511

Oh.My.Gosh. Where to begin.
First off, we had high expectations for this place in terms of food and quality. Second, we had high expectations for this place in terms of service since we practically paid $ 400 for two for LUNCH. This restaurant breaks the record for the most expensive lunch I’ve ever had. All expectations were reached and exceeded.
Our server was super sweet and our service was top notch. She explained to us how the name of the restaurant was derived. 5 is the highest quality level of beef, which is a5 wagyu. 1 – 12 are the levels of marbeling, while 12 is rare and extremely hard to get, 11 is the next best and more attainable. Thus, 511 Kaiseki.
There are a few lunch combo options that include several pieces of kobe keef on top of a bed of rice. We were hangry and straight up just wanted beef. We both opted for the 19,800 yen sirloin kobe beef course. First course was suzuki salad– 5 fresh thick cuts of suzuki sashimi that was light and flavorful and not too overwhelming. Second course was their take of Japanese onion soup. Third course was… tada! our kobe beef. Last course was a light dessert (daily sorbet flavor) with a choice of tea/​coffee. The sorbet was perfect as the last thing you want is a heavy dessert after a rich, heavy entrée.
The kobe beef was super juicy, fatty and tender. Melts in your mouth like it should. Honestly, this wasn’t the best kobe beef I’ve had. It’s pretty damn good, but not the best. However, for the price and portion and level of hospitality, definitely worth a 5-​star rating.

I made reservations at 511 for a belated birthday dinner for my husband on our recent trip to Tokyo. Reservations were easy to make (I made mine on OpenTable), and the restaurant was relatively easy to find. It’s not exactly on a main street (more so in an alley), but we had wifi while in Japan and the restaurant is well-​marked with a sign out front.
Now, onto the food. Everyone is at the restaurant in order to eat kobe beef. Buttery, delicious, fatty kobe beef. My husband and I both opted for the Japanese course (they also offer a western-​style course), which came with a delicious variety of dishes – some of which had some additional Kobe beef. The main star of the show was, of course, the kobe beef steak course. Which was so good. Like, good to the point where I occasionally take out my iPhone and stare longingly at the photo I took of my kobe beef steak. Ermagawd. Delicious.
The service here was also impeccable. I mentioned it was my husband’s birthday when I made reservations, so they gifted us with an entire cake at the end of the meal. We ate it the next morning since we were already stuffed from all the beef we had eaten. The waiters spoke decent English (which was great for us) and explained all the courses to us (including which part of the cow the beef came from). When we left, it started to rain a bit and when the staff noticed we didn’t have umbrellas they came running out of the restaurant to give us two umbrellas (on the house), which was such a nice touch.
Some of the reviews I’d seen of this place commented on how «Western» this restaurant felt. Certainly, when we were there, all the diners that were there were also foreigners. But heck, that doesn’t really take away from the delicious, delicious kobe beef and the great service from the staff.
Lastly, this restaurant is pretty pricey. But I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for a nice night out. And, if I’m ever in Tokyo again, I’d love to come back.

Perfect for English speakers. My husband and I ordered the American course menu and everything was delicious, not just the steak. The Kobe beef was superb and perfectly cooked. Will definitely come here again when I come back to Tokyo.

Great service. The chef and staff took extreme care and passion for our accommodation. Each part of our 7 course was a unique experience. We were presented with gifts as we left.

Wir hatten das komplette Kobe 7-​Gang Menü mit einem Upgrade auf ein 200g Stück Kobe (in ⁵⁄₁₁ Qualität) — wie von einigen anderen Vorrednern bereits erwähnt können die einzelnen Gänge nicht mit der Fleischqualität mithalten — richtig gut waren aber auch die Kobe Nigiri — nicht falsch verstehen: Der Rest ist nicht schlecht, sondern gut — aber eben Klassen unter dem Fleisch !
Der Service war exzellent, beim verlassen wurde uns noch ein Geschenk überreicht (Kobe Bouillon und Nudeln)
Für mich eine ⁴⁄₅ — wegen der super Fleischqualität aber ⁵⁄₅ !

