Lighthouse Tofu

LOVE LOVE LOVE! This place is amazing, highly recommend!! Great atmosphere and super tasty food. The sides they give you with the soup are plentiful (you get your moneys worth) and the kimchi is the best I've had in years. I will definitely come here again and bring all my friends.

A friend recommended this restaurant, and we finally tried it for lunch today. Upon arriving, we were disappointed by how it looked outside, but once we entered, we were surprised by how clean and spacious it was. The restaurant had a traditional Korean house vibe, with old Korean writing pattern wallpapers and traditional Korean decorations. The space was cool, with many ceiling fans and A/C. Our server, Jin, was excellent. She provided attentive service, was friendly, and went the extra mile to meet our needs. All the food was delicious, with lots of side dishes that were freshly made and tasty. It's good that you can select the spice level for the soft tofu soup. The spicy pork was delicious, and the seafood pancake was good, with vegetables and squid pieces. We will go back and try other dishes soon.

When we used to live in Alexandria, we ate here all the time. It's been a long time since we've been here and prices are a lot higher. My dad complained that the beef bulgogi cost too much. It was good but the prices are too high.

Saturday night dinner for a group of 6, and I was able to reserve a table about 2 hours before arrival. The best items we got was the stir fry octopus dish with noodles. Must order. Absolutely delicious, not too spicy, perfectly cooked, a crowd pleaser. The banchans are yummy, and every dish except the cabbage kimchi was vegetarian, which was helpful for the one vegan in my group, and they were able to find good options on the menu as well. I ordered the individual combo, with the pork stir fry and seafood tofu soup. My friend who ordered galbi got a lot more meat than I did, I was jealous. Everything was delicious. I ordered medium spicy level for the tofu soup, I could probably gone for spicy. A friend who is sensitive for spicy food regretted getting mild and said they could comfortably handle medium. Another great Korean food option in Annandale.

Pretty good Korean tofu soup place. Probably the best option in the area compared to the one in Centreville or the one in Fairfax Hmart; however, the soup is missing the final kick that can give the chill like “oh, this is really good”. Staffs are friendly and attentive.

My family and I arrived for Dinner at 8PM on a Monday night. Upon arrival we were greeted by an unpleasant smell both outside and inside of the establishment. Someone was walking out so they opened the door for us but didn’t make eye contact or greet us. We found out shortly after that he was a waiter. When we entered, still no one greeted us. and it was obvious that they didn’t want us there.— We weren’t even a large group. Just 4 adults and 2 babies. — When it was time to order our food (it was our first time there) , we asked for recommendations and one guy said “ I wouldn’t know what to recommend” , —which should’ve been an immediate reg flag cause that means he doesn’t even eat there. without going too much into detail about the horrible customer service we experienced, it was overall awkward, uninviting and unprofessional. — ps. I have never seen waiters use their phones so much on the job. We wanted to try a little bit of everything and honestly, the kimchi and beef soup was the best out of everything we tried. every other food item pictured was bland / tasted old. the dumplings were average. lightly seasoned and oily. I don’t like to write negative reviews, however the 4.4 google rating was extremely misleading. We wasted $200 tonight and we will not be coming back.

We're really disappointed with the portion sizes. Five months ago, they were fine, but now they're much smaller and more expensive. We ordered two soups, bulgogi, and jeyuk (not as a combo) for $120, expecting it to be enough, but the bulgogi was mostly onions with very little meat. Please look at the plate image. I never recommend to go this place again and it seemed kind of greedy the minimum tip option was 20%. Only remedy was the soup.

We were seated very fast and the waiters were on top of it at the beginning. I ordered the bulgogi and it was just not what i was expecting. It didn’t have any flavor to it and tasted boiled. Maybe it was? I definitely don’t recommend ordering the bulgogi but the tofu oyster soup was alright!

