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    Dao Fu

    4.3 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Vietnamese
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Dao Fu Takeout or Delivery

    Dao Fu Photos

    Business Info

    DAO FU ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Dao Fu

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    Allie D.

    We live in Normal Heights and this spot is a hidden gem. It is super cozy inside. My husband and I really like the egg rolls to start. I really like the mango chicken dish. My husband likes to get the ramen. The service is also extremely top notch. Everyone is extremely nice and accommodating.

    Lobster Ramen
    Brianne N.

    Great service. They seat you with a free tofu salad immediately. I tried the spring roll, and the lobster ramen. The portions are decent sized. My date and shared and were full. The lobster itself is friend in a tempura batter. I think mine was a little overcooked. I would skip the lobster next time, but I would get the ramen again.

    Miguel F.

    This place has become one of our favorites spots to eat! Every time my wife and I visit, we are wowed at the level of service, great food and consistency! Right away they start you off with a bed of mixed greens, ginger beet dressing and homemade steamed tofu! There is a nice variety of vegetarian and vegan options so everyone is happy! I cannot help but notice that every single time a plate comes to the table, you can see the steam rolling off the plate! The food is always delicious and fresh. They also end the experience on a sweet note as a small scoop of ice cream is included. Great vibe and ambiance! I would highly recommend this place!

    Garlic Mock Chicken
    vincent j.

    This place was very quick, attentive, and accurate. The restaurant was a very clean and the dim lighting was just right. Our food was delicious! All were highlights. None of these options will do you wrong. We also got complimentary ice cream that was delicious. You can expect to spend about 20-30 a person. Highly recommend!!!

    Garlic Chicken Wings
    Justin C.

    Dao Fu is located off Adams Ave. just north of City Heights and North Park. It serves creative fusion Asian food. Came for dinner on a weeknight with a friend at 7:00 pm and was pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately. It can get pretty crowded for groups of more than 4 but tables seemed to move quickly. Value is awesome here, they give you a free salad and tofu appetizer which are both delicious and a big pitcher of ice water so you never run out. This is the first time I've seen a restaurant give the entire pitcher by default and it is a winning move. For food I ordered: - Hainanese Cast Iron Rice Pot $18 - Buffalo Garlic Wings $15 For the Hainanese Rice Pot, I would have preferred not the thin sliced white meat but rather bone on chicken. Perhaps this is the fusion. The rice however was incredible. It had much flavor and absolutely nailed the socarrat. Wings were delicious - crispy, flavorful, juicy! You also get free ice cream to close out the meal! Service is great - very fast and the owners are so nice!

    Mango Chicken
    Erica C.

    7/12/25 - had reservations at 5:45. Lots of options for vegan to meat eaters. Ordered eggplant and a mango chicken. Piping hot temperature wise and fantastic. Had an appetizer as well which was very good. Spice they ask from 0-10. We did 1s. 5 stars. Cash you save like 2-3%. We got robbed a few for a Credit card. They passed it on to consumer which I didn't like. 4 stars. Would have been 5 but the charged us for use of a credit card. No one uses cash anymore. Cmon.

    Instagram @Judeethefoodee
    Judy G.

    I truly can't believe this was my first time visiting this incredible spot! A friend's recommendation brought me in for lunch, and it instantly became one of my new favorites. We were the first ones seated and were immediately greeted by a sweet lady who set the tone for the entire meal. We had the chance to speak with her and learned that she and her husband have been lovingly running this establishment for the past 16 years, a dedication that clearly shines through in the warm service and quality of the food. She started us off with a complimentary fresh tofu salad with a bright, refreshing berry vinaigrette--a fantastic start. But what really blew me away was the array of house-made items. We happily accepted a fresh cup of their in-house soy milk (a rarity to find locally!) and tried the savory tofu pudding. Having only ever had the sweet, ginger-syrup dim sum version, this savory, lunch-exclusive dish was a revelation. It was hands-down the best tofu pudding I've ever tasted and the undisputed star of the show; honestly, just a bowl of white rice and that pudding could be a whole meal. For our main course, we ordered the Hainanese Clay Pot with Swai Fish. It was wonderfully filling, deeply flavorful, and easily a 10/10. I'm already planning my next trip and taking my family. More people need to discover this gem--I'll definitely be coming back very, very soon!

