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    Joodooboo

    4.5 (191 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Delis
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM

    Joodooboo Photos

    Business Info

    JOODOOBOO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Joodooboo

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    Alice H.

    It has been on my want to go list for a while, and I finally had the chance to check it out. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere, but the food presentation feels very thoughtful and artful. I ordered the Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl and also tried the Fried Dooboo Set. I liked the acorn noodle bowl more; the chilled noodles, nori vinaigrette, kimchi, and pickled mushrooms made it super refreshing and flavorful. Their house tofu was silky, delicate, and packed with fresh soy flavor. It's a must-try. Portions are on the lighter side for the price. The only downside was the ordering system. We came on a busy Saturday evening, and having everyone order before being seated made the front area crowded and a little chaotic. Seating was limited.

    dooboo set
    Tiffany Y.

    A friend recommended we try Joodooboo and we are happy we did! I got the Dooboo set that comes with a fried, fresh seasoned tofu, banchan including kimchi + spring mix with strawberry vinaigrette, and more! Each item was extremely flavorful and unique, pairing really well with the star tofu dish. The tofu comes a bit saltier, which made the rice pairing delicious! The total is on the pricier side for the portions, but it is definitely worth trying. There is seating inside and outside, but it was already full by the time we arrived. It can get windy outside, so I would recommend coming earlier because there is not tons of seating inside.

    fried dooboo set
    Jeron W.

    Joodooboo is an interesting concept, a korean restaurant that has great vegetarian options located on market and 42nd in Oakland. We came on a busy saturday evening, and there's not many seats to begin with, made worse by their order-first system that could leave you without a seat after you order. Lots of outdoor seating but even those seats were filled that day Onto the food: I ordered the fried dooboo set. The taste and portion isn't bad, but I guess I'm a little baffled by the set itself. Typically in a Korean restaurant, you get banchan with your main dishes. At Joodooboo, the concept is the banchan *is* your main dishes. Again, the food is pretty good, but just not a typical Korean restaurant

    Menu March 2026
    Emily C.

    The food is really fresh and healthy here, and they do tofu well. Other than that everything fell short for me. The price point is high for small portion sizes. The fried dooboo set for $22.50 came with a bowl of rice, fried tofu, small banchan and salad, a bowl of soup, and less than half of a peeled Cutie tangerine. The portion of tangerine felt like an insult-- really, a whole tangerine or at the very least half a tangerine could not be given? The dishes tasted bland. My partner ordered the acorn noodle bowl which had more flavor. Despite this, the restaurant is popular and seating can be difficult to get. You pay at the counter and the food is brought out to your number. The rest is self-service including water and bussing your own table after eating.

    Fried Dooboo Set
    Jenny Z.

    Tofu is one of my favorite food! Joodooboo does a fabulous job highlighting the tofu. The menu selections are limited, but I find this kind of experience to be telling because these are their tried and true offerings. I will say I did find the price of the fried tofu (dooboo) set to be quite steep at $22, but both the presentation and taste is indeed phenomenal. The banchans are incredibly unique and are seasonal, so your next visit may be a completely new experience. During my visit, my favorite was probably their kabocha soup. I found the base of the fried tofu to be on the saltier side but eating it with the subtle sweetness of the soup helped balance it, along with the other delicious bites. The store itself felt spacious, but there aren't that many seatings indoor. There are a few tables out front, so be prepared on cooler days. Street parking only, but we didn't have any trouble finding a spot around 1p on a weekday. They also sell these amazing sesame shortbread-like cookies at the cashier, I'd recommend getting one or two for the road home!

    Farmer's bowl with fried dooboo
    Mark M.

    Joodooboo is super charming, & the staff is friendly & helpful. I had the farmers bowl with fried dooboo & a hazy ipa from their modest but superb selection. The meal was delicious, & I felt perfectly nourished! The clear summer weather & colorful sunset matched the chill vibe. I love Joodooboo & will go back again & again!

    Fried Dooboo Set + Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl
    Seth E.

