Food & Receipts

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Tofu in Town: A Tasty Treat That’s TikTok Approved

The latest food craze taking TikTok by storm is the La family's tofu dish. If you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out on a true culinary sensation! This mouth-watering delicacy has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of foodies everywhere, and it's time to uncover what makes it so irresistibly appealing.

Administrator

9 July, 2024

TikTok has become a go-to platform for discovering authentic and fresh street food and beverage reviews. Among the many delicacies that have gained popularity through this platform is a unique dish called “Stinky Tofu” from the La family. Join us as we explore what makes this dish so appealing that people are lining up to get a taste!

1. Introducing La Family’s Stinky Tofu

Stinky Tofu from the La Family

Restaurant Quality: 4.8/5 (Rated by Google)

Address: Turn right and go 100m, Đ. Thống Nhất/854/47 Cầu Bến Phân, Ward 15, Gò Vấp, Ho Chi Minh City

Price Range: Approximately 10,000 – 25,000 VND

Opening Hours: 5:00 PM – Sold Out

Phone: 0397142190

Website: None

Facebook: Stinky Tofu from the La Family

Delivery: None

Menu: Traditional stinky tofu, salted stinky tofu, stinky tofu with stinky sauce, fried wontons, etc.

Signature Dish: Stinky Tofu with Stinky Sauce (Approximately 25,000 VND)

Pros: Balanced flavor that retains the distinctive smell and taste of stinky tofu, fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, attention to food hygiene, etc.

Cons: Limited seating, long queues during peak hours,…

Stinky tofu, a traditional Chinese delicacy, has made its way to Vietnam, and only a few places have managed to capture the hearts and palates of locals. However, stinky tofu from the La family has taken Ho Chi Minh City by storm in recent times, with their mobile food stall becoming a sensation.

Customers queue up to buy stinky tofu from the La family

Despite being tucked away in a corner, La Phúc Khang’s stinky tofu stall attracts hundreds of customers every evening, all eager to try this unusual delicacy. The popularity can be attributed to TikTok videos shared by the owner himself, piquing the curiosity of many. Beyond its intriguing and exotic nature, La family’s stinky tofu captivates customers with its delectable flavors.

2. What Makes La Family’s Stinky Tofu Special?

The Passionate Owner: La Phúc Khang

The owner, La Phúc Khang, is a 25-year-old Gen Z entrepreneur who developed a fascination for stinky tofu from watching Chinese movies during his childhood. In 2022, he tasted stinky tofu for the first time in China and decided to bring this unique dish to Vietnam, creating his own special recipe.

The owner, La Phúc Khang, is a Gen Z entrepreneur

Khang reveals that he incubated his plan for about six months before finalizing the recipe. During this period, he ate stinky tofu every day for two months to perfect his craft. While the name “La family” might suggest a long-standing tradition, the dish is actually a modern creation by La Phúc Khang himself.

The passion and dedication of La Phúc Khang

Beyond the flavor of the dish, Khang also had to consider the impact of the strong aroma on the surrounding community. Additionally, preserving the tofu during the fermentation process without it turning mushy was a challenge. Despite these obstacles, this determined Gen Z entrepreneur strived to perfect his craft and ensure customer satisfaction while maintaining good relations with his neighbors.

Special Ingredients

The key to keeping customers coming back for more is the delicious and unique flavor of the stinky tofu.

Special ingredients used in the stinky tofu

The tofu is fermented using a proprietary blend of herbs, ensuring it retains its texture and is adjusted to suit the Vietnamese palate. Specifically, fresh tofu is fermented for a few days with herbs to achieve the distinctive stinky aroma and is then fried until it turns a light golden color with dark spots. The resulting tofu emits a strong characteristic aroma, and when bitten into, it offers a crisp, buttery, and slightly pungent flavor with a hint of fermentation.

It’s not just the tofu that’s special; the dish is accompanied by various ingredients such as pickled vegetables, sour vegetables, and more, enhancing the overall taste experience. The sour vegetables, in particular, are a standout side dish, having been fermented with herbs by Phúc Khang himself.

A variety of ingredients to accompany the stinky tofu

Additionally, Khang imports spices from China to ensure the authenticity of the flavors, as these spices are challenging to source in Vietnam.

Captivating Dipping Sauces

The signature dipping sauces created by the Gen Z owner set this stinky tofu apart from the rest.

Captivating dipping sauces unique to the La family’s stinky tofu

The La family’s stinky tofu offers a range of dipping sauces, from stinky chao to sweet and sour sauces, all crafted from herbs using the owner’s secret recipes. The dipping sauces are an integral part of the dining experience, and skipping them would be a missed opportunity to fully enjoy this unique dish.

Affordable Prices

Despite its surging popularity, the La family’s stinky tofu stall maintains affordable prices, with each serving costing only 25,000 VND. This reasonable pricing makes the exotic and delicious dish accessible to all.

Affordable prices for a delicious treat

In conclusion, the La family’s stinky tofu, made popular by TikTok, offers a unique and mouthwatering experience. We hope that this article has inspired you to visit La Phúc Khang’s stall and indulge in this delightful dish!

Frequently asked questions

Tofu is a plant-based protein source made from soybeans. It has a soft, creamy texture and a mild flavor, making it a versatile ingredient in various dishes. Tofu is high in protein and contains all the essential amino acids, making it a popular choice for vegetarians and vegans.

Tofu can be used in a variety of ways in your diet. It can be crumbled and used as a meat substitute in sauces and fillings, cubed and added to stir-fries and salads, or blended into smoothies for a protein boost. You can also marinate and bake, fry, or grill tofu for a tasty main course.

There are several types of tofu, including silken, soft, firm, and extra firm. Silken tofu has a creamy texture and is often used in desserts and sauces. Soft tofu is similar but slightly firmer, great for dishes like scrambled tofu. Firm and extra-firm tofu hold their shape well and are ideal for cubing, frying, or grilling.

When choosing tofu, consider the texture and flavor you want in your dish. For creamy dishes like desserts or sauces, silken tofu is a good choice. For stir-fries or salads, firm or extra-firm tofu will provide a nice bite. If you want a tofu with a stronger flavor, look for varieties that are marinated or seasoned.

Yes, you can freeze tofu. Freezing changes the texture, making it chewier and more porous, which can be great for dishes like stir-fries. To freeze tofu, first drain and press it to remove excess moisture, then cut it into your desired shape and place it in an airtight container or freezer bag.