Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine

Korean restaurant · El Cerrito

Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine

Korean restaurant · El Cerrito

5

11740 San Pablo Ave Suite C, El Cerrito, CA 94530

Photos

Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by Eater
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by Luke Tsai
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by Noah Cho
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by Noah Cho
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null
Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine by null

Highlights

Low-key restaurant fixing up mom-&-pop grub including noodle soups, fried chicken & kimchi pancakes.  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

11740 San Pablo Ave Suite C, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Get directions

$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

11740 San Pablo Ave Suite C, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Get directions

+1 510 778 1144

$20–30 · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Jul 12, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

"While the East Bay has a handful of restaurants that might slightly surpass Gangnam Tofu in their execution of a single specific dish, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more reliable all-purpose Korean spot — as good for its tofu stews as it is for its crisp-edged seafood pancakes and generous banchan spread. Arguably, the best part of the menu is the variety of fried chicken preparations, including a take on popcorn chicken (get the soy garlic flavor) that stays immaculately, miraculously crispy even an hour after you’ve picked up your takeout order." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

38 Essential Restaurants in the East Bay
View Postcard for Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine
@eater

"This El Cerrito mainstay excels in all forms of Korean fried chicken, from craggy, sauceless renditions that deliver an impressive crunch to soy-garlic popcorn chicken that’s nearly impossible to stop eating. It also serves wings — impeccably fried and available in spicy, sweet, and the sauceless “original” flavors." - Janelle Bitker, Luke Tsai

The Best Chicken Wings in Oakland and the East Bay - Eater SF
View Postcard for Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine
@eater

"Once shelter in place hit, I probably stayed within a five-mile radius of my home in Richmond like 95 percent of the time. That meant lots of dumplings and scallion pancakes from New Dumpling, tofu stews and popcorn chicken from Gangnam Tofu, and whatever new thing (chirashi bowls, black curry, fruit sandos, etc., etc.) B-Dama’s Chikara Ono was selling out of the Berkeley Bowl West Cafe." - Eater Staff

SF’s Best Neighborhood Restaurants, According to Food Industry Insiders - Eater SF
View Postcard for Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine
@eater

"Exceptionally reliable with an extra spicy soondubu that’s actually extra spicy, this is probably the best Korean option north of Berkeley. You can find other stalwart menu items here, but you’ll want to stick to either the soondubu or their Korean fried chicken items, especially the ones coated in the restaurant’s sweet, savory, and gently spicy Gangnam chicken sauce. Call in or order delivery via Uber Eats." - Noah Cho

The Best Korean Restaurants in the East Bay - Eater SF
View Postcard for Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine
@eater

"Gangnam Tofu is one of those great all-purpose Korean restaurants that does all of the classics well — tofu stews, seafood pancakes, you name it. It also might win the title for the very best, most consistently executed Korean-style fried chicken in the East Bay, served piping hot in spicy, sweet, and completely unsauced versions. The garlic-soy popcorn chicken, made with thigh meat and batter-fried to an impeccable crunch, is a particular hit. Call in for takeout, or order delivery via Uber Eats." - Luke Tsai, Ellen Fort

The Best Fried Chicken in Oakland, Berkeley, and the East Bay - Eater SF
View Postcard for Gangnam Tofu Korean Cuisine

Katherine KR

Google
The server is really friendly and helpful. Food ordered and served hot and quickly. We live their side dishes. The beef and seafood combo was great. The seafood pancake was really good. We also had corn cheese. It was a lot for just 2 of us. We love their food and services. We will return again.

Joshua McCauley

Google
Oh Gangnam, my #1 favorite place in the Bay. Every time something good happens, I'm here. It's everything I want in a restaurant. It's so cozy, right in the middle of an El Cerrito strip with enough space to hold the crowds in an intimate setting. At the counter it feels like I'm at a diner where I can comfortably watch baseball and drink my beer. At night or in the rain, it's a spot where time just stops. This is especially true when sipping out of the ice-cold glasses they serve you with any bottle of beer (I rarely see this nowadays but it makes all the difference). All of the food is so good. The banchan carry so much flavor in their simple recipes, and complement every single dish. The soondooboo warms your heart while also invigorating you with spice. And my favorite, the Gangnam chicken, is so crispy while at the same time perfectly soaked in spicy sauce that rounds the dish out. I always put the remaining sauce on my side rice and can't get enough of it. I've brought friends and family here, and each person loves this place as much as me. Gangnam is truly a gem and I hope it nothing but success.