    My friend and I went here around 5pm. It was still early enough in the afternoon that it wasn't too busy. The restaurant itself is small, but there's still a decent amount of seating both inside and outside. You can order at the front where you'll be given a number if you opt to dine in. From there, you can find your own table to sit at if there's space. We ordered the Fried Dooboo Set, Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl, and Big-Eye Poke. The food came out shortly after placing our orders. The fried tofu in the Dooboo set was a bit salty, but tasted good. The rest of the plates were light and blended well when eaten together. The noodles from the noodle bowl were refreshing. The egg was made to perfection. The fish had a good spice level and paired well with the rice from the Dooboo set. Overall, a healthy and refreshing meal! If you need water or extra plates, you can get it yourself towards the back of the restaurant near where you return the dishes. There's plenty of street parking outside right in front. Service was quick and the staff was friendly. Would definitely come back for the noodles!

    Ajay K.

    The organic house-made tofu is the star of the show at Joodooboo. We tried different variations in the fried tofu set and the acorn noodles. The fried version was definitely our favorite and came with a delicious sauce. The noodles were on the bland side. I would say the portions are quite small for dinner and we left kind of hungry at the end of the meal - I could see this being better suited for a light lunch on a weekday.

    Fried Dooboo Set with Dungeness crab add on!
    Alice C.

    I've been on the mailing list for years but never found an excuse to cross the bay bridge (iykyk). Finally, I decided to come here with a friend who lives in the area. The location is walkable from the MacArthur bart station, but there's not a lot around it, so it's quite a detour if you are not in the area for any reason. The shop itself isn't big; you order at the counter, and they also have plenty of take-home options (especially the banchans). There are a few dinner options, but the menu is small -- a dooboo (tofu) rice set, acorn noodles, or just a rice bowl with banchan. All their banchan is made with seasonal, local ingredients, and the ones I got with the dooboo set were delicious. I was pacing myself so I don't finish all of them too quickly! The highlight remains the fried dooboo. It's a hunk of soft tofu fried to a perfect crispiness, covered in a savory mushroom gravy. I honestly don't know how it's so crispy after sitting in sauce, but it's seriously addictive. We also got the seasonal Dungeness crab over our rice, which is so fresh and deliciously seasoned, but there were a few shell fragments that wasn't picked out cleanly. By the end of my meal, I actually wasn't completely full. I could order a few more banchan and still finish the all! Overall, the food did not disappoint, despite my high expectations. If it were in my neighbourhood I'd be coming back again and again for the banchan. The menu is a little barebones for the travelling that I have to do, so for now I just have to be jealous of everyone who lives nearby and can pick up something without travels upwards of an hour each way.

    Soup... vegan cream of mushroom?
    Billy L.

    I recently started a vegetarian diet and was craving Korean food, so I looked for a spot with vegan/vegetarian options. This place kept popping up on Reddit as a recommendation, so I decided to check it out. I was sitting in my car on their website about to place an online order when I saw the wait time was 25 to 30 minutes. I figured I would just go inside and order in person to see if it would be quicker, but it ended up being about the same wait. The place was packed, so not surprising, just something to keep in mind if you are on a tight schedule. I ordered the doonboo set, which came with fried tofu in a soy based sauce, salad, tofu banchan with mushroom, pickled daikon and jalapeño, and a vegan soup. The soup really stood out to me. It reminded me of cream of mushroom and had a deep umami flavor. I did not go in with huge expectations since vegetarian Korean food is not what I am used to, but I was honestly impressed. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully made. They even included a small piece of tangerine, which was a nice touch. The meal was $22, but with tax it came out to about $25, not including tip. I was still slightly hungry afterward. That said, the flavors alone would make me come back. The soup was easily my favorite part. One thing to note is that the restaurant is on a neighborhood corner with street parking only. I had to circle a few times before finding a spot. If you are on a time crunch, I would not recommend dining in. Ordering ahead and picking it up about 30 minutes later would probably be the better move. Overall, not the fastest or cheapest lunch, but really solid vegan/vegetarian Korean flavors and worth trying if you are in the area.

    I ate it all.
    Infodiva B.

