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Tofu Village - House of Soon Tofu
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
681 Bloor Street WestToronto, ON M6G 4B9
Neighbourhood: Bickford Park
(647) 345-3836
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Tofu Village - House of Soon Tofu
Review Highlights
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"The search for the best Pork Bone Soup continues." In 8 reviews -
"ca/biz/buk-chang-dong-soon-tofu-toronto-2) but it was..." In 5 reviews -
"...want it, you get 5 side dishes including killer kimchi and..." In 5 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Kat S.
2/22/2012
Hooray my first meal in Toronto!!!
I was walking from my apartment to work on Family Day to get a feel for the neighborhood. It looked clean from the outside and was relatively empty. I came in, ordered galbi and a coke. By the time my soda arrived the restaurant was packed and full of filipinos! SCORE!
The galbi was the most tender galbi I have ever had in my life. Not too greasy, not too grilled. Just perfect. Great portion for about $9.
Credit cards for $20 and over only...
Great place to eat alone and people watch. I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Rita M.
Toronto, ON
4/11/2012
I will definitely be back. I had the Gamjatang (pork bone soup) for the first time and I thought the dish was fantastic. I've never eaten this dish before, and it was a little hard to get at the actual meat in the meal, it did taste excellent--I recommend going here with a good friend, like I did, rather than a date because you are going to get this all over yourself and appearing quite the slob. Not that I cared because it just tasted so good. Great side dishes too.
The service was a little ehnnn, but it didn't matter because the food came out quickly and prepared well. Bravo! -
Review from marija k.
Toronto, ON
1/28/2012
Bearing in mind that I just love bulgogi/bulgoki (however one wants to spell it) I have tried it in various different locations. I did not have high hopes for this establishment, mainly because I rarely have high hopes. I went in with an open mind waiting to see if my tastebuds would be delighted.
My bulgoki was a little overcooked, and was in very large chunks. This made it difficult to eat, as at some points I could barely chew for the vast amounts of meat & rice I had in my mouth. The rice was cooked well, the side dishes were acceptable - can't do too much wrong with bean sprouts, kimchi, and tofu.
The establishment was very clean, airy and had a very welcome feel to it.
My dining companion had the pork bone soup, which looked more appetising to me than my bulgoki.
I will return, to try other dishes. My other passion is bimbimbap, so I hope to give it a try. The only good I've ever had was in London by the British Museum and I am hoping my tastebuds will have orgasms somewhere in Toronto. -
Review from Chris B.
Toronto, ON
5/26/2012
I used to like to go to expensive western style restaurants to get food that was amazingly delicious. I can still go to these places, but then I discovered Korean food and realized you can get amazingly delicious food for under 10 dollars. You can go here and get soft tofu. They also provide an unlimited (I think, at least) supply of side dishes; their tofu based side dishes are very delicious. Every time I have gone I have been impressed by the quality. I consider it the best soft tofu dish that I have had in Toronto.
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Review from Antoaneta J.
5/10/2012
The tofu stew is creamy and full of flavor. The seafood pancakes are perfect. The prices are low, which is no surprise for the neighborhood but great value considering the quality of the food. The decor is more clean and modern than I expected. The service can veer from attentive to indifferent depending on the server but that's pretty standard in Koreatown and there's no point getting worked up about it.
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Review from Jennie B.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/29/2012
Wow! Over a year from my initial review of this place, and it is STILL the most amazing tofu soup place in Toronto. And yet, they have SO much more different foods to offer than of a regular tofu soup place like BCD on the corner of Clinton and Bloor. My latest fave eats are their seafood pancakes. They are made out of crack. Completely addictive. And the #17 combo I get ALL the time (the wait staff know me and what I will always order every time I go) - the kalbi + tofu soup (+ $1.00 if you change the type of soup in the combo - I usually ask for kimchi soon tofu) has the most tender and amazingly tasty, flavorful kalbi marinade. Deliciousness all around. And great wait staff - Wow. Kudos to them al!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/20/2011
Went here 2 nights ago with my family - it was fantastic!
My 3 year old daughter loves fried… Read more »
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Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
The search for the best Pork Bone Soup continues! Now this place is a pretty good candidate for one of the top 3 on the Korean strip. It comes down to whether you like peppercorn in your soup or not.
