Party of 11 please :) Been wanting to try this place since moving here and the opportunity finally came when close friends were visiting the area. First, do make reservations. Even if it's only 2 people, make the reservation. This place is always at capacity! 2nd. Don't underestimate the menu or the portions. The shareable sides, although they may look small, they are filling! For our party, whatever we ordered, we doubled it since we were a big group. Starters: tuna kinilaw, crispy pig ears, taiwanese chicken, cucumbers, Mains: Lamb chops, pork tomahawk tocino, lobster palabok, wagyu fried rice; short rib kare kare, roasted cabbage Dessert: apple yuzu sorbet, buko pandan, chocolate cremux, turon tart, ube profiteroles All i can say is wow. Just wow. This was a huge representation of our Filipino Culture and Chef Tara nailed it down. Filipino food is under rated and sometimes doesn't look presentable, however, Chef Tara takes food that gives us nostalgia and makes it into something that just has you say, "oh wow". The tocino is like no other. It melts in your mouth. I am not a huge fan of lamb, but whatever they did to that, keep doing it. Everything and i mean everything was so good. I can't say enough praises and Chef truly deserves all the recognition. We had the opportunity to converse and get a little but of background and it's just really nice to hear about the humble beginnings to where it led to present day. This was probably one of the best meals i had in a very long time and i am so glad i waited to enjoy this meal with great company. I also loved their selection of music that they had in the background. Old school hiphop and r&b! There is valet available as well as street parking. No dedicated changing tables if you have little ones. read more

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Wanted a nice date night and asked a friend for recommendations and this was one of them! I was initially intrigued with the ambiance and menu, but got more interested when I discovered it's Filipino food! I've never had much Filipino food but always wanted to really try it out so I'm happy to finally have the experience - of course the dishes here are more elevated. We had a reservation and arrived early, they just had us wait to be seated. Note that there is valet parking available to you right at the corner of the stoplight that the restaurant is located. If you're looking to self park..I really don't know where it's located since I'm not a local to SD area. Menu had a huge variety of food - it was hard to choose what to get! We opted for lobster palabok, short rib kare kare, tuna kinlaw, and hunan lamb. For dessert we chose the buko pandan. Everything we had was GOOD! Flavors were there and nothing felt overly salted. My fiance LOVED the kare kare because he loves peanut/sesame dishes and oh man it was rich. The short rib is very tender and drenched in the sauce. It's a heavy dish so recommend to get it with a side of rice! Tuna kinlaw was interesting because I never really ate a meal with calamanci but it worked really well and I quite enjoyed it. Very refreshing for an appetizer and light as well. Lobster palabok was also really good. Lobster pieces were fair for the price point and noodles were well coated with the sauce. Noodles were a nice al dente. This dish is also a bit rich so recommend to have this as a sharing dish rather than as your solo entree. Hunan lamb was delicious! Never gotten lamb chops but it was a good sizeable portion for an appetizer. Meat was tender and did not feel dry at all. There's a bit of a kick due to the added peppers, but I think it balanced out the other flavors it brought. Buko pandan is a good solid choice f you like pandan and coconut. I grew up with it so flavors were nostalgic and just as I expected. Everything we ate here was really good and we still talked about it days after coming here. I can believe you'll enjoy anything you try here but if I had to recommend one thing, probably the short rib kare kare. I would love to go back here and try out their other dishes! I've heard their menu does update every so often so it'd be nice to see what other dishes they create. read more

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Yeah!! Real Good! Chic drinks! Nice crowd! Great music! Amazing food!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! read more

Animae - Desert! Mango matcha something! - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Animae is a great representation of how Asian/Filipino flavors can be elevated to a fine dining experience. Before diving into the food, I have to mention the service as it was excellent, and the ambiance completely blew me away. It's definitely perfect for a date night. We ended up ordering almost everything on the menu. The standouts for me were the Crispy Pig Ears, Short Rib Kare Kare, and my personal favorite, the Pork Tomahawk Tocino. The pork was incredibly juicy and packed with flavor so good I ate right off the bone lol. As for drinks, everything was good. At $20-22 per cocktail, they're on the pricier side, but it's part of the experience. I'm usually an Old Fashioned guy, but the A5 Old Fashioned was just okay. Overall, it was a great experience. Would I come back? Maybe read more