Our go-to place for sundubu which is a korean tofu soup. There's another location in Centreville but we prefer the Annandale location for its better food and service. Saw another review on the Centreville location telling about a mean lady server who we did experience. Anyway, while I don't eat sundubu (rest of family does and love it here), their galbi (korean bbq ribs) is really well marinated and taste great. You can order sundubu with all kinds of toppings (i.e., kimchi, mushrooms, seafood). All orders come with banchan (korean side dishes) of pickle radishes, cucumbers, bean sprouts and side soup. Highly recommend their special combos. We usually order the combo with two tofu soup, galbi and large dumplings.

Our party of six stopped in for dinner on a cold evening and overall enjoyed our experience. I'd been once before for their seafood soondubu which was hearty and flavorful. This time, we tried the seafood pancake, galbi, octopus stir-fry, and other soondubu varieties. We enjoyed the banchan, especially the radish. The non-soondubu portions were small and there was barely any octopus (we counted about four small pieces); most of it was vegetables. If I came back I would probably opt for just the soondubu. Service was efficient and neither friendly nor unfriendly.

Lighthouse - a staple of the NoVA Korean food scene. Nestled in an almost non-descript almost business-office-like corner, I had to double check if I was in the right place (it had been a while!). Service is quick and the menu is pretty simple (as expected). We got the seafood tofu soup. It was p i p i n g hot and delicious. It could've had a bit more seafood, but the soup/tofu portion was hearty enough. Rice and sides are complimentary. It was nice that the sides got refreshed pretty regularly but the attentive waitstaff. I'd say the interior is pretty frills, which adds to the charm of the place. If it's a cold winter day and you're in the mood for heart-warming tofu soup, this is the place!

Lighthouse Tofu - Cozy, Comforting, and Perfect for a Chilly Evening After an afternoon of cutting up a fallen tree branch with my girlfriend and her family, we decided to warm up with dinner at Lighthouse Tofu. Now, I'll admit -- tofu isn't usually my thing, but everyone in her family was raving about this place, so I was game to try it out. It was a chilly evening, and the moment we walked in, the warm, homey vibe of the restaurant felt like the perfect spot to relax. The service was quick and friendly, which is always a bonus when you're ready to dig in after a long day. We went with the Special Combo C and Special Combo D, which came with a spread of soups and Korean BBQ staples. I stuck mostly to the bulgogi, galbi, kimchi, and cucumber salad. The bulgogi was tender and flavorful, and the galbi had that nice balance of sweet and savory. The sides, especially the kimchi and cucumber salad, were fresh and tangy, cutting through the richness of the BBQ. While everything was solid, I wouldn't say it blew me away -- but it definitely hit the spot after all that outdoor work. If you're a tofu lover or just in the mood for a warm, hearty meal with comforting flavors, Lighthouse Tofu is a great choice. While I didn't fall in love with tofu, the experience -- good food, cozy vibes, and sharing the meal with family -- made it all worthwhile.

I love lighthouse tofu for their iconic kimchi jjigae. I love the addition of you being able to crack your own egg into the boiling hot bowl. It adds some extra interactiveness similar to kbbq when you cook your own food. Their seafood pancake is also very crispy and delicious. I love the serving plates that they use with the clay pot style ceramics. It keeps the food very hot and fresh. It's perfect for a cold winter night when you want something comforting.

So many other good reviews brought me here. However, I found that the food was bland and flavorless. Disappointed with the kimchi and tofu soup. Korean pancake was ok. Overall, I've had better. Service was very fast and friendly. Restaurants ambiance was shabby and dark. Dirty bathroom with overflowing trash cans.

Ambiance: (5/5) The building is so much bigger than it seems from the outside. There is plenty of seating. Price: (4/5) Prices are average for the area. Food: (4/5) We got combo D that fed 5 people. The started we're veggie dumplings. They were very crispy. They brought unlimited kimchi, cucumbers, radish, etc. My favorites were the kimchi and radish. I felt like the cucumbers didn't soak the flavor at all, so I thought they could improve on having those marinate longer. It came with two tofu soups. They come out boiling hot with an egg you can crack into the bowl. We got medium spicy and there wasn't much of a kick (which is what we assumed). The bulgogi was flavorful, I just wish it came spicy. The galbi was also flavorful and a great addition. Service: (5/5) Service is great. They made sure we had enough sides and water through the whole time we sat there.

