Nobu Paris is a well known Japanese restaurant founded by celebrity chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. Well known for their Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine and famous dishes such as their Miso Black Cod and Crispy Rice bites, the Nobu brand has become synonymous with quality Japanese restaurants around the world.
Chef Nobu currently has 67 restaurants across the world over 5 continents. His restaurants are not all the same however, with there being several variants with different dress codes, ambiance and service. That said, all of his restaurants serve the same style of Japanese cuisine with Peruvian food heavily influencing the menu – expect Ceviche and Sashimi peppered with non-classic ingredients. There’s also a casual street food aspect with tuna avocado and chicken tacos appearing on menus across the board.
The Nobu world of restaurants are split into two different categories Nobu and Matsuhisa. There’s currently 25 Nobu restaurants and 8 Matsuhisa restaurants open across the world.
Does Nobu exist in Paris?
Yes, Chef Nobu has one of his Matsuhisa brand of restaurants in the Hotel Le Royal Monceau located on Avenue Hoche leading down from the Arc de Triomphe. The Matushia restaurants are slightly different to the Nobu restaurants however – read more below.
Matsuhisa Paris
Nobu’s Matsuhisa restaurant in Paris first opened by Chef Nobu in 2016 in Le Royal Monceau. The large dining area feels luxurious and right at home in the 5 star hotel. There’s separate lunch and dinner menus with the lunch menu being à la carte. For dinner there’s a Omakase style tasting menu with 7 different steps and includes a vegetarian option – note you can’t mix a la carte and the tasting menu. The à la carte menu is vast and really expensive – expect the Nobu classics here including the Miso Cod and crispy rice topped with spicy tuna. There’s also a charcoal grill in the kitchen with grilled wagyu meat and chicken from Normandy. Finally there’s an extensive wine and cocktail menu with cocktails available from 6pm and are priced at €30 each.
What to know before you visit.
- It’s easy to get a reservation on the same week
- Expect to pay a lot – the portions are small
Address: 37 avenue Hoche, 75008
Tel: 01 42 99 88 00
Website: https://www.leroyalmonceau.com/en/restaurants/matsuhisa-paris/
What’s the difference between Nobu and Matsuhisa restaurants?
The restaurant in Paris is part of the Matsuhisa collection so not technically a Nobu restaurant (despite it being a restaurant from Nobu!). So what’s the difference?
Matsuhisa restaurants (all 11 of them) are a higher end version of the Nobu brand of restaurants. Often located in exclusive locations (including 5 star hotels) with much more plush and luxurious decoration within the dining space. The menu tends to be extended (especially the sushi) and produce comes from the local area. There may also be a dress code in force at these restaurants.
Nobu restaurants are much more casual with the same high standard for food. There are no dress codes at the Nobu locations so the focus here is much more on what guests will eat. One element that may different will be the wine lists – don’t expect ultra expensive bottles from famous wine Maisons. That said, the Sake is consistent through all the restaurant locations.
Alternatives to Nobu Paris
If you’re looking to try quality modern Japanese food with a twist, there are several other options in Paris. Here’s our guide to the top spots in the capital.
Kinugawa
Kinugawa is a similar brand to Nobu, specialising in modern Japanese cuisine. They have multiple restaurants in exclusive locations (St Barts, Megéve, Casa Blanca) and two in Paris – one near Place Vendome and one off the Champs-Élysées. Expect classic cold starters (ceviche, tartare, carpaccio), tempura, charcoal grilled meat and sushi. There’s the classic main courses that you’ll no doubt want to order such as miso cod, teriyaki salmon and Chilean seabass. They also have reasonable (€70) set-menus for lunch and dinner including salmon tartare and miso cod with steamed rice.
Kinugawa Vendôme
Address: 9 Rue du Mont Thabor, 75001
Tel: 01 42 60 65 07
Kinugawa Matignon
Address: 1Bis Rue Jean Mermoz, 75008
Tel: 01 42 25 04 23
Website: http://www.kinugawa.fr
Takara
Takara is a reasonable Japanese restaurant in Paris located in the middle of the city near the Louvre. On offer is an extensive sashimi menu and even an Omakase (tasting-menu) sashimi option. As well as a large sushi menu, Takara also offer main dishes including miso black cod and grilled mackerel. There’s also group sharing options for udon soups where you can choose from a selection of meat, fish, seafood and vegetables.
Address: 14 Rue Molière, 75001
Tel: 01 42 96 08 38
Website: https://www.takara-paris.com
