Things Asian
I have traveled to many major US cities from East to West and I can honestly say, San Francisco, is the most Asian city I have ever seen in the entire country.
You name it, you will find a national of every Asian country here with the people of Chinese, Indian, and Filipino descent leading the pack. Because of the high numbers of Asians who have chosen to live in San Francisco and Northern California, it is no surprise to see parts of our culture from the food to religion make their way into American mainstream society.
In San Francisco, you need not go far to see evidence of this. You will see it the moment you step out of the plane.
The Asian Art Museum, one of the world's finest in terms of Asian art and culture. I very strongly recommend a visit to this museum should you find yourself in San Francisco. I have visited many museums in Asia and this one in downtown SF is an outstanding site for North and Southeast Asian Arts. Absolutely spectacular.
This was the Sun and Moon Festival in SF's Chinatown.
SF's Chinatown is one of the biggest in the US if not the biggest. It is a shopping mecca and a bargain paradise.
The Chinese New Year Parade is a big to do in the city. Really big. Thousands of people line the streets to watch it.
Chinese lanterns are hung not just in Chinatown but in many parts of SF downtown during Chinese New Year.
Ever since I traveled to Taipei, Taiwan, and had a feast eating the beef stew soups there, I have been eating them here too. It is superb.
This sitting Buddha has welcomed visitors to GUMPS, one of San Francisco's most exclusive department stores in Union Square.
The Japanese Pagoda and the Cherry Blossoms in spring. This is not Japan folks. It's really in San Francisco.
We not only have a Chinatown, there is a Japantown here too.
A miniature replica of Osaka Castle inside a mall in Japantown
My favorite Japanese lunch at the Rock, San Francisco on the corner of Pine and Grant Avenue
Another Japanese Bento Box. To be honest, it was only when I arrived in the US did I really begin to eat dishes from other countries. Boy, did I surely miss out. Anyway, I have made up for it big time ever since.
Who would have thought Americans would be buying tons of MOCHI, a delectable Japanese dessert? Yup, it's very popular here and this store along Market Street opposite the Palace Hotel has a continuous stream of customers all day long.
One of my most favorite Filipino dishes, Pansit Canton. This is a noodle dish to die for.
Mango cake from Red Ribbon, a popular Filipino Bakery in South San Francisco. I initially thought that when I left Manila decades ago, I wasn't going to see any of my favorite Filipino restaurants anymore. Much to my pleasant surprise, many of them have opened franchises here too. Filipino food, mind you, is quite well known among Americans. You mention Filipino food and at once they look for lumpia, adobo, pansit, and lately, sisig.