Came here with group pf five. First, all servers were Hispanic, no owner in sight. Asked for more water and side of ice, our server replies with "OH MY GOODNESS" !! What the HACK !! How dare you tell customers asking for more water replies with the remarks !! 손님 한테 어디서 그딴 소릴해.. 미친 다시는 안감니다. 질도 떠러지고.. 웨이타 교육 다시 시키시길.. how dare dare using remarks like "OH MY GOODNESS" to customers for water..!!

I've been hearing about the Korean food scene in Annandale for many years, and finally had the opportunity to make it out. Despite the overwhelming heat, I was in the mood for soondoobu, and Lighthouse seemed like a safe option. The exterior and interior of the restaurant both feel a bit clinical without being unpleasant, and the focused menu suggests that they focus on mastering their namesake dish. I enjoyed my mushroom soondoobu (medium spicy) and the soup was comforting, although I mostly just tasted the gochugaru in the broth. Their house made kimchi and banchan were probably the best part of the meal.

This place has been a staple of my family for years. With the weather getting colder, a piping hot tofu stew is all you need to warm yourself up. The stews are spicy and filled with soft tofu and other goodies. This spot definitely does it the best in the area and is worth a visit! Apps: Seafood Pancake Entrees: Seafood and Kimchi Tofu Stew

No-frills hole-in-the-wall spot that has a very small menu of extremely authentic Korean Tofu soup/stew I have never tried Korean Tofu soup, but I was glad that I got to try it here as they offer huge portions, a few different favor options, and also allow you to choose your spice level as well I went with a mild beef & kimchi soup and it was pretty tasty! They also serve a few unlimited small plates (which were solid) & rice as well.

About a 2-2.5: I was a little resistant in coming here, as I remember Lighthouse Tofu being super overrated and not offering good soondooboo. There was another soondooboo place that opened up years later, which was so amazing, as they had made their tofu in-house; however, they didn't last too long, which was pretty sad. We decided to give this place another try, still with resistance from me - we were promptly seated, and our server was pretty on point. We ordered: +the Kimchi & Beef soondooboo - at a medium spicy level; this came out bubbling hot, which is so great; there was ample tofu in here, but they ranged in consistency and texture, as some were soft, as others were a bit more firm; I didn't eat any of the beef slices, so I placed that all in my hubs' soondooboo - HA! +the Beef & Pork soondooboo - at a medium spicy level; this was the hubs' choice, and his came out bubbling hot, too; however, the pork wasn't pork belly, which would have been preferred +an order of Galbi - this was not great; the price didn't reflect the portion that you receive, as it just wasn't enough for even 1 person; also, the marinade wasn't good, as it had a strange sweet flavor to it Note that they use heavy doses of MSG, so if you're sensitive to it, just be aware. I'm not sure if I'd return again, but the most recent experience here was not as bad as I had expected! There is a small lot with limited parking spaces. +avoid the Galbi +inconsistency in the texture of tofu in the soondooboo +friendly service +limited parking available in the small lot

This is an OG soft tofu place that remains a solid option. But eaters beware -- the ownership is different than the Centreville location so if you're expecting the same from Centreville, it won't be as good as this location. I highly recommend the kimchi soondooboo. It's surprisingly well balanced and a solid bet for anyone needing their Korean fix. The service is usually solid and even if there's a line it'll go pretty quickly.

If I could give 10 stars, I would!! This place was amazing!! My first experience at an authentic Korean Soup place and I cannot wait to go back! We went on a cold rainy day and it was perfect to sip on delicious spicy tofu soup! They give a ton of side dishes that are refilled which complimented the meal perfectly! These people are very efficient and bring your food out super quickly! My favorite thing was the fresh raw egg they serve which you crack directly into the soup that is served boiling! It cooks the egg nicely and is so yummy! I had the vegetarian mushroom soup which was delicious! For it being veggie, i was surprised at the amount of flavor it had! This place was very spacious and open with a ton of tables! Despite it looking small from the outside, the inside can hold many parties!

