We Sat Down With the Man Behind the Global Nobu Empire

Before Nobu became the kind of name that needs no introduction, it was a single restaurant opened by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro in downtown Manhattan in 1994. More than 30 years later, that restaurant has grown into a global empire spanning restaurants, hotels and residences across the world.

Now, that story is entering a new Egyptian chapter. After first arriving on the North Coast through SODIC's Ogami development in 2025, the brand is expanding its presence with Nobu New Cairo, bringing one of the world's most recognisable dining institutions into the capital.

SceneEats sat down with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa to discuss the philosophy that built the brand, his approach to local ingredients, and what comes next as Nobu's footprint in Egypt continues to grow.