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Animae, San Diego, CA
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Animae

$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
A photo of Animae restaurant

Animae

4.8
$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
Downtown / Gaslamp

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 76 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Fancy
  • Innovative
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 they're an Icon

Executive chef: Brian Malarkey

  • Award icon

    MICHELIN Plate

    2022

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
  • 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.
  • 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

Experiences

  • Kamayan Christmas at Animae

    US$123.27 per person

    Dec 24, 2024 only
    Join Chef Tara Monsod for an incredible Filipino tradition....a Kamayan feast! Every table will receive a beautiful spread of whole fish, pork tocino, grilled prawns, shortrib bistek and more, all served on banana leaves. We invite you to enjoy this one of a kind Christmas experience with Chef Tara at Animae. $110 per person. Please note the menu is fixed for this experience. Everyone will be receiving the same feast. Substitutions cannot be made. We hope to see you on Christmas Eve!
    Kamayan Christmas at Animae photo
  • NYE at ANIMAE

    US$128.87 per person

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Enjoy a glamorous New Year's Eve celebration at ANIMAE! $115, 4 course prix fixe menu to be released soon. Parties of 2 - 5 have reserved the table for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Parties of 6+ have reserved the table for 2 hours and 15 minutes. We kindly ask that you keep your experience within this time frame in order to honor later bookings. Thank you!
    NYE at ANIMAE photo
  • LATE NIGHT NYE at ANIMAE

    US$145.68 per person

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Enjoy a glamorous New Year's Eve celebration at ANIMAE! $130, 4 course prix fixe menu from Chef Tara Monsod. Your experience includes a champagne toast to ring in the new year at midnight!
    LATE NIGHT NYE at ANIMAE photo

What 3,211 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

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Animae in San Diego offers a Michelin-worthy dining experience with "exquisite" dishes and a "stunning" ambiance. The restaurant excels in Filipino cuisine, with standout items like the Taiwanese chicken and Wagyu. Guests rave about the "excellent service," emphasizing attentive staff and memorable culinary adventures. Perfect for special occasions!

3,211 Reviews
  1. Dana

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Very good food for sharing. Excellent wines and cocktail. We shared starters and short ribs. Lamb, Taiwanese chicken, potatoes and rice were tasty.

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  2. Samantha

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The quality of the food was amazing. Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection. Can't wait to come back!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Randall

    San Diego

    44 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    44 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Well now. It was a romantic date night and Animae was the Choice. Parking is $20 just know that. On arrival we weee greeted by three lovely ladies and they were most welcoming. We were escorted to our table (the very first table off the lobby and right next to a service station. So not the best, but o chose to let it be and see how it goes. How it went was marvelous. The staff was very quiet and courteous and the service staton was not noisy at all. Being the first table by the lobby and right next to the bar made it a bit more noisy, but nothing to complain about. The server was great. She knew the menu and when we were chatting about menu items she hit it out of the park with recommendations. We ordered some drinks and -low - in your face fantastic. $18 each or more so the tab runs up pretty quickly. The crudo and the cucumbers were a delight. The mains, the filet and the tomahawk pork chill were a 10 out of 10. The sides- the potatoes and the wagyu fried rice were stellar. Probably the best Fride rice we’d ever had. Really. We did not have dessert as we were full. When anyone got up from the table, the server put the chair in place and re-folded the napkin and laid it on the table. A nice touch. This is a high end of high end places. $395 all in for two. 100% worth it. If there was one thing I would change is that I would lay cocktail napkins or a coaster because our drinks would sweat, make a water puddle on the table and then drip on us both as we raised them to our mouths. A smallest of small nits to pick. Near flawless.

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  4. Annee

    Seattle

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Phenomenal from start to finish. It’s a beautiful space, our server. Bonnie, was amazing, food was incredible. The filet and the boa buns were standouts. Great experience!

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  5. Abbas

    Gloucestershire

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    All the food and service was fantastic. Had a really great time throughout the night. A little pricey but worth it. Only dish I didn’t care for was the duck but the Taiwanese chicken was sensational.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Jessie

    Orange County

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing experience from beginning to end! Came for dinner for girls night out. The place was a little dimmer than the pictures but the vibe, ambiance, food, service and music was incredible. Austin our server was fantastic and gave us a night to remember! Music played was late 90s early 00s rb and hip hop. Drinks ordered were Artemis, Turon espresso, midnight in Manila, Sabai and tequila. Drinks were good. The midnight in Manila was like an ube pina colada! Food- Crispy pig ears- was a crowd favorite, Wagyu dumplings, crab fried rice, spiny lobster palabok, tomahawk tocino, A5 Australian waygu, crispy potatoes and the seabass. Desert- ube preforeles and panna cotta! Overall, a must go to spot to check out at least once!!!

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  7. Carly

    Toronto

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Truly exceptional, absolutely delicious food and fantastic service. Can’t wait until I’m in San Diego again to eat here again, highly recommended.

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  8. Faye

    Phoenix

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food and customer service were both excellent however due to the high costs, it may be awhile before I return to this restaurant.

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  9. Rosa

    Greater Boston

    13 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was ok. The mushrooms appetizers were a hit. Drinks and sake were amazing. Music was so loud I felt I was eating at a dancing club.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Tina

    San Diego

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious. The service and atmosphere were exceptional. Truly enjoyed our meal and will definitely come back again.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Animae is rated 4.8 stars by 3211 OpenTable diners.

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

A photo of Animae restaurant

Animae

4.8
$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
Downtown / Gaslamp

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 76 times today
Experiences are available.
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
  • 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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