
SLMan Meets… Nobu Matsuhisa
When we first opened Nobu London things were very different. We were one of the first to bring our style of Japanese fusion food to London. When I mentioned to a customer in LA that I was opening a restaurant in London, they were shocked, because the London food scene was not that fashionable at the time. Now, a quarter of a century later, London is very diverse.
Restaurants fail all the time. I have always said the most important thing is service. You must provide great service to stay successful. At Nobu we have the best teams, and everyone from the chefs to waiters and managers are like family. Most of our team at Nobu London have been with me for over 20 years and this is something I am very proud of.
I treat the team like my sons and daughters. It has always been important to me that no matter what your position is, you are treated with respect by everyone. I have done all the jobs, from being a dishwasher to a busboy, and worked my way up, so I understand the challenges each role comes with. Whenever I am visiting one of the restaurants, I always make sure to say: “Thank you for your hard work and welcome to the Nobu family.” It’s very important for me that my team feel welcome and at home. I tell them always do your best and learn from your mistakes. Cook and work with passion. It's important to foster a feeling of family, inclusion and a strong sense of teamwork. When our teams are happy, our guests are happy.


What’s my secret to success? I have been very lucky, but I have also made lots of mistakes and had hard experiences that I learnt from. You must keep going and never give up. Customers will be able to feel the passion you have, and without passion there is no success.
Some of my dishes have been on the menu for decades. I think everybody knows my black cod miso, which is our most popular dish at every Nobu around the world. When I created the dish, I never imagined it would be so popular. People still come to Nobu to experience it in its original form. There are lots of other signature dishes that I’ve created, like new-style sashimi and yellowtail jalapeno. Whenever I visit the different Nobu restaurants, I spend as much time as possible in the kitchen. I make sure to taste the new dishes, but it is important to me to taste the signature dishes too. These are the dishes that made Nobu what it is today, and it is the consistency that keeps our guests coming back.
I’m excited for 2022. This year we mark our 25th anniversary at Nobu London and there are lots of things happening to celebrate. The restaurant will be taking guests on a trip down memory lane, serving a selection of our most iconic dishes over the past two-and-a-half decades for £25 at lunchtime. And I’ll be launching a collaboration with Little Moons Mochi later in the year. Watch this space.
Inspired? Here Are Five Signature Nobu Recipes To Try At Home…
Squid Pasta With Light Garlic Sauce
This is an original Nobu dish. The ‘pasta’ in this dish refers to the way the tender squid curls into pasta-like shapes.

Top Tips: If you can't find fresh cuttlefish or squid, you can use frozen. Allow it to thaw completely, rinse and pat dry with a paper towel before slicing. You can also replace shiitake mushrooms with any mushrooms you have to hand.
Rock Shrimp Tempura With Creamy Spicy Sauce
This Nobu favourite is a universally loved dish. Our guests are always asking us for the recipe for the sauce, which is definitely worth mastering.

Top Tips: If shrimp is unavailable, you can try this sauce with any white fish tempura, or even vegetable tempura. If you don't have the right equipment for frying, this sauce is also delicious drizzled over any grilled fish or meat.
Cauliflower Jalapeno
This vibrant vegetarian dish has been on the menu at Nobu Old Park Lane for several decades.

Baby Spinach Sala With Dry Miso

Top Tips: If you don't have yuzu juice to hand, you can substitute with lemon or lime juice. In the restaurant, we also add in thin slices of yuba, or crispy tofu skin, for extra texture and crunch. You can serve this salad on its own, as a side, or topped with grilled prawns, seared scallops, chilled crab or even lobster.
Whisky Cappuccino
This dessert will impress friends and family, and is perfect for a small, sweet bite at the end of a dinner party.

You can follow Nobu’s personal Instagram account at @TheRealNobu.
Nobu London, 19 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1LB; the restaurant’s 25th anniversary offer will run from 16th-20th February
Visit NobuRestaurants.com
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