    Wonton Ramen
    Nastaran M.

    Dao Fu deserves 10+ stars. Its hosted mainly by this sweet lady that can literally manage 7 tables all by herself. Barely any wait for the food. They may have a wait to get a table but I'm telling you it's so worth it. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, they start you off with a complimentary tofu salad drizzled with delicious beet dressing. Soo fresh. We decided to try the spring rolls, which is a must! So fresh and such quality ingredients. Then we enjoyed a tonekatsu ramen and the chicken hot rice bowl. At the end they gave us a complimentary ice cream which was to die for. I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed.

    Katsue Ramen
    Melodee Marie G.

    Was in normal heights area and saw that this place was at the top of the list for restaurants! I do see why the reviews are ranking the way it is! Complimentary salad and dessert?! Wow love that! The food was flavorful! It was so yummy and visually pleasing. The soupiness of the noodles was unlike other noodle places, but as it sits in the sauce the flavors marinate more and more into the noodles, veggies, and protein! The restaurant is fairly small with only 12 tables. I like seeing the stuff written all over the walls, it's something to look at and admire while dining. Overall, place is fairly clean and quick in service. There is lots of business with orders as you can see many people coming inside to pick up orders. Normal heights is such a fun area to people watch, good location with lots of business. The server on 2/8/25 was funny and nice. He made conversation with all customers at the tables and knows the menu really well. All the food was yummy. However at the top I would say that I highly recommend trying the ramen!!! It would be the 9/10, and think if the broth was a little more deep and/or rich it would've been a home run. I would definitely come again.

    Fried Tofu
    Annie D.

    Our server was so nice and full of joy which made our experience exponentially better. They have a very diverse menu with a lot of options which can be overwhelming for someone who is decisive but great if you're in a big group and dining family style which we did. I really appreciated all the tofu options and the free tofu salad appetizer. All the food was delicious and we enjoyed the garlic chicken, Hainanese hot pot with swai, Thai stir fry with beef, fried tofu appetizer, chicken wings and lily flower dish. The wonton soup was ok, probably wouldn't order it again. They also offer complimentary ice cream for dessert. What a deal! Great spot for Chinese food with a lot of vegetarian options especially if like you mushrooms and tofu.

    Katherine C.

    This place is absolute fire I had a bowl of ramen for lunch one day. It's easy to miss if you're just walking on the street, and the inside is a little weird with all the writing and doodles which give it an edgy vibe. But my waitress was so sweet & the lunch prices were pretty amazing for the value. I also had a Vietnamese iced tea which was so good. Definitely filling!

    Menu
    Amanda J.

    My favorite spot for Japanese curry! This is Japanese and Vietnamese fusion restaurant. They also have a good amount of vegan and non-voptions. I always order the curry but friends who come here with me and order other dishes always like what they order too. The meals come with complimentary salad and ice cream. There is no parking lot so you have to find street parking. I come here for both lunch and dinner during the week and they are not ever too busy when I go. They are closed on Mondays. The restaurant is fairly small. It has Asian decor and you can write on the walls! I highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood.

    Nagasaki champon
    Destiny A.

    Garlic chicken 8/10 Didn't love the veggies but I was very happy with the chicken! Kasagaki champon 8/10 nicely seasoned except the chicken but the clams were delectable veggies not top tier Lily flower asparagus and oyster mushroom 7.5/10 pretty good variety and big serving size very vegan friendly menu Lobster tail 7/10 Liked the broth but the ramen is just alright nothing new but not bad and egg was a little more runny than standard ramen and the lobster shell on the lobster was challenging to eat but overall good. Service was kind even though we stayed close to closing. And it was nice lighting and in cute area!

    Vietnamese Crepe

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    Dao Fu Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dao Fu

    Do they sell their own tofu togo?

