Nobu Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Nobu cooks with: 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). Across the 30 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
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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 |
What to Avoid at Nobu
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Nobu Style Fish and Chips | 16.0g |
| Whole Fish Tempura | 15.0g |
| Rock Shrimp Tempura | 14.0g |
| Whitefish Tempura | 13.0g |
| Half Lobster Tempura Amazu | 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 |
| Tuna Tataki | 3.0g |
| Banana Caramel Soy Toban Yaki | 3.0g |
| Tiradito Nobu Style | 3.0g |
| Yellowtail Jalapeno | 3.0g |
| Valrhona Dark Chocolate Fondant | 3.0g |
| Prime Beef Tenderloin Toban Yaki | 4.0g |
| Bread Pudding | 4.0g |
| Sesame Banana Miso | 4.0g |
| Prime Ribeye with Truffle Butter Sauce | 4.0g |
| House Special Roll | 4.0g |
| California Roll | 4.0g |
| Black Cod Miso | 4.0g |
| Glacier Seabass Dry Miso | 4.0g |
| Seaweed Salad | 5.0g |
| Short Rib with Lemongrass Demi | 5.0g |
| Lobster Shiitake Salad | 5.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Teriyaki | 5.0g |
| Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna | 6.0g |
| Shojin Tempura Vegetable | 11.0g |
| Whitefish Tempura | 13.0g |
| Half Lobster Tempura Amazu | 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: 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). 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 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), 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 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), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Nobu?
Assorted Nigiri is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nobu, at an estimated 1.0g 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.
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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.