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I think this place is definitely one of the best restaurants in San Diego. From the moment you enter, you can tell the vibe is luxurious and elegant. The food and drink plating was incredible, and everything was delicious. The portion sizes were very generous. I think it's a perfect spot for a team meeting or any kind of special event. Food : 5 stars Vibe : 5 stars Service : 5 stars Tip: I don't drink alcohol, but they have an awesome mocktail selection! read more

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From the moment we walked in, Animae dazzled. Think soaring ceilings, art‑deco glam, and velvet banquettes that feel like a stage for elevated dining, sultry, chic, and absolutely Instagram‑worthy. What stood out on the menu (and truly delivered): * Crispy Pig Ear - A flavor-packed revelation. The tamarind glaze gave me serious Pad Thai vibes tangy, rich, and that pig ear texture? Perfectly crisp, yet tender enough to savor. * Bagoong - My husband said it "reminded him of home," and honestly, that says it all. A nostalgic, elevated comfort bite I'd happily return for. * Wagyu Fried Rice - Simply delicious. Umami heaven with beef, pork, mushrooms, egg, and crispy garlic delivering layers of savory complexity. * Crudo - Bright, balanced, and gorgeously presented an elegant contrast to the bolder flavors on the table. I loved the coconut milk added to it. The cocktails were equally noteworthy. The turon espresso martini was creamy, smooth, and expertly crafted just what you want before or after a flavor-forward meal. Service matched the setting: our servers were knowledgeable, warm, and clearly passionate about guiding us through the menu . In short: Animae isn't just a meal it's an event. With its glamorous ambiance, inventive Filipino-Asian plates, and standout drink lineup, it feels like San Diego's most stylish culinary date night. I'll absolutely be back. read more

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Amazing experience dining here . One of the better interpretation of Filipino dishes that I have tried . Everything that we ordered was good . Ambiance was classy . Service was excellent . HIghly recommend the short rib kare kare and the crispy pig ears read more

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Animae serves eclectic and elevated Asian (mostly Filipino-inspired) cuisine in a beautifully appointed space. We were greeted warmly upon entry and quickly seated even though we showed up a bit early for our reservation. We ordered the short rib kare kare and pork tomahawk tocino which were both quite rich and generously portioned for two (we ended up having leftovers to take home). We also ordered the charred carrots and later requested a bowl of rice to balance out the heavier meat dishes. I also had the Turon espresso martini which was refreshing and tasty. This seems like a popular place for date night and special occasions, I would definitely love to stop by again next time I'm in town to try out some of the other dishes. read more

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Nice place.... Great experience , enjoy the food. Mostly love to be with my love one . Service was alright , nice decor , clean. Parking can be very challenge ending up with valet parking :) read more

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It's been almost two years since my last visit and I wanted to dine-in again to try some of the new additions to their menu. Animae has some great Asian-inspired dishes and if you've never been before, you need to make a reservation now! If you arrive early or you're trying to grab a table without a reservation, you can chill at the bar and grab some drinks. They have some delicious cocktails like the Kyuri Kooler, which tastes like a calamansi ginger beer. Super refreshing and a very easy cocktail to drink! Once seated, our waitress went through the menu and offered some of her recommendations. All of their dishes are meant to be shared so if you have a large group, you'll have to order multiples. Mantou: Comes with 3 pieces. These looked like they got a bit smaller since the last time I had them but the taste and texture haven't changed a bit. Very soft...almost borderline feels like it's undercooked, not in a bad way though. The bread is slightly sweet by itself and the salty soy glaze pairs very nicely. Kampachi Crudo: This came recommended by our server and if you have more than 4 people sharing, you'll definitely need to order more. At first glance, it looks like a dessert, with the apple ponzu jelly. I had my doubts but wow, this was such a delicious and refreshing appetizer. The jelly cubes and fish with the crunchy apple cubes were such a nice contrast and there was a delicious mix of sweet and savory flavors. Tuna Crispy Rice: This was like a deconstructed tuna crispy rice and it's also served cold. It's more like a fried rice dish. The rice was crispy for a cold dish and the tuna was shredded and mixed in. I think it would've been better as a hot dish though. Coal Roasted Cabbage: Obligatory vegetable dish. Comes with several large cabbage leaves, mixed in with this miso paste. So good and at the end, we were licking the plate clean. Wagyu Fried Rice: Wagyu feels like a buzzword when it comes to fried rice but I was impressed with theirs. You get some decently-sized fatty meat pieces that just melt in your mouth. I just wish the portion size was bigger because it's honestly big enough for just one person. Lobster Palabok: Out of everything we ordered, the palabok was my least favorite. When you try the sauce, you can immediately taste the lobster flavors but it's a little salty. The noodles were kind of hard and a lot thicker than a normal palabok. I think if they had utilized the typical thinner and softer noodles, this would have been great. Pork Tomahawk Tocino: Expensive but a great dish to share. It comes with the meat pre-sliced, laid next to the bone, which still has a decent amount of meat on it. The flavor is sweet and salty, very similar to char siu. This was my favorite dish of the night and would recommend it to anyone dining in for the first time! Despite all the food we ordered, there's still a lot on the menu to try. Will be back soon! read more