This place reminds me so much of home in the 626, and although it is not the best tofu house that I've ever been to the ambience and friendliness of the staff is very inviting, and I have yet to find a better tofu soup place. The seafood pancake was nice and soft although I feel like it could have had a better seafood to batter ratio. The tofu soup could have been a bit spicier, but I chose a medium spice and it just tingled my mouth a little bit. The Bonton was plentiful, and the barley tea was very warm; I will say, though, however, that they put the hot tea in a plastic cup, which is not ideal. The staff was really nice and made sure to keep our teacup full and overall it's a pretty small menu, but again they do specialize in tofu soups, so that is to be expected. Lovely place to dine in on a cold wintry day.

This place failed was a complete waste of 50 bucks. The ambiance was the only saving grace as it was very kool and cultural. The service was basic, with servers seemed disinterested and slow to respond. And omg the food, it was bland and wack, lacking the amazing flavors that define Korean cuisine. The bibimbap was soggy and tasteless, while the kimchi tasted store-bought and lacked freshness. Portion sizes were actually pretty big, but bad food cancels out portion size. The nail on the coffin was the exorbitant price. Overall STAY CLEAR OF THIS PLACD

One of my favorite Korean restaurants in Annandale, always consistently good and reasonably priced with a good amount of food. I usually get the beef and pork tofu soup, with mild spicy, which isn't spicy at all but still has lots of flavor. Comes with banchan and a raw egg to break into the hot soup. Good options for vegetarians as well. Service is pretty fast. The atmosphere is cozy and homey.

I love small restaurants because it feels more intimate and this gave exactly that vibe. I enjoyed the food as well, it was authentic Korean food. I ordered the combo tofu and bulgogi and it was spectacular! Service was also great! Everyone was very kind. Would absolutely come again.

Lighthouse has a small menu that is available in korean and chinese (with english on both)! i love Lighthouse for great soondubu at great prices. A lot of good side dishes too, that are mainly gochujang based. Service is good and very quick Very cute, casual, restaurant that has a local feel of wood floor, walls, tables style.

Delicious Korean restaurant that's been an Annandale staple for years. I got the combination tofu stew which came with rice, side dishes, and an egg. The tofu stew was tasty and it comes very hot, in a boiling clay pot. You can choose spice levels. I wish mine came with a little more meat. I got 1 shrimp, 2 clams, and a little bit of beef. I loved the side dishes though. There's a variety and they are all very flavorful. They have umami, and just the right amount of sweetness. There was kimchi, pickled radishes, bean sprouts, spicy pickled cucumber. The side dishes tasted better than the banchan at some kbbq places even. I also like that there's a lot of variety on their menu. Would definitely recommend Lighthouse Tofu for some good Korean food. The service was good. The tofu soups take a little longer to come out. There's very little parking in front of the restaurant but the church across the street is there for free overflow parking. There's also more parking in the back of the restaurant. The inside of the restaurant has cool wallpaper with Korean writing and blue shingle roof above the kitchen.

Came for a late lunch after a nearby event and picked it specifically for its tofu soup (there's a lot of Korean BBQ places in the area but fewer tofu soup spots). The location is large with various sections for group seating. As such even with more people it is not too loud. The deco is old, but cute and ethnic (very on theme). The staff were friendly and promptly refilled our hot teas and iced waters without us asking. The side dishes were kimchi, cucumber kimchi, marinated daikon radish, marinated bean sprouts and some kind of kimchi soup(?). I personally like the bean sprouts and cucumbers so was pleased with this selection. I will say that most tasted sweet and none of them were spicy. Ordered a combo of beef bulgogi and seafood tofu soup. The bulgogi was very tasty--not too salty and not too sweet. There wasn't too much onions either. The seafood soup had two large prawns and 2-3 clams in it. The soup was salty. The bowl didn't sizzle for as long as it normally does in these restaurants so I wonder if it was hot enough. Overall a standard tofu restaurant.

