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SGD Tofu House
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
3450 El Camino Real# 105
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 261-3030
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
582 reviews for SGD Tofu House
Review Highlights
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"The side dishes are also very tasty and super fresh." In 144 reviews -
"I heart the seafood pancake here." In 34 reviews -
"This is also the first place I discovered melon gum." In 33 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
582 reviews in English
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Review from Jenna H.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love their dumpling spicy tofu soup! You don't typically see dumplings in your soup, especially if you're going to one of those traditional korean places that will actually give you the soup as part of your meal. I love the dumpling tofu soup from Tofu Village in San Francisco, so as soon as I saw it here I HAD to try it!
I have to admit, I love it as much as Tofu Village's, but this place is closer to to my school so whenever I'm in the Santa Clara/Cupertino/Sunnyvale area I CRAVE to stop by here for my tofu soup and banchan fix!!
Their soup is delish with tiny meat dumplings. I also like this place because they put little rice cakes in the soup as well, so it's a nice chewy texture.
Their service is dependent on how crowded it is. I came here once with a friend and it was difficult to get refills on our side dishes and water--but the place was packed. I came another time with the bf, and there were maybe four other tables. Never had to ask for water or refills, they did it without asking.
Reasonable prices with delicious spicy tofu soup and spotty service? I WILL BE BACK. -
Review from Chris S.
Palo Alto, CA
5/20/2012
Came here with my small group for dinner.
Saw the Banchan and started to crave for the bean sprouts and kimchi.
Then the Seafood pancake came.
And that's why this place is easily a recommended place.
Period.
Okay, they're famous for their tofu soup obviously, but the hidden gem is easily their seafood pancake. Why? Get yourself a bite and you'll realize the mixture they used is totally completely different from all the other surrounding shops. Completely different. I bet you Anthony Bourdain would have said "#$)# this is good" if he had a chance to eat here.
Service is great if you smiled and actually waved them down. Treat the ajummas with respect, and they'll be on your side for a VERY LONG time.
Way better than Jang Su Jang. Easily.
Eat here. Enjoy Soup. But Enjoy the Pancakes more. -
Review from Anu M.
We stopped by SGD Tofu House after reading the good reviews that this restaurant has accumulated. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a couple of waiters who immediately requested us to take a seat.
I ordered the Tofu Noodles Soup (Medium Spicy) and my husband ordered the Original Tofu Soup with chicken. Within a few minutes after placing the order, we were served Banchan.
Soon, the soups were served boiling hot! I totally fell in love with my soup; I thought it hit the spot.
I am certainly looking forward to return to this restaurant, to try some of their beef from the menu. -
Review from Alice S.
5/23/2012
Been here a few times and went again yesterday with a friend to get some tofu soup! I ordered the ramen tofu soup and my friend ordered the dumpling tofu soup. Both were yummy. One thing I like about this place is that they bring out their delicious side dishes right away :P
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Review from Casey S.
4/13/2012 4 Check-ins Here
For somebody who absolutely hates kimchi, the folks at SGD have made me a fan of Korean cuisine.
More specifically, their soondubu.
Filled with the meat/tofu of your choice (including ham & cheese...), these bowls come out boiling, filled to the brim with spices, tofu, and other heartwarming ingredients. I got a bowl right before the massive thunderstorms hit the Bay Area yesterday, and it complemented the evening perfectly. -
Review from Caroline T.
San Jose, CA
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
My coworkers and I have started ordering out from SGD once a week, not only because we work nearby but also because it is quite heart warming. Tofu soup is comfort Korean food.
I always order the soft tofu soup with beef (#1). Unlike other places, their number one comes packed with meat and mushrooms!! It's so hard to get other places to add mushrooms to your basic tofu soup and if they do, they'll give you maybe 3 pieces. We order to-go and the pluses include:
-Flavorful tofu soup packed with meat and mushrooms.
-Packed nicely into separate containers. Containers are packed securely in a box.
