So Gong Dong Tofu House

I have to say I come here for the food because the service is horrible. The 4 stars is just for the food. I’m not sure if this SGD has any relation to the one in Palo Alto, but I really enjoy both. But the Milpitas’s Ban Chan is way better than the Palo Alto one.
My parents, boyfriend, and I came here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. It was about 1:30PM and the place was still really full. However, we got seated fairly quickly (~15 mins). While waiting, we perused the menu and decided what we wanted. The host wanted to take our orders but we weren’t ready and afterwards, he had moved on to another group. We ended up ordering when we were seated. My dad had arrived late, but we had ordered first. When he came, we could not get anyone’s attention to place his order. We gave up after about 5 minutes and just decided to share our Tofu Soup with him. We got two other people’s attention, but they said we had to order with the host. He was mainly in the waiting area and could never get his attention. I guess they are so successful, they don’t care about adding one more order to the bill. Also, my mother had to try to get a waiter’s attention 3 times to refill her tea.
Food — We ordered Ham & Sausage Tofu Soup, Combination Tofu Soup, and Ramen Tofu Soup. The soup comes with raw eggs, which we can crack into it ourselves, rice, and Ban Chan. I have to admit, I love their Ban chan. They are generous and gives us variety. Also, they are open to refills, but I haven’t tried asking more than once for refills (so don’t go all crazy on it).
Overall, when I have a craving for a nice, hot bowl of tofu soup, I come here to satisfy my craving.

It just doesn’t get any better than this! First Korean Dramas now Korean FOOD?! Awww SNAPS! This place wraps up that culture one table at all time and I’ve said it before soo I’ll say it again. THE BEST TOFU HOUSE here in San Jose!

The two stars are strictly for the food. It tastes solid here compared to other tofu houses.
But they don’t get anymore stars because their service is mediocre at best. I dislike when the front of house is run by kids.
Don’t tell me you can’t add glass noodles to the seafood soup because it won’t taste good. Last time I checked this isn’t a Michelin star restaurant. It’s a $ 10 per pot tofu house

Average place to get tofu soup. Lacked flavor in my opinion, their medium spice level had a little kick but not much.
I ordered the kimchi tofu soup, and I thought it was really mediocre. There wasn’t a strong kimchi flavor in the broth, and the meat inside was tough. It should have been cut thinner in my opinion because the thick pieces were hard to chew.
They serve you a few banchans in the beginning and they’re decent. They give you this seaweed thing that’s basically the salted seaweed you can buy in packs that I used to snack on as a kid. Weird option for a banchan?
They also give you rice in this ceramic looking bowl? And in the end they give you the option of pouring tea into it to scrap off the sides and eat it like that.
The service was good though, they had 3 – 4 guys running around, and they were quick with getting you whatever you need. There was a small wait when we went on a Thursday night, but it was only for about 10 minutes. Not bad.
Food: ³⁄₅
Service ⁴⁄₅

I came here last night with my friend for a catch up dinner and luckily there wasn’t much of a wait.
I love the sides here, especially the fish cakes and the Kim chi. That’s my all time favorite.
I ordered the combination tofu soup and my friend ordered the dumpling tofu soup! It was really good, cracked the egg in and it was perfect. I also had ordered one combination tofu soup to go WITHOUT CLAMS for my parents because my mom is deathly allergic and would have to go to the ER if she had any.
I heated it up for my parents and luckily I saw that there were clams in there, when I had specifically said NO CLAMS. That’s completely irresponsible and could cause death to my mom, a customer. If it wasn’t raining, I’d drive other there and complain because this is unacceptable. There is a reason why we said none of this. This could be a misunderstanding from the waiter to the chef, but still. Next time, I hope they actually write down the order to avoid or at least prevent future accidents like this.

I’m addicted to the Tofu Soup here, best ever and the sides given are addicting and well portioned!!! I’ve tried many of the Tofu Soups (Seafood, Octopus, Ramen…) until I found my perfect soup, the Ham & Sausage Tofu, and make that spicy!!! Lots of Tofu, pieces of ham and more sausage which are goooood, and the rice balls are my fave (think mochi for soup, yum!). For the sides you get a plate of Jap Chae (so good!), best KIMCHEE ever (really!!), fish cakes (loveee), roasted seaweed, tofu in a ponzu sauce with sesame, and pickled bean sprout. You can always ask for for refills of the sides but expect a wait if it gets busy; however, they are very attentive and have great customer service there! Def a customer for a veryyyy long time!

