Steve Joo, the chef and entrepreneur known for the Korean pop-up Nokni, recently revealed a new deli concept that he will be bringing to Oakland in the fall.
The new restaurant, Joodooboo, will be coming to 4201 Market Street and will focus on hand-made tofu and banchan, which are small sides served alongside meals like kimchi. Joo envisions the restaurant serving a rotating dinner set every evening while serving small simple options like kimbap for lunch. The new brick-and-mortar location will feature ample room for dining in while still offering take-out for busy patrons.
Joodooboo sets itself apart from the competition with its focus on fresh, seasonal vegetables and hand-made tofu. Joo uses a special process to make tofu that is more laborious and time-consuming because he refuses to press the tofu, but it is well worth it. Authenticity is very important, and Joodooboo is dedicated to providing patrons with a space that is more than a simple restaurant.
The new Korean deli will offer a special subscription service, in which fans of their hand-made banchan will be able to access weekly specials as well as receive regular discounts for only $1 a day. This is a well-needed effort to make quality food more accessible to the residents of Oakland, who have been hit particularly hard by the recent pandemic. Joo expressed that he feels “burdened” by the expenses of eating out, and hopes that his new deli will become a place “that provides something fresh, delicious and affordable for families.”
Joodooboo is expected to open this October at 4201 Market Street, the former location of The Kebabery, whose latest move was recently covered by What Now San Francisco.
