If you are Hakka or interested in Hakka dishes, you can try Tofu Village restaurant in George Town, Penang.
I remember going to Tofu Village before the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented; this restaurant has been under my radar since then.
Tofu Village offers a genuine taste of Hakka cuisine, a treasure trove for both Hakka descendants and food enthusiasts.
It’s not just a restaurant but a cultural experience waiting to be explored.
Recently, the restaurant moved to bigger premises, and we decided to visit at the owners’ invitation.
With its vibrant, homely atmosphere, warm lighting, comfortable seating, and friendly staff,
Tofu Village is a testament to preserving traditional flavors and techniques in Hakka cuisine.
This commitment is evident in every dish, making it a must-visit for those who appreciate authentic Hakka dishes in Penang.
As a Hakka from the Moiyen clan, my connection to these dishes runs deep. Tofu Village beautifully captures the essence of these dishes, making it a place I can wholeheartedly recommend.
The authenticity and passion behind each dish are palpable, making it a truly unique dining experience.
The restaurant’s menu is a true celebration of Hakka culinary heritage.
It features a variety of dishes that stay true to the traditional recipes passed down through generations, a testament to the restaurant’s commitment and respect for the Hakka culture.
Contents
The Star Attraction – Hakka Lei Cha
One of the highlights of Tofu Village is its Lei Cha, known for its complex flavors and nutritional benefits.
Tofu Village’s rendition of this dish is exceptional.
It boasts a well-balanced blend of flavors made by grinding tea leaves, herbs, nuts, and grains into a powder and mixing it with hot water.
You get the goodness of the earthy and aromatic qualities of the herbal tea, which combines taste and nutrition and is an integral part of the Hakka daily diet.
The assortment of finely chopped vegetables, nuts, and tofu enhances the depth and richness of each bite, making it a truly memorable experience.
Personally, I have been promoting this dish to both my Hakka and non-Hakka friends—because it’s so good!
Lei Cha is a Hakka staple that combines a fragrant herbal tea.
It holds a significant place in Hakka culture, often being a part of daily meals and special occasions, symbolizing the unity and harmony of the Hakka community.
A Taste of Home
Dining at Tofu Village is more than just a meal; it’s a journey into the heart of Hakka cuisine.
The warm, inviting ambiance enhances the experience, making it ideal for casual meals and special occasions. Each dish is prepared with love and care, offering a taste of home that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Let’s dive into the repertoire of Hakka dishes we sampled. Hakka cuisine is renowned for its distinctive salty, fragrant, and rich flavors.
The high salt content enhances the taste and serves as a preservative, helping to keep the food fresh for extended periods.
This tradition also reflects the need to replenish the salt lost through sweat after a hard day’s work on the farm.
Tofu Delights
True to its name, Tofu Village excels in tofu dishes. Their tofu is prepared delicately, offering a variety of textures and flavors ranging from silky to crispy. Not only are the ingredients important, but each dish is also expertly crafted. Every bite demonstrates meticulous attention to detail and reverence for conventional methods.
Hot Spicy Yong Tao Fu
Hot Spicy Yong Tao Fu is a standout offering. Hakka Yong Tau Foo stuffing traditionally includes fish, pork, and salted fish.
At Tofu Village, tofu is hollowed out and filled with minced meat and spices before being cooked in a spicy sauce.
The result is tofu with a crispy exterior and a tender, flavorful interior.
I love the authentic traditional taste.
This is one dish you must eat with rice as it is so flavorful and delicious.
One of my favorite ingredients is yam or taro, a preference that stems from my inherent Hakka DNA.
Yam Pork
Hakka Pork Belly with Yam is a classic dish that beautifully showcases these two beloved ingredients.
It reminds me of happy times watching my mom and aunts make it for Chinese New Year.
There are two versions of this lovely dish – a lighter one and another, my favorite, made with dark soybean sauce that is salty and funky.
