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Interior - Animae, San Diego, CA
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Animae

$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132

Make a reservation

A photo of Animae restaurant

Animae

4.8
$50 and over
Contemporary Asian
Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 79 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Fancy
Animae is a modern Asian steakhouse in downtown San Diego, located in the landmark Pacific Gate Tower. Led by James Beard Finalist Chef Tara Monsod, the restaurant blends wood-fired cooking with bold Southeast Asian flavors, drawing inspiration from Filipino, Thai, and Japanese cuisines.

The menu highlights premium steaks alongside signature dishes like Wagyu with housemade sauces and shareable plates layered with spice, acidity, and depth. Seasonal ingredients and thoughtful sourcing drive a menu designed for both indulgence and balance.

Inside, Animae delivers a striking dining experience. Inspired by the architecture above it, the space is a futurist take on Art Deco glamour—lush, cinematic, and high-energy. The dining room is designed for celebration, whether you're planning a date night, group dinner, or special occasion in the heart of downtown San Diego, just steps from the waterfront and the Gaslamp Quarter.

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202620252024

From the OpenTable editors: Filipino American chef Tara Monsod takes fusion food to the next level at this groovy Art Deco space. Expect opulent riffs on classics like crispy pig ears and kare kare—Monsod is one of the few chefs in the country putting Filipino food on the fine-dining stage. The approach earned her numerous awards, including a prestigious MICHELIN Plate.

Executive chef: Tara Monsod

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Asian, Asian, Steakhouse
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Contact
    (619) 432-1225
  • Website
    https://animaesd.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Private party facilities
    Located in downtown San Diego, Animae features private and semi-private dining spaces perfect for group dinners, corporate events, and special occasions. The restaurant’s dramatic interiors and customizable menus by Chef Tara Monsod create a standout setting for everything from intimate gatherings to full buyouts.
  • Location
    969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132
  • Award-winning
    1. OpenTable Icons 2026
    2. OpenTable Icons 2025
    3. OpenTable Icons 2024
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    Broadway & Pacific Highway
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Public transit
    Steps from Broadway & Pacific Hwy bus stops, a 3-minute walk to Santa Fe Depot (Amtrak & COASTER), and near America Plaza trolley station (Blue, Green, Orange lines).
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

All Experiences

  • A Very Animae Thanksgiving

    $114.40 per person

    1 - 8 people

    Nov 26, 2026 only
    Join us for a not-so-traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Animae ! Chef Tara's 3-course menu will be posted here soon. You have reserved the table for 2 hours from the time of your booking. We kindly ask that your experience does not exceed this time in order to seat other reservations on time. $110 per adult, $42 per child Bread Service Ube Pan De Sal / cheddar ube butter 1st Course, choice of Hamachi Crudo / asian pear / cucumber / cilantro / lime salt Autumn Daikon Salad / apple / galangal maple vinaigrette / chicory / pepitas Beef Tartare / charred pepper ponzu / wasabi aioli / sweet potato chips 2nd Course, choice of Hunan Lamb Chops / cumin / szechuan peppercorn / cilantro cream Baked Mussels / vietnamese herb butter / breadcrumbs / thai basil / lime Squash Arancini / garlic aioli / micro cilantro 3rd Course, choice of Turkey Roulade / soy gravy / maple acorn squash / maple brown butter / fried sage Braised Beef / pomme puree / roasted onions / chives Seabass Chả Cá / turmeric & dill beurre monte / crispy glass noodles / spring onion Butternut Squash Bucatini / carrots / pickled radish / pepitas / szechuan oil family style sides Wagyu Potatoes Caulilini Green Beans 4th course, choice of Miso Chocolate Brownie Profiteroles / pumpkin / coconut
    A Very Animae Thanksgiving Photo

  • Animae Kamayan Christmas Eve Dinner

    $114.40 per person

    3 - 12 people

    Dec 24, 2026 only
    Join Chef Tara Monsod for an incredible Filipino tradition....a Kamayan feast! Every table will receive a beautiful spread of modern interpretations of filipino classics all served on banana leaves. We invite you to enjoy this one of a kind Christmas experience with Chef Tara at Animae. $110 per person. Please note the menu is fixed for this experience. Everyone will be receiving the same feast. Substitutions cannot be made. Amuse Tinola Soup 1st Course Kinilaw Handroll Entrees Chicken Fat Fried Rice Mala Spiced Whole Snapper Baked Mussels Lechon Kawali Kalbi Shortrib Bistek Ube Pan De Sal with Cheddar Butter Green Papaya Salad Dessert Chocolate and Coconut Profiteroles, Blackberry and Yuzu Brown Butter Blondie with Candied Walnut and Vanilla Diplomat Cream
    Animae Kamayan Christmas Eve Dinner Photo

