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I’ve been meaning to try Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu for quite some time now but before I knew it, summer came and it was just too hot for a bubbling bowl of soup. So one cold evening when Mike and I were too lazy to cook, we thought what could be better than a hot bowl of tofu soup?

Banchan

We arrived around 7:30 on a Wednesday evening and the place was packed. There were two other groups ahead of us but we were still seated within 10 minutes since the turnover was pretty quick.

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu is a no-frills restaurant with only nine menu items to choose from – 6 soon tofu soups, a bibimbab, bulgogi soup and broiled beef. Everything is cheap too – nothing over $10.

Soon after ordering, they served us a selection of four complimentary appetizers (aka “banchan”) – bean sprouts, beans, daikon kimchee and the usual kimchi. Given how hungry I was, these were something nice to munch on but otherwise isn’t really anything to write home about.

Combination Soon Tofu

I went with the first item on the menu, the Combination Soon Tofu – beef, shrimp, mussel + hot stone pot rice ($7.53). The soup arrived piping hot, still madly bubbling. When they brought the banchan over, they also gave us two eggs, which is meant to be put into your soup. Soon after cracking the raw egg into the soup, it quickly cooks in the boiling hot soup.

For all the soups, you get to choose your spice level, so I decided to go with medium. I certainly underestimated how spicy this would be. I found it tough to eat since not only was it hot, temperature-wise, but it was also really spicy! Although I enjoyed the first few bites, it just became overwhelmingly spicy for me. Next time, I should definitely go with mild.

Stone pot rice

The soup dishes also come with a serving of purple rice (with dates) served in a hot stone pot. It looked interesting but I didn’t find that it had a distinct taste to it. It just tasted like regular rice to me. The servers actually come by to scoop the rice into a bowl for you. They then add water to the leftover rice in the pot. I wonder if people actually eat this leftover rice with the water in it…

As for Mike, he went with the 3rd item on the menu, the Kimchi Soon Tofu – Kimchi, beef, pork + hot stone pot rice ($7.53). I can’t say I have too much to add about this one as it pretty much tasted the same as the one I ordered. Mike was pretty skeptical about how filling this would be since he has quite the appetite. By the end of the meal, we were both surprised how filling the soups were, so not to worry!

So, the service isn’t the greatest here. However, for a busy restaurant with dishes under $10, I’m not sure I’d expect anything different. Quick and cheap! And even though the soups we ordered were a bit too spicy for me I’d be willing to come back. It’s a very comforting meal on a cold day. I’ll just have to remember to request for “mild” next time!

Kimchi Soon Tofu

At a glance:
• Quick and cheap – everything is under $10
• Be careful when choosing a spice level – medium is quite spicy!
• Great for a cold evening
• Another location at Bloor and Christie

Ratings (out of 5):
• Food: 3.5 stars
• Service: 2 stars
• Atmosphere: 1 star

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu on Urbanspoon



  1. Sammy (Reply) on Tuesday 20, 2011

    Omgosh this is my favouriteeeeee place. Soo satisfying, especially in winter.

    • Jess (Reply) on Tuesday 20, 2011

      Nothing like a hot bowl of soup in the winter 🙂