The earlier 5 star review posted for Joodooboo me was an accident- it was meant for another restaurant. Sorry. I found Joodooboo to be only so-so. I went with a group of six. The food was bland, quite surprising for Korean cuisine. The portions were small. The seating options inside are very limited. Also, it was quite noisy throughout our meal. To cap things off as we finished eating we were subjected to a large number dishes crashing to the floor and breaking as some sort of dispute arose among the wait staff. All in all, it was a disappointment and none of us will return. read more

My best friend took me here for a dinner date and Omg . I felt so healthy I can't explain it lol . I was telling her I usually need my meats but this dish was so flavorful and delish and the tofu was some of the best I've ever had . I would go back again to try other dishes or even the same one ! It was that good. One of my new fav restaurants in town now ! read more

Joodooboo - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

I always leave Joodooboo feeling satisfied and full. Their menu is fairly small and their banchan seems to rotate a bit with what is in season. I love that their food feels light and clean but you always leave feeling satisfied. The Farmer's Bowl is my go to order, especially when I'm needing a healthier bite. Food is always fresh and made it order. My only real disappointing experience was for a delivery order where I ordered two sides of their soup. What arrived was literally less than half a cup of a cold vinegary soup which cost me $4 each (?). Still scratching my head on that one and hope they make improvements on that part of their menu. The restaurant has very limited seating so it's not great for groups, especially anything bigger than 4 people. read more

Joodooboo - Farmer's Bowl - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

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Visited on a Wednesday around 1:30pm with a friend. It was quite busy, the majority of seats and tables were taken. I initially placed my order to go but as folks wrapped up I was able to grab one of the outdoor tables and enjoy my meal in house. Food: Fried tofu set - small salad was okay, a mix of greens with a light dressing and a sprinkle of sesame seeds not very flavorful. White kimchi was really tasty, nice tartness with a slight spicy alium kick. Dooboo moochiim finely minced green with crumbled tofu not much flavor highlights the green veggies. Fried tofu was so good, agadashi style fry with a slightly spicy scallions soy sauce. Soup was okay, dashi type base with pieces of mushroom, tofu and scallions. Banchan assortment - a nice more affordable options you get to pick and choose what you want, Service was fine, fast casual order at the counter and delivered to the area you are sitting when it's ready. Overall enjoyed my lunch at joodooboo, food quality is pretty good, wish some of the dishes had a bit more seasoning. Felt a little over priced given the portion sizes. Worth a try, but on the pricey end for the meal. read more

truly an under appreciated gem in oakland - obviously a gentry fire spot, but tries not to be a bleep about it. The tofu is excellent,, and the fried dooboo set always makes my body feel like THIS is what it has been waiting for. Don't skip the spritz this week was white guava and it's fantastic! tip: the noodles are nowhere near as great as the fried dooboo set, don't get tempted! read more

Joodooboo - Fried Dooboo Set - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Contemporary Korean deli and short menu, check their site/ig for the current offerings. Call ahead to reserve if specified, today was pork jjigae, an unctuous bowl of spareribs, housemade fresh organic tofu, maitakes and kabocha. Multilayered and soul satisfying. Check out the refrigerated offerings - banchan, sauce, local beers, scribe winery vino. These can be taken out, the hot food is meant to eat there, you are welcome to buy the sides to pair with the curated menu. One unisex bathroom - unique geometric neon wall decor. If you want to take a photo they have a nicely painted wall on the side of the building. Really enjoyable meal and look forward to exploring more in the future. read more

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The deli was chill, clean, nostalgic. I saw a fridge of the banchans and just wasn't sold on getting the 4 pack because you eat with your eyes and I was still semi full. The customer in front of me had a pack of fresh tofu and the dooboo sauce i eyed in the fridge. Impulsively I grabbed the same and ordered 6 ounce of kimchi to try. When I got home I tried all 3 items. The tofu was simply amazing by itself. Then add the sauce and it's somehow even better. Halfway through eating the tofu and sauce, I added a drizzle of good quality sesame oil (not toasted) and it was perfection! The kimchi, although good, was not 'super fermented' which is the kind I like before it gets a little more sour. (To my understanding lol) The guy who rang me up was so friendly as well. The tofu was so good that I ended up watching the owner make it on a BA video. Turns out the guy who rang me up was the owner and tofu artisan/magician. Awesome. I live in the south bay but if I'm ever in the area again I will pick up some more tofu and sauce, and try some more things. read more

