Tofu fries are exactly what they sound like: tofu cut into fry-shaped strips and fried till the outside goes golden and crunchy while the middle stays soft and fluffy. At I Love Taimei they’re $3.90, they’re vegetarian-friendly, and you get a free flavour powder on top. They’re also our own creation: I Love Taimei is the only place in Singapore you’ll find them. And they’re one of the most popular things on our menu.
So what exactly are tofu fries?
Think of a normal fry, then swap the potato for tofu. The outside gets that thin, golden shell. Bite through it and the inside is soft, almost like a tau kwa that’s been given a makeover. It’s lighter than you expect, which is the whole point. You can eat a box and still have room for the chicken.
Fried tofu itself is nothing new. It shows up across East and Southeast Asian cooking in all kinds of forms, from deep-fried cubes to puffs. Ours is the night-market snack version: cut into strips, eaten with your fingers, shaken with powder. And it’s ours alone. Tofu fries are an I Love Taimei original, and you won’t find them on any other menu in Singapore.
Why are tofu fries so popular?
Because they do something a potato fry can’t. You get the crunch you want from a fry, then a soft, light middle instead of a starchy one. They also take any of the five powders, so no two orders have to taste the same.
And people keep coming back for them. Our own FAQ lists them with the Popcorn Chicken and Brown Sugar Milk Tea as some of our most popular picks. They’re also on our dietary FAQ post as a favourite for anyone eating meat-free. Since nobody else in Singapore makes them, the only way to get your fix is at our counter.
Which powder should I put on them?
Every side comes with a choice of flavour powder, and it’s free. You’ve got five:
- Mala (้บป่พฃ): numbing and spicy, the bold pick.
- Seaweed (ๆตท่): umami, a bit like a seaweed snack packet.
- Cheese (่ตทๅธ): rich and comfortably cheesy.
- Garlic Seafood (่้ฆๆตท้ฎฎ): aromatic, with a bit more going on.
- Sour Plum (ๆข ็ฒ): sweet-sour, and the one reviewers keep talking about.
Our take: tofu is mild, so it’s a blank canvas. Seaweed or cheese if you want it easy. Mala if you want it to fight back a little. Sour plum if you want something you won’t find on a potato fry.
What goes well with tofu fries?
They’re built to share, so pair them with something that isn’t also soft:
- Taiwan Popcorn Chicken for a proper night-market spread. Bite-sized chicken with fried basil leaves, plus soft tofu on the side. Good contrast.
- Golden Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Plum powder if you’re keeping it vegetarian-friendly. Two sides, two textures, no meat.
- Brown Sugar Milk Tea if you want the full combo. Salty, then sweet. Works every time.
Where can I get them?
Tofu fries are on our standard menu, and we’ve got 14 outlets, from Bugis Junction in town to Waterway Point in Punggol and Tampines 1 in the east. Most outlets run 11am to 10pm daily. Junction 8 and West Mall close at 9.30pm. Full list with addresses on our outlet hours page.
A quick note on dietary questions, since we get them a lot. Our kitchen is no pork, no lard, and that includes the frying oil. We’re not halal certified, though, so we never call ourselves halal. The tofu fries themselves are fully plant-based. One honest catch: they go into the same fryer oil as our chicken. If you’re strictly vegetarian or vegan, that may rule them out for you. Powders are a separate choice too. Skip Cheese and Garlic Seafood if you avoid animal products, and check the others with the crew. They hear this question every day. More on that in our vegetarian options guide.
FAQ
What are tofu fries made of? Tofu, cut into strips and fried. They come out lightly crunchy on the outside and soft inside, finished with a flavour powder of your choice.
Where else can I get tofu fries in Singapore? Nowhere else. Tofu fries are an I Love Taimei original, so our 14 outlets are the only places in Singapore that serve them.
How much are tofu fries at I Love Taimei? $3.90 in store. Delivery app prices are different.
Are tofu fries vegetarian? The tofu fries are plant-based, but they’re fried in the same oil as our chicken. If you’re strict about shared oil, they’re not for you. Also skip the Cheese and Garlic Seafood powders, and ask the crew about the rest.
Are tofu fries spicy? Only if you want them to be. Pick Mala for heat, or Seaweed, Cheese, Garlic Seafood or Sour Plum for none.
Next time you’re at the counter, add a box before you even think about the chicken. See what else is on our full menu.
Taste it for yourself โ 14 outlets island-wide. No pork, no lard.
