Oh easily one of the best restaurants in San Diego! I came here for a family celebration on a Monday night. I had a reservation but there was no wait to be seated, I'm sure a reservation is good for a weekend though! Plenty of street parking a block away. Such a beautiful restaurant - we went right at sunset and the lighting was pretty reflecting on all the decor. It was very clean and felt upscale but still social. We were seated at a booth. We ordered the prawns, crispy rice, and popcorn chicken to start. Hands down the spicy tuna crispy rice was the best appetizer, such a good spin on a classic! The textures are everything! We ordered the kare kare, crispy potatoes, and pork tomahawk, and fried rice as shareables. I'd honestly pass on the fried rice, it was good but didn't wow me. The kare kare and tocino were soooo good, I was so surprised how much I liked it!! I grew up with these dishes but I was blown away by the quality of the meal and proportions. Service was good, drinks were yummy, and all the food was delicious. I'd return for a special occasion for sure!! read more

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4 star dining experience to celebrate my sister's birthday. We got valet in front of the restaurant for $20. Our server was really friendly and food was good overall. We ordered craft cocktails to get started and got a few appetizers and main entrees to share between the 4 of us. The scallop crudo was small, Taiwanese chicken paired with the thai basil aioli was perfection, wagyu corned beef fried rice went well with the meat, pork tomahawk tocino had a juicy fatty side and a lean side, and the medium rare 16 oz New York strip was fine, but not worth $160. It wasn't as good as the pork and was a little chewy. For her birthday they gave her a complimentary dessert. Heads up, there was a surcharge on our receipt, so be prepared to pay quite a bit for this place. Bill was over $100 per person including tip. read more

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2026 San Diego. Dinner review. Upscale asian fusion. (Highlight - Best) TUNA CRISPY RICE wakame, charred pepper ponzu, spicy aioli COAL ROASTED CABBAGE brown butter miso, lime (Highlight) CRISPY POTATOES A5 fat, chinese sausage jam, koji sour cream MANTOU steamed scallion buns, sour cream butter, sweet soy +Trout roe (Highlight) PORK TOMAHAWK TOCINO sweet beet glaze, mango sawsawan STICKY RICE CREME BRULEE vanilla custard, fresh cirtus, kumquat, latik ++ Unique cocktails Overall, everything was great. "As good as it gets." read more

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We had an early dinner reservation so it wasn't busy! The service was amazing. We loved everything that came out. Our favorites were the scallop crudo & crunchy spicy tuna rice. We will be back to try more items! read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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We celebrated with an intimate dinner at @animae.sandiego created by @tara.monsod who is nominated for @beardfoundation was soo truly amazing. The flavors, the vibe -- everything was masarap! Obsessed with the Chicken Adobong Pula, tuna kinalaw, Taiwanese chicken, taro milk tea, and THE MALARKEY cocktail. Here's to many more birthdays, great food, and even greater memories together read more

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Animae was on the list for Chase Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables on OpenTable so I was excited to try it. There's valet parking or street parking. I went on a weekday so parking was easy to find on the street behind the building. I highly recommend a reservation and coming different times as the menu changes with the seasons. grilled beef belly: the dish smelled pretty fishy but the beef belly was very tender and didn't have the fishy smell. chicken adobong pula: reminded me of a chicken adobo and this chicken was tender yu Xiang rice cakes: oddly this was one of the stars of the meal. The rice cakes are tteokbokki but are seasoned really nicely. It's a little spicy but delicious. crispy potatoes: the potatoes were indeed super crispy and I really enjoyed the Chinese sausage jam - slightly sweet and salty. buko pandan: my least favorite of the meal as the pandan flavor was almost essence of pandan. There wasn't much flavor. turon tart: my favorite dish of the whole meal. The dish took a Turon, deconstructed the elements and put it back into a delicious tart. Highly recommend. read more