    They sell steamed tofu and fried tofu, and if you ask nicely, maybe after you've gone enough times to be recognized, they might make that accomodation, as well. Lovely people. I know they treat me and my family like family.

    Does any of the food have MSG, particularly the pho?

    No, Dao Fu do not used MSG.

    Do you serve Peking Duck?

    Sorry we do not.

    Is delivery available?

    Hi Kedra K, we do partner with Amazon and door dash .pleasse give them a call. thank you very much .

    Do you have Orange Chicken? It's for my son because we love everything we get here! Thx Elise

    Yes they do

    View All 9 Questions

    Tabu Shabu - North Park - Upgrade to their famous porridge!

    Tabu Shabu - North Park

    4.6(716 reviews)
    1.4 miNorth Park
    $$

    Loooooove this place. Introduced several of my friends to this place and they are converts!! The…read moreplace is not that big, with U-shaped bar seating and the servers in the middle which makes for quick and attentive service. When checking in be aware your whole party must be there to be seated and it is likely that you will end up next to another party as there are no separate tables. They have premium meats and know that it is NOT AYCE like some other shabu shabu places, so beware it will be a bit pricy depending on what you choose. You pick a broth, a rice, a noodle, a protein and you get a plate of veggies and sauces. You get an individual pot to mix your food to your liking. It is SO GOOD. I have never had a bad experience here. My go-to order is a mix of the tonktosu and spicy miso broth along with double wagyu shortrib and extra udon noodles. It's rich and filling and the veggies are fresh. I like to sub out certain veggies to get extra of others I like better (like mushrooms). I would eat here every single day if I could. If you don't finish your rice and broth they'll put it in a to-go container for you so you can have your "porridge" later. Drink menu is good too, they have rotating selection of drinks available, as well as sake, wine, and beer on tap.

    Japanese hot pot? Ok…read more Driven by the place many many times and always assumed it was a ramen spot. We decided to give it a try after realizing it was hot pot. We walked in and just one other couple was dining. Happy hour from 5-6. Our waitress immediately explained how the menu worked and gave us cooking tips. I ordered the miso broth with pork and toro. We also had the chuck roll and brisket. The chuck roll and the pork were delicious. Would definitely skip the toro and brisket next time. The veggies they served were all great (mushrooms, emoji, bok choy, carrot, spinach, kabocha squash, with the exception of a bit too much cabbage). The experience can a little a bit of an endeavor if you've never done it solo, as you solely have to pay constant attention to the pot while trying to eat at the same time. It can be hard to hold a conversation when your food is boiling boiling hot! Definitely a laborous experience but a fun one!

    Photos
    Tabu Shabu - North Park
    Tabu Shabu - North Park - Mural outside the restaurant

    Mural outside the restaurant

    Tabu Shabu - North Park - Pork broth

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    Pork broth

    Hatsuzakura - Ichigo Daifuku - Original and Matcha flavored

    Hatsuzakura

    4.4(567 reviews)
    1.1 miUniversity Heights
    $$

    Finally got to try this cute Japanese cafe we saw on TikTok, and it did not disappoint!…read more Service: [5/5] The two girls who helped us were so sweet and made the whole experience. We were seated at the bar, which ended up being such a vibe--we got to chat with the girl behind the bar and watch her make lattes and desserts right in front of us. That kind of interaction really sets this place apart. Price: [4.5/5] It's on the pricier side, but honestly it feels fair given the quality of food you're getting. You can taste where your money is going. Food/Drinks: [5/5] Matcha Latte -- We shared one, extra sweet at my request, and it was perfect. Exactly what I was hoping for. Chef Soichi's Karaage -- We had this as an appetizer and my boyfriend made a point to say this is the closest he's had to traditional Japanese karaage. High praise from someone who's passionate about his Japanese culture. Hayashi Omurice -- This is their most popular dish and it's easy to see why. The demi-glaze has a really unique flavor that ties the whole dish together beautifully. This was my pick and I'd order it again without hesitation. Guratan -- My boyfriend's order, and it was incredibly creamy and delicious. We were both too stuffed for dessert by the end, which says a lot about the portion sizes. Ambience: [5/5] The restaurant is small, but honestly that's part of what makes it so charming. Pink everywhere with wooden accents and cherry blossoms throughout (very fitting)--it's cozy, homey, and just really well put together. The intimate size adds to the appeal rather than taking away from it. Overall Experience: [5/5] Hatsuzakara was such a wonderful first experience. Yes, we waited about 30 minutes to be seated arriving at 7:30 on a Friday night but for a waitlist-only spot this small, that's actually a pretty reasonable wait by San Diego standards. The food, the atmosphere, and the staff more than made up for it. Already looking forward to coming back to try the curry and work through their dessert menu.

