On My Plate

Soon Tofu

Hot, bubbly, and spicy!

With the cold weather, I've been craving Soon Tofu, a spicy Korean soup that is a bowlful of spicy goodness. I first had it at Doobu, a new Korean restaurant in Japantown. Since J-town is usually a trek for me, I've been looking for a place that's a lot closer. Enter Cherry Maki & Sushi, a tiny eatery located in Kukje Super Market, a Korean grocery store in Daly City. Only ten minutes away from me, the place has been a livesaver during the wintry days. And their Soon Tofu? So... good.

The restaurant serves different versions of the tofu soup--there's one with beef or pork; another with seafood; another with chicken. Since I've been craving a good, hearty seafood soup these days, I've only tried that version of Soon Tofu. The soup arrives in a cast iron pot still boiling and nearly overflowing with spicy red broth (how do the servers not get burned?) A raw egg is served on the side for you to crack into the pot. The heat from the broth cooks the egg and the egg thickens the soup. You also get a serving of white rice. The soup comes in four different versions of heat: Not spicy; Mild; Medium; and Hot. The Medium was just fine and spicy enough for me, but if I feel daring next time, I may go for the hot.

The broth packs nice heat, and the soup is full of tofu chunks, clams, shrimp-still-in-their-shell, and oysters. Very delicious. The spiciness and the heat is enough to warm anyone up on a cold day. Not too bad for $8.98 a bowl. Goodies such as marinated sprouts, kim chee, and garlicky cucumbers are also served on the side, rounding out the meal.

The restaurant also serves Korean barbecue such as kalbi and bulgogi, which come out hot and sizzling on a plate. There are a few Japanese dishes such as salmon or chicken teriyaki. And yes, they do serve sushi--their maki rolls are inexpensive, but the best dish is actually a Korean one: Sashimi Salad ($13.95)--raw fish mixed with greens and a little bit of rice in a humongous bowl. Eat with hot sauce.

As for the setting, well, it's a grocery store. There are about 10-12 tables and table service is fast. There's also a take-out counter for goodies such as japchae and spicy fried chicken wings to go. And after you eat, you can shop. Stock up on Korean ingredients galore. Don't miss the deli bar in the back of the store where you can get yummy goodies--spicy anchovies, seaweed salad, marinated bean sprouts--by the pound.

Even though I recently learned to make Soon Tofu at home using this easy recipe, I still like to stop by the restaurant to get the real thing. Go on. Try it. Let me know if you like.

Cherry Maki and Sushi, 2350 Junipero Serra Blvd, Daly City, CA T: (650) 994-3300

 

The Chicken Katsu Curry Files: Iroha

Located on the 2nd floor along the Buchanan corridor in Japantown, Iroha can be a discreet hideaway. Known more for their udon and other noodle soups, on a recent visit I noticed that they had Chicken Katsu Curry. Since I haven't craved this dish in a long while, I thought it might be good to give their version a try. But how good could it really be, given that over half the menu is dedicated to noodles and not rice?

The dish was perfectly presented and proportioned. The katsu was on a bed of white rice rather than sitting in the curry getting soggy. The curry filled the bottom of the bowl like stew. And a smidgen of pickled red ginger was on the side. Presented this way, you can put a little bit of everything on your spoon depending on the bite you crave at the moment. Katsu + Curry. Rice + Curry. Ginger + Katsu. Etc.... I never liked it when restaurants layer all the ingredients together so it looks like one giant mess.

The katsu was crispy and tender, and there was just enough of it to complement the curry. While the curry wasn't as thick like other curries I've had before, I liked that it was a bit more soupy. I also liked that there weren't a lot of veggies or other meats in the curry. Too much chunkiness takes away from the simplicity of the katsu. The rice was nicely steamed and was delicious with the curry sauce.

My only gripe, and it was a minor one, was the ginger. While it was very tasty and piquant, there was too little of it. I mean come on, a tablespoon? For better proportions, they should give a couple more spoonfuls of the condiment. Of course, you can always request more on the side.

Overall, I definitely savored this dish. I took my time with it, enjoying every juicy bite and burst of flavors. On a cold winter's day, it was definitely a welcoming treat. And I have to admit that Iroha's version may definitely rival the original dish I fell in love with. Hey, it's been way too long since I've been to Maui's Restaurant Matsu. I'm happy to know that I can get my katsu curry fix without having to fly a thousand miles.

Iroha, 1728 Buchanan Street, San Francisco, CA T: (415) 922-0321

Ratings (out of five stars)
Curry: * * * *
Katsu: * * * *
Rice: * * * *
Sides: *
Total (avg): * * *

A Sandwich Break

Each Saturday, I find myself in downtown San Bruno being crafty. Um, literally. And when it comes time for a lunch break, I always head over to the same place, Roma Italian Deli. The place looks like it has been there for many years, and at first I was skeptical. But my co-workers called it the best sandwich place in the 'hood so why not. It was there that I found my perfect sandwich, a simple Turkey Club ($5.25 sm/$7.50 lg). I don't know what it is about this sandwich, but it's hella good (and I rarely say "hella"). And I don't even like sandwiches. Something about the toasted bread (I always get it on whole wheat), the just-right amounts of turkey, crisp bacon, rich avocado, lettuce and tomatoes makes for a fabulous handheld meal.

I think I know the secret. It's the garlic sauce. Olive-oil based and full of garlic and parsley, it can turn a simple sandwich into something amazing. Ask for a lot of it and get a lot of napkins. You're going to need it.

The deli offers many other sandwiches and deli meats, along with a huge selection of drinks, chips, and other munchies. There's even a small section of Italian groceries and ready-to-go Italian food like lasagna and ravioli. But I always get the same thing and am always satisfied. It is the one thing I look forward to every weekend, my perfect sandwich break. So if you happen to be on the main drag, also known as "The Avenue", stop by to check it out, say  hello to the friendly staff. And if it's Saturday, maybe you'll see me there, or nearby, being crafty.

Roma Italian Deli, 424 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno T: 650.589.2360