Animae

Tried Animae for the first time to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, and it did not disappoint! We were seated right away, even though we arrived a few minutes late. The atmosphere was warm and elegant, and I loved the playlist—it was totally my kind of music. We ordered the Cucumbers, Taiwanese Chicken, Wagyu Corned Beef Fried Rice, Pork Tomahawk Tocino, The Malarkey, Melon Milk Tea, Kollo Iced Tea, Buko Pandan, and Sticky Rice Crème Brûlée. Let me tell you, every single dish and drink was amazing. The standout for me was the Pork Tomahawk Tocino. The flavor instantly reminded me of the Filipino pork barbecue I used to eat as a kid. It was so nostalgic and comforting. Everything was delicious, the service was great, and the overall experience made our anniversary celebration extra special. 100000/10. Would definitely come back!

Bailey was an absolute rockstar! She was so welcoming and did a great job in guiding us through our meal. The table next to us had a customer who was very rude and Bailey handled the situation so professionally. The food and cocktails were fantastic and I feel so lucky I got to experience a meal here!

The venue is stunning. Immaculate detail to everything. Very high end atmosphere. Server was Bonnie and she was exceptional. We got the below Cocktails - old fashion - Ube (on the sweeter side) Cold plates - scallops - absolutely divine. These were so perfect and the dill was such a nice touch. Hot plates - Taiwanese chicken - divine and the sauce really made this dish. The chicken was extremely tender as well. Mains - lobster Palabok - noodles were a bit hard and the lobster amount was very minimal definitely wouldn’t get it again - tomahawk - incredible. Juicy and perfectly cooked and the sauce paired very nicely with it too. Dessert - sticky rice crème brûlée - very good I did find it a bit too tart for my liking very lemony taste but my fiancé loved it. For two people this was plenty and our total came to $332 (4 total cocktails) and we tipped 20% Truly magical place and will be back because the Kare Kare I am regretting I didn’t get.

We’ve tried so many contemporary Filipino restaurants and fusion spots over the years. I wouldn’t call us foodies, but we know when food is truly good. When my fiancé and I moved to San Diego, the very first restaurant I told her I wanted to try was Animae. I didn’t even bother looking at the menu first. I only knew one thing. Chef Tara Monsod is a James Beard Award finalist, the first chef from San Diego to receive that recognition. That’s pretty much the Oscars of the culinary world, so I knew we had to see what the hype was about. The moment we walked in, I already knew we made the right choice. The restaurant is stunning. It feels elegant without making you feel out of place. It has this calm, luxurious atmosphere that’s warm instead of intimidating. Even though the restaurant was packed, it never felt loud or chaotic. The high ceilings and beautiful space somehow made everything feel relaxed. The service was just as impressive. Thank you to Riley and everyone who took care of us that night. Every single person we interacted with knew the menu inside and out, but what stood out to me was how proudly they spoke about Filipino food. They pronounced every dish correctly and explained each one in a way that anyone, even someone completely new to Filipino cuisine, could understand and appreciate. At one point, I overheard Riley helping a Peruvian couple who were trying Filipino food for the first time. He recommended the Tuna Kinilaw, and I quietly waited to see what they thought. Coming from a country that’s famous for ceviche, I was curious how they would react to the Filipino version. They loved it. I don’t know why, but seeing that made me smile. As the night went on, I found myself looking around the dining room. There were people from different backgrounds, different ages, different cultures, all enjoying the same meal. Every now and then I’d catch someone taking a bite, pausing for a second, then giving that little nod that says, “Wow.” It made me feel incredibly proud. For a moment, it felt like everyone in that room was getting to experience a piece of Filipino culture, and they genuinely loved it. Chef Tara and her team have created something so much bigger than a restaurant. They’ve created a place where people can discover how beautiful, vibrant, and flavorful Filipino food really is. And then there was the food. I can honestly say I’ve never had Filipino food like this before. Every dish felt familiar, but in the best way possible. It tasted like home, just elevated with so much care and intention. Nothing felt like it was trying too hard to be modern. The soul of every dish was still there. The flavors I grew up with were still there. They were simply more refined, more balanced, and somehow even more memorable. One detail I also appreciated was seeing members of the kitchen bring dishes to the table alongside the servers. It made the whole experience feel more personal, like everyone was proud to share what they had created. By the end of dinner, I wasn’t just full. My heart was full. My Filipino pride was full. As a Filipino, it was honestly emotional seeing our food represented with this much excellence and seeing people from all walks of life enjoy it with genuine appreciation. We’ll definitely be back because there are still so many dishes we want to try. And if I’m lucky, maybe next time I’ll get the chance to meet Chef Tara in person and thank her for creating a meal and an experience that I’ll remember for a very long time.