As far as the locale, the House of Tofu is one of the better looking low-end restaurants in Korea town. The staff is friendly, spoke above average English for what it is expected in this area of town --that's a plus for someone like who speak no Korean. The decour although spartan is clean and quite serviceable at this price point and very much a few levels upward from locales like say, Owl of Minerva, where the word 'dingy' comes to mind.
It's about $9 for soup, tax and tip, so it is pretty much on par with the rest. Now, unlike Seoul Restaurant where I found their "extra spicy" to be very mild, TV's PBS was quite spicy and the broth tasted as if it had been boiling for hours. So a solid broth with a lasting taste, my kind of pork bone soup.
My friend also praised it except for the fact that it lacked peppercorn which he likes -- I do not.
The fat content was not too bad either so I would have to say that from all the places I have been trying as of late, TV seems to be the best one so far.
I will definitely be back to continue exploring the rest of their menu. I enjoyed it! -
Review from Lynna L.
Toronto, ON
7/29/2011
I just tried this place for t he first time today, and wow! I think I have a new favourite Korean restaurant. I've been hooked on Ka Chi for a while, but this is better.
I think this may have been the best Bibimbap I've ever had! The veggies were perfect, and included two different kinds of dark mushrooms, although it's possible one was some kind of sea vegetable - really not sure, but whatever it was, it was tasty.
If you want it vegetarian, you have to ask for that - it's not on the menu as a separate option, but they don't bat an eye at the request, and it comes with a nice helping of crumbly super-dense tofu seasoned with sesame seeds and sesame oil, not just the mushy plain tofu most other places will give you, plus a perfect fried egg (though I'm sure they will happily leave out the egg if you ask them to).
Plus, there were several of the little side dishes most Korean restaurants like to give you, including potatoes in a wonderful sweet sauce, and some uncommonly good kimchi - much more flavourful than most, though slightly less spicy. Maybe they toned down the heat a touch to let the other flavours shine through more? It still had a satisfying kick, but it tasted like a lot more than just the usual hot and sour.
The service was prompt and friendly, the prices were quite reasonable, and there were a ton of other things on the menu that looked really good. Plus, how can you not like a restaurant whose name is bookended by "tofu" at both ends? The symmetry is part of its charm. :-) I will definitely be back! -
Review from Joanne S.
Toronto, ON
9/2/2011
Tofu Village definitely lives up to its name. I've gone several times and still dream about their soon tofu stew - just totally hits the spot for me. And by the way, this place FAR SURPASSES Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu (the flashier eatery just a few doors down), which is super bland in comparison.
To be honest, this is my go-to hangover spot: the comforting easy-to-eat tofu is balanced by a spicy kick of Korean chili broth; the quality side dishes are great to pick at if you have a queasy stomach. Also, the place is clean, the pretty waitresses are incredibly courteous and patient (maybe the best I've ever encountered in Koreatown), and the vibe is mellow and accepting.
Last time I went I ordered their oyster soon tofu stew (priced at $6.95, same as all the other stews) and it came with fresh raw oysters in the soup! Slightly briny, super fresh and a nice change from typical Korean pork/bulgogi. Can't wait to eat through the rest of their (extremely reasonably priced and pretty creative) menu! -
Review from Karl R.
1/24/2011
The name is certainly a mouthful: Rod Torfulson's Tofu Village - House of Soon Tofu featuring Herman Menderchuck. I'll just call it "The Village". The Village is quite clean and spacious. Back in the day, K-town eateries were rather dingy places and the appearance of a whitey customer was met with equal amounts of fear, surprise, and suspicion. You'd have to ask for kimchi. Gone are those days. Service was really quite nice.
I had the chicken teriyaki in the stone bowl. I enjoy the stone bowl (dol sot) eats but wanted to try something different from bibimbap (cooked rice that has been bibimed). I'd not advise it. It wasn't very flavorful. But a few squirts of gochu jang (Korean red pepper sauce) brought out some better flavor.
