Nobu Malibu

Reviews

• EE

  Emir Emir

  1 day ago
  5.0
  🍣 Nobu Malibu — California 🗓 Visited: August 2023 — Dinner Seating, Oceanfront Table If there is one place where the ocean becomes part of the meal, it’s Nobu Malibu. This is not just a restaurant — it’s a performance of waves, sake, and salt air. I’ve eaten at several Nobu locations worldwide, but Malibu is the most cinematographic: people don’t just dine here, they arrive. 🌊 Location & Atmosphere Nobu Malibu sits directly above the water — you don’t hear the ocean, you feel it. Waves crash beneath your table like a soundtrack. The restaurant is open-air and minimalistic, but every detail is intentional: pale wood, warm lighting, no distractions from the view. Yes, you will see luxury cars outside, influencers posing, and tables full of people who look like they came straight from a magazine shoot. But once the dishes arrive, even the loudest personality gets quiet. The food owns the room. 🍽️ What We Ordered & What You Should Order The menu is compact, but not everything is worth it. Some dishes exist for Instagram; others exist for flavor. After many Nobu experiences, these are the must-orders here: ⭐ Absolute Must-Order Black Cod with Miso The signature dish for a reason — silky, buttery, perfectly caramelized. 🍣 Sushi That Is Actually Worth the Price Bluefin Toro Nigiri Yellowtail Jalapeño (classic, fresh, balanced) Salmon Belly with Truffle 🥩 If You Like Meat Wagyu Tataki — order it rare. 🐟 Recommended Only in Malibu Truffle Albacore Carpaccio Works here because of the humidity and ocean air — strangely more aromatic than in other locations. 🚫 Skip / Not Necessary Rock Shrimp Tempura (good but not special; same as every Nobu globally) Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna (photogenic, not memorable) 🍸 Drinks & Tip The cocktail list is secondary — skip it. Instead, order: Junmai Daiginjo Sake Or a glass of Kistler Chardonnay (local wine worth the pairing) 💵 Price & Reality Check Let’s be honest: Nobu Malibu is expensive in a way that doesn’t always reflect ingredient cost. You are paying for: ✔ The view ✔ The reputation ✔ The reservations you fought to get ✔ The “Malibu experience” Is it worth it? If you sit oceanfront at sunset — absolutely. If you sit inside near the bar? You might regret it. ⭐ Service: Good but Not Intimate The staff is fast, efficient, and knowledgeable. But this is not a place where waiters tell stories about dishes or connect emotionally. Service is professional, transactional, premium — not personal. You are not supposed to feel “at home.” You are supposed to feel “privileged to be here.” ⚠️ Practical Tips (Save Yourself Trouble) 📌 Reserve weeks in advance — sunset tables are gone first. 🌅 Arrive early and request ocean seating politely. 🚗 Parking is chaotic; use valet and don’t think twice. 🌬 Bring a light jacket — ocean wind can be cold. 🕶 Avoid lunch if you hate paparazzi energy; dinner is calmer. 🔐 Safety & Comfort Valet area is well-monitored. Staff is trained to andle crowd control (especially celebrities). Expect privacy but not isolation — paparazzi occasionally wait outside. 🎬 Final Thought Nobu Malibu is not just a dinner — it’s a scene. Come for the Black Cod and wave symphony, not for intimacy. Expect premium pricing, a bit of ego in the air, and a sunset that forgives everything. If you choose the right dishes and the right table, it becomes one of the most unforgettable coastal meals in the world.
• LL

  Lumkind

  Nov 14, 2025
  3.0
  Im Ableger von Nobu in Malibu findet man die altbekannten Klassiker, die im Vergleich zu anderen Filialen geschmacklich nicht mithalten können. Qualitativ ist das Essen aber zumeist top. Allerdings sind eben auch viele Speisen des Menüs mittlerweile überholt, andere Lokale wie Zuma oder Roka sind da kreativer. Die Location ist natürlich einmalig, dass hat uns auch hierher geführt. Besonders zu bemängeln ist der Service, der manchmal auch wirklich freundlich, die meiste Zeit aber furchtbar hetzend war. Während wir noch die Hauptspeise aßen, wurde uns bereits die Dessertkarte gereicht; so lief es den gesamten Abend. Alles in allem ist die Location für einen Lunch nett, wenn einem die Aussicht den Preis wert ist. Ansonsten das Geld besser sparen.
• PG