Jenny Xu

Google
Found this place somewhat randomly after driving back down after a hike, but super glad we did! Good: - The price and portions are amazing, got so much food for what would have been very little in SF - The tofu stew was amazing, just hit the spot and came with so much banchan - I liked the bulgogi rice cake dish, had so much flavor and size - The gangnam chicken here had such a unique sauce and it was so crispy, I felt like eating it was addictive - Super nice servers and it was a nice quiet place to have a meal, the food also came out quickly Bad: - The place is a bit more rundown Overall enjoyed the service here and the place and the food the most! It's a hidden gem

Peter Farejowicz

Google
Stumbled upon Gangnam while passing through the area and I’m glad we did, the Korean food here is homey and tastes just right. They do the classics well here as well ordered a tofu soup and a bibimbap, both of which were flavored well and a hearty portion. The side dishes were authentic as well and we finished them all. Seating inside was a bit limited depending on the time of day and the staff were running around trying to take care of everyone but the food makes up for it. Prices were decent too so I’d recommend making a stop here if you’re in the area.

Levi Downey

Google
Vegetarian bibimbop with tofu was so good and confirmed it is Vegan if you just don't get the egg. All the sides are vegan except kimchi and cucumber (fish sauce). super nice staff and good vibes there too

J L

Google
Friends recommended this place to me, so today, on my way home, decided to stop by for a quick dinner. Food was great - authentic, clean, and reminded me of Korea.

Thomas K.

Google
Once you enter the building, write your name and the amount of people on the sheet of paper on the left. We had to wait for almost an hour (5 people) but it was so worth it! The food was super delicious, still on the affordable side. I would suggest to eat family style to really try as many dishes as possible! Parking is pretty easy, even on a Friday evening it was possible to easily park. I didn’t fear about smashing windows here, but to be safe you shouldn’t leave anything in the car either.

Rui Zhong

Google
One of the better Korean spots around the area! Soondubu and dolsot bibimbap are really good as are the plenty of banchan. I personally would have liked the kimchi pancake crispy rather than soft but I’d still get it again. The Gangnam chicken was a letdown though. It’s slathered in sauce that was heavy and didn’t let the spices in chicken stand out. The mustard chicken was much better and would be interested in trying other flavors. Overall great vibes. No wait for a larger group on a weekday night but definitely very busy. I imagine there can be waits on weekends.

Alex A.

Yelp
This is my go-to spot for comfort Korean fried chicken! They have such a wide variety of flavors, and honestly, they're all worth trying. My personal favorites are the Gangnam Chicken and the Honey Cheese Corn-both are absolutely delicious. If you're doing takeout, I highly recommend eating the chicken as soon as possible to get the best of that crispy texture, especially with the sauced flavors. I keep coming back here for my Korean fried chicken fix, and it never disappoints! One thing to note is that parking can be a bit tight around the area, so plan accordingly if you're driving. Also, the bathroom is shared with other businesses in the plaza. Still, the food is worth checking out if you're up for some good chicken!

David K.

Yelp
The food is okay but it doesn't make up for their bad service. When they do get a little busy the two waitresses are in a frenzy filling up to go orders and doordash orders instead of taking care of the people inside the restaurant. I waited 30 minutes for water after drinking my first cup of water, never checked up once in 1 hour 40 minutes, because the food took over 1 hour, one of the dishes were wrong, and the skinny waitress lady with no teeth is very condescending when she talks like you're stupid when they made the mistake and you should just wait. I couldn't help it I had to tell him today that they needed more help and those two were not cutting it, the owner is too cheap to hire a busser and another waiter which they desperately need for the proper flow of to go orders and sit down orders. I could not get their attention five times when I called out to them when they walk by and the skinny lady waiter shrugged her shoulders high acting like she was deaf instead of just saying okay I'll be there in a minute or two, after not bothering him for a whole hour. After I walked out and my son walked out with me they finally put the check on my table noticing I left for some reason but would not acknowledge me when I called out to them. The only reason why I didn't leave is because my kids wouldn't let me, so I don't need to go there again. Warning if they even look slightly busy don't bother it's a mess.

Sandy N.

Yelp
Great service, delicious & fresh food. I had a craving for tofu pot so I decided to make a stop here. I've been meaning to come here because I heard so many good things about this place. The banchan variety was good. All my favorite items (you can always ask for more of something when you run out). Soup came out, bubbling hot (literally, it was bubbling a bit over the edge). It's a small cozy restaurant. If you come alone, they do have bar seating. Parking, although somewhat plentiful, can be a challenge. Lots of compact car spots. I saw that the next table over got some fried chicken. I'll definitely be back to try that.

Breana L.

Yelp
Enjoyed the food here! We got the fried chicken, soup, and bulgogi. The soup was surprisingly really good. Had deep flavors that were coupled well together. Perfect for a chilly night! I also really liked our honest server. Come support this small business!

