Animal
The menu at Animal is an adventure for both your taste buds and your psyche. Your taste buds will love you; you just have to get past the psychology of the eccentric animal parts that you’ll be eating.
Not for the faint of heart
Animal serves New American cuisine, but for a more sophisticated palate. I’m a huge foodie, and in my opinion, the menu is very intimidating. They use ingredients like pig ears, veal tongue, rabbit, oxtail, and a variety of ingredients that I’ve never even heard of: kanzuri, leche de tigre, kochukaru…I could go on, but you likely don’t know what these things are, either! Don’t let the ingredients or foreign words scare you away. The food is fantastic.
Sharing is caring
The dishes here should be shared. And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try a variety of these unique offerings? Pro tip: Don’t overthink what you are ordering. Take some risks. Ask your server for some suggestions.
My favorites
Everything here is incredible; you really can’t go wrong. That said, I have a few favorites that I recommend:
Poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar. Hands down the BEST poutine I’ve ever had. I may have actually licked the bowl the first time I ate it.
Sea scallops, leche de tigre, brown butter, fennel. Light and delicious.
Gem lettuce, beet, feta, pita, sumac, Meyer lemon vinaigrette. A great salad, my favorite of all their greens.
Balsamic pork ribs, Delicata squash, lemon chili vinaigrette, pecan. One of the larger dishes. I recommend sharing it along with a couple of other dishes. It’s heavenly.
The Boner Burger. Our little secret. It's not listed on the menu, but don't be afraid to ask for it. The name comes from the bone marrow mixed with the house-ground chuck and short rib meat. They top the patty with jack cheese, caramelized onion, poblano chile, and secret "420 sauce" to create the best mess I've ever tasted. The sauces, juices, and toppings are oozing all over – they serve it on marbled rye bread from nearby Diamond Bakery, which soaks it all up perfectly.
If you’re not from LA…
Order the burger and poutine. It’s a killer combo, and no one who lives here will order it. Everyone is too concerned about their weight. But if you’re visiting or just want a gluttonous meal, this is what I’d get.
Come hungry. Leave happy.
