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    Shuyama

    4.5 (2 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

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    8 years ago

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    Animae - Lamb chops

    Animae

    4.4(1.7k reviews)
    26.8 kmDowntown
    $$$

    Food was absolutely amazing. Beautiful presentation and taste. We enjoyed multiple dishes and all…read morewer5++stars!!! And we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset as a bonus. I was served a delicious surprise birthday treat that was off the chain!!!

    Animae has been at the top of my San Diego restaurant list for a while now, so when the group chat…read morefinally decided to stop talking and actually make plans, this place was booked immediately. We went on a Saturday night and were seated right away. Our server, Carol, was super sweet and made our first visit even better. Even though I had practically memorized the menu already, I still had her explain everything and give us her recommendations. She shared her favorites, what's popular, and even what customers don't usually order. She felt very genuine and honest and never once seemed like she was trying to upsell us. Then I looked over and saw Chef Tara. I had already told my friends about her, only to find out they follow her on Instagram too. Eventually, we worked up the courage to talk to her, and she was incredibly nice. She took her time answering our questions about Filipino culture and explaining how her dishes came about. You can really feel her passion and pride in her work. I truly admired that. And the food? WOW. Easily the best meal I've had in 2026. It's been a week and I'm STILL thinking about it. I knew I wanted to write a review, but I honestly didn't expect the experience to exceed my expectations this much. Love at first bite. We started with the Tuna Kinilaw, Carpaccio, and Crispy Pig Ears. Carol taught us how to eat the kinilaw: put all the good stuff on the spoon for the perfect bite. Rich coconut, calamansi, cilantro, fish, jalapeño, and onion on a crispy wonton. It was an absolute explosion of flavor. My taste buds were not ready! The carpaccio was fresh and paired with what I believe was pear or another refreshing fruit. Then the crispy pig ears came out. I was hesitant because not everyone at our table is a pork fan, and I had already convinced them to order the pork tomahawk tocino. But after Carol and Chef Tara both recommended it, we gave it a shot. SO glad we did. The ears were incredibly crispy, with a sweet-and-sour tamarind glaze. Then I realized there was tofu in the dish and immediately thought, "Oh my God, this is the chef's version of tokwa't baboy!" Chef Tara later confirmed it. Such a creative and unexpected take on a Filipino classic. The Roasted Cabbage was supposed to be a side, but honestly, it could've been a main. Roasted perfectly with miso brown butter and lime. Simple but incredibly flavorful. The sauce was so good one of my friends started putting rice in it. Next was the Short Rib Kare Kare. I grew up not eating bagoong, so I usually just use patis with my kare kare. Chef Tara intentionally incorporated bagoong into hers instead of serving it on the side because she wanted people to eat it the way she intended. She was right. That sauce was AMAZING. I'm pretty sure the bagoong was homemade, and the combination had me dunking my rice straight into the sauce. The short rib was tender, flavorful, and practically falling off the bone. The Chicken Adobo sa Pula was another surprise. Chef Tara described it as her French-Filipino fusion take on adobo--and there's no soy sauce! The chicken was incredibly tender, the sauce was killer, and the crispy garlic on top added the perfect crunch. Then came the star of the show: Pork Tomahawk Tocino. Sweet glaze, mango sawsawan, a meaty portion on one side and pork belly on the other. The meatier part reminded me of classic tocino and home cooking, with just the right amount of sweetness. Then we got to the pork belly... It melted in your mouth. I've never shaken my head this much during one dinner. Every dish just kept coming out swinging. For dessert, we had the Sticky Rice Crème Brûlée, and this one completely blew me away. I expected a Thai-style sticky rice dessert with coconut milk and condensed milk. Nope. THE STICKY RICE WAS BIKO. OMG. Chef Tara stayed true to the Filipino dish and elevated it instead. Mind blown is an understatement. We also had the Buko Pan Dan, which was great, along with another dessert that was also delicious. But that sticky rice crème brûlée had me sitting there thinking, "Why did it take me so long to come here?" And the restaurant itself is such a vibe. I loved the anime-inspired artwork throughout the restaurant--even in the men's restroom! I cannot say enough about this place. I was telling everyone at work, my cousins, my friends, and pretty much anyone I passed on my walk back to the hotel that night. Animae is an absolute gem. Amazing food, amazing service, amazing atmosphere, but most importantly, you can feel the passion and pride behind the food. Chef Tara isn't just creating dishes--she's telling stories and bringing Filipino culture to the table in such a creative way. Thank you, Chef Tara, Carol, and the entire Animae team for an unforgettable night.

    Photos
    Animae - The hub checkin out the menu. Our reservation was first seating at 5pm. We beat the crowd which filled the place later.

    The hub checkin out the menu. Our reservation was first seating at 5pm. We beat the crowd which filled the place later.

    Animae - Shrimp Toast

    Shrimp Toast

    Animae - Lobster Pasta

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    Lobster Pasta

    Shuyama - asianfusion - Updated August 2026

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