Ari A.

Yelp
This is my go to Korean place in the area. They appear to be a family run store which means they can be slow at times but their food is excellent. Parking spots are tight and can be limited, I have not had an issue during weekend lunch but never visited during dinner rush Their banchans are excellent, one of the best in the Bay Area. I love the eggplant banchan and I don't even like eggplant. Their fried chicken is good, Crispy even after hours in the car. Japchae has a decent amount of vegetables and well seasoned. Bibim Naeng-myun was deliciously cool and tangy. Would highly recommend you give Gangnam tofu a try.

James H.

Yelp
Another letdown of a Korean restaurant. Why is everything so sweet. The side dishes: banchan were very mid. One of them was eggplant which was really weird. I've never had eggplant as a side. Everything tasted too sweet from the spicy pork which wasn't spicy at all. The kimchi stew was too sweet. The short ribs yea sweet too. The service was scattered as well. They gave me the soft tofu stew instead of kimchi stew. Definitely will not be coming back.

Genie O.

Yelp
I adore this place. It's not chic or fancy. It's delicious, hot and tasty tofu soups, fried chicken and other Korean dishes. I love the soon-du-boo with dumplings and the eggplant and yam banchan. Along with a friendly and very efficient staff I feel taken care of and well fed. Good thing I don't live that close or I'd be there too much! Back for more soon!

Dan M.

Yelp
In the east bay the prices are just right. The Korean food here at Gangnam Tofu has that extra kick I was looking for. Location: located right in front of Honda el Cerito , strip plaza with residentials on top. The parking at this location was just one row. Separate parking for tenants so this place had alot of parking . The resturant itself has an open window layout two rooms. The two rooms quickly filled up full of patrons during the lunch rush hour. Food: the classic table side banchans was exceptionally good. The kimchi was crunchy and the eggplant banchan was something I only seen here. The sauce off the eggplant drizzled with some rice made my day. I normally order my go to soondubuu tofu soup but today I got the galbi tang soup it's a Korean style beef rib soup that has glass noodles clear broth and egg. It's quite peppery and reminded me of home cooked. The price for the Galbitang was 21.99 which also surprised me. Service: there is an older lady manager and a younger lady here both holding down the floor . From the seating to the phones to the serving these two ladies held it down. It was def non stop bussing tables and bringing out orders. Service was quick and to the point

Winston L.

Yelp
I am shocked I haven't written a review for Gangnam Tofu, which has worked into our normal rotation of restaurants. Starting out with the bad, since the food is all good. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare since the parking lot is small for a dense population of restaurants. There also can be a bit of a wait if you go during busy times. The food: Seafood pancake - a delightfully super crispy pancake. Half the time they forget the sauce, so make sure you ask for it. Soon-Doo-Boo Tofu soup - the shop has Tofu in the name and they deliver a great version here. Flavorful broth and a normal sized portion. We've tried a bunch of different kinds and I'm surprising myself here - I like the mushroom (the original, combo, and seafood were good as well). Fried Chicken - juicy pieces of chicken in a pretty thick coating of crispy tempura like batter. We tried a lot of the flavors and I like Soy Garlic and Garlic Mustard (kind of like honey mustard). The kids were good with original and popcorn chicken, but I thought those needed more flavor. Mul Naeng-Myun - on a hot day, order this cold noodle dish. The noodles are fun and chewy. The broth is refreshingly tart. It's such an interesting and tasty dish and hard to get a similar experience outside of a Korean restaurant. Gal-Bi-Tang - on a cold day, this huge bowl of beef soup really hits the spot. Big pieces of meat, savory broth, and slippery glass noodles. Dol-Sop-Bop - we normally get these hot rice bowls with beef. Let the dish sit for a few minutes before stirring to really get that crispy rice going on the bottom. Quite a few ingredients in here but it's all about the hot pepper paste sauce which you can add to your own heat preference. Also going to give a shout out for the banchan. They are varied and very good here including potatoes, eggplant, broccoli, sliced fish cake, japchae, and kimchi. The variety of dishes, the food quality, and the consistency of food preparation makes Gangnam Tofu my favorite Korean restaurant in the East Bay.

Amy M.

Yelp
Finally got to try this place out after having it on my radar for so long! Definitely did not disappoint at all :) We came in around 30 minutes to closing and the staff were so warm and welcoming. The service was great! Fast and nice service. The inside was spacious and busy, but not too loud. It's a very comfortable sit down restaurant. Parking is somewhat limited, but definitely not hard to find parking! The food was yummy! Both the soon-do-boo and the shredded beef noodle soup(yuk gae jang) were super flavorful and filling. The side dishes were FILLED up! Definitely not stingey on portions and the food tastes good? Really couldn't ask for any more really :) Overall, would come by again. I would day this is one of the better Korean restaurants in the east bay area! Bring your friends and loved ones by

Kevin S.

