Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    4.1 (529 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Waitlist - Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Order Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    KAJU SOFT TOFU RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    More like Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Galbi and galbi tofu soup
    Gordon W.

    Establishment is busy and clean. They have tablets you order from, staff interaction is minimal. This is Korean tofu house. If you have never been, their combos include both the entree and a smaller tofu soup. I ordered their galbi combo with the galbi tofu soup. The galbi is cooked and marinated well and the amount of food is fair for the price. This is a decent value. TLDR: Good service, good food, good establishment, good value. Would recommend!

    Amy P.

    Opted for lunch at Kaju since my mom was hoping for the mackerel fish that's generally provided as a banchan. Not sure if this varies by location as this was my first time at the Irvine location, but they served anchovies instead. The Buena Park location used to serve mackerel (unless they've stopped as well)? Regardless, we still had a great experience! There's a tablet at the table for placing orders which is convenient, and there's even a button on the tablet to call for assistance if needed. I also appreciate the rolling cart of banchan that comes around for easy refills. The ladies working were all friendly although it was quite busy and they seemed a little understaffed during our visit. The food is always a hit and I especially love their banchans. The fish cake and kimchi are my favorites! Located in the same plaza as the new Tokyo Central, Big 5, Nep, and other businesses. Parking gets pretty busy on weekends but you should be able to find a spot with a little circling around. Yelp Waitlist is available which is definitely helpful during busy times!

    Sides
    Tim F.

    The most striking thing about Kaju is the service. They refill your side dishes extremely aggressively. It caught me off guard. They're happy to swap out a single side the moment it runs out, it's unlike any Korean Tofu shop I've ever experienced. The sides are good too, especially the japchae glass noodles. I had the Ham and Cheese. What a strange soup combo, but it worked. You might be asking, ham and cheese, isn't it salty? YES! But it's #3 for a reason. It's the saltiest cheese ever with the saltiest meat, but it's sooo good with the rice. The Galbi was also amazing. Each piece of beef was bursting in flavor and had the perfect fat to lean ratio. The flavor also stands on its own. I had an amazing experience here and it was affordable. If you're in the area and in the mood for Korean Tofu, Kaju on Culver is the place!

    DUMPLING Tofu Soup
    Melanie H.

    As an avid lover of soondubu, Kaju has easily become one of my favorite restaurants in Irvine. There's something about the piping hot tofu soup that warms my soul. We came here on a weeknight and the place was packed. I got a dumpling tofu soup and loved every spoonful. To top it off, the banchan was fantastic. I am obsessed with the kimchi and the dried anchovies banchan. I happily will be a repeat customer of Kaju.

    Spicy Pork Bulgogi
    Elle K.

    I especially enjoy their rich, flavorful soon tofu stews and well-prepared meats. My go-to order is the oyster soon tofu with a white broth (no spice). Since the banchan -- the complimentary Korean side dishes -- already provide spice and variety, there's no need to overpower the stew itself. The white broth lets you fully appreciate the natural briny sweetness of the oysters along with the depth of their house broth. Their spicy pork is also delicious: tender, well seasoned, and balanced with mild sweetness, spice, and savory flavor. Service is fast, and the ambiance is bright. The restaurant has comforting home-cooking vibes, so expect a lively noise level -- like family members chatting energetically around the dinner table. They also partner with Grubhub, and tonight I ordered takeout through GH. As a Korean American, I recommend this authentic Korean restaurant. Enjoy!

    Michael A.

    Kaju Soft Tofu definitely exceeded expectations. Stopped in here last night for dinner and left impressed. To eat, I ordered the Galbi Tofu Soup (medium spicy), priced at $17.99. The dish was delicious, and I loved both the rice and banchan. If you're a fan of Korean food, go ahead and give this place a try. Impeccable service and fun ambiance, as well.

    Lunch special
    Calvin G.

    Came here on a Friday afternoon the server was really nice and refilled the ban chan often. The food was also really good with the rice being super soft and smooth. The spicy bulgogi was really tasty and just the right spice. The inside was really chill and it was clean inside.

    Chicken Bulgogi 닭불고기
    Giorgia P.

    The food was delicious and the service fast, our server was very nice and friendly. I recommend.

    Mc F.

    The food here is good, and the tofu soup was flavorful and satisfying. The quality of the ingredients was great, and I also liked that they offer refillable banchan, which is a nice touch. However, one thing that was disappointing was how the banchan was served. There were three of us dining together, but we were only given one set of banchan to share instead of three individual sets. Since the portions are small, we finished them quickly and politely asked for a refill. Unfortunately, the waitress (I believe her name was Julie) seemed visibly annoyed by our request. She made facial expressions that made us feel like we were inconveniencing her, and she did so right in front of us. It made the dining experience uncomfortable and took away from what was otherwise a good meal. The restaurant was only about 30% full at the time, so it wasn't a particularly busy period, which made the interaction even more surprising. The food isn't inexpensive, so I expected better customer service. Good food is important, but so is making customers feel welcome. Because of the service we received, I can only give this restaurant 3 stars. I hope they can improve the customer service experience, as the food itself is worth coming back for.

    Betty T.