  Parker Green

  Nov 12, 2025
  5.0
  Absolutely immaculate vibes, location, atmosphere, service, and food that I would say make Nobu Malibu definitely worth the cost & the drive! I recently went to Nobu Malibu for a dinner date to celebrate our 10 year anniversary! Upon arriving with a reservation, we were promptly seated on the patio space that faces the ocean - I loved the views and the atmosphere here - 100% perfect! The sound of the crashing waves every few minutes, the warm..cozy lighting, the upscale and yet relaxing, chill atmosphere..I'm in love! There were also plenty of heat lamps above, so even on a chilly November evening, I actually felt a little bit hot! Service was EXTREMELY attentive, friendly, and helpful with giving information and advice on menu items/customizing things to personal preferences. Of the food we got here, the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna was a definite favorite!! A perfect blend of the crunchy exterior and an explosion from within as you take a bite - perfectly subtle heat and spice to match the rest of the flavor profiles. Everything else we ordered was similarly high-quality and solid - the only thing we'd probably skip on a future visit is the Rock Shrimp Tempura..which honestly just tasted a bit mushy and bland. We also enjoyed a couple rounds of cocktails during our dinner - all the drinks were beautifully presented and had a good strength to them. My favorite of the evening was the Malibu Breeze - a great option for anyone who enjoys a lightly fruity cocktail! All in all, this was the perfect spot to celebrate 10 years together, and they gave us a wonderful evening. I definitely believe Nobu Malibu is worth the hype, especially when wishing to celebrate a special occasion!
• KL

  Kira Loo

  Nov 8, 2025
  2.0
  Having just moved to LA, I was extremely excited to take my date to Nobu, it's a restaurant I've dined at and enjoyed at multiple of their locations. Seeing as this is their main location I did expect a little extra LA spice, but was quite disturbed at our treatment. Quickly after ordering our waiter misgendered my partner, plainly, the waiter addressed me and my boyfriend ladies. :/ We were noticeably treated different and more poorly then others. Beware if you are visibly queer. Discrimination aside, do not expect high end service, despite the price. Waiter did not notice when drinks were empty, plates needed to be cleared, if valet was to be called after the meal, or even check in. Hostesses were stiff and used pushy language to try to encourage us to a less desirable seat. Some staff were friendly, though clumsy and bumped into our table multiple times. Aside from that the view was impeccable, location is to die for. Food was good, but lacked graceful timing, as some plates were left to linger while others we were rushed through.
• JL

  Julie L.

  Nov 3, 2025
  1.0
  I had a terrible experience for my birthday. The food was mediocre and overpriced, the service even more disappointing, and the atmosphere was hardly noticeable given where we were seated. From the moment we walked in, there was no hospitality or warmth around the celebration. We were seated outside by the door and asked if we could move to the oceanfront seats which were empty and continued to be empty for the entire duration of our visit. When we expressed our disappointment at this situation and the overall experience, our server laughed and did not offer any solutions to actually improve our experience. The food was a huge disappointment - the "iconic" spicy tuna crispy rice lacked flavor. The rice was overly fried and tasted hard to the bite and the tuna was mush. We also tried the truffle butter ribeye, the truffle scallop chips, and the salmon avocado handroll. The first two items were heavily sweet and unbalanced - you could not taste any of the truffle. The sauce was so heavy that it drenched the potato chip on the scallop chips and caused it to disintegrate. Similarly, the ribeye was sickeningly sweet and came out slightly cold. Super disappointing. We would've mentioned this if our server came to check in on us even once. This was our last meal in LA to celebrate my birthday and it was a huge regret. Strongly advise that folks do not make the drive out to Malibu for this mediocre restaurant - there are way too many good restaurants in LA with scenic views to warrant coming to Nobu Malibu.

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