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BCD Tofu House - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
17 W 32nd St(between 5th Ave & Broadway)
New York, NY 10001
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Koreatown
(212) 967-1900
- Nearest Transit:
-
34 St - Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R)
28 St (N, R)
33 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
453 reviews for BCD Tofu House
Review Highlights
"Its by far the best tofu soup I've tried in k-town."
(in 48 reviews)
"Love their side dishes, and yes, their tofu is organic."
(in 88 reviews)
"If you come here, you gotta go Soon Dubu."
(in 27 reviews)
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453 reviews in English
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Review from Siu N.
1/8/2012
It's closed!?!? *slow motion* Nooooooooooo!!!!
I LOVE BCD! They serve by far the best soondubu in New York, and there are quite a number of places that serve it, especially in Koreatown. Every time I've wanted to eat here, there has always been a gazillion people and a bit of a wait for a table, which goes to show just how good it is. The ban chan is always delicious, and they even throw a small fried fish per person. I can't think of another place that does that! As mentioned already, the soondubu is top knotch, and I love the variety they have. A friend of mine loves their curry flavor, and I love their kimchi and mushroom ones. The kalbi here is also oh-so-good!
I've never had a problem with the service and I loved the decor of this location. They better just be relocating and not closed permanently! Please open soon, thanks! -
Review from Mich L.
Updated - 1/6/2012
I'm astonished BCD Tofu House has closed. I've heard that their closure was not due to a lack of business however. Anyone who has been to BCD Tofu House knows that it's always packed with a wait.
Good news is that a Manhattan branch is supposed to open up in 2012 sometime. In the meantime, booooo! Me want BCD Tofu House soondooboo! *chant*1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/15/2011
I did not know what spicy beef soondooboo was until I went here. I mean I THOUGHT I knew until I was… Read more »
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Review from Pear K.
Boston, MA
12/31/2011
Tofu soup is by far the best!
Side dishes are all delicious especially Kimchi and fish.
Meat is awesome.
Bibimbap is superb.
I love the taste of all dishes here. It is worth every penny and it is cheap. Definitely go again!! -
Review from Maki S.
New York, NY
1/27/2012
I called them, the recording says they are closed BUT will reopen this summer in another location.
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Review from Lucy Y.
Manhattan, NY
12/18/2011
Ooooh, soondubu jjigae, you're my favorite dish on bone-freezing winter days. BCD Tofu House, you serve awesome soondubu jjigae. Let's be friends.
The banchan selection was great because of the fried fish. I'm so glad they give one to each diner. A whole fish all to myself, yay! I quickly made short work of it, bones and all.
And then, my seafood soondubu jjigae arrived, bubbling away merrily. There were some really plump and juicy oysters in there, plus some mussels/clams and a nice head-on shrimp. It was so good and satisfying. Oh, heaven!
The wait was half an hour at 12:30pm on a bleeding freezing Sunday. Service was efficient and on-top. The waitress delivered our food promptly, no issues getting my friend a cup of steaming tea either. The service staff don't fawn all over you here, but do a great job on feeding you pronto. At $12 for a super nourishing and comforting meal, I walked away happy and satisfied.
Photos of the meal: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjx... -
Review from Yu-Ching L.
New York, NY
12/6/2011
This place is my go to place for something cheap, quick and non-Chinatown.
I love the fried fish they give you. A whole fish for me?!?! Why, thank you!
I always get the pork tofu soup in spicy level and it never disappoints.
The grilled octopus over the sizzling plate is tasty and awesome with a bowl of rice because it does get pretty spicy after a while.
There is always a wait but they always overshoot the time and it's always shorter than what they will tell you so hang in there.
I wouldn't touch that rice water they give you at the end with a ten foot pole. -
Review from Matthew G.
New York, NY
12/15/2011
Over the past five years I confess I've fed a bit of a soondubu chigae addiction, with the help of roped in friends and coworkers, which has taken me to a fair number of spicy-tofu-soup-serving establishments around the city.
While most Korean places serve up a version of this soup, I've only found two in Manhattan that can claim it as a specialty - BCD, and Cho Dang Gol a few blocks North. Both make excellent versions, though they're quite different - BCD's tofu is softer and silkier but is cut into bigger chunks, while Cho Dang Gol's is ground up sort of like the meat in a sloppy joe.