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Who suggested this place for me?? I'm so confused... This has been on my list since I moved to SD. I love supporting woman executive chefs and Asian cuisine. So I had to check this place out. They do offer valet parking, but there were street parking as well. Currently, parking is free on Sundays and holidays. Other days before 6 or 8pm, you have to pay. I thought I would have to make a reservation but it seemed like it wasn't really busy at the time I was there. I was the only one seating at the bar for the entire time. I do think, if you have a smaller group, and don't mind sitting at the bar, I don't think you will need a reservation. Got greeted, hostess asked if I wanted to sit at the table or at the bar. I chose the bar, but immediately I regretted it. Bartender vibe was off. He definitely wasn't having a good day. He wasn't entertaining making the drinks. He honestly looked annoyed that I chose to sit at the bar. Whatever, I'm there. Please take my order lol thankfully, lady bartender came to the rescue. She was kind and took my orders. I've ordered: Red wine - Tempranillo - can't go wrong with Spanish wine 4/5 THE MALARKEY- this is spirit free drink and it was sweet and tart. One of my favorite I've ordered here 3.5/5 MIYAZAKI STRIP LOIN - 2/5 this is their Japanese wagyu. Honestly, I've had better wagyu from a street vendor in Japan. What is happening here?? Not as tender as I thought it should be.The sauce that had raw egg yolk that came with it did help the matter. Also it came with side dishes (banchan). Which is very common in Korean cuisine. They brought out 3 different fermented vegetables. Two types of kimchi and 1 radish. For the price we pay for this food, I expected that we would get some fresh made kimchi. But no. This tasted like it's weeks old. Maybe more. Was that the vision that you would want to serve days old kimchi with Wagyu? I was so confused. Honestly, mad. Not even going to talk about the other two side dishes because no point there now. TUNA KINILAW 3/5 - better dish of everything I've tried here. Fresh tuna, not a huge fan of the sauce that came with. It felt like it was trying to mask the taste of fresh tuna. MANTOU 1/5 - basic steamed buns. You can get something better at h mart. What do you mean this is $14? Can you please explain yourself... lol I love carbs and didn't even finish this dish. CHARRED CARROTS- 1/5 no comment. This was my fault that I even ordered carrots. I usually get dessert but due to disappointment from main course, I skipped. Overall, this was a huge disappointment. I honestly wanted to love this place but I just think this wasn't it. If you want high end Asian cuisine, maybe try somewhere else. read more

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Animae! Damn. Definitely in a category of its own. Loved the vibes, the people & of course the food! Tucked away in Downtown San Diego, Animae has made it's rounds in the food world and it did not disappoint. The vibes were high, everyone we encountered was really friendly. Got sat at one of the booths and our waiter was super cool. Ordered a bunch of items from the menu, listed below in no particular order. APPS: - Tuna Kinilaw [$23] came w/5 pcs, really fresh sashimi tuna & the sauce was vibrant - Tuna Crispy Rice [$23] the tables fave, shareable and just overall great concept - Cucumbers [$10] great choice for veggies - Grilled Beef Belly [$25] not our fave, but still really good, nothing wowed us for this app ENTREES: - Lobster Palabok [$85] The whole table loved it, sauce was chef's kiss, wish there was more for the price range, but we did get a lot of lobster so thankful for that - Pork Tomahawk Tocino [$66] Main event, loved every single bite, must have - Chicken Adobong Pula [$38] The sauce on this was excellent, the cook not so much. We only ate a portion of it at dinner since we had other dishes, that part was great, moist chicken, no notes. Took the rest home and half of the half was pink in the middle... kind of disappointing, but we cut the uncooked parts and just tossed them. DESSERTS: - Buko Pandan [$15] Only got a bite, not our fave - Turon Tart [$17] Tables fave except mine, really enjoyed it especially the turon crispy wrap - Sticky Rice Creme Brulee [$16] Winner for me. This dessert was so inventive and so yummyyyy. Must have! We also tried the side of the wagyu corned beef fried rice [$20] wasn't too impressed. All the dishes w/sauces were so flavorful. We kept saying that the flavors all pop out. This is how you do elevated Filipino food. Kudos to everyone at Animae! read more

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This was my second visit and decided to try all new items. I really enjoyed the lamb chop appetizer. The meat was well seasoned and the sauce elevates the flavor. We also had the adobong pula and the lobster palabok. The adobo chicken was very tender. The red sauce which deviates from the traditional soy vinegar one gave the dish a completely different flavor but it was still good. As for the palabok, it was more like a pasta, only the color and chicharon crumbles gave it a palabok theme. It was still enjoyable but not what I expected. The service was friendly although they seemed busier than what I experienced my first time. It was easy to flag someone down however. Note that some menu items may change depending on the season. I find that very refreshing. read more

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This upscale restaurant does a great job showcasing Filipino fusion dishes. Being Filipino myself, I was really happy with the food and how thoughtfully the flavors were executed. My favorites were the tuna kinilaw and the tocino tomahawk. The kinilaw, similar to ceviche, had a great hint of Filipino authenticity that really stood out. Service was excellent as well -- super attentive and understanding. I felt bad having to send a drink back, but they handled it graciously and made the experience seamless. Overall, great vibes, great food, and a place I'd definitely come back to. read more