    This Japanese restaurant is so cute and pretty!! The servers also add to the Japanese vibe~…read more The menu is pretty easy to navigate. I feel like everything looked really good, so it was hard to decide what to order. The dishes have small portion size despite the price. I think this kinda helps in that you have room to eat dessert! The brown sugar Okinawa tea was good but the after taste of the sugar was not good. They kept the tea pot warm, and they served oat milk on the side. Karaage had too much chicken skin for my preference. Guratan was penne pasta and not macaroni as specified in the menu. Yakisoba could have used more chicken. Omurice had the more flavor and the egg was really good. I want to try naporitan next time because of the tomato based sauce. Of the desserts I tried, the parfait was most enjoyable because of the fruit with ice cream. The mushi pudding was good; it was the thick and "hard" type of flan. I want to try kakigori next time because I saw their shaved ice machine was legit. Parking - free street parking only. Be prepared to walk up/downhill. Credit card/apple pay accepted Bathroom is only one room in the back. THE SEAT IS WARM. This was a nice gem to find in this part of town.

    Photos
    Hatsuzakura - Interior view from front to back

    Interior view from front to back

    Hatsuzakura - Guratan with Asahi Beer

    Guratan with Asahi Beer

    Hatsuzakura - Eggs salad sandwich

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    Eggs salad sandwich

    Between Us - Cookie Crunch French Toast

    Between Us

    4.4(251 reviews)
    0.9 miNorth Park
    $$

    Went around 1030am on a Sunday and only waited about 30 minutes for a party of 2. Service itself…read morewas a bit slow as it was prime brunch hours, which was understandable. Food was good! Got the beignets, shakshuka and curry hamburg. Shakshuka and hamburg were great. Beignets themselves weren't anything special, but the matcha and black sesame dipping sauces they were served with were fire. I'd say they're worth trying since they're one of the popular items, but you aren't missing much if you skip out on them. I also got the black sesame latte, which I thought was really good. It wasn't too sweet and had very good black sesame flavor. Parking is pretty standard for North Park. Lots of available free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood/residential areas.

    Such a cute brunch spot!…read more Came here on a date and was not disappointed. The space is open and welcoming and nicely decorated. The food: we ordered the beignets, duck waffle, fried maitake, mango matcha and hojicha latte. The beignets were very good and I am obsessed with the matcha and black sesame cream it comes with. The duck had great flavor and I loved the guava syrup, the waffle was a miss. The fried maitake was delicious!! Perfect batter coating on the outside. Overall a solid 7.5/10. The drinks: mango matcha was creamy and tasty! Hojicha was alright, not the best, not the worst. Service: we got sat immediately and our waiter was super friendly and helpful with questions we had

    Photos
    Between Us - Matcha Latte Tiramisu, love it

    Matcha Latte Tiramisu, love it

    Between Us - Beignets and Matcha Latte Tiramisu

    Beignets and Matcha Latte Tiramisu

    Between Us - Mushroom Toast added poached egg

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    Mushroom Toast added poached egg