-Banchan is also packed separately and they give you copious amounts of each.
-They leave my egg on the side as I ask so I can enjoy the runny yolk in my rice.
-Steaming hot and ready to eat!
One tofu soup is around $10 and the best part is that they serve purple rice!!
5 stars for the service. The owner (man) is so friendly! He brightens up my day with how jolly he is. Feeling down? Go on in to get a dose of joy , and it usually comes in a pack of melon gum! -
Review from Icey m.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2012
I went here twice, both was pleasant experience. However, I'll just mention my last experience. I went around November 2011.
I was sick from the common cold and need something hot and soupy. Korean soup is the way to go.
I went here without any reservation. It was Saturday night. The waiting time about 15mins. The restaurant was packed, the staff were friendly and fast.
The host was very sweet. He's this older man with glasses. Very friendly guy. He made a mistake by giving me and another party the same waiting number, but he immediately recognized me, apologized, and corrected his mistake. Later on, he gave me a whole pack of gum in my hand before we left. I mean, we have our gum already. I was confused, but before I could say anything, he said, because I was all smile when he made that mistake earlier and told my friend, "You're a lucky guy, your gf is very pretty!" Which we all laugh about that.
Food:
We ordered the 2 combo soups, mild and medium spicy. I don't usually like to eat spicy, but mild doesn't have the spiciness at all. I will order medium spicy next time. Here medium spicy = mild in other place. Recommended.
We also ordered BBQ Pork. The meat was juicy and full of flavor. Yummy! Recommended.
Love their rice tea, the black bean rice, sprout and japchae banchan (side dishes).
The only downside of this restaurant is very far from my place, but I guess that's a good thing. Otherwise, I can't imagine what will happen to my waistline. =D
Good food, great service, and flattery. You can't beat that! ;) -
Review from Seung Hyun Y.
Everett, WA
Updated - 4/26/2012
SAM KEH TANG (Ginseng Chicken Soup) all the way!
I was kinda sick, but it helped me out alot!
Our waters and Banchan were constantly being replenished, so we were happy.
Girly had the spicy Tofu soup. Warm and satisfying!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/25/2012
This place reminds of the SGD Tofu Houses in SoCal. If you're wondering what I order at the SGD… Read more »
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Review from Michael H.
Campbell, CA
2/29/2012 ROTD 4/6/2012
Finally! I had some REAL Korean fare! We came here for a birthday celebration the other night. The owner and staff were so friendly and helpful. The owner answered all my white-man questions regarding the menu with a smile and a spring in his step! I didn't want to have my usual spicy Korean beef, so I opted for the Beef Bibimbop (Isn't Korean such a hilarious one-syllable-after-another type language?).
My Bibimbop came to the table steaming away in a wonderful old super hot stone bowl. The rice got all burned on the bottom which just made it taste all the better. The beef wasn't too spicy, but that wasn't a huge problem, since there was plenty of that hot red chilli sauce on the table. Lol!
I also managed to steal some Hot and Spicy Tofu Soup. OMFG. Thats right. I hate saying OMFG, but it is totally warranted in this case. Friggin delicious. I'm getting that next time I come back here.
Yup. I finally lost my Korean virginity!Listed in: ROTD
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Review from Patty F.
3/5/2012
Normally, I go to Jang Su Jang and that's it. I mean coming from LA, I have a very high expectation for Korean restaurants, in terms of quality and price. (Service of course, is a whole different story hah). So...
Banchan: very minimal, doesn't REALLY stand out, EXCEPT for the kimchi. OMG the kimchi, really, it's as good as Jang Su Jang, if not better. I love it the tops of the napa cabbage, with all the sludgy red seafood sauce. Honestly full of depth, spicy, and just delicious.
As for the rest of the food, I've only had the soondobu here, since there's not many other options. Now if we were in k-town, a small menu wouldn't bother me since I understand specialization. However, in the middle of Los Altos? I doubt. The tofu is good, (kimchi pork! seafood and beef get overcooked...) but the the other stuff is kind of pricey...