  • Animae New Year's Eve Early Seating

    $119.60 per person

    1 - 8 people

    Dec 31, 2026 only
    Enjoy a glamorous New Year's Eve celebration at ANIMAE! $115, 4 course prix fixe menu to be released soon. Parties of 2 - 5 have reserved the table for 2 hours. Parties of 6+ have reserved the table for 2 hours and 15 minutes. We kindly ask that you keep your experience within this time frame in order to honor later bookings. Thank you! Bread Service: Ube Roll with ube butter 1st course Choice of: Hamachi crudo - green tobiko mayo, sesame salsa matcha, green apple, sorrel Daikon Apple Salad - maple galangol vinaigrette Beef Tartare - charred chili vinaigrette, wasabi aioli 2nd course Choice of: Truffle Wagyu Wontons- pickled wood ear mushroom, black truffle Shavings, soy vinaigrette Shrimp Toast - sweet soy glaze Oyster Mushroom Skewer - tare, egg, negi 3rd course choice of: Pumpkin Ma Jiang Mian - pickled radish, szechwan oil Fish Cha Ca - turmeric burre monte, crispy glass noodles Duck Leg - acorn squash, carrots Filet Bistek - pee wee potatos, pearl onions ADD: +$125 JAPANESE A5 MIYAZAKI STRIP LOIN ADD +$75 Whole Lobster- Fermented Chili Butter ADD: +$75 CAVIAR SERVICE | bilinis, nori creme fraiche, negi, egg, shallots 4th course choice of: Chocolate and Coconut Profiterole: passion fruit caramel, raspberry with yuzu and prosecco compote Brown Butter Blondie: with candied almond and vanilla diplo
    Animae New Year's Eve Early Seating Photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Videos

Shared by creators who recently dined at this restaurant.

  • Profile image

    chews_sandiego

    Happiest birthday to my mahal, Rome ❤️✨ 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 🥂💛✨ #eatlocal #foodie #chews_sandiego #chews_international #chews_california Please give me a follow @chews_sandiego for the best Eats and Drinks

  • Profile image

    natethefoodie

    ✨ 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙮. It has been amazing, not just because it’s Leo season (which I proudly am), but because so many wonderful things have happened for me and the people I care about. Friends have started exciting new careers, loved ones are reaping the rewards of their hard work, and there’s so much to look forward to. As we say goodbye to July, ✨ 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, no matter how small. We’ve made it this far! Tomorrow is a new month. 🫶 𝙒𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨! 🍮 Animae 📍 969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101 — #foodporn #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodie #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #eatlocal #eatwell #eatloveshare #sandiego #sandiegofood #sandiegoeats

Videos are powered by Seekeasy. How this content is generated

Menu

This menu from Animae.

Hot Dishes

  • Wonton

    wagyu, chili garlic oil, soy vinaigrette

    • Taiwanese Chicken

      schezuan peppercorn, hot honey, thai basil aioli

      • Hunan Lamb Chops

        cumin, szechuan peppercorn, cilantro cream

        • Crispy Pig Ear

          sweet tamarind glaze, bean sprouts, tofu, peanuts

          • Mantou

            chive steamed bun, soy glaze, sour cream butter

            • Gimmari

              shirmp & pork roll, gochujang, trout roe, perilla leaf

              Cold Dishes

              • Tuna Crispy Rice

                charred chili ponzu, spicy aioli, turnip

                • Cucumbers

                  soy, fresno chili, sesame, cilantro

                  • Tuna Kinilaw

                    coconut, calamansi, cilantro oil

                    • Nori Ceasar Salad

                      little gem, crispy anchovy, parmesan

                      • Summer Corn Salad

                        coconut cream, pinipig, lime leaf, cotija, sungold tomatoes

                        • Scallop Crudo

                          calamansi nuoc mam, peaches, sea grapes

                          Sides

                          • Coal Roasted Cabbage

                            brown butter miso, charred lime

                            • Wagyu Fried Rice

                              maitake, trumpet mushrooms, garlic, egg

                              • Crispy Potatoes

                                A5 fat, chinese sausage jam, koji sour cream

                                • Charred Carrots

                                  maple black garlic glaze, smoked almonds

                                  Japanese A5

                                  • Miyazaki Strip Loin

                                    • Miyazaki Tenderloin

                                      American Steaks

                                      • 8 Oz Prime Filet

                                        • 16 Oz Prime New York

                                          • 28 Oz Dry Aged Ribeye

                                            Other Plates

                                            • Adobang Pula Chicken

                                              red adobo, annato, crispy garlic shallot oil, pippara peppers, fingerling potatoes

