rss feedIn the home city of Google, a small Korean bean curd restaurant hoists a big sign
Mountain View, Calif. is a major hub in the Internet search world because Google houses its headquarters in this Silicon Valley city.
Techies, as we know, work hard. But even they get hungry.
When stomachs grumble, many head to the city’s popular Castro Street and its restaurants. The area offers an array of food, including California fresh, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Mexican, Thai and Italian gelato.
Sitting off Villa Street is ToToRo, a tiny Korean establishment that dishes up soybean cake. Robert Rich, a restaurant reviewer, says the place only has 11 tables.
It was closed when I visited. But in his review, Rich describes ToToRo as a “pocket-sized” place that serves:
value-priced platters of sweet and spicy barbeque, wholesome hot pots and noodle soups, skewered appetizers and more….Chef Brigitte Kim brings an artist’s touch to each generous dish….I love the intensely spiced, garlic infused, fermented flavors of Korean cuisine.
Prices range from about $6.95 to $8.95 per dish. Items include a beef or mushroom tofu hot pot, both served with rice, kimchi and vegetables, for $7.95.
The Soju yogurt cocktails, which sell for $10.95 for one, intrigue me. You can get one in strawberry, peach, pineapple or lemon.
The huge sign in English and Chinese characters – proclaiming ”Tofu House” – prompted me to stop. I think it should be turned into a flag.
Apparently, as Rich points out, the owner named the restaurant after a Japanese anime film, Tonari No Totoro.
This prompted me to think about a unique thread consisting of China, South Korea, Japan, Europe and California.
As in: The place serves tofu (China). The food is not Chinese (Korean). Yet, the name is not Korean (Japanese).
The furniture, especially the red chairs with small holes cut throughout, resembles items from IKEA (Europe).
Of course, the location is not any of those places (California).
In addition to being used in China, the characters on the sign can be seen in Korea and Japan.
Over the years, Castro Street has grown to become a hub of its own – for food. On Yelp, people have reviewed the restaurants and discussed the street itself.
I’ll have to put this place on my list of restaurants to visit – when it’s open, that is.
And yes, I’ll say it: For now, TofuWatch likes Tofu House (the sign and hopefully, the restaurant).
The Family Special looks affordable.
If you’re interested in a more famous sign in Mountain View, it’s below:
I just watched Totoro again on DVD – it is a Miyazaki classic! Quite cute and wacky. Let me know if you want to borrow it!
I like Korean Tofu Houses — next time you are back in CA check out the “Koreatown” strip of El Camino in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara. My favorite place is Pyung Chang Tofu House in Oakland – Temescal (http://www.yelp.com/biz/pyung-chang-tofu-house-oakland) in the heart of the “Koreatown” strip on Telegraph Avenue — and when you are in Oakland also check out Koreana Plaza (http://www.yelp.com/biz/koreana-plaza-oakland).