Shinju Kang
Three different types of vegan kabobs marinated with various seasoning and spices from the restaurant Tofoo Com Chay lay stacked in a paper boat.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Located in Downtown San José, Tofoo Com Chay offers a range of vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese soul food just a six-minute walk, or 0.3 miles, northeast of campus.
The menu is extensive, ranging from vegan kabobs to Phở Chay (rice noodle soup).
Soy bean fiber, potato starch, seitan and tofu are used to create meat substitutes and are flavored with mushroom seasoning to cultivate depth.
Tofoo Com Chay has been run by Benjamin Hahn since 1998 and has solidified itself as a go-to restaurant for vegans and vegetarians in San José, sustaining a 4.3 star rating on Yelp.
The restaurant is textbook hole-in-the-wall with a classic old-school deli feel. It’s heavily decorated with paintings displaying Buddhist and spiritual imagery which added a great cultural and aesthetic touch.
Vietnamese vegetarianism and veganism are rooted in Buddhism and Buddhist practices under the principles of non-violence, compassion and mindfulness.
Hahn himself claims his veganism as part of his spiritual practice and sustainable lifestyle, according to a Facebook post by San José Office of Cultural Affairs.
The small section of tables and chairs allotted to the corner of the shop served as a quaint dine-in area that really ties together the homey feel. I ordered a hot plate combo for $12 with vegan chow mein, green beans and a seitan drumstick.
I also got a side of Gỏi Cuốn Chay (summer rolls), which were stuffed with a variety of tofu styles, lettuce, vermicelli noodles and rolled in rice paper as well as a can of Kern’s Nectar for a total of $7.76.
The hot plate had a smaller serving size than I would like and could’ve had a deeper flavor profile, but it was abundant with stir-fried vegetables.
The noodles and green beans were pleasant but the seitan drumstick was a bit underwhelming due to its texture and size.
Similarly, the summer rolls were veggie-heavy, which provided a pleasant crunch and texture, but I still felt like the flavor was a bit lacking.
The rolls came with a traditional Nước Tương Chấm Gỏi Cuốn (Vietnamese peanut dipping sauce) which helped enhance the flavor.
Lastly, I tried one of each of their vegan teriyaki, tofu and meatball kabobs which cost $11.39 all together.
In total, my order came to $31.15 for a combo meal, a separate side, three kabobs and a canned drink.
The kabobs were easily my favorite item I purchased.
They were full of depth and strong seasonings that really made the dish stand out.
Out of the three kabobs I ordered, I would rank the teriyaki kabob the highest.
The taste and texture was impossibly similar to real meat, and for just over $3, it’s a great bang for your buck.
The tofu kabob was a close second and had a flavor profile I’ve never encountered before. It was soft, silky and aromatic and something I would definitely purchase again.
The meatball kabob was packed with good flavor, but had a slightly spongy and dry texture, so it ranked lowest of the three.
This was my first time trying the mom-and-pop style shop and the owners were incredibly warm and friendly with me and offered excellent service.
The restaurant is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and is closed on Sundays.
As someone who is not a practicing vegan or vegetarian, I’m not familiar with a lot of meat-free dishes, but I was happily surprised with Tofoo Com Chay’s array of food.
Overall, I would give the restaurant a four out of five stars for its warm service, cozy ambiance and plethora of meat-free options.
I’d definitely go back to try out more of their dishes.