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Nobu London Shoreditch

Fish, Fusion, Japanese, Pan Asian, Peruvian·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Nobu London Shoreditch

Silver Award

For a restaurant that counts Kim Kardashian and Rihanna among its regulars, Nobu is surprisingly relaxed. The Shoreditch branch of the international brand is of course smart in its décor and clientele, but the staff impart a warmth that ensures it doesn’t edge from cool to cold.

Low lighting and cosy booths as well as semi-private curtained off spaces hint at an understanding of the needs of a well-known clientele, but these aspects also serve us mere mortals. Settled into a snug banquette we take full advantage of the cocktail menu and a quiet corner to chat, while still being able to look out onto the buzz of the room. With an open kitchen at one end and an interesting mix of dates, business dinners and family celebrations happening out on the floor, there’s plenty to soak up.

We try a selection of the brand’s greatest hits, from black cod with miso (addictively sweet and salty) and springy mushroom tempura encased in light batter, to crisp tacos stuffed with lobster smeared in wasabi mayo.

A surprising standout was the crispy rice. It comes as a little curiosity box of crispy, golden cubes packed into folded paper, which you dunk in tangy, salty dipping sauce before smothering them in meltingly soft, finely chopped tuna tartare. There’s something fun about the DIY aspect. For the plant-based among us, a miso aubergine was sticky and caramelised, while barbecued cauliflower with jalapeno salsa had complex flavours beyond its billing.

Arguably the brand that made mochi famous, you’d be doing yourself a disservice to skip the sweets. Presented at the perfect temperature - just before they melt - with rich gelato centres and that signature chewy skin, we think you’d be hard pressed to find a critic. The fondant was also very good, with a tidal wave of molten chocolate released at the touch of a spoon.

Things don’t come cheap here, it’s Nobu, but for a spot to celebrate in style, you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere that feels more classically chic.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - Over £80
Cuisines
Fish, Fusion, Japanese, Pan Asian, Peruvian
Ambience
Cool, Fine dining, Fun, Glamorous, Lively, Luxury, Romantic, Unique
Food Occasions
Bottomless brunch, Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Late night dining
Alfresco And Views
Outside seating, Terrace
Special Features
Counter dining, Gluten-free options, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celeb spotting, Celebrations, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Some would argue Nobu is one of the most famous restaurant brands in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Nobu Matsuhisa’s empire, which started in Peru in the 70s, has since expanded to global heights, becoming synonymous with luxury dining. The Shoreditch site is one of three in London, along with Portman Square and Old Park Lane, and boasts a rather impressive 240 covers, immersive sushi counter and alfresco terrace to boot. The interiors are effortlessly stylish, with plenty of cream furnishings, natural woods and soft lighting.

Fans of the restaurant group will be pleased to see all the big-hitting signatures here, including yellowtail with jalapeno, crispy rice with salmon and of course miso black cod. But don’t let this lead you to believe the food offering isn’t expansive. There are plenty more delights to be enjoyed. Diners can start their meal on a decadent note, thanks to the likes of tuna tartare with caviar or lobster salad with Matsuhisa dressing. From there, the sushi selection beckons, with enticing nigiri and sashimi such as o-toro, scallop and even wagyu.

The tacos aren’t to be missed either, with exciting fillings like spicy miso salmon, lobster with wasabi sour cream or wagyu. The hot dishes kick things up a notch again if that’s even possible. From the sea, you’ll find baby tiger shrimp with ponzu, jalapeno or creamy spicy sauce, lobster tempura with tamari honey sauce or umami Chilean seabass, while the land offers a Peruvian-style ribeye or beef tenderloin with wasabi pepper. The wagyu has its own dedicated selection, priced per gram and served in four different styles: new, tataki, toban yaki or steak.

For a final touch of decadence, the desserts offer just that. The chocolate bento box is a fun option with chocolate fondant and green tea ice cream, while the famous Nobu cheesecake is a must, topped with a tart raspberry sorbet. For something a little less fruity, there’s also a whiskey cappuccino with coffee creme brulee, coffee crumble, vanilla ice cream and whiskey foam.