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Food: 9.5/10 Service: 8/10 Ambiance: 10/10 I had the most wonderful time at animae. We got the filet, wagyu fried rice, cucumbers, and mushroom sisigs. Everything was so good, and my craving for a good steak was satisfied. I was so content. I just wished we made a reservation before going because we had to sit at the bar. Tried their version of the eastside cocktail and I fell in love. The place was also beautiful; big but also cozy at the same time. It was a wonderful experience. I WILL be back soon. read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here with my boyfriend to celebrate our 9 year anniversary! Impressive customer service, beautiful plating, and a grand ambiance. Yellowtail - Beautiful presentation! The yellowtail paired well with strawberries in a citric sauce. Mantou Buns - Loved how soft the bao was and the butter was warm and creamy. Tocino Tomahawk - Tender, juicy, and filling - got to say this one's my favorite. Taste stayed true to Filipino tocino flavors. It was also super saucy, we left the plate clean! Wagyu Fried Rice - Crispy fried rice with wagyu pieces. The micro greens were a nice surprise and added some crunch and freshness. For our anniversary, I was surprised they even gave us a complementary matcha mousse cake. The outler layer was a soft, creamy matcha frosting and inside was a soft matcha cake. Super delicious! My favorite part of the meal was the Tocino Tomahawk and Matcha dessert. Recommend trying! read more

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What an amazing experience we had here this week! We arrived on time for our reservation, and were seated right away at a two-top table, with a plush velvet chair, and very plush velvet bench seating. The high ceilings, velvets, and lighting help to create drama with a more modern feel. Our server was great, asked about any food allergies, and walked us through the menu. She told us to think about it as more family style/shareable plates, and about how many to order per section (and perhaps when our first pass at what we wanted to order being too aggressive/too much food). We both started with the 2 to mango - a Japanese whiskey, amaretto, toasted rice coconut cream, and coconut cheese foam drink concoction that came in a tall glass, with a nice amount of ice, mint and dried mango on top. It was absolutely delicious (and hard to believe there was alcohol in it - in a good way). From there, we started with two dishes, one from the cold, and one from the hot sections of the menu. On the cold side - the tuna kinilaw was delightful - it was very fresh, and came with coconut, calamansi, cilantro chili oil. This sauce of sorts was so good, I dipped the chicken in it. The hot dish we ordered was the Taiwanese Chicken - a perfectly crispy, not greasy, juicy chicken with hot honey, and a thai basil aioli dipping sauce. WOW. Explosion of flavors! Next we had the crab friend rice - for a 'side' dish - it was massive (see photos), and not at all your typical fried rice - it was fluffy, flavorful, and not heavy at all. With the rice, we had the assam sea bass curry, which was perfectly cooked, and came with a tamarind Malaysian curry, tomato, eggplant, fennel, okra. It was yet another very dynamic, fun, tasty dish. Overall - this restaurant is wonderful - from the fun, playful, dynamic dishes and cocktails, to the amazing service, and dining environment. We will absolutely be back!! read more

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Had an amazing time at Animae! Best food experience we've had in a long time. Ambiance and service were terrific. Our favorite item was the fried chicken and crispy tuna rice. The kare kare short ribs had a sauce that was a little bitter. Wouldn't try that again. Everything else was exceptional. Will def be back! read more

