Read the full review here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2026/01/09/lighthouse-tofu-review-annandale-virginia/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com
When the temperature drops below 32 degrees and a glowing snowflake on the dashboard warns of icy roads, my car practically drives itself to Lighthouse Tofu in Annandale. The air inside the restaurant has the inviting, nutty smell of barley tea, and the dining room is lined with hanok-style papered windows that replace views of the parking lot with warm, diffuse light. This is a sanctuary, a place of calm. At least until the sundubu-jjigae arrives.
The tofu stew comes to the table bubbling furiously in a stone pot that will punish careless hands. Tofu quivers beneath the surface of the red, gochugaru-flecked broth. Now, while the bowl is its hottest, gently crack an egg in and — poof — watch it disappear into the mixture to slowly poach.
Within blocks of Lighthouse are dozens of Korean restaurants that specialize in buckwheat noodles, grill-it-yourself barbecue, and tteokbokki and other street foods. But ask Reddit or TikTok or anyone who lives nearby where to go for a restorative bowl of tofu stew and you, like me, will find yourself in the glow of Lighthouse’s flashing “OPEN” sign.
One spoonful explains why this restaurant is as loved today as it was when Paul Shin opened his doors for business in 2002.
by washingtonpost
12 Comments
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Yea its a pretty chill place to drink soju imo
My mother from Seoul came to the US back in the late 70s to Virginia.
Oh a post from THE Washington Post???
Love to see it. Lighthouse Tofu has been pretty consistent over the years. I found it hilarious they made a “White” flavor though lol. I definitely don’t remember that in the earlier years… 😉
YESS!! We need more spotlight on the KR community in Northern Virginia!!
Annandale and Chantilly are where the great Korean restaurants and stores are in NoVA.
Gosh i would love some Korean tofu soup right now
I’ve been wanting to swing by here when I visit a friend that lives up that way, now I want to go even more.
Currently on a liquid diet after surgery, so holy moly am I drooling. It looks absolutely heavenly.
Not to be mean but it’s posts like this that make me so happy that I live in Southern California. There is a chain of restaurants out here called BCD that serve probably that level of tofu soup. That’s just one chain. You have so many options out here, not even in just koreatown but all over La County and the San Gabriel valley, Orange County and now even in the inland empire.
If you like Korean food, come to Southern California or go to Korea.
yes!!! i don’t live in NOVA anymore but yes, the place hits!!
Drop the stupid ass vocal fry voice.
2 stars out of… what?