    Surprised I haven't written a review for Kaju yet! Definitely better than BCD in my opinion - better sides and flavor for sure. Parking can be a challenge on Friday and Saturday nights, but not too bad on weeknights. Waitlist on Yelp prior to arrival to cut down on your wait time! Typically I order a "Kaju special" combo, which comes with choice of tofu stew, stone rice, ban chan, and choice of meat (between pork, chicken, bulgogj, and kalbi). Sides are refillable, but they have a new policy now where you cannot take it to go - so eat as much as you can IN the restaurant. Service is prompt and no nonsense. Recently they've also installed these electronic tablets at every table to order from - making it even easier to order.

    Assorted banchan
    Aileen J.

    We came for lunch on Thursday afternoon. After adding ourselves to the wait list, we were seated just a few minutes later. The server kindly asked if it was okay to be placed at a large table. I said that was fine (more room for the banchan dishes!). The 2 of us split the Bulgogi a la carte and each ordered a Soft Tofu soup. I chose the seafood, which included clams, oysters, and shrimp. The soup came with an egg to scramble and mix in. We got a nice selection of cucumber kimchi, napa kimchi, bean sprouts, fish cake, and possibly shredded bean curd. It was fun to have the robot deliver the dish of bulgogi! Hot water added to the rice stone pot was a good way to end our meal and aid digestion. The shopping center parking lot is usually pretty full, but we found a space not too far away.

    Melody C.

    *DO NOT RECOMMEND Anymore!**Worse meal ever! Can't believe they switched the stone pot into this stainless steel pot instead. This container cannot retain heat and the rice came cold. Instead of crispy burnt rice... it tastes like an overcooked dish. The fried dumplings tastes like a chewy gum. The quality of their food has definitely declined dramatically. We ended up didn't finish our food and left. They used to be good but not anymore! Would not recommend!!

    Lana K.

    Kaju Tofu offers solid Korean fare in a casual, modern setting with booth seating and digital ordering kiosks. The dolsot bibimbap arrived sizzling in a stone bowl with a crispy egg and perfectly charred rice on the bottom. The soft tofu soup was vibrant, spicy, and piping hot. Generous banchan selections including kimchi and seasoned vegetables rounded out the meal. Service is efficient and no-frills. Kaju Tofu delivers authentic Korean comfort food at reasonable prices. Great spot for hearty soondubu and bibimbap cravings.

    Vegetable tofu soup with brown rice and spicy level.

    See all

    3 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 minutes ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elle K.
    162
    567
    3821

    4 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Michael A.
    2107
    1593
    5814

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mc F.
    0
    27
    43

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jana N.
    131
    434
    1233

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andy P.
    1124
    731
    4012

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Belinda L.
    10
    355
    1728

    26 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Crystal G.
    3904
    1543
    19070

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriela P.

    Gabriela P.

    Helpful 44
    Thanks 7
    Love this 35
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    Are the soon dubu the same price at all times?

    Yeah. They have combo specials that are different for lunch/dinner though.

    Are there robots serving the food at this location?

    It serves the ban chan.

    View All 7 Questions

    Yoo's Place - Soonduboo, spicy tofu soup

    Yoo's Place

    4.3(629 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Sharing is caring! Head to Yoo's place for the best cold noodle dishes in Orange County! Great…read moreservice! Great prices and large tasty portions which include all kinds of small dishes with kimchi, pickles, radish etc....

    Stopped by around 7 PM on a Wednesday. The restaurant was busy, but we were seated after a short…read morewait. Parking in the main lot can fill up quickly, but there's an underground garage with plenty of space. The dining room is bright with high ceilings, giving it a very open feel. There wasn't any music playing during our visit, but the atmosphere was still nice because no one was trying to talk over the noise. Service was excellent throughout the meal. The staff was attentive, and we were pleasantly surprised when they brought out a complimentary bowl of jjajangmyeon. The black bean sauce was smooth and flavorful, and the noodles had a great chewy texture. The banchan were all solid. I especially enjoyed the crunchy cucumbers and the daikon radish, which tasted very fresh. The acorn jelly was another standout with its soft texture. The fish cake was the only side that didn't quite impress me, as it was a little on the dry side. We also ordered the mandu, which had a crispy exterior and a juicy filling. It's an easy appetizer to recommend. For our main dishes, the naengmyeon was light, refreshing, and slightly sweet with just a mild kick of spice. It was a great contrast to the richer dishes on the table. The bossam was another winner. The pork was incredibly tender, and the kimchi and ssamjang served alongside it added just the right amount of heat and acidity to balance the richness of the meat. Overall, this was a really enjoyable meal with attentive service, well-prepared food, and several standout dishes. I'd definitely come back, especially for the bossam and naengmyeon.

    Photos
    Yoo's Place - Nice set up - super convenient.

    Nice set up - super convenient.

