"Again, the phony meat was the dish's weakest link. "Is that what beef tastes like?" I asked after chewing my way through a bouncy brown nugget. "Pretty much," replied Nancy."

Your friend Nancy is either lying to you about eating meat or buys some grade of beef so far down the food chain that it has taken on a spongy texture and flavorless taste.

Fake meat is processed food dressed up as healthy by the vegan/veggie crowd. It has less fat and therefore less flavor than real meat but it is still soy that has been processed into state that robs it of anything approximating good taste. If I am to order vegetarian I would much rather have simple tofu in the dish, not a processed piece of soy product with God knows what sort of flavors injected into it.

Good one. This place definitely deserves more props. Many fantastic 'Episodes' to be had!

Schmader's review here is pretty spot-on. With the exception of his use of "bossy rules" to describe the various signs found throughout the restaurant, which simply state their stance on asking patrons to consider their choices, how spicy they want their food and to make informed selections on the dishes they order. Possibly only in the modern catering-to-the-ignorance-of-the-consumer era could this be considered "bossy".

As a carnivore, I was reluctant about In the Bowl. Now it's literally one of my favorite joints on the hill. I stayed away from the "meat" until a couple visits ago when I tried the "beef". I don't care what they inject it with, it's delicious.

"It has less fat and therefore less flavor than real meat.."

Having ate meat for half of my life before becoming vegetarian (and later, pescatarian) I prefer fake meat because it isn't as greasy or fatty. Obviously that isn't how everyone feels but it's not a fact, sir.

I especially love the "meat" at In The Bowl! Especially the beef!

Try The Moonlight Cafe on Jackson near 19th, if you haven't already. Not only is their fake meat delicious, but their Chinese food in general is some of the best in the city. They offer real meat, too.

This place is great. I love it. Tip: their monthly specials are almost always awesome and the "chicken" they usually use in them has a much better appearance and texture than the one they use for their regular menu items. But the "beef" is definitely the best "meat" they serve. And you can buy it in the frozen section of Viet Wah grocery near 10th and Jackson in the ID!

Does anyone know why some restaurants call their menu items episodes or affairs? I have seen this at many different places- and it is not a matter of being "pidgin-linguistic", since one place that does this is a hoagie shop on the east coast and another a taco shop in Phoenix. Also Bumstead's sandwich shop in Tucson lists their menu items as "affairs"). It seems odd and I have not been able to find anything about it on the internet.

BTW - the duck rolls at ITB are to die for!

I just get everything with fried tofu. Yum!

I'd eat out of Pear's Bowl everyday. She's Cute!!!

I love this restaurant. And to add to the chorus in a slightly less pervy way: Pear, you are charming.

This has probably been one of my favorite restaurants in the city for the last two years. Also, you're letting yourself down if you don't check out the restroom here. Seriously.

And devil's advocate: I've seen the server pictured at In the Bowl almost every single time I've gone in there. I'm sure that you just made her job that much easier by objectifying her with the caption and via Bathany's comment on Slog yesterday.

And the Tokyo Noodle with Fried Tofu is choice.

@1, to make tofu, whole soybeans are harvested and dried. The dried soybeans are then soaked in water and pureed to make soymilk. This is combined with a coagulant such as magnesium sulfide to curdle. That's what we call a "process," making tofu a "processed food." Hope this helps.