                                              • Short Rib Kare Kare

                                                long beans, eggplant, bagoong peanut oil

                                                • Pork Tomahawk Tocino

                                                  sweet beet glaze, mango sawsawan

                                                  • Assam Seabass Curry

                                                    tamarind Malaysian curry, tomato, eggplant, fennel, okra

                                                    • Yu Xiang Rice Cakes & Shiitake

                                                      green beans, mushrooms, pickled fresno, cilantro

                                                      • Lobster Palabok

                                                        bucatini pasta, chicharron, trout roe

                                                        Delectable Desserts

                                                        animae serves globally-inspired delectable desserts created with popular eastern flavors and ingredients

                                                          Sweets

                                                          • Peach Sorbet

                                                            matcha cream, coconut crumble, fresh peaches, matcha yuzu meringue

                                                            • Buko Pandan

                                                              young coconut mousse, pandan anglaise, pandan gelee

                                                              • Chocolate Cremeux

                                                                miso sesame cream, chocolate crumble, korean chili cashew

                                                                • Sakura Panna Cotta

                                                                  feuilletine, fresh strawberry

                                                                  • Turon Tart

                                                                    carmalized brown sugar custard, jackfruit gel, crispy wafers, banana ice cream

                                                                    Last updated: August 26, 2025

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                                                                    Reviews

                                                                    OpenTable reviews from verified diners

                                                                    Reviews from people who have dined at Animae.

                                                                    4.8

                                                                    4.8
                                                                    (4415)
                                                                    • 4.7Food
                                                                    • 4.8Service
                                                                    • 4.8Ambience
                                                                    • 4.4Value

                                                                    Noise • Moderate

                                                                    Review summary

                                                                    AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                    Animae offers a unique dining experience with "delicious food," a "great vibe," and "amazing service." Executive Chef Tara Monsod crafts dishes with Filipino influences, like the "tomahawk tocino" and "short rib kare kare." The ambiance is "glamorous," perfect for special occasions. A must-visit for food lovers seeking a memorable experience!
                                                                    4,415 Reviews

                                                                    1. Debra

                                                                      Greater Boston3 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 1 day ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      We loved the food and the ambiance. Each dish had a distinct flavor and was cooked to perfection. We will return soon.

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                                                                    2. Jay Gold

                                                                      San Francisco1 review

                                                                      4.0

                                                                      Dined 2 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 4
                                                                      2. Food 3
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Pretty good overall. Everything is masterfully cooked. Excellent technique used and dishes would arrive perfectly cooked. The issue is more with overall flavor concentration. If you’re used to Filipino food, you may find a couple of the dishes to be slightly less flavorful than you may be used to at home. Though the Cha Ca, Lamb Chops, and Tocino Porkchop were all very good!

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                                                                    3. le

                                                                      San Francisco1 review

                                                                      3.0

                                                                      Dined 3 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 3
                                                                      2. Food 3
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      the pig ears, tocino, fried chicken and the crème brûlée was a 12/10. while the items was technically well prepared, especially the chicken and short ribs, the finishing glaze or sauce really missed the mark for us. the decor and ambience was great, but from a price-value standpoint it felt like a letdown.

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                                                                    4. Ashok Gold

                                                                      Washington DC3 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 5 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Delicious food and overall its experience is great. Love the yummy dessert.

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                                                                    5. Nick Gold

                                                                      San Diego3 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 5 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Holy heck, my wife and I visited for the first time on a Sunday night for our anniversary. The restaurant was poppin' very lively with great music and packed and after the dinner we had; understand why. Book your reservation out at least a month as it's in extremely high demand. Service was exceptional, very nice waitress who had the menu down cold both front and back. Ambiance 10/10, fun music. 15/10 for food. All of it was packed with flavor and delicious. Pork tomahawk and wagyu new York strip were exceptional but what stole the show for us was the charred cabbage. We had never had anything like it and for being such a simple ingredient it was phenomenal. Like.. would've ordered a second plate it was so good, lights out. We couldn't quit talking about the damn cabbage of all things. Get the cabbage! Probably the most expensive dinner we've ever had (come from humble beginnings) but it was worth it and probably self inflicted. I didn't NEED to get the $160 new York strip, but you know, eff it we ball (occasionally) and I'm glad we did. 12/10 would recommend.

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                                                                    6. Teresa Gold

                                                                      San Luis Potosi7 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 6 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Excelente!!!!!!! Todo super elaborado delicioso Recomiendo con mucho gusto

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                                                                    7. Mary

                                                                      San Diego1 review

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 7 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 4
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Great food and ambiance. We had a good time there.

