In a small sauce pot on medium-high heat, add in your oil, garlic and onions and fry for 2-3 minutes to release the garlic and onion flavours.
Next, add in your soy sauces, pepper, bay leaves, brown sugar, water, and tofu. Cover the pot with a lid and let everything simmer for 15 minutes on high heat.
Once 15 minutes is done, lower the heat to medium once more and add in your vinegar so it doesn't boil off completely.