The overall experience at BCD is upmarket - sleek decor, lots of space, etc. The panchan (small appetizer / snack plates) are the best I've had, though the small fried fish they serve up at the beginning of the meal is definitely skewing my opinion and the rest are more standard fare - kim chi, pickles, potato salad, etc
The stews themselves have a very elaborate presentation here - they're served in the conventional cast iron pots but raw eggs are brought to the table to be dropped in and cooked in the soup while it's still hot. Further, the bowls in which the rice is cooked are filled with water and stored table-side; the water is served as a sort of postprandial digestif which I find bland and unappetizing. The soup is great, however - supremely flavorful regardless of the chosen level of spice. I've enjoyed the vegetable version (note for vegetarians: I've heard mixed stories on whether the broth involves fish sauce or not; be sure to ask your server and to take what they say with a grain of salt), but generally order the seafood one. A friend recently tried the one with dumplings and found it particularly filling.
Their seafood scallion pancake (as well as the non-seafood version, which I do think is vegetarian) is also a standout - salty, greasy, and with a great sesame-seed laden sauce.
I've never had their korean barbecue so I can't comment on it; as others have mentioned the bibimbap is fine but is not the main attraction.
My one main complaint is the "door policy." The place is always crowded, and there's generally a half hour to 45 minute wait in the cramped waiting / bar area near the front. The hosts and hostesses are fine once you're there but the real mystery is if you try to call ahead: I often eat my spicy tofu soup in a pack of 10 or 12 people and a reservation at that size is imperative - and BCD takes them only sporadically and always with a little bit of attitude. I guess when you're popular and serve the best spicy tofu soup in town you can afford to be cheeky. -
Review from Wing L.
11/28/2011
You may think K town has the same restaurants but if you look closely, each specializes in different things.
When I really crave hot, spicy soup, I usually always think BCD Tofu house.
One can get full easily with their complimentary side orders (banchans). BCD takes it to a whole new level and gives each person a whole small fried fish. Everything can be eaten, down to the bones ('cuz you know, that's how asians roll- we don't waste any part of the meat). Their potato salad is pretty amazing too.
I've tried their many versions of soup but generally I like their seafood and tofu soup or their tofu and pork soup. Imagine this: it's cold and snowing, and you see a hot piping, bubbling reddish seafood tofu stew. What are you waiting for? Crack that egg and let it simmer in the soup. Pour over fluffy rice and Enjoy. If you want to take it up a kick, order it "extra hot." You will be sweating, sniffing, eyes rolling, hands waving, tongue gaping, but in the end, you will be all warmed up. Just, probably don't order that while on a date- it's not attractive. But with friends? They won't care. -
Review from Vina A.
New York, NY
12/12/2011
This place gets 4 stars just for it's amazing little fried fish - perfectly crispy, salty and flaky white fish - that comes as part of the piles of side dishes. That and a really really well made pancake. I crave these two, often.
Everyone comes here for the Sundubu (Soft tofu stew,) which was good but I can't say exactly what makes it so amazing. Do not get the bibimbap, which is an afterthought on the menu. The real stars are the appetizers and the stews.
Nice decor, well ventilated. Great for large groups - they have huge comfy booths. -
Review from Cat L.
Glendale, CA
12/13/2011
This one is as good as the ones in K-Town in LA.
A lil bit disappointed but hey still my favorite late nite eatery. -
Review from Roma M.
11/23/2011
I totally get the long wait times.
I came here on a Friday night to enjoy some hard core Soon Tofu Soup. There were about 20-30 people ahead of us in line so we went to Pinkberry down the street to kill time.
An hour later we were seated and excited to try the New York version of soondubu jjigae Soup. Banchan was amazing here; deep-fried fish and the usual assortment of soy bean sprouts kimchee, japchae, etc...
Service is amazing here; everyone is prompt and organized without you needing to signal a single wait staff, okay maybe once.
Definitely worth the wait! The staff at BCD House runs a tight ship.Listed in: My 30-Day Yelp-athon: Nov, NYC, Soon Tofu
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Review from Jason S.
Manhattan, NY
12/28/2011
This has to be by far the best soft tofu restaurant around.
I'm pretty sure the one in Fort Lee, NJ is run by the same folks, too.
