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Animae, San Diego, CA
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Animae

$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Fancy
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.

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2 people
8:00 p.m.
Booked 55 times today

Why we love it

Executive chef: Brian Malarkey

  • Award icon

    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.
  • Private party contact
    Jarrod Zimpfer: (619) 432-1225
  • Location
    969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighbourhood
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • 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

Hot 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

                                                                          Last updated: August 30, 2024

                                                                          What 3,046 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

                                                                          3,046 Reviews

                                                                          1. terry

                                                                            Orange County

                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                            5.0

                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                            Dined 1 day 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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                                                                          2. Jamal

                                                                            San Diego

                                                                            7 reviews

                                                                            vip
                                                                            5.0

                                                                            7 reviews

                                                                            Dined 2 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!!!

                                                                            Is this helpful?

                                                                          3. AudreyP

                                                                            San Diego

                                                                            4 reviews

                                                                            vip
                                                                            5.0

                                                                            4 reviews

                                                                            Dined 2 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                            3. Service 4
                                                                            4. Ambience 4
                                                                            Everything was fantastic start to finish, too to bottom!

                                                                            Is this helpful?

                                                                          4. Dakota

                                                                            Salt Lake City

                                                                            1 review

                                                                            5.0

                                                                            1 review

                                                                            Dined 3 days ago

                                                                            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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                                                                          5. DAVID

                                                                            San Diego

                                                                            7 reviews

                                                                            vip
                                                                            5.0

                                                                            7 reviews

                                                                            Dined 3 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                            Always a great experience, never a bad dish and great service. The vibe is also 10/10

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                                                                          6. Nicholas

                                                                            New York City

                                                                            1 review

                                                                            5.0

                                                                            1 review

                                                                            Dined 3 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                            I'm over the moon with this experience: top-notch service, presentation, taste & atmosphere.

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                                                                          7. Dan

                                                                            San Diego

                                                                            1 review

                                                                            vip
                                                                            5.0

                                                                            1 review

                                                                            Dined 3 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                            Animae never fails to delight. Ever. Our favorite dining experience in San Diego, it’s a fun, beautiful experience.

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                                                                          8. Steven

                                                                            San Diego

                                                                            16 reviews

                                                                            5.0

                                                                            16 reviews

                                                                            Dined 3 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                            3. Service 4
                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                            Food was outstanding: Flavorable and nuanced. Pleasing presentation, exceptional taste with a wide variety of flavors. This was an energetic evening with moderate jazz music and lots of people talking. That's not to say it was too noisy; it's just not designed to be a quiet place. Server was excellent in describing foods and beverages -- everything was delectable. Will certainly go there again soon.

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                                                                          9. mary

                                                                            Seattle

                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                            4.0

                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                            Dined 3 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 4
                                                                            2. Food 4
                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                            4. Ambience 4
                                                                            Very flavorful. Crispy rice hamachi is too rice heavy. Wagyu fried rice was ground beef, not pieces of meat. Both flavorful but heavy. Hamachi and dumplings were perfection!

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                                                                          10. OpenTable Diner

                                                                            San Diego

                                                                            2 reviews

                                                                            5.0

                                                                            2 reviews

                                                                            Dined 4 days ago

                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                            2. Food 4
                                                                            3. Service 4
                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                            Mushroom sisig wasn’t my cup of tea, it was quite sour and salty for my taste. Wouldn’t order it again. All other dishes were great. I’ve had better service with Bonnie (when I dined there a couple of months ago) compared to last night with a different server.

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                                                                          FAQs

                                                                          Animae is rated 4.8 stars by 3046 OpenTable diners.

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

                                                                          Make a reservation

                                                                          2 people
                                                                          8:00 p.m.
                                                                          Booked 55 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
                                                                          • Neighbourhood
                                                                            Downtown / Gaslamp
                                                                          • 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.
                                                                          • Private party contact
                                                                            Jarrod Zimpfer: (619) 432-1225
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