The banchan was somewhat minimal but I really loved their tofu drizzled in sesame oil. It was like a nice cheese. I got here at 12:30 pm on a Sunday and I was the only person in here. But it filled up by 1-1:30. Maybe it does a big after church trade? Patrons were evenly mixed between Koreans and whitey. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
1/25/2011 3 photos
Tofu Village used to have another location up at Kennedy and Hwy 7.... sadly it was closed and replaced by Nak Won.. So now this Bloor location is the only Tofu Village in GTA..
To tell you frankly, I like Buk Chang a little better.... just a different vibes.. the busiest, the energy and mostly young Korean male wait staffs running around... and help you scoop up the rice and pour water into your hot pot
Tofu Village though has more comfortable, spacious seating.... and most of the wait staffs are female... you have to do your own rice scooping and everything else!
The menu wise, Tofu Village has a more extensive menu not just soon tofu and bimbimbap... that Galbi beef and rice in hot stone pot ($8.95) I ordered was quite delicious but it took FOREVER to come!! don't ever order anything aside from Soon Tofu if you in a hurry!! Thanks Karl for requesting some hot sauce, it did give a kick to my rice!
Kimchi Soon Tofu ($6.95) is A-OK. We requested Spicy..but it is NOT Korean spicy... not like Buk Chang the most spicy version... Maybe if you really want authentic Korean spiciness ask for Extra spicy. The tofu itself was silky and the soup bubbling hot! What better to have at a -20C afternoon!
They accepts Visa and Mastercard for orders over $20.
BTW, I AM IN regardless if my friend ask me to go Tofu Village or Buk Chang... I just love Korean food!! -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I'll admit -- I'm not the biggest fan of soon tofu soup. Too red and bubbly. On the other hand, what I *do* enjoy is dol sot bibimbap -- and Tofu Village makes it quite well. The hot stone pot is hot enough that I there's yummy the crusty/burny rice at the bottom. Plus, there's plenty of veggies and meat -- perfect for filling up for cheap. I only wish the eggs they used were bigger; the yolks are so tiny! If you're feeling particularly hungry, go with a friend and order some galbi to go with your meal. It's marinated just right, and cooked so tender! So so delicious.
It does get a little bit crowded in the evenings, so when you go to Tofu Village, eat quick! the sooner they can turn the table, the sooner I can sit down and eat! :) -
Review from Roma M.
12/27/2010
Now what on earth do you write in a review of a place you love to death?
I discovered this place through an Elite-pre-party event organized by the lovely Lauren, and you better believe she's one of the most valuable Toronto Elite members out there.
I pretty much tried this place more than a month ago, and have been back numerous times since. The evening staff recognizes me immediately, maybe since I keep ordering the same thing; Soon Vegetable Tofu.
The service is fantastic; everyone is attentive, polite and efficient. In fact, based on the food and service alone it's much better than Buk Chang.Listed in: Vegetarians, Soondubu Jjigae
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Review from Sam C.
I love Korea Town, cheap eats, opened late, and just good comfort food. Only problem with some of the Korean joints in the area is the heavy use of MSG which I find is a short cut to good tasty food. Not Tofu Village, they don't use any MSG in their soup which makes for a good clean meal.
I have tried a good variety of items here, Soon Tofu, Kam Ja Tong, Chap Jae, Mandu, Dobuki, Bulgogi, Bibimbab, etc. and all are equally stellar in quality and tastiness.
The price point is good being equal or slightly cheaper than other restaurants on the street. I also notice a very key difference here, service, which I find spectacular and the owner and his wife are always on site to make sure every patron is fed well and happy.
Pet Peeve: If you can't handle spicy food don't order anything spicy and later complain that you can't eat it and that the mild you wanted feels like a medium to you. Just stick to plain or the other non-spicy options on the menu because I don't want to sit through a meal with you complaining to the server and your friends the whole time how you can't handle spicy foods. Smarten up and don't be a baby...Yes this happened to me tonight where a guy eating with 3 girls was being such a baby. -
Review from jocelyn l.
Updated - 4/3/2011
I didn't think the soon tofu + kalbi combo could get any better, but evidently, it could if you order the Seafood Tofu Pancakes, which re awesome.
Get a House Special Soon Tofu + Pancakes and it's really quite fulfilling for 2 people!Listed in: Faves in TO
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
My Best meal in Toronto so far; cheap, very tasty and perfect on a cold day.
I got the House Special… Read more »
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Review from Janna S.
