G L.
Yelp
I've seen a lot of negative reviews about Mr. Tofu, mostly about rude service and stinginess with the free side dishes (banchan). It made me hesitant to even visit this place but after my visit, I will say that my review will probably ruffle a few feathers. This review is based on my experience and having empathy for the other side of the table which may or may not be true.
Let's be real--yes, the service can be blunt, but if you've been to enough Korean restaurants, you know that's not unusual. For me, what matters for this type of restaurant is that the real conversation should be about the quality of the food, and on that front, Mr. Tofu delivers big time.
Their banchan selection is one of the best I've ever seen, and I say that as someone who has lived in LA and eaten at all the spots in Koreatown and other top-tier Korean spots. The variety, freshness, and portion sizes were outstanding. This isn't a place that skimps on quality and variety, and honestly, it's rare to find such an extensive spread anywhere. They had a spread of maybe 15+ side dishes which is not common for most Korean restaurants with most of them being universally loved and more uncommon at Korean restaurants nowadays (eg: fish cakes, cuttlefish, acorn jelly) and not necessarily just the cheap stuff.
When my family and I dined here, we did what we normally do at a restaurant--we each ordered our own dish. And surprise, surprise: the servers offered us refills on banchan twice without us even asking. That just reaffirmed my belief that they aren't being stingy; they're just enforcing a basic expectation that customers should be ordering enough food which is also probably part of the Korean eating culture of mutual understanding and respect.
That's why I understand why the restaurant might be strict about refills when people are splitting a single dish. Banchan is complimentary, but it's part of a mutual understanding--customers aren't just here to eat free side dishes, and the restaurant provides them as an investment in the overall experience. If you're only ordering one entrée to split between multiple people but still expect unlimited refills, I can see why that would frustrate the staff. If you're not that hungry, why do you need multiple rounds of side dishes?
I'm not saying every complaint is unwarranted, but let's be honest--I'm not saying everybody but some folks do come in trying to game the system. That behavior doesn't just hurt the restaurant; it impacts those of us who genuinely appreciate what they offer and want to see them stick around.
Bottom line: If you go to Mr. Tofu with a reasonable mindset, order properly, and respect the dining experience, you'll have an amazing meal. The food is very good/well priced and the banchan is some of the best you'll find anywhere. I'll be back--and I hope this place thrives for years to come.