My mom lives near Monterey Park, mecca to the 99 Ranch and all large asian grocery stores. So I guess I am a little spoiled in that regard. The 99 Ranch in Clairemont Mesa is a smaller, grimier version of the ones you will find in LA (or northern CA or WA for that matter). The produce section is large in size, but you really have to check and double-check whatever you are buying for freshness. I can't tell you how many fruits or veggies that I have brought home only to discover that they were in pretty sad condition. I don't know about you, but the meat department there kind of scares me and I would never consider buying seafood there as it is on the smelly side.
One of the main reasons that I originally would go to the 99 Ranch is they have this particular kind of tofu I like. Unfortunately, for some reason or another, they don't seem to believe in stamping it with a freshness date and it's packaged so you have no idea how fresh it is. The other thing I make the trek out there for is the enormous sacks of rice. They used to have a bakery but it seems to have been outsourced, so now it is just trays with baked goods.
If you need help finding something or need any sort of special assistance, I can tell you right now that you might as well forget about it. 99 Ranch is not exactly going to win awards with its idea of customer service. The cashiers are usually pretty surly too.
99 Ranch has pretty good prices on its dried goods and sauces. I also pick up my "Little Schoolboy" cookies (from France) there as they are always cheapest there. It probably has the best selection of Asian foods in the San Deigo area, but that doesn't mean it's all that great. If a nicer, cleaner, friendlier store came along, I'd be there in a heartbeat.
more