Honestly, this place does is great, homey, and for the tofu, a great deal. However, other than the kimchi and the purple rice, it's nothing out of the ordinary. Nonetheless, sometimes Korean food is all about comfort, and for that this place hits the spot. -
Review from Linh L.
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place because it does tofu soup so well - they're comforting, warm, and oh so delicious. Ordering the tofu soup gets you the requisite side dishes, an egg to crack into the soup (!!), and burnt rice mixed in water. This meal will satisfy and fill you up.
Service is efficient, and the main owner is super adorable. I came early to meet up with a friend, and when he arrived, the owner joked that my friend would have to pay for making me wait. If you ask people who frequent SGD Tofu House, they'll tell you similar stories.
The wait can be long, so come early! -
Review from David T.
Boston, MA
4/3/2012
Craving.
I'm generally not a fan of Korean tofu soup but for whatever reason I needed to get some last night. A local relative recommended the place and I gave them a shot - they were totally packed and the service wasn't too bad.
The menu is pretty standard for these types of restaurants, but the food pales in comparison to some totally legit Korean joints back in Los Angeles. That being said, the food wasn't bad at all - though my beef tofu soup's portion was pretty paltry. I'm certain I'll stop in to try their other dishes. -
Review from Cecilia T.
San Mateo, CA
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Finally! After months of trying a ton of tofu houses all over the san fran area, I have finally found the one that best reminds me of my beloved Cho Jung from back home in Chitown.
This is better than Jang Su Jang, Tofu Village, etc etc. BY FAR the standout!
Best soondubu I've had since moving to the Bay Area. And I'm seriously particular about my tofu soup.
What makes it stand out? The broth is thicker and textured, not watery and chickenbrothy like basically every other place I've been to. There's so much flavor in this broth. The seafood in the Seafood Soondubu is SOOOOO tasty. Perfectly flavored - not chemically, not too salty, not too bland...just right! I like to order the Regular spicy which is more spicy than other places, but is really really good. I just kept slurping up this delicious concoction. So authentic and genuine. Like back at home, they color it up a bit with green onion which wets the appetite.
Pan chan is ok here, but tofu soup will be on my Top Cravings list for years to come! Gotta make the trek out to South Bay for my tofu craving!
Also, we came on a Wednesday night and there was no wait. the place wasn't even half full. How can people NOT be filling up this place like i've seen at other tofu houses on weeknights in the area! Yes, a hidden gem! -
Review from Dannah S.
Santa Clara, CA
2/27/2012
This part of El Camino is like the trifecta of Korean Food. You have Choi's at one side, Roll House next to it, Lawrence Plaza Food Court across the way, and this little gem of tofu awesomeness.
When I'm craving Tofu soup this is the place I go.
My korean friends GO HERE. Seriously, tofu soup is their specialty (hence the name...) The menu is quite diverse but they also have something for the straight up carnivores (Ladies, if your man ain't feeling that tofu but you still want some, this place is safe).
They also have some pretty bomb korean seafood pancake. I say that it rivals Choi's and Jang Su Jang.
The owner is sweet. Say hi to him! -
Review from Michelle W.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 4/12/2012
Sigh, I really wanted to give this place 4 stars, but after eating here the other day, I just can't do it. The owner took our order while we were waiting for our seat, but they were so busy and unorganized that they never put in our order. We weren't able to flag anyone down, and when we did, they didn't listen to what we were saying that thought we wanted tea!! Bottom line, we waited about 40 min for our food.. no go..
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2012
This place has 4* quality food, but the service boosts them up to 5*.
I come here often as it is… Read more »
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Review from Diana N.
1/29/2012 1 photo
It was dead winter and freezing cold outside. The wind was blowing sharp, icy blows. The best thing to eat this night would be steaming, hot tofu!!! SGD Tofu House it is! First time here.
