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.
Among my chef friends and the epicurean elites, aka “foodies”, the conversation around great Chinese food was always centered around authenticity, with classic American Chinese takeout dishes not considered authentic. But, having grown up in the Chinese American restaurant my parents have worked at for the past 25 years, I’ve always seen it as a by-product of enormous creativity and ingenuity of Chinese Immigrants.
World renowned for its award winning "New Style" Japanese cuisine, Nobu continues to offer savvy diners across the globe a culinary adventure. Our San Diego location is yet another canvas for Chef Nobu Matsuhisa to display his legendary dishes, such as the Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno.
The restaurant which is nestled in the perennially hip and centrally located Hard Rock Hotel also features unique creations by Executive Chef David Meade who has honed his skill at Nobu locations in Miami and New York. Nobu San Diego delivers equally on food, impeccable service and ambiance that is sophisticated yet lively.
An Asian Fusion RestaurantWritten by Jiwoo Choi Founded at just 23, chef Jiwoo Choi built Choi's on raw ambition, curiosity, and a love for Asian flavorsexpressed through San Diego's local ingredients.The food reflects that spirit - unrestrained, creative, and thoughtfully unconventional- offering a largely gluten-free menu with a strong commitment tosustainability and balanced eating.Choi's is driven by continuous learning and improvement,with one simple promise:every visit will be better than the last.Two-hour complimentary parking garage validation.Choi's is the perfect spot for a comforting yet exciting evening. Join us at Choi's tonight!
James’ Place is a high quality and moderate price dining establishment. Specializing in Asian fusion cuisine, with a large variety of appetizers, and a nice selection of entrees.
San Diego’s first sake-forward bar, owned and curated by certified sake sommelier Ayaka Ito.Ito has built every experience around three elements in harmony - sake, food, and glassware. Change the glass, and the same sake tastes different. Add the right dish, and something unexpected comes alive. Get all three right, and the result is something you can’t quite explain, but will never forget.The food side of that magic is shaped in collaboration with Marie Chiba, owner of EUREKA!, Tokyo’s legendary sake bar, and one of the few people in the world to hold the title of Sake Samurai, one of the highest honors in sake culture. Her influence on how we think about food and sake runs through every dish on our menu executed by Head Chef Ryan Miller.Sake Bar Gaga has shaped a menu where sake, food, and glassware are chosen with that magic in mind. We can't wait to welcome you for this unique experience!