Animae - Tuna Kinilaw - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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Yeah the pork is as great as stated in reviews. Definitely get it. If I came again though I would ask them if they could hold the sauce or put it on the side. I think it would be AMAZING without the sauce. But the sauce isn't bad, just not necessary because the meat is made so well and the vinegar sauce they have on the side is perfection. Ok back to the whole experience. I loved it. Couple of notes: - Meats were very well made in general - We didn't have steak and didn't feel sad we didn't. I don't know, maybe next time. Hard for me to pass up on pork and we weren't that hungry, but given how well them meats were made I'm sure the steaks are amazing - the wagyu fried rice is so good. Whatever oil it's made it - great job! - the Chicken Adobogino (I think that's the name) was also great. It's probably more 'standard' but it's so well made and tasted delicious in some good sauce. I could have just had that with white rice as my whole meal but it wouldn't be as special without some of the standout dishes - skip the buns; they tasted like bread with scallion cream cheese. Not bad but also not worth the spade considering how great the other stuff is - the cucumbers are delicious, get em if you want fresh dish to prepare the palate - the wine was average but I also just tried one of them - Service was OK in general, not up to par with the food I'd say but I'm also not complaining a ton, just small things like empty plates staying on the table too long and wine refills quite slow - I would love to go when it's completely dark - didn't love the ambience as much with the daylight in there, but think the lighting would be great at nice read more

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This place is truly such a gem. From start to finish, our whole experience was absolutely amazing! Our server Jeffrey was so attentive throughout our meal, and gave us some recommendations that we ended up loving. Every dish that came out was so unique and unlike what I've had before. The tuna crispy rice was definitely one of my favorites as well as the pork tomahawk tocino! Everything was so flavorful, and all of the sauces complimented each other well. The portion size was also really nice as we did everything family style! I can't wait to come back and try more items on their menu. Absolutely no notes and such an amazing experience all around. read more

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As a Filipina, I'm very picky about Filipino food especially Filipino fusion food. Animae did NOT disappoint! The Kare Kare sauce was so close to my mom's! I love that substitution of short rib instead of oxtail it was super tender as well with the veggies really cutting the fat. We ordered house made bagoong and it was the perfect addition to the Kare Kare. The lobster palabok was more pasta than the typical palabok flavor but either way delish! Tuna kinilaw was a yummy starter. Our waiter was the nicest waiter I've had. I don't drink alcohol often and he was able to make sure i picked the perfect mocktail. He explained every menu item to our group when they had questions over dishes they weren't familiar with and was very accommodating to all our requests. They even provided complimentary desserts for my birthday and a friends law school graduation. The restaurant is dimly lit and some guests were definitely dressed up i felt a bit underdressed, but the host didn't mention anything about a dress code so all good! I will definitely be returning:) read more

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Super fun date night at Animae No food allergy issues, server attentive, venue cute, ended the evening at golden hours. Food in order of favorites Wagyu Fried rice: I know random, but hubby really liked it 5 out of 5 would get again Hunan Lamb chop: savory spicy, super tender, would get again. I liked this with the fried rice Kare Kare: hubby liked it. Would get again but hubby wants to try tocino first then would chose which to get again. Meat fall off the bone tender. Got the white rice with it and it's better with white rice than fried rice. Fried rice needs to be eaten alone Carpaccio: super buttery tender, liked the citrus and sweet and crunch would get again Espresso turon martini: super fun would get again. But maybe I would try to melon milk tea next time to change it up Mango sorbet: fun and tasty, I like having fruit chunks in my sorbet but the mango was frozen which made the sorbet more icy then creamy Charged carrots: not good, not for me If you are in San Diego and want fancy Filipino food then you have to go here Also if you want a really nice date place this is a great choice All my food allergy issues were also well take care of. Appreciate read more

Well, I was really looking forward to my first upscale Asian fusion steakhouse experience--especially for that standout pork tomahawk tocino. But my royal little self was disappointed... no changing table! And as you know, I only review places that have proper baby facilities. So mom had to get creative and turn two puffs into my makeshift changing (and later feeding) station. Meanwhile, mom and dad shared that highly anticipated pork tomahawk--though let's be honest, dad ate most of it. Later that night, mom couldn't sleep because her stomach hurt. Dad also mentioned it was too salty. But again, no changing tables. My fellow tiny reviewers may appreciate the puff setup--but please, keep a steady mommy hand on you at all times. read more