As a Korean-American, I LOVED this restaurant! The restaurant concept reminds me if Korean food and a farmers market had a baby. Everything was made from scratch, so much fresh greens and seasonal items. The restaurant is small, so I definitely don't recommend it for large parties. The service was AMAZING and the food came out quickly. I ordered the fried dooboo set, farmers bowl, tuna sashimi and cookies. I grew up eating fried tofu and the whole set reminded me of something my mom would make growing up - the tofu, banchan, soup and rice, it was perfectly balanced. The tofu itself was perfectly fried and the white kimchi was one of the best I've had. The farmers bowl tasted amazing. It was a version of bimbimpap but way better. It had homemade soybean sauce, egg, pickled veggies and fresh greens. I also really enjoyed the sashimi with salt & sesame oil - so much umami. For desserts I had gotten the sesame and grapefruit shortbread cookies, I really enjoyed the flavors and the water color menu was so pretty. I wish I found this place sooner, this is my comfort food. I have to say this is one of my favorite restaurants in Oakland now! read more

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Came here for lunch. Everything was so good! We came with a group of four and ordered everything on the regular lunch menu - fried tofu set, acorn noodles, farmers bowl, and banchan set with tofu. My favorites were the fried tofu, rice, and oyster mushroom banchan. The snap pea and cucumber banchan was also very good. We also really liked the sauce on the tofu and the salad dressing. For someone who hasn't been here before, the menu and how to order (ie what your different options could be, what sides come with the meal, what's included, how much side dishes cost) is a little bit confusing. But now that we've done it once we're excited to come back again. read more

Joodooboo opens where the Kebabery was. outdoor seating only, specializes in homemade tofu, Korean dishes, and artisan Korean banchan. offerings: banchan, drinks, noodle/bowls eats: acorn noodle bowl (15) -housemade corn flour noodles in peppery (spicy) sauce with 2 1/2 boiled egg, spring mix, julienned raw vegetables (carrot, cauliflower, red peppers, etc. -al dente noodles with peppery sauce, fresh veggies, boiled egg perfecto. -traveled well, flavors still fresh after time spent in refrigerator. take outs: -would have bought banchan if i knew it traveled well & refrigerated well. read more

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Healthy Korean food, order at the counter and take a seat. Limited vegetarian menu (although one banchan was anchovies). Homemade tofu and noodles, overall, feels not too heavy. No hot sauces, sriracha or gojujang, which would be nice to have. read more

This is not your ordinary banchans sides you get from your favorite Korean BBQ spot! Warning! Your mind will be blown by the bold and delicious flavors that are oozing with quality ingredients. I really appreciate this unique take on upscale quick eats/restaurant/deli vibe. In an industrial part of Oakland not too far from downtown and closer to North Oakland I really wanted to support and check out. In a residential area street parking was plentiful. There is bad/window indoor seating and a few tables outside. I got the banchan set and it did not disappoint. Literally everything I tried was so good. The rice with sesame seeds was cooked just right. The dooboo (tofu) had such a pillowy soft but yet firm enough texture. And wow the sauce on top. I would love to come back to try the other dishes like noodles or bowl and even have a glass of wine. read more

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I've had a great experience every time I've been to Joodooboo. The staff & owner are really friendly and nice, the food is really excellent, high-quality stuff, and the "standard" for us - the dooboo + sauce - is perfect every time. There are things on the menu that absolutely sing for me - and it's obvious why I'd like them. But one of the things I like about Joodooboo is that there are often flavor combinations that I'm not familiar with - sometimes they land, sometimes I don't yet have the palate for them. But they're always interesting, and I'm often pleasantly surprised. So it's always worth trying things, even if I don't immediately recognize them as things that I'd like. The acorn noodles I had for lunch last time were that kind of choice, for me. I like Korean cold noodle dishes, but they're not necessarily my favorite. It's been a few weeks, so I don't remember exactly what was in these - there was a vinegary sauce, a bit of kimchi, some seaweed, and a handful of small portions of other vegetables, and the only choice you could make was whether you wanted egg or dooboo (I went with the dooboo - I mean, it's Joodooboo, right?). After the first bite it was clear this was a hit. Every bite had a slightly different combination of stuff - I realize a "symphony of flavor" is a cliche, but each bite was a different combination, each note & instrument serving its purpose in a greater whole. It was the most synergistic thing I've had in ages, where each flavor built upon the rest into something comforting and delicious and perfect. Yeah, look - I realize this sounds ridiculous. Hyperbolic. It was that good. I've dreamt about it in the days since. Looking forward to going back, and the decision between getting this again (if it's still around) or trying something else will be a tough call indeed. read more