I knew there was something different about this place compared to other tofu houses. I knew before I even stepped inside. Coming from the parking lot, the manager (I believe) came out and started giving us numbers. The way he did was so friendly and enthusiastic; it was the best service I've ever encountered so far before even stepping in.
As with most tofu houses, I always order the dumpling soft tofu soup. My other friends ordered the same while others ordered the mushroom soft tofu soup. Once again, I knew this tofu house was different than the rest. Why? Out of all the tofu houses I have eaten at (Koreatown in LA, Little Koreatown in Garden Grove) this was the only tofu house where I finished absolutely everything! As well as everyone else at my table! The dumpling soft tofu was great as always. My friend, though she finished the mushroom soup, did mention that the mushrooms were in huge chunks and it had a little bit of the mushrooms she liked and a lot of the mushrooms she wasn't fond of.
Service was a bit off though because they were so packed and crowded. We weren't served our glasses of water until we got our food because it was so difficult to flag someone down.
The facility itself is also a bit crowded. And what makes this place unique was that all the chairs had tennis balls on the bottom to make sure the wood doesn't scratch!!! How funny but realistic at the same time. It gives the place character.
Would I come back? Yes, I would...if it was a cold-winter day and I was craving something that would warm me up! -
Review from William R.
San Jose, CA
2/1/2012
Wow. I had to give this place 5 stars because their soondubu was...well, pretty damn good. I lived in Suwon, Korea, for a year and I ate this often. The one that I had in San Jose matched the taste if it wasn't better--and I ordered Spicy.
Yes, order the spicy. You can handle it. It's not like wasabi, it's more mild and manageable. The kimchi is delicious. (I had seconds.) And although it was a small banchan it was still good. Definitely missing the steamed egg, but they had a delicious spicy squid and bean sprouts to make up for it.
Lots of Korean being spoke around us--which is a good sign that the customers and employees know authentic Korean food. (The people behind us were talking about their lunar new year.)
Compared to what you might pay for soondubu in Korea (maybe four to five dollars), SGD is more expensive. But, I can comfortably say that the price is worth it. You get a huge portion of jjigae, a generous stone bowl of black rice, banchan, and tea...it was worth it. I paid $13, including tip, and only had spicy kimchi soondubu jjigae.
If you like Korean food, this place is legitimate. If I lived close enough, I'd walk over and eat it a couple times a week. Haven't eaten anything except the jjigae, but I'm certain that everything else tastes equally awesome. -
Review from Matt V.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/30/2012
Both this and the Palo Alto location are each one of my favorite locations for an easy Korean lunch.
The ambiance is really lacking. You have your wood floors, with wood chairs, and wood tables. Almost the ambiance of your high school cafeteria, and certainly nothing to talk about.
Service is very efficient. Food comes out very quickly, but honestly, that's really all that can be said about service. Don't expect too many pleasantries; just place your order and call it good.
That said, what Tofu House lacks in ambiance and service, they more than make up for in the taste and quality of their foods, and especially for the price! For under $10, you can get daeji bulgogi (spicy BBQ pork) or bulgogi (BBQ beef), which are two of my favorite dishes at any Korean restaurant!
After placing your order, the first thing you get are unlimited hors d'oeurves of many different varieties. From kimchi to fish cakes to bean sprouts, all your favorite Korean appetizers are included.
Then, when the food comes out, you are wowed by the flavors of the marinated meats. The meats are so tender, and the sauces really bring out an amazing flavor that complements the flavor of the meats!
Tofu House is just a wonderful spot for a cheap, quick, bite. -
Review from Shiva S.
Used to eat here at least once a week when I worked close by. Can't do that anymore because I work further away and as a result I have severe with withdrawals right now!
Service is pretty good. Owner is always somewhere around the front of the store with a smile. His son (I think) knows my order by heart and will ask how my friends I doing if I happen to go here without them.
Tried most of their tofu soups, and they're all pretty good but I tend to get the kimichi with pork tofu soup (I ask for it extra extra spicy). -
Review from Mimi T.
