Las Vegas Weekly

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In the springtime, we got excited about Apache Plaza in Spring Valley, with all its “coming soon” restaurant signage. It’s December now, and while the ice cream-and-cookie splendor that is Sweet Addiction is up and running, and Streets of NY Pizza looks like it’s getting close, there’s no telling if Slidin’ Thru, Johnny McGuire’s or Mi Tierra will ever come to life.

Another restaurant slated for this southwest strip mall is sticking to its original location, which just happens to be one block north on Fort Apache. Mashisoyo is tiny (five tables) and cheap (nothing over $15), the people are friendly and the food is wildly satisfying. It’s all about Korean tofu stew (soondubuchigae), and if that doesn’t sound good to you, maybe you should try it. It’s served sizzling in an earthenware pot and loaded with your choice of additions: seafood, beef, pork, kimchi, ham, sausage or vegetables. They’ll bring you a raw egg to crack in yourself, which mingles nicely with the soft, flavor-absorbing tofu. Most importantly, it can be volcano-spicy if you want it that way.

But wait, there’s more. Your big bowl of spicy, healthy goodness comes with a fantastic seafood pancake to start, and then a variety of traditional banchan (side dishes) that might include more kimchi, pickled cucumbers, fish cakes and bean sprouts dressed in sesame oil. Mashisoyo also serves some Korean barbecue items and its own take on Japanese ramen, but the tofu is where it’s at. Who needs Apache Plaza? Viva Mashisoyo!