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Animae, San Diego, CA
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Animae

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Visa Dining Collection

$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132

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2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 70 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Fancy
Located just steps from the waterfront, ANIMAE is where West Coast flair meets Asian soul. Under the direction of Executive Chef Tara Monsod, a James Beard Award finalist, the menu delivers bold, genre-defying dishes like her signature Pork Tomahawk Tocino—a smoky, sweet, deeply umami showstopper grilled over a traditional coal-fired oven.

Inside, ANIMAE stuns with a maximalist-meets-modern aesthetic: think art deco glam, velvet banquettes, mirrored ceilings, and an energy that’s both sultry and celebratory. Whether you're dining in the main room or sipping cocktails in the tucked-away lounge, every corner invites you to stay awhile.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Brian Malarkey

  • Award icon
    MICHELIN Plate2022

From the OpenTable editors: 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

Menu

Animae's menu was last updated on 4/30/2025.

Hot Dishes

  • Wonton

    wagyu, chili garlic oil, soy vinaigrette

    • Taiwanese Chicken

      schezuan peppercorn, hot honey, thai basil aioli

      • 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

            • Gimmari

              shirmp & pork roll, gochujang, trout roe, perilla leaf

              Cold Dishes

              • Tuna Crispy Rice

                charred chili ponzu, spicy aioli, turnip

                • Cucumbers

                  soy, fresno chili, sesame, cilantro

                  • Tuna Kinilaw

                    coconut, calamansi, cilantro oil

                    • Nori Ceasar Salad

                      little gem, crispy anchovy, parmesan

                      • Spring Pea Salad

                        coconut cream, pinipig, lime leaf, cotija

                        • Mussel Escabeche

                          cucumber, Nam Jim seafood, pickled green strawberry

                          Sides

                          • Coal Roasted Cabbage

                            brown butter miso, charred lime

                            • 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

                                  • Charred Carrots

                                    maple black garlic glaze, smoked almonds

                                    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

                                                  • Pork Tomahawk Tocino

                                                    sweet beet glaze, mango sawsawan

                                                    • Szechuan Spicy Seabass

                                                      cabbage, garlic chive, spicy broth, mala oil

                                                      • Yu Xiang Rice Cakes & Shiitake

                                                        green beans, mushrooms, pickled fresno, cilantro

                                                        • Lobster Palabok

                                                          bucatini pasta, chicharron, trout roe

                                                          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

                                                                    • Turon Tart

                                                                      carmalized brown sugar custard, jackfruit gel, crispy wafers, banana ice cream

                                                                      Last updated: April 30, 2025

                                                                      What 3,525 people are saying

                                                                      Animae reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

                                                                      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

                                                                      Review summary

                                                                      AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                      Animae, a downtown San Diego gem, dazzles with "amazing food," "exceptional service," and a "stunning ambiance." Guests rave about the "creativity and care" in the dishes, with standout offerings like the tuna crispy rice and charred cabbage. The setting is "modern but comfortable," perfect for special occasions or a stylish night out.
                                                                      3,525 Reviews

                                                                      1. Michael

                                                                        San Diego5 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined 2 days ago

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        Heart service and delicious, unusual flavors that were well-presented.

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                                                                      2. Michelle VIP

                                                                        Kyoto3 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined 3 days ago

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        Kudos to the chef for the Filipino fusion dishes. Loved the lobster palabok and all the other dishes we tried are delish (mantao, roasted cabbage, ribeye, turon tart). Even the cocktails are amazing.

