We are pleased to feature a guest blog post from Yachinda Athalia Katili, an organic food enthusiast living in San Diego, California.

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I was born in San Diego and lived in Indonesia for 15 years before returning to become its resident. While there is no Indonesian restaurant in San Diego, other Asian eateries thrive all over this beautiful California city.

One of the Japanese restaurants that my parents used to visit is Mister Sushi. Back then, it was a newly opened restaurant in Pacific Beach at Mission Bay. Now, 26 years later, Mister Sushi is one of the most popular Japanese restaurants in San Diego. The reason for its long time success is simple, fresh foods and generous portions.

San Diego, 190 km South of Los Angeles, with year-round nice weather is one of the most visited tourist destinations in California. It is also among the utmost ethnically and culturally diverse places in the US with more than 100 languages spoken by its 1.37 million residents who come from all parts of the world.

This diversity adds to the charm of the city and its choices for multicultural cuisines. Wholesomeness is highly expected and appreciated by customers, as shown by their positive responses in review sites such as Yelp and Urban Spoon.  A Mediterranean café, Vanoos Grillette on Mission Boulevard is promoted as “the home of homemade food.” Vanoos, serving huge authentic Mediterranean bites, hot sandwiches, fresh wraps and massive deli subs, has almost 200 Yelp reviews.

Naval Base San Diego is the US Navy’s largest base on the US West Coast, with the total on-base population of 20,000 military personnel and 6,000 civilians. Coupled with the geographic position as a front border entry from Mexico, San Diego becomes the major hub of a number of multi national companies.

Such business mixtures naturally demand a large selection of ethnic gourmet foods; thus encouraging Americans of international origins to launch dining establishments all over San Diego.

Kono’s Surf Club Café always has a long line for breakfast. Only steps away from the beach, also on Garnet Avenue, Kono’s was selected as one of the Top 12 Power Breakfast Places in San Diego by Eater.

Another favorite for breakfast with a friendly and artsy setting is Pannikin Coffee and Tea at Girard Avenue in La Jolla. Aside from Pannikin’s breakfast sets, such as bagel plate, granola & fruits, greek eggs, and quiche & salads, customers come for its coffee selections, sourced from different parts of the world, including Indonesia.

While Japanese foods are on high demand (in addition to Chinese food), Korean food has also gained recognition. In addition to opening restaurants, Korean-Americans also operate several supermarkets offering all kinds of Korean, Japanese, as well as Asians ingredients. Inside these supermarkets, there are food courts selling Korean foods. At Off the Wok, inside the Zion Market’s food court in Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, the serving is extremely different than in Korea and again has huge portions.

Although international and ethnic food eateries keep popping up around San Diego, the main actor in the business is still American food, with its typical character of enormousness and greasiness.

Starting with breakfast, American breakfast and brunch joints offer extraordinary helpings that even Americans could not finish.

Hash House A Go Go created and founded by Craig Beardslee and Johnny Rivera serves “twisted farm food” for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Meanwhile, foods at New Orleans Creole Café at Old Town Market,  huge barbeque ribs at Phil’s BBQ, and hamburgers at The Habit Burger Grill as well Dirty Birds in Pacific Beach are worth trying.

Desserts are definitely a must especially at Extraordinary Desserts either in Little Italy or Balboa Park.  Founded by Chef/Owner, Karen Krasne its gourmet desserts boast elegance and dedication at the pinnacle of pastry making.

With all the breakfast, brunch and lunch festivities available all over San Diego, I rarely have room for dinner. The last meal of the day for my husband, our little son, Sean, and me consists of garden-fresh organic fruits and vegetables available daily in various supermarkets and farmers markets in the city.

San Diego is definitely one of the best places to visit or to live in. The cost of living is high, but the quality of life, including its food, is much better compared to other big cities in the US.

I do hope that soon there will be authentic Indonesian Restaurants in the area.

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Images: Cover: Tang Yan Song/Shutterstock; Sushi: Mister Sushi. All others:  Werner Katili, Clarissa Alma Katili, Omar Niode Foundation