Nobu Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Nobu cooks with: vegetable oil blend (estimated). Across the 30 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Nobu fry in? The full answer
Eating at Nobu soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
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Safest Orders at Nobu
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Toro Tartare with Caviar + Black Cod Miso + Valrhona Dark Chocolate Fondant, 9.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Assorted Nigiri | 1.0g |
| Toro Tartare with Caviar | 2.0g |
| Salmon Tartare with Caviar | 2.0g |
| Fluke Dry Miso | 2.0g |
| Salmon Dry Miso | 2.0g |
Build your Nobu order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhat to Avoid at Nobu
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Nobu Style Fish and Chips | 16.0g |
| Whole Fish Tempura | 15.0g |
| Rock Shrimp Tempura | 14.0g |
| Half Lobster Tempura Amazu | 13.0g |
| Whitefish Tempura | 13.0g |
Every Nobu item, ranked
All 30 items we have for Nobu, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Assorted Nigiri | 1.0g |
| Toro Tartare with Caviar | 2.0g |
| Salmon Tartare with Caviar | 2.0g |
| Fluke Dry Miso | 2.0g |
| Salmon Dry Miso | 2.0g |
| Yellowtail Jalapeno | 3.0g |
| Tiradito Nobu Style | 3.0g |
| Tuna Tataki | 3.0g |
| Valrhona Dark Chocolate Fondant | 3.0g |
| Banana Caramel Soy Toban Yaki | 3.0g |
| Black Cod Miso | 4.0g |
| Glacier Seabass Dry Miso | 4.0g |
| Prime Beef Tenderloin Toban Yaki | 4.0g |
| Prime Ribeye with Truffle Butter Sauce | 4.0g |
| California Roll | 4.0g |
| House Special Roll | 4.0g |
| Bread Pudding | 4.0g |
| Sesame Banana Miso | 4.0g |
| Seaweed Salad | 5.0g |
| Lobster Shiitake Salad | 5.0g |
| Short Rib with Lemongrass Demi | 5.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Teriyaki | 5.0g |
| Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna | 6.0g |
| Shojin Tempura Vegetable | 11.0g |
| Half Lobster Tempura Amazu | 13.0g |
| Whitefish Tempura | 13.0g |
| Rock Shrimp Tempura | 14.0g |
| Whole Fish Tempura | 15.0g |
| Nobu Style Fish and Chips | 16.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Nobu use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Nobu cooks with: vegetable oil blend (estimated). Across the 30 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Nobu cook with?
Our research indicates: Deep-fries tempura items, most notably the signature rock shrimp tempura and vegetable tempura, in generic "vegetable oil" per Nobu's own official recipe (exact type/blend not specified). Sauces like the tempura's creamy spicy sauce use grapeseed oil by name. (assumed from industry norms, not confirmed by the chain). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Nobu use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Nobu cooks with vegetable oil blend (estimated), not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Nobu seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Nobu cooks with vegetable oil blend (estimated), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Nobu?
Salmon Tartare with Caviar is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nobu, at an estimated 2.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Nobu?
Nobu Style Fish and Chips is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nobu, at an estimated 16.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where Nobu lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.