Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is a world-renowned Japanese chef and restaurateur, celebrated for pioneering a unique fusion cuisine that blends traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients and flavors. He is the...
Insights
JapaneseSushi BarSteakhouseLatin AmericanVegan-friendlySeafoodFine diningLunchDinnerFine DiningCocktail Bar
Last updated: 7/1/2026, 3:21:00 AM
Key Information
Nobu Malibu offers an exceptional Japanese dining experience with breathtaking ocean views, especially memorable with waves crashing during dinner. It's known for its upscale ambiance, precision in every dish, and a vibrant bar and lounge scene. The restaurant provides a curated culinary journey, making it a destination for special occasions and those seeking a luxurious meal.
Customers consistently praise the incredible service, stunning ocean views, and the high quality of the food, often describing it as some of the best Japanese cuisine they've ever had. Signature dishes like the Yellowtail Jalapeño and Miso Cod receive particular acclaim. While acknowledged as expensive, many reviewers find the experience to be well worth the cost. The atmosphere is often described as 'instagrammable' and bustling, with reservations highly recommended due to its popularity. Some minor feedback includes tables being close together and occasional service dips for smaller spending parties.
Additional Details
Nobu Malibu offers convenient takeout and delivery services via UberEats. Valet parking is available, contributing to a seamless dining experience. The restaurant's location directly on the Pacific Coast Highway provides a unique and scenic backdrop.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner, as the restaurant can be very busy. The Sushi Bar and Bar/Lounge accept walk-ins. Takeout is available Sunday-Thursday from 12 PM-8:30 PM and Friday-Saturday from 12 PM-9:30 PM.
the service is incredible and the views are even more memorable. the waves crashing thought dinner make you appreciate where you are. we got so many things: yellowfin tuna, shrimp, edamame, crispy tuna, ceviche, miso cod, chicken wings and many more. the best was the yellowfin and spicy tuna. so amazing. the drinks were great too. the hibiscus was fantastic and the cucumber tequila one. we also got some beer and the spicy marg and one of the vodka cocktails. no complaints. expensive but worth.
Food was excellent. As someone who is not a big fish fan or seafood person, I really enjoyed the meals we got. The crispy rice and spicy tuna was great and the salmon was good. The salmon main dish even comes with Brussels sprouts which were excellent.
The service was good at the beginning and progressively dropped off as they realized we were there to only spend 200. Additionally, the outside tables are VERY close to one another, if you back a chair up fully from the table it will hit another, which is great for being able to get a reservation and table but proved a bit unenjoyable when we had a large group of guys talking very loud and I could barely hear the people at my table.
Five stars truly isn’t enough.
Karen and I had our first experience at Nobu Malibu on a rainy afternoon, and it ended up being one of the best meals we’ve ever had.
From the moment we sat down, Sapeer took incredible care of us. Every recommendation he made was flawless — he paced the meal perfectly and guided us through what felt like a curated tasting experience. Jackie was equally fantastic — warm, attentive, and genuinely excited about the dishes she was bringing out.
The food absolutely lived up to — and exceeded — the hype. The yellowtail jalapeño was the clear star of the show. It was one of the best bites we’ve ever had. The scallop and whitefish sashimi specials were stunning and beautifully balanced. Honestly, every sashimi dish was exceptional. Even the black cod, rock shrimp, and yuzu ribeye were outstanding (though we definitely over-ordered because everything sounded too good to pass up).
Between the ocean view, the fireplace, the service, and the precision of every dish, it was a memorable experience from start to finish.
We’ll absolutely be back.
We had reservations for 8:30 PM and were seated by 9 PM, but wow, they were bustling with energy, so it made sense! Our server was absolutely top-notch, what a gem she was! So attentive and friendly, we absolutely loved having her. The sushi? Fresh as always, exceeding our expectations! We tried a variety of items, and everyone was thrilled. We did order a lot, so our food took a bit longer, but it was worth the wait. The prices are on the higher side, so if you're ready to splurge, this place is a must visit!
This was easily the best Japanese food I've ever had, The presentation was phenomenal and every bite was filled with flavor.
Parking was valet, and service was fast. Servers were polite and regularly refilled drinks
The atmosphere is very instagrammable.