I have a problem where it is more Westernized in everything. The only thing I really enjoyed is Japan’s Kobe beef. From the look of the night, you’re not getting a high percentage of Japanese folks here.
I came here expecting the real Japanese culture and its Kobe beef.
Reservations are tough for other places when you’re a tourist.
When I look around, a high percentage of tourists and non-​Japanese folks. Don’t get me wrong here, but I want the real thing of Japanese culture. Not fusion. The whole time till the end (even after the noodle gift), I really felt they are trying too hard to win foreigners’ approval and business.
Please, please don’t. Tell people like it is. Redo the restaurant concept, and try to get locals to come. Not just foreigners. I had really great sushi (that’s always packed) and tell me like it is without gifts.
I apologize as this place isn’t for me. I would not recommend.

You need to make reservations here. Kobe steak and dessert were my favorite. Service was phenomenal. Other parts of the course was not bad. Very modern place.

Truly the best meal I had in Japan, celebrating the single best grade of beef in the world.
There’s a reason why Kobe beef has a reputation — one look at the marbling and it is suddenly apparent, one bite as the rush of juicy flavor will immediately reiterate why as far as food bucket lists go, this is the single ‘best’ cut of meat you can get.
Tokyo has at least a dozen high end Kobe beef steakhouses, and if you’re really making the most of it, you might even be considering just taking the shinkansen an extra 30 minutes out of Osaka to go to Kobe itself.
So why ‘a511’? What separates the restaurant from almost all its competitors is that a511 serves the steak as part of a kaiseki menu.
Kaiseki is a centuries old method of preparation and serving that can be considered roughly analogous to a distinctly defined five course meal at a French restaurant, except a couple more courses added in following a few basic principles.
Imagine traveling up a culinary mountain, and at the top are the six greatest bites of meat you’ll ever have in your life. The aesthetically beautiful dishes chosen beforehand (all with unique implementations of smaller cuts of Kobe beef), prepare your palette to fully appreciate the main course ahead of you. With a range of tiny but filling) dishes such as: mushrooms from the mountains, barely cooked Kobe ‘sushi’, you come to appreciate some of the more subtle aspects of the beef you’re about to consume.
In one course, the tempura portion of the meal featured a cube of Kobe beef, every so lightly fried with a coating of cracked rice. I don’t joke when I say that the taste of the juicy meat and slightly too-​roasted rice gave me a ratatouille moment back to my childhood, remembering my mom serving seared supermarket steak over rice from a second hand ricer cooker. The food at a511 tastes as good as my memories of that perfect meal in my nostalgic childhood memory.
The final hearth baked steak is as sublime as you’d expect, but beauty of the kaiseki menu shines again, as a final pre-​dessert dish takes your hand and helps you step off the mountain — not quite cleansing your palette, but leaving your stomach full and warm with the aftertaste of your meal.
They do offer a menu that has a bigger feature on the steak itself, but if I went again I’d easily get the complete kaiseki course, which fortunately changes with the season so it’ll always feature something new.
At Y13800, the price is comparable to your upscale restaurant. But at the time of writing, the USD was incredibly strong, which offered a ridiculous discount off the set price. Add in the fact that like across all of Japan, gratuity isn’t expected nor accepted, and that leaves plenty of extra spending cash for the extensive drink menu. The bellini’s were quite affordable and especially flavorful.
On top of that, the dress code is quite forgiving — travelers aren’t expected to have a jacket or cocktail dress on them, although you’d feel more comfortable among the décor if a gentleman worse at least a buttoned down shirt.
The final factor that stands out is the EXTREMELY wonderful service. I used included a message in my opentable reservation that stated that I was visiting from the US, and would love if there happened to be an English menu, and stressed that it’s more than ok if there simply wasn’t one.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I was greeted in English by several members of the waitstaff, and then both my waitress and server spoke perfect English to me — giving lengthy and accommodating explanations for every course or question I had. It was quite a surreal experience after two weeks of language immersion in the country.
Maybe you could write it off due to being there on a regular weeknight when it was only moderately busy, but the level of service and personalized attention is right up there with Daniel and Per Se in NYC. Upon leaving and sheepishly asking if I could take pictures of the décor, they gave me what was almost a ‘trading card’ for the cow that the meat came from that night as a souvenir. The beef was rated, of course, ‘a5’ (the highest) in the Japan Meat Quality Score, with an ‘11’ in the Beef Marbling Standard. A minimalist descriptive restaurant name, hidden in plain sight.
It was indeed the best meat I had during my time in Japan, as the food, service and atmosphere all combined to an unforgettable meal.
It’s the one restaurant in Tokyo I’d recommend to anyone looking to get a taste of the best ingredients and culinary heritage the country has to offer.