Loveeee the food - absolutely amazing, fair warning the menu may be limited for certain folks standards. Known for their sundubu because it's stellar! Fair warning- their spicy spicy is not that spicy... so do with that what you will. Their kimchi however is the best that I've tried across all stores and packaged items. They sell their kimchi by itself because it's slightly sweet and spicy. Definitely a return spot in NOVA!

This place is tucked away in a smaller shopping corner and the parking lot is a bit small so don't be surprised if it's completely full. The entrance looks extremely unassuming but it's much bigger on the inside and the decor is nice. The restaurant is also quiet, making it a great place to catch up with friends. When a friend is willing to drive out to the suburbs, I always insist on going here. The tofu stew is truly wonderful. If you ever need to convince people to love soft tofu stew, this is the place. I usually order mine with the maximum spice level - a year ago, that was very spicy but it seems like the levels have gotten a bit milder? The highest spice level wasn't overwhelming spicy and very tolerable. I've had the seafood and the combination - both are excellent. The shrimp and mussels still come in their shells, which I've found makes the flavor better than the already peeled version. The tofu is the silken tofu that is essential to a good tofu stew (I've been to other places in the DC area that use the firm tofu and it does not work) and the seasoning is perfect - no one flavor overpowers anything. All of the banchan is great - the kimchi is delicious (and they offer to sell it at a reasonable prize) but I think the real standout is the pickled daikon - I could eat that all day. I've tried their kimchi scallion pancakes appetizer before - and it's pretty solid as well. But honestly, the tofu stew is super filling so the appetizers aren't really necessary and can result in feeling way too stuffed. This has been a common post-hiking place we visit - and it really does replenish and nourish you.

A solid 4 of 5! The service was fast, friendly and extremely helpful. I stopped in for lunch and had a bowl of bibimbap and their seafood pancake. Everything was tasty and well prepared. The prices were reasonable and the only real downside was the hard seats. The ambiance was very much alive and energetic but the seats keep you from staying long. I will be sure to come back. One last note, their kimchi has a sweet finish. It was different and a surprise, but still very nice and yummy.

Best Korean tofu soup & seafood pancakes ever. But what I love most about this place is the KIMCHI. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. All the side dishes can be refilled for free as well :)

If there is a strong statement I can make on Yelp, it would be this: Lighthouse tofu is some of the BEST Korean food you will find in Annandale. The appetizers (panchan) are top tier quality, and we always ask for more of our favorites that day. They are complimentary! -Kimchi: best kimchi if you like your kimchi sweet. I'm sure they add gochujang or something to give it a thicker and sweeter taste with your typical fermented kimchi taste -Cucumber kimchi: super refreshing and tasty, especially in the summer time -Pickled radish with jalapeño: umami with a light heat from the pepper -Bean Sprouts: a classic with very mild seasoning We ordered combination A: two Soondobu of your choice, large serving of dumplings and dipping sauce, and a choice between bulgogi or jeyuk bbokkeum (marinated beef or pork, respectively). Their dumplings are fried and the flavor of the inside is so delicious. The acidity of the dipping sauce that they give when they come out with appetizers compliments the fat of the oil and the inside. Bulgogi was piping hot and sizzly. Again, very flavorful and the meat holds onto a lot of the flavor. We went here before and got a mild soondobu but it had no "kick" to it. For those that cannot handle spice, I would recommend mild or white. Medium is perfect for those that want that nice after burn of heat in your mouth that will go away. Mushroom Soondobu wasn't as flavorful as we had hoped but the kimchi beef took us to flavortown. Most likely because they use their in house kimchi which I said earlier is the best sweet and tangy kimchi out there. Service is super great. They'll always come around refilling your water or your barley tea and ask if you want more panchan. It's also very spacious and has a variety of tables good for dates and good for large parties. The lighting is warm, and overall the environment is pleasant. 10/10 will always recommend this spot for Korean food!