Yelp
Stopped by this place as I was driving out of town for work for dinner on a Monday night. The restaurant was pretty empty when I got there so I was seated immediately. The parking lot outside wasn't the biggest but I was able to get a spot right outside. Craving tofu stew, I ordered the Tofu Stew in medium with pork. The ban chan came out out super quickly and they gave a good selection such as kimchi, fish cakes, eggplant, japchae, etc. The stew itself came out piping hot and they provided a raw egg to add in. The stew was super rich and they did not skimp on any of the ingredients as there was a lot of tofu and pork. Medium also gave a good kick, so it is good for anyone who enjoys spicy food. The service was also great as the food came out relatively fast. Would recommend for good tofu soup if in the area!

Paulo P.

Yelp
Best Korean food I've had! In college I took my friend from Korea here and they loved it too, said it reminded them of home. Everything here is great, ESPECIALLY their Soon Dubu the soft tofu stews. The broth is super flavorful I'm sure they have some secret ingredients in that dashi/soup base. Never had soft tofu stew taste this good. I've had all the fried chicken flavors and I'd recommend soy garlic and one of their newer additions I think it was the honey cheese? I forget but it says cheese in the flavor somewhere lol those are great. Been going here since they opened and I hope they never leave

Jj S.

Yelp
Everything is delicious, and the Banchan are incredibly abundant and generous. It's amazing. It feels like every dish is made with the same love and care that my mom would put into cooking for me. I also do takeout frequently, and even after a couple of hours, the flavors remain just as good. The servers are incredibly efficient and quick. The only downside is that there's always a line, so you have to wait while your mouth waters. I recommend going after peak hours if possible.

Alexa A.

Yelp
Delicious Great service & attention to detail Bustling, family-friendly spot! I love their vegetable pancakes and their assortment of banchan :) they are so nice, they quadruple-checked on allergies for me re: shellfish Their fried chicken is absolutely delicious! Highly recommend. I can't wait to try their tofu soups and other menu items!

Jillian L.

Yelp
Great food, great service, and cool place to drink and eat! I come here for lunch and dinner and the restaurant always has a decent amount of people coming through. Service: Everyone is super busy but attentive and nice. They always crack an egg into my tofu soup for me :D What we order: - Mandu soondooboo, medium (4/5): super flavorful, decent spice level that will make you sweat, ask for you the PURPLE RICE (they run out fast) - Beef soondooboo, mild (4/5): flavorful, not too spicy but still has a kick - Seafood pancake (3/5): I try to ask for extra crispy because it can be soggy, but decent flavor, good amount of seafood. - Soy garlic chicken, half (4/5): good flavor and fry, batter is a little thicker than my liking, and sometimes when the cut the chicken, the bones become shrapnel - Mul naeng-myun (4/5): could use a bit more flavor but can satisfy a craving - Banchan (5/5): favorites are japchae, eggplant, fishcake, and kimchi cucumber Parking: Decent amount of parking, but it can get busy as its a small plaza that shares parking with other businesses. Street parking is a good second choice. The best tofu soup spot in the area and worth a try if you're around.

Jack L.

Yelp
Oh man... the honey fried chicken is so good! Crispy exterior and juicy meat plus a lightly sweet exterior. Such a wonderful treat! I would come back just for this but adjust my order to dark meat only if possible (white meat is a bit dry) Banchans are wonderful. Love the kimchee which had a very fresh and only mildly spicy flavor. We kept getting refills of them which paired so nicely with everything. The servers are kind of slow though as we had to flag them a few times to refill hot tea or get utensils for the kids.

Robert C.

Yelp
I had the beef bi-bim bop. I rarely eat Korean food but I tell you for the price you pay you get a more than adequate amount of food. I need to come back and try other menu items. I have a big appetite and appreciate generous portions. In this day and age it's hard to come by. It was tough for the server to come by to collect my credit card. They were whirling around to other tables but a bit oblivious. Still worth trying this place though.

Allison H.

Yelp
I came here with my family and we were extremely satisfied with the food and customer service here. Service: We were immediately seated upon arrival. The staff were kind and attentive. We received our food pretty fast. Food: We ordered the Gal Bi Tang, Beef Dol Sop Bop (hot stone bowl), and Combination Soon Doo Boo (tofu stew with beef, shrimp, clam). The food was hot in temperature and the flavors were perfect! We also enjoyed the complimentary side dishes. 10/10 recommend! Service was great! Food was delicious! I will definitely return!

