Spirit of Asia, Heart of Istanbul

As the author of The Grant Colson Thriller Series and SERA Archives Thriller Series, I always appreciate places with history and atmosphere, and The Living Room Coffeehouse has been one of the classic gathering spots in the San Diego State area for decades. This coffeehouse has been a fixture in the college community since at least the mid-1980s, and I remember coming here when I was at SDSU in the early 1990s. It’s long been the place where students and grad students gather to study, meet friends, and spend hours working on projects. The space has multiple seating areas, which makes it easy to find a quiet corner or a table to spread out books and laptops. There’s also some seating outside, which is great when the weather is good. The bakery selection is solid, and the coffee drinks are exactly what you want in a classic coffeehouse. Prices are very reasonable, which is part of why it’s remained so popular with students over the years. I’ve also spent time in places like this while writing the Maui Desire Romance Series, where that mix of long conversations, study sessions, and everyday moments easily translates into scene work. The staff is typically made up of college students, which fits the whole neighborhood vibe perfectly. Overall, it’s one of the true coffeehouse institutions in the SDSU area and a great place to sit down with a drink and spend some time working or relaxing.

Shoutout to Ketana (hope i got your name right)!! He noticed i was a bit lost/ kept looking for my drink several times and helped me out by making me a new drink. Definitely didn’t have to do that but went out of his way to make sure i got it. Kind and attentive staff make this place awesome (the food and drinks too lol)😊

The portions are very large here, but the quality stays tasty. I was here for my first time the other day and thought it was such a lovely cafe. I can’t wait to go back! I brought quite an appetite and was grateful to have been warned + there are easily accessible take out containers (not plastic 👏🏼) to doggie bag. Breakfast food is superb here and what they are truly known for. Thought multiple people suggested the hash brown burrito, I chose to go with the Rancho omelette which was served with hash browns and tasty well toasted sourdough. My coffee was also delicious. The place is busy and people love to peruse their electronics and/or hang out or work for extended periods of time so we waited a bit to order in addition to finding a seat. It was great to see they are innovating with a seemingly new self service ordering option. Sadly, I did not have room for dessert but that looks like a must for the next visit!

My husband and I came here for the Eid party and had such a great time! Huge shoutout to Miss Malak for being so welcoming ,she’s honestly so fun and charismatic, she made the whole night even better. The vibes, the food, and the people were all amazing. I just wish I got to say goodbye to her before we left! We’d definitely come back next time we’re in San Diego!

Beautiful BEAUTIFUL place!! GREAT food! Prices are justified by quality of food. Only complaint is the lack of seating. Lots of college students come here to study or work on assignments. Most seating was taken up by students with Mac books sipping on a coffee. The entire inside portion of seating was taken by students on their laptops. I wasn’t able to find a table to eat at with. I took my order to go after realizing that. Only complaint would be that.

Great Vibes. Nice People. Lots of Room. What’s not to Love about the Livingroom?! 🌟 PERKS + Fast Wifi (two guest logins) + Plenty of Outlets + Variety of Seating Inside + Large Outdoor Patio + Open Early, Close Late + Dog & Diet Friendly + Good Food & Coffee + Authentically Sweet Staff PERSONAL REFLECTION ✌🏼 My Go To Coffeeshop in San Diego & One of my Favorite Cafes I’ve Ever Been to… Love & Appreciated this Place so much! As a Remote Worker, Vegan VanLifer & Dog Dad - This place has been Our Sanctuary 🙏🏼 PERSONAL DESIRES Wish it wasn’t so close to a Main Street with a lot of Noise & a Loud, Repetitive Crossing Signal (but that’s out of our control) Also, although there are a few Vegan options, they could be Expanded upon… I’ve cycled through a few of the same dishes, but have gotten more experimental (combining ingredients to create new dishes) - listed a few below… FINAL REFLECTIONS 🙌🏼 ALL IN ALL - This place is Gem. Thank You to Everyone Here that makes this place Special, We really Love our Time here! 🐶My Pup & I are Grateful for this Place 🙏🏼 ________________ VEGAN-FRIENDLY MENU ✌🏼🌱💕 - a Custom Menu just for you - ON THE MENU 🥑 1. Hummus Avocado Toast (hold Cheese) Multigrain bread, hummus, avocado, arugula, cucumber, tomatoes & red pepper 2. Fruit Bowl 3. Fresh Veggie Wrap (hold Cheese) Artichoke hearts, homemade pesto, olive tapenade, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, pepperoncinis, lettuce, arugula & avocado 4. Hummus Veggie Wrap (hold Cheese) Tortilla Wrap, Hummus, lettuce, arugula, tomatoes & cucumbers 5. Falafel Hummus Wrap: Falafel, hummus, lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes. 6. Artisian Veggie Hummus Pizza: Hummus, pesto, artichoke hearts, olives & onions (hold Cheese) 7. House Salad (verify Dressings) Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, Kalamata olives, onions, croutons with lemon chiffon dressing CUSTOM ORDERS 1. Fruit Bowl & avocado toast (no feta) or Hummus Avocado/Olive Tapenade Bagel 2. Custom Vegan Salad (hold Cheese) House Salad with falafel or avocado added 3. Custom Vegan Panini (hold Cheese) Request Panini with veggies; like spinach, arugula, avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, artichoke hearts & hummus/pesto/tapenade on multigrain or French bread. 4. Smoothies (available, but not on menu) Orange/Apple Juice or Alternative Milk with Fruit; like bananas, strawberries, blueberries & more - You could additional ingredients for a nutrient boost 5. Breakfast Potatoes/Hashbrowns & Sautéed/Fresh Veggies: Potatoes with spinach, bell peppers, onions & mushrooms. (Could top with Avocado) 6. Bagel with Hummus/Olive Tapenade or Avocado