Top Tofu Restaurant in Palo Alto
So Gong Dong Tofu House
4127 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, United States
Nice outdoor tented dining area. Weather was warm and perfect.Had 12 noon reservations for large party, pre-ordered individual meals. Food arrived right on time at 12noon, unfortunately not all the guests were prompt.Total chaos ensued as servers just randomly placed items at place settings without asking what was ordered by the people currently seated, dishes were just plopped down without informing guests what they were. We could guess some, but not all. When we asked what the dishes were, they told us dont worry theyd sort it out after all the dishes were on the table.This totally didnt make sense when they could have slowed down and served the respective dishes to the guests present, then place there dishes for the pending guests where they would sit when they arrived. Which was basically what happened afterwards.There was a lot of shuffling of dishes between seats to get everyone the dishes they ordered once a more level headed worker arrived.Despite the initial chaos, the food was excellent and bountiful. Generous servings, delicious flavors, great assortment of dishes.The establishment was very accommodating and patient with our large party, family reunion, lots of picture taking, speeches, and socializing.Thank goodness for the outdoor seating as their inside dining would never have accommodated our group size, 20 guests.
Top other services in Palo Alto:
Rara
201 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, United States
We were in Palo Alto for a day and came across Rara, a Nepalese restaurant with amazing reviews and so we had to try it and it certainly did not disappoint.We were greeted by Supriya who took our order and explained everything we asked about thoroughly and patiently. Even when she had to go in the kitchen to clarify a few items for us, she kept a smile on her face throughout.We went for almost everything she recommended which were the cauli 8848 and akbare chicken wings for appetisers. They were a little spicy, nothing we couldn't handle, but caution for people who do not take spice well. Overall to us, it was well balanced and we could not stop raving about the flavors.Then came the Momo which we had read in another yelp review claiming that it was the best in the Bay Area, and though I have not tried many, I must say, this was delicious. There were so many types of momo styles to choose from, but we chose the tomato sesame soup in lieu of the cold weather and it felt like a nice warm hug.To keep the experience super authentic, we ordered the dal bhat khana with meat set which we were told is what the locals would usually eat. It is basically a rice platter that comes with dal (lentil soup), meat curry (we chose fish), spinach, fried okra, pickled radishes, tomato chutney and papad (lentil chips). The flavour combinations were interesting and you definitely get some umami out of this. I would say it's value for money because you get one spiced tea or buttermilk drink to try and a dessert at the end.It was paired with shikarni which is a creamy, rich, and decadent dessert made up of hung yoghurt, pistachios, sugar and spices. I believe traditional shikarni does not contain cream cheese from what I've read, but this one did and it totally elevated the dish.We even had the chance to speak to the restaurant manager, Ishav, who shared that this restaurant is only 3 months old but we were surprised to see operations run so smoothly and food tasting like perfection like as if they'd been open for a long time. There is a sense of synergy between everyone who works there, because they come from the same community, everyone is either family or is treated like family in the team and it definitely translates into their food & service.Their mission is to share their cuisine with others and the large, beautiful pictures of Rara lake & mountains is put up in order to invoke curiosity and interest in Nepal as a tourist destination. With that said, the calm music and ambient lighting could mentally transport one to such a place.I would totally come back here again for more! Thank you for the warm hospitality Supriya, Anis, Ishav, and chefs!
Kanji Sushi & Ramen
4131 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306, United States
New Sushi Spot Alert in the Bay Area! ??As someone who has become a sashimi fan and experienced high-quality raw fish from Omakase, lve become quite particular about quality and freshness. What surprised me here was how affordable everything was, from their sashimi, sushi, ramen, to bento boxes--while still maintaining high quality. I got their sashimi platter which came with thick-cut pieces. Although I usually prefer thin cuts, this was an exception because of how fresh it was. Usually, tuna isnt my favorite and I have to smother it with a lot of soy sauce, but this time I didnt have to use any for the sashimi pieces. I liked how each piece had a bit of lemony flavor and a little bit of wasabi (not too much).Besides the sashimi, we also tried the Toro Heaven Roll which actually tasted like heaven--by far one of the BEST sushi rolls lve ever had. There wasnt too much rice; it had more filling, and the toro piece on top was literally melt-in-your-mouth.For their bento boxes, they let you choose three items to customize--I chose the fish katsu, gyoza, and assorted tempuras.All of them were crisped to perfection, and they served house-made sauces with each of those appetizers. The tartar sauce was my favorite and paired so well with the fish katsu, kind of reminiscent of fish and chips.Lastly, their tonkatsu ramen broth was not too salty and light. I liked the pieces of pork-it was super thinly sliced and melt-in-your-mouth.The owner, Rita, was so nice and welcoming. I will definitely come back here again for their sashimi, sushi, and bento boxes.Honestly, if youre looking for affordable and high-quality sushi, I highly recommend checking out this new spot in the Bay Area!