Cassandra Z.

Yelp
Been here multiple times and it's absolutely amazing each time. Service is great, everyone is very attentive and always very friendly. There are plenty of options for all types of cravings. The tofu soups are very flavorful and packed with tofu and the protein you choose(beef, pork, or seafood). All the dol sot bibimbaps are also great, but I'd highly recommend the seafood or spicy pork ones (I love the sauce on them). Chicken is also crispy and juicy. The Gangnam flavor is unique, but I prefer the regular spicy or garlic soy one. If you're curious though, I think it's worth a try!! It's a little sweet, savory, and cinnamon-y? Also seafood pancake, 10/10. Crispy on the outside, fluffy and jam packed with seafood! Wish I took a picture but I forgot. If it's a hot day and you like spicy food, I highly recommend the spicy cold noodles! The noodles were flavorful and they do not hold back on the spice (tangy, sweet, savory, and spicy!)

Dexter D.

Yelp
This is two ratings in one. Both were 5-star experiences. We went twice in three days for dinner. Once with some friends from Houston, then again with my dad and his wife. We arrived shortly after opening both times. First to be seated and both times, the place was packed when we were done dining. Dinner #1 Jap-Chae - 5 - Loaded with lots of veg, this dish is delicious. Except for the carbs, I could eat this every day for lunch or dinner. Original Fried Chicken - 5 - Super moist, super crispy, superb flavor! Gal-Bi-Tang - 5 - This was the dish that I ordered the first time we came here and I'm having a difficult time ordering anything else. The tenderness of the beef rib combined with the glass noodles and the garlicky beefy broth are excellent. Hae-Mul Kal-Guk-Soo - 4 - Loads of seafood and noodles. The broth was also very flavorful. Vegetable Soon-Du-Boo - 5 - Our vegetarian friend ordered his stew spicy and he was quite pleased with the dish and the heat level. He was also very impressed with the fact that the stew was still bubbling when served. Jap-Chae with Chicken - 5 - Our other friend enjoyed the first order of Jap-Chae so much that he placed an order for another one with chicken. Dinner #2 Jap-Chae - 5 - There is no reason to mess with a winner! Sweet & Mild Fried Chicken - 5 - Just the right amount of heat and tang to wake up your taste buds. The chicken was crispy under the sauce and was delicious. Honey & Cheese Fried Chicken - 5 - Drizzle some honey over the fried chicken and then sprinkle some cheese powder on top. Yummyliciousness! Gal-Bi-Tang - 5 - Yes, I'm consistent. Short Rib Cabbage Soup - 5 - Similar to my Gal-Bi-Tang but with cabbage in place of the glass noodles. Seafood & Noodles Soon-Du-Boo - 5 - Dad had a big smile. on his face as he tucked in. Chicken Dol-Sop-Bop - 4 - The fried egg was passed to me and most of the rest went home in a take-out box. The one exception was that once I explained the stone bowl making the rice crispy, she picked at all the crusty parts. With most meals, you'll also receive plenty of BanChan to help satisfy your appetite. We haven't lately because we always order too much but in our first visit, we were told that if we needed more BanChan, just ask. Service is always quick and responsive. The staff is friendly even when their getting slammed with business. No doubt that if we lived closer to Gangnam Tofu, we'd be regulars.

Geanna T.

Yelp
I've been going to Gangnam Tofu for a while now, and it's definitely my favorite place to get soonduboo! Their soonduboo is always so comforting and filling. I love trying the different kinds of soonduboo on the menu. This time, we had the dumpling soonduboo and mushroom soonduboo. Both were full of flavor and so yummy to eat with the given side of rice. Both hit the spot! We also got the Gangnam Fried Chicken, which was also tasty and had a nice crunch. The sauce is was a good balance of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy. The banchan included broccoli, braised potatoes, japchae, eggplant, fish cake, and kimchi. My favorite is the braised potatoes and my partner's favorite is the eggplant. If requested, they will also provide you with more which is really nice. The restaurant is definitely more casual and is really a great local Korean restaurant! Overall, great food and great service! Absolutely love coming here :) next time, I would love to try their bibim-naengmyeon

Melissa K.

Yelp
Great food and quick service - decent vegan options too (: I highly recommend the japchae and the cold noodles are perfect for a hot summer day. Can't wait to go back

Kelly Y.

Yelp
It's a small restaurant. Food is okay. some dishes are better than others. Service is really bad. The older lady rushed us to order. Her attitude is Bad. And they even wrote 20% of tips For me. Not happy.