This is like the same thing as the one in Jersey, but better, because you don't have to wait as long as the one in Jersey.
I usually get it very spicy, sweat out a little bit while I eat. Believe it or not, it's one of my favorite ways to get rid of cold.
What I love about this restaurant is consistency. Unlike many other Korean restaurants that are either inconsistent or consistently bad, this restaurant is able to stay consistent, year in, year out.
The addition of fried fish to their banchan is definitely a winner, too.
The only thing is that no matter which dish you order, they all taste almost the same, with hint of differences in ingredients.
Regardless, it's a winner! -
Review from Amy P.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum in my tum.
Awesome lunch special prices, and awesome food! -
Review from Jane Y.
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I personally thought the soondubu at Lighthouse in Annadale (DMV) is better, but BCD's is passable. The banchan was varied, if not plentiful and like everyone says, the croaker will make me return.
My date had the LA Galbi and we both agreed it was good, but not 21 dollars good (or even enough). We might try something not barbequed next time. Too bad he doesn't like soondubu!! -
Review from Susan T.
Corona, NY
Updated - 1/12/2012
WTH?!!!! Why is this place closed?! BRING IT BACK!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/17/2008
Love the tofu soup here....yum! Came here on a recommendation from a friend. The tofu in their soup… Read more »
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Review from Nancy R.
11/27/2011
I had such a great experience at the Ft. Lee one that I was happy to see one in the city. There is a 20-min wait for a table but it's worth the wait.
FOOD: For lunch I had the bibim-bap combo which is regular bibim-bap (mixture of vegetables and rice) and tofu soup. I had the seafood tofu which had shrimp, clam, and an egg in it. The bibim-bap is a full dish so this was a lot of food. I like the fried fish and banchan sides in the beginning of the meal. Their kimchee is really good! -
Review from Rach K.
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum!
Really decent soft tofu soup at a decent price at any hour of the day or night. That pretty much sums it up. -
Review from Cindy T.
Warren, NJ
11/8/2011
If you want a top notch soondooboo experience, look no further.
1) BANCHAN [Excellent]: The dishes are fresh and varied and each person gets their own little fried fish. Sampling the banchan and picking the tasty morsels off the fish will keep you busy up until your bubbling pot of soondooboo arrives.
2) SOONDOOBOO [Excellent]: There is more selection of soondooboo flavors here than any other korean restaurant in Manhattan. The stew is chock full of silky tofu and is free of MSG. You wonder how it could get any better... and then they give you an egg to crack into the pot. Who doesnt love egg?
3) RICE [Very Good]: They bring this to you in hot stone pots. They spoon most of the rice into a metal bowl for you and add (barley?) tea to the remaining bits in the pot. Later, they spoon the tea/rice mixture into another bowl - some people tell me you eat this at the end as a palate cleanser.
4) DECOR [Very Good]: The space is trendy looking and you aren't crammed together with your elbows touching those of your neighbor.
5) SERVICE [Excellent]: The waiter or waitress appears the moment you are ready to order. They don't rush you out. Some places bring you the check with your food. At BCD, they let you sit for as long as your conscience will allow (given the inevitable crowd at the door).
6) OTHER FOOD [So-So]: The portions for the appetizers are not as big as some of the other restaurants and the BBQ is pricey without being particularly special. With that said, if you want something else on top of your soondooboo, it gets the job done. -
Review from Lily P.
Updated - 1/2/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Well I love this place but I'm giving it 3 starts (not that it matters) SINCE THEY CLOSED (walked by 2 days ago). There is a sign out saying they are closed and moving....I don't know where yet. For me this was a great location and one of my top 3 places to go in Ktown. :(
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2010
The tofu is really good here, jap chae about standard, and the beef my friends got was good. I think… Read more »
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Review from Diana S.
Updated - 11/7/2011 1 photo
*Read my previous review for thoughts on the actual food*
My favorite waiter at BCD is Michael! He was working a different section that night and I literally flagged him down to say hi. Then in my drunken state proceeded to tell him I love the fishies and him (I'm pretty sure he's gay). He then held my hand and told me I was the sweetest fan he had and that if we hadn't gotten our fishies yet, he'd get us some. If this isn't love, I don't know what is.