11/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Don't hate me for not giving this place more stars, but I have to be honest here. I would come back for the service but now that I've been here three times, I think I have to admit I prefer Buk Chang down the street, mostly because I prefer the bibimbap there. I'm no Soon tofu expert, but both times I ordered the "beef" soon tofu, all I could think was (obligatory outdated pop cultural reference here) "Where's the beef?"
Also - I don't really eat pork or eggs, which eliminates a large portion of the menu for me, since most items include these ingredients, although you can request no egg. The Soon tofu broth is okay but it seemed to be missing something. Maybe it needs the egg? The bibimbap here was good but Buk Chang had more beef in theirs. Bathrooms are passable and the service is good. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 12/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I have to say that after having Buk Chang http://www.yelp.ca/biz... a handful of times recently, and visiting Owl of Minerva http://www.yelp.ca/biz... , HoSu http://www.yelp.ca/biz... and First Markham's Sogong http://www.yelp.ca/biz... for soon tofu since I wrote my last review, I think its time for an update.
House of Soon is by FAR the best. I eat the vegetable soon tofu which comes bubbling hot, with an egg and purple rice in clay pot. It comes super Spicy if you want it, you get 5 side dishes including killer kimchi and those delicious potatos.
Two of the above restaurants served white rice instead which was lacking. Owl of Minerva didn't give me an egg.
The food here is top quality and the service is incredible. This last Friday we visited with some Korean food newbies. The server was asking them questions and explaining everything without any attitude whatsoever. They are respectful, and your side dishes are constantly replenished along with your tea. You get zero intimidation here. If you don't understand what something is, or if you will like it, they do not give you "really?-then-why-are-you-here-huh-fried-rice-and- chicken-balls"
We tried the seafood pancakes on the last visit which were fantastic. They OWNED ka-Chis. Must try.
I am with Lauren M. This is my FAVORITE Korea town resto as well., and perhaps one of my favorite Toronto restaurants as well. AMAZING.Listed in: Associasian Eats, Best of the Best, On a Dime Dining, If I was a Tourist, Sarang hae yo Soon Tofu
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/16/2010
I think "Yay! I'm a fan" is appropriate.
Just came back from dinner at Tofu Village, and I am… Read more »
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Review from Lauren M.
Numerous repeat visits, time for an update.
This place is still AMAZINGLY EPICTASTICLY AWESOME!!
After tonight's meal, Tofu Village is being upgraded to my FAVOURITE place on the Korea Town strip (and I have been to them all, most of them numerous repeat visits unless they really sucked the first time)
Tonight I finally decided I needed to get back on track with my pork bone soup rankings, so I ordered a bowl of the good stuff.
BEST pork bone soup EVER! It was brought out looking like a real culinary dish, not some sloppy fast foody type crap. Good amount of perfectly cooked tender pork bones, 2 potato pieces, tons of cabbage and bean sprouts added. Delicious, (yet not oily) colourful broth, garnished with ground pepper and spring onion.
Tofu Village has been open for 3 months now and it's so popular there is often a queue to get a table at the dinner rush time.
Service is continually impressive, banchan refills are always offered, the decor is as good as it gets (in Korea town), food is cheap. Soon tofu and pork bone soup cannot be topped elsewhere. $6.95. Geez.
Now, if they can pull off a mean dolsot bibimbap (haven't tried it yet) this place will officially be my double rainbow of Korean goodness.Listed in: My fav cheap eats, Korea Town favs, Bibimbap Battle, Pork Bone Soup rankings
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2010 First to Review
When I saw a new Soon Tofu place had opened up a few doors down from Buk Chang, I thought to myself… Read more »
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
12/9/2010
We thought we would try something different than the usually Buk Change Dong (BCD) tonight.
The place just doesn't have the same vibe as the busy and energetic one down the street. But they offer more than just Soon Tofu, and Bimbimbap.
I can't compare the soup with the one at BCD because I've never had it there (only the best bimbimbap ever, and the bulgogi soup), but this one was good, but not as flavorful as I expected (i did get mild though). The purple rice come with it, but she does not scoop it in a bowl like BCD, and instead you eat it straight from the stone bowl.
Something about the height difference from the two bowls made it difficult to eat.
