Nobu Malibu

Reviews

• AA

  Alice Artigas

  5 days ago
  1.0
  One of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. What makes it even worse is that Nobu has always been my go-to whenever I travel. I’ve had amazing experiences at Nobu Dubai, Nobu Bangkok, Nobu Tokyo, Nobu New York, and Nobu Barcelona , the service, the atmosphere, the consistency… it’s always been something I could rely on. That’s exactly why this situation in Malibu felt like such a shock. The treatment I received from one of the staff members — an Asian girl , she made me run to leave the place as soon as possible so couldnt catch her name— was so off-putting that it completely ruined the experience. The attitude, the rudeness, unprofessionalism and the way I was spoken to made me feel the most disrespectful I have ever felt in any restaurants in the world. It got to the point where I seriously had to get up and leave. It’s a shame that someone like that represents the Nobu brand. When you think of Nobu, you expect a certain level of professionalism and hospitality — and this was the complete opposite. I’ve never felt like that at any Nobu before. Usually, it’s the opposite. It was ridiculously uncomfortable and disrespectful. It’s really sad to say, but this experience completely threw me off. Nobu has always been a highlight for me on trips, something I look forward to. After Malibu, it honestly made me not want to go back to any Nobu for a while — and that says a lot. I truly hope this was just an isolated situation, because the difference between this and every other Nobu I’ve been to is huge. But as of now, Nobu Malibu was a major disappointment.
• AM

  A M

  Apr 4, 2026
  2.0
  This is the worst Nobu, in the entire west coast and this is why : I am a regular customer at Nobu Newport Beach (2 times a week regular), and I always take the same stuff, 2 salmon rolls and eil sauce. I never take anything else even tho I tried everything. Today I came to order the same thing at Malibu and after 30min of waiting at the bar, I was finally able to order my 2 salmon rolls. And it was the worst ones ever. The salmon was not a real one, it was the shredded part from an other order, the weed was soooo soft, almost like it is not fresh and the rice was non consistent. I don't know what happened but this is not proper quality at the price you pay. Do not come here for good rolls.
• MM

  M M

  Mar 31, 2026
  3.0
  We recently dined at Nobu and overall had a great dining experience, but with some notable gaps. The view is simply beautiful and definitely one of the highlights of the early afternoon. The atmosphere is what you would expect from Nobu. Our server in particular did a great job and was attentive throughout the meal. That said, I was a bit surprised by the lack of preparation on what was supposed to be a special occasion. I had scheduled a birthday in advance and requested the table to be set accordingly, but nothing was prepared and the team wasn’t even aware there was a birthday. Given the reputation of Nobu and the level of dining experience they aim to provide, this was unexpected. I’ve dined at many notable restaurants across the U.S., so I came in with certain expectations around detail and execution, especially for an 8-person table. I actually mentioned it to the birthday girl and then we showed up and nothing was prepared. We ordered almost 2 of everything. I did notice a table of what I assume was influencers that were receiving a different treatment for their birthday, which made me frustrated. Overall, the food, service, and setting were strong, but the lack of coordination around the birthday took away from what should have been a seamless experience.
• PR

  Payam Refalian

  Mar 31, 2026
  1.0
  We recently dined at Nobu Malibu after getting engaged and were looking forward to celebrating the occasion. Unfortunately, our experience began on a disappointing note with the hostess. Her demeanor was cold and dismissive, which is surprising for a restaurant known for hospitality. We had politely asked if our table could be moved away from a corner outside area due to claustrophobia. Despite there being several open tables, the request was brushed off without much consideration. We had also mentioned that we had just gotten engaged, yet there wasn’t even a simple “congratulations,” which felt like a missed opportunity for basic warmth and hospitality. The rest of the staff were kind and attentive, which helped somewhat, but first impressions matter and the tone for the evening had already been set. If a restaurant asks about special occasions or guest preferences, those details should be acknowledged and treated with care. The food, as expected, was very good. However, hospitality starts at the front door and the welcome should reflect the level of service one expects from a place like Nobu.
• WC

  Wiza Chileshe

  Mar 29, 2026
  1.0
  Racist and Rude!! The experience at Nobu Malibu was honestly shocking. We made our reservation exactly one month in advance (which is when they open reservations), calling right when bookings opened at 10am Los Angeles time which meant staying up until 4am in Sydney just to secure it. We explained we were travelling from Australia to celebrate our birthdays and kindly requested an ocean-view table. We were told notes would be made and that they would do their best to accommodate us. When we arrived, we were well-dressed and excited for what should have been a special evening. Instead, we were taken to a corner table at the very back of the restaurant near a bush, in a section that wasn’t even in use, literally no one but the staff was there, while multiple ocean-view tables were clearly available. When we questioned this, the manager told us those tables were reserved for “high-profile guests,” and regulars and she said this in a not so friendly way whilst measuring us up and down with her eyes. The message was clear despite having a reservation and arriving on time, we were not considered worthy of the same experience. What made this even more upsetting was observing the seating around us. Not a single Black guest was seated in the ocean-view section, while we watched other guests including walk-ins without reservations being given prime tables. At that point, we chose to leave. Not because of the table itself, but because of the lack of fairness, respect, and basic hospitality. We are more than willing to spend money for a great experience, but not to be treated as less than. This experience felt exclusionary and deeply uncomfortable. Whether intentional or not, the outcome was clear we were treated differently. Nobu Malibu may be known for luxury, but true luxury is inclusive, respectful service and this was the opposite. DO BETTER!!

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