Fresh, delicious, healthy, a true NorCal meets Korean food affair. Reminded me of fancy temple food. I went to try the fresh tofu but fell in love with all of their banchan (Korean for side dishes). We got the banchan set which includes four sides, rice, and a tofu sample. We also got a separate container of fresh tofu (aka dooboo in Korean!) and lastly the acorn noodles with a side of fresh poke. Everything was delicious and I was full but didn't feel gross afterwards. Felt like I truly nourished my body with healthy good food. I will say that the rice portion was too small! I love an even ratio of rice to sides and I felt a little sad rationing my rice with each bite lol. I guess it's healthier to eat less rice The banchan offerings seem to change weekly and looks to be vegan friendly for the most part (they specify if it isn't). You can also take the sides home (like a deli) in various sized containers. Charmingly redecorated and has bar seating along two sides. They do ask for proof of vaccine if you're sitting indoors. They also have a few tables outside. You might think how good can some veggie sides be but I'm telling you there is def some umami action happening. More depth and freshness than you would get at your average Korean restaurant or grocery store. I love to see us second generation kids taking the traditional and giving it our own flair. It's magical and I hope you all go and try everything! read more

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I was very excited to try Joodooboo and the charming interior as we walked in seemed promising. There are a few tables outside as well, one of which we grabbed because I brought my dog with us. Surprisingly, there was a line even though we were having a relatively late lunch on a Friday afternoon around 1 pm, but we didn't think much of it because it was only six or seven people ahead of us. Make sure you have someone grab a table as soon as possible and hang out there rather than waiting for after you order, because it's going to be a hot commodity. The line ended up moving incredibly slowly and inefficiently. This can be greatly helped by posting a menu outside or having some printed out for people to peruse as they are waiting in line, rather than the current system where you can't really see what is on offer in detail until you get up to the register. Also, the cashier seems to be in charge of drinks as well. Please just put out self-serve water by the utensils to move people along. It was a nice, sunny day so we didn't mind waiting for a bit. But a bit turned into alarmingly long, to the point that we had to get up twice to ask what was going on. I am usually not this kind of person, but it really was almost 40 minutes before we got our food - one of which was the set that could be pulled from the banchan that was ready in the display window and prepped in kitchen - and the other was an acorn noodle bowl with minimal cooking time necessary. It turns out that they input our order wrong and brought out just one entirely incorrect noodle bowl. My friend had to be at the airport, so we almost got it to go once corrected. There are no numbers given out or names really taken, so orders seemed to be easily mixed up. People came out with orders and wandered around asking each table if it was theirs. When we did get our food, yes it was fresh but not exactly proportional to price or satisfying. The banchan set was especially disappointing for almost $20, when one of the dishes is a sprinkling of leafy greens and the other was a cold soup that was unappealingly fishy and grassy at the same time to both of us. I wanted to think it was an off day, but I do think the ordering and service leaves much to be improved, as well as the variety of offerings. read more

Joodooboo - Acorn noodle bowl has a lot of greens, but be sure to mix well or else you'll get one randomly salty bite versus another - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

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Joodooboo is new and offers traditional and I'd say modern versions of korean dishes or banchan. My wife and I signed up for the banchan weekly subscription which gives you a staff choice sampler of some of their banchan, the subscription is $10/week. You can also purchase more of those items at their deli counter. I've only had the stuff from the banchan subscription but I've found what they make to be fresh, tasty and unique (at least compared to what you'd see eating a Korean restaurant) with flavors like lotus root, kale and other creative ingredients. For those who can't/don't like to eat spicy, this is a solid choice, at least everything I've tried has been flavorful but not spicy. We're going to stick with the banchan subscription and probably on a future visit will try some of their fresh made tofu. read more

