Is Nobu Malibu Worth It?
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Having lived in LA for over a year now, I feel like it is high time I discussed Nobu with you. While we havenāt crossed a lot of them off our list (thanks COVID), we have tried really hard to visit restaurants that are some LA favorites. While some end up feeling overrated, a lot of them donāt. LA is a great hub of restaurants with lots of different cultures, flavors, and more.
For us, Nobu Malibu is one of those places that is worth it in our opinion. Keep reading to see why!
Note that there are around 40 Nobu restaurants across the globe, but we have always heard that Nobu Malibu is the best. Iāve been to the Vegas one, Dallas one, Lanai Hawaii one, stayed (they have hotels as well) and dined at the Miami one, and between those, I can say yes, the Malibu location is still our favorite. We havenāt stayed at the Malibu location, but we have glanced at it and it is stunning. It is one of their upper echelon locations and one of the priciest rooms they offer. Would love to stay there, but I donāt know if we would anytime soon.
So you want to go - how do you make a reservation?
This is important, because if you donāt do this right, youāll never even make it there to try the black miso cod. You have to call - there isnāt an online reservation service or anything like that. Their books open 30 days prior to the reservation. That means if you want to go on January 3, you need to call TODAY, December 3, to make the reservation. You arenāt able to book a table more than 30 days in advance. Pre-Covid reservations were hard to come by if you didnāt call day of. They are known for booking up completely once their books open. Their restaurant doesnāt open until noon, but their phone lines open at 10 am PST. Set an alarm to call at 10 am or you might just have to wait until the next day / reservation booking. During this pandemic, it is even harder. I called at noon one day and the only slots they had left were random lunch times at 1:25 pm. The next day I called right at 10:00 am and I guess people had already called in to wait in line / on hold, and I could only get an 8 pm or 9 pm dinner reservation or a 1 pm lunch reservation. Thatās calling right when the lines open and being on hold for 15 minutes AND that was just a reservation for 2 people!!
My point is plan ahead and make sure to set a reminder on your phone to call in 30 days prior.
Side note - prior to COVID they did allow some walk-ins in the bar area. There are a couple high tops and some bar stools, with the occasional (but rare) patio seat open. If youāre in the mood for a good cocktail and yummy sushi, might be a risk worth taking! We have walked in before and it was worth it.
Madewell Slip Dress (brought an oversized blazer since it gets chilly by the water - itās draped over my arm in the photo)
You have a reservation - now what?
The menu is honestly somewhat overwhelming. Even if you arenāt typically a āread the menu before arrivingā, I would recommend at last glancing at it, so you are somewhat familiar. They offer the same things other Nobu restaurants offer, in addition to some exclusive options. Generally speaking, the left side of the menu is offered everywhere and the right side is Malibu only.
Something else to note is that the lot is valet only. When you arrive you have to use valet to park there and it does cost money. We we go it has been $8, which is a reduced rate in my opinion / compared to other valet stands in LA.
Note that Nobu Malibu is somewhat of a drive, so make sure to to leave on time. I live on the west side of LA, so it only takes me about 30 minutes to get there. It is on the PCH, so thereās only one way to get in. Be sure to account for traffic!
Nick wore a suit this time, but he loves suits. You donāt need to wear a jacket if you donāt want to.
Can you go to Nobu without spending a lot of money?
I know everyoneās budget is different, but you can go without spending a lot of money, comparatively speaking. An easy way to do that is to go for more of a happy hour than a dinner. The bites are generally small, but you there are some items with bigger servings that Iāll talk about later.
Sheerly looking at price, the crispy okra ($10) is fantastic and the shisito peppers ($9) are good too. The tacos are mini and you have to order at least 2 per type, but they are our favorites! The tuna, ribeye, and shrimp are only $6 a piece, so youāre looking at $12 per set of tacos. Though Iām not a huge fan of ordering edamame at a restaurant, they do have it and itās only $7. The spicy miso chips are only $5, though they have a two piece minimum as well. They have soups that are only $6 and other sides like brussels sprouts and cauliflower ($14) as well. Donāt forget about the sushi! The nigiri and sashimi start at $6 with a two piece minimum and the hand rolls start around $9.50.
Their drink menu is what you would expect it to be. I typically get a cocktail versus wine and Nick typically gets sake. The cocktails are around $17 and then they have tons of other bottles and liquors to choose from. Just donāt forget about this section when you are budgeting ;)
What to order?