1/23/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Pork Dumplings tofu with Ramen! YUMMMMMM! if you havent tried, you gotta!
Tofu and ramen? thats like the perfect combination for my idea of korean food.
Service is awesome, owner is super sweet, and they did the unthinkable by combining my two favorite foods.
Hands down! -
Review from Lawrence L.
Millbrae, CA
Updated - 1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came in on a weeknight, and the place was PACKED... Even so, they processed the crowd super efficiently by handing out menus, and taking our orders ahead of getting our tables. We came in with a group of 8, but it only took about 5-10 minutes to get a large enough table.
We ordered up the seafood tofu soup (spicy good and the highlight of the dinner), arrowroot cold noodle with spicy sauce (noodles were nice and chewy, and sauce was tasty), and calbee (they were flavorful and grilled nicely)... With a group of 8, our table was packed to the gills with barely enough room to fit our sodas.
Overall, they offer a simple menu done right. Con: no alcohol served here (was hoping to get some soju to warm myself up). Service was friendly, but they were so busy that we had to get up ourselves a few times to ask for forks and chop sticks, to go boxes, and to pay our bill. Nevertheless, I liked the overall experience, and really enjoyed the dinner. I will be back!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2010
FIrst time, and thought this place was pretty good. As far as it compares to other tofu houses, it… Read more »
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Review from Jikhan J.
Los Altos, CA
3/1/2012
I tried Seafood Tofu, Seafood fancake, taste good.
They need more people for serving -
Review from Liza T.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 Stars.....
Came there on a Saturday at 6:30pm and the place was PACKED. While you were waiting for the table, the owner gave me the menu to look at. The menu was very simple and limited compared to other restaurants. Then about five minutes, the owner was taking my order. I thought this process would speed the wait time for the food. But it was not. I still waited 15 minutes for the food came out.
We ordered:
The original tofu soup (Chicken) - The flavor of the soup was ok and it was a lit watery. The chicken was little bit dry.
Seafood Pancake - The pancake was good. Huge portion with a lot of ingredients. But to me, it was a little bit oily.
Side Dishes - side dishes were limited, the taste was ok, nothing special. Unfortunately, we found the hair in the kimchee and showed it to the owner, He offered a $10 certificate to use next time. Well, I don't think I am going to use it in the future thou. -
Review from Julianne L.
West Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012
We came here for a late lunch so it was mostly empty and service was prompt. Our meal started off on a bad note with the water they gave us. It tasted stale, greasy and a little plasticky. Safe to say we didn't touch the water again after the initial sip.
Food was meh. Kind of underwhelming. We ordered the combination soon dobu(hot) and the daeji bulgogi bimbibap. We were given 6 different banchan dishes, the best being the kimchi. The soon dobu was bland and not very spicy and came with a side of overcooked rice. The bimbibap was mostly rice with a tiny bit of meat and some veggies. Also the red sauce for the bimbibap was Sriracha.
Overall the best part of our meal was the complimentary melon gum at the end. Definitely won't be back again. -
Review from Stephanie B.
South San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
Walked away from this place feelin like a million bucks....5 star experience.
Combination tofu soup (for lunch - $10): Sizzling hot. Perfectly spicy (at medium). Plenty of tofu, beef, and clams. Just delicious! 4.5 stars! This is the kind of soup you need during the winter, for sure.
Free side dishes and purple rice. AWESOME.
Also, service is outstanding. Food came out fast, and the workers were extremely nice. I don't know if he was the owner, but there was an old man greeting and serving us. He was so cheery, it was contagious! AND he gave us free gum! I wish there were more people like him in the world - happy and kind. =]
I want to come back ASAP. -
Review from Kurt N.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am all about customer service when it comes to dine-in dinners...SGD on a busy night just doesn't have it. Don't get me wrong, the waitresses were super nice and the owner was entertaining (giving kids balloons), but on a busy night this place is not the place to be.
