Nobu Los Angeles
Restaurant · Beverly Grove ·
Peruvian-accented Japanese fare in a chic, happening setting
Peruvian-accented Japanese fare in a chic, happening setting
"Opened in September 2024 by chef Wes Avila in partnership with restaurateur Giancarlo Pagani and Sam Nazarian’s SBE, the West Hollywood restaurant was a Monterrey‑inspired, upscale Mexican steakhouse housed in a recently renovated space designed by Jae Omar of Jae Omar Design. It focused on wood‑fired grilling and large‑format meats, with whole cuts of dry‑aged steak such as porterhouse and rib‑eye, chile Colorado short ribs served with frijoles and tortillas, and a small selection of tacos (fish, chicken, and rib‑eye). Avila prepared a show‑stopping birria beef martillo described as a whole braised wagyu shank served with consommé; another account noted it was made with wagyu beef and served with marrow and consomé, feeds a group of eight to 12, and cost $275. Smaller starters and antojitos included oysters, queso fundido, Okinawa sweet potato tacos, and a Caesar‑style grilled/braised cabbage. Avila told Eater LA, "LA needs a Mexican steakhouse." The restaurant suddenly shuttered in summer 2025 after less than a year; a representative initially called the closure temporary but later confirmed it was permanent on July 21, 2025. The last Instagram activity was June 9, 2025, and multiple Instagram comments reported guests who allegedly had reservations and showed up to find it closed. The closure leaves Avila with Ka’Teen as his only Los Angeles restaurant (and a bar and taco lounge, Piopiko, in Kyoto), and there is no public news yet about what will occupy the space a block from Nobu on La Cienega." - Rebecca Roland
"I point out that Nobu Los Angeles operates within about a mile of Matsuhisa, yet according to Matsuhisa both establishments are still thriving despite that proximity." - Candice Woo
"Despite being founded in LA, Nobu comes across as reliably familiar, offering an experience that feels consistently recognizable." - Mona Holmes
"Co-owned by Robert De Niro and chef Matsuhisa, this upscale sushi restaurant group operates dozens of restaurants and several hotels worldwide and tends to attract extremely wealthy tycoons and Hollywood heavy-hitters. The venues specialize in sushi, and De Niro has spent recent years opening new locations globally; he has also declared he would never allow President Trump into any of his restaurants and would walk out if Trump entered. Chef Matsuhisa, by contrast, has joked that he dreams of Trump sitting next to De Niro so they could make him sushi." - Greg Morabito
"A polished, bicoastal high-end restaurant with a four-quadrant menu (hot/cold, classic/now) that delivers reliably familiar, globally minded dishes; the amber glow of wood and paper lanterns and attentive, slightly jittery service create a late-aughts cosmopolitan atmosphere that could transport you between coasts." - E. Alex Jung