Took away from the crowds, this is one of those places that you have to know about beforehand. They have the best kimchi that I have tried at a restaurant, the soups are amazing, and the bibambap was very unique. I will be coming back.

Very tasty Korean spot for my Caucasian palate. Growing up, I had a few Korean friends whose houses I ate at regularly. This spot come very close to those meals. The tofu soup was savory and earthy. Medium wasn't very spicy and I will get spicier next time. I mainly ate the Galbi and the meat was super tender however I personally found it a bit sweet. Bulgogi was little dryer than I prefer. Dumplings and pancake were also very solid. Hot and fresh. Ambience was very relaxed and felt welcoming. Staff was attentive and offered more sides when they were running low.

Comfort food has many forms. For me, piping hot tofu soup (sundubu) is the ultimate fusion of spicy, Asian, and comfort food. Lighthouse Tofu does one thing, and they are epic in how they do it. Their menu is limited and focused on tofu soup: a piping hot, spicy stew of soft tofu, vegetables, egg, and your choice of protein. This time I went with beef and kimchi, and was not disappointed. With every steaming hot bite, there is an array of side dishes (bonchon) to cool and balance flavors. The Bonchon are generally pickled in vinegar, providing a nice acid compliment to the rich and spicy stew. If you need comfort, and want to try something authentically Korean, I highly recommend Lighthouse Tofu.

This is my favorite Korean restaurant in Virginia and it's well worth the drive from DC. Highly recommend the tofu soup. I usually get spicy mushroom but you can't go wrong with any of the flavors. The LA galbi is also super tasty and comes out sizzling on a hot skillet. The servers bring out a bunch of side dishes as well. It's a casual restaurant with amazing food.

After trying the sundubu from here, I haven't found a place as satisfying. I'm willing to drive 45 minutes through traffic to come here if I must. Since I don't eat beef, I always ask for the pork sundubu and the staff have always been accommodating. I usually order the spicy spicy which is not as spicy as it sounds. If you can handle spice, I don't think you'll find it spicy. The taste is so favorable and rich as some places I find sundubu to be more watered down. The portion is also huge with a lot of meat, which is why I find the price to not be too, too bad. And they always have a variety of sides and I like that they don't crack the egg beforehand for us. I also ordered the small Kimchi Pa Jun which was filling and flavorful as well. The ambiance is cozy and quaint and a nice atmosphere to eat something warm. Only sad part is that I live too far.

This is one of my go-to places for a warm delicious meal on a cold evening. Lighthouse Tofu is known for their soondubu (spicy soft tofu stew). Upon being seated, there'll be an array of banchan splayed out on the table. The banchan is really delicious especially the pickled chayote and fresh kimchi. Water kimchi is also served as a side and it offers a cool, refreshing vinegary kick. The restaurant typically offers water or hot tea unless you ask for another drink, don't be surprised if your water tastes a bit off, they usually serve barley tea and water instead of regular tap. When your soondubu is served, it is always bubbling hot so be very careful not to burn yourself. There are eggs provided for you to crack into your sizzling stew. The stew remains hot for quite a long time and essentially poaches the egg while you're eating. Rice is often served in a stone bowl, the wait staff will scoop out portions of rice into metal bowls and distribute it across the table. Afterwards, they'll pour barley water into the stone bowl with remaining rice. This creates a whole new dish which you can have throughout your meal or as a palate cleanser. I will admit the barley water rice is a bit of an acquired taste, but I personally really enjoy it. Servers are really quick. The exterior of the restaurant seems small but there are plenty of seats inside. There doesn't appear to be many parking spaces in front of the restaurant so you can always try parking in the back or at the church across the street. Overall, lighthouse tofu is a must-visit during the colder months and you'll definitely leave warm and satisfied.

Got the tofu soup (their specialty) but actually liked the beef bulgogi we got better (goes well with all the accoutrements they bring out to eat with it). Next time I plan to get a chicken dish and pot stickers. Nice dining room, that's bigger than the outside of the place would have you expecting. Lots of staff, tag teaming to ensure prompt service. Limited menu, but enough interesting stuff.