Animae - Blurry puffs - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Animae: 9.5/10 Aesthetic & Ambiance 9.5/10 - The aesthetic was giving opulent, and strip Vegas vibes. The ambiance was upscale, fun and had a great color scheme; along with the art of the robot being allusion to the name was chefs kiss. Perfect date night, or tr Service: 9/10 - Leela was our server, she was great! She gave plenty of recommendations for many of our food/drink items. She even recommended the speakeasies nearby. DRINKS Espresso Martini: 8.5/10 - Delicious and even has a great banana addition to the taste Grape Expectations: 8/10 - Light and yummy the rim did add quite a bit of sweetness. Midnight in Mania: 8/10 - being purple from the ube was cool, and it had great hits of coconut - very tropical drink Melon Boba: 8.5/10 - They captured the honeydew flavor nicely, and had a great balance with the oat milk. Artemis: 8/10 - Had high floral forward flavors, and a nice citrus and lychee aftertaste. FOOD Wontons: 9.5/10 - The wrappers being home made was a huge stand out, the filling was fresh and the soy-vinagrette sauce was the perfect dipper for all the dishes. Cucumbers: 9/10 - The cucumbers were fresh and crisp. They had a great crunch, as well as a bite from the Fresno Chilis. The sauce was a light sesame & cilantro. Very refreshing app Crispy Rice: 8.5/10 - Not your usual "Tuna Crispy Rice" but that's not necessarily a bad thing! It was delicious with pockets bursting of flavorful fatty tuna and crispy rice. A5 Tenderloin: 9.5/10 - 7 marveling and perfectly cooked, cooled, and seasoned. - It did also come with banchan being this was an asian fusion place. Banchan: 7/10 - Having all of it being room temp was a bit off-putting as the cabbage and cucumbers were pretty warm. Flavor was good, just wish was chilled or more fresh crisp prior (almost like the app). The egg yolk & soy dipping didn't have immense flavor either. Crispy Potato: 9/10 - Very flavorful, soft on the inside, crispy on the outside; just as you'd want. The sausage jam had a nice bite and the sour cream balanced the whole dish, almost like a crispy loaded potato. DESSERT Peach Sorbet: 9/10: Was perfectly "not sweet" and very PEACHY. Almost tasted like a blended frozen peach, with delicious wafers. Birthday Dessert: 9.5/10 Was amazingly delicious, perfect mascarpone whip; being light and not too sweet. The sponge cake was perfect texture and sweetness alongside the boba and fruit. read more

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Wow. This place is awesome. We came here on a recommendation from friends and we are so happy that we did. Our server Amanda was great. When we were first sat and getting introductions, we were asked if any of us have allergies. I have a gluten allergy so when this question is asked at the beginning of a dining experience, it automatically gets some points for me. Throughout our meal, all of the staff was very thorough in keeping me informed on what was safe and not safe for me to eat. For my drink order, I got the Spirited Away mocktail which was very good. For an appetizer, we went with the Tuna Kinilaw which was very light and perfect as a starter for 4 of us. For my entree, I got the Assam Seabass Curry. I'm usually not a huge curry person but this was pretty light in that sense at the fish was cooked perfectly. For our shareables, we got the Crispy Potatoes which were delicious, and the off menu vegetarian noodles which were subbed with rice noodles for my allergy. My family loved their individual entrees as well. We finished off with the Chocolate Cremeux and Peach Sorbet which were also both amazing. Really cool drinks, delicious food, excellent service, and great ambiance. Awesome first experience at Animae and we can't wait to come back soon! read more

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Spicy tuna crispy rice: 1/5 Definitely not what you would expect. It's spicy tuna mixed with crispy rice. Overall the dish itself is very plain in flavor and because it's all mixed together the heaviness of the crispy rice really weighs the dish down over time. You also can't really taste the quality of the tuna the way it is mixed. Scallop crudo: 4.5/5 Nice light refreshing. Fresh scallops with a very refreshing glass noodle on the bottom. Pork tomahawk tocino: 4.5/5 Probably one of my favorite here. The flavor is sweet and savory, the pork is so tender. My only small complaint is that the middle of the tomahawk was basically all pure fat pieces Crispy potatoes: 4/5 The lapcheong relish is soooooo good I can eat two bowl of rice with just that. Potatoes themselves are great, but nothing special. The cream sauce leaves some to be desired, a little too salty. White rice: 5/5 Came with garlic crisp on top. Big bowl for the price and definitely needed with the tomahawk Ambience and service is good as always, although this time the waitress did not check on us at all (although we didn't need anything thankfully). read more

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We've been waiting for a long time to Eat at Animae. Tonight, we finally had the opportunity to experience this Michelin Star restaurant. The food was amazing with all of the Filipino-Vietnamese-American fusion. The service was impeccable. Dina and her team went above and beyond our expectations. read more

