The Atlas Obscura Podcast America’s Oldest Tofu Shop
Aug 13, 2025
Lauren Yoshiko, a food and cannabis writer from Portland, shares the fascinating history of Ota Tofu, America's oldest tofu shop founded in 1911. She discusses the shop's traditional, labor-intensive process that preserves unique flavor and texture. With personal anecdotes, she highlights its significance during the Japanese immigration wave and the resilience of her family through the challenges of WWII. Lauren emphasizes the importance of keeping these time-honored techniques alive in a rapidly changing world.
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Walking Into A Living Tofu Factory
- Visiting Ota feels like stepping into a working time capsule full of steam and wet soybean smells.
- Lauren Yoshiko recalls the immersive factory vibe where workers in boots and hairnets hand the fresh tofu to customers.
Traditional Technique Makes Unique Tofu
- Ota's distinctive flavor and texture come from a labor-intensive, old-world process imported from Japan.
- Hand pressing and folding with nigari creates delicate curds that mass production machines usually can't replicate.
Founded In Nihonmachi In 1911
- Heiji and Saizo Ota founded the shop in 1911 in Portland's Nihonmachi, originally called Asahi Tofu.
- Lauren Yoshiko's family sold Ota tofu in their corner market, making it a community staple across generations.