They are swift and fast to give you your bill but takes more than 15 minutes just to get "to-go" boxes. Heck, they took even longer to take my credit card to pay for the bill.
The food was good. I ordered the Spicy Pork and I'll have to say it was fantasticulous!!! Lots of flavor and the spice is just right...the serving was also more than I can handle. They also serve a side of tofu soup to go with my order and that went well with the spicy pork. They should make a spicy pork tofu soup combination dinner meal!!!
Why only 2 stars??? It's because I am all about CUSTOMER SATISFACTION and I wasn't so satisfied with their service at all.
Come here for the awesome food but don't expect great service. Hopefully next time I'm back they do a better job...it may have been just a one time deal. -
Review from Jeena C.
San Jose, CA
1/7/2012
MY MENU PICK: Seafood tofu soup with noodles.
SUMMARY: Oh man, I am always totally blown away by SGD. The only reason why I don't say that it tastes like the Korean food my mom makes for me is because it tastes BETTER. Also, one of the owners makes balloon animals for the girls at dinner, so I got a pink bear! :)
FOOD: I swear the tofu soup has crack in it. That's all I can say. Spicy and piping hot and hits the spot every time. I don't remember the banchan, though, so it can't be bad.
SERVICE: Yay for balloon animal man! Definitely put a smile on my face.
AMBIANCE: Your typical delicious Korean comfort food spot, with fluorescent lighting and all, but it's a bit bigger. There were a lot of young couples here for dinner. -
Review from Christina L.
Berkeley, CA
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was PACKED, and I can see why.
They had wonderful service and even though the place was packed, our food came out relatively fast. I love places like this, small, non-franchise restaurants that are popular and decently priced. It was New Years Eve, and the man at the counter gave us packs of melon gum while we were leaving. It was such a cute gesture on behalf of the restaurant.
My experience was fantastic, and I would definitely come back.
Not a date place, but a good place to take friends and family. :) -
Review from Lily m.
Cupertino, CA
1/11/2012
Love, love, love this tofu house! This is my go-to spot whenever i crave Korean tofu :) The service is great (especially the owner, the old man who acts like everyone grandpa! He's super sweet), and the food has ALWAYS came out hot-boiling from the stove and delicious!
Went again last night for dinner with a friend. She had the seafood tofu and i tried the BBQ and octopus; we had our soup in medium spiced but it wasn't spicey at all. Side dishes were fresh and yummy, my favorite was the pickled radish :) Dinner was around $10ish each that came out to $23.50 for both.
Overall, if you like tofu, i highly recommend this tofu spot. :) -
Review from Augustine S.
San Ramon, CA
3/14/2012
Good food and tasty side dishes. The owners are super nice. Highly recommend it.
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Review from Mary Rose L.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
*Date of visit: 01/27/12
*Food: 4/5
The tofu soup here is amazing. I ordered the dumpling tofu soup, which comes with rice cake and beef. The soup itself was very flavorful despite me getting the mild soup, which is sometimes bland at other places. I would have to try it the ramen next time, which is more like udon noodles. The rice with the soup is the purple rice, which is pretty good despite the color. Additionally, the soup came with the traditional side dishes, although the portions were small and not a lot of options. My favorite are the noodles and the seaweed. There was also a weird pink soup that I didn't try. In addition to the soup, my boyfriend ordered the spicy pork which was delicious especially in combination with my tofu soup. The meat was tender and full of flavor. Oh, and the water cups are very tiny... Just a warning for those that like their food spicy ;)
*Service & Atmosphere: 1/5
The place is a little hard to find. It does not say SGD on the front, only Korean writhing. There are pictures drawn by children on the walls... Best wall paper a restaurant could have :) The place was very crowded, but we were seated right away. Our table was fairly close to the table to our left to make room for the cart in the aisle, but that wasn't too much of a problem. While we were waiting, the owner came in to make balloon animals for the children. Although he didn't come to our table, he was very cheerful and I was sure that I would enjoy my time there.