I ended our time together by drawing hearts on our receipt. Until next time Michael!Listed in: Miso Into You, I love you like a fat kid…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/18/2011
My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE restaurant in K-town! I think I've been here maybe 30 times this year and that… Read more »
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Review from Jando S.
10/25/2011 8 photos
After it's initial rise to fame in the late 90s in Incheon, South Korea, BCD Tofu House achieved (and practically conquered) the American dream, by making way to California and opening several locations. When the time came for the BCD to make it's move for east coast expansion roughly 3 years ago, this Manhattan spot was the first one on the scene and has remained a mainstay on 32nd street ever since.
It has since joined the ranks of it's nearby competition as one of the many 24 hour restaurants in KTown, brimming with activity all day and night. The steady flow of patrons makes BCD a subtle, semi-low key establishment not to be confused with the post-midnight chaos of Kunjip (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), the touristy vibe of Kum Gang San (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) , or the desolation of Shilla (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). BCD is a gorgeous space, clean bathrooms, tasteful decor, a truly ideal combination of Asian sophistication with a contemporary scheme and is perfect for groups of all sizes.
Starting things off, their complimentary appetizers, aka banchan (side dishes) have been especially impressive to me - marinated potato slaw, fish cakes, the picked cucumber, the tasty kimchi, a solid potato salad, and even a whole mini-fried fish (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)! BCD's claim to fame have been their amazing array of soondubu jigae (tofu stew), which for all accounts have been right on the money. A fresh, spicy broth with soft and silky tofu, complemented by a fresh egg that cooks in the boiling broth, only to be mixed in with rice for a killer, dare I say *ultimate* winter meal.
In terms of the rest of the menu, I've had stellar items across the board - crispy mandoo (fried dumpling) that was just perfectly fried, a hearty haemool pajun (seafood pancake), a smooth and tasty rendition of nengmyun (cold noodles), a scrape your bowl worthy session with bibimbop, and have even sampled their kalbi, decent flavor and came pre-cooked as opposed to grilling it on the table (which is almost always more fun).
There are few places that are truly perfect and BCD isn't one of them. I think a major reason for their lack of steady crowds is primarily due to their notoriously shoddy service during the day and overly slow service at night. On top of this, though they make some pretty good food, it's all grossly overpriced. Soon Dubu is not supposed to be $15 a pop and a $20 seafood pancake is almost highway murder considering it only feeds 4 people with a slice for each. I understand the need for high end food, but similar dishes presented in nearly identical fashion can be found at places just a few doors down.
As much as I dig BCD, I tend to cringe whenever I know I'm being subjected to feast here. Korean food has already amassed a reputation for being overly pricey, BCD only falls to the stereotype. There is one particularly redeeming aspect for Korean mainstream fans: many celebs from The Wonder Girls to GDragon have been spotted here at all hours. Cheonmaneyo! -
Review from Sue W.
Cranford, NJ
1/25/2012
i'm a tofu lover and it was a bit of a disappointment for me when i came. let down hopefully if i ever eat tofu again like this it be tastier!
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Review from Catherine C.
Manhattan, NY
12/7/2011
BCD is incredible. They are the reason why I started eating soondubu so much. I LOVE it here and come back as often as I can.
Also love the assortment of appetizers here. The wait is long for dinner but once you get seated, the food comes out incredibly fast.
If you want soondubu, this is THE place in NY to go! -
Review from Gina K.
12/22/2011
This is probably the best Korean food in Ktown. Coming from a Korean that likes food... that's saying a lot...and very little all at the same time. Manhattan seems to be lacking decent Korean fare and BCD is the only place that I feel like I'm getting a normal meal minus the bullpoo prices and/or interesting concoctions. Simple and comforting.
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Review from Jason P.
Manhattan, NY
12/3/2011
I ordered the kimchi soondubu here today, and it was totally worth it. Here's what you'll get for about only 13 bucks: a large bowl of sun tofu soup, a large plate of kimchi, an entire, personal-sized fried fish, and 3 sides (I had pickled cucumber, spicy squid, and macaroni salad). And I was very pleased that there weren't ridiculous amounts of MSG; I wasn't dying of thirst afterwards. Regular spiciness was just right for me, meaning it was pretty spicy by American standards. It was so warming and nourishing, especially with the fresh raw egg that balanced the spicyness of the soup.