Daigo
2363 Birch St #B, Palo Alto, CA 94306, United States
Daigo, nestled in the heart (an absolute hole in the wall in case you dont happen to have an intention of eating some amazing Sushi and are standing right outside to be seated) of Palo Alto is a culinary haven for lovers of authentic Japanese cuisine.Parking can definitely be challenging in Palo Alto in general and this wasnt an exception with Daigo, though you can park a couple blocks down in a public parking lot and its a few minutes walkThe restaurants ambiance exudes elegance and tranquility. With its minimalist decor, traditional Japanese aesthetics, and soft lighting, Daigo provides a serene and intimate dining atmosphere.The service at Daigo is impeccable. The staff is not only attentive but also incredibly knowledgeable about Japanese cuisine and the menu offerings. They patiently guided us through the menu, explaining the ingredients and preparation techniques every time they served the Omakase menu.Coming to our food for the night, we order an Omakase UNI and as well WAGYU, wrapping that up with the Cheesecake and ice-cream. The Omakase menu is definitely crafted with fresh sources of seafood and served in a pristine fashion. Each course was filled with flavors and textures that we definitely would crave and expect from authentic Japanese cuisine and as well the presentation was super artful. Every dish was a testament to the chefs dedication to excellence.Daigo falls on the higher end of the price spectrum, but its a place where youre paying for the quality and authenticity of the dining experience. Given the exceptional quality of the food and service, its well worth the occasional splurge for a special occasion.A definite hidden gem that deserves recognition among the finest Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area and an absolute candidate for a Michelin *. From the serene ambiance to the exquisite culinary offerings, its an establishment that caters to those seeking an authentic and memorable dining experience.We are definitely going to go back for more!!!
Ramen Nagi
541 Bryant St, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States
Dropped in for a quick dinner five minutes after they opened. Can see why they always have long lines.Looking fwd to going again soon, and trying more things. Service was great, very helpful. When finding it was our first time, a staff member did a run through of the menu and gave us some recs, including telling us about their chicken karaage which isnt listed on the menu.My husband had the original with normal thin noodles, and would try a softer texture next time. I like spicy, and gave their spicy one a try, with firm thin noodles. It delivered on spice and al dente.As a staff member promised, the smoothest pork broth, no unpleasant odors or aftertaste whatsoever.It is very customizable. As someone who usually fishes out all the meat and fishcakes in ramen, I loved that you can just get a plain bowl with green onion (next time will also ask for no mushrooms).We ordered the chicken karaage, which was fried crisp crunchy with lots of nooks and crannies. The toasted sesame oil drizzled on top was aromatic, one piece looked like it got dunked in it, but other pieces had a nice drizzle. The dipping sauce was mayo with chopped hard boiled egg, and some cherry tomatoes on the side were a nice touch.Water pitcher and box of tissues at every table ensures you will not run out of either one.If you need anything else though, rest assured service is attentive, and they check on you to make sure you are doing well. They come by with your check at some point during your meal, and you pay at the entrance on your way out.Update with good to know:as with anywhere, mistakes can be made with ramen order, so for example if you absolutely dont want salt or oil, make sure to double check. One time, despite checking boxes for none, my regular ramen had oil and salt added and I just ate it anyway, it was edible, but I was bloated and chugging water all night.Veggie ramen broth has dairy listed in details, something you might not expect.Also, veggie ramen comes with spinach and mushroom, and because of this, they charge you extra $1.50 for selecting green onion/cabbage as it counts as extra. This is not the case for other ramens so we greatly appreciate the server letting us know (with other non veggie ramens we ordered, unless you check extra, selecting the regular box of green onion/cabbage does not lead to an extra $1.50)We think fried foods could be better.Chicken karaage and gyoza both fill that need for something crispy but chicken can be overwhelmingly oily drenched in toasted sesame oil and mixing with pool of olive oil. We would try to remember to ask for zero added oils next time.Gyoza is super tiny (not the circumference as a whole, but the individual gyoza is tinier than a small Korean mulmandu), the tiniest we have ever seen in any Japanese ramen place, and always burnt black on one side of the circle and white underdone on the other. Wish they would master even golden browning. Also very very greasy, sitting in pools of oil from fryer.The two deep fried potato hash browns that came with veggie ramen tasted stale, like they had been fried much earlier and too long, and were sitting there for awhile. So plenty of greasy crunch, but no hash brown texture or potato flavor. If you like crunchy potato stick potato chips, this could be your jam.
