My Birthday: Nobu | Newport Beach, CA

The best Japanese restaurant with the best Miso Black Cod. Nobu Newport Beach, CA + locations worldwide.

It was my first birthday celebration in California so I had a little extra TLC from my husband as I was away from my family and friends.

The evening kicked off with a surprise Gondola Ride with Gondola Adventures in Newport Beach. That day we happened to have a beautiful pink & purple sunset.

We then headed to Nobu (another surprise) and in my mind I knew I was getting the Black Cod Miso, a signature dish.

Should you dine at Nobu Newport Beach, I highly recommend dining here during sunset hours so you can enjoy the splendid views of Newport Harbor. I arrived around twilight.

Sparkling Wine
Mionetto “Prosecco” Italy: light and crisp.

Hot
Black Cod Miso: buttery smooth, delicate fish that is slightly sweet and melts in your mouth. Absolutely incredible and a must-do. A favorite.

Chilean Seabass with Dry Miso: the seabass was a slightly oily and had a bold lemon flavor. When you pair the seabass, lemon sauce and bean sprouts on top, this dish comes together. Tasty, but not a favorite.

Crispy Brussel Sprouts: the brussels sprouts were so crispy and perfectly flavored with a jalapeno sauce. Divine, and a favorite!

Jidori Chicken: although the chicken looks fried, it’s not, it was roasted in a wood-fire oven and was so tender. This dish came with 2 sauces on the side… the Peruvian sauce which is slightly spicy, and Teriyaki sauce which is on the sweeter side. Another side included a bean sprout salad with was flavored with sesame oil and delicious. Personally, I would have chosen one sauce and had the chef toss the chicken in one of the sauces. Overall, very good.

Dessert
Date Cake: A candle to go with the cake as I was celebrating my birthday. The buttery pecan cake was topped with a pecan sauce and vanilla ice-cream. It wasn’t too sweet, it was perfect. A favorite.

RESTAURANT REVIEW
Nobu Newport Beach

COST: $$$$
CUISINE: Japanese/Sushi Bar
FAVORITES: Black Miso Cod | Crispy Brussel Sprouts | Date Cake
OVERALL: 4.25 / 5
The food at Nobu is always incredible, especially the Black Cod Miso, you can’t leave here without trying this signature dish. Going forward, I would like to try out more appetizers, sushi, and that famous rock shrimp tempura. In comparison to Nobu Fifty Seven in New York City, Nobu Newport Beach fell a little short in terms of ambiance in my opinion, it had a more relaxed vibe. With that said, if you do visit this location, make sure you dine here during sunset with views overlooking Newport Harbor.
Food: Excellent| Drinks: Excellent | Décor: Trendy/Casual/Classy | Service: Average/Slow | Value: Pricey