The smell doesn't carry into the flavor when you're eating it, and I've actually grown to enjoy it more than I thought possible!
Stinky tofu is usually prepared by frying tofu, which is made from soybeans, in oil. Before it ever reaches the frying pan, however, the tofu is first soaked in a brine made from fermented vegetables and a protein like meat or shrimp. This soaking process is what gives the tofu its unmistakable pungency and ultimately the name it’s famous for. When the marinated tofu hits the hot oil, the particular combination of the brine and the frying process releases an extremely strong odor!
If you ask any Taiwanese person what local food you should try, the first thing they'll say will always be stinky tofu! It's become a bit of a cultural and culinary icon for them. Foreigners are often shocked to see locals eating a food that, before you try it, doesn't seem like food at all.