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This place had pretty good flavors and was quite busy. Definitely expect the price to be on the more expensive-side. The food was enjoyable: We ordered: Midnight in Manila - 5/5 good cocktail and tasted like Ube Short Rib Kare Kare- 4/5, tender meat but on the smaller side of portion Pork Tomahawk Tocino - 5/5 Great char on the meat and well glazed Crab fried rice - 3/5 Good fried rice, but didn't really wow me much (maybe I had too high of an expectation?) Dessert: Ube Profiteroles - 3/5 One aspect that left me a bit disappointed was the service. While our waiter was aware that we were celebrating an anniversary (as noted in our reservation), there was no special acknowledgement of the occasion. I noticed other guests receiving small complimentary desserts for their birthdays so I had hoped for a similar gesture. Maybe my expectations were too high, but for the price point, I anticipated a more personal and attentive experience. The ambiance was unique; dim lighting with a mix of Japanese art and Filipino wallpaper decor. Parking options were primarily valet ($20 I think?) , though where was some street parking available a 5-8minute walk away, which was free after 6 pm? Overall it was an okay experience, but I feel that one visit was enough for me. read more

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This place is amazing! Food was so good, service was excellent and valet parking available right in front of the building. First time ever having Filipino food this fancy, definitely a unique and incredible experience. Highly recommend! read more

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Animae still stands at my favorite San Diego restaurant. It's definitely on the pricier end so I'll save it for special occasions. It's hard to snag a reservation so plan in advance if you can. The ambiance is really nice and this time I was seated in a booth next to the window. I ordered almost all of the same items as I had during my first visit, but this time also opted for the 8oz wagyu. It was pricy but worth every penny. The wagyu melted in my mouth like butter and I would have ordered more if it weren't for the price tag. I honestly still dream about this Wagyu and can't wait to go back to Animae for more! read more

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I've had Animae bookmarked for the longest time, and I can't believe it took me this long to finally come try it! Now that I've gotten a taste, I can't wait to come back! Delicious Asian fusion dishes with an upscale ambiance. It's on the pricier side especially considering their small portions, but I think it's well worth it and perfect for special occasions or if you just feeling like treating yourself! I think coming with a group of 3-5 would be perfect as their dishes are meant to be shared, that way you're able to order as many things to try as possible! We had a large group so we doubled up on a lot of things. ARTEMIS (COCKTAIL): We were still waiting for the rest of our party, so some of us decided to grab drinks at the bar while we waited to be seated. I was drawn to the Artemis because of the lychee liquer, and ended up being happy with my choice! It was light and refreshing, and my friend ended up ordering one too after trying mine. CRISPY PIG EAR: I didn't think I'd enjoy this one, but I found myself reaching back for more. I expected more of a hard, crunchy texture given the "crispy" description, but it had some chewiness to it. MANTOU: One order comes with 3 pieces. The buns were soft and fluffy, with the perfect little savory flavor bomb inside! KAMPACHI CRUDO: Light and refreshing! The apple pieces added the perfect amount of sweetness and texture. TUNA CRISPY RICE: We were expecting crispy rice with a bed of tuna on top, but instead the tuna was mixed in with the rice. The rice still managed to stay crispy though! Perfect texture and went well with the spicy aioli sauce. MUSHROOM SISIG: Savory and delicious with the perfect amount of vinegar and pickled onion. Went well with the pork tomahawk tocino, whenever there was too much fatty flavor in our mouths, we'd grab a bite of the mushroom sisig to help cut the fat. WAGYU FRIED RICE: Was a little surprised when this came out because of all the greens on top, but once we gave it a mix, everything ended up being pretty well balanced. I enjoyed the taste but couldn't help but feel the portion was tiny. LOBSTER PALABOK: I probably enjoyed this the least out of everything we ordered, although I wouldn't say it was bad...just not quite what we expected. I wish there were more lobster pieces and that the sauce was slightly thicker to better coat the noodles. SHORT RIB KARE KARE: Super tender meat that fell right off the bone. Probably one of my favorites of the night! If you aren't sure what to get for your main dish, you can't go wrong with this one. PORK TOMAHAWK TOCINO: Great for large groups! We placed 2 orders for our party of 9 and it was a good amount for each person to grab a few pieces. Very reminiscent of char siu! I will say that one order was much fattier than the other, but overall I still enjoyed this and would definitely want to order it again the next time I come. If your party is large enough to share this, I highly recommend ordering it! Overall, loved my experience here at Animae and can't wait to come back again in the future! The only negative is that parking will be tough...you can either try your luck with street parking, or opt for valet. read more

