The Japanese American community’s grip on tofu started loosening in the late 20th century as the population aged and shrunk relative to other Asian American groups. Today, the dominant style of tofu in San Jose is Vietnamese, with a half-dozen strip-mall tofu delicatessens like Thanh Son clustered in a small stretch of San Jose’s heavily Vietnamese East Side, with additional outposts spread out across the city. And at Vietnamese Thanh Son Tofu, it can be ordered tucked inside a banh mi. At Taiwanese Sogo Tofu, it is deep fried in “biandang” lunchbox-sized pieces.
The tofu in the Bay’s U-bend covers a wide swath of traditions and cultures: At US SoyPresso, Japanese-style tofu pudding is topped with soy milk and sweet beans. By my count, San Jose is home to at least 10 outlets specializing in fresh tofu, catering to a dedicated clientele of workers looking for a hot snack, home cooks picking up tonight’s dinner and local restaurateurs stocking up on their supply. Megacities like Los Angeles or New York might eke out a technical numerical victory, but San Jose comes out on top when calculating tofu wealth on a per capita basis: With its population of a little over one million, the city still manages to sustain a diverse and lucrative soybean scene that can go toe to toe with any place in America. To put San Jose’s embarrassment of bean curd riches in perspective, San Francisco has only one dedicated tofu storefront to its name-Chinatown’s reliably inexpensive Wo Chong. Soy milk curds have been strained and pressed in the South Bay since the early 20th century, but it’s not San Jose’s long history with tofu that earns it the title: It’s the diversity, freshness and convenience of the tofu on offer throughout the area in restaurants, supermarkets and an uncommonly large number of dedicated tofu storefronts. 20–29.Īn Jose is America’s tofu capital, and nowhere else comes close.
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Thanh son tofu series#
KQED's San Jose: The Bay Area's Great Immigrant Food City is a series of stories exploring San Jose's wonderfully diverse immigrant food scene. Pick up orders have no service fees, regardless of non-Instacart+ or Instacart+ membership.Freshly fried tofu is one of the star attractions at Dong Phuong-one of San Jose's many Vietnamese tofu delis. Instacart+ membership waives this like it would a delivery fee.
There may be a "pickup fee" (equivalent to a delivery fee for pickup orders) on your pick up order that is typically $1.99 for non-Instacart+ members. With an optional Instacart+ membership, you can get $0 delivery fee on every order over $35 and lower service fees too. 100% of your tip goes directly to the shopper who delivers your order. It's a great way to show your shopper appreciation and recognition for excellent service. Tipping is optional but encouraged for delivery orders. Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee.
Service fees vary and are subject to change based on factors like location and the number and types of items in your cart. Fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35. Delivery fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. Here's a breakdown of Instacart delivery cost:
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