This dish features alternating layers of succulent pork belly and yam, marinated perfectly.
After being deep-fried until golden brown, the ingredients are braised together for an extended period.
The slow cooking process ensures the pork becomes incredibly tender while the yam absorbs all the rich flavors, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Hakka Taro (Yam) Abacus Seeds
Yam Abacus is another delightful Hakka specialty. These small, round balls have a chewy, QQ texture that is so addictive you can’t stop at just one bite.
You’ll only need two ingredients: taro and tapioca flour.
One of the many traditional Hakka dishes frequently served during celebrations and Chinese New Year is Yam Abacus Seeds, which represent wealth.
Aside from the dish’s unique meaning, I love it because of the taste of yam in these small balls resembling abacus beads.
The method for making this ‘pasta’ is quite similar to making gnocchi.
It requires only a small amount of flour so you can taste the taro’s flavor in each bite.
The taro is first steamed and mashed, then mixed with tapioca flour to form a dough.
Next, the dough is formed into tiny balls, which are then shaped into the characteristic’ abacus seed’ shape.
Since everything is made from scratch, this dish is time-consuming and highly prized.
Traditionally, these yam seeds are paired with meat and dried shrimp, but some versions make it vegan by using flavorful tofu and crunchy mushrooms like wood ear and dried shiitake.
They are stir-fried with minced meat, dried shrimp, and vegetables, creating a rich, savory flavor.
This dish is a distinctive, unique, and satisfying example of Hakka culinary tradition.
While it’s rare to find homemade versions of this dish, Tofu Village offers a tasty rendition.
However, it is too chewy for my taste, as I prefer a softer and lighter texture.
Hakka Salted Chicken
Hakka Salted Chicken is a signature dish made with just a few simple ingredients: chicken, salt, and rice wine.
The chicken is marinated in salt and then braised in rice wine, resulting in tender, juicy meat infused with a distinctive flavor.
The salty kick, the umami-rich chicken, and the distinctive yellow hue of the succulent skin are just a few of the elements that make Hakka Salted Chicken a unique and iconic dish in Hakka cuisine.
Hakka Mugwort Omelette
Mugwort, known as AiCao (艾草) in Chinese, is used in Hakka cuisine, particularly in a dish called Hakka Mugwort Omelette.
Fresh mugwort leaves are finely chopped and mixed into the omelette batter in this dish.
The herb imparts the omelet a unique, slightly bitter flavor and a vibrant green color.
Mugwort is valued for its aromatic qualities and is believed to enhance the dish’s flavor profile.
It is also used in traditional Chinese cooking for its purported health benefits, including potential anti-inflammatory and digestive properties.
The Hakka Mugwort Omelette is a traditional dish enjoyed for its distinctive taste and slight bitterness.
It reflects the use of local herbs in Hakka cuisine.
At Tofu Village, this dish combines the aroma of mugwort with the fragrant notes from rice wine, making it a distinctive and traditional Hakka dish.
Stuffed Oyster Seafood Pot
This dish’s flavor and texture appeal to me. —it’s out of this world!
It’s a step up from meatballs, perhaps because each morsel contains a piece of dried oyster that adds a rich umami flavor.
The filling is made from a blend of pork, fish paste, dried oyster, and water chestnut, with a whole plump oyster wrapped in caul fat and then fried.
The rare ingredient, caul fat, when fried, imparts extra flavor and a crispy texture to the dish.
The Stuffed Oyster Seafood Pot is a luxurious seafood dish with a broth that is rich and flavorful, making it a popular choice for festive occasions and banquets.
Hakka Rice Wine Chicken
Hakka Rice Wine Chicken is a cherished classic in Hakka cuisine, celebrated for its rich flavors and comforting qualities.
This dish features tender chicken braised in a fragrant mixture of rice wine, sesame oil, and ginger.
First, the chicken is marinated in a mixture of spices and yellow wine, which allows the flavors to seep deeply into the meat.