However, I was proved wrong by the rest of the staff. I don't know if its because we were the only non-koreans in the korean restaurant, but the staff was not very friendly to us. I've never felt so disrespected at a restaurant before. The waitresses just walked passed us as if we were not there. We had to ask several times for water refills. The worst part was that they we pretty much had to stick the check into their face to pay because we kept getting ignored. Also, we must have asked three different waitresses for to-go boxes until my roommate got tired of waiting and went up to the counter.
*Overall Experience: 2/5 (only due to the terrible service)
*Would I come here again: Maybe, but only for the food and for take out next so that we don't have to leave a tip. -
Review from Christina G.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Once again, a great experience! Last time I ordered the spiciest and I burned off my mouth. So, I ordered mild, and was able to eat it like mild soup, too mild! The sides were a bit skimpy today, but that's the first time it's happened. Perhaps because we came during the after lunch hour of around 2pm~
Anyways, the combo tofu soup is good and includes clams (shells, also lots of clam pieces), 2 shrimps, and other seafood delights... oh and also beef and other things.Listed in: ALL TIME WIN
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/8/2011
I've been here 3x and every time has been such a good experience. The guy who always greets you at… Read more »
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Review from Nancy N.
Their name says it all - Tofu House. They have over a dozen varieties of tofu on the menu and a handful of other items including cold noodles and BBQ, whereas other Korean restaurants have a more extensive list of options.
I got the #2 combo (beef, clams, and shrimp) and my bf got the octopus and veggie tofu. Both were really good! Substantial amounts of meats and seafood in the bowls. But I have to agree with other reviewers - it could've been spicier. Granted I only got medium spicy, but it tasted more on the mild side. The side dishes are also very tasty and super fresh!
The owner here is also another reason to come back. Sooo welcoming and appreciative of their patrons! Sweet old man walks around to tables making balloon animals for the kids (and adults like me who still want one too! Haha). I definitely will be back :) -
Review from Tram N.
Tip: go BEFORE 12pm or else you'll be waiting, suckers.
I had the #1 and I told the server to make it the spiciest they've got but when I tasted it, it seems like they downplayed the spicy level as if I were a white guy! I added extreme measures of their version of Sriracha but to no avail.. it still tasted extremely mild.
When the soup was brought out, I imagined being inside a volcano because the that's exactly what it was! Piping ass hot! I picked chicken so the entire clay pot was boiling w/ red broth, tofu, mushrooms, and chicken!
I really liked it.. my first meal at a tofu house!
Service was good however, a piece of advice that reads this: speak loudly (your order) and have the server REPEAT your order because I had to ask about my Diet Coke twice before it was served. -
Review from Johnny M.
San Jose, CA
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Thought I would try this place for the first time, since I was getting my car washed across the street. When I walked in I was immediately greeted by a friendly gentleman. One thing I must say is that the customer service of SGD Tofu House was outstanding. The place was busy and there were only 3 people working, but I never had to wait and I was always felt like a valued customer.
I ordered the spicey soft tofu with chicken. While waiting i was served the traditional Korean side dishes that all came out fresh looking and tasting fresh. The Spicey soft tofu came out sizzling and was good, but some how, I still feel So Gong Dong Tofu house in Milpitas is far superior.
Overall the food and the customer service was excelent! -
Review from Sharon Q.
12/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The first thing that stands out...the tennis balls used as floor protectors.
Other than that, the tofu soup variety here is pretty good. More of a selection. And tastes good too.
Seafood pancake is a must try.
The place tends to get pretty busy but usually the wait is no longer than 15-20 minutes.Listed in: Soups
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Review from Virginia D.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/6/2011
(3.5 for food, bumping up to 4 for service)
Even though we were seated immediately, the tofu house was pretty popular on a Saturday night. The first thing I noticed were the stoneware pots being wheeled out of the kitchen, filled to the brim with boiling hot tofu soups.