Needless to say, it was a good meal. I know this, because as I ate, small dribbles of sweat appeared and rolled down my face. Even though the food is so hot (both temperature and taste), you can't control yourself. You just have to keep eating more and more of it, even if it means burning your tongue and finishing your meal in a hot, sweaty mess. -
Review from Jimmy C.
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love BCD!! And in my opinion its as good as ANY Korean tofu house I've had in Texas or New York and that says something. Granted it seems that the several times I always come here are always after we leave the bar/club but HEY that's ok because alcohol brings out the taste in Korean food RIGHT? ahahaha.
FOOD:
Delish Delish Delish Delish! Did I mention Delish? Favorite small plate condiment is that freaking Fried Sardine/Cod whatever fish they give you...makes me sooooo happy every time I eat it...Diana was the one who introduced it to me, Thank you Diana and your 1/4 Korean ways. lol. Their Bulgogi is really juicy and tasty and I could eat it every single day of the week if I had to. The tofu itself is just as fresh and cooked on the spot and tasty as any hour of the day which is pretty amazing when you get that quality of food at weird hours like 4 in the morning.
SERVICE:
Even with all these somewhat drunken Asians coming in, the staff deals with it pretty well. They take care of you and are polite and we seem to have always had good experiences with them even at the odd hours.
ATMOSPHERE:
Clean, always Lively and not to cramped. And the most interesting people come in at crazy hours! We sat next to a group of transvesties one night...my friends could not stop making jokes about it...Oh Lord...lol
SUMMARY:
Great Place to come and chill and eat great Korean Tofu and Cuisines at any hour of the day. I will come back here over and over again!Listed in: A taste of Asian Bliss
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Review from Keejoo L.
Updated - 1/3/2012
Ive just read that they have closed and are relocating??? What was wrong with the current location?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/17/2010
SOOOOOOOO GOOD. I think this is the best place in k-town that I can think of. They have fresh tofu… Read more »
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Review from Arie W.
Manhattan, NY
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's as good as it gets... in NY. I can't say that it's best I've ever had in comparison to Korea or LA, but it comes pretty damn close. Before BCD opened last year, the only good place to go to soondooboo was at Seoul Garden. Now that BCD is here, I only go here (unless the line is super long). Now that it's gaining popularity there's never a time I don't have to wait for a table, unless its like 3am on a Saturday night, or 6pm on a Monday night.
My favorite go to when I come is the kimchee beef, spicy soondooboo. It can get pretty frickin' spicy. One thing I don't like is that it lacks consistency in terms of spiciness. Sometimes when I ask for it spicy, it's perfect, and other times its like my mouth is on fire. Aside from their signature dish, I absolutely LOVE the galbi here. It is marinated and a bit sweet, just the way I like it. I think it is seriously one of the best I've eaten, especially compared to the other restaurants in Ktown.
As for service, the waitresses are pretty friendly, but also are in a hurry to get you out the door to get ready for the next table. The inside decor is nice and trendy compared to the other Ktown restaurants. When my friends suggest going to Ktown for dinner I'm always suggesting BCD, and for the most part my friends will agree, but after going there back to back each time, my suggestion gets vetoed because we go there way too much. It's THAT good. -
Review from Joe L.
Jersey City, NJ
11/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
BCD Tofu house was recommended to me by a co-worker. Honestly, if not for this recommendation, I don't think I would have given it a chance given the number of restaurants in K-town. But they were so insistent on it, I gave it a shot.
Let's put it this way... I love Korean food, but not even I can chow down on BBQ and fried rice all the time. Sometimes you just want a nice bowl of spicy soup to drown your rice in and then snarf it up like a monster. You can have all of your traditional soups there, and all of them are top notch. My guilty pleasure though, is the curry jjigae. It's like a giant bowl of Japanese curry with pieces of beef marinating in it, and after standing out in the cold, there's nothing like it to warm you up. I can go for one now. Happy dining! -
Review from Esther S.
New York, NY
12/4/2011
Yummy Yummy Yummy LA Kalbi!!!
Very tasty and they cooked it on the table grill even though we only ordered one. Most restaurants make you order a minimum of two Kalbis if you want table service. But I love that they grill in front of you so it stays super hot and tasty.