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A new spot that is just up and running. For now, there are limited hours and a limited menu. When we arrived at 11am on Wednesday, there was banchan (Korean "side" dishes that usually complement a main dish) and fresh tofu. The banchan menu changes weekly. You can purchase the banchan by the ounce, or order a "six pack" or "three pack." We purchased two of the six packs ($18 each). The tofu comes in individual plastic packaging and you can pick how many ounces you'd like. We bought the smaller and larger containers. Banchan: Each dish was creative, blending the flavors of local produce with more traditional ingredients of Korea. I wish for some spice and maybe some more pickled options, but the 6 pack was enough to fill me up for lunch and it was a LOT of fun flavors in each dish! Tofu: this tofu has a softer texture, and a nice creamy flavor. It's not dramatically different than store bought, but does feel special. The best part, for me, was the sauce you can purchase for $1 to pour over it - really nice lemon zest and tamari flavors. Outside - there are some tables for seating available. We might wait for the menu to expand, and we will be on the lookout to purchase some kimchi from them next time. read more

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I felt so clean and healthy after eating this set meal. Everything was so flavorful and clean. Also not pictured is the acorn noodle which was like bibim nangmyum but better! The price is definitely high compared to the portions. The mackerel pictured was around 10-12$. The tofu was some of the best I ever had. I didnt know tofu could taste that good and was tempted to buy the sauce. Theres decent seating inside and outside. Would definitely go back! read more

Joodooboo - Fried Dooboo Set Spanish Mackerel Sashimi - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

We popped in this past weekend to check out the buzz around Joodooboo. We discovered it after watching a Bon Appétit video featuring the Chef and Owner, Steve Joo. As a Korean-American, I jump to any and all occasions to try Korean dishes made in the traditional way. Joodooboo offers a variety of banchan, beverages, and freshly made dooboo that can be purchased to go. You may also dine in whether indoors or outdoors. The dining area has a very clean aesthetic. Wood interior with cute touches of freshly cut flowers. I ordered the Fried Dooboo Set which features not only a serving of fried in-house made dooboo, but also a soup, kimchi, and the week's selection of banchan. Last week my fried dooboo was accompanied by miso soup, white kimchi, a side salad, and a marinated cucumber banchan. Let me tell you, everything on the tray was very satisfying and filling! The staff is also very personable and friendly. I highly recommend to anyone who loves Korean tofu (dooboo) and banchan. read more

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I ordered the Fried Joodooboo Set and really enjoyed my lunch here! I felt it was just the right amount of food and I felt comfortably full after my meal. Banchan is so fun to eat! My favorite was the fried tofu paired with the rice. I felt the rest of the side dishes were good but pretty standard. read more

Joodooboo - Fried Dooboo Set - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

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On a corner with lots of street parking. Lots of different styles of banchaan or sides dishes. I don't recognize even half of the dishes. Vegetarian's paradise. I wanna say they only sell banchaan. Ambiance take out very casual street seating. Food simple fresh ingredients. Id come by if i am close. But I wouldn't drive far. Unless you have a hard time finding freshly made tofu, highly recommend the large cube of tofu for home. I just pan seared slices and added drizzle of soy. read more

Joodooboo - Change menu frequently - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

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Just moved to West Oakland and was craving Korean food. Joodooboo was perfect. Only a few indoor seating spots but next time I'm in need of some take out, this will be the place. read more

Simply outstanding food. Incredible flavor, and also healthy. Try the farmer's bowl and fried tofu!

Tried 3 different lunch boxes with some coworkers. Finally, healthy Korean food near me! Acorn noodles could be little spicy for non-Asians. read more

The fried dooboo set was amazing! all the ingredients were high quality and refreshing. The fried dooboo was crispy and flavorful and i also really enjoyed the soup and other banchan that came with it. Our service was great and the restaurant was very clean, definitely recommend this place! read more

Joodooboo - Fried Dooboo Set - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Finding vegetarian Korean food is hard. Glad we could cross Korean food off our list. Food was made fresh. Service was good. read more

Joodooboo - Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been buying Joodooboo's tofu and sauce at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market for the past few months. The tofu is delicious, especially for the first couple of days after it's purchased, and the sauce is over-the-top excellent. After my first encounter with the tofu, I decided that I would visit the brick and mortar shop on Market Street. Sadly, I had no real excuse for the outing until a Korean colleague suggested that we have lunch together one day. I took him up on his suggestion and proposed that we go to Joodooboo. I'm really glad that I did that! One happy fact is that the place was not especially busy on the Friday that we chose for our encounter. Has the hype about this restaurant died down? Do people refrain from stepping outside when it's cloudy and some rain showers have passed through? No matter, but I can report that we were able to get an indoor table without trouble and that our order came out quite promptly after we placed it. Our order: I decided quickly on the farmer's bowl, and my colleague selected the same thing that I did. I *loved* my bowl (which came with a complementary clear soup) and thought that the tastes were really clean and that everything was exceptionally fresh. Meanwhile, my dining companion declared that his lunch tasted like home cooking. That might sound like a compliment, but his point was that Koreans make food like this all the time in their own kitchens and therefore have no need to leave their homes for it. While I am willing to concede his point, I'll betcha that his farmer's bowl wouldn't hold a candle to the ones that we were served at Joodooboo. Further, I'm not ashamed to say that anything like this that came out of my kitchen would be a pale shadow of the Market Street item. Thanks, Joodooboo; see you soon at the market. read more