This obviously depends on your preference, but here are some tips. Before we went the first time (I think we have been 5 or 6 times now), I definitely researched what to order. The most underrated thing on the menu is the warm mushroom saladā¦ and I donāt even like mushrooms that much. They flash fry them into utter goodness and it is to die for. Itās also a large portion and totally shareable. Nick and I usually come home with leftovers from it if it is just us two eating it. Iāve already said, it but the tuna tacos are our favorite, but the wagyu tacos are fantastic too if you are looking to splurge a bit. We typically order the crispy okra too. The black cod with miso is a signature dish and it is very well done. We have ordered it several times. The yellowtail jalapeƱo is something they are known for. We ordered it our first visit, but havenāt ordered it since. It is very well done, but I prefer the yellowtail jalapeƱo or yellowtail scallion hand roll. They basically have every roll you could possibly think of or want!
For drinks, I really like their spicy margarita and Nick typically gets sake in masu cup. Sadly they arenāt doing the masu cups (wooden boxes) because of Coronavirus, but they still have a great variety of sake for you to choose from! For non-alcoholic options, I LOVE their spicy lemonade. *update as of August 2022, they brought back the masu cup!
Our favorite dessert is the date cake, but the bento box is a classic. It is basically a molten lava cake that comes with matcha ice cream. You can also switch it out to vanilla if you prefer.
Madewell Tie-Sleeve Tiered Midi Dress | Veja Sneakers (also here)
Blazer | Alpaca Sweater | Madewell Jeans
What if you donāt like raw fish?
They actually have a quite a few options for those who donāt eat raw fish. You can get baked crab, the cod, and more. So many veggie options too! If you donāt do fish at all, there are items like the ribeye or wagyu tacos, lamb chop, tenderloin, etc. If you donāt drink, they actually have a good range of mocktails too. Their spicy lemonade is one of my favorites!!
What to wear?
At the end of the day, it is California and Cali casual rules. There is no need to get super fancy for this reservation, but if you want to, do it! I have walked in and sat at the bar with jeans. Itās kind of like Rodeo Dr. ā¦ the people actually buying things are not usually dressed to the nines. I think overall wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Note that the restaurant is open air, so it can get chilly at times. The pictures of me in this post are actual things Iāve worn to the restaurant, just to give you an idea.
What is the ambience?
The food is really good, but the ambience makes it. Nobu Malibu is literally on the beach and the entire restaurant is open air. Sure there are doors and windows, but it is kind of a U shaped area and they have a lot of side patio space too. Donāt worry, they have little heaters, so the ocean air doesnāt completely take over. Inside it is pretty dark and moody. It feels elevated.
Are there celeb sightings?
The short answer is yes, though they do a pretty good job of hiding them. Like I said, it is dark and moody. When we were just there last month, there were paparazzi waiting outside to take pictures of someone. There are always flashy cars that leave you wondering who is here right now?! Itās even harder to tell now though due to masks. If you are going for the sheer reason to see someone, Iād say donāt get your hopes up; however, know that there was probably someone of importance there, you just didnāt see them. Hah!
What is the surrounding area like?
You might want to get there early, because Malibu is such a lovely space. If you canāt get a sunset reservation, I would recommend arriving in the area early and watching it from the pier. Youāll find Malibu Farm nearby, so if you want to grab a pre-dinner drink, that is a good option. They also do little to-go drinks you can take to the beach! Note that the beach right by it has a very high tide and to sit back, as close to the rocks as possible. I personally prefer Malibu Farm for cocktails or brunch over dinner reservations, but that may just be me! There are other Malibu Farm locations, but I think that like Nobu, the Malibu location is the best ;)
Have a favorite Nobu dish I didnāt mention? Let me know! We have now gone for Nickās birthday for 2 years now. Looking to keep up the tradition and more!
If you are looking for really good sushi and want to stay more in the city, Sugarfish is fantastic. We love to grab a ātrust meā box and eat it like a picnic at the beach. Catch LA really surprised me as well. Itās more about the fancy rolls than the fish quality (what Iād say Sugarfish focuses on), but it still is great quality! I thought it would be overrated, but itās actually really good and the ambience is dope. If you are looking to spend a little less, honestly Erewhon (an upper echelon grocery store here) sushi is SO GOOD. Would recommend ;) Chiba Japanese Restaurant as another one that is really good. It is in The Valley and not many people know about it.
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