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                                                                      3. Kathy VIP

                                                                        San Diego21 reviews

                                                                        2.0

                                                                        Dined 3 days ago

                                                                        1. Overall 2
                                                                        2. Food 2
                                                                        3. Service 4
                                                                        4. Ambience 3
                                                                        Restaurant ambience was creative but noise level at 5:30PM on a Friday was loud. We had difficulty hearing each other across the table but no problem hearing the people next table to us. Something is off there. Service is attentive and professional which we expected at a restaurant with this price point. Food quality was meh, not impressed: Taiwanese chicken paired with an overly sweet sauce. Tuna Crispy Rice was not to portion. The $23 dish should have 80% tuna and 20% rice. We didn’t see any Tuna. After a few bites of crispy rice, our teeth and temples hurt by chewing on the crunchy rice. Lobster Palabok has 6 small pieces of lobster chunks which definitely not worth the $85 price tag. 16oz Australia Wagyu was cold. The cost: expensive for the type of food we got. The bill was $400 for 2 people without alcoholic drinks. It had a 4% surcharge on the bill. We were lucky to find street parking on Kettner Blvd and paid $2.50 for one hour parking. After 6PM, street parking is free. It is OK to try once but won’t return anytime soon.

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                                                                      4. OpenTable Diner VIP

                                                                        San Diego1 review

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined 5 days ago

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        Excellent!! The food was amazing and service exceptional

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                                                                      5. Melissa

                                                                        San Diego3 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined 6 days ago

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        had a great dinner here. we loved the service, ambience and food was great! we especially enjoyed the Tawainese Chicken! Cannot wait to go back for that. We also had the Short Rib, a definite must try as well as Crab Fried Rice. We also tried the Australian Wagyu, and it was good but not a scene stealer. That chicken though…..

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                                                                      6. Adam VIP

                                                                        Los Angeles19 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined on June 8, 2025

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        We had an amazing dinner here! There were five of us, and everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The quality of the meat was outstanding—tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The atmosphere was stylish and vibrant, and the service was warm and attentive. It was a truly memorable dining experience, and we’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend!

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                                                                      7. Tina

                                                                        Unspecified2 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined on June 6, 2025

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        We were celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary. We were very warmly greeted upon entering the restaurant. Having never dined with Animae before, we were delighted to find the space very beautifully decorated and very inviting. After showing us to our table our waiter, Kina (so?) came over, introduced himself and wished us a happy anniversary. Our waiter went over the menu with us and assisted us in making decisions with appetizers, entree and sides. Kina was very professional, personable and attentive. We enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, salad, steak and a side. The food was amazing! The entire evening was wonderful. What an incredible experience; can’t wait to go back!

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                                                                      8. Debbie

                                                                        Phoenix / Arizona7 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined on June 6, 2025

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        Animae is an amazing experience with great service, ambiance and wonderful food! The setting is modern but comfortable. There are many soft surfaces which absorb excess noise which many restaurants fail to consider. The background music was contemporary and energetic but not overwhelming and did require that we shout over it to have a conversation (again a factor some other restaurants ignore.) The food is unique and all the dishes had fantastic combinations of flavors. The meal was expensive but well worth it!!

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                                                                      9. Elizabeth

                                                                        San Diego1 review

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined on June 2, 2025

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        Animae is a gem in downtown San Diego! From the moment we walked in, the service was warm, attentive, and genuinely exceptional. The staff made us feel celebrated, especially for my partner’s birthday - they surprised us with a few complimentary dishes that were not only generous, but absolutely delicious. Every course was thoughtful and flavorful, and you can truly taste the creativity and care in Chef Tara Monsod’s work. The ambiance is stunning, the cocktails are spot on, and the entire experience felt special. We’ll definitely be back!

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                                                                      10. Stephen

                                                                        San Diego2 reviews

                                                                        5.0

                                                                        Dined on June 1, 2025

                                                                        1. Overall 5
                                                                        2. Food 5
                                                                        3. Service 5
                                                                        4. Ambience 5
                                                                        Service was top notch and we’re very attentive while also not bothering us. It was perfect. The food was incredible and couldn’t have been more pleased.

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                                                                      FAQs

                                                                      Animae is rated 4.8 stars by 3525 OpenTable diners.

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

                                                                      1. Home
                                                                      2. United States
                                                                      3. San Diego
                                                                      4. San Diego
                                                                      5. Downtown

                                                                      Make a reservation

                                                                      2 people
                                                                      8:30 PM
                                                                      Booked 70 times today
                                                                      Google Map for Animae

                                                                      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.
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