FAQs

Does the restaurant serve breakfast?

Yes, there's a breakfast menu.

Helpful? 0

What's the dress code?

The dress code here is smart casual, so no sportswear or flip flops, for example.

Helpful? 0
Meet the team
Nobu London Shoreditch

Sandi Richmond

Executive chef

Sandi Richmond is Executive Chef at Nobu Restaurant Shoreditch. Of South African heritage, Richmond has a wealth of experience in hospitality having worked for renowned venues across the world including One and Only in Cape Town, Beverley Hills, Tosogo Sun and the Fordoun Hotel and Spa.

Richmond’s current role is her third within the Nobu brand, having worked in Nobu Atlantis Dubai and Nobu Istanbul Turkey, before making the move to reopen Nobu Restaurant Shoreditch following a two-year closure due to refurbishment.

Alongside strong technical ability, Richmond has a thorough knowledge of hospitality business practice, budgeting and running a business of her own. Richmond opened the popular Peri-Peri de Moçambique Restaurant in Durban in 2010 which was operational for four years and booked out daily.

Nobu London Shoreditch

Nobu Matsuhisa

Executive Chef & Owner

Nobuyuki Matsuhisa – known to the world as “Nobu” – is the acclaimed and highly influential chef proprietor of Nobu and Matsuhisa restaurants located across five continents. Born and raised in Saitama, Japan, Nobu served a rigorous apprenticeship at a respected sushi bar in Tokyo, before opening a sushi bar in Peru. A classically trained sushi-chef, Nobu was challenged by the new culture and regional ingredients here, which kindled his inventive style, known today as Nobu Style.

After three years in Peru, Nobu moved to Argentina, then home to Japan, then on to Alaska, before finally settling in Los Angeles. Nobu opened Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills in January 1987. An instant success, it was here that his relationships with Robert De Niro and Meir Teper began, leading the trio to open their first Nobu restaurant together in 1994.


This venue also offers

Videos and 360 tours

Nobu London Shoreditch

Location

10-50 Willow Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4BH

020 7683 1200 020 7683 1200

Website

Opening Times

Breakfast
Mon 07:00-11:00
Tue 07:00-11:00
Wed 07:00-11:00
Thu 07:00-11:00
Fri 07:00-11:00
Sat 08:00-11:00
Sun 08:00-11:00
Brunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat 12:00-15:00
Sun Closed
Dinner
Mon 18:00-22:00
Tue 18:00-22:00
Wed 18:00-22:00
Thu 18:00-22:30
Fri 18:00-22:30
Sat 18:00-22:30
Sun Closed

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Amanda D

27 December 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

A fantastic restaurant in terms of both food and atmosphere.  Always guaranteed to please.

Sienna L

12 November 2018  
Food & Drink 3
Service 5
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 2
Expectations Weren't Met
Went to Nobu on Friday night with high expectations due to their outstanding reputation. I have to say I was a bit disappointed.The restaurant had a nice vibe, it was well lit, open, hosts were lovely, shown to our table promptly. Our waiter was also lovely and answered our many questions and offered recommendations. We ordered 12 dishes between the four us. The salads were lovely, inventive. The tacos were interesting, though literally bite size, they were miniscule. Probably wouldn't order these again. The vegetable toban yaki was average, a bit heavy on the soy sauce and heavy on boring vegetable such as courgette and carrot. There was only one piece of broccoli on the plate. Again, the vegetables in spicy garlic sauce were very heavy on courgette and carrot, with not a lot else. Not the nicest dishes. However the vegetable sushi roll was very nice, though came without any sort of sauce. The soft shell crab sushi roll was DELICIOUS! Definitely recommend this dish. The salt & pepper squid arrived overcooked and chewy. We asked if we could get a replacement which they were happy to oblige to. The replacement was much much better. Chicken wings, black cod and the other fish dish which I cant remember the name of were all nice. But nothing was particularly outstanding. Mocktails and cocktails were nice. Wouldn't visit again as expectations weren't met. The food was nice, but not that special. And definitely not worth the money!
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