The founder of Hodo Soy Beanery, Minh Tsai, longed for the tofu of his youth in Vietnam and wanted to introduce this delicious food to the west. So he set out to create an artisanal product that's made in small batches to preserve the fresh taste and texture of real tofu. He sourced beans from the Clay Family Farm in Illinois for their high protein content and creamy consistency and began selling his tofu and tofu products at Bay Area farmers' markets.
In 2009, Hodo Soy moved to their current location in Oakland, a former candy factory, and increased their production. While the beanery is mechanized, much of the process is still hands-on, a happy marriage of art and technology. A sip of Hodo Soy's fresh soy milk, the foundation of all their products, proves the point. The milk is rich and creamy and has a sweet, fresh, slightly beany taste. It's nothing like the packaged stuff from the grocery store shelves. I am not a soy milk lover but I drank this stuff down like it was a glass of milk!
Locals and tourists alike will enjoy touring Hodo Soy's immaculate tofu factory (dates and tickets can be found online.) Here you will see Hodo Soy's special organic, non-GMO soy beans go from dry beans to soy milk, and on to tofu and yuba. You will also get a chance to sample some of the many delicious tofu and soy dishes Hodo Soy produces.
If you don't have time for a tour you can taste Hodo Soy at several Bay Area farmers' markets or purchase their products at many California Whole Foods Markets and other local grocers.
• For more information and directions to the factory, visit the Hodo Soy Beanery website.
Related: How to Make Soy Milk at Home
(Images: Dana Velden and Hodo Soy Beanery)
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
How to Make Buckwheat Soba Noodles from Scratch
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Martha Concrete Lam...
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
I am amazed by how good their tofu is. I love the puffs and the seasoned tofu loaf (good for sandwiches), but even the fresh tofu is tasty on its own. Before I moved to the Bay Area I had never had tofu this fresh, and it does make a difference. Thanks for the link - I had no idea they gave tours.
good fresh handmade tofu is a real treat. for people that have only tried that stuff from the grocery store, try the real stuff if you get a chance! so creamy and delicious. yum!
When my friend Charlie was living in Tokyo, we'd go to the local tofu shop for tonu -- soy milk. The stuff sold here in the US as soy milk is so bland compared to the real thing. Next time I get to the Bay area, I want to check out Hoda soy!!!!
For the SoCal peeps: Because I was jealous and not likely to be in the bay area any time soon, I went looking for a SoCal tofu factory/experience and found Vin Loi Tofu. No factory tour, but hey, it's even vegan (tho I am not). Too bad for me, Reseda's at least an hour's drive from the part of the LA sprawl I usually visit.
Hodo is awesome! I buy their spicy yuba (tofu skin) strips all the time - I can't get enough!
Rainbow Co-op in San Francisco just started carrying their full range of products, including all their varieties of tofu and prepared tofu dishes and their soymilk. Yum!