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This place was absolutely amazing! I took my husband here for an early Father's Day dinner and it was such a great experience! Very couple friendly for a date night and family friendly as well! The food was to die for, everything we had was cooked to perfection, it literally melts your mouth. Not only was the food and atmosphere amazing, but our server was Top Tier! Stacy went Above and Beyond for us, I cannot stress that enough! She made the occasion so special for our early celebration, she was truly amazing and so so sweet. This was such a breathtaking experience that my husband and I decided to make this our Go-To spot from here on out when we decide to have a date night, or if we want to take our families somewhere special! This was an amazing date night us. It is a little pricey, but I promise you it is beyond worth it! read more

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Food was very good! Our waitress provided best customer service, gave great recommendations on drinks and food on the menu. Our table was for two was well set in great lighting, everything was perfect! read more

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Painfully mid. Service was good, atmosphere had a club vibe. Food was just mediocre though. Nothing really stood out or was memorable. For 4 people at over $600 I expected more read more

Food 10/10 service 10/10 ambiance 10/10. Everything tasted familiar but elevated just a little more to make it a more enjoyable fine dining experience. We had almost everything and I was not disappointed. Food and drinks were amazing. 100/10 read more

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We came here for my birthday dinner and loved everything we ordered! The service was also amazing. Our waiter checked on us all the time and even gave me dessert for my birthday! The restaurant is honestly beautiful and such a a great blend of cultural yet modern decor. read more

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Sorry for the dark pictures. This spot keeps the ambiance and the aura of a 50s cigar lounge and I am here for it! Plush carpet and matching wall curtains, velvet seats and gold accents. It's time travel with an amazing meal. read more

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It is always a pride when filipino cuisine is elevated at this standard and can compete globally. I will be very honest and be very objective with the review. Hospitality is lackluster. They kept an upscale Ambiance but not too restrictive. I like that they allowed us to enjoy the food without too much catering. I might be bias but it is really good, We ordered and reordered the wagyu steaks. They corrected themselves with the steak they serve what they called wrong doneness by giving us another steak with the doneness we ordered. We wouldnt know the difference but wow. The kare kare was rich and tender and the sauce was sweet salty. The lobster palabok was so good ill order that again next time Tuna kinilaw was subtle clean tasting Mantou we ordered twice it was heaven Crispy potato was a hit with the kids We tried all the desserts the best is creme brulee with sticky rice chocolate cremeux. Buko pandan , sorbet, turon tart was the last. The u e drink hit the right spot with the Malarkey drink. Taro milk tea i think thekids ordered 6 total!!! It was pricey but well worth it. read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Our taste bud did match the food as we had several appetizers and two entrees and wouldn't recommend for the price read more

Animae - Kare Kare - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Vibes and ambience was nice with very high ceilings and classy decor. However the prices were expensive - a lobster pasta for $80+?! The service and environment made up for it but for the price I would go elsewhere. read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been going to Animae for the last five years at least and it was one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego thanks to the chic interior, awesome cocktails and a brilliant selection of small dishes, ideal for sharing with a group of friends. Their whole fish dish used to be a standout so I'm disappointed to see that they no longer to the larger dishes but have started serving a small size of fish, branzino and such. That said, the food is wonderfully flavorful and well put together. Yes it's a bit expensive but it's a great experience. Parking is also easy to find nearby so one less thing to stress about. read more

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We came in to Animae to celebrate our anniversary together and had the best experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful with high ceilings and an extremely large open space. The setting looks elegant and the noise level is high enough to seem lively but not overbearing even when busy. We have tried a couple things on the menu from the wontons and crudo to the australian waygu and pork tomahawk. Everything has been amazing. We also really enjoyed the sake flight since we love having options. The staff made sure to make us feel welcome and even brought an anniversary dessert for us which we thought was a nice touch. Looking forward to dining here again soon and hopefully trying new menu items ! read more