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ANIMAE @ DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO Parking is available for FREE! Just find it on the street next to InterContinental Hotel (building right next door), it's free for 2 hours, or you can pay for self parking or valet. I discovered this spot on Yelp and saw it had great reviews, so I really wanted to try this Asian fusion-American restaurant. My best friend planned the entire dinner and made a 7 PM reservation for the two of us. We ended up running late, but the staff was super accommodating and kindly pushed our reservation to 8 PM. The restaurant is located on the ground floor, and you can't miss it--with its bright yellow anime-style lettering on the door, it really stands out. Once we walked in, the space was absolutely beautiful. I loved the architecture, the color palette, and all the small design details that made the restaurant feel unique. We were seated right away by a window, and of course, we took tons of photos because the vibe was just gorgeous. It definitely had that elevated dinner atmosphere. Our server was incredibly kind and recommended a few dishes. She mentioned that groups typically order around 5-6 plates to share. They also had an extensive wine list, so if you're a wine lover, this might be the place for you. We ordered the Wagyu Corned Beef Fried Rice (which also came with pork), the Taiwanese Chicken, and the Yu Xiang Rice Cakes with Shiitake. We asked to have everything brought out together so we could try it all at once. Presentation-wise, everything looked amazing, but the portions were definitely on the smaller side. Starting with the Taiwanese Chicken, it honestly tasted like any standard chicken karaage. I wasn't very impressed. They added what looked like fish roe on top, which gave it a slightly sweet taste, but overall it was pretty basic. The fried rice had great flavor, but it was extremely oily. Every bite felt like it came with a scoop of oil, which made it hard to enjoy fully. The meat had a nice salty flavor, but I expected a higher quality dish given the price and the restaurant's reputation. As for the rice cakes, I was pretty disappointed. There were maybe five rice cakes total, and the mushrooms were massive and overly salty. The dish had an odd sweet and spicy flavor that didn't work for me. We actually sent it back and had it remade, but even after that, neither of us liked it. Thankfully, our server was amazing and took it off the bill, which we really appreciated. Still, I wouldn't recommend that dish if you're looking for something more substantial, the ratio was basically all vegetables and barely any rice cake, which is the entire point of the dish. The highlight of the night was actually the dessert, they surprised us with a free birthday treat: a matcha cake topped with boba and strawberries. It was super delicious and such a thoughtful touch. Overall, the experience was elegant and the service was great, but I wish I enjoyed the food more. I had high expectations for a high-end restaurant, and the dishes didn't quite meet them. Maybe I should've ordered different items, but we chose three of the top-rated dishes on Yelp, so I was expecting more. If you're looking for a beautiful dinner spot with amazing ambiance, I'd say it's worth stopping by, but just know it's definitely not the most authentic Asian food, and the portions run small. read more

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We made reservations for Thursday night dinner and were seated promptly after we arrived! * Grape Expectations and Spirited away drinks (5/5) - both these drinks were right up our alley. Loved the flavor and these drinks tasted very lightly of alcohol which we personally liked very much. Definitely would come back just for their drinks as most places tend to make drinks way too strong in our opinion. Highly recommend getting these drinks if you like light alcoholic drinks! If you light stronger drinks, these may not be for you. * Melon Milk Tea (3/5) - we really like how they used oat milk so that my fiancé could drink it. It was more of an artificial melon flavor, and the boba was a bit on the hard side so it was hard to sip it through the straw. There was also a lot of ice in it, so we would recommend getting light ice or even no ice. * Scallop Crudo (4/5) - buttery smooth scallops, there were a few sandy bits, but overall really good with the sauce and noodles * Taiwanese Chicken (4/5) - the basil aioli was really good with the Taiwanese chicken and the chicken itself was seasoned well. * Short Rib Kare Kare (3/5) - super tender short rib, we didn't even need a knife to cut through it. The peanut sauce was good but lacked some kick to it. We got rice to go with this which was a great recommendation from our waitress. * Miyazaki Tenderloin (4oz) (5/5) - Melt in your mouth wagyu and comes with cucumber, kimchi, and radish banchan as well as an egg+ponzu sauce. The banchan aren't as spicy as normal Korean restaurants, they're very light in flavor. We preferred the steak on its own as it was already amazing in flavor and tenderness. * Peach Sorbet - coconut crumble and matcha cream on the side - 3/5 - peach sorbet was good, tasted like the peach fruit cups. The matcha meringue was very unique. It didn't taste like matcha very much but the texture was very light and sweet. The coconut crumble together with the peach sorbet felt like a light & refreshing peach pie! The matcha cream was unique and complimented the peach without overpowering the peach flavor. * Buko Pandan - 4/5 - The pandan flavor was fragrant but gradually got drowned out by the coconut until the very end where it made a reappearance! I would have liked even more panda flavor / little lighter on the coconut. The mousse soaked up all the anglaise nicely! Service was exceptional! Our waitress made a special dairy-free menu for my fiancée and the chefs and servers were very attentive in making the dishes dairy-free and notifying us about dairy content both before ordering and when the dishes were brought out. We appreciated this very much! read more

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What we ordered: 1. Tuna kinilaw (5/5) Very fresh, well balanced 2. Taiwanese chicken (3/5) The flavor was there, but I'm missing the crunch that usually came with traditional Taiwanese chicken 3. Coal roasted cabbage (5/5) Super delicious, a good portion size, and really well flavored 4. Crispy potatoes (4/5) I liked the flavor; however, I wish it was also more crispy 5. Short rib Kare kare (4/5) The meat was very tender and well cooked. The flavor was ok. It was a pretty strong peanut taste, if you're into that 6. Pork tomohawk Tocino (3/5) Ehh... it honestly just reminded me of Chinese bbq pork (cha-sew). Nothing really impressive other than the fact it does have a good portion size Overall, the service was good and the ambiance/interior was really nice, but the food was something I feel like I don't need to come back for to try again. It was a good experience, but not good enough for me to want to come back again. read more

