Bah! It was bound to happen, it’s been a while since I was given incorrect information at a restaurant but sure enough it’s come to pass. Unfortunately in my last post on Atch-Kotch I raved about my favorite vegan items, including their Miso Soup… however thanks to some investigative reporting by VeganInLA I’ve since been informed that the miso is indeed made with fish broth. DISGUSTING!

What the hell restaurant people… listen up:
FISH JUICE IS NOT VEGAN- IT DOES NOT COME FROM A VEGETABLE!

My sincere apologies if you’ve had this soup due to my post, I’m terribly sorry and was just passing along to you what I had been told. I’m pretty pissed about this myself as I’ve been enjoying this soup for a long time, having been specifically told it was vegan. From what I understand the tofu dish that my post spotlighted is still actually vegan and safe for you to eat (as are a lot of the other items there). Just please, ask first. As well intentioned as I am about this stuff, you see I don’t always get it right, especially when I’m not told the truth.

Damn, when things like this happen I get very frustrated about all restaurants. No matter how nice or knowledgeable a restaurant staff is (especially at places that aren’t exclusively vegetarian/vegan), no one is ever going to take your dietary requirements & issues as seriously as you are when cooking your own food. It’s always a risk when eating out and not having full control over how your food is prepared, and it’s always a serious bummer when you learn your trust has been violated and you’ve been fed something revolting. I’m updating my original post to reflect this info… sorry again. I still encourage you to eat at Atch-Kotch (I still love this place!) especially the Spicy Garlic Tofu, but I know that the next time I go there I will be grilling them intently on each item before it goes in my mouth.

I’ve been holding out on you. Even though I’ve been letting you in on all my favorite vegan & vegetarian foods in L.A for a few years now, I’ve neglected to tell you about one of my most treasured of all dishes. I haven’t exactly been keeping it a secret, but it’s about time you know… it’s about time for what I’m about to let you in on to officially be known as one of the tastiest things you’ll ever eat. Since you are the best blog readers in the world, consider this information my gift to you and your taste buds.

Atch-Kotch is an unassuming Japanese food restaurant centrally located in Hollywood at Fountain & Vine, in the middle of a strip mall of popular ethnic foods. It’s not a vegetarian restaurant but there’s an abundance of vegetarian options and plenty for vegans to enjoy.

None of the many other things they offer matter right now for the sake of this discussion, that’s not what we’re here to discuss. But I’m still not there yet, let’s not rush things… first some appetizers to whet our appetites.

Whetted you will be as soon as you sink your teeth into these slightly crunchy marinated Lotus Roots, known among the ancients to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Do I taste sesame oil, rice vinegar, red chili pepper? Believe.

Continue your delicious Eastern journey with an order of Inari Sushi. Inari consists of an outer skin of fried tofu that’s got a thin omelet-like consistency, stuffed with simple white rice. Sounds boring but it most definitely is not, and at Atch-Kotch they make it especially well. The rice is lightly seasoned with I-don’t-know-what-but-I-love-it and whenever I order it here it tastes like they just made it, perfectly fresh. If you’ve ever eaten inari from one of those plastic sushi containers at the super markets that are all dried up and taste like sweetened cardboard, then just wait till you try one of these plump, juicy, soft, fall apart in your hand packets of love. You will gain an entirely new appreciation for white rice. Get your blood flowing with some of the pickled ginger which completes this invigorating pairing.

Ok, so along with your main entree that I insist you’re going to order (wait for it), you will be served a nice, hot cup of miso soup. Floating inside you will find bits of tofu, wakame seaweed and green onions. I usually ask for them to leave the onions off but this photograph clearly indicates that I’m slipping. Foiled again! Despite my onion folly their miso is outstanding. Drink it all up, it’s a superfood and will cure all that ails you!

[Update: 10/24/2009: Damn, damn damn! I have since learned that THIS MISO SOUP IS NOT VEGAN! Please see my update by clicking here.]

Alright, your patience has paid off and your wait has come to an end. Allow me to introduce you to the main event, your new favorite dinner: the Spicy Garlic Tofu bento box.