Soon Tofu ($6.95)
Soon Tofu + Galbi ($14.95) - Soon tofu was smaller slightly
Galbi with rice ($10.95) - we were hungry and ordered another. It was the same size was the one that comes with the soup
The pricing here is off for sure.
The service was really good. the Girls here are really nice, but they seem to be working under an overbearing father here as an older gentleman would stand in the back with arms crossed and a frown on his face the whole time.
They also serve Japchae, Pork Bone soup, Bulgolgi and other traditional korean dishes.
I would come back only if BCD was full.... -
Review from Shari M.
Toronto, ON
I absolutely love this place. It is the epitome of comfort food.
Awesome kimchi, seafood pancake. Really, anything you get is super fresh, tasty and overall - soothing for the soul.
The service may be a bit hit and miss, but I barely notice it when I am tucking into an awesome meal.
The decor is clean and simple. The bathroom (as per all Toronto restaurants - located in the basement) is clean.
On my last visit with Danielle P and Avitania B - a hush fell over the table when the food arrived. Avitania and I discussed how at Tofu Village, you feel the need to eat fast. Fast gobbles because it is so good and you don't want to miss a morsel.
Cannot recommend enough.Listed in: Comfort Food
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Review from Brian K.
Updated - 5/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Downgrade. Though I still like the ability to get a soup/meat combo, my soon tofu was a disappointment. The flavour just wasn't there, and this wasn't helped by going to BCD just the night before. It's just...missing something.
Still very pleasant service, but between Seor Ak San (for the variety) and BCD (for the soup), I don't think we'll be coming back very often.Listed in: I may not be Korean, but I…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2010
This new soon tofu entrant has some high standards to live up to, situated only a few doors down… Read more »
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Review from Dishan W.
12/5/2010 1 photo
The best Korean I've had!! All thanks to Lauren for holding a UYE here! And I'm so happy that "spicy" actualy meant spicy! So be warned if you're someone that does not handle spice well, even the "medium" spicy level might be too much. Although I found there to be a bigger gap between "medium" and "spicy" than I thought there would be.
My first go at Soon tofu, it arrives boiling and when you crack the raw egg in to it, it cooks almost instantly. So delicious and a must for a winter warm up!
I made 2 trips within a span of a week and ran in to fellow second timer Roma (who was also at the UYE) which should speak volumes about the impression that Tofu Village had on us.
I'm so thankful I now have a solid option when thinking about dining at Korea Town.
Staff are friendly but they could be a bit more attentive to your needs. But I don't believe that it deserves a less than 5 star review for that. You will be too busy with your food to care about people paying attention to you!Listed in: I love Korean!
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Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2010
The mighty Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu has some competition in town! Tofu Village is a new player in the Annex's tofu game...and it's fantastic.
Here are my notes:
1. The soon tofu is da bomb bizzle. The Chinese would say that it's more "waht" than the tofu at Buk Chang. That means the shiz be silky smooth like my botoxed balls, ya heard? A bargain at $7.
2. There's a damn spicy cold noodle dish for $9 or $10. Like a Jarvis Street hooker, it burns so good (so I am told). There's also a nice egg and tofu pancake app for $6 or $7 that is forgettable, but not regrettable.
3. There's a serious lack of menus here. Maybe five for the whole restaurant, so they need to recycle them from table-to-table.
4. It's usually less busy than Buk Chang, though I suspect this might change as word gets out. If Buk Chang has a long line-up, do yourself a favour and walk four doors east to Tofu Village.
5. Since they're trying to impress, the staff attentiveness is quite good...for now. I suspect that in time, it will degrade to the more standard "eat fast and get out immediately" attitude of service.
6. There's paper place mats that have "learn Korean" on them. So when you're prepared, you can say "sa rang hae yo"! You may need to learn Korean to eat here since the servers don't understand much English.
From what I can see, there's definitely enough demand for another tofu baron in town.Listed in: My Favorite Spots in the T.Dot
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Review from Angelica B.
12/6/2010
After the shit show of San Francisco's Korean food scene (it's horrible and I'll have to save that rant for another day), Tofu Village was pure ecstasy! The kalbi was so good, the ban chan was fresh and delicious, and house soon tofu warmed a Californian soul on a December night like no other. The tofu is so soft and silky, it would have made my momma cry with happiness and the spices of the soup were flavorful, not the drowned-out brothy kim chi gunk that has polluted my taste buds so many times!