Taste
423 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States
Delicious! Try all the specialties; Ive been impressed! Also, dont worry about the spice level as they have a lot of great non-spicy options and the spiciness of the spicy dishes varies (mapo tofu is hot of course, but the sizzling cumin lamb is not very spicy).Caveat: Ive only ordered delivery twice so I cant speak to the dining experience here. Also, am a bit surprised that people complained about portion sizes. Maybe its related to the portions for the Shanghai dumplings and the regular dumplings? Admittedly its a little sad to get only four Shanghai dumplings in an order, but theyre good and its Palo Alto (University Ave no less!) so I dont mind. The portion sizes for things like sizzling cumin lamb and other dishes were pretty standard or a bit on the generous side in my opinion.Im a bit shocked that I never noticed this place. I thought Id tried all of the authentic Chinese restaurants in the Palo Alto/Mountain View area. With my second delivery order, they gave me an order of rice instead of one of my orders of scallion pancakes, but to be fair I ordered a lot of stuff (including another 2 orders of rice) so its pretty understandable. Everything else was correct and more importantly delicious. My first order was not quite as large and was correct and also delicious.Standouts:- Sizzling Cumin Lamb: My dad and I both loved it; tender and flavorful and not too spicy.- Beijing style Shredded Pork with Pea Sprouts: tender and flavorful. Its the rare restaurant that doesnt overcook pork at least a little. They do an impressive job here.- Sautéed Pumpkin (with egg coating): I first had a similar dish in Tianjin but this version is excellent with savory egg surrounding tasty pumpkin. My toddler is a big fan too.- Cucumber Salad: the right amount of saltiness with a generous amount of garlic. Tasty and refreshing!- Shanghai dumplings: I’d say they edge out Dumpling Garden near San Antonio. A little pricy at 4/$8 but they deliver and they’re way closer than Din Tai Fung.Good:- Mapo Tofu - tasty with the numbing green Szechuan peppercorns. Next time I’ll stir fry some ground pork and mix it in because we like meat and it will tone down the spiciness a little.- Dumplings: enjoyed the Chives and Shrimp - properly flavorful with the chives coming through. - Scallion pancakes: not quite as much scallion flavor or as salty as I would like, but am very impressed by the flaky texture they manage to achieve. (I still prefer the flavor of the scallion pancakes at Queen House in Mountain View but the chef there doesnt like cooking them when the restaurant is busy.)- Woodear stir fried with Chinese Yam: I love Chinese yam and mountain yam but not that many restaurants serve it. This dish was good.- Fresh lily bulb was tastyFor context, my favorite restaurants are R&G Lounge, Harborview Restaurant, and Dragon Beau in SF, and Dragon Taste and Baby Cafe in Oakland, plus Din Tai Fung. Locally I like Kirin and Dumpling Garden in Mountain View and Chef Zhao Kitchen in Palo Alto. My recent favorites are Taste in Palo Alto and Noodle King in downtown Mountain View.
Country Sun Natural Foods
440 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, United States
Great news!!! Country Sun is back and NOT CLOSING.Lets all give them support to keep them local.Aside: And while youre in the neighborhood, did you know that La Boheme (across the street) is both a great restaurant, but ALSO has an AMAZING BREAKFAST!Country Sun is a great local organic health food & produce store that needs YOU!Country Sun has become an endangered treasure in the heart of our 2nd downtown.Please go here more often.They have likely lost shoppers due to the street being closed off during covid. Most days we can park in the currently vacant neighboring building's parking lot, but if not there is fairly convenient parking in all directions.They have an amazing variety of products in a well stocked store with knowledgeable and friendly staff.Admittedly some items may be cheaper elsewhere, but imagine their rent! And the cost to keep their friendly staff coming to work.Help save Country Sun to shine another day.
