Nobu is a global luxury restaurant brand founded by Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa in partnership with actor Robert De Niro and producer Meir Teper. The first Nobu restaurant opened in 1994 in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. The brand has since expanded to operate more than 50 restaurants and over a dozen hotel properties across five continents.
Nobu Matsuhisa's culinary style blends traditional Japanese cuisine with Peruvian ingredients and techniques, a fusion born from his years working in Lima, Peru, before establishing himself in the United States. His signature dishes include black cod with miso, yellowtail jalapeno, and rock shrimp tempura, which have become widely recognized in the global dining landscape. The restaurants are known for their omakase-style tasting menus as well as extensive a la carte offerings.
The brand expanded into hospitality with Nobu Hotels, a joint venture with several hotel development partners. Nobu Hotel properties operate in locations including Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Marbella, Ibiza, London, and Barcelona. The hotels feature Nobu restaurant and lounge concepts integrated into the property design.
Nobu restaurants occupy a distinctive market position between traditional fine dining and upscale casual dining, with average per-person spending typically ranging from $100 to $300 depending on the location and menu selection. The brand's expansion strategy focuses on high-profile urban centers and luxury resort destinations. Matsuhisa, now in his seventies, maintains involvement in menu development and culinary direction across the portfolio. The restaurant group is headquartered in New York.