Soondol Tofu House

We were in KTown and were looking for a nearby place to eat and fortunately happened upon Soondol Tofu House on Yelp! What a fantastic find! It is still their soft opening but everything was perfect from the service to the food to the value. We knew we were in for a great meal from the start when we received our banchan - each one was great, especially the bean sprouts and one I've never had before which was a like a tapenade made with spicy green pepper. One pot with a handful of ingredients is more than enough food for 2 people. You can adjust your spiciness by titrating the gochujang paste and broth as it cooks. Broth is added throughout the meal. Servings were generous and prices were reasonable.Eventually the restaurant will become a gastropub. The owner is kind and welcoming. Very happy to have found a new spot in KTown!

Soup base is lacking, improper food Togo containers that would melt if you put in boiling soup $41 for a 4 topping bowl that feeds 3-4 ppl=========================I really wanted to like this spot cuz I love tofu soup but it didn't hit the mark for me.Still new, so they don't have a liquor license atm - can BYOB.1 pot $41 (4 toppings: beef, fried tofu, mixed veggies, mushrooms)fed at least 3 people. The ingredients seem kind of expensive once you add it one by one, but they do give a lot of it so I guess it's ok.The broth is refillable and unlimited, but the overall soup base once everything boiled was lacking flavor. It's also quite spicy, so be careful if you're sensitive. What baffles me is that they don't have proper togo containers. Even if I was eating with multiple people, they only had short! Plastic containers that would certainly melt given the hot temperature of the soup. I had to separate everything and ask for multiple bowls to cool things down separately lolParking is street parking

If you're a fan of either soon tofu or budaejigae, you really need to check out Soon Dol. You choose the soup base you want, choose your ingredients, and it's heated in front of you on a portable gas stove. I recommend the Spicy Red Pepper Tofu Stew base for the soup if you want a traditional soon tofu taste...it's super delicious. It's really enough food for 2 people, and they give you bowls and a ladle if you're sharing. I also love that they constantly refill your soup if you're running low. You can also order additional ingredients at any time. They're currently BYOB and in the process of obtaining an alcohol license, so you can bring your own soju and beer for now. There's also a liquor store located conveniently across the street right next to Dan Sung Sa. Overall, it was an excellent dinner and I know we'll be back regularly. Friendly service and great food...not much more you could ask for. 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!

Really fun Korean tofu soup experience since it's kind of like a DIY pot. One pot was enough for two and we added some toppings. It already comes with the tofu and some veggies and also comes with all the banchan. We added sausage, beef, ramen, potato noodles, mushrooms and dumplings to the tofu soup. The broth is really flavorful and we enjoyed all the toppings we chose. They don't have their alcohol license yet but the food was delicious. Service was also friendly and helpful.

Do not go here if you want to eat alone. They don't serve their main dishes in one servings. So I got their katsu, and it was just okay. For $20, I got the katsu and sides. Rice was extra:(I understand they aren't known for the katsu or anything but I can't believe they charge $20 for that. There are definitely other places you can go for better. I don't know if I will go again, but if I do, I will order their main tofu stew.

Tofu soup on crack! Finally a place where you can order soft tofu soup with other toppings and comes in shareable size. This Jeon-gol style is a great option for small and large groups. Of course, it's family style, keep that in mind if you're not used to sharing food. You can customize the broth; mild or spicy I believe they also have the mala option. I highly recommend the mala option for all the spicy food lovers out there! It really enhanced the flavor and the experience. We also got the potato and chive pancakes and WOW we had to order both of them twice. Everyone at the table couldn't get enough. The service was great, I don't think this restaurant requires too much interaction with the staff though, the soup will be cooked at the table and you're kind of on your own to distribute and enjoy it. If I was still living LA I'd be here QUITE OFTEN. Also it was the perfect dinner choice for a chilly December night, can't wait to be go back!

Decided to try this spot out on a Friday night. There is valet parking on 6th between Catalina and Berendo located in the alleyway. Valet was about $4.The restaurant was very clean upon entering. This place took over the previous 365. The concept is pretty cool as it's build your own tofu stew (boodaejigae). You choose a base then can add various toppings. It was really delicious and I loved that they keep refilling the soup base. Decided to add the porridge to end the meal. Did this not disappoint.Whether it's cold out or you are just craving something spicy, Soondol is a great option. I loved the concept and the food exceeded expectations. I will be a returning customer!

I can't imagine waiting an hour for BCD anymore after discovering this place. I've been to Soondol twice now and both times the service has been great, food is consistent, and interior is clean. The servers have been very attentive with refilling side dishes and adding more broth, making for a pleasant dining experience. The menu here is very straightforward - you choose your base broth and add in additional toppings. They have very generous portions and also let you add in extra toppings throughout your meal, so the customization aspect is a plus! Highly recommend adding in the sweet potato noodles and sausage. The only downside to this place is that there are no spice levels for the base soondubu broth. My spice tolerance is decent so this wasn't a problem for me, but my boyfriend was struggling and had to dilute his bowl with water... While is definitely not a place for the weak, I recommend it to all the spice lovers out there!

3rd visit and tried the nutty perilla powder white tofu base this time. As it comes with veggies along with the super soft silken tofu, I added only seafood, and porridge at the end. I recommend this combo to families with kids, if you're not into spicy food, or when you crave the 'cool' broth (IYKYK). It was ample portion for two hungry people. The server told us you can ask for the spicy yangnyum (seasoned paste) on the side. Their boneless Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) was again phenomenally good - I don't think I will ever get tired of it. Hope more people would discover this place as it has thoughtfully curated dishes and their attentiveness on what they serve truly shows.

This is the restaurant that took over 365's space and I gotta say I'm a fan.Food:How you order the food is you order what broth, meats, noodles, and other extras you want to be included in your pot. They come out with the pot on a butane burner and it's ready basically when it starts to boil. We ordered the spicy red pepper broth, boiled pork belly, budae (which is an assortment of canned meats like spam, sausage, and bacon), dumplings, and the wide potato noodles. The pot already comes with kimchi, soon tofu, and veggies. I love that although at its foundation, it is a budaejjigae/soon tofu, you can customize it and make it whatever you'd like. In terms of size, I'm a pretty big eater but my girlfriend isn't but we managed to finish the pot with some rice. I'd say 2-3 people depending on how much you eat can share one pot. We loved the red pepper broth and we are planning on trying the perilla one next time.Service:The service was good! We were checked on often, when we ran out of water or banchan, they were replaced promptly when asked. Honestly, it's been harder to find good service in Koreatown nowadays so it's refreshing to see the speed and efficiency here.Ambiance:The restaurant itself is pretty big--you never feel cramped or too close to another table. Definitely feels spacious and it seems like a good place for larger parties as well.Overall, definitely will come again.