Los Angeles / A meal remembered
From San Francisco to BCD Western: a warm bowl in LA
After spending December 31 in San Francisco, a friend and I drove down to LA. In the cold early hours, a bowl of soon tofu was just what I needed.
Visit notes
- Location
- BCD Tofu House Western
- Ordered
- Assorted Soon Tofu (섞어순두부)
December 31 in San Francisco, then the drive to LA
I came to the United States for university and live in Los Angeles. One December 31, a friend and I spent time in San Francisco before getting in the car and driving down to LA together.
By the time we went for food in the early hours, we were cold and hungry. We ended up at BCD Tofu House on Western Avenue in Koreatown. I had the Assorted Soon Tofu, a version of Korean soft tofu stew called 섞어순두부 in Korean.
Cold, hungry, and finally warm
Eating that bowl of soon tofu warmed me from the inside. After the drive from San Francisco, it felt so good to have a hot meal with my friend.
I remember thinking that this soon tofu might even taste better than what I’d had in Korea. That was how it felt to me in that moment: cold and hungry in LA, with a warm bowl in front of me.
For a little while, I could enjoy the taste, care, and culture I associate with Korean food. As someone who had come abroad to study, that meal meant something to me.
A Korean meal I would recommend to an LA visitor
If you are traveling to Los Angeles and want to try Korean food, BCD’s soon tofu is a dish I would recommend making time for. My memory of it is tied to that drive and that cold morning, but it is a meal I would happily point a visitor toward.
If you would like to try the dish I ordered, look for Assorted Soon Tofu on the menu. BCD currently lists it with beef, shrimp, and clam. There are other versions, too, including kimchi and seafood soon tofu. Ask about the ingredients and heat before choosing your own bowl.
Planning your own visit to BCD in Koreatown
The branch I visited is BCD Tofu House Western at 869 S. Western Ave #2, Los Angeles, CA 90005. This is a memory of a past visit, so check today’s hours before planning a late-night stop. BCD’s current official listing shows Western closing at 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 12:30 a.m. Friday–Saturday. Holiday hours may differ; use the official location page to confirm before setting off.
For another meal during your trip, browse Korean restaurants in Greater Los Angeles. My own BCD memory starts with San Francisco and a long drive south, and ends with the warmth of soon tofu in the early hours.
Sources & editorial note
This story is based on the writer’s own visit and account. Roundmoa used AI to help edit and translate the text. Menu and location information was checked separately against BCD’s official pages; it does not describe everything the writer ordered. Confirm current hours, prices, and availability with the restaurant.
Restaurant information checked:
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