Audrey L.

Yelp
Such a great spot for Korean food! My go-to is the Bibim Naeng-Myun- cold buckwheat noodles with Korean spicy pepper paste, cucumber, radish, meat, and a 1/2 a hard boiled egg! The flavor is delicious and pretty spicy. I've tried the kimchi jjigae and that was yummy. The service is prompt and nice. The ambiance is a little loud, but not too loud. There's bar seating and regular table seating. It's not a huge restaurant, but can fit a decent amount of people. 10/10 highly recommend! Satisfies my Korean food cravings.

Sabina G.

Yelp
This place is definitely a hidden gem. I absolutely love love love this place. The food is delicious, I have had a lot of Korean food but let me tell you when I say this might be one of the best Korean food I ever had. I go atelast once a month. The service is good depending on how busy they are. They are not fancy or anything it's just like home style ambiance

Great Val U.

Yelp
Best Korean Food in the neighborhood (Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito area) and quite possibly even beyond. First went here years ago. Never stopped going back. The KFC is super crispy and tasty, and the soups/stews are also very good. Haven't tried their BBQ, but have to imagine they are good as well, as everything I've had has been really good. They also have some of best bonchon and should be missed, and ordered separately if you are only ordering KFC. I've been know to order a side of their eggplant it's so good and just a little different from cabbage kimchi, cucumber kimchi, japchae, potato, and brocolli

Suzanne C.

Yelp
Good fresh food and gets pretty crowded during meal time. Generous portions so we had to take it togo.

Rachel S.

Yelp
Eat here if you like Korean fried chicken. It's located in a little strip mall with plenty of parking on a Saturday Afternoon. Lots of flavors and sides to choose frIt's a small mom and pops shop, but they were very accommodating.

Kathy L.

Yelp
Another year has passed since my last visit and I can honestly say, still in my Top 10 Korean restaurants. I don't get to come here often, but when I find myself in the area, it is a must visit for me. Consistently good food, good service and reasonably priced. It was busy during the late lunch hour on a Saturday--most of the tables were occupied. We ordered the honey & cheese fried chicken (fried chicken here is a MUST!) and soondubu jjigae with ramen. I don't recall seeing this on the menu on previous visits, but I wanted something to warm me on this windy day. The fried chicken and jjigae was plenty for the 2 of us. It was also served with an egg (crack it yourself), rice and several banchan (side dishes)--kimchi, eomuk bokkeum (fried fish cake), jap chae, gamja jorim (braised potato) are my favorites. Before we left, we ordered a whole honey & cheese fried chicken to take home. The times may have changed, you don't have to show vaccination status or wear a mask anymore, but this place hasn't and is still as good as my previous visits. Definitely a must go, if you are in the area. Food 5.0 stars Service 5.0 stars Ambience 5.0 stars

Scott L.

Yelp
KFC, Tofu Soup, Banchan, is basically Korean soul food. You eat KFC as a treat like in the KDramas, you eat Tofu Soup with a spoon of rice to warm your gut, and you eat a variety of Banchan to spicen up your life. Gangnam Tofu will provide you all that with good service, good food, a comfortable and clean dining room. No frills, just good food.

Marissa P.

Yelp
Finally got to try this spot which is my bestie's favorite Korean restaurant, and it absolutely delivered. The soondubu was so good and I find it hilarious that the spice levels are "white, mild, mildly spicy, spicy, very spicy." I went for mildly spicy and it was good especially bc it's family style and I shared with someone with a lower spice tolerance than mine, but in the future I would try spicy to see if I can handle it. The seafood pa-jeon was the best one we've ever tried, and the soy garlic wings and the sweet and mild wings were really delicious too. Since my local fave Korean restaurant in vallejo closed, I've been hunting for a new fave spot and I think I've found it in Gangnam Tofu. Will def come here again to try out more food!

Andrew L.

Yelp
What a shame to call this Korean food. Everything is drowned in sugar. The meat tasted like msg and corn syrup. My wife and I felt sick all night. For such a high cost for Korean food ($40 kalbi) they really need to do better and use higher quality food instead of trying to mask the poor quality with synthetic flavors.

Ana Paola M.

Yelp
Whenever I want some good Korean food I come here. It's hard to find a Korean restaurant that is consistent in taste no matter what time you go. My family and I like to go here for some solid Korean food when we're up to it. The food is nicely seasoned and hearty. It's also nice to try something different like the Kimchi Pa-Jeon. It was also nicely seasoned crispy and went well with the sauce provided.

Joon L.

