Nobu

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A London Institution That Earned Its Place

Nobu London at Old Park Lane holds a rare distinction in the city's dining landscape: it appeared in The World's 50 Best Restaurants list every year from 2003 through 2009, reaching as high as 7th in the world in 2004. That recognition was not incidental. It reflected a kitchen producing Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with a consistency and precision that few restaurants anywhere have matched.

The Food, In the Kitchen's Own Words

For first-time visitors, the kitchen has a clear recommendation: begin with two or three cold dishes, move to hot, and finish with sushi — all shared, family style. This rhythm is built around what the restaurant calls its "Eight Highlights."

The Yellowtail Jalapeño opens proceedings — delicately sliced yellowtail sashimi with garlic purée, jalapeño, coriander, and Japanese citrus soy sauce. The coriander, the kitchen notes, elevates every bite. From there, the Sashimi Salad with Matsuhisa Dressing brings rare-grilled tuna on field greens with Nobu Matsuhisa's signature onion soy dressing. The Rock Shrimp Tempura arrives battered and tossed in a creamy spicy sauce with yuzu juice and shiitake mushrooms, best eaten together with the greens beneath.

The most celebrated dish, and arguably the one most associated with the Nobu name globally, is the Black Cod Miso — a fillet marinated in Den miso for several days, baked, then finished under a salamander broil. It is the kind of dish that defines a restaurant's identity across decades.

The full menu is extensive, spanning Nobu Tacos, Wagyu preparations, a substantial plant-based section, and a wide nigiri and sashimi selection. Japanese Grade A5 Wagyu is available in multiple styles including New Style, Tataki, and Ishiyaki.

Beyond the Dinner Table

On Saturdays, the restaurant runs a brunch built around an unlimited sushi and sashimi buffet — Yellowtail Jalapeño, Sea Bass Ponzu, Lobster Ceviche, Toro & Caviar Hand Rolls, and a dessert buffet alongside a choice of hot mains including Black Cod Miso.

For those who want to go further, the Sushi Masterclass offers hands-on time at the sushi counter with the kitchen team, covering cut rolls, hand rolls, and nigiri, followed by a four-course Omakase tasting menu. A "Nobu at Home" delivery service extends the Japanese-Peruvian experience beyond the dining room, with dishes packaged for dinner parties and private gatherings.

Why It Endures

Nobu London is not coasting on reputation. The menu is precise, the sourcing serious, and the format — sharing plates moving from cold to hot to sushi — gives the meal a considered structure that rewards attention. For a restaurant that first appeared on the world stage over two decades ago, it remains a clear benchmark for Japanese-Peruvian cooking in London.