This place is expensive there’s no Denying that. but for the experience of having some well made Kobe beef in 6 different ways makes this an unforgettable experience for me. Food is great. Atmosphere is lovely. Not really much i could say that would deter me other than the price, but that’s to be expected

With my non-​existent Japanese, I was able to make reservations the same day on a weekday for four without an issue. The four of us were on vacation and had had very limited beef courses as we were on coastal seasides devouring fresh sashimi the week prior. Kobe beef was on our reprieve and this venue constantly popped up in our searches for top steaks.
We arrived in scattered rain on time and was seated promptly. We were provided a very social and fun waitress who spoke very good English and gave us a break down of the menu and each of our courses when they arrived. Three of my mates went with the popular steak Koseiki tasting menu with the standard sirloin. I went for the four course precious sirloin which was about $ 3000 more yen as it also provided 50 more grams than their 150g.
The dishes came out and we were very happy with the quality, presentation and value. I believe my mates were as impressed with the prior courses as much as the beef. When my precious sirloin came out along with theirs, I was just wowed by the marbling. One bite and it was a taste of pure divinity. It could honestly be my last course of my life and I would be content as it was that buttery, melt in your mouth, prime marbled cut. I offered my neighbor a sliver of a bite and he also agreed my cut was on a full 11 while there’s was on a 10.
The head chef also came out and greeted us as it was a nice touch, and also showed us a sample cut of what their precious sirloin looks like. We all finished with a nice dessert and as an impeccable gesture, the restaurant provided the two of us who arrived without any rain protection — a complimentary umbrella on the house for the walk back to the metro!!! We were so smitten with glee as they were very solid umbrellas and you will never get that kind of service back in the US.
In short, if you go here — DO NOT skimp on the sirloin grade. Go for the Precious Sirloin, you will not have any regrets. All of the photos you see where the steak is pre-​cut, that is the standard sirloin, the precious is uncut in its perfectly cooked state. It was so good I almost returned for a second night but as there are many choices in Tokyo, I had to refrain until I return. I also gave it a 5 based on the pure taste and quality of the kobe beef. I went to another steakhouse several nights later and it did not compare to 511.
PS. They do not allow kids as it is an adult-​only establishment for a professional ambiance.

Top grade Kobe beef roasted in a charcoal kiln. What else do you need to know? Great service. Amazing food.

You can’t go to Japan without having Kobe beef! Definitely worth the money. I ordered the Kobe beef lunch special and my friend ordered the Wagyu beef lunch special so that we can compare the meats. There is no words to describe Kobe beef except that it melts in your mouth. It was by far the best piece of meat I have ever tasted in my life. Another thing worth mentioning was the special garlic butter that they had which pairs well with the meat. There was nothing special about the Wagyu beef; I think it tastes like any piece of steak and definitely would not order that again. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was nice. Highly recommended!

I understand all the 5-​star reviews now.
This was definitely one of my top 10 meal experiences of my life.
The service was excellent and a great introduction to the famous Japanese Kobe Beef. Our server spoke three languages fluently (Japanese, English, and Chinese) and she clearly explained every single dish to us. We found out why it was called «511» because it refers to the highest grade of their meat – A5 grade beef with a beef marbling standard value of 11. Pretty much the highest you can get in Japan!
We went with the default Japanese style Complete Kobe beef course for ¥13,800. I would not suggest any other option. This is what you should order to get the complete experience at Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511. I l absolutely loved every course except the last soba noodle dish. It was pretty boring compared to the rest. Also, I found that they were quite quick at bringing out each course in the beginning, and I would have preferred to take each course a bit slower.
Like others mentioned, service is top knotch. Examples: they clean the bathrooms pretty much every every time someone uses it. Counters are never wet, free mouthwash, private automatic toilets, etc. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. For example, it was raining when we left the restaurant 2 hours after our meal, and 3 servers pretty much walked us out and gave us some legit umbrellas to walk back to the subway. It was so sweet and thoughtful.
Definitely recommend Kobe Beef Kaiseki for a romantic meal, a business meal, or your once in a lifetime Kobe beef experience in Tokyo.

