Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chao Yuan

    4.0 (1 review)

    Chao Yuan Photos

    Chao Yuan Reviews in Other Languages

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Animae - Lamb chops

    Animae

    4.4(1.7k reviews)
    27.1 km•Downtown
    •$$$

    Such a special evening at ANIMAE…read more Led by Executive Chef and James Beard Award Finalist Tara Monsod, ANIMAE brings a personal, deeply cultural perspective to San Diego's fine-dining scene. One of the things I appreciate most about Chef Tara Monsod is how she stays true to the Filipino dishes and flavors so many of us grew up with, while still finding a way to elevate them beautifully. The Tuna Kinilaw, Crispy Pig Ear, Short Rib Kare Kare, and Pork Tomahawk Tocino were all standouts. Each dish still felt unmistakably Filipino, but Tara brought her own creativity through technique, texture, presentation, and refinement. The Short Rib Kare Kare felt familiar and comforting, but completely elevated. And the Pork Tomahawk Tocino was such a fun interpretation of a flavor so many Filipinos recognize instantly. Then came dessert. We tried the Sticky Rice Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Crémeux, Buko Pandan, and Matcha Mousse. I especially loved seeing Buko Pandan, another familiar Filipino favorite, presented in such a polished and creative way. And we absolutely LOVED our waitress, Joy! Her enthusiasm for the menu was contagious. She was genuinely passionate about recommending the different dishes and explaining them to us, which made the experience even more fun. And I have to give her extra credit because her Filipino pronunciations were on point! We noticed, Joy! That is what I love about Tara's food. She respects where these dishes come from and keeps the heart and soul of the flavors intact, while still making them feel fresh, sophisticated, and completely her own. And what made the evening even more special was Tara taking the time to come visit with us after coming over from her other restaurant, Le Coq. She was gracious enough to stop by our table and spend some time visiting with us. Such a thoughtful gesture and such a wonderful way to end an already memorable evening. Amazing food, incredible service, beautiful surroundings, wonderful company, and a chef helping Filipino cuisine shine in such a beautiful way. Definitely a night to remember.

    The restaurant and ambiance of Animae is gorgeous though I'd give the food a 3.5 rating…read more Nothing wowed me other than the tuna kinilaw which was buttery, supple, and melted in my mouth. The Wagyu fried rice was flavorful as were the drinks but that's where it stopped. The steamed buns were basic and I would not recommend them. We shared one and left the others behind. The filet was flavorful thanks to the banchan and raw egg saw they provided but it was medium well to well on some pieces and should've been cooked perfectly for $68 al a carte. The Taiwanese chicken was spicy and probably should've skipped it for something raw or more refreshing. The service was great and the servers were all super attentive. We arrived early and saw 20 other people in different parties arrive after us and get seated before us for the same time slot. We finally got seated 10 minutes after our reservation time against a wall of two top tables. Odd choice of seating since the person opposite the booth has their back to the entire restaurant. I don't think I'll return but appreciate what they're attempting to do. Some items were superb and others should be left off the menu completely. Definitely order the tuna.

    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

    See all

    Lobster Pasta

    Chao Yuan - asianfusion - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...