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Animae delivers on atmosphere the ambience is absolutely beautiful, setting the tone for a stylish night out. The drinks were good, the service was attentive, and the food was solid across the board. That said, while everything was enjoyable, nothing stood out as particularly memorable. Still, it's a great spot if you're looking for good food and drinks in a stunning setting. read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Had truly one of the best dinners of 2024 here at Animae visiting SD from LA! We came with a group of 6 on a Friday and made reservations two days before. Parking is valet only - we parked around the block and walked. We ordered many items for our group of 4 guys and 2 girls. Standouts were the incredible Turon Espresso Martini & Kyuri Cooler Cocktails. Both very different drinks but just wonderful. Espresso Martini was perfect - real espresso and slight sweetness from Turon. Kyuri was bright, refreshing and citrusy. For appetizers, my unexpected FAVE was the spicy tuna crispy rice. It is not your average little fried rice block with spicy tuna on top. Theirs is more of a mixture of crispy rice and tuna together. It was an interesting take and well executed. A texture -blast in your mouth! We brought one our filipino friends to dine with us and she gave Animae an elusive stamp of approval. The short rib Kare Kare in particular blew her away and made her nearly tear up - it was the closest Kare Kare she had to her aunt's. I loved the spiny lobster palabok -giant pieces of lobster and perfectly al dente noodles. Other faves were the pork tomahawk and the wagyu steak. This place was a home run dinner for us. Ambience, service, drinks, food variety and quality, all 10s across the board. It is slightly on the pricier side but absolutely worth it for what you get! Can't wait to come back read more

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Oh my gosh, not sure what changed from 3 years ago... but Animae is amazing!!!! I have been back a handful of times and it has been consistently amazing from beginning to end. The cocktails, amazing. The food, amazing. The music, amazing. I love it all! It's hard to limit what to order, so order everything. Jordan the manager is amazing! read more

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Attended Animae for NYE pre-fix menu. Reservation was at 5:30 and we were sat pretty quickly. The restaurant was beautiful. The food was decent. $75 add on lobster was kind of disappointing. Along with my medium rare filet. They refused any changes other than medium or medium rare. Which was fine by me... but my filet came rare and cold. Our server kind of disappeared and we had their "please limit your dining experience to 75min" in our head so we didn't push any further. I'm not sure I'd be back for a normal meal? Possibly if some friends wanted to try it. But I don't think it was an "out of my way" dining experience. read more

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The second time was a very enjoyable event, but I am not gonna lie, it was not because of the food. Apparently since the prior visit, the chef had changed, and so did the food. It seemed a lot less sophisticated, larger portions, visually less attractive. It was still very good but just not as supreme as I had perceived it the first time. PREVIOUS REVIEW: Don't tell anyone, but this was a spectacular experience! As I wasn't sure where to go for a nice dinner in San Diego, I asked Yelp friend Sandra P for a recommendation - and there was only one IN town: Animae. Heavily booked, it may be difficult to get in, having a reservation is mandatory. The layout is very stylish, and despite the high occupancy, the tables were adequately spaced and allowed for privacy. Kaycee was very knowledgeable and provided us with excellent and charming guidance through the various menu items. Simply put, there was not a single item that was not supreme. The cocktails were a nice exposition to the food. The dishes were all beautifully arranged and a perfect composition of flavors and textures. Hamachi Crudo, Tuna Knilaw, Napa&Sweet Basil Salad, Tuna Crispy Rice, Tom Yum Mushrooms, Shanghai Crab noodles, Miyazaki Tenderloin with delicious condiments. There was not a whole lot room left for desserts but the Napoleon was so irresistible - and the best way to get rid of a temptation is to give in! When back in SD, will unquestionably look for an encore ... read more

