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Excellent Tofu & Snacks
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for Excellent Tofu & Snacks
Review Highlights
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"I had it the most classic way - with the ginger syrup." In 6 reviews -
"...while walking around the Aberdeen and Parker place malls." In 3 reviews -
"The tofu was so fresh, silky and smooth." In 3 reviews
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Simon K.
As for the name of this place, it is what it exactly is! I come here occasionally to just get a nice small container of take out sweet tofu. You probably only need a straw, as it is so smooth and soft out of the bucket. When you come in here, there is no aesthetics to the place, it is just a long counter with a few wobbly tables on the right hand side extending to the back, this is barebones minimum of what you need, as you really are coming here for the 'tofu' products!
They have a very good assortment of tofu desserts, and also flavored ones if you want to try something new. There are also savory products if you do not have a sweet tooth at all. The place gets quite busy on the weekend nights. It is located in the plaza right between Parker and Aberdeen Mall, with a good amount of parking, which is also shared up by the other places here.
A definate destination of choice for Chinese desserts, sometimes I make the extra effort in terms of sweet tofu!Listed in: Richmond Eats!, Favorite Food Places
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Review from Lisa T.
3/12/2012
so many variations of tofu desserts i can't begin to imagine.
i grew up eating tofu desserts my mom bought, 4L family size, sweetened tofu with ginger soup base. but i've never eaten at this place until today. and it was wonderful. i would have been reduced to random menu item pointing if the menu looked anything like their wall full of signs in chinese characters. thankfully that was not the case and they have the english version menu as well.
healthy desserts, i'll be seeing you more often! -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2012
For me, not being a big tofu person but it's a 4star for someone who really likes this sweet tofu. I just have to be in a mood for it, and not something to do drive there for.
Probably more of a summer thing, it does cool you down.
And though I have a sweet tooth, to add all that liquid sugar just makes me feel guilty lol.
One added bonus is I kinda liked the diner-style counter seating. Pretty casual.
For the die-hards, you can even order to go by the bucket. -
Review from Henry B.
Vancouver, BC
The name makes it clear, they serve up some good tofu pudding otherwise known as dou fu fa or douhua. Its a very common and popular Asian dessert. They make it fresh from scratch and it's extremely smooth, feathery smooth! Yeah, that's right, smooth as a baby's bottom.
This place is not really a hidden gem as it's on the radar of many Yelpers and food bloggers. I'm sure the lady working behind the counter notice when reviewers come in and opens up their tote with the camera and Mac books on hand. That's when she knows to act up a little and play for the bloggers. For the regulars, we are just here for the smooth dou fu fa. Not for the customer service or any other distractions or bull crap.
Anyways, this place has a very down to earth vibe and the owners are very friendly. I usually like to sit at the counter as oppose to the few side tables and chairs against the wall. Very diner feel with the counter.
You can order the tofu cold or hot with a wide variety of toppings. I tend to be very basic and go with the evaporated milk flavour. You can add additional ginger or sugar syrup to your liking. The two flavours are available with the two squeeze bottles on the counter. It's very smooth and a little watery at times. So if you like your tofu firm then this may not be your thing, that's why they call this tofu pudding. For first timers, go with the plain and put ginger syrup on top. It's the most basic option and a good standard to compare to more exotic toppings.
Parking maybe a challenge, I recommend parking at Aberdeen Centre or Parker place and walk over.
Healthy and fresh homemade tofu pudding at $3.50 a pop, awesome asian comfort food for the hot summers days. -
Review from Eva G.
10/31/2011
I stumbled upon this place while walking around the Aberdeen and Parker place malls. It's literally a tofu bar, where there are a line of seats at the kitchen counter. The ambiance is non-existent, unless you consider a plain old Chinese kitchen as mood-setting (actually, I do. It feels warm and welcoming because of the unpretentious furnishings).
I had the doufu fa (soy pudding) with almond syrup. It was pricy, but passable in quality. The pan-fried vegetarian turnip cake was not as good as some dim-sum restaurants serve... I would stick to all-soy choices here.
I just really liked the variety of soy/tofu products on the menu; somebody please open a specialty snack bar like this in NY. I promise you -- themed snack bars will be the newest craze to replace cupcakeries and self-serve fro-yo shops. -
Review from Helen G.
3/16/2011
I was disappointed by this place. After reading yelp reviews, I expected so much more.
