Born and raised in Saitama, Japan, Nobu Matsuhisa began his cooking career with a rigorous apprenticeship at a respected sushi bar in Tokyo. After honing his craft in Peru and Argentina, he settled in Los Angeles and opened Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, California, in January 1987.
Matsuhisa was an instant success and became a magnet for food lovers and celebrities alike. It was at actor and director Robert De Niro’s urging that together they opened the very first Nobu in New York City in 1994 with restaurateur Drew Nieporent. Like Matsuhisa, Nobu was an instant hit. The success led to Chef Nobu and various partnerships opening restaurants and hotels around the world. Chef Nobu currently has 51 Nobu Restaurants, 11 Matsuhisa Restaurants and 14 Nobu Hotels around the world.
