Lighthouse Tofu

It was so good! I went there with my friends after the ski. The tofu soup was good with rice, and the cold noodle really surprised and impressed me. If you like something sour and sweet, you can definitely pick the cold noodle!

Love the food at this place. My fiancé and I always order the combo number 3, two soups, galbi, and the fried dumpling. The food always comes out hot and fresh. The only reason it’s 4 star is the occasional terrible service you would receive and the parking on a busy night is non-​existence.

Hmmm … started this review back in 10/​13/​2012 but never finished. Simply stated — AVOID when busy. Food is decent but the service is just awful when swamped. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, is it really the server’s fault when they’re so busy that they can’t greet you. On the other hand, is it really that difficult to recognize patrons when they’ve been waiting for over 15 minutes … when they’ve already been seated? It wouldn’t be very difficult to say, «I’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like some water?» Classic example of poor pipeline management. The faster you take an order, the faster you deliver the order, then faster you get the customer out the door.
2 Stars — There are better options elsewhere in Annandale … even when those restaurants are swamped.

Lighthouse Tofu is one of my favorites, but this location’s menu is much more limited than the one in Rockville. I tried to order simple steamed egg once and they told me they did not make that here.
Also, the parking lot is so small, much less than what the capacity of the restaurant can actually hold.
The service is attentive and food is still just as good though!

Consistently great food every time! I love how they can customize your tofu soup to your liking, ranging from spice level to the ingredients added.
Fyi
The restaurant is situated in a very unassuming building but the interior is spacious and clean!

This place deserves five stars because it serves one of the most tasty Kalbi, my favorite Korean dishes. Moreover, it’s tofu soup also ranked at the top. One area needs improvement is bathroom. It is a little repulsive, so do eat before you go. Otherwise, it may spoil your appetite.

We started off with a server who seemed to be in a great hurry and didn’t speak much English. We asked for hot tea and she just walked away with no response only hand gestures that she needs to be somewhere. We were then served by another lady who was so great and explained everything on the menu to us, she even taught us how to say thank you in Korean! The food was great (especially the tofu beef soup and the seafood pancake). We had a pleasant time overall. We will be back!

4.5 stars. The mushroom and tofu soup (spicy level) served with a raw egg is excellent. It is accompanied by white rice, some great panchan sides, and I’m not sure if it is a common practice, but they also brought us a separate clay pot full of burnt rice. I would have loved the idea of crispy burnt rice but it lost most of its texture after they added water to loosen it. An added bonus for vegetarians is that they accommodate requests to substitute the beef broth with veggie broth for the soup.
It is not the easiest to locate and parking is not plentiful. Although it is quite a lackluster, unassuming restaurant from the outside, the interior is clean, tidy, and full of character. The wallpaper has Korean writing all over it (I think it is lines from a story book). The service is friendly and efficient too.
They do not have a huge menu because they specialize (and excel) in a small selection of items. The quality speaks for itself based on how busy it gets. Even still, there are plenty of tables so I never encountered a wait (for seating or for food).
This is one of Annandale’s best offerings especially for vegetarians.

I really enjoyed the kimchi pancake here. I liked my mushroom tofu soup as well, but I think I should’ve gotten a higher spice level because to be honest, my soup was kind of bland-​I think the mushrooms absorbed all the seasonings because they were pretty flavorful in comparison to the rest of the soup. I’m giving this place four stars for now instead of three because I know there’s potential here I haven’t tapped into yet.

