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Love mapo tofu? Try these 6 dishes next
If you love mapo tofu, order kimchi jjigae next (78/100 flavor match), then dan dan noodles and tteokbokki. Mapo tofu is deeply savory, spicy and rich, and these dishes share that profile.
Kimchi jjigae: rich and spicy, like mapo tofu, but tangier.
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Flavor profile
- Rich
- 4 out of 5
- Savory
- 5 out of 5
- Spicy
- 5 out of 5
- Tangy
- 1 out of 5
- Sweet
- 0 out of 5
- Fresh
- 1 out of 5
- Smoky
- 0 out of 5
- Crunch
- 0 out of 5
Chinese · shared plate
6 dishes to try if you love mapo tofu
- MATCHKimchi jjigaeRich and spicy, like mapo tofu, but tangier.Korean · soup
- MATCHDan dan noodlesRich and spicy, like mapo tofu, but crunchier.Chinese · noodle dish
- MATCHTteokbokkiRich and spicy shared plate, like mapo tofu, but sweeter and less savory.Korean · shared plate
- MATCHCurry laksaRich and spicy, like mapo tofu.Malaysian · noodle soup
- MATCHKung pao chickenRich and spicy shared plate, like mapo tofu, but crunchier and sweeter.Chinese · shared plate
- MATCHBiryaniRich and spicy, like mapo tofu.Indian · rice dish
Scores on this page compare editorial flavor profiles between dishes and are the same for everyone. They are not personal app match scores or ratings of a restaurant’s preparation. Recipes and menus vary. How these flavor scores work.
Mapo tofu vs its closest matches
Mapo tofu vs kimchi jjigae
78/100 flavor match
Kimchi jjigae is tangier (3 vs 1), lighter (3 vs 4), less savory (4 vs 5) and milder (4 vs 5) than mapo tofu. The two rate the same on sweetness, freshness, smoke and crunch.
Mapo tofu vs dan dan noodles
77/100 flavor match
Dan dan noodles is crunchier (2 vs 0), less savory (4 vs 5), milder (4 vs 5) and sweeter (1 vs 0) than mapo tofu. The two rate the same on richness, tang, freshness and smoke.
Mapo tofu vs tteokbokki
77/100 flavor match
Tteokbokki is sweeter (3 vs 0), less savory (3 vs 5), lighter (3 vs 4) and less herby (0 vs 1) than mapo tofu, and differs on 1 more trait. The two rate the same on heat, tang and smoke.
Numbers are Palytt's editorial 0 to 5 trait ratings, written as the match first and the dish you love second.
How to order mapo tofu
What it is
Mapo tofu is soft tofu and ground beef or pork in a fiery Sichuan sauce of chili bean paste, chili oil and numbing Sichuan pepper.
Ordering tip
Order plenty of steamed rice; the sauce is the point.
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Related reading
Good to know
What dishes are similar to mapo tofu?
If you like mapo tofu, try kimchi jjigae, dan dan noodles and tteokbokki. Kimchi jjigae is the closest flavor match (78/100): rich and spicy, like mapo tofu, but tangier.
What does mapo tofu taste like?
Mapo tofu is soft tofu and ground beef or pork in a fiery Sichuan sauce of chili bean paste, chili oil and numbing Sichuan pepper. Its strongest traits: deeply savory, spicy, rich.
What should I order if I want something like mapo tofu but different?
Try dan dan noodles: rich and spicy, like mapo tofu, but crunchier. It scores 77/100 against mapo tofu on flavor.
How is mapo tofu different from kimchi jjigae?
Kimchi jjigae is tangier (3 vs 1), lighter (3 vs 4), less savory (4 vs 5) and milder (4 vs 5) than mapo tofu. The two rate the same on sweetness, freshness, smoke and crunch. Ratings are 0 to 5, written as kimchi jjigae vs mapo tofu. Overall it scores 78/100 against mapo tofu on flavor.
How are these food matches scored?
Each dish has a flavor profile rated 0 to 5 on richness, savoriness, heat, tang, sweetness, freshness, smoke and crunch. The match score compares two profiles and gives a small boost to dishes eaten the same way, like two noodle soups. In the Palytt app, your match score uses your own taste instead.
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