I LOVE the fried fish they serve because I'm always starving and impatient when I sit down to eat!!!!
They also serve coke in the little glass coke bottles which make it taste better in my opinion! -
Review from Andrew C.
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mmm, a relic of my tofu house experiences in LA. By far my favorite tofu house in LA is also available in New York! The soondobu here is great and the tofu is organic. Yup, a Korean restaurant chain with organic tofu. Rock on. The bul go gi here is good, too. You can grill it at your table (2 orders minimum) or have it grilled in the kitchen (no minimum).
The side dishes are good here. I'd say it's a moderate amount of dishes, but not the most (nor the best) that I've had. The real star of the side dishes is the fried fish -- a BCD Tofu House signature. It's a great way to start out your meal.
The seafood pancake (they call it the seafood pizza here) is excellent. They really crisp it up, so it really does feel more like a pizza than a pancake. I really like it. The "small" one is good for two people; probably around 9" in diameter.
My only real gripe is the value of the grilled meats. It's a fairly medium sized portion, but the price is outrageous -- $22 for a plate of bul go gi. Kal bi is $21. It's a bit ridiculous for what you're getting.
I'll be back, but only for the soondobu and the seafood pancake! -
Review from michael c.
New York, NY
12/21/2011
definitely more 3 and a half but ill round up for the sake of showing a little bit of love. i first had bcd in los angeles and enjoyed my time there so was hoping for a solid performance to back up the bcd name out on the east coast. i must say, they did them justice just fine.
the pahnchan (side dishes) are solid, they bring out a fried fish that is good cause its fried, and they have some of the best kimchi in ktown. thats always a plus when you get some good side dishes. the two types i usually get are the kimchi and meat soondubu. very solid choices in my opinion and feel you cant go wrong. be aware of the level of spice you order, if you want a kick to the face definitely go for the highest level, but yeah, be aware...haha.
another plus is the stone pot rice. always a little nice addition at the end.
overall, especially on a cold night or if youre feeling sick, this place is somewhere to hit up, but on a regular basis, this place is always a solid choice. cheers everyone. -
Review from Lily R.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOVE this place! Makes me feel like I am home again on El Camino Real eating at some late night Korean.
It doesn't ever fail that I will slither in here at about 4am after the club. The service never fails either. I have no idea how they put up with me but I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
Last week while in NY, we rolled in here super late and ordered Kalbi and Tofu Seafood soup.
I recall falling asleep at the table and the only thing that kept me awake was the AMAZING flavors of the kalbi ribs and the spiciness of the tofu soup.
Can't wait to make another appearance next week. I LOVE NY and BCD Tofu House!!! -
Review from Rita L.
Manhattan, NY
10/15/2011
On a Saturday night after Comic-Con and two starving stomachs, we went here hoping to get a seat quickly, and we did, within three minutes. It was pretty busy, but we were lucky.
We ordered the marinated pork belly, which they cooked in the kitchen (for korean bbq and to cook at your own table, you have to order two dishes) and also the Soon Doo Boo with seafood.
Like every Korean restaurant, we had the appetizers and ordered another dish of kimchi. The food was delicious and savory. The soon doo boo soup was especially good, the tofu was soft and soup was delicious. You can choose the level of spicyness.
Overall, on a Saturday night especially where Ktown is always busy, expect every restaurant to have a long wait. We were fortunate enough! I def recommend this place! -
Review from diane c.
Updated - 10/10/2011
I am mad at BCD. I ordered a Soon Doo Boo and the lady didn't give me an egg with my soup. I hurredly asked "excuse me, can I have the egg!"
WE ALL KNOW YOU MUST PUT THE EGG IN RIGHT WHEN YOU GET THE SOON DOO BOO OTHERWISE THE EGG WILL NOT COOK CORRECTLY.
Sigh, by the time she gave me my egg, the soon doo boo was no longer boiling. I had a sad, raw egg in my stew. What a buzz kill. Hopefully I do not get Salmanella.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/11/2009
As a consistent Seoul Garden patron, I was hesitant to try BCD Tofu House. Some Yelpers have been… Read more »
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Review from Rahul P.
Jersey City, NJ
11/27/2011
First off, I am a Korean-anything fanatic. So I've pretty much done the entire K-town strip over and over and have classified each place as serving a purpose.
