ANIMAE’s eclectic West Coast cuisine, layered with Asian influences, comes to life under Executive Chef Tara Monsod. Applying a California cooking style to ANIMAE’S traditional coal-fired oven and grill, Chef Monsod’s menu is as thoughtful as it is refined, elevating local produce and seasonal ingredients to create a lively and progressive culinary program.
Fashionable restaurant showcasing high-end steak & Asian fusion dishes in a luxurious atmosphere. Based on 476 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.5 stars. Price $$$$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No delivery
Address:
969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 432-1225
Social Profile: 
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Hours
| Friday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Saturday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed
Holiday hours
|
| Tuesday | 5–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: animaesd.comopentable.com
Reviews
Soraya Allen
Animae left me utterly blown away with its contemporary ambiance and elevated flavors. From the moment I stepped in, I was captivated by the modern and chic atmosphere. The menu featured a delightful fusion of cuisines, and each dish surpassed my expectations. I was blown away by the exquisite flavors and inventive combinations.
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H T
Not sure if worth the price at all. Have had fancy dinners for cheaper. The combination of flavors of some dishes were good, but not all that interesting. Spicy lamb noodle was solid though and combined great Chinese noodles with Malaysian flavors. Pork chop was good and juicy. Their mango sticky rice was good, avocado mouse had an interesting presentation but tasted like an avocado smoothie. The lamb and pork dumplings were solid, recommend.
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Kristina Bolt
Food was excellent. The atmosphere was really great too not too overly Asian and over the top but subtle.
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Zeeshan Sabir
Writing a restaurant review after some time today. Animae deserves one.
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Ali S
Brian Malarkey, you genius, you have done it again! Animae smashed away every expectation I had. Located in the swanky, Pacific Gate building, this is more than a restaurant, this is a statement.
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Ivana A.
I’m sorry to have to make such a negative review, but unfortunately the reality is that I had a really bad dinner in this restaurant, the food not only disgusted me in terms of taste, heaviness and greasiness, but it also gave me nausea and food poisoning for the whole night.
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Isabel
I came for a friends gathering and we shared all the food and ate family style. I ordered four cocktails; piña envy, all that glitters, botanic panic, and one punch mango. All were good. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The wait staff was incredibly sweet, made conversation with us, and answered all of our questions. I had a really nice time here. Water was always full. The bathroom and restaurant are beautiful. The whole design of this restaurant is top notch, an experience in of itself. Highly recommend you give it a chance if you are considering coming. They handled our group of 5 perfectly. Across from us was a group of about 12 who all looked happy. Animae is recognized as a plate honoree meaning that Michelin recognizes that they serve “very good food”. That means Michelin recognizes this restaurant and they are eligible to move up in tier which I hope they receive that honor soon.
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Kenneth Peter Lee
As always, Chef Tara doesn’t disappoint. The caviar shrimp toast is a staple favorite for me, but tonight’s most memorable dishes were the tomahawk tocino– sweet and tender, with steaky feels, and the chocolate cremaux — a play on textures and flavors, with chili and the various crispy bits all around it. Service is always good, my husband couldn’t help but comment how much training these guys undergo. The ambiance is definitely high-class, cozy, and the interiors are well thought of. All in all, made for a memorable birthday celebration for my husband
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Micah Weesner
This was my first time dining at Animae. The experience was incredible. The Menu quality and originality were excellent. The head chef is Filipino and loves to spread some of her cultural heritage into the dishes. They are excellently balanced in flavor and price. I recommend grabbing one dish from each menu section (Hot, Cold, Sides, Plates, and Steaks) for the whole experience. Their cirspy potatoes were probably the best potatoes I’ve ever had. Make sure you try some of their cocktails too! The staff was friendly and helpful, frequently checking in on our expertise and guiding our menu choices. The atmosphere has a moody-Great-Gatsby vibe that is perfect for an intimate night with a significant other or a way to unwind quietly with friends. I highly recommend this restaurant and plan to return several times to see what new creations they can impress me with!
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A T
Animae was a great experience from the food to the service to the atmosphere. Loved it. My favorite thing was the Taiwanese Chicken, the crispy potatoes and the chocolate cremeux. I also really enjoyed the cumin lamb noodle and the caviar toast but it was very heavy. I’ll say the Wagyu is very good but idk that it’s worth its price.
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