Nearly a decade after opening, Nobu continues to draw a hungry crowd of locals and tourists seeking their fix of stellar sushi and innovative Japanese and Nikkei cuisine.
Food Where to begin. That’ll be your first quandary while poring over the menu at Nobu. Our advice? Start with salted edamame beans to whet the appetite and focus the mind.
A selection of Nobu’s superb sushi should follow. The chefs here are masters at their craft, and you’ll struggle to find more expertly made sushi in Cape Town. Want to break from tradition? The new-style salmon sashimi never fails to impress.
The world is your oyster after that, so ask the waiters for advice. The tempura is unfailingly featherlight, and it’s not hard to see why the black cod with miso is a global signature dish. Just don’t look at the price. Else opt for the succulent kushiyaki (grilled skewers) of scallops, langoustine or salmon. A side dish of Nobu’s spinach salad with yuzu truffle and dried miso doesn’t hurt either.
The extensive dessert menu adds a Japanese twist to a range of classic sweets. Always dreamed of tofu tiramisu or matcha fondant? You’ve come to the right place.
The choice of dishes and preparations can be overwhelming, but if you simply can’t decide, there’s a range of set menus on offer, including the seven-course omakase tasting menu created each night by the chefs.
Drinks
An extensive wine list, with well-trained sommeliers on hand. A good selection of Japanese whiskies, as well as exclusive sake from Japan’s Hokusetsu Brewery. Arrive early for pre-dinner sake-infused cocktails in the upper-level Nobu Lounge.
Service
Warm and friendly service that begins with the (sometimes-startling) shout of irashaimasu (welcome!) from the waiters as you enter the restaurant. Volume of their voices aside, they have an excellent knowledge of the extensive menu.
Ambience
Some diners love the soaring triple-volume ceilings and origami-inspired lights, while others find the space a little cavernous and impersonal. Either way, the abundance of dark wood and moody lighting suits the upscale feel of the restaurant.
Best for…
A romantic date night. Just make sure your credit card is charged up.
(August 2018)
Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.
User reviews
★★★★★
6 Reviews
Bahia K
★★★★★
Visited this restaurant at the end of July 2018. The restaurant has an intimate setting. The menu is priced at R200-300 for each starter or sushi option with about R750 for the hot dishes. They suggest a tapas style of eating for starters. We had the new aged sashimi, a few sushi options, fried calamari, fish n chips and a salad. The tapas style is always enjoyable but food, including the sushi was just okay. The Chalmar beef tenerloin for mains was phenomenol and melt in the mouth. Other main courses we has were the baked fish,the lobster and the seared salmon which were average.
A Reviewer
★★★★★
We visited Nobu last night as part of Restaurant Week. The service was friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious. Our waitress suggested we have the edamame to start - they were served in a spicy sauce that we would quite liked to have bottled and taken home! The Restaurant Week offering (for R300 per person) was a Bento Box with 6 different dishes in it - a sound taster of the restaurant's food. The highlight was the crispy tempura fish with creamy dipping sauce, and the yellowtail sushi. The chicken satay skewers were a bit pedestrian. The dessert was a perfectly sized and oozing chocolate fondant with gently-flavoured green tea ice-cream, which was just delicious. While we had a really enjoyable evening, I am not sure we would go back - a glance at the menu revealed prices more suited to tourists (not surprisingly, given the location. The famous blackened cod is an eye-watering R580). You do also feel like you are sitting in a hotel restaurant - carpet flooring will do that. The space is also a bit too high in volume, which takes away from what could have been an intimate atmosphere.
Shamin Allamchund
★★★★★
Not a gastronomic experience!
My daughters always wanted to eat at Nobu. So when we booked to stay at the One & Only, I booked at Nobu well in advance. Booking was made in May for our dinner on the 10 August. All was going well. The waitress was friendly, gave us a good description of the meals, noted our allergies. The first concern was the fact that all food was fried in the same oil as the prawns! Really dangerous if you have a shellfish allergy! Our food arrived one dish at a time, meaning not everyone got their food at the same time! Strange but it was getting late. The dishes were nothing to rave about. 3 out of the 4 at the table had finished eating and there was still no sign of the 4th person's deluxe Bento meal! The reason - our apologies but the kitchen was busy, your food is being plated now! Still a wait so we settled the bill and left feeling really disappointed with a much anticipated visit!
Karine Dequeker
★★★★★
We were invited to celebrate combined birthday and loved the experience tremendously. The waitress was very knowledgeable and helped us with all our various food allergies! Ambience was the only disappointment. Totally overpriced, but so delicious you want to go back anyway!
Marianne Engvall
★★★★★
One of the best Asian food restaurants anywhere! Nobu in Cpae Town never disappoints. Been here quite a few times now - on special occasions, with visitors, and just to indulge ourselves. It can feel a little stiff at first, but just take it in and you will find it quietly friendly and very welcoming. So many delicious things on the long menu - let the attentive waiter help you. The other day we had tataki tuna with ponzu dressing, lobster salad, ceviche, some new style sashimi, blackened cod and oysters with Nobu salsa. All excellent, beautifully presented - every dish is a piece of art, and in perfect portion size. Do a sake pairing with the food, a great experience. The hotel feeling just adds to the special fine dining experience.