Joodooboo - Farmer's bowl ("for here") - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is really authentic pure flavor when they say farm to kitchen this is Your Place Farm to Kitchen with the Chef in the kitchen the flavor that taste is just jumping in your mouth. This is my go to place when I'm in the area definitely try the noodle bowl. read more

Joodooboo - At one point in the bowl, it was noodles, salad veggies, with two boiled eggs forgot to take pictures... - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

The service was ok, the other customers can look at you weird because you by yourself one even asked me to go sit elsewhere, not a fan of the atmosphere based on that. The dooboo/ tofu was fire, but the soup was bland , the kimchi was bland and the greens with flowers were a bit bland. It feels as if I went to the Taco Bell version of a Korean restaurant. Overpriced as well read more

Joodooboo - Dooboo set - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

What a local neighborhood gem! For the price of a modern day sandwich, you can instead get a delicious variety of well crafted and plated Korean dishes. I enjoy dining here every chance I get. read more

Joodooboo - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

First timer here. Where have I been? So good. Ordered tofu with banchan and the fried noodles with eggs. Omg. Deeeelicious!!! Will be back!

The handmade tofu here really is something incredible. You can tell the difference from store bought tofu. I love the sets they have so you can try a little of everything! There is limited seating so be ready for that, but haven't had an issue the couple times I've been. read more

Joodooboo - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Love love love this place their Fried Dooboo set is our favorite. Staff is friendly and welcoming , very relaxed ambiance popular with guests. Definitely recommend! read more

Beautiful fresh tofu and veggies, outdoor seating for people watching, friendly service. Pricey but a Great neighborhood spot.

This has become one of my favorite restaurants in Oakland. The service is always amazing. The menu is always changing but you can expect the food to always be top tier. Fresh, seasonal ingredients combined in such a unique way. Seasoning always on point! read more

Joodooboo - Fried Dooboo Set, seasonal melon spritz, tuna special - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

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Was seeking weekend lunch and wanted 1) healthy 2) tasty 3) reasonable parking - found this on Yelp & came to check it out. Street parking was easy, interior was shiny clean & bright, tables outdoors were full but there's also 8 bar style seats inside. Acorn noodles dish was perfect- flavorful with incredibly fresh ingredients - ( great greens!) & made me full w out feeling weighed down. Service was hella friendly & efficient. Explained the banchans of the week & brought water. I bought banchan special to take home for later. Really wish this was closer to my neighborhood! read more

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Soooo good. First time and I will be back. Got the farmers bowl to go for a quick lunch but am looking forward to having a more leisurely visit and trying more items -especially the tofu. The farmers bowl was so tasty. Highly recommend! Oh and everyone was super nice and friendly. Good vibes from this place. read more

Joodooboo - Farmer's Bowl - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Opens at 12 and big lineup outside already. Has seasonal menu. But portions are little small read more

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Delicious food. Great service. Cozy ambience. Creative curtain of strong tofu game. Vegan. Gluten free. Explore, imbibe and experience. Impressed! read more

Joodooboo makes the best dooboo! Get this! I remember walking with my mother to the market in Incheon to buy fresh, homemade dooboo to make mandu with my Halmonee. This dooboo tastes just as good! As fresh as homemade dooboo in Korea? Wow! They told me Steve brought back a Korean tofu-making machine. Thank you, Steve! I feel so lucky to have this here in California. It tastes so fresh, so creamy, my body just loves it. What a gift! I keep eating it. I can't stop. My take-away dooboo after just having dooboo for lunch is almost gone ... In my mind, in writing, I've always anglicized it tubu. Dooboo is so much cuter! :) My two friends and I shared dooboo, rice and two large samplers of banchan ($18) which were all so delicious and fresh. May your offering be a great success. Oakland appreciates you! And, your dooboo. Will see you, soon. read more