Matsuhisa, Serving Up 30 Years of Experience

Perched on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, Matsuhisa is still, three decades later, one of the great names of Japanese gastronomy. The restaurant, which opened in 1987, is the first by the world-famous chef Nobu Matsuhisa, whose reputation parallels that of Joël Robuchon or Paul Bocuse.

The history of the restaurant is closely linked to the chef’s own background. In 1973, age 24, Matsuhisa left to open a restaurant in Lima, Peru. It is here that he honed his techniques and learnt the art of fusion cooking, combining flavours from his native Japan with those from his new home. It was here that his most emblematic dish was born: oven roasted cod marinated in yuzu den miso sauce.

After an abortive attempt to set up shop in Alaska, Matsuhisa moved to Los Angeles in 1977, spending a decade cutting his teeth with various different kitchen teams. However the desire to return to his own creations became more and more pressing. It was at the end of the 80s that Matsuhisa opened and quickly became one of the hippest hangouts thanks to the patronage of a number of Hollywood stars. Robert De Niro even became an associate of the chef, enabling him to open new locations. Today his empire stretches across New York, Dubai, Melbourne and Budapest, with a total of 40 restaurants to his name. It seems as though he’s struck upon the winning recipe the world over.