The service here is super attentive and friendly, loved the owner too. Make this a stop on your Koreatown eats and you will not be disappointed. -
Review from Chris P.
11/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
After checking this place out twice I feel like I have tested the waters enough to write a review. Everyone seems to be raving about this place and about how great it is. I don't get it.
Yes the food is cheap and the portions are huge but it's not really that great. Now on both visits I have ordered two different types of Soon Tofu. Both times I have been very disappointed at the lack of meat in the dish. Where's the pork? Oh there it is, just let me pull out my monocle so I can see that one tiny piece that I got in my bowl.
This may be the place for pork bone soup, but it certainly isn't the place for Soon Tofu. Go a couple doors down to Buk Chang, you'll be glad you did. -
Review from Janet S.
Toronto, ON
5/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
As one of my favourite go-tos in Koreatown, Tofu Village is uncharacteristically clean and spacious. (even the bathrooms!)
I've only ever ordered their namesake, tofu soup, which comes boiling hot with a raw egg, and a stone-bowl of rice. Yum!
The spice factor can actually be customized however you like, although the menu lists mild, medium and hot only. If you say "really, really mild, like the mildest ever," your soup will be white...it might be a little bland, but that's what you asked for!
The servings are plentiful, and the side dishes are unlimited, as per the norm in Korean restaurants. My favourite part is the multigrain rice. It's sweet, soft, and good for you.
I know this makes me a huge human rights violating evil person, but some of the servers don't speak Korean, which I find a little jarring. My preferred language is English, but I'm conditioned to order food in Korean in Korean restaurants. On the positive side, everyone speaks English, so never fear, anglophones!
If you order takeout, they just give you regular white rice without the crispy stone bowl part, so that's kind of a loss. But, a whole meal for under $8? What more can you ask for? -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
9/4/2010
To my taste the Soon Tofu wasn't quite as good as at Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) but it was pretty damn close. My main complaint is that even the "spicy" had zero spice.
On the up side, Tofu Village has a more extensive menu compared to Buk Chang including appetizers, some noodle dishes, and your typical meaty Korean favourites like Galbi and Bulgogi. They also have a combo for about $15 which gets you a half size bowl of soup and one of their meat dishes. Of course, this also comes with all the sides and stone bowl rice.
Another plus is that the decor and service is better than Buk Chang and it's a lot less busy.Listed in: East Asian Favourites
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Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
Updated - 8/28/2010 11 photos
Why did I go to Tofu Village for GALBI($10.95)?!? Beef Ribs that I can taste some marinade but was still weak. The girl at least was super nice to cut it into bite size pieces to order, my orders!
Galbi -0.5 *
Girl +0.5 *
= 0.0 Additional to my prior review
UYE: Battle Korean Soon Tofu.
susan c. - Thanks for planning a great evening.
The customer beside us was super friendly and ahead of the game knowing we need an extra seat for our late arrival. 5 *Stars* to that lady. Seafood Pancake was aight. Crispy but I won't rate it as I didn't really have much of it.
Enjoy the Food Photos!Listed in: 3.5 ***Stars***, Hanguk
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2010
Looking up at the RED banner, it said grand opening and the name sounded familiar so I had to ask… Read more »
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Review from aleiza a.
Toronto, ON
10/1/2010
I was wandering around Bloor St with a craving for Korean. I noticed a big sign, written in a big cartoonish font "Tofu Village". I thought it was perfect, seeing that I eat a mostly vegetarian diet.
I went in, not knowing what to expect and I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I looked at the menu and saw the typical Korean fare...but also noticed these dishes referred to as "Soon Tofu". Being the adventurous eater that I am, I ordered the Vegetable Soon Tofu.
Promptly after I placed my order, my waitress came out with the standard banchan - Kimchi, Tofu, Soya Beans and Bean Sprouts. Yum. (It was also unlimited!!)
