After moving to America, Masaharu Morimoto opened his first Morimoto outpost in Philadelphia. But Morimoto wasn’t just looking to make an impression in the States; his ambitions were global. In 2004, Wasabi by Morimoto opened to great acclaim at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India, followed in 2005 by Morimoto-XEX in Tokyo. In January 2006, Morimoto brought his eponymous restaurant to New York City. The stunning space, designed by Tadao Ando and located in the city’s west side Warehouse District, was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for “Outstanding Restaurant Design” in 2007 and 2008.