Dumpling City
3487 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, United States
My gosh, this place has the best frozen dumplings. Ive been around south bay area, searching for best frozen dumplings and this might be the place. Everytime I go, I try to buy as many as I can, as much as my freezer at home may allow me. Someday, I might have to get another freezer so I can get more dumplings from here!Only down side is that, I wish they had a pork and mushroom flavor. I thought its a pretty common flavor so was surprised it isnt available. Im sure that would be a hit with many customers.Other than that, pork and cabbage is a must. Three treasure is great too even though Im not a huge fan of chives. Chicken and corn is great. The corn is very fresh and juicy! Pork and cilantro is awesome too, but its not always available, unfortunately Also just tried pork with dill which is great too. It reminds me the taste of dill pickle, but not that sour.Another great must try: their beef pancake. Its like a savory pancake with meat filling. Its a large pancake, so pan fry it and split into multiple pieces to share.Overall, a sure go to place for dumplings! You cant go wrong with any dumpling flavor. Just hope theres more flavors (pork and mushroom) (*Hint hint* to the owner of this place, who I believe does read feedback!)
HE&C Tea Pot
544 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States
Looking for a hot pot place in downtown Palo Alto? Look no further than HE&C Tea + Pot! This restaurant is now my favorite spot for a delicious hot pot in the peninsula.We visited for lunch on a weekend, and while it wasnt packed initially, by the time we left, there was a waitlist! The atmosphere is perfect for a casual hangout. The floral wallpaper and well-spaced tables create a chill vibe, and the beautiful dinnerware with intricate patterns added a touch of elegance.We didnt have a reservation, but we were seated right away. Ordering was a breeze – just scan the QR code and browse their online menu. Everything arrived quickly, and the server kept track of our dishes with the handy order receipt system.Our lunch started off with a complimentary hot tea. The hot tea wasnt anything special, but it was complimentary, so we had no complaints there. Speaking of dishes, the portions were incredibly generous! We opted for the American Wagyu Business Combo for 2 ($87), which was a complete steal. It came with 2 drinks (we upgraded to the delicious Mango Sago for an extra $2 each!), 2 wagyu skewers, 2 lamb skewers, a choice of 2 broths (we loved the rich Original Chicken and the tangy Tom Yum Kung!), 2 meat selections (we chose the melt-in-your-mouth American Wagyu Chuck Roll and the decadent American Wagyu Short Rib – so good my friend became a member for the year!), a veggie combo for 2, tofu, noodles (we loved the Udon and Knife Cut options!), and even fried mochi for dessert!The broths were amazing – flavorful and perfect for soaking up the noodles. The lamb and beef skewers were tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The mango sago was a refreshing and not-too-sweet drink that perfectly complemented the savory feast.We were so impressed with the quality of the meat, especially the wagyu short rib, that my friend decided to join their membership program ($24.99 annually). It comes with tons of perks – three coupons for future visits, a free serving of wagyu meat, and more!Unsurprisingly, we ended up ordering additional meat because it was simply too good to resist. They also have a fantastic DIY sauce station ($1/person) where you can unleash your inner chef with a variety of options like satay sauce, kimchi, garlic paste, and fresh herbs. Bonus points for the watermelon and chips on the counter – a refreshing touch!The service at HE&C Tea + Pot was top-notch. Our server was efficient, friendly, and kept our table clean throughout the meal.Overall, we had an incredible experience at HE&C Tea + Pot. If youre looking for a delicious and fun hot pot experience in Palo Alto, this is the place to be!
O2 Valley
452 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States
Growing up in Palo Alto it was always difficult to see restaurant staples leave due to being priced out. Most of the time these places would be replaced with generic dining establishments which limited the diversity of cuisine in the neighborhood.O2 valley brings a new wave of oomph to Palo Alto. A taste of authentic Taiwanese cuisine in a small but open and inviting environment.There is a plethora of options ranging from bento boxes, 100-layer tofu, and a lemon aloe drink (simple and a little plain but it ticks all my boxes). Honestly, writing about this place can only do so much. I highly encourage anyone who is hesitant or stubborn (like myself) to bite the bullet and come on in.Nothing to lose!