Leading U.S. restaurateur Stephen Starr-who dramatically reshaped the culinary landscape of Philadelphia with his 12 restaurants-introduced a New York City outpost of Morimoto near Manhattan's Meatpacking District in January 2006. Less than a year after making his debut on the New York restaurant scene, Starr was named "Restaurateur of the Year" by the 2007 Zagat Guide. Additionally, the restaurant was listed under "Key Newcomers" in the Guide, which highlights the year's most noteworthy arrivals.

Morimoto is the namesake restaurant of executive chef and partner, Masaharu Morimoto, the star of the Food Network hit shows Iron Chef and Iron Chef America. Chef Morimoto, acclaimed for his ability to seamlessly integrate Western ingredients with traditional Japanese culinary sensibilities, offers contemporary Japanese cuisine, expressed most vividly in his omakase menu.