Known for his appearances on “Iron Chef” and “Iron Chef America,” chef Masaharu Morimoto has proved his aptitude for creative and uniquely plated haute cuisine time and time again. Before he reached “Iron Chef” fame, Morimoto got his culinary start in a Japanese-fusion sushi restaurant, where he caught the attention of “Iron Chef” producers.

When Morimoto left Japan in the 1990s, he landed the role of Executive Chef at the original location of the iconic Nobu, the namesake of Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, a celebrity chef known for his Japanese-Peruvian fusion. By the time Morimoto was leading the kitchen, the restaurant was already a household name, propelling him into his own string of culinary success.

Since then, Morimoto has found success in his many restaurants around the world, like the Manhattan and West Hollywood locations of the Sa’Mato, which serves pan-Asian fare. His other restaurants are in places like Taghazout Bay, Las Vegas, Mexico City, and beyond, where he serves Japanese cuisine like sushi, sashimi, ramen, and sake.