Whenever you're craving Korean tofu soup (soondubu), Lighthouse is the place to go and you'll always see the place packed on cold rainy days. I typically order the beef and kimchi but you can't really go wrong with any of the options, and they give a decent amount of protein. You can also get a combo with galbi or pork belly, though the meat can be a hit or miss sometimes so I prefer to stick to just soondubu. The spice level could also be a bit more intense in my opinion - the medium here is definitely milder than BCD Tofu House if you're familiar w the CA/NY restaurant. Service is not overly pushy so you can just eat in peace without interruption but they're quick to respond if you do need anything. Lighthouse is nothing fancy, but you know it's a reliable spot when there's always groups of young people, families, and elders enjoying boiling hot bowls of soondubu.

Our party of four came here for a lunch outing. We ordered 4 tofu soups (lunch price of $12.99 per), a bulgogi ($22), and a large seafood pancake ($18). Along with a $2 sprite, our total was $94 and change, and our post tax total was roughly $100. Two seafood soups, one kimchi & beef soup, and one oyster soup: everyone said the tofu soups were pretty good! Cracking an egg in it and adding the cold kimchi into it definitely elevated the taste! The soups were a consistent 5/5 within the group. The large seafood pancake was disappointing. The dough was not crunchy nor was it fluffy. The pancake tasted doughy... the "seafood" was essentially missing in the pancake. You can barely find and taste the squid in the pancake. 2/5. I would definitely avoid the seafood pancake if this is their standard. The bulgogi was good. It was a bit pricey for the somewhat small portion. The taste was excellent! The scallion and onion pieces complemented the meat really well! 4.5/5, and the slight ding is for the portion. Overall, it was a pretty good experience.

I have been many times and Lighthouse never disappoints. Great tofu soup and the side dishes are delicious, all in generous portions. On my most recent visit, I ordered medium spice level and it wasn't very spicy so I'll go for spicy in the future.

Some comments from around the table: Aunt: "I actually thought it was quite similar to other restaurants I've had [in New York]. Fast service." Mom: "It's great comfort food." Dad: "Flavorful" Sister: "Everything is tasteless. I have COVID lol." Brother: "Classic in NoVA." Me: "Chicken teriyaki surprisingly very good. Cool wallpaper ambiance." Well there ya have it, folks!

I used to like this place. I hadn't come in a while, and as I was about to order my usual (tofu + galbi combo), I thought $37.99 was a lot higher than I remember. There was no way I was paying that in the past, as I always recalled Lighthouse tofu's prices being fairly reasonable. Then I looked back at previous prices on Yelp photos, and I can see that in less than 18 months, they raised the prices 4 times! November 2022: tofu + galbi combo $29.99 lunch / $31.99 dinner March 2024: tofu + galbi combo $37.99 (one price) the tofu soups also jumped from $13.99 to $17.99 for dinner (over 28% increase), with a dollar increase for each of the four times they adjusted the menu the last year and a half. I have no problem with raising costs, but that seems like a lot in such a short period of time, no?

I love this place. Broth is amazing, portion is generous, I always go home with leftovers if we order the combo :) their kimchi is the best kimchi I've ever had, I love getting a box of them to go whenever I visit! My go to is combination soondubu + galbi, their galbi is so tender and flavorful. I take all of my out of town guests here :)

Quick service, delicious food, and fair prices!! We came here at around 2 pm on a rainy Saturday and were seated immediately. From the looks of the tables clearing out, it seemed like we had just missed the lunch rush. It's so good I would highly recommend for a comforting bowl of Korean food. The banchan is also good and can tell it's house made!

I would have never guessed that an ordinarily brick building tucked in the far corner of a strip mall would be a busy restaurant on the inside. Upon entering, Lighthouse Tofu has a warm ambiance packed with diners and staff and cute decor. Despite being busy, we were immediately seated and able to place our order. I ordered the oyster soup dinner which had such a great flavor. I loved all the starters, especially the pear dish. We ordered the seafood pancake which was fresh from the oven and had a good amount of mixed seafood. I will definitely be coming back!