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Excellent food, amazing ambiance, stunning service Animae is one of my favorite dining experience in San Diego. Everything about it was just so well done. You first walk into the restaurant surrounded by glass and a bright neon sign lighting the outside. The inside honestly feels like a club. Large cushy tables, pretty lights hanging from the top, and R&B music bopping all around. We were seated and quickly assisted by a server who asked us if there was a special occasion. I informed them about my partner recently finishing a big exam and minutes later she brings us some free champagne on the house. It was delicious and helped start the great night. We then ordered some drinks. They have a large selection of great cocktails. The midnight in Manila was my favorite, it is like an ube pina colada. We ordered a bunch of food. My favorite dish was the tuna kinalaw and Yu Xiang rice cakes and shiitake. Great flavors and combination. We then ordered a bunch of desserts. They were well presented and delicious. I really enjoyed my dining experience here and am looking forward to coming back soon. read more

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Came here on a Sunday evening with very high expectations, and Animae absolutely delivered. I'd been hearing about this place for a while from friends, and it lived up to the hype. We started with cocktails: Grape Expectations and Midnight in Manila. Grape Expectations was a milk punch with a grapey profile and a hint of basil--excellent--but the Midnight in Manila stole the show. An ube and toasted coconut rum-based drink with fruit and ice, it was easily one of the best cocktails I've had in a long time. For appetizers, we ordered the Taiwanese chicken, which is an absolute must-order. Super crispy and fresh, with just enough Szechuan peppercorn for a mild numbing effect, paired with hot honey and a Thai basil aioli--an incredible combination. We also tried the beet salad, which was very beet-forward with large chunks and tofu ricotta, served with a crispy papadam. This was the only miss of the night for me; the flavors didn't quite come together. For mains, we shared the Assam seabass curry, served in a warm, rich tamarind-based Malaysian curry with okra and eggplant. The seabass was perfectly cooked--crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. One small gripe: rice had to be ordered separately, which felt a little odd for a curry dish. We also got the chicken adobong pula, served with fingerling potatoes. This was a large, hearty dish--heavier than the seabass but still very flavorful. We were celebrating our honeymoon, and our server surprised us with a complimentary dessert: a matcha meringue and cream dessert with boba, fresh fruit, and Pocky sticks, which was a really thoughtful touch. Overall, highly recommend Animae. Outstanding drinks and appetizers, strong mains, and great service. Definitely on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it for a special night or celebration. read more

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Fine dining is always a mixed bag for me. The ambiance is always beautiful, and the service is typically attentive, yes. But the experience is more than just the atmosphere. And at Animae, I was glad to find that the food actually met such expectations. Unsurprisingly, the interior of the restaurant was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It is dripping in what feels like luxury, and to be honest, seems like something you would find in Vegas. The atmosphere at Animae is definitely one of its strongest selling points, as it makes for great photos!! Certainly a great place for a special occasion or a fancy night out. The service here was also noteworthy. My party was rather large, as we were a group of 10. However, we were able to place a reservation, so there was no issue with being seated. Our waiter was very hands-on throughout the entire dining experience and really made sure to emphasize that he was all about "communication." He frequently checked up on us and explained the menu options with rehearsed practice. As for the food and drinks, I am glad to report that everything was actually very good! Not just for photos, but actually tasty too. Here's a breakdown of some of the items we ordered: Midnight in Manila (cocktail): I really enjoyed this one; it felt like an elevated piña colada. But that's exactly what I wanted! Also, the purple color was really nice with the ube. Tuna crispy rice: This was a fan-favorite in my group. It caught me off guard because the dish was mixed together rather than how tuna crispy rice is normally presented. However, the rice somehow remained crispy. I was pleasantly surprised with this. Chicken adobong pula: Solid chicken dish. Great presentation. I liked the sauce that it came in. Wagyu fried rice: This was not my personal favorite, but it was a good dish overall. The beef was shredded, so it mixed well with the rest of the rice and toppings. Yu xiang rice cakes and shiitake: Personally, I really liked this one, but it was hit-or-miss for most people. It was rather spicy, so just be aware of that. The rice cakes were deliciously chewy! Taiwanese chicken: This was also a crowd favorite. It was fried perfectly and not greasy at all. Very flavorful seasoning. Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Animae. It's definitely pricey, so I feel like this is more of a splurge/celebration restaurant, but it definitely makes it special! read more

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By far from the music to the ambiance they covered it all here! The food is to die for the service meets all my expectations! We ate here for our anniversary and I loved every minute of it! read more

