken teriyaki too. My tofu soup was still hot, even to the last spoonful [I was sighing, slurping, sniffing, and exhausted after]
The great thing about my tofu soup is that it actually had beef in it, unlike Royal Tofu House which gave me bits and pieces of confetti beef.
After I finished my soup, I felt like exploding and rubbed my belly to sooth it. The owner saw me, rubbed his own belly and laughed. He's a cute old man. As we were leaving to pay the bill, he gave all of us lollipops!
pros:
Almost everything! Friendly service, good food, good portions [1 dish could feed 2], hearty, and community oriented [I assume as the walls were decorated with children's drawings]
cons:
Well, the meat plates could be a little cheaper. The beef and chicken dish were about 11.78 each and the tofu soup was decently priced at 8.78. Our bill came out to be about $40 with tax and tip. I would've rated this place a 9.
I am definitely returning to Tofu House again. |
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Reviewer: Lainie
Total Reviews: 41
Reviewed: 10/19/2006
Rating: 8.5
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I went to the location in Mountain View on El Camino and loved it. I could go there once a week or maybe even more in the winter! The hot bowls of Tofu Soup (I love the Kimmchee flavor) is not only satisfying and warm, but delicious. And it doesn't make you feel unhealthily full afterwards either. I like the idea of playing with your food when you add the egg into the soup, and the appetizer side dishes are fun too. The service is quick and no nonsense and the food satisfying. There's no reason why you shouldn't give it a try. |
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