I am a dao fa fan so I made my husband drive to this place even though we were already pretty full. I ordered hot silky tofu (doa fa) with peanuts and I found it very soft and not firm enough. I guess I am used to a little firmer tofu. Interesting thing about this place is you order whatever toppings you want on the tofu. In the end, I've tasted better at dim sum joints and I found it a little pricey at C$3.50 each. -
Review from AhLin C.
4/8/2011
Maybe it was near closing time or maybe it was a to-go, but either way, my tofu fa was too watery. And I ordered it with Black Sesame so it totally diluted the black sesame. Sadness.
Next time I think I might eat it there. The mango tofu fa (cold) was quite delicious though. Maybe I should stick with that next time. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
2/1/2010
* A silky tofu counter! *
This place looks like an old lunch spot that you used to find in a five and dime way back when. You know the kind, with a long counter and a few booths. But the offerings are nothing like the old five and dime ones!
They specialize in fresh made silky tofu. With your choice of about 20 different toppings to mix and match.
Today I had the version topped with red beans and coconut milk, served cold. (You get your choice of hot or cold.) The tofu was so silky, smooth, and fresh tasting. It reminded me of some of the tofu you find at the fresh tofu specialists in Asia. Delicious!
There are two bottles on the counter with ginger syrup and simple syrup so you can add additional sweetness or flavour to your liking. Mine went really well with a bit of ginger syrup.
The two women working were SOOOO incredibly friendly - really making me feel comfortable and instantly at home.
What a lovely snack! I love this spot!Listed in: Vancouver Chinese Food, Dentists' Dreams in Vancouver, Engrish
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Review from Ernesto G.
12/15/2010 3 photos
Excellent Tofu is truly excellent.
If you're in Richmond and you're craving some super smooth, delicious and healthy dessert, look no further. Drive down to Excellent Tofu and have a bowl of their cold or hot tofu. Don't forget to use the ginger syrup, which takes me back to memories of Hong Kong. Enjoy.
I have also posted a picture of their operating hours; hope that helps. -
Review from Amary N.
2/4/2010
I know about this place many years back. I loved it when they first opened. Over the past few years, the tofu pudding (Dohua) the standard dropped. And I was terribly disgusted.
After reading the Yelp reviews. I decided to go back again.
Compared to my last experienced, it has improved. I came into this place with low expectations. The tofu came out watery, and not firm enough. I put on a sour face. Seriously, I can do this better! Since I ordered the hot tofu it wasn't hot enough. That's why the tofu broke apart too easily.
It's definitely better than the store bought tofu pudding. Certainly the best dohua in North America. The toppings are not fresh, obviously came from a tin can. A small place and parking is not easy to find here. For me to come here, it has to be absolutely fantastic.
Special thanks to my uncle who taught me well! -
Review from Amy H.
10/31/2011
The tofu was so fresh, silky and smooth. I ordered the hot tofu with black sesame and it was delicious! Will definitely be back!
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Review from Thu N.
1/7/2010 ROTD 4/7/2010
I had this tofu at a friend's place last week and it was by far the best, freshest, tastiest tofu dessert I've ever had in my life. I had it the most classic way - with the ginger syrup.
The next day I drove straight here to find that it's cash only. So I went to get cash. Still worth every single star. -
Review from Victor L.
Vancouver, BC
8/25/2008
This popular hole in the wall next to the old Love Getty photobooth store is tucked away in a strip mall next to Parker Place.
As the name implies, this is THE place to get your sweet tofu dessert or soya milk, fresh. The dessert can be a bit "san" (loose) at times, meaning the texture is not as thick so it gets watery, but the freshness and flavor are perfect after a greasy meal or for a light snack. And I haven't found better soya milk in the city yet.
Ever since I moved back from Alberta I've been dropping by weekly for my fresh sweet soy milk fix - its not easy to find in the prairies. Eat in or take out, the prices are equivalent to that at the grocery store, which is not much. I believe its cash only, as is the Chinese custom... -
Review from Enrique B.
1/13/2010
I've been slurpin' tofu at this joint since before Facebook was invented. It remains unchanged through the years. Without a doubt, you can expect fresh soft tofu and plenty of tasty toppings if you like.
Silky-smooth and the first stop I make after landing at YVR. -
Review from Flora C.
7/13/2009 2 photos
This place is kind of old school, low key and good quality. You may sit at the counter or at your own table. The severs are all very kind, older people.
Style: Ginger and plain syrup are on the table for your consumption
Signature: Sweet silky tofu (hot or cold)
Food: Snacks like fish balls, etc.
Drinks: Soy drink... I like the way how they serve it there. It is not the best I had but not bad. The worse way to serve it is to add sugar in the cold soy drink. This is not the case here. -
Review from Natasha L.
