The story
Animalón sits at Km 83 Carretera Federal 3 in Francisco Zarco, Ensenada, where a contemporary Mexican kitchen earned a Michelin star in 2026 for high quality cooking. The restaurant works within Mexico's most important wine region, and its seasonal tasting menus change with the harvest.
Chef Javier Plascencia owns the restaurant, and executive chef Oscar Torres runs the kitchen. Torres grew up in East Los Angeles and has worked under Michelin-starred chefs. His cooking draws on Mediterranean, Indian and Southeast Asian ideas, with produce from nearby farms and markets.
Dinner is served beneath an oak tree more than 200 years old. Guests can choose a five or eight course tasting menu, and the eight course version is built from local Baja ingredients and can be prepared vegetarian. Optional Baja wine pairings are available, and the wine list is curated by Lauren Plascencia, whose program received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023.
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