The Making of Tofu
![Freshly made tofu is a specialty of the house at Vinh Loi, a vegan restaurant in Reseda.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f5f7a08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x402+0+0/resize/586x402!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F28%2F0a%2Fe74235d5b6e375a48698123e4d84%2Fla-fo-tofu01-kli9hmnc.jpg)
Freshly made tofu is a specialty of the house at Vinh Loi, a vegan restaurant in Reseda. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
![tofu](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e95808/2147483647/strip/true/crop/303x425+0+0/resize/303x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2Fc0%2Fcf9beafd8856e27a245118b0b073%2Fla-fo-tofu02-kli9efnc.jpg)
Tofu in the making: Owner Kevin Tran pours soybeans into a high-speed grinder/separator. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
![tofu](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/79542f1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/257x425+0+0/resize/257x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2F24%2Ff07b9331c74a9b817bab8b166648%2Fla-fo-tofu03-kli9g9nc.jpg)
Nhan Pham pours hot soy milk into a pot containing calcium sulfate, which will cause the milk to coagulate. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
![tofu](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/02a7548/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x402+0+0/resize/586x402!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F3d%2Fb9e8bfc69224acf21a8d094acaba%2Fla-fo-tofu04-kli9d5nc.jpg)
Kevin Tran displays a 40-pound slab of freshly made tofu. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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![tofu](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8f08f72/2147483647/strip/true/crop/329x425+0+0/resize/329x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2F98%2F3def85f33468fe9eed87f5710673%2Fla-fo-tofu05-kli9dnnc.jpg)
The tofu is cut into cubes. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
![tofu](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/13f6cdd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x413+0+0/resize/586x413!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F00%2F87%2F3439ad73c663895129f78acd2226%2Fla-fo-tofu06-kli9hcnc.jpg)
Fried tofu awaits incorporation into menu items at Vinh Loi. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
![tofu](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/426856e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x345+0+0/resize/586x345!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F07%2Fa37e18a72f81e1ae526cc387153e%2Fla-fo-tofu07-kli9j8nc.jpg)
Angel Asor surveys her meal at Vinh Loi, in a mini-mall at 18625 Sherman Way No. 101 in Reseda. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)