Nobu Matsuhisa is a Japanese chef known for developing a specific culinary style that blends traditional Japanese techniques with Peruvian ingredients. This fusion originated during his years working in Lima, Peru, where a lack of traditional Japanese staples forced him to innovate using local peppers, citrus, and cilantro. His career began at the Matsue-sushi bar in Tokyo before he relocated to South America, eventually opening Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills in 1987.
In 1994, he co-founded Nobu Hotels and Restaurants alongside actor Robert De Niro and film producer Meir Teper. The brand has since expanded to over 50 restaurants and 30 hotels globally. Matsuhisa remains a hands-on figure in the industry, frequently visiting his international locations to monitor kitchen standards and ingredient sourcing. His approach relies heavily on the quality of raw produce, particularly seafood, which remains the core of his signature dishes such as the Black Cod Miso.
