
Nobu Malibu
Sushi - Japanese · Malibu, Los Angeles
Restaurant in Los Angeles, United States
The Read
Oceanfront Nikkei Format
Chef
Gregorio Stephenson
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Book Nobu Malibu when the room, coastal setting, full-night energy matter as much as the sushi. It is strongest for celebrations, dates, polished group meals; choose Matsuhisa or Katsu-ya if the priority is a more food-focused Los Angeles sushi night with less scene built into the decision.
About Nobu Malibu
Nobu Malibu is a Sushi - Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. It is an option to consider when the occasion calls for Japanese dining in the city, especially for diners who already know they want this cuisine category and are narrowing the choice by location, schedule, overall fit. For guests weighing the broader Los Angeles Sushi - Japanese landscape, it can sit on the same planning list as Matsuhisa or Katsu-ya, two useful comparison points when deciding what kind of Japanese meal feels right for the occasion.
Book for Sushi - Japanese in Los Angeles
The clearest verified reason to consider Nobu Malibu is direct: it is a Sushi - Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles with regular daily hours. That matters for practical planning, because a daily schedule gives diners more room to match the timing to the rest of the day rather than building the entire plan around limited opening windows. The published hours are 12–10 pm Monday through Thursday, 12–11 pm Friday and Saturday, 12–10 pm Sunday.
Those hours make the restaurant usable across both weekday and weekend plans, with Friday and Saturday offering the latest published closing time. If the group is comparing Nobu options, Nobu West Hollywood is another Nobu choice to consider. Matsuhisa and Katsu-ya are also useful comparisons for diners deciding where they want to eat Sushi - Japanese, whether the priority is the setting, the schedule, or simply the restaurant that best matches the group's expectations for the meal.
Recognition can help with planning
Nobu Malibu appears in Opinionated About Dining's Top Restaurants in North America list, ranked #578 in 2024 and recommended for 2026. That recognition gives the restaurant a verified third-party reference point for diners comparing reservations. It should not replace the basics of planning, but it can help anchor the decision when several Sushi - Japanese restaurants are being considered at once.
For comparison planning, Katsu-ya is another Sushi - Japanese option in Los Angeles. Matsuhisa is a relevant cross-shop for diners considering Sushi - Japanese dining in Los Angeles. Nobu West Hollywood makes sense for guests who want another Nobu option. Ohshima belongs in the conversation for sushi-focused diners comparing different styles of Sushi - Japanese dining. Taken together, these references help clarify that Nobu Malibu is not being considered in isolation; it is one option within a larger field, the strongest choice will depend on what the diner wants from the reservation.
Use the verified basics to plan
Nobu Malibu works best as a smart-casual restaurant. That dress code gives diners a clear baseline: polished enough for a considered meal, but not framed as formal. Because the restaurant has daily hours, planning can be flexible across weekdays and weekends, with later hours on Friday and Saturday. For many groups, those verified basics are the most useful starting point before comparing alternatives or adding the meal to a larger Los Angeles itinerary.
Know before you go: Cuisine: Sushi - Japanese. Dress code: smart casual. Hours: Monday through Thursday 12–10 pm, Friday and Saturday 12–11 pm, Sunday 12–10 pm. Planning: compare it with other restaurants based on the kind of Sushi - Japanese meal you want. That comparison can be as simple as deciding between Nobu Malibu, another Nobu address, or a different Sushi - Japanese restaurant. For broader planning, use Pearl's Los Angeles restaurants guide, plus the Los Angeles hotels guide if the meal is part of a trip.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12–10 pm · Tuesday: 12–10 pm
- Location
- 22706 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
- Website
- noburestaurants.com/malibu/home
- Phone
- (310) 317-9140
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Nobu Malibu leans heavily on its coastal setting: the dining room sits essentially above the surf, and west‑facing windows let California light do much of the atmospheric work. The space reads as an elegant outpost of a global brand while feeling rooted in its stretch of Pacific Coast Highway. At midday the room is luminous and airy; by evening the service becomes a choreography against the sunset. The restaurant balances the polished Nobu template with a strong sense of place, so the experience feels both familiar to regulars and unmistakably of Malibu.