First time here and I really must say I was very happy with my experience. Having only a small bit of experience with tofu soups I believe this spot is excellent place to start for anyone. I had a white miso tofu soup with beef and white rice, medium spicy and some warm tea. The food was absolutely delicious and the side dish kimchi and spicy cucumbers were so so good. Coming from someone who doesn't always partake in these I always try them just to see how they taste in different restaurants and this one just happened to have been my favorite. The presentation was not only impressive in my main and side dishes but my surroundings as well. Light chatter fills the air with a mixture of different savory scents carried by the overhead fans truly made this a wonderful experience. I can't really say the experience was perfect without mentioning the service, there are tons of people ready to take your order at any given time and the attentiveness really made me feel like my needs were met especially since I either change my mind or need more food on the fly. There was almost no need to wait at any point after I entered the restaurant. My partner and I have already been talking about returning, even though we were just there yesterday.

Cute place with a great interior design! The banchan options were great and our server refilled them once for free. The food was a little overpriced for the serving size, but nothing crazy. Good relaxing meal for dinner!

I really enjoyed our meal but went with someone who knew what to order. My favorites were the soup which had tofu and bulgogi meat (the seafood one was a little scary for me) and the best kimchi EVER. The place is pretty clean inside. The lunch server was fine but only speaks Spanish and doesn't seem to know anything about the Korean food.

Once again, had an amazing meal. We upped our order to spicy and were pleased it was still just as flavorful without being overpowering. We will go to the spiciest level next time because the banchan really helps cool you off in between bites. I will admit I don't know what each kimchi exactly is but they're all very good. The hot tea offered or water might be barely tea? It had a deeper flavor than a tea brewed with flowering leaves. The spicy pork is spicy, but it doesn't linger. I would recommend starting with the seafood pancake (use the dipping sauce it's great) and then enjoy half of your portion while it's warm then save it to alternate between the spicy pork, stew, and kimchi. This time I did add half the rice into my vegetable soondubu jigae which made it really filling/hearty. It was moderately busy, but we had no problems being seated. Everything came quickly. The only slow down was perhaps water and the check could have come out faster. The owner remembered us and is a major reason why we'll keep coming back. It's a bit of a drive for us, but it's 100% worth it.

This place is the best! It's always so busy but no wait. You see people of all ages come here and I think that's a really good sign. The Galbi is some of the tastiest I've had in the area. The seafood pancake is also really delicious. The banchan is fresh and the kimchi is really good if you like it fresh and not really fermented. I'll definitely be back again!

Perhaps I'm unnecessarily waxing poetic, but it seems very apropos a tofu house would be compared to a lighthouse. Whereas a lighthouse functions as a beacon of safety guiding one's ship through rough and dangerous waters, soondubu is a humble dish that can provide balanced sustenance when it is cold and dark filling one's belly even during hard times. The ambience is always busy but never a long wait, quick service but never imposing, comforting but not indulgent. Silken tofu layered within a boiling cauldron of spice and umami, one is handed their own raw egg to crack and cook to their desired texture and "fusionality" of yolk and albumen. Complimentary plates of straightforward banchan and tea accompany any order. Be sure to consider some of their combo sets when dining in a group of voracious eaters. Often overlooked but never disappointing.

The food was great, the service was even better. I was craving some authentic Korean food while visiting and I am glad I found this place. Their soon dubu was flavorful with lots of tofu. The galbi was tender and savory. The mondu was crunchy and plump with filling. Amy, the manager, was very kind and even sat down to talk with us. The decor in this place was very tasteful as well.

Love lighthouse tofu. Not sure if the owner is the same as the one in MD but we are loyal customers to the MD lighthouse tofu so we were very sad when they closed :( it's our first time to the one in VA and I thought everything was good and comparable to the one in MD. We got some dumplings for the little one and galbi with tofu soup. Sooo delicious and so much flavor. Meat was well marinated. Soup had all the flavor. I think they pair really well together. Service was nice too, all polite.