This casual banchan shop has gotten a plethora of articles written about them over the past few years and it’s easy to see why.

Joodooboo in Oakland specializes in homemade tofu (dooboo) made using traditional Korean methods with domestic organic soybeans. You can watch this demonstration below from chef Steve Joo.

They also highlight seasonal vegetable preparations, better known as banchan, to accompany their tofu. I’m not sure what took me so long to finally try Joodooboo especially since it’s so close to home. Their menu is small but mighty where we both ordered the popular fried dooboo set and shared a noodle bowl along with a few extra banchan add ons.

Fried Dooboo Set (8.5/10)

The fried dooboo set comes with their house made tofu, a variety of banchan, soup, rice, and salad. The fried dooboo was absolutely the star of the show where the exterior was lightly crisp with a smooth and almost custardy interior. I’d recommend getting your own set (we each did) since portions aren’t huge.

We also added a few seasonal banchan.

Tuna Poke Banchan (8/10).

Meaty tuna simply dressed and served with seaweed. Clean, fresh, and straightforward.

Red Beet and Greens Banchan (8.5/10).

This was one of my favorite banchans with sweet earthy beets paired with a mix of greens that added both bitterness and balance.

Sweet Potato with Pickled Green Strawberry Banchan (8.5/10).

A fun and unexpected combo. The roasted sweet potato brought warmth and depth while the pickled green strawberry added a bright tangy contrast.

Turnips and Beans with Nameko Banchan (7/10).

This was our least favorite banchan, still solid, but not as strong as the others.

Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl (8-8.5/10).

We also shared the noodle bowl. The chilled acorn noodles (similar to soba but with a slightly earthier and nuttier flavor) were tossed in a nori vinaigrette and topped with kimchi, pickled mushrooms, and a perfectly medium boiled egg. Light, refreshing, and exactly what you want from a chilled noodle dish.

Overall we really enjoyed everything we tried at Joodooboo. The food felt fresh, thoughtful, and deeply seasonal. Portions aren’t the largest but since we ordered a bit more than the average diner, we both left satisfied. Even if you’re not typically a tofu lover (like me), this place might just change your mind so my rating is an 8-8.5/10.