12/22/2009 1 photo
Home- made tofu... Super silky and much less firmer than the ones sold at supermarkets.
They have a lot of topping options: taro, grass jelly, red beans among others. I prefer the original and buy some ginger syrup to drizzle on top.
They also have some flavored ones: papaya, mango but made with powder instead of fresh fruits. Personally I find the flavored ones like a cloying, gummy tasting bubble milk teas because of the powder use.
They also have fresh soy milk in variety of sizes and other savory tofu snacks.
The latest product is ginger soy milk, which they have in limited supply (for now). Very comforting on a cold winter day.
Cash only please!Listed in: Chopsticks and Tea
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Review from Candice H.
1/19/2010
YUM-O! Another favorite spot to hit up when visiting Vancouver.
By far the BEST, freshest and silkiest home made tofu I've ever had. It's been about 5 year since I've visited Excellent Tofu & Snacks. Since the exchange rate has been bad, we stopped going to Vancouver. However, I recently took a trip late last year and this place was one of my must go to places. I can still say that they really do live up to its name. The owners are super friendly.
I love getting their black sticky rice with coconut milk tofu and putting some ginger flavored syrup on top. MmmMm...so yummy! -
Review from Kelly Y.
5/10/2010
Food:
it's ok, pretty standard dessert tofu. nothing special. Kind of overpriced, $3.25 for a small bowl.
Atmosphere:
fast food, counter eating.
Service:
she was nice, polite, was nice enough to offer an extra bowl to us as we were sharing a bowl.
I would not go back unless I can't find other places who serve this. -
Review from Patty H.
10/17/2009
the BEST, silkiest, FRESHEST home-made soft tofu...when i'm visiting vancouver, i usu eat here twice a day, before lunch, late afternoon, & pre-dinner, dessert, & sometimes pre-midnite snack! SERIOUSLY! it's a very low-key mom & pop place where she makes the tofu FRESH all day. there's a large list of options & additions to your tofu, the usual stuff like sweetened green bean, red bean, taro, big tapioca, etc....ALL of this is DELISH! lots to choose from, hard to decide, which is WHY i need to visit several times a day, JUST to try as much as i can! & besides, tofu is good for you!!!
(4.75 stars) -
Review from Ryan C.
2/4/2010
soy milk drink is good! fresh! u have choice of sweetened or un.. heavenly! the silken tofu dessert, served with syrup is great! (i don't know what u call in english, i know it in chinese?)
you sit on the counter and the ladies there are soo nice. once i came in and tried a lot of stuff. they were puzzled (and most probably think i am crazy) why am i not full yet. i told them i was crazy and i kept ordering. hahahahah!
must come and do bring back some silken tofu dessert thingie home (don't forget they syrup too!) and it'll keep you happy! (and healthy!) -
Review from lafawnduh e.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2010
been coming here for the sweet tofu since 2004
when im in richmond, i have to stop by for a bucket of sweet tofu to go! and maybe some sticky rice roll. yum yum!
the red bean pastry is not bad too.
the only thing that sucked was when i was given a bucket of unsweetened tofu when i paid for the sweetened. but other than that.. nothing but good things to say!! -
Review from Kim L.
Vancouver, BC
4/4/2011
silken tofu is one of my favorite desserts! i've been coming here for over a year now, and it never fails to disappoint when i'm looking for a healthier dessert alternative. i usually get a tub to go and add my own favorite toppings because i like to control the amount of sugar used. besides, i like to make my own simple sugar with brown sugar rather than white (it's the taiwanese in me)...the extra molasses flavor hits home for me. if the tofu was just a smidge firmer, it would be a total 5 star experience...it's just not right when i get home and see that the tofu has broken into smaller pieces from a smooth car ride home.
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Review from Corrine C.
10/19/2009
The place is small - our group of 10 took up almost all the counter area. The family working there was very nice. Looked like a mom, dad, and son running the joint. Our group ordered a variety of the tofu desserts, a tofu drink with grass jelly, xie mai lo, potstickers, and rice rolls. Everything was tasty and prepared right in front of us. We even picked up a large tub of tofu dessert to bring home. yum yum Oh they even warned us about yesterday's batch of taro since it had a burnt taste to it. (not sure if they should even offer it but at least they told us about it before letting us order it!)
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Review from Debbie P.
2/11/2010
Tofu was silky and smooth. There was a great variety of toppings but I stuck to the plain one and simply added the ginger syrup. My boyfriend got the one with the evaporated milk and we were both very pleased.