The tofu soups are addictive! I had to return twice in one week because I was craving the soup three days later!
My boyfriend, who does not like tofu, has officially changed his perception that all tofu dishes are bland or stinky. Both times I got the combination seafood & beef tofu soup (medium spice) and he got the beef and pork tofu soup (spicy!). I added oysters the second time to the combo. There were two tiny pieces and the extra addition costs $ 3. Probably not the best bang for the buck.
We also enjoyed their variety of side dishes. Everything pickled and preserved set before us was delicious! The kimchi is one of the best I’ve had in a restaurant. It’s sweet and tangy but not overly soured. I just wish store bought kimchi is that good. The pickled bean sprouts and cucumbers were also good. I love that they have porecha (corn husk tea). It’s a great complement to a cold weather soups such as the ones we had.
I haven’t tried their other entrees besides the soups… But they are just simply too good to pass up and not get again. Next time we will have to do both to see if it is as good as their soups.
The atmosphere in Lighthouse is spacious and well lit. It’s a little deceiving on the outside because of the worn exterior of the building. It’s a great option if you want to skip the lines at these other Korean restaurants! There’s a good amount of space and the service is well timed.

This was my first time coming here, as well as my first time trying soondubu, and I have to say that it is absolutely delicious. I came here on a cold and windy day, just wanting some nice hot soup to fill me up, and this definitely hit the spot.
I went with a group of five people and they were very generous with the side dishes, immediately being served after we ordered. On top of being unlimited, they gave our table two of each dish so we could all get enough. From what I remember, the side dishes included pickled radishes, spicy cucumbers, kimchi, cold kimchi soup, and bean sprouts. Before the entrees even came out, we each also got a bowl of rice and a stone pot of rice porridge. While I’ve been to my fair share of Korean restaurants, the amount of side dishes that Lighthouse Tofu gives was impressive.
As for entrees, I personally ordered the combination soondubu at medium heat. The dish was brought out boiling hot (as expected) in a timely manner. They provided us with raw eggs that we crack and mix into the soup, which will cook the egg. Like I mentioned above, the soup was delicious; there was a lot of tofu, and the combination soup came with whole shrimp, mussels, and beef. The heat level was perfect for me, and was only made even better with the cold side dishes.
Also, the default drink that they serve is a cold tea that tastes like buckwheat tea, but I’m not completely sure. It can be a hit or miss, but personally I liked it. They add the same tea, but hot, into the remaining rice they give you to make the porridge. If the tea isn’t to your liking, you can always ask for a cup of water instead.
Overall, I had an excellent experience here. While soondubu is served in a small pot, it’s surprisingly filling and definitely worth the money. The service was excellent and the environment was calm and casual, perfect for a nice meal with friends and family.

Wow! how times have changed! I came here with a gf last night and wasn’t feeling like eating soondubu (she was craving it though). I ordered a bibambap b/​c i had it previously at the centreville location. Wow, basically NO meat in it, flavorless and lettuce was wilted. It tasted completely different from the centreville location. My gf and I asked them to change it out and they refused and also gave her attitude (she’s korean mind you) and THEN better yet, my gf found a hair in her soondubu! by then, we had already given up on the idea that our meal was going to be good, gave up, but will absolutely never be coming back here again. Beware of this location — service is terrible, food ingredients are not fresh and dishes taste bland. Go to centreville one instead or just another restaurant!

Anyone who eat here and doesn’t like their food is a liar because in the million times that I’ve eaten here, there has not been one time where I left unsatisfied.
Having a bad day? Cold weather? Feeling sick? Hungover? or just hungry??? Lighthouse tofu is perfect for almost every occasion. My personal favorite is the kimchi and beef soondooboo, but the mushroom and seafood are nice too — depending on my mood. (Soondooboo is a korean red pepper kind of stew with tofu in it). You can ask for mild, medium, or spicy depending on your preferences.
Another favorite that I have here is their Korean pancake. Jesus Christ — has vegetables in it, a crispy exterior, and is also chewy on the inside. I definitely recommend ordering this as an appetizer or side if you haven’t yet tried it. It tastes great with the dipping sauce (which is soy sauce + vinegar) that they serve along with it. Yum.