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Wow. A memorable meal. Thank you to Tara and everyone for such a great experience. The food is stunning. The decor is cool. I'm happy I was able to get here to celebrate my friend's birthday. Scallop crudo was fresh, wontons, lamb chops, tuna crispy rice, wagyu. We shared everything family style. 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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I was searching for the restaurant on the list for Chase Sapphire dining benefit and this one looks amazing. We booked our reservation the day before thanksgiving. It was easy to ask before we going to the restaurant. Even though it's a really busy time the staff were nice and accommodating. I asked about to cook the kid's chicken without anything spicy and they made it perfect. I really loved the calamari dish and the dessert. Matcha cake was the best . Not much in love with the Kare kare, the peanut sauce/curry feels way too heavy and earthy to me. Cold dishes completely win me over. Amazing seasoning. Makes me proud of all the Asian seasonings they created for not only the Asian crowd. read more

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Wow this restaurant has quickly become one of my favorites in San Diego. First off the inside is absolutely stunning. Breathtaking. So airy with the high ceilings. Fun pops of color. Loungey and vibey. I've actually come here a few times and gotten a bar seat without much issue. It seems many people sit at the bar and then migrate to their table, so people are coming and going relatively frequently. First off drinks. Super fun and inventive, with asian flair. The a5 fat washed old fashioned is just heaven, must try for my old fashioned fans. Some of the other drinks I've had are on the sweeter side, but tasty. One just like a mango lassi, super good. Definitely recommend asking for the sweeter vs direct cocktails if you're unsure. Food is definitely more on the shareable plate style, but I've made due with many dishes eating solo. First and foremost, you must get the lamb chops. They are hands down the best lamb chops I've ever had. Those hunan spices. I don't know how they do it, but it's just incredible. I had to gnaw on the bone. It was that good. The wontons - solid. The cucumbers, also great, think similar to din tai fung. The taiwanese chicken, so crispy, really nice. The carrots - brilliant, unlike any other carrot I've had, so much flavor. The potatoes, holy cow, a5 fat magic, these are soft, but crispy, it's like every texture known to man in one. Plus some sausage in there, you can't go wrong. The pork tomahawk looks crazy from the photos, definitely been on my list to try when I can split it with someone. Seriously, every thing just looks so good. This place seems like it would be pricey, but honestly, get one entree to share and some other apps/sides and it's really quite reasonable given the quality of ingredients and preparation. Staff is attentive, knowledgeable and helpful. Have chatted with multiple very friendly bartenders sitting at the bar. This location is a bit off the beaten path, sort of between gaslamp, seaport, and little italy. But it's worth whatever trek you have to make to check it out. read more

Had such a good date night here. From the entrance to the inside decor, everything is crazy beautiful. Even the bathroom is on theme -- and that's always a win for me because it means they cared about the whole experience, not just the dining room. We started with the Hunan lamb chops and they were seasoned perfectly. The cream sauce that came with it? Fire. Then we tried the wagyu fried rice, and I'm not gonna lie... I could've eaten that whole "shareable" by myself. It was that good. For the main dish we got the pork tomahawk -- I've never had anything like it before and I'd definitely get it again. Drinks were good, service was on point, and honestly we didn't have any complaints! Would 100% come back! read more

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Animae is easily one of the most impressive dining experiences I've had in San Diego. The restaurant has a unique concept -- Filipino-inspired dishes with a broader Asian influence, all presented in a very creative and elevated way. From the cocktails to the food, everything felt thoughtfully executed. I ordered the kare kare and tocino along with a couple of cocktails. The kare kare stood out with how tender the beef was -- it was incredibly flavorful and cooked perfectly. The tocino was just as memorable, especially the richness of the fat and how well-balanced the dish was overall. The drinks were also well-crafted and complemented the meal nicely. The atmosphere is upscale but still welcoming, and the creativity across the menu really sets this place apart from typical dining spots. Overall, Animae delivers high-level execution, bold flavors, and a unique experience. Definitely a place worth visiting if you're looking for something elevated and different. read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Decided to try this spot while we were in SDCC for the weekend as it's been on our bucket list for a while. It was a bit hard to get a reservation considering how busy this time of the year was, but we managed to find a spot on a Friday night. Really enjoyed the decor when we got in, greeted by some retro Japanese toys and some cool wall art murals. Servers were friendly and attentive, and explained the menu options and specials. The drinks were good, I tried an old fashioned with wagyu fat in it for the first time...and it was different. The food itself was pretty good, with flavors of Asian fusion, mixed with traditional American food. The food was fresh, and the favors were there, but I wonder why the char siu tasted close to a Chinese BBQ house, for almost 10x the price. I think the food was good, but it just was almost too similar to something I could get in SGV or most traditional Chinese, or Taiwanese restaurants for a fraction of the price. An example would be the fried Taiwanese chicken as well. It was great, but a similar taste and flavor could be had at Noble Tea with their popcorn chicken for the low. Overall, I think it was a nice experience and I'm glad I had the chance to try it. There weren't any dishes that made me want to make a return trip however, especially if I'm looking to spend $500+ for me and my number one. read more