Shortly after, my waitress came out to my table pushing a cart. I thought to myself "this dinner looks like it's going to be complicated." My waitress placed a steaming hot stone (granite?) bowl of thick red stew with pieces of soft tofu simmering in it. She then placed a small egg on the table. And then scooped out steaming hot rice into a bowl. Complicated was right. I anxiously looked around to see what everyone else was doing...but everyone just seemed to be enjoying. I humbly asked the waitress, "um. what am I supposed to do with this?" and pointed at the egg. She giggled and picked up the egg, and cracked the yolk into my bowl. She then gestured for me to break up the yolk and mix it around. So I did. And this was the beginning of my new favourite 'comfort' food.
I tried to eat as much as I could - but to no avail. When I was done, the waitress came back and poured some hot broth into the stone bowl that the rice was clearly cooked in. I didn't know what I was supposed to do with that. So I just tried to drink it. But I didn't like it as much.
I got my bill, and it was something ridiculous (in a good way) - like $8 (not including tip) for me to leave feeling super satisfied.
I always go back here whenever I'm craving 'comfort' food on the cheap and too lazy to cook. My fiancee (the pickiest eater) also likes it. The only thing that stops us from going here more frequently is that we often leave feeling 'TOO FULL'.
The service is always great. The food is always delicious. The prices are always inexpensive. GO HERE. -
Review from CalamityJane T.
Toronto, ON
9/8/2011
I finally tried this place last week on a dreary, rainy day which is actually the perfect weather for soon-tofu soup (aka, soon-dubu). I used to go to Buk-Chan-dong a few doors west until I noticed that I would always get sick shortly after my meal. The service at BCD was good but during the rush, I often found the combination of the noise, heat, and cramped conditions to be too much.
I then frequented Myung-dong Soon-dubu (also on Bloor, closer to Bathurst, north side; the one that also serves maki) when I needed my fix, where I found the service was sincere (this is truly a mom-and-pop operation), kimchi is just like mom's (well, almost), AND they give way more banchan (side dishes) than at BCD. It's also a better place to enjoy scalding-hot soup. But alas, this review is about Tofu Village, so on we go...
I really enjoyed the food at Tofu Village. Not only is the place clean, and the level of service just right, but DAMMIT the food is SO good!! We ordered two combos: dweji kalbi (shredded spicy pork on sizzling platter) + house soon-dubu, and dolsot bibimbap + house soon-dubu (both were $14 without tax). The only negative, and I may be being greedy here, but I wish the fried egg in the bibimbap was bigger as the yolk is what makes the dish that much tastier.
I normally order pork or seafood soon-dubu, depending on whether I feel like dealing with the ordeal of peeling the shrimp with my teeth or not, but this house version of the soup was perfect in that it contained just the right amount of everything. Usually other restos serve combos or set meals with basic items (ie, garden salad vs caesar) where one has to pay extra to upgrade but the house soup is actually the *supreme* version and contains pork, beef, vegs, seafood.
Everything we ate was perfectly fresh, spiced just right, and the portion sizes were generous as well. These combos are a bit big for one person but even still, other places that offer combos tend to give JUST enough. Also important is that the banchan here is amazing! Among them were the usual kimchi (btw: good kimchi is the tell-tale sign that the other dishes will not disappoint), potatoes in sweet syrup, assortment of seasoned vegs and *wow* their tofu side dish (also found in the bibimbap) is addictive: thin slices of firm tofu and broccoli floret (no S) lightly seasoned with sesame oil. This dish alone will easily turn any tofu-haters into lovers.
I will definitely be going back the next time I get a hankering for some good-ol' soon-dubu which this current weather will soon steer me to. -
Review from Renata R.
8/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
They are specialized in the bubbling spicy broth with silky tofu. If you never had this, you should. They have options for every taste - seafood, pork, vegetarian, whatever. I ordered mine kimchi extra spicy and didn't regret (I'm very macho when it comes to spice!)
The thing arrives to you BOILING, and you're supposed to crack an egg inside of it - the raw egg will cook, and the soup will cool down a bit. Now you're ready to have fun! They will serve you purple pot rice - I've never seen this before, and I can't describe it, but I liked it! - as a side dish, and I looove the brown crispy bottom of the pot rice.
Appetizers were very good, lots of kimchi to make me happy. This place has been chosen as one of my favourites. I'm eager to come back! -
Review from Ellen K.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2010
hmmmm...I didn't really like this store...