When it comes to soondubu jjigae (translation: tofu stew), Lighthouse is where the locals go. We would sometimes make the trek out from Baltimore for this stuff, so no joke, it was legit and very reminiscent of home. But if you’re a Ktown snob, you’ll probably think it’s just OK… shadduppp haha beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to Baltimoreans and Korean food! (Although the scene had really picked up in Columbia as I left!)
The tofu is perfect. Soft and flavorful, but not so soft to the point where you’re madly trying to scrape up a spoonful only to see it constantly disintegrate into mush: P You control the spiciness. And they also provide a raw egg to throw in and cook before your eyes in the hot stone pot. They have a variety of jjigaes, including vegetarian options.
Meals come with a spread of side dishes. And at the end, they’ll finish it off with rice porridge. Apparently it’s good for digestion… at least that’s what my grandparents used to always say! Good idea for those cold winter days :)

I think the best tofu soup I’ve had so far. I like this place better than convoy tofu house and other tofu places in San Diego. If I have friends visiting, I’ll def take them over here. The side dishes are good and the tofu was on point. They make it easier to take out also as they have the boxes and containers on the side as you get ready to go. I’m coming back here again. We had the oyster and beef tofu and the mild was just right. Normally, I order the combo but the tofu alone was filling.

If you’re craving hot soup, this place really hits the spot! The combination tofu soup (clam, shrimp, mussel, beef) is tasty and pairs perfectly with white rice. And it’s just as delicious reheated for lunch the next day. You can choose your level of spice, whether you prefer mild (like me) or Korean hot (like my dining partner). I echo previous reviewers in that the seafood pancake is lacking in seafood, but that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious, because it still is!

I’ve been going here for nearly a decade. On a cold day or if you’re feeling a bit sick, the tofu soup hits the spot. I usually get the combo with dumplings, two soups, and kalbi/​bulgogi. If you get the kalbi with dumplings and two soups, it’ll cost you $ 60+ for two people all in which i find very over priced. At least it is a ton of food and you will have leftovers. the kalbi is ok but the highlight of course is the soup.
inside décor feels very traditional and waitstaff is friendly (though not the most attentive when busy).

The haemul pajun (seafood pancake) literally had three pieces of seafood. I really dislike seafood pancake that lacks in seafood. So disappointed. I wanted to ask the server: why does the seafood pancake have only three pieces of seafood? But the BF wouldn’t let me.
The jjukkumi bokkeum noodles (spicy octopus with noodles) was pretty good. definitely super spicy even for my korean taste buds but definitely hit the spot because i was craving a hot sizzling spicy dish.
would never order the seafood pancake ever ever again. would return for the noodles and to try the soondubu which i’ve had in the past.

Warm up and get cozy at this Lighthouse Tofu spot.
When you’re here, get a bowl of freshly cooked tofu soup! Choose your main ingredients (meat, seafood, pork, etc.) and spicy level. Be prepared to crack open the fresh egg into the pot of boiling tofu soup. You have two options, either mix it up in there, or leave it alone and eat it whole later on. One thing to be sure, crack it in while it’s hot.
Enjoy your bowl of tofu soup with steamed rice and a myriad of Korean side dishes. Don’t hesitate to order more! Complete your meal with a Korean pancake, or add on the other dishes like my all time favorite, galbi (grilled lateral rib). Nothing on the menu is disappointing. So if you feel adventurous, close your eyes and randomly point at the menu.
As one of the three locations, this one is one of my first that I had ever visited more than 8 years ago. I come by every once in a while, and now that I live closer, it’s definitely more often than «once in a while!» And all for good reasons.

This is my go-​to restaurant when I have to take a non-​korean friend visiting. However, I came here with my parents for Sunday lunch. I was very disappointed. We got stir-​fry calamari and kimchi tofu soup. My meal came out first but my dad had to wait about 15 minutes for his meal. I was practically done with my meal even before his came out. The kimchi and meat were burnt on the bottom and the vegetables in the stir fry were too mushy. But banchans were good. We got refill once.
Overall, DISAPPOINTED!