Iconic street food with regional variants: Changsha's black, fried, and served with chili; Shaoxing's gray-green, fermented in brine. Often described with the phrase 闻着臭，吃着香 ('smells bad, tastes good').
usage
Figuratively, 臭豆腐 can describe a person who seems off-putting but is actually likable — 'rough exterior, lovable inside'.