Le service était impeccable, on en attendait pas moins d’un resto à l’air un peu chic. On né se sent pas du tout oppressé, le personnel n’est pas envahissant et les baguettes sont jetables ce qui est assez surprenant vu l’endroit. Les prix (hormis pour les plats avec les steak de Kobe) sont très raisonnables ! 1500¥ pour un menu (environ 11 €) comportant riz, soupe, burger de Kobe et légumes.
Je n’ai pas pris de réservation comme recommandé mais en semaine durant le déjeuner, le restaurant est quasi vide.
Les burgers au boeuf de Kobe consistait en un simple steak haché et je n’ai vraiment pas aimé (histoire de goût, tout le monde a aimé sauf moi). Beaucoup trop farineux, recomposé… Je n’aime pas.
Bien sûr, la serveuse nous recommande plutôt le meilleur morceau du boeuf de Kobe qui est plus tendre et non la coupe du jour qui est presque trois fois moins cher. Mais il est vrai que la coupe du jour n’est pas si tendre que ça. La viande de Kobe est particulière et grasse. Plus elle est grasse, plus la viande est chère.
Le reste du repas était très bon et nous en gardons un bon souvenir !

If traveling to Japan, having Kobe Beef is a must! My meal at Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511 was one of the best during my month stay in Tokyo. If you are worried about the language barrier, you will be happy to know that all the staff speak English and reservations are super simple to make on Opentable.
When I walked in the restaurant, I was immediately impressed by the décor and excellent service provided by the staff. They really make the effort to explain everything about the menu and make sure that your experience is a special one. I opted for the Western Style Dinner Course and it did not disappoint! While the appetizers and are delicious and impeccably done, the star is of course the A-​5 Kobe Beef! The beef had such great flavor and the marbling was perfect! So tender that I could cut the steak with my fork!
Since I was enjoying my meal so much, I actually forgot about the rice that they forgot
to give me. It was no big deal, but they actually gave me curry, noodles and a fan to take home to make up for it! This meal and experience was worth every bit of the 17,000 yen.

Going into Japan, I knew that one of the things I must try while I was there was Kobe beef. Now, I’m not pretending I know anything about how Kobe beef should be prepared, served, eaten, etc., but even if this is the worst Kobe beef place, it’s still the best piece of beef I personally have ever eaten.
I went all in and ordered the full course tenderloin meal. This included a delicious salad, miso soup, the steak, a sorbet, and some really sour coffee.
Salad — Nice and light. The ingredients were very noticeably fresh.
Soup — I’m a big fan of miso soup so I definitely enjoyed this. However, it didn’t stand out in anyway (not that I’m complaining)
Steak — I love steak. However, I don’t love paying for steak at a restaurant as it is one of the few things I can actually cook. That being said, I instantly and without regret, forked over ￥18,000 for my chance to taste some Kobe beef. I’m not sure why, but I expected there to be some magical look to the cooked meat as if I could just look at it and say «Yep, that’s some special cut of meat right there.» But there was no special look to it. The difference was in the taste and the texture. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium rare and cutting the meat was akin to slicing butter with a hot knife. Upon first bite, I noticed immediately how tender the meat was, moreso than any filet I’ve ever had. I’ve also never had a beefier tasting cut of steak (this is a good thing, if you weren’t sure). Overall, the crisp, seared exterior complementing the insane tenderness and the wonderful taste made for the best ~$ 170 I’ve ever spent on food.
Sorbet — Honestly I can’t remember how this tasted after the steak took my taste buds on a magical journey, but I don’t remember hating it, so there’s that.
Coffee — Note: I always take my coffee black, so maybe it would have been better with cream+sugar. But, this coffee was just so sour and burnt that I couldn’t drink more than 2 sips.
Overall, the steak here was a life-​changing experience. But I would recommend against the full course as the other courses were not too spectacular.

Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511 was one of the restaurants on my must try before leaving Japan or don’t leave Japan at all. I was hoping for the later but this work and responsibility thing won’t leave me alone like a crazy ex-​girlfriend. It’s located in an alley way and the décor is very modern and contemporary. There’s a fridge with stacks on stacks on stacks of Kobe Beef.
Lastly, the service was awesome and on the same level as Michelin rated establishments. I asked the waiter if he could bring out the steak before they cook it cause I wanted a picture. He comes back a minute later with my soon-​to-​be-​adiós steak and I had my picture. Japanese Kobe Beef is definitely a delicacy and a total bucket list item for any knowledgeable foodie.
Welcome to Thunderdome, b*tch!

