Kyotofu 705 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10019 is a cute Japanese dessert bar (though savory meals are served) with a young feel. They specialize in a Soft Tofu dessert, which is very similar to a Chinese favorite of mine: Do Fu Hwa. It is silky soft with a creme caramel-like effect, but made with soy milk instead of dairy, perfect for lactard’s. The subtle tofu flavor is accented by the Kuromitsu black sugar syrup on top, resulting in a cool tongue feel that lands between custard and jello. I’ve tried the black sesame version (at an off-site event) as well, and it is equally pure, simple, and balanced. Plus, it’s dessert with some nutritional value.
I am always a fan of tasting menus and here, a 3-course Kaiseki at $17 is enough for two to share. (Perfect, I was with my friend Emily.) It starts with the signature soft tofu, but the rest varies seasonally. On Sat night, the second course was actually a three-part tasting in itself. The ginger-y rice pudding was perhaps my favorite, warm on the bottom and topped with a cool fruit sorbet.
The Chocolate Miso Cake is respectable, though not as interesting as other offerings here. It’s soft and dense, like truffle cake. The miso adds a faint saltiness and earthiness.
The Green Tea Creme Brulee is excellent, a smooth custard with a fragrant green tea flavor.
The last course is soft-serve ice cream, a twist of spicy chocolate and chestnut that underwhelmed us. The chocolate wasn’t quite spicy and weak on the chocolate too. The chestnut didn’t have the faintest essence of chestnut. We thought perhaps it was confused with butter pecan?
Like traditional Japanese food, these desserts are not for everyone. Kyotofu offers a lighter, more subtle approach. The prices are reasonable and I would have enjoyed it if it wasn’t for the service (or lack of) throughout. There is a feeling of being invisible that I have not experienced in a long time. I’ll keep this is mind for take-out next time.
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I know what you mean on the service. They were a little slow when I was there too…and we were the only ones there one late evening…
Interesting. Think I will pass on this one!
I’m too ADD for all these tantalizing dessert choices, but, I’d gladly take a stab at it.
I think service is important 🙂 Although the desserts look yummie…and sure different!
Edgar, I felt awkward when I made eye contact a few times and was still ignored. Ah well…
Have you tried the brunch menu? I do want to try once since I’m curious about tofu-concocted desserts.
Kim, I haven’t. This was the only time I went, but I’m wary of going again with the service problems.
this is one of my fav dessert places =) green tea brulee seems to be new on the menu, gotta go back and try it
Mmmmm… soft tofu and green tea, my two favorites. What does Hwa in Do Fu Hwa mean? It sounds similar to the Vietnamese soft tofu with syrup, but I don’t think the Vietnamese version has ginger in it. I miss that dessert…
FlavorBoulevard, sorry for the delay. I had to check with my mom. The word “hwa” is literally flower, but in this context it means it’s extra delicate, more so than silken tofu.