People have different types of comfort food on a cold winter’s night when it is rainy. I like to have a piping hot bowl of spicy combination seafood tofu soup to warm me up and So Gong Dong Tofu House hits the spot.
As noted by many other Unilocalers, this place is often very busy so charge up your cell phone to stalk, errr, I mean read updates on your Facebook or play the latest edition of Candy Soda on your phone as you wait. The turnover isn’t the fastest as it is hard to slurp down super hot bubbling soup.
Since this place is so busy, they have come up with a semi-​creative solution… if there is a long line, they will give you a number as you wait and hand you menus to look at. Once there appears to be some tables that are about to leave a waiter will come up and call your number and ask you what you would like to order. So by the time you are at your table munching on the ban chan (appetizers) that they place in front of you, your food often arrives within 5 – 10 minutes by the time you’ve sat down.
The tofu soup ranges around $ 11 – 12 and comes with a bowl of rice and assorted ban chan (appetizers) ranging from fish cake, tofu with sesame and soy sauce, seaweed, kim chi, kim chi beansprouts and chap chae.
I was craving also for some kalbi (short ribs) and a platter of those come out on a hot sizzling plate served on a bed of grilled onions ($ 19.99). The short ribs are a bit greasy and flavorful just like you want a good kalbi to be.
Décor is at a minimum which doesn’t bother me much. Some posters slapped on the walls. Tables are often shuffled according to how many people are in your party. Service is fine and they usually do remember what you’ve asked them to bring.
To avoid the crowd, just come right as they open.

Stone bibimbap with pork and any tofu soup. Trust me, I live here.
FOOD: I’ve had the stone bibimbap with other types of meat but the pork is the best because it’s tender/​juicy and even though the plate stays hot for 10,000 years, your pork doesn’t get dry or anything even if you decide to box up your leftovers to eat the next day (or half an hour later). This, however, is the case with the chicken so DON’T GET THE STONE BIBIMBAP WITH THE CHICKEN unless you have no other way around it/​you like it like that — you do you, but I’m just saying. Don’t forget to drown your bibimbap in that red sauce they give you — it’s only the slightest bit spicy (I think … I can’t tell if my mouth is burning b/​c of the food’s high temperature or the sauce; it might be both to be honest) but makes all the difference!
I usually like to get the combination tofu soup because you get, you guessed it pal, a combination of items in the soup. This item, too, stays hot throughout your whole stay here. Don’t be fooled because you don’t see the steam. I don’t know what I love so much about this tofu soup … It’s just that whenever I take a bite I feel like I’m being enveloped by this giant soft cloud of tofu that only wants the best for me in my life. It’s great.
SERVICE: The servers are really nice!!! They’re attentive and quick on their feet when you ask for something but they only have 3 workers up front excluding the table cleaner (one usually takes peoples orders during rush hours + seats them, and the two others switch off between taking orders and bringing out the food) so it can get slow sometimes. My only criticism is the lack of servers here, but I haven’t been enraged enough to take the grudge to my grave and give them less than 5 stars.
Surprisingly, with such a small amount of workers, they still manage to keep this place clean which is impressive!

The service was pretty good. The found came out earlier than I had expected and the waiters were just always there which was nice.
In my opinion, I just didn’t like how the food tasted. I just felt like some of the dishes were too bitter for my liking or too salty, but my sister thought it was okay. Maybe it’s just my tastebuds!

This place is perfection. Great fast service + excellent piping hot fresh food. I usually order the combination tofu soup (beef and seafood) so that I don’t have to choose between proteins, spicy level isn’t too spicy either. They take your order sometimes as you’re waiting for a table to speed things up. It’s always worth the little wait in my opinion. Their bonchon small plates are way above average. When we’re feeling adventurous we get the intestines or fish liver tofu soups– or we combine both in a bowl (there is a trend here with being indecisive and getting it all). The flavors are so good with a perfect balance of a fresh hot boiling broth and richness without being too salty. Such a great value place and my go-​to for Korean in the area.

I agree with a lot of reviews on here. The tofu soup is solid and flavorful. I typically go with the #1 beef soft tofu with medium spiciness. Side dishes are decent, my favorites being the bean sprouts, tofu and fish cake. Kim Cher for some reason was very plain tasting.
Service here is definitely lacking. Often times the side dishes come out after the tofu soup. And I’ve needed to ask several times for a glass of water. Overall I tend to keep coming back and will need to make sure I order water at the very beginning. I dunno I’m just not a fan of hot tea to go with my boiling hot soup.

Stopped here on the way to Santa Cruz and were excited because of all the amazing reviews. But were pretty disappointed with everything. The kimchee was really fresh, like… still just cabbage without much flavor. and the soondubu left much to be desired in flavor and texture of the meat. The flavor of the broth that normally is so amazing with soondubu had not really seeped into any of the ingredients. It was convenient and fast, which was nice for us since we were trying to get somewhere, but will not be a stop for us any more.

Came here on Sat night because couldn’t bear the long wait at Jang su Jang. I definitely wondered how many other people came here due to not being able to get seats at KBBQ also .
I had the rice cakes and short ribs and bulgogi. Everything was good. Short ribs were very tender and bulgogi tasted the same as everywhere else I’ve had it (good). The rice cakes were good, but I sometimes got a noticeably extra floury bite.
Very solid Korean food place! Despite this not being a kbbq place, you definitely come out smelling like food. Wear clothes that are meant to be washed soon!