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This is probably our 6th time dining at Animae, and our last time, we took 4 friends of ours who had never dined here before. We were thrilled Animae was open Mondays as Monday is not a day which many nice restaurants are open as it's typically industry night for many restaurants & bars in town. Not only was Animae open, but they were VERY busy! A testament to their food, service, and high praise on Open Table, Google, & Yelp. It did not disappoint. We were fortunate to be seated at one of their prime circular booths with views out towards Pacific Highway and the San Diego Bay. Our server introduced himself as Aus or Oz (possibly short for Austin). His service and hospitality that night was second to none. He took great care of us from beginning to end. We ordered the following dishes: (COLD) Tuna Kinilaw; (HOT) Wonton, Taiwanese Chicken, & Hunan Lamb Chops; (SIDES) Wagyu Corned Beef Fried Rice x2 & white rice x2; (PLATES) Short Rib Kare Kare x3, Lobster Palabok, & Chicken Adobong Kula x2; (DESSERT) Turon Tart x2 & Sticky Rice Crème Brûlée x2. For drinks, we ordered their A5 Old Fashioned & Midnight in Manila from their specialty cocktail menu. LOVED: A5 Old Fashioned, Midnight in Manila, Taiwanese Chicken, Hunan Lamb Chops, & Wagyu Corned Beef Fried Rice, & Short Rib Kare Kare. LIKED: Tuna Kinilaw, Wonton, Lobster Palabok, Turon Tart & Sticky Rice Crème Brûlée. MEH: Chicken Adobong Kula. We regretted not ordering the Pork Tomahawk Tocino, especially since we didn't like the Chicken Adobong Kula all that much. All in all, another great time, delicious food, excellent service, and we can't wait to return again. Regrets, not ordering the Pork Tomahawk Tocino, and the fact that Chef Tara wasn't working that night to request her to come meet our guests. But everyone had a blast, which is all we could ask for. read more

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The service here was incredible! Our server had a great personality and did a great job explaining to us the menu and exactly how many plates we should order. The crème brûlée was out of this world! I thought the ambience was perfectly set. The lighting isn't too dark and there's a great aesthetic read more

The vibe was pretty elegant and cold. Aesthetic was good and clean. I expect more like animae vibe style but i think it's just the name. It was pack and busy the time that we went there. Service was good but I can't hear clearly the waiter voice due to the background noise and music. Food was good, the adobong pula was not bad only the sauce its a little bit sour on my taste buds. For me, The appetizer's were phenomenal taiwanese chicken and tuna kinilaw was the best so far. Overall, it was a good experience. read more

We were so fortunate to snag two seats at the bar when we walked in without a reservation. I loved the interior with the deep rich fabrics and tapestries that had a modern flair. The food did not disappoint. The pea salad was such a refreshing change and the wontons and potatoes were out of this world. The only slight disappointment was the cabbage which was very tough and difficult to cut. But it didn't deter from an amazing meal. read more

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I have to agree with one of the reviews that said the food was somehow overly salty and bland at the same time. This was our first time at Animae. After trying it, I don't think I would return. Sad to say but the only good thing I ordered was the Taro Milk Tea for $11. The prawns tasted ok but it was incredibly salty. I had to keep chugging my water, which they took forever to refill btw. Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken was just ok too. The Short Rib Kare Kare was bland. I have never had this dish before. The meat was cooked way too long. It was mush. Falling off the bone is good but when you can't even pick up the meat without it falling on the plate, that is not good. It was like eating mushy meat or baby food. We also ordered the Wagyu corned beef fried rice. The rice was hard and undercooked. Lastly was the dessert. We split a buko pandan. It tasted very bland and had barely a small hint of pandan taste. Pandan is one of my favorite flavors. It also lacked coconut taste from the cream. I could only taste the coconut shreds. read more

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This place met every expectation of mine. It's Asian fusion cuisine in a mid century modern space with a lively club atmosphere. The loud 90s music was right up our alley but it didn't impact our conversation which was nice. The crowd is a big mix... families, folks on dates, business types, friends and so on. Highly recommend going in a group to maximize tasting the many options. We started with the Tuna Kinilaw which is their take on a crudo. Simply divine. Flavors balanced, great texture. The wontons were also a huge hit. We opted for a main plate that was new to menu that day. It was a duck dish with root vegetables and it was done really well. The meat just fell off the bone. Super tender and yummy. The real stars though were the roasted cabbage, broccolini and crab fried rice. Wow! Fried rice is usually not my thing but this was spectacular. Our server was so gracious. She heard me order a glass of wine and mention to my friend that we could share it. Not drinking a lot that night... and she brought the wine split into two glasses. Cocktails were thoughtful and would definitely do on another night. Hubby had a green pepper margarita which was quite special. Would recommend trying this place. It's not too expensive given the quality of food and service. Make a Resy for sure. read more

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