Yelp
Yes, the service can be a miss at times. But the food is good and the prices are right. Can't complain and I'm glad to have this neighborhood Korean food spot. My favorite is the galbitang.

Sam Z.

Yelp
Great food, great service, not noisy, would definitely go back. We didn't actually get tofu - will do that next time. All the side dishes were great, especially the eggplant, which was our favorite, but we also liked the bean curd, broccoli, kimchi, and clear noodles. The potatoes were just ok, but that's ok. We ordered the Gangnam fried chicken, which was spicy enough that I couldn't eat more than one piece at a time, but very satisfying, and I'm enjoying the leftovers even though they're not crunchy anymore. We also had the bimbimbap with pork in stone bowl, which was good. Not the best I've ever had, but quite decent. The bathroom is a bit hard to find, but the service was so good it made up for any minor quibbles I might have had.

Susan Y.

Yelp
We have loved absolutely everything we've tried here. The original fried chicken is spectacular and I'm not a fried chicken eater normally. But this is worth breaking my pattern for. Love all the special appetizer dishes that come with the other orders. Been here twice, service was great, ambience is fine. Quality food at a very doable price. This is on our permanent circuit.

Bonnie S.

Yelp
We've been meaning to give this place a try and so happy we finally did! There were so many things I wanted to try when looking at the menu and seeing all the food other tables are getting....it just makes choosing that much more difficult! We were seated promptly and given menus and water. I really wanted to try their fried chicken as well as the seafood pancake but with just the two of us, we decided on the tofu soup and a stone pot rice. They came with banchan too. Everything came out quickly and the entrees were piping hot (as they should)! The small dishes were all really good but I was totally blown away by the soup....the flavors were amazing. Cannot wait to come back and try other things again soon!

Donn D.

Yelp
Great Korean food, quick service, couldn't love it more! The spicy pork Bibimbap is a particular standout.

Andrea L.

Yelp
gangnam tofu rating: 9/10 pricing: $16.50 for gangnam popcorn chicken, ~$20 for galbitang, ~$18 for kimchi soondubu cyrus kept yapping about coming here and so we finally went LOL. i ordered the galbitang which had huge portions with big chunks of beef in it. the soup was good but tasted a little like dasida powder LOL. the gangnam popcorn chicken was my favorite thing i ate it was straight gasssss. the chicken was still juicy and tender but crunchy on the outside and the sauce was really good and sweet and savory. the tofu soup was pretty good too but my bf ordered the kimchi one and i don't rly like kimchi soondubu xd. the banchan was also really fucking yummy like so good. the cucumber kimchi and japchae were so good. their service was pretty fast and food came out relatively quickly. i would definitely come back here and i loved my meal!!

Thomas B.

Yelp
12 tables 6 occupied 7 counter seats 1 occupied when we arrived. It was cold outside and fairly busy inside. We had 2 women tag team trying to figure out our order that we were going to get to go. Since it was cold outside we sat at the counter because there was only one person there and there were 8 chairs. So we weren't taking up any counter space to mention. The ladies that came to us were fairly Curt and to the point and I could Tell they wanted us to make our order quickly and get to the point. We'd never seen the menu before so it took us a minute to figure out all the different Korean foods by the names that they had in English translation on the menu. Because I was a fan of Korean food I could weave my way through it fairly quickly. But that didn't seem to be fast enough for them as they kept reminding us to hurry up. When I left to use the bathroom when I came back my wife was sitting outside in the cold and I asked her why.. She said that the women thought that they would be getting busy and that she had to leave and either sit in the car or out front to wait for the take out order because they didn't want the seats taken up. This disturbed me on several levels. One I'm a disabled veteran and use the cane to move around and it was obvious that I didn't move too quickly or very easily. The other thing is it was cold outside and it was nighttime and they set my wife out alone to sit there and wait for me. I don't think I've ever had that happen to me before, but I won't be going back there for it to happen again. The bahn chan on was wonderful. It seems as if it was homemade. But all the item entrees seem to lack that bass flavor that I got used to in Korea another Korean restaurants that elevated it to a point where it was memorable. I don't have much more to say about this place that other people haven't already said so I will leave my review off here. I am very cool to the reception of guests and I felt the food was OK but nothing special.

Kim B.

Yelp
Delicious! Three of us went for lunch. We had kimchee pancakes, Spicy Pork, 1/2 sweet and mild fried chicken and 1/2 Gangnam fried chicken. Honestly the chickens tasted the same. The servings were generous and we took home leftovers. The service was efficient. The wait staff wore masks. They were pretty busy so they didn't hover. The restruant was clean. It is located in the bottom of an apartment building with a few other retail stores. There was a homeless person asleep in a nearby doorway. There is a parking lot. The spaces are small. We have taken out food from here before. We will visit again.