They opened during summer of 2010...but in taste wide, i didn't like their soon-tofu. The taste wise wasn't really for koreans...more likely to non-korean. So not for me.
The server wasn't korean but couldn't speak english....so it was kinda awkward to ask more side dishes.... -
Review from Esther C.
Mississauga, ON
6/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I went to Koreatown looking for a new restaurant to try. House of Soon seemed to have good reviews and a variety of menu options. The soon tofu was thick and silky. It's comparable to Buk Chang Dong just a few storefronts away. House of Soon has plenty of tofu flavours, but if tofu is not what you desire, there are many other options. I also tried the pork bone soup, 3 large pieces with plenty of meat. The meat was soft and not too fatty. Great with some purple rice and tofu.
Service wasn't great though. The staff are polite courteous but slow and a bit disorganized. We asked for refills for tea, only 2/3 were filled. I ask for water for the three of us, I only got one glass of water. Each of our orders were brought, a few minutes apart, so one person was trying to be polite and wait until everyone's food came. After 10 minutes, I insisted he eat. He and my other friend each ordered combo meals which included a soon tofu, and this arrived halfway through their meal. This seemed to be the pattern with the table next to us. It was a Friday evening, the restaurant was busy, but not packed. So I didn't really think that could be an excuse either.
Food was authentic and flavourful, but service needs some work. -
Review from Elaine K.
11/24/2010 3 photos
Holy crap. This place is amazing. The service is great and their pork bone soup is pretty amazing. I think I've found a new obsession. $9 for PBS tax and tip in? I say yes!
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Review from Tanbing Y.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012
good korean food
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Review from Tara Z.
10/14/2010
Excellent food (unlimited banchan!), fast service (we hardly had to wait for our food at all), and huge portions (oh my god, so much food)--definitely a winner!
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Review from Q B.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2010
Would go back again.
Food was good (seafood and tofu pancake was the favourite among the group), servers were attentive, and very decent price (around $48 plus tip for two appetizers and three entrees). -
Review from Andrea L.
York, ON
6/12/2010
I ended up here on my way to Buk Chang, but decided to try here instead. It was delicious. I had the vegetarian. It was soooo much food, but I couldn't stop because I was enjoying it so much. The staff were lovely and very attentive. It was a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty. I would definitely recommend it and will bring friends with me next time.
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Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
6/13/2010
Thanks to Lauren M's great review and recommendation, I was able to try out a new Soon Tofu restaurant! My family really loves Soft Tofu so this was a great food experience for us all.
I usually order Kimchi flavoured foods whenever at a Korean Restaurant so I didn't hesitate at all in ordering the Kimchi Soon Tofu. I was very please with Tofu Village's version as the broth contained the right amount of spiciness and it tasted delicious. It went well together with their purple stone pot steamed rice which was visually appetizing as it was yummy. The purple rice that's stuck at the bottom of the stone pot is very good (the waiter/waitress pour water into the stone pot to soften up the rice). It's good after eating a spicy bowl of Soon Tofu as it's refreshing.
As for banchans, They bring them out as soon as you sit down and they are all very delicious - kimchi, pickled cucumbers, pickled radishes, potatoes etc. They are also very nice about bringing you some more if you ask (the kimchi was sooo good, i had to ask for refills 3 times!).
The price is also amazing as it's less than 8 dollars! For all the food they give you, its definitely a bargain! As far as the food goes, it's a must try in Toronto! -
Review from Jason K.
12/16/2010
- 2.5 stars
- i will have to come back. why? because i didnt have the soon tofu. and it's the house of it, for pete's sake!!
- instead, i tried the pork bone soup. i think it may have been an off night, because it was not as rock solid as i thought it was going to be. maybe the abundance of peppercorns ruined the experience for me. when i say peppercorns, i'm not joking around. i feel like a pepper mill dumped on, and not in the nice garnish sort of way, but a hailstorm....
- i dont want to let one dish throw off my review.
- the place was your typical joint in k-town. nice and polite service from foreign exchange students, clean and bright atmosphere, not pretentious in the slightest, and rammed full of korean folks (good sign of great food).
- i did enjoy the placement teaching me how to say "i love you" and "bill please" in korean. haha.
- like i said, i'll be back. you haven't seen the last of me tofu village.
