Nobu Matsuhisa’s 1987 flagship; training ground feeding the Row.
Matsuhisa opened in 1987 (the chef recalls January 1987) at 129 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, as Nobu Matsuhisa's first restaurant.
Matsuhisa was founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, who developed his Japanese-Peruvian style while cooking in Peru and earlier ran a short-lived Anchorage, Alaska restaurant that burned down in an electrical fire before he settled in Los Angeles.
Matsuhisa Beverly Hills is owned and operated by Matsuhisa Corporation (a California corporation; officers Nobuyuki and Yoko Matsuhisa), distinct from Nobu Hospitality LLC. Nobu Hospitality (the global Nobu hotel/restaurant company) was founded in 1994 by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper; the Nobu brand grew out of Matsuhisa but the Matsuhisa-branded restaurant is operated by the chef's own corporation.
Matsuhisa Beverly Hills served as a training ground for San Fernando Valley sushi chefs. Brothers Tetsuya Nakao and Shunji Nakao met Nobu Matsuhisa at O-Sho and worked at Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills under Nobu before leaving to open Asanebo (11941 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, opened Sept. 26, 1991). Shunji Nakao later opened his own restaurant, Shunji (2012, now in Santa Monica).
Matsuhisa-alumni restaurants in the Valley/Westside have earned Michelin recognition: Asanebo (Tetsuya Nakao) held one Michelin star from 2008 to 2009, and Shunji (Shunji Nakao) received a Michelin star in 2019. These stars belong to the alumni restaurants, not to Matsuhisa Beverly Hills.
Chef Shunji Nakao, after helping launch Matsuhisa and co-founding Asanebo (and later cooking at The Hump), opened his own eponymous restaurant, Shunji, in 2012 (West LA; relocated to Santa Monica in 2021), which earned a Michelin star in 2019.
Brothers Tetsuya and Shunji Nakao both helped launch Matsuhisa Beverly Hills before opening their own restaurant, Asanebo, in 1991 at 11941 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. Asanebo held one Michelin star from 2008 to 2009.
James Beard Foundation honors for Nobu Matsuhisa (chef/brand) include the 1995 'Best New Restaurant' award and the 2002 'Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America,' plus repeated 'Outstanding Chef' nominations (1997 and 1999-2006). The 1995 'Best New Restaurant' award is tied to the New York Nobu launch rather than the Beverly Hills Matsuhisa location.
Matsuhisa earned one Michelin star in the inaugural Michelin Guide Los Angeles (the 2008 edition) and did NOT retain a star in the 2009 Los Angeles guide.
Matsuhisa serves an 'inspired blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine' (Nikkei); Nobu Matsuhisa's signature dish is black cod with miso, with rock shrimp in creamy ponzu another house staple.
The signature dish is black cod with miso (miso-marinated black cod); it is widely credited as the dish that made Nobu world-famous and as Robert De Niro's regular order on his early visits.
Matsuhisa is located at 129 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. The address is in Beverly Hills proper (on La Cienega's restaurant row), not on Ventura Boulevard's 'Sushi Row'; its Sushi Row relevance is through alumni chefs, not its location.
Matsuhisa Beverly Hills remains open and operating as of 2026; the corporate entity is in Active status (CA SOS record updated July 2025) and current listings show ongoing operation.
Robert De Niro became a regular at Matsuhisa after first visiting in 1988 (drawn by the black cod), and his persistent encouragement led to the first Nobu restaurant in Tribeca, New York, in 1994 (a joint venture with De Niro, restaurateur Drew Nieporent, and Meir Teper) -- making Matsuhisa the origin point of the Nobu empire.
It was at Matsuhisa that Nobu came to know actor Robert De Niro, who encouraged him for years to open in New York; their joint venture (also involving restaurateur Drew Nieporent and Meir Teper) produced the first Nobu, which opened in Tribeca, New York, in 1994.
The brand's own first-party narrative: in 1987 the chef opened his first restaurant in Beverly Hills with his blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine; a smoky-grey silhouette of the 38-year-old Nobu painted behind the sushi bar at opening remains and became the logo of his expanding legacy. The site frames the restaurants as stretching across five continents with over 40 locations.
Nobuyuki Matsuhisa personally holds U.S. trademark registrations for the brand, including a registered design/logo mark (silhouette with fish and knives) covering restaurant services and clothing: USPTO Serial No. 75978832, Registration No. 2391783, filed Dec. 9, 1998, registered Oct. 3, 2000, status REGISTERED AND RENEWED, Int. Class 042 'Restaurant Services' and Class 025 clothing. He also owns the 'NOBU' word mark for restaurant services (e.g., Serial No. 74489803, filed Feb. 14, 1994) and a later NOBU mark (Serial No. 85068684 / Reg. No. 4495091).
Operating entity: 'Matsuhisa Corporation,' a California corporation (CA Secretary of State entity/document number 1412241), Articles of Incorporation filed July 10, 1987; status Active. Officers: Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (CEO, Director) and Yoko Matsuhisa (CFO, Secretary, Director, registered agent). Principal address 129 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.