Where do I even begin? It doesn’t matter if you don’t like tofu or garlic, this is unlike anything you thought tofu or garlic where capable of. They do some sort of magical preparation to the tofu which gives it the most incredible texture, a thick, chewy, meatiness that’s unlike any tofu I’ve ever had anywhere else. My best guess is that they first freeze it and then pan fry it, but there’s clearly something supernatural going on here, this tofu is literally transformed into something above & beyond tofu as we’ve previously known it. You could say that this is the missing link of tofu, or even, tofu perfected. It’s coated in a most spectacular secret sauce that’s both sweet and spicy and garlicky all at once. When Atch-Kotch says garlic, they’re not messing around… there is SO much garlic in this, including lovely thin slices from garlic cloves that taste sweet & caramelized while at the same time being crispy… you get the full rush of garlic without the bite. This garlic has been tamed to do a Master Chef’s bidding. Every once in a while you get an especially large chunk and it’s like uncovering a special prize. Your breath is going to stink for days after you eat this (trust me, it’s worth it), so enjoy responsibly with loved ones. If you all stink together, it doesn’t matter.

Your bento box will come filled with a large portion of plain white sticky rice (a nice balance to the intense flavors of the tofu), a fresh side salad that at first you might mistake for bland but by the end of the meal you’ll be trying to get at every last little shred of lettuce, a small portion of pickled vegetables, and, this would normally come with a really delicious scoop of potato salad, one that I’ve sadly had to give up since going vegan. Just tell them you would like something substituted out for the potato salad and they’ll give you more of the green salad or some fruit as shown above. Those of you who still eat dairy will really enjoy it, it’s the best little unexpected mouthful of potato salad you’ll ever have at a Japanese restaurant. Orange slices are kinda sucky in comparison but sometimes you’ve just gotta suck it up for the greater good.

You’ll note the tofu is made with an abundance of green onions. Don’t think I didn’t notice. Even though the kitchen is happy to oblige my requests to make this without the onions as you’d expect me to want it, I actually like them included for the taste they impart to the sauce, and then I just avoid eating them (don’t judge). They’re big pieces and therefore a cinch to avoid if you are a hater like me. Word up.

In case for some odd reason I haven’t yet aroused in you an overpowering tofu lust, kindly adjust your eyeballs and take a closer look at this:

If you are not salivating right now than I suggest you go see a doctor. Even the most adamant carnivores among you will love this tofu after your first bite, no exaggerating. I’ve initiated many people into the cult of Atch-Kotch in the more than 15 years since I became a convert and everyone always leaves there stunned by deliciousness- vegetarians, vegans and meat lovers alike. Even my dad. And I always make everyone eat this particular dish. Although there are lots of other truly delicious things on the menu, nothing can ever come close to the Spicy Garlic Tofu experience. If I ever have to pick my last meal, this tofu dish will be one of the few that I’ll be struggling to choose from.

Speaking of the menu, the trick here is that this is not on the menu. You’ll find it on the specials board located on their front wall. Sure, go ahead and explore the menu, there are so many great things to try there, but please do me this favor… promise me that if you haven’t been to Atch-Kotch before, for your first visit you MUST get the Spicy Garlic Tofu. This must be enforced, do not take these instructions lightly! You’ve got the rest of your life to try the rest of their food (do it, and be sure to specify your veganocity and watch out for meaty broths), but first things first, this tofu is something you NEED in your life- so get your priorities straight and repeat after me: “Spicy Garlic Tofu, no potato salad.” That’s really all you need to know.

Order it. Eat it. Love it. Smell like it. You’re very welcome.

Atch-Kotch Japanese Restaurant
1253 Vine St., Ste 5
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-5537

p.s. Closed Sundays. Don’t forget and get the craving on a Sunday, you will be very sad.
p.p.s. The parking lot is madness on busy weekends. Let the valet park, Atch-Kotch validates.
p.p.p.s. Walkable from the Vine Metro station. After this meal a walk will do you good.