I ordered a tofu soup with ramen. My sister and our vegetarian friend ordered their respective dol sot bibimbaps. Our side dishes flew out immediately after our order, and the server was kind enough to tell us which dishes were meat free and safe for vegetarian consumption.
Our orders were carted out within 15 minutes. You could hear the soups still bubbling as they came closer to our table. Oh god, never touch the pots! I dropped my spoon after being singed by the corner of the pot. A server noticed my clumsy fumbling and sped to my rescue with a clean spoon. I didn't even have to ask for a new spoon! How thoughtful!
The food was hot. It took a while for the food to cool down enough to eat without burn my tongue with every bite. The added egg flavored the soup nicely and the portions were big. I didn't finish the huge pot of ramen and we ended up taking home a lot of the bibimbap. The tofu was soft, but it was hard to eat since the tofu appeared to retain the boiling temperature the best.
While we were enjoying our meal, the man who seemed to be the owner was walking around making balloon animals for children. I guess my sister was pouting about wanting a balloon animal, so he made a poodle for the 23 year old child. :3 It was so cute!
All in all, a good dining experience, but I don't know when the next time I'll be yearning to eat boiling hot tofu. -
Review from George L.
Saratoga, CA
1/7/2012
Justy came back from dinner here and it good. I had this place bookmarked for quite a while given the positive reviews from Yelp and finally decided to come. I ordered the dol sot bibimbap with beef and it was ok. The portions of the bibimbap was smaller than what I've had at other places, but they do give you a bowl of mixed grain rice and I also received a soup. The taste was decent, it wasn't particularly bad or good, but it did its job. The tofu soup really wasn't anything special, but in winter it's still a great thing to have. The various side dishes that they have were decent. Nothing wrong but nothing spectacular.
My main issue with this restaurant is the service. I understand that it's a Saturday night, but it was a hassle to get their attention. I suppose it's due to the lack of manpower, being a family run business and all. Even getting the check took more effort than what was necessary and even when that happened, there was no friendlyness or warmth to it. Their service was very sterile. But on the positive side it was efficient.
I don't think I'll be back, given the various tofu houses on el camino and elsewhere, but it was decent.
3-3.25/5 -
Review from Jun W.
Daly City, CA
1/17/2012
For some reason, I often dissapoint at Korean restaurants and end up writing bad reviews for some strange reasons. And this one again validates my point. The service seems good initially from owner's greetings and things went downhill from there.
For one thing, we sat there for 15 minutes with no greeting or side dish. And waitresses were constantly passing us by as if we were air. We finally asked politely if we could get some side dishes, and waited for another 5 minutes with no response. We finally spoke to the guy that looked like owner, and they finally came. And ironically, after another 2 minutes, the things we ordered came up to the table too. Once again, nobody cared to come by to collect the empty dishes. On top of all this, the taste was average comparing to other Korean restaurants I have been to.
Overall speaking, this place has one of the worst customer service I have ever seen in restaurants. If you are someone who cares for taste as well service, then this place will disappoint you big time. As for me, I have no interest in going back for my lifetime. -
Review from Maggie L.
Milpitas, CA
1/13/2012
I've been here at least 10 times but I never knew it's called SGD because we always call it Tofu House only.
I came with a few friends around noon. I was very dissatisfied with the service because it took 10 minutes and a few calls to get someone to take our orders. However, the food was pretty amazing, as usual.
We ordered:
1 Spicy Seafood Tofu -- 4 stars
1 Medium Combination Tofu -- 4 stars
1 Seafood Bibimbap -- 5 stars
1 Seafood Pancake -- more than 5 stars -- the pancake was cooked until the top and bottom are both crispy, this is one of the best seafood pancakes I've had (even at this restaurant) I've had. I was very happy and I think I ate about 5 pieces.
In short, one of my favorite Korean place to get delicious food consistently. Try their BBQ and Ginseng Chicken as well, pretty much everything is yummy!