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Made reservations for 6 for Animae and were seated immediately. The ambience was similar to Din Tai Fung, booths with half circle couches and low lighting. Every table was full which is always a good sign. We ordered lots of food to share: Tuna Kinlaw (this had 5 pieces of tuna so my bestie shared her piece with me), Wagyu Corned Beef Fried Rice (a MUST), Crispy Potatoes (yum), Pork Tomahawk Tocino (definitely recommend), Chicken Adobong Pula and the 16oz New York Strip (Australian Wagyu). Turns out I'm not a Wagyu girl but I enjoyed everything we ordered here. No pictures but everything was perfectly plated and beautiful. The service was top notch and the restaurant was clean and elegant. Worth a try for a special occasion or date night. I'm a little cheap so the prices are what brought my rating down to a 4. read more

Good as hell per usual. Get everything. Noticed some of the menu changed ............................ read more

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We were looking forward to coming back to Animae to celebrate our anniversary over the weekend. It was another exceptional experience just like the first time. We ordered Chef Tara's signature dish again - the Short Rib Kare Kare with a side of Garlic Fried Rice and Crispy Potatoes w Chinese Sausage Jam. Here's a few of the new dishes we tried this time: * Hunan Lamb Chops 5/5 Perfectly grilled and oh so tender lamb chops * Coal Roasted Cabbage 5/5 Brown butter miso was so good * Assam Seabass Curry 4/5 Would pass on this next time. The seabass was flaky but we're not big fans of the curry. * Turon Tart 5/5 Loved the brown sugar custard with jackfruit glaze. Pretty creative. * Chocolate Cremeux 5/5 Loved the cream with chocolate crumbles and korean chili cashews. Chef Tara, please, please bring back the Ube Profiteroles :-D. read more

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We were in the area and super excited to see Filipino inspired desserts and cocktails and came here after dinner, and were a bit disappointed with what we got. Our server was fantastic! When we informed him the we had a peanut allergy, he offered to make us a new, peanut-allergy safe menu, which we really appreciated! To drink, we got the Turon Espresso Martini and the Midnight in Manila, and both drinks were not our favorite. The turon espresso martini was missing the foam that good espresso martinis usually have, and had the slightest hint of banana. For the Midnight in Manila, the pineapple overpowered the drink, and lacked any other flavor of coconut or ube. For dessert, we got their take on buko pandan, along with the turon tart, and these both fell short in our opinion. We appreciated that the buko pandan wasn't overly sweet, but was missing a lot of components that traditional buko pandan has. The turon tart was also not our favorite as it lacked any turon flavoring. read more

Animae - Buko Pandan, Turon Tart, Midnight in Manila, and Turon Espresso Martini - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Decided to finally come here and what better way to do that than before the day I got married hehe.. Animae has been on my list of places to eat in SD for so long and I'm happy we finally went. It was so good that we can't wait to go back! Matcha Sponge Cake: we got this as their "on us" to celebrate our pre-wedding night. The cake was so moist and bouncy. The matcha, strawberries, and strawberry was a nice touch as it gave different textures when eaten together. Turon Tart: I've been suggested this SO many times and glad I finally got to try it! The Turon shell was lightly salted, the little gels on the plate are banana, there was caramelized bananas on the tart, and the banana ice cream under the shell was to die for! Crispy Potatoes: I didn't think potatoes could get any better tbh. The candied berries and sweetened onions and the sour cream made a wonderful combo with the potatoes. Tomahawk Tocino: the star of the show AND one of their major dishes they're known for. It came precut and the mango sauce to dip it in was so lovely. I've always loved Tocino growing up and this spin on it for a tomahawk was fantastic. Tuna Kinilaw: I'm usually not a fan of coconut but the way this dish was so refreshing and smooth! That sauce was amazing and I wish I could take it home in a bottle omg. I wish there was more pieces bc I loved it so much. Service was 10/10. You'd think you were at a Michelin with how attentive, informative, and precise they are with their service. Ambiance was lovely. Enjoyed the anime themes throughout the place from the decor to the menu items. 10000/10 worth the money and will be coming back to have their Kare Kare :') read more

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Amazing food and exotic drinks made this b day experience worth returning. The vibe is on point and the only glitch was trying to flag down someone to refill my water needs. Will definitely return read more

Animae - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food is very good and ambiance is even better! Our favorite dishes were the tuna kinalow appetizer and chicken adobo as it melts in your mouth. Service is excellent and professional! read more

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