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                                                                    8. Ailee

                                                                      Jacksonville1 review

                                                                      1.0

                                                                      Dined 7 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 1
                                                                      2. Food 3
                                                                      3. Service 1
                                                                      4. Ambience 3
                                                                      I went here for my birthday dinner with a reservation for 8 people. Service was slow. Water wasn’t refilled the entire time, check was placed on the table without any acknowledgment. It was my birthday and I don’t really anticipate any special treatment but after we spent nearly $1k altogether I would’ve been happy with at least a small dessert or well wishes from the staff. I felt like our table was an afterthought. Disappointed because my husband and I used to love animae and when we went in 2023 we had a far better experience. We won’t be back.

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                                                                    9. Margaret

                                                                      Los Angeles2 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined 7 days ago

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 5
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Earlier dinner reservations are best for low noise levels . Food and service was outstanding! Our server Bailey was lovely and took care of our table for 2. Pork Tocino Tomahawk IS A MUST TRY! Chef Tara nailed that one and should be a permanent menu item. the dipping sauce with that one too was spot on took me back to authentic filipino food. portions are good for 2-3 people. Me and my husband have never had this 100% satisfaction at a restaurant. everything here from drinks, to apps, main, sides, desserts and tea were excellent! will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu

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                                                                    10. Jane

                                                                      San Diego32 reviews

                                                                      5.0

                                                                      Dined on October 30, 2026

                                                                      1. Overall 5
                                                                      2. Food 4
                                                                      3. Service 5
                                                                      4. Ambience 5
                                                                      Food was exceptional except for the rib entree. Had a big piece of fat on it. But they did not charge us for this entree. The other comment I have is we have been there multiple times of the last 6 months and I would like to see the menu change a little more often.

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                                                                    Dining areas

                                                                    Additional information

                                                                    • Dining style
                                                                      Fine Dining
                                                                    • Price
                                                                      $50 and over
                                                                    • Cuisines
                                                                      Contemporary Asian, Asian, Steakhouse
                                                                    • Hours of operation
                                                                      Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
                                                                    • Contact
                                                                      (619) 432-1225
                                                                    • Website
                                                                      https://animaesd.com/
                                                                    • Payment options
                                                                      AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                    • Dress code
                                                                      Smart Casual
                                                                    • Private party facilities
                                                                      Located in downtown San Diego, Animae features private and semi-private dining spaces perfect for group dinners, corporate events, and special occasions. The restaurant’s dramatic interiors and customizable menus by Chef Tara Monsod create a standout setting for everything from intimate gatherings to full buyouts.
                                                                    • Location
                                                                      969 Pacific HWY, San Diego, CA 92132
                                                                    • Award-winning
                                                                      1. OpenTable Icons 2026
                                                                      2. OpenTable Icons 2025
                                                                      3. OpenTable Icons 2024
                                                                    • Neighborhood
                                                                      Downtown
                                                                    • Cross street
                                                                      Broadway & Pacific Highway
                                                                    • Parking details
                                                                      Valet
                                                                    • Public transit
                                                                      Steps from Broadway & Pacific Hwy bus stops, a 3-minute walk to Santa Fe Depot (Amtrak & COASTER), and near America Plaza trolley station (Blue, Green, Orange lines).
                                                                    • Additional
                                                                      Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

                                                                    Featured in

                                                                    FAQs

                                                                    The menu is built around shareable plates, guests say dishes are nicely proportioned for sharing, and special family-style (Kamayan) dinners are plentiful.

                                                                    Monday, guests note Animae is open on Mondays (when many fine-dining spots are closed) and report it can be very busy and lively that night.

                                                                    Yes, Animae's lush, cinematic dining room and multiple anniversary and romantic visits make it a popular choice for special evenings and celebrations.

                                                                    Yes, many families dine at Animae: guests report bringing children and strollers (staff accommodated), families enjoyed brunch and dinners with kids, and children were happily served kid-friendly touches like a special lemonade.

                                                                    Smart casual is the guide, polished but relaxed; reviewers note "wear smart casual, " and many guests dress up a touch for birthdays and anniversaries at Animae.

                                                                    Animae has run special holiday services, reviewers report dining there for a Christmas Eve family-style Kamayan dinner, Easter brunch events, and a Mother’s Day brunch.

                                                                    How FAQ content is generated

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                                                                    Make a reservation

                                                                    A photo of Animae restaurant

                                                                    Animae

                                                                    4.8
                                                                    $50 and over
                                                                    Contemporary Asian
                                                                    Downtown

                                                                    Make a reservation

                                                                    2 people
                                                                    11:00 PM
                                                                    Booked 79 times today
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