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Animae

Name: Animae
Address: 969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA, United States, 92132
Telephone: (619) 432-1225
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

$50 and over

Contemporary Asian

Make a reservation

2 people

Sep 19, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 81 times today

Good for special occasions
Fancy
Great for creative cocktails

ANIMAE’s eclectic West Coast cuisine, layered with Asian influences, comes to life under Celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey. Applying a California cooking style to ANIMAE’S traditional coal-fired oven and grill, Chef Malarkey’s menu is as thoughtful as it is refined, elevating local produce and seasonal ingredients to create a lively and progressive culinary program.

Why we love it

Executive chef: Brian Malarkey

MICHELIN Plate
2022

Filipino American chef Tara Monsod takes fusion food to the next level at this groovy Art Deco space. Expect opulent riffs on classics like crispy pig ears and kare kare—Monsod is one of the few chefs in the country putting Filipino food on the fine-dining stage. The approach earned her numerous awards, including a prestigious MICHELIN Plate.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Contemporary Asian, Californian, Steakhouse
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(619) 432-1225
Website
https://animaesd.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Private party facilities
The Great Gatsby-meets-Madmen-meets-The Matrix interior is a fantastical futurist’s journey, transporting diners to the Shikoku firefly forest in Japan, an event venue that’s both ethereal and theatrical. ANIMAE is the perfect space to host and celebrate your special events.

Location
969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Neighborhood
Downtown
Cross street
Pacific Highway and West Broadway
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Wonton
wagyu, chili garlic oil, soy vinaigrette
Taiwanese Chicken
schezuan peppercorn, hot honey, thai basil aioli
Sweet & Sour Cauliflower
strawberry, peppers, onion, sesame
Hunan Lamb Chops
cumin, szechuan peppercorn, cilantro cream
Crispy Pig Ear
sweet tamarind glaze, bean sprouts, tofu, peanuts
Mantou
chive steamed bun, soy glaze, sour cream butter

Cold Dishes

Hamachi
endive, radish, kimchi vinagrette, nori goma
Tuna Crispy Rice
charred chili ponzu, spicy aioli, turnip
A5 Wagyu Tartare
sesame cracker, wagyu aioli
Cucumbers
soy, fresno chili, sesame, cilantro
Ume Oysters
sour plum vinegar, strawberry, lemon
Beet Salad
asian pear, chicory, tofu "ricotta", yuzu kosho vinaigrette
Tuna Kinilaw
coconut, calamansi, cilantro oil

Sides

Coal Roasted Cabbage
brown butter miso, charred lime
Broccolini
gai lan, garlic chili oil, peanuts
Wagyu Fried Rice
maitake, trumpet mushrooms, garlic, egg
Crispy Potatoes
A5 fat, chinese sausage jam, koji sour cream
Crab Fried Rice
chino farms egg, lemon, old bay masago crisp
Mushroom Sisig
egg yolk, mustard seed, chili, pickled onion

Japanese A5

Miyazaki Strip Loin
Miyazaki Tenderloin

American Steaks

8 Oz Prime Filet
16 Oz Prime New York
38 Oz Dry Aged Ribeye

Other Plates

Grilled Half Chicken
lemongrass, nam jim jaew sauce, thai pickles
Short Rib Kare Kare
long beans, eggplant, bagoong peanut oil
Sambal Balado Clams
bacon, rice cakes, lime leaf, ginger
Dinuguan
braised beef cheek, coconut rice bread, shishito peppers
Pork Tomahawk Tocino
sweet beet glaze, mango sawsawan
Szechuan Spicy Seabass
cabbage, garlic chive, spicy broth, mala oil

Delectable Desserts

animae serves globally-inspired delectable desserts created with popular eastern flavors and ingredients

Sweets

Apple Yuzu Sorbet
sorrel cream, coconut crumble, green apple, yuzu meringue
Buko Pandan
young coconut mousse, pandan anglaise, pandan gelee
Chocolate Cremeux
miso sesame cream, chocolate crumble, korean chili cashew
Sakura Panna Cotta
feuilletine, fresh strawberry
Ube Profiteroles
ube pastry cream, coconut, cheese tuile