    Yoo's Place - 56. Jajang Myun

    56. Jajang Myun

    Yoo's Place - 25. Kalbi

    See all

    25. Kalbi

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Bossam Large

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine

    4.2(498 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Feeling like some Korean food, I remembered being curious about this place. We are often in this…read moreplaza because we're always shopping for groceries at the H Mart. We finally gave it a shot today. We ordered the steamed pork belly, cold noodles, and the galbi soup. The food was very good. My mom was quite happy with the cold noodles and my kids consumed every drop of the galbi soup. My dad and I had the steamed pork belly and we agreed that it was pretty good. The part I want to really emphasize was the service. The young man that took care of us was very attentive and most importantly, treated my kids so well. He provided them with all their usual needs like plastic silverware, extra bowls for soup, and even offered extra soup when he saw that they devoured the galbi soup. He went out of his way to give them some BTS Edition Oreos and little bags with stickers in them. I am always very grateful anytime people take care to treat my kids well. I'm glad we decided to give this spot a try.

    Yuk Dae Jang is a solid spot when you just want a heavy, comforting Korean lunch. We rolled in for…read morea work lunch and even though there was a good crowd inside, we got seated right away with zero wait, which is always a win when you're on a lunch break. If you're going with a few people, the Braised Spicy Premium Beef Ribs with the flat glass noodles is definitely the move. The portion easily feeds two to three. The meat is super tender and just falls off the bone, covered in a rich, spicy sauce that has a nice kick to it. The flat glass noodles soak up all that sauce, and the chunks of kabocha squash add a slight sweetness that balances out the spicy, heavy beef. Service is super fast. You get your banchan pretty much the second you sit down, and the food comes out steaming hot without a long delay. If you're looking for a quick group lunch spot where you can split something huge and spicy, it's definitely worth coming here.

    Photos
    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Inside

    Inside

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - 육대장매운쭈꾸미만두 Spicy Calamari Mandu (6 pcs)

    육대장매운쭈꾸미만두 Spicy Calamari Mandu (6 pcs)

    Yuk Dae Jang - Irvine - Original Yuk Gae Jang with Ramen

    See all

    Original Yuk Gae Jang with Ramen

    Tang 190 - Our lunch

    Tang 190

    3.8(1.6k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    This is our go to Korean comfort restaurant. We've been coming here ever since our friend took us…read morehere when we were first visiting California 10 years ago. Still great, always consistent. They have great sides that the waiters are attentive and keep refilling without you asking. You can choose to sit indoors or outside on a nice day. We've tried almost everything on the menu at this point and everything is good. The best is the rib soup. They have a dinner set menu for about $20 now which I opted to try this time. I enjoyed it!

    I've been a devoted customer of this restaurant since the very beginning, even through all the…read morechanges in ownership. While I've noticed some dishes have definitely improved in quality, I can't help but feel that the portions and overall experience don't quite match the rising prices. One major gripe I have is the banchan portion when you order takeout--it's definitely lacking, yet the price remains the same. I get it, this is a premium spot, and part of what you're paying for is the ambiance. But when you're just grabbing food to go and the service feels a bit off, it starts to make me question whether it's worth it. Honestly, I've been feeling like the prices have crept up a bit too much lately, likely due to the landlord hiking the rent. Plus, I've noticed a bit of pressure to finish up quickly, especially when I'm dining solo, which can be a bit off-putting. That said, this is my go-to place when I'm under the weather--I can't get enough of their soups! However, with the rising costs and what you actually get in return, I've found myself stopping by less frequently. It's a bit of a disappointment, as it used to be a staple in our family's dining rotation.

    Photos
    Tang 190 - Inside

    Inside

    Tang 190 - Dumplings

    Dumplings

    Tang 190 - Dolsot Bibimbap - so good!

    See all

    Dolsot Bibimbap - so good!

    Seoul Haus

    Seoul Haus

    3.8(734 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    My friend and I were craving homey Korean food and this place definitely hit the spot! Located in…read moreIrvine, Seoul Haus definitely provided that home cooked feeling. First, parking wasn't bad. The shopping center isn't that big but it's not a busy center so I don't think it'll ever be an issue. The restaurant itself was clean and simple. Very mom and pop vibe. They have a good amount of seating. Restroom was very clean. Service was good, I had no issues. Please be patient with the staff as English is not some of their dominant languages. Staff was trying their best to help everyone. They were constantly checking in on us, refilling our Banchan, I thought they did great. Food was yummy and portions were huge! My friend and I shared the crispy garlic tofu. That was fresh and hot and not greasy! I enjoyed it! She had the Garlic Seolleongtang and she loved it. You saw the chunks of garlic, they were generous on the meat and the bowl was huge. I had beef spicy tofu soup and that was delicious and so filling. They were extremely generous on the tofu and I felt like I definitely got my protein intake in. The spice was just right, it looks so red but it wasn't that bad! I would definitely come back. It's a mom and pop shop I would support. I think it's underlooked and needs appreciation. My husband is from Irvine so we'll definitely be back next time we're in town visiting family.

    sooo did you guys eat half the food before i picked it up?…read more Quality and portions have gone very far down. I would rather go to Yukdaejang at this point.

    Photos
    Seoul Haus - Inside

    Inside

    Seoul Haus - Spicy Baby Octopus Hot Pot

    Spicy Baby Octopus Hot Pot

    Seoul Haus - Bugolgi

    See all

    Bugolgi

    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant - korean - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...