    I had a lovely lunch at Joodooboo with my neighbors! The banchan was absolutely perfect--the ultimate mix of deep, savory umami flavors. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and well-crafted. Honestly, I'm obsessed and need a lifetime supply of that house dooboo sauce. A neighborhood gem that I'll be returning to again and again!

    Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl
    Samantha D.

    Every since learning that Joodooboo makes their own tofu, I had to come try it. Even close to closing time for lunch, the tables were close to filled. I got the nori acorn noodle bowl with a side of their daily special banchan which was ojingeo-jeot that day. Fresh ingredients and filling without making you feel overly stuffed. The tofu holds - firm and silky, almost a meaty texture. The noodles were so umami with the fish sauce and mushrooms. Even though there was no meat, it still felt so savory and meat-like. I could barely finish the noodles. The ojingeo-jeot was spicy with a little sweetness. It was too spicy for me, but the texture was great - soft enough that I felt like I wasn't chewing for an infinite amount the time. It doesn't feel like a traditional Korean restaurant, a much more modern take given the interior design. However, it still has those Korean flavors that you expect - a great place to grab a bite.

    Nori Acorn Noodle Bowl

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    Ask the Community - Joodooboo

    Is it 100% organic, including all vegetables, sauces, and oils, not just the soy?

    I don't think exclusively, but it does seem to be mostly very high quality produce, some of which may not be available organic because it's specialty Asian veggies, etc.. I remember seeing a box on the wall that had organic soy printed on the side.

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    Moo Bong Ri Korean Restaurant

    Moo Bong Ri Korean Restaurant

    4.5
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Absolute best/favorite for Korean short ribs. This is my partner & I's current favorite Korean…read morerestaurant and we always order the spicy braised short ribs. Very big serving size with all the best mixes of toppings on top of the delicious short ribs. The sauce is so good and makes the dish 15/10. Service is ok but that's biased because we order the biggest/longest to cook dish but it's still pretty good. Restaurant ambiance is just ok in my opinion, not too many distracting decorations and tables & booths feel nice. We've also tried the spicy rice noodles which were just a 6/10 for me. The kimchi fried rice was also good but not our favorite -- solid 6/10 as well. We literally just come here for the short ribs. So if you're ever in the mood for Korean food and feeling a little 'rich', this place is a must try.

    Alright, I see all the great reviews, so I'm willing to give this spot another shot and order the…read more"right" things next time. But until then, my rating is based on exactly what we ordered. I was violently craving seolleongtang and did some research to find a spot in Oakland. The menu is pretty big with a lot of enticing options--I love bossam and blood sausage--but because I had tunnel vision, I stuck with the soup. The broth itself was good, and they had salt and pepper on the table so you could season it to your liking. Unfortunately, the noodles were way too soft and almost mushy, and the meat was extremely tough and hard to chew. I couldn't finish it. If seolleongtang is one of your favorite dishes, I'd probably skip it here. My husband got the kimchi fried rice, which was huge and great for sharing between 2-4 people. Based on the portion size, I do think it could use an extra egg, more Spam and some nori on top. It leaned more oily and buttery than other versions I've had, but it was still good--just nothing too special. The vibe and service were solid, so I'd come back to try other dishes and update my rating accordingly.

    Photos
    Photo 1: Montage of images from Moo Bong Ri
    Photo 1: Montage of images from Moo Bong Ri
    Medium Pork Back Bone Casserole + Sujebi ($52.98) - pork rib w/ cabbage, potato, sesame leaf in soybean pork broth. Broth is delicious.
    Medium Pork Back Bone Casserole + Sujebi ($52.98) - pork rib w/ cabbage, potato, sesame leaf in soybean pork broth. Broth is delicious.
    Photo 6: Interior

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    Photo 6: Interior
    Tuum

