Nobu’s, St. Louis, MO

Easygoing eatery offering sushi & other traditional Japanese fare, plus sake, beer & wine.

In the early 80’s, Nobu Kidera was preparing the most sought-after sushi in Waikiki in the traditional style of his native Japan. He was good at it. Very good. So good, in fact, he and his young wife, Taeko, decided to load Nobu’s sushi knives and their young son, George, onto a Saint Louis—bound flight and give the mainland a try.

In 1983, Nobu was hired as the sushi chef for Tachibana at Fee-Fee and Olive. Four years later, he and Taeko opened their own place—the first Nobu’s.

Nobu’s thrived, and as soon as the lease expired, Nobu and Taeko took another leap reopening in a location three times the size of their original. It was one of the first restaurants on a stretch of Olive that would become the center of University City’s blossoming Asian restaurant scene—and an iconic citywide destination for foodies.

In this new home, Nobu flourished as a master sushi chef—creating the most coveted sushi experience in St. Louis.