The service was excellent. I think this place is deserving of a michelin star, but the presentation could be elevated to make it prettier. We chose the traditional Japanese dinner menu and upgraded to the tenderloin. The beef was heaven inside my mouth. Simply the best I’ve ever had. They were so nice that the manager even gave us kobe bullion noodles to go. It was raining, and our waitress had an umbrella ready for me as she walked with me to the car. If you’re interested in an upscale kobe beef dinner in Tokyo, this place is a must!

Lovely choice for a fancy meal in Tokyo. My group of 8 came for my birthday dinner and loved it. It was easy to make reservations online via Open Table and they were kind enough to run individual credit cards.
There are a few set menus to choose from but it’s basically 8 courses of kobe beef every which way. You can also order ala carte if you’re not a team player (there’s always one…). I was very impressed with all the dishes but the actual steak was understandably the highlight.
Beautiful restaurant and our server did a great job explaining the dishes and which part of the cow we were consuming (they are all delicious).

Divine, sublime, gracious, BEST! These words are not enough to describe one of the best dinners we’ve ever had! It is elegant and relaxed; without an air of arrogance or snootiness. Came in our casual jeans and were hosted in a private area. Our host was simply gracious and made us very comfortable despite my screaming 7-​month old niece. They ensured my niece was relaxed and had her own place setting… They provided her with toys to soothe and relax her. Even heated up her baby food and served it on a separate bowl.
Started off with foie gras appetizer and OH MY GOODNESS! Holy guacamole! A definite must to try because it was simply mouth-​watering great!
Now for the most important item… Ordered the premium sirloin at the suggestion of our host and it was AMAZING! It was rated A5−12. The highest steak rating they carry in the US is A5−6. It surpassed the rating and I can only imagine why! The steak melted in my mouth like butter! The rest of the family ordered the Western course which came with the 150g sirloin steak. They absolutely loved it too! I like mine with more marbling so the premium sirloin was PERFECT! Honestly, this place deserves a Michelin 3-​star rating but they probably know how great they already are so they don’t need Michelin to tell them so! A definite stop if you’re ever in Tokyo!

Came by for dinner the other night and was pleasantly surprised. This restaurant came up after doing a quick Google search for Kobe beef in Tokyo. Reservations are accepted via Opentable Japan (although not compatible with OpenTable in the US).
Restaurant is located a good ~10 minute walk from the train station through some small streets. The restaurant is located in the basement of mini office building?
Staff were very cordial throughout the meal, upon arrival, during the meal, and during departure. The waitstaff spent quite a bit of time explaining the menu along wiht each dish!
Ordered the Japanese tasting menu and it was definitely worthwhile. The kobe beef definitely melted in your mouth.
Ambiance was excellent and upscale, although it seemed rather Western… maybe this is a tourist trap?
~15,000 yen per head after 10% mandatory service charge and 8% local tax.

Highly recommended spot for a kobe beef experience. It’s a ways from the rail station if you are traveling by rail, in a narrow street downstairs. Watch for a Kaiseki 511 sign that is relatively small that dangles from a post.
The venue is themed to par with an upscale European steak house. Clean lines, minimalistic décor. The servers don a white buttoned shirt, black vest ensemble.
The food neatly reflects the entire theme — lovely elegant ceramics plating possibly the best morsels of beef you will ever have in your life.
We came for lunch, and like every other Japanese restaurant, the venue closes briefly in the afternoon before opening for dinner. If you come late, you are out of luck!
The lunch menu has several options for several budgets. The simplest lunch set with no fancy sides and starts at $ 150USD and goes up to $ 400. We opted for the least expensive and then the more expensive set and noticed the grade of beef is better, more tender and melted nicely on the tongue. The extra money spent is worth the experience. We did not leave hungry at all and overall very satiated, given the size of the steak is smaller than 8oz. The set included a soup, rice, pickled radish, some kind of saucy pasta salad, grainy salt and tea. The foamy yellow block