BCD Tofu House is great for stews. Their stews rock! Soodubu Jigae, Kimchi Jigae, etc...I love it all. If that's what I'm craving, I'm headed straight for no-frills BCD. Even my friends rave about the stews. Moving on...the bibimbap and the Korean barbeque and other dishes are in the average category. You can find higher quality Korean BBQ at places like Wonjae and Miss Korea on the same strip. BCD's just didn't have that delicious melt-in-your-mouth and exact right blend of spices I look for. The Bibimbap is alright - its kind of hard to screw up, but I still feel like a bunch of places do it better if thats exactly what you're looking for. -
Review from Michelle M.
Denver, CO
11/26/2011
BCD Tofu House is just damn fun.
Kimchi soondubu is by FAR my favorite food and BCD makes a pretty darn good stew. It's not the BEST I've ever had in my life, but it really hits the spot on a rainy night when it's really too late for you to be out.
Love the fast and organized service. LOVE the banchan (deep fried fish is uncommon but very traditional and great when they a restaurant does it right - BCD does it right).
Definite plus for BCD: They were playing Deadmau5 and other great trance. It certainly added to my late night dining experience. ;)
The only minor set back is that it is a little greasy, but hey...isn't that how all delicious late night food is supposed to be? -
Review from Jeff H.
Queens, NY
11/19/2011
This place started out as a late night 24/7 treat after a night of clubbing and drinking. The spicy and hot soondooboo definitely hit the spot! For the longest time I ate only the seafood tofu in my not so sober stupor and it was delicious!
Recently, BCD became a favorite for lunch on days I didn't pack lunch to the office. And at the same time, I've tried their curry tofu and their mushroom tofu, both which were fantastic. If you truly like spicy food, go with the very spicy. If you have worried, go with regular spicy, it still has a pleasant kick without overwhelming your taste buds.
I wish this place took reservations, BCD requires a two hour lunch break b/c of the wait time for a table on Fridays. Ordering take out is pretty handy, you call in with your order and in ten minutes they put everything into containers, tofu soup, banchan and fish to go! However, you don't get the raw egg to go (perhaps by the time you get to the office, its not hot enough and they don't wanna get sick eating raw food).
I'm a pretty big eater, but one order is more than enough to fill me up. Recently, I've been sharing an order with a co-worker and its plenty of food (and for $5/person, its AWESOME!). Fall is in full swing and winter is right around the corner. And what's better than filling your stomach with warm yummy soup! -
Review from Meredith M.
New York, NY
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those restaurants where you sit down, take a look at the menu and have absolutely no clue what to order....but just by looking around, you can tell it's unique and delish.
Just a forwarning...this was my very first Korean food experience, but to say the least the food was very good. That's all I care about; making my tummy happy.
Go for the soups....they are incredible. Like it a little spicy? Say MILD, because a "little spicy" to Koreans is volcano-my-nose-is-falling-off hot to Americans...or at least to me!
We ordered the seafood pancake (I feel like this would be so yummy drunk/hung-over), seafood soup, dumpling soup, some beef dish (C2 I think?) and also indulged in the abundant FREE appetizers. Free snack pre-meal is a custom in Korea. Pretty sweet.
Everything was quite tasty, but it's definitely a place you need to walk into with an open mind. I will return again, and soon I hope, maybe even tonight at 4am....as they are open 24 hours a day! -
Review from James S.
Manhattan, NY
12/18/2011
I disagree with the rave reviews on this place. I've come here on 3 occasions and it has consistently disappointed. Being someone who is Korean and used to live in LA, the BCD on WIlshire Blvd blows away the NYC 32nd St. location. Even without comparing it to the LA location, BCD 32 St still dissappoints. The soondubu was waterly, sides not good, and it just lacked the amazing natural flavor of the LA location. The crispy fish they give you is no where near as good. Also, the beef in the soup had these huge strips off fat on them. The quality, taste, and construction of the soup overall just simply isn't there. It's almost as if the cooks rushed the soup. Anyone who rates this place 4/5 stars simply doesn't know what BCD is capable of and what real soondubu is supposed to taste like. The LA location I would give 4/5 stars, this one, 2 stars. Trust me, this place is an underachiever.