    DASHI - Point Break

    DASHI

    4.6(150 reviews)
    2.5 miHillcrest

    I went here for dinner to meet up with a friend on a Friday evening and did have a reservation…read more There was a modest wait time of about 15 - 30 minutes, but didn't mind since you can leave your number and they'll call you while you visit a bar down the street. Ambience: the restaurant itself is moderately noisy, but I didn't really have to speak up in order to hear my friends. There's always going to be people moving in and out of the restaurant since the restaurant is also moderately small for this part of town. But it's very stylized to to a wooden Japanese aesthetic. Service: service was also great. The waiters knew the menu pretty well and we're able to customize recommendations to our taste preferences, which was really great. Food: the food itself was also really great. Portion sizes were a lot bigger than I was expecting, so we did have to take home some leftovers between the two of us for the four items that we ordered. The things that we ordered include: - The Hillcrest Roll - The Miso Butter Mac and Cheese - The Sashimi Salad (*would order again!) - The Sashimi Omakase The Sashimi Omakase was an overall pretty standard array of raw fish from the chef, and I thought that was pretty solid. Honestly, I was very surprised by the Sashimi Salad because there was a lot of raw fish in that, and the dressing and the salad itself were really nice. I wasn't expecting the size, and so we were barely able to finish it amongst the other things that we ordered. The miso butter mac and cheese is something that I've heard about from everyone, and it was honestly up to par with everyone's praises. It is also a little bit big, and it can get a little bit rich and heavy given the dairy, so keep that in mind. I would share this with someone to have room for other stuff.

    Finding good sushi in San Diego can feel like a gamble... this place was a very welcome surprise…read more Everything we ordered was fresh, well-balanced, and actually thoughtfully put together, flavors that that worked. The Calamari was light and crispy (not greasy), and that dipping sauce was one of those "don't waste a drop" situations. The sushi itself hit that perfect middle ground between creative and classic... nothing gimmicky, just really solid execution. Atmosphere was clean, relaxed, and easy to settle into without feeling rushed. Service was friendly and attentive. Adding it to the regular rotation!

    Photos
    DASHI - Partial view of the sushi bar

    Partial view of the sushi bar

    DASHI - Spicy salmon crispy rice

    Spicy salmon crispy rice

    DASHI - Salmon Crispy Rice

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    Salmon Crispy Rice

    Azuki Sushi

    Azuki Sushi

    4.4(3.6k reviews)
    3.2 miBanker's Hill
    $$$
    Takes reservations
    Vegan friendly

    Man, these guys are consistently producing high quality dishes in a modern, chic ambiance with…read morefriendly service. We were lucky to snag a table on Thursday night for two without any resy's. We were offered a two person table upstairs, which I prefer. Started with the Azuki salad that's perfect for sharing. The dressing is light and lots on the plate including avocado, taro chips, cucumber, and apples. Textures and flavors go so well together. I also got a spicy tuna hand roll, the Kobe Roll, and a few nigiri's including Hamachi, Chutoro, and Salmon belly. All were delicious but the Chutoro was the fave. Finished dinner with a burnt butter mochi cake complete with ice cream and some strawberry sauce. Def glad we stopped in and will def be back for more.

    Food: Overall the food isn't bad but I didn't find anything…read moremind blowing or special as it was made out to be because I know how popular this spot is. Although, it was still enjoyable! Crispy Rice & Spicy Tuna (9/10) - loved the crisp and the flavor. it wasn't too spicy and the spice was more for a little kick of flavor Stardust (7/10) - wasn't as citrusy as i thought with the lemon but tasted fine. it was basic in flavor but still good Spicy Salmon Hand Roll (8/10) - it was made well and it was good but nothing too special either Super Dragon (9/10) - the sweet potato was such an interesting and nice touch. really good flavor combination Service: Service is a bit slow since the beginning even to seat you even with a reservation but they remained very kind throughout the experience. Ambiance: It's a bit small but we were sat upstairs in another room with seating and since it's small, when it's packed it can get really loud with everyone talking. The vibes of the place is dimlit and not too upscale but also not too casual. It's just a very nice restaurant vibes

    Photos
    Azuki Sushi
    Azuki Sushi
    Azuki Sushi

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    Dao Fu - japanese - Updated May 2026

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