Co-founder of iconic Korean tofu house dies at 88

"Tae-ro Lee and his wife Hee-sook Lee were known for popularizing soondubu jigae, a spicy, red silken-tofu stew, and building a restaurant empire in L.A. that has expanded to 11 locations across Southern California, Texas and the East Coast."

"Tae-ro was born in Hamgyong Province - in modern-day North Korea - in 1937. During the Korean War, he fled with his family to South Korea, where they operated restaurants in Bukchang-dong, a district in Seoul."

"In 1967, he opened Yongdongpo Hamheung Naengmyeon restaurant in Seoul, which specializes in a North Korean cold noodle dish. The restaurant, 'both a culinary pursuit and a deeply personal expression' for Tae-ro, according to his family, still operates today."

"Tae-ro and Hee-sook immigrated to the U.S. in the early '90s. Aiming to share the flavors that defined their journey, the couple opened Buk Chang Dong Soon Dubu in Koreatown on Vermont Avenue in 1996."

Tae-ro Lee, co-founder of BCD Tofu House, died on March 8 at the age of 88. He and his wife, Hee-sook, popularized soondubu jigae and established a restaurant chain with 11 locations across the U.S. Their sons now lead the company, committed to preserving their parents' legacy. Tae-ro was born in North Korea and fled to South Korea during the Korean War, where he began his culinary journey. The couple immigrated to the U.S. in the early '90s, opening their flagship restaurant in Koreatown in 1996.

Read at Los Angeles Times