Swaying palm trees, sandy beaches, warm sun, and a good community – your dream destination, right? Even with over 2,000 miles of ocean, San Diego and Hawaii share the beachy vibe that is so popular among locals and tourists alike. Aside from fresh seafood, a benefit of their coastal locations, the cuisine in the two destinations varies greatly.
Traditional Hawaiian Food
Food from the islands has roots in the culinary practices of the Polynesian islands. Starting in 300 AD, Polynesian voyagers brought plants and animals to the island, starting the traditions of fresh fish and tropical fruits. This type of cuisine that is characteristic of the islands predates the influence of immigrants from Europe and Asia. These dishes include kaula pic, poi, poke, lomi salmon, haupia, saimin, and sweet potatoes. Fall-off-the-bone meat dishes like the beloved, tender kalua pork are born from the traditional use of earth ovens to cook food over a long period of time. This cuisine evolved when the islands became a destination for Western voyagers. Among other things, the Westerners brought the drive to mass produce the tropical plants found on the Hawaiian island. Large sugar cane and pineapple plantations resulted, and subsequently, plate lunches. Each visitor that came to the islands brought their own cuisine, over time, altering what is known as ‘traditional Hawaiian cuisine.’ Hawaiians developed an offshoot called Hawaiian fusion. Dishes included malasada, stir fry, kimchi bulgogi, and more, each adding to the tropical and diverse flavors of the islands.
Roots of San Diego Cuisine
With the closest proximity to a major Mexican city in all of the US, Mexico’s cultural influence on San Diego is undeniable. Freshness is a trademark of Southern Californian food, attributed to the fresh fish coming into the ports and the nearby farmlands providing fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables. Some must-try local eats include fish tacos, California-style pizza, guacamole, California burritos, ceviche, and carne asada fries. San Diego is one of the few places where you can find ‘traditional’ American food and Mexican food mingling together in one dish. Take the classic California burrito, for example. Hidden inside the Mexican burrito is the french fry. Not without its own unique cuisine, San Diego holds the title of the birthplace of taquitos, an impressive feat for both Taco Bell enthusiasts and high-class foodies.
Hawaiian Fusion in San Diego
With vastly different influences from different sides of the globe, San Diego and Hawaiian cuisine don’t seem to have much in common. The common bond is both natives’ love for fresh-caught seafood. While hawaii-natives likely won’t ever adopt the cheesy and saucy themes running through San Diego’s Mexican fusion cuisine, they do appreciate the love of homegrown and home-caught ingredients. Homestyle Hawaiian uses the freshest ingredients on the mainland to bring some of the traditional and evolved Hawaiian flavors to San Diego. With spam musubis, mac nut pancakes, katsu chicken, and kalua pork, Homestyle Hawaiian only serves dishes cooked in traditional ways while bringing some new flavors to the table. With five locations across San Diego, we offer that good homestyle comfort food to the whole county. Stop by and try it Mo’s way.
