Explore San Diego’s Vibrant AANHPI Community

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities are an important part of the fabric of San Diego’s history, and play a vital part in shaping its future. 

From the early immigrants of the 1800s to those who settled here in the 1970s and today’s second- and third-generation business owners and residents, people of AANHPI heritage make up more than 16 percent of San Diego’s population, and the community’s legacy in the region can be found throughout from coastal towns to the South Bay, including the Pan-Asian Convoy District in Kearny Mesa, the Little Saigon neighborhood in City Heights, and National City, which has one of the largest Filipino American populations in the United States. 

This multicultural mosaic is reflected in the breadth of AANHPI-owned businesses, shops and restaurants here that have been family-owned for decades or recently launched by young entrepreneurs, and reflect heritages from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Guam and beyond, contributing to the region’s multicultural identity. 

Residents from all walks of life gather each year for such cultural celebrations as Lunar New Year, the Pacific Islander Festival (the largest of its kind in the nation), Diwali in Balboa Park and the internationally recognized San Diego Asian Film Festival. These events and businesses reflect the influence, innovation and ongoing contributions AANHPI communities bring to the region. 

We invite you to experience the distinct neighborhoods, locally owned eateries and institutions that reflect the diversity and cultural impact of San Diego’s AANHPI communities.

(Marie Tutko is a San Diego-based freelance writer and the former editor in chief of San Diego Magazine, where she co-produced a popular podcast about the city’s dining scene. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Eater and Condé Nast Traveler. She has also served twice as a judge at the I Love Poke Festival.)