What 3,051 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

3,051 Reviews

B
Bryan
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food, service, and music was the best! I rarely write reviews but for this place I felt I needed to so I can share my experience. Came here for my wife’s bday and my wife told me this was one of the best restaurants ever. Mission accomplished. Thank you for a wonderful time!
Is this helpful?
M
Maria
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We celebrated my son’s birthday here and loved the service and the food. The staff was nice and friendly. The food was terrific, a fancy twist to our fav Filipino dishes. I would recommend it to our friends.
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J
John T.
San Diego
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Loud and pretentiously obnoxious. Food was good but not spectacular. Nice to be able to order selection of tapas.
Is this helpful?
V
Victoria
Chicago
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The restaurant impressed with its subtle yet rich flavors. The inviting and elegant atmosphere enhanced the dining experience. As for the service, it met expectations without exceeding them. Overall, a perfect choice for a refined meal.
Is this helpful?
F
Faith
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All of the dishes our family of 4 enjoyed were full of flavor. Some favorites were the Wontons, Crispy Tuna Rice, Beef Cheeks and Lemongrass chicken.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Mexico City
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Grandiosa recomendación de varios foodies, el lugar con muy buen ambiente y la comida sobresaliente
Is this helpful?
t
terry
Orange County
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We loved everything about this restaurant! We were served champagne upon arrival as we were celebrating our anniversary. Audrey was our server and she could not have been delightful ! She offered good suggestions as well and even brought us wagyu wontons because we hadn’t ordered them with our meal and she thought we’d love them and we did ! Everything was absolutely delicious ! We ended with dessert and chose two off the menu, Audrey’s favs and they brought a 3rd as an anniversary treat ! Like I said, we just loved their whole vibe and will be back! Do yourself a favor and go to this restaurant, you will not be disappointed !
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J
Jamal
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our 2nd time in 4 mths!! Didn't disappoint. 1st, The service was outstanding, accommodating OUR request for different seating. Happy to wait and then comped us 2 appetizers for the wait (that WE requested!) 2nd, the food was exquisite as usual. The short ribs, pig ears, and Wagyu fried rice were delicious. Music was 80's - 90's R&B and everyone was bobbing to the tunes. (Make you wish they had a dance floor!) Family style eating and not as expensive as I would have expected. Wonderful experience for us and will definitely come back. Highly recommend!!!
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AP
AudreyP
San Diego
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Everything was fantastic start to finish, too to bottom!
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D
Dakota
Salt Lake City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
They had incredible food. Even the side dishes turned out to be exceptional. We are excited to go back.
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FAQs

Animae is rated 4.8 stars by 3051 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Sep 19, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 81 times today

969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132

Dining areas

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross street
Pacific Highway and West Broadway
Neighborhood
Downtown
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Contemporary Asian, Californian, Steakhouse
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://animaesd.com/
Phone number
(619) 432-1225
Private party facilities
The Great Gatsby-meets-Madmen-meets-The Matrix interior is a fantastical futurist’s journey, transporting diners to the Shikoku firefly forest in Japan, an event venue that’s both ethereal and theatrical. ANIMAE is the perfect space to host and celebrate your special events.

Animae

Make a reservation

Why we love it

MICHELIN Plate

Dining areas

Additional information

Short Rib Kare Kare

Taiwanese Chicken

Grilled Half Chicken

Hot Dishes

Wonton

Taiwanese Chicken

Sweet & Sour Cauliflower

Hunan Lamb Chops

Crispy Pig Ear

Mantou

Cold Dishes

Hamachi

Tuna Crispy Rice

A5 Wagyu Tartare

Cucumbers

Ume Oysters

Beet Salad

Tuna Kinilaw

Sides

Coal Roasted Cabbage

Broccolini

Wagyu Fried Rice

Crispy Potatoes

Crab Fried Rice

Mushroom Sisig

Japanese A5

Miyazaki Strip Loin

Miyazaki Tenderloin

American Steaks

8 Oz Prime Filet

16 Oz Prime New York

38 Oz Dry Aged Ribeye

Other Plates

Grilled Half Chicken

Short Rib Kare Kare

Sambal Balado Clams

Dinuguan

Pork Tomahawk Tocino

Szechuan Spicy Seabass

Delectable Desserts

Sweets

Apple Yuzu Sorbet

Buko Pandan

Chocolate Cremeux

Sakura Panna Cotta

Ube Profiteroles

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Animae restaurant rated?

Is Animae currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information