    Tuum

    4.1
    (195 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    This definitely was giving pocha vibes, with a few bright lights and neons signs for an outfit pic…read more The servers were attentive and very speedy, we came on a slower night Unfortunately I cannot give the accolades to the food as other reviewers have done. Even though it is a pocha, the food all felt very akin to Chinese food, with strong but singular flavours for each dish The fried chicken with sweet and sour sauce tasted like orange chicken. It came with slightly crisp tteok which was nice to break up the overwhelming flavour with that texture difference The squid dish offered a similar experience, with the texture of the crispy noodles distracting from the squid sauce for a limited time The crab and egg soup was a bit disappointing, the crab was the shredded fake crab stick kind, the soup was thick but mix of flavours (heavy on the green and red bell peppers) left a lot to be desired. There's a lot of good Korean food in Oakland, so you won't be stuck for choice around the area

    great little spot! was easy to find street parking (albeit it was 11pm on a Thursday night) and we…read morewanted to get a bite to eat after work. [I do want to mention we had a couple of caucasians in our group before I start going into detail on spice level and flavors] spicy chicken with cheese: this came out first and it was phenomenal. the green onions soaked into the sauce was a nice little palatte cleanser and the cheese was a nice touch to balance the salty/spicy flavors fried chicken: sweet and spicy: very sticky sauce that was gochujang forward fried chicken: garlic and pepper: this was very flavorful and very crispy still. comes with sliced jalapenos that gave it a nice kick. kimchi fried rice with cheese corn: mix this baby up! all of the flavors and cheese melt together nicely - but do be warned you should eat it in a timely manner. if the cheese hardens you can request the servers to re-torch it for that cheese pull :) we also ordered the seafood chive pajeon (pancake) but I didn't get a taste or a picture of it. based on not having any time to take a picture or get a bite of it - it must have been delicious. everyone else was drinking somaek (soju and beer - terra) which I've been told goes fantastic with korean fried chicken. I stuck to classic korean pear juice and was not disappointed. even with getting extra beer, our total was about $180 before tip between 5 people with no leftovers. they're open super late! will definitely be back soon :)

    Photos
    Ipad to order
    Ipad to order
    DIY Rice Ball / 셀프주먹밥
    DIY Rice Ball / 셀프주먹밥
    Spicy Raw Marinated Crab (Yangnyeom Gejang)...

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    Spicy Raw Marinated Crab (Yangnyeom Gejang)...
    Seoul Gomtang

    Seoul Gomtang

    3.9
    (666 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Even though this standalone Korean spot looks like it was once a fast food outpost, I found out it…read morewas actually an auto parts store in its former life. Jamie W and I came here because we like to see what delectable options there might be on Oakland's Kimchi Row. Hey, I didn't make that nickname up. We came here because I heard they make an awesome Korean beef soup. Time to get our Korean on. Now I have to admit it took us a while to figure out how to enter because there were no transparent windows or doors on the street-facing sides of the building. We almost did a full rotation of the restaurant before we could get in. It's rather spartan inside, more like an old-school Shoney's. The menu consists mostly of soups and hot pots but also includes traditional Korean favorites customers expect. Jamie went with his favorite, the $20.99 Dolsot Bibimbap, steamed rice mixed with vegetables and beef sizzling in a stone pot (Photo 7). That was executed just fine with plenty of variety and heat retention. I wanted to try one of their soups and ordered the $30.95 Kkorigomtang, a bubbling cauldron of thick beef broth with submerged chunks of oxtail (Video). It required some patience to sip. Once it was temperate enough to taste, the broth was hearty but started to get blandly redundant once the tails were scooped out. This is where the Banchan came to my rescue as I dipped mouthfuls from each dish to spice up the broth (Photo 6). A bowl of rice and Jamie's leftovers helped, too. Authentic tasting food and very much a mom-&-pop shop where mom was tirelessly serving and cleaning. FOOD - 4 stars...solid Korean fare, soup requires creativity with condiments AMBIANCE - 3 stars...no-frills kind of place SERVICE - 4 stars...mom works hard for the money TOTAL - 4 stars...a true soup kitchen RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/DWArNHxl1p

    brought my korean mom here. she thought it was ok. she loved the spinach denjang gige. i thought…read moreit ok, but not as good as my moms cooking. i would come again.

    Photos
    New updated Menu July 2020!
    New updated Menu July 2020!
    Seoul Gomtang
    Interior

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    Interior

    Joodooboo - korean - Updated August 2026

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