The first time I had tofu was when I was 12 and deciding that I was going to become a vegetarian. In an effort to help, my mother served a green salad with a raw, slimy slab of medium-firm right on top. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that it was disgusting. But I stuck with it and even though I am no longer a vegetarian (the next photo will be the proof) I do love the stuff and also happen to know where to find the best dish in town. It’s the deep-fried heavenly Spicy Salt Tofu ($7.25) from Yopo Cafe , a tiny little shop in Yaletown.
Fried tofu is on most Chinese restaurant menus, but usually they have the spices down but not the salt. Or the texture is good but the dish lacks flavour. I don’t know what the secret is at Yopo, but the tofu is fried to a perfect crisp – hard and golden with a sheen of oil on the outside and soft white on the inside – and then covered over with chilies, scallions, onions and salt. It usually arrives piping hot and has to sit on the table for a few minutes while we balefully contemplate burning our tongues instead of waiting.
On the last visit, I also had the B.B.Q Pork Won Ton Soup ($5.50), and it was quite tasty, although another favorite is easily the Tofu Seafood Soup ($5.50 for a small bowl and $7.25 for a large). There are a hundred plus dishes on the menu, ranging from noodles to hot pot and while I tend to favour the soups, I’ve never been disappointed.
Yopo only has 20 seats and enough people know about it to ensure that they are always full (with the take-out line sometimes going out the door), but although I’ve been there many times, I’ve only been on a weekday lunch, so you might have better luck on evenings and weekends. Or just go early like my coworker and I do and check out the menu online before you go.
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Yopo Cafe
1122 Homer Street, Vancouver
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