The Nobu chain was a result of De Niro meeting Nobuyuki Matsuhisa at the chef’s first U.S. restaurant in Los Angeles.

“I thought the place was great. I told him, ‘If you ever want to open a restaurant in New York, let me know,”‘ De Niro said. “A year or two later, he called me, said ‘I’m interested.”‘

Nobu started as a business partnership in 1994 between De Niro, Matsuhisa, Richie Notar and Hollywood producer Meir Teper. The first restaurant opened in New York. The chain now has locations across the world, from Italy to the Bahamas. They just opened a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia (August 2007). De Niro said he’s a huge fan of Japanese food, and not just for the flavors. “On top of everything else, it’s healthier for you,” he said. “I don’t see many overweight Japanese, except sumo wrestlers.” We think he sounds like a good fella…

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