Nobu Malibu

Reviews

• ZZ

  Zoé

  4 days ago
  5.0
  On connaît très bien ce restaurant car on y est allé à Miami au Bahamas et c’est vrai qu’il est excellent, il n’y a rien à dire en terme de cuisine. Par contre le serveur qui nous a servi s’est trompé de plat et nous a regardé d’une façon inacceptable, comme si on était une déception, je n’ai jamais vu ça, il nous a regardé ensuite de travers tout le repas donc d’habitude on laisse un généreux pour boire. Et bah du coup on enlève pas voilà à voir et à rectifier le comportement des serveurs car ceci est inacceptable.
• AG

  Asmaa Gilliland

  5 days ago
  1.0
  Very disappointing experience at Nobu Malibu. We made a reservation for 11 people about six weeks in advance for a special birthday celebration and specifically requested outdoor seating. We even confirmed the reservation beforehand. When we arrived, the hostess told us that the outdoor table had been taken by a manager for another customer. I still do not understand how a confirmed table request can simply be given away because a manager wants it for someone else. We tried to be flexible, but the alternative table only seated nine people. Their solution was to squeeze two additional chairs around a table that was clearly not designed for 11. What made it worse was that the large outdoor table we had requested remained empty while we spent nearly 20 minutes trying to resolve the situation. We have celebrated many occasions at Nobu, which is why this was especially disappointing. The issue was not just the table — it was the lack of accommodation, communication, and respect. We left feeling as though our reservation and our celebration simply did not matter. For a restaurant of this caliber, I expected much better.
• BB

  Bunker Blake

  Sep 2, 2026
  5.0
  There’s nowhere quite like Nobu Malibu. It captures the brand’s understated chic perfectly: exceptional Japanese food and service, beautiful minimalist design, and an extraordinary oceanfront setting that somehow feels luxurious without trying too hard. The Black Cod with Miso may be the obvious order, but it remains one of the best dishes you can get at any restaurant. On a beautiful Southern California day, it’s a perfect destination for a drive from LA, a long lunch outside, and one of the best expressions of modern luxury anywhere. (Accidentally posted this earlier from my work Google account.)
• HN

  Hangry Nana

  Aug 24, 2026
  1.0
  We planned our reservation at Nobu Malibu a full month in advance — exactly what you would expect to have to do for such a highly sought-after restaurant. When making the reservation, we specifically mentioned that we would love to have a table with an ocean view. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were seated nowhere near the ocean. We asked about it and were told that the tables at the front were reserved for other guests. What was particularly disappointing, however, was seeing several oceanfront tables become available throughout our stay, while we were still not offered the opportunity to move. If these tables are in fact reserved for certain guests, this should be communicated honestly when making the reservation. Booking a month in advance, specifically requesting an ocean view, and then watching oceanfront tables become available while being told they are “reserved for other guests” leaves a very unpleasant impression. The overall Nobu atmosphere was also disappointing. We have been to other Nobu restaurants, and they have a much warmer, more personal and welcoming atmosphere. At Nobu Malibu, the experience felt much more impersonal and, honestly, somewhat elitist. You are attended to by countless different servers rather than having any real sense of personal service, and we never got the feeling that guests were genuinely being made to feel welcome. The location is obviously beautiful and the food was good,but at these prices and with the expectations that come with the Nobu name, a beautiful view alone is simply not enough. And honestly, I wonder whether Nobu Matsuhisa himself knows how the restaurant is being run. He seems to represent a much more humble, warm and genuine approach to hospitality, which makes the experience at Nobu Malibu feel like quite a contrast to that image. For us: a lot of hype, a beautiful location, but unfortunately not the level of hospitality we expected from Nobu.
• SR

  Sofia Dalle Rive

  Aug 24, 2026
  2.0
  Our experience at Nobu Malibu was, unfortunately, far below what you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber and, above all, completely different from the experiences we have had at other Nobu locations. We arrived 5 minutes before our reservation time, but our table was not ready. That, in itself, can happen. What we did not expect was to be left waiting outside for around half an hour and only seated at 10:00 PM. Even while we were waiting, we immediately noticed an atmosphere that felt very different from the usual Nobu standards: confusion, little attention to guests, and a general lack of care in both the service and the level of refinement that normally distinguish the brand. The servers were shouting to one another, and the overall environment felt extremely chaotic. The most absurd part, however, came as soon as we sat down. After waiting half an hour because of a delay that was not caused by us, we were immediately told that we had approximately 10 minutes to order our entire dinner, including dessert, because the kitchen was about to close. From that moment on, it felt as though we were expected to eat as quickly as possible so that the table could be cleared. The dishes arrived almost all at once: appetizers and main courses, hot and cold dishes served simultaneously. Inevitably, while we were eating the cold dishes, the hot ones became even colder, especially considering that we were seated outside. At a restaurant of this level, we expect the timing of the courses to be managed properly, not for the table to be filled with dishes simply to speed up service. The quality of the food also did not seem to meet the Nobu standards we are familiar with. What made the experience even more chaotic was the constant presence of several different servers at our table, often with little coordination between them. On one occasion, two servers even approached us at the exact same time to tell us the same thing, only to realize in front of us that they were overlapping and then correct one another. The moment that left us most speechless, however, came at the end of the meal. While we were still eating dessert, the card terminal was brought directly to our table for payment. The rush to get us to leave was so obvious that even the server, after seeing our reaction, seemed to realize how inappropriate the situation was and stepped away. We genuinely would have preferred to speak with a manager before leaving this review, because our intention is not simply to complain, but to understand how it is possible to receive this kind of service at a restaurant bearing the Nobu name. However, neither upon arrival nor at any point during the evening were we able to identify a manager or supervisor to speak with. Paying Nobu prices means paying not only for the food, but also for the service, attention to detail, atmosphere, and overall experience. At Nobu Malibu that evening, all of those elements were missing. And perhaps the most disappointing aspect is that a guest should never be made to feel responsible for the kitchen being in a rush to close, especially when it was the restaurant itself that seated them half an hour late. A truly disappointing experience and, as far as we are concerned, absolutely not worthy of the Nobu name.

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