Best For
This Nobu is most compelling for daytime meals and sunset dinners: the description explicitly contrasts a bright midday lunch with Friday evening service when the kitchen races the setting sun. Regulars return for the coastal light and a menu that needs little explanation, so it works well for leisurely lunches, romantic dinners, and special‑occasion evenings that center on the view as much as the food. While the brand serves many scenes elsewhere, the Malibu outpost emphasizes the ritual of coastal dining over urban spectacle.
Ordering Tips
Lean on Nobu’s signature plates: the Black Cod with Miso and Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño are standout preparations, and the Tiradito and Ribeye with Yuzu Butter Truffle Sauce are recommended highlights. Time your reservation to arrive before sunset if you want the full coastal spectacle—the restaurant’s west‑facing position makes the late‑afternoon light an integral part of the meal. Beyond those dishes, stick to classic Nobu favorites that travel well in this location; the menu’s familiar hits are presented consistently across the kitchen’s well‑practiced service.
Venue details
Ambiance
Upscale and refined with waterfront elegance; sophisticated lighting and contemporary design complemented by ocean vistas.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Black Cod with Miso
- Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno
- Tiradito
- Ribeye with Yuzu Butter Truffle Sauce
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12–10 pm
- Tuesday
- 12–10 pm
- Wednesday
- 12–10 pm
- Thursday
- 12–10 pm
- Friday
- 12–11 pm
- Saturday
- 12–11 pm
- Sunday
- 12–10 pm
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to book if this is not the right fit
Choose Matsuhisa if the group wants a more food-focused Nobu-family comparison in Los Angeles. Choose Nobu West Hollywood if the main issue is getting everyone across town to Malibu.
For a simpler Sushi - Japanese plan, Katsu-ya is the easier cross-shop. For a sushi-first experience outside the central Los Angeles frame, Ohshima is the more focused alternative.
Restaurant context
How Nobu Malibu compares in Los Angeles
Nobu Malibu is the occasion pick in this set: more about the coastal room and full-night feel than pure value. Little Beach House Malibu is the Malibu lifestyle comparison, but Nobu Malibu is the clearer restaurant choice for Sushi - Japanese. For a meal where the setting carries the evening, Nobu Malibu is the stronger call.
Katsu-ya is the value-minded alternative for diners who want Sushi - Japanese in Los Angeles without turning dinner into a destination event. Matsuhisa is the more food-history-driven comparison and makes sense for guests who care less about Malibu atmosphere. Nobu West Hollywood is easier for central Los Angeles plans and works better when drive time is the main constraint.
Ohshima is the sushi-focused counterpoint: choose it when the meal should center on the sushi rather than the room. Nobu Malibu wins for celebration energy and coastal ambiance; Katsu-ya and Matsuhisa are better fits for diners watching value or prioritizing the plate over the address.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Nobu Malibu guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Nobu Malibu
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nobu Malibu | Los Angeles | Sushi - Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #578 |
| Little Beach House Malibu | Malibu | No published awards | ; |
| Katsu-ya | Los Angeles | Sushi - Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2972024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #3272023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended |
| Matsuhisa | Los Angeles | Sushi - Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #1492024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #1832023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended |
| Nobu West Hollywood | Los Angeles | Sushi - Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #6082024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #596 |
| Ohshima | Orange | Sushi - Japanese | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #3422024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #3212023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended |
How Nobu Malibu: Sushi - Japanese in Los Angeles compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Nobu Malibu?
Nobu Malibu is a Sushi - Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles with a smart-casual dress code. Opinionated About Dining ranked it #578 in North America in 2024 and listed it as Recommended in 2026. If you are comparing other Sushi - Japanese options, Matsuhisa is a relevant Los Angeles comparison.
Can I eat at the bar at Nobu Malibu?
Verified details for Nobu Malibu confirm Sushi - Japanese cuisine, daily hours, smart-casual dress, Opinionated About Dining recognition. They do not confirm specific bar seating details, so check directly with the restaurant before planning around that format. Ohshima is another comparison for sushi-focused diners.
What is Nobu Malibu known for?
Nobu Malibu is verified as a Sushi - Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. It is also listed by Opinionated About Dining as #578 in North America for 2024 and Recommended for 2026.
























