Jong Ka Jib

It's so good, best soon dubu in Philly imo. These days with tax/tip it will cost you about $20 per person for just the soon du bu - but don't forget that includes all of the banchan that's included with authentic Korean food! I enjoyed all of their banchan too - bean sprouts, marinated burdock root, kimchi, pickled cucumbers. I chose to go for level 4/5 spicy - and it was so good, but definitely Korean spicy, so only get this if you can tolerate spice. I'm so happy they have two veggie options, either mushroom or veggie which includes cabbage and other vegetables. The broth is so good, and so much better than my soon dubu I often make at home - and worth the treat! The tofu is so soft, silky and delicious as it soaks up the flavors of the broth. FYI - I'm not sure if the broth is vegan as they may use fish sauce, and traditionally it's also served with a raw egg that you put in the piping hot stone bowl as soon as it comes outAs soon as I left, I left craving wanting to come back. Service was attentive and friendly, although they speak little English. There's a nice service call button like most Korean restaurants, so you can easily request service. If you've never tried soon dubu - I highly recommend it, especially on a cold winter night. But I'll eat it in the dead of summer.

Such a classic Korean food restaurant in Philly! This place is very authentically Korean, with cool older Korean style decorations and seating booths. Our server was also Korean, and there was a tiny language barrier. Regardless, we were a huge group of 14, and they were still able to get food out so quickly. The food was all yummy, especially the spicy pork bulgogi, which absolutely stole the show. The banchan were all refreshing, and the kalbi were grilled and marinated to perfection.

Got a recommendation online for this place as my child loves Korean food and language, so we went out of our way to find it. First, it had parking which is rare and wonderful. The dining area was large and the sunny hostess sat us right away. (Ordered lots of dishes to try - our waitress kindly didn't tease us for over ordering, we really wanted to bring a lot home, so it was on purpose.)Everything came super fresh, piping hot in a stone pot, w lots of control over the spice level which we really appreciated. The kimchee was tasty, my bibimbap was excellent and my daughter got great advice about what soup to choose and how to eat it traditionally from a beautiful mother at the next table. She said this place makes the best Kimchee Soon Du Bu and my daughter totally agreed. The pickled radish w jalapeño was also amazing and she told us about how easy it was to make at home, which my daughter loves to do- try to cook things at home. (This generous woman stopped at H mart down the street while we were finishing our lunch and brought her back some radish to try and prepare at home! Unforgettable.)The whole lunch experience was the perfect rainy afternoon and we were so blessed to have shared in the culture of people so proud of their delicious food who took such care of us!

Can't get enough. Vibe was a bit different tonight, busy and a bit noisy but so worth it for the amazing food. For us there is something for everyone.

My favorite place to eat Soon Du-Bu. If you come & visit this place, the foods that you must try are Soon Du-Bu & Jap Chae. Those 2 foods are my favorite.

Honestly, I am not a tofu fan. As such, the idea of going to a tofu soup place was not a high priority. After my visit, I'm glad I fit it in and would happily go back again!First, they have expanded their menu beyond Tofu. Beyond an order of tofu soup, we split a BBQ squid appetizer and also got a stone pot dish. Food was amazing. I even ripped into each banchan they provided! Portions were excellent - 2 entrees and an appetizer was plenty for the two of us and we even had a bit for a light snack/lunch the next day.Pro tips: The banchan is unlimited, so order replacements for any you finish. Press the bell for service (and make sure you hear it ring). Come hungry and do not be afraid to order something you might not normally consider. Finally, consider the spicy level and order accordingly (they do have non-spicy dishes).

Finally made it to Jong Ka Jib and I'm so happy I did! Beautiful restaurant space (with parking lot!) and wonderful service. Note, it is a BYOB!After pressing the table-side bell for service and placing (a very large) order, our foursome started with the terrific banchan: pickled cucumbers (my favorite!), kimchi, soybean sprouts, soy sauce-y burdock root, black beans. Appreciated that we could get refills on the banchan we finished!Each of us received a stone bowl full of rice (bottom/sides got nice and crispy!) and then our order arrived:- Kimchi Soon Du Bu (kimchi, beef, soft tofu, egg), which I ordered in between level 4 (spicy) and level 5 (very spicy) and it was the perfect level of spice! It also had the silkiest tofu I've had in a soon du bu;- Gul Soon Du Bu (oyster, soft tofu, egg), ordered level 3 (medium spicy);- Pork Man Doo served with a dipping sauce;- Spicy Chicken Wings, which was extra crispy and sweetly spicy;- Beef Bulgogi;- Vege-Jap Chae (assorted vegetables, clear noodles); and- B.B.Q. ribs, which were noted to be the best in a long while.Took away a few containers of leftovers and left full'n'happy. Highly recommend a visit!

I haven't been back to this restaurant in several years, but I was in town recently and decided to meet up with a friend here. I've always enjoyed their soon du bu and wanted to see if things were still the same.Service was friendly and prompt as always, but I noticed the ingredients were not as generous as before. I understand that times have been hard with supply shortages and shrinkflation, so I don't really fault them for doing what they must to keep business afloat. Their banchan is as delicious as ever though.Honestly, the nostalgic atmosphere is what keeps me coming back. Stopping by in the dead of winter for some hot food still hits the spot.

4.5/5Really delicious tofu soup. I'd agree with the other reviews and say it seems very authentic. As you can see from the image, they provide the food in stone bowls which come very hot, so be careful when moving them around. This method really crisps up the rice which is an additional dimension to a simple dish. A comfort food for cold days for sure!

Family run restaurant. Amazing ambiance. Prefer Jong Ka Jib over all other tofu soup places because they are the OG in Philly and the best at the soup game. The other food here is great, too. Go here for the tofu soup and make it your benchmark. It's that good. Service is amazing and they're so much friendlier the second time because they'll recognize you! You'll feel like part of their family.