During the braising process, the chicken becomes incredibly tender and juicy, absorbing the aromatic qualities of the rice wine.
The sesame oil adds a subtle nutty richness, while the ginger imparts a warm, zesty note.
The result is a dish with a delicate balance of flavors, where the wine’s fragrance shines through, making it delicious and nourishing.
Often enjoyed as a traditional meal during festive occasions or family gatherings, Hakka Rice Wine Chicken embodies the essence of Hakka home cooking, combining simplicity with deep, satisfying flavor.
Its comforting nature and savory aroma make it a cherished dish many people still enjoy.
Fried Fish with Pickled Radish
Fried Fish with Pickled Radishes is a delightful home-style dish that showcases the harmonious blend of flavors in Hakka cuisine.
This dish features whole fish deep-fried to a crispy golden brown, providing a satisfying crunch with each bite.
Its distinct flavor is largely due to the addition of chopped pickled radish, or preserved radish, which is mixed with the fish before frying.
Fried Fish with Pickled Radish is a delightful home-style dish showcasing Hakka cuisine’s harmonious blend of flavors.
This dish features whole fish deep-fried to a crispy golden brown, providing a satisfying crunch with each bite.
The pickled radish adds a distinctive salty and tangy aroma that complements the fresh, delicate flavor of the fish.
The result is a complex and nuanced flavor experience where the crispy exterior of the fish pairs beautifully with the tangy, slightly sweet notes of the radish.
This dish is well-liked by those who enjoy traditional Hakka cuisine because of its bold yet straightforward flavors.
Often enjoyed as a comforting meal at home or during special occasions, Fried Fish with Pickled Radish is a testament to the Hakka knack for transforming humble ingredients into something extraordinary.
Its appealing taste and satisfying texture make it a cherished part of the Hakka culinary tradition.
You can find a version of this dish made with sweet pickled radish in Alor Setar.
Hakka Drinks and Desserts
Nutmeg Plum Juice: Nutmeg Plum Juice is a refreshing summer beverage crafted from nutmeg and sour plums.
The nutmeg, simmered for 10 hours according to a family recipe, melds its aromatic essence with the plums’ sweet and tangy notes.
This combination results in a thirst-quenching, appetite-stimulating drink perfect for hot days.
Bayberry Sago
Frozen Yangmei Sago Dessert features sago and yangmei (Chinese bayberry), creating a delightful treat with a chewy texture and a sweet-and-sour flavor profile.
The chilled sago and tangy bayberry blend for a refreshing and cooling dessert experience.
Mango Frozie
This beloved summer dessert is made from fresh mango chunks blended with crushed ice and condensed milk.
The mango’s sweet, tropical flavor combined with the icy texture makes it a delightful way to cool down in the humid heat.
Tofu Village History
Tofu Village Hakka Cuisine, established nine years ago, specializes in authentic Hakka dishes that blend tradition with modern dining.
They pride themselves on homemade rice wine and handmade preparation, reflecting traditional Hakka techniques.
The restaurant offers a range of services, including family banquets, gatherings, birthday celebrations, and group dining, ensuring a memorable experience for any occasion.
Guests are invited to enjoy a rich, cultural dining experience in a welcoming atmosphere, where the essence of Hakka cuisine is shared through expertly crafted dishes and warm hospitality.
Conclusion
Tofu Village in Penang is a must-visit for anyone eager to explore authentic Hakka cuisine or simply craving a taste of traditional dishes.
It offers a genuine taste of Hakka heritage, with dishes prepared with passion and precision.
Whether you’re a Hakka native or love for authentic, hearty food, Tofu Village promises an unforgettable culinary journey.
Tofu Village
Address: 82, Church St, 10200 George Town, Penang.
Operating Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Monday: Closed
Phone: 012-4769018?
Google: https://g.co/kgs/EJv5tBX
Blog Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post, but all opinions are mine. Thank you Tofu Village for the wonderful experience!
