Tofu Ya Korean BBQ Restaurant: A Feast for the Mouth

In the heart of Los Angeles lies a modest looking stretch of buildings tucked into the corner of Sawtelle boulevard. Sqaushed between kitchy Japanese stores selling objects that have no real purpose but to tickle your eyes, and a mixture of Ramen takeout and sushi parlors, this unassuming little restaurant doesn't seem like much at first glance. But looks are deceiving when it comes to quality food, as I've learned countless times in the past.

Tofu Ya is the Korean BBQ gem amongst an assemblage of ramen, curry, and sushi spots. And unlike the Asahi Ramen (two shops down) that upholds a strict Cash-Only policy, Tofu Ya welcomes credit cards. A fortunate policy for someone who very rarely pays visits to the ATM, perhaps due to a general laziness that makes my father cringe. He's a stout believer in having cash available and in your wallet at any given time, and I tend to disappoint him when I show up armed with only a debit card. Luckily my Aunt wanted to pay for our group's dinner tonight so the cash/card debacle was thankfully not addressed.

Upon being seated, I took in the surroundings. Very modest set up: Just small enough to be considered "cozy", but not overcrowded. Clean lines, simple wood tables and chairs in three neat rows. Our server brought out an array of appetizers to munch on, and I stocked up on the steamed broccoli soaked in sesame oil. The small dish of see-through noodles with shredded cabbage mixed with various seasonings (heavy on the sesame oil which gives it that unique taste) brought back old memories of family get togethers in Hawaii where my great Aunt would serve up a large pot of the stuff. I guess some foods transcend cultural borders since the Japanese in Hawaii often served this, and it leaves me questioning where this specific noodle dish originated from.

After 20 minutes of catching up with the family, the food finally came on steaming plates that made our eyes water. My father had ordered the chicken Teriyaki which is always a good, safe bet, while my boyfriend and I indulged in the Chicken bulgogi-a type of BBQ chicken that is so tender it melts in your mouth. The combo came with seafood beef soon Tofu soup that was 3 chili's hot. Tofu Ya has a "hot" scale that starts at one chili (not very hot) and goes up to 4 chilis (extremely hot). And since I've lived off of jalapenos, hot cheetos, and anything that causes your tongue to shrivel up until you temporarily lose your sense of taste, I decided to test the waters per say, and go with 3 chilis. I gave Tofu Ya the benefit of the doubt. If their four chili was as hot as they claimed, I might be safer having three instead. Thinking back, I wish I would have gone with the 4 chilis. Three was only mildly spicy in comparison to my tastes, and that was the only disappointing part of the night.

Nevertheless, even though the Tofu soup wasn't as spicy as I'd wanted, it was something new and exciting. I'm a huge fan of tofu so my immediate reaction was one of lustful happiness as I gulped a few spoonfuls down. It might be my half Japanese heritage or the fact that Tofu just appeals to me more than the average individual. I fished around the bowl and ate a few of the mussels-my first time trying them, much to the surprise of everyone, and I was pleasantrly surprised by their subtle fishy taste. However, the texture is something I won't get used to overnight.

Though the restaurant was almost too loud to hear the person next to you, the overall experience was enjoyable and stomach-filling. I wasn't blown away by the taste of the Korean soon Tofu soup, but the chicken Bulgogi is undeniably some of the best tasting chicken I've had in a long time. I'm used to Japanese food and although all asian cuisine has it's similarities, the mixture of different spices and tastes was jaw inspiring to a small degree. Luckily our party had come before the rush hour, and as we paid the check and piled out we passed 5 - 10 people waiting to have their little slice of Korean heaven. Overall, a fantastic night filled with family and good food. Now I can check Korean BBQ off of my ever increasing bucket list of foods I must try.