Justine O.

Yelp
After a long and strenuous weekend, all I want is a hot bowl of soup. Korean tofu soup is one of my favorite comfort foods, and I was told that Gangnam Tofu had the best soon-doo-boo in the Bay, so I had to check it out! My group got there at around 8 PM. We had 6 people, so we had to wait for 10-15 minutes to get seated. Once we were seated, though, the banchan was already in the table, so we were able to nibble on some food as we looked at the menu. I ordered the mushroom soon-doo-boo with extra rice, which came out pretty quickly after ordering. It was delicious! The broth was incredibly flavorful, while the tofu was so silky it basically melts in your mouth. I do wish the soup was spicier, but the staff gave us some chili powder when we asked to modify our soup. I also tried the fried chicken, which was also very tasty. I loved the texture of the breading. The flavor was also interesting--salty and sweet all at the same time. I definitely recommend checking it out!

Alice H.

Yelp
I recently tried the Tofu Soup and Gangnam Chicken at Gangnam Tofu in El Cerrito. The food was decent and came in a good portion for two, which was nice. However, I must say that while it was tasty, I couldn't help but notice the chicken's coating was a bit too thick for my liking. Additionally, there was some confusion regarding the type of chicken used for the fried chicken; sometimes, you get the chicken breast, leg, and wings. Despite these minor drawbacks, the dishes were reasonably priced and worth trying if you're in the area.

Toby L.

Yelp
My go to Korean spot! Spicy seafood soup to start with always followed by their famous soy and garlic chicken and don't forget the pancakes.

Val D.

Yelp
Wow fried chicken is bussin' even though it says Tofu. That is where it's at. Also ordered the bbq pork very good. It is on the pricier side so keep that in mind. Small crew but service was good and it's a chill spot in a strip type mall on San Pablo in El Cerrito.

Katherine G.

Yelp
Quite good korean food, but a little bit questionable service. We came with a party of 4 on a Saturday night and it didn't seem too packed, but it was still really busy. We put our names down first on the waitlist but still ended up having to wait around 10-15 minutes for our table. Upon being seated they brought us waters and plates/utensils. The first plates they brought out however were dirty so they had to go back and change those. We got our order taken after another few minutes, and then waited. They didn't serve banchan until the food also came out which I thought was interesting, since it usually comes before. They were all decent, but my favorites were probably the cucumber kimchi and glazed potatoes. We ordered a seafood pancake which was quite nicely cooked and seasoned well especially with the sauce. We also got the soy garlic fried chicken and gangnam fried chicken since they seemed to be the most popular items. I really enjoyed the gangnam chicken, but the soy garlic could have used more sauce. had to ask for our water to be refilled and they all seemed to be scrambling everywhere. One of the plates was even chipped! Overall, the food was decent but the service left a bit to be desired. We

John M.

Yelp
Food was good! Would come back if I was in the area. What we ordered: Japchae- very good lots of veggies not to salty n greasy Regular fried chicken- crispy double fried goodness Seafood pancake: batter and the mixture was great perfect ratio. Sides! Very very good especially the eggplant dish with I could have ordered a plate of that! 4 stars because one of the chicken pieces was undercooked.

Victor G.

Yelp
Gangnam Tofu is owned by the same people behind the Anna's Place it replaces. parking in lot may be iffy at peak times. offerings: appetizers, cold noodles, fried chicken, stew, soon doo boo (tofu soup), dol sop bop (rice bowl), korean bbq, beverages, eats: seafood dol sop bop (18.95) mix of seafood, rice, veggies in hot stone bowl which chars the bottom layer of rice , mixing up the ingredients spreads the flavors around. -mix has short grain rice, bean sprouts, shrimp, squid, fried egg on top, cucumber, carrot, green onions, spinach. -dol sop bop is the hot stone bowl version of bibimbop. very fun to eat. add korean sauce (gochujang) to add some spice. banchan(side dishes): japchae, spicy cucumber, kimchi, potato, tofu skin, broculli, eggplant-tasty refrigerated versions. 4.5 stars haven't had this for years due to pandemic.

Crystal X.

Yelp
Gangnam Tofu offers a variety of appetizers, tofu soup, fried chicken, rice bowls, and KBBQ dishes so there's something for everyone. I ordered a mild original tofu stew with beef which included an egg, rice, kimchi, and banchan. It came loaded with tofu and the soup was perfectly flavored without being too spicy. The eggplant banchan was another favorite of mine and they refill the sides if you ask. Overall a solid mom and pop shop for Korean food - definitely recommend if you're in the area.