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My mom loves the Soft Tofu Hotpot here. My dad takes my mom here every month for her soft tofu fix. I tried it and can’t understand why she likes it so much!
It’s $ 11.72, it comes with combo (beef + seafood) seafood, and other choices. The Spicy Beef Stew with clear noodle, beef, and kimchi was a OK.
Their short ribs $ 19.99 on sizzling platter didn’t do it for me… The Banchan is ok. Their kimchi wasn’t spicy nor sour at all… It needs to be fermented more… But my mom likes it that way.
The wait on SAT night was unbearable almost an hour. I WOULD NOT wait that long, if it wasn’t for my mom.
Service was typical casual cheap eat spot.

Great for soondubu! I’m never disappointed when I come here. It does get busy so service could be slow.

The place looks pretty run down but the food is legit. Just like the Korean places I went to in Toronto! Seating is casual and plentiful. They are quick to greet you and immediately being out side dishes. During your meal, they will bring around seconds of the side dishes if you want any.
I ordered a split of dumpling and pork tofu soup. It arrived without the dumplings but the server came by just as I realized. He took it back and got the dumplings added in. Very good service!
The soup was hot, for a looooong time! Just a word of warning, you’ll break a sweat. Heh.
Definitely coming back here!

One of the better restaurants in Milpitas, especially if you’re looking for authentic Korean tofu soup. It helps that it’s run by Koreans, lol. I really have to be in the mood for tofu soup, and when I am, there’s no other place that comes to mind but this place.
I’m pretty happy with which ever tofu soup I order for the day: dumpling, rice cake, beef, ramen, pork or roe. On a side note, the rice cake is like a dukbokki texture. There’s different levels of spice: mild, medium and hot. Mild is barely spicy. I generally get mild, but lately it hasn’t been giving me that kick so I’ve been getting medium.
Their soups come out super hot so be careful to not burn your tongue! I know from experience, LOL, but it’s a good thing too, because your soup stays hot through out your meal. A trick to not burn your tongue is to make your tofu into smaller pieces so it cools faster.
Their soups are so good. They’re flavorful, savory and very much satisfying. It also comes with white rice and peas instead of that purple rice most places have. They also have complimentary ban chan (Korean appetizers) with your meal.
There can be a wait here, but that’s only because they are well liked. Service is good too. It can get busy, but they do their best. Pricing seems fair especially when the food is satisfying.

Just discovered this place last month. Now it’s my go-​to-​place for tofu soup! No need to go to El Camino anymore. So glad this place is close to home.
They have a great variety and all of their soups are delicious. I enjoy their rice cake and seafood pancake appetizers.
The service is quick and the price is great for all you get although I only like about half of their side dishes. Wonder japchae, spicy cucumbers, and fish cakes.
My husband, the non-​healthy eater, even enjoys the food here. That is a major bonus for me. I’m a fan!

This restaurant is a 3.5 in my opinion. I don’t think this is the best place or the worst place. It just seemed average and just like any other tofu house I’ve been to. First off, parking can be a pain in this plaza because it’s just in. There are always people here for food. There seems to always be a kind of long line, but it’s not that bad since people do come and go pretty quickly.
I came here in a party of four and only waited for maybe 10 minutes. Because of the line, the waiter took our orders when we were waiting in line already. I think that’s pretty smart so people would get their food faster and wouldn’t waste time in deciding on what they want to eat. I personally got the dumpling tofu soup because I wanted to try something new. The ban chans, in my opinion, were less than what other Korean restaurants normally offer. They have the main dishes like kimchi and fish cakes, but I wish they had more. I really liked their kimichi though! It tasted different than the normal ones I’ve had and it’s sweeter, which I like.
I think the reason why I gave this place an overall 3 stars was because of my actual meal. The dumplings absorbed most of the soup at first and made my overall soup kind of lumpy and thick. It made it seemed like it was only tofu and not much soup. But the tofu soup itself isn’t bad. It was very standard and I liked it. It just wasn’t the greatest thing to me. The dumplings were okay as well and it’s just average to me.
I would probably come back to try their other tofu soups and food. I am always done for Korean food and I do think that one bad meal doesn’t make the whole restaurant bad. Yay for second chances. Until next time.

Since we had cake to eat, we needed something to balance which is meat right? So we got kalbi! It was a bit pricey, but good thing it came with rice and some of the sides (yeah not all the ban chan is given, just a subset). How was it? It was buttery, greasy, and oily, but isn’t that how it usually is? They gave a good chunk of japchae, but would’ve wanted a bit more. The kim chi was quite spicy which I’m sure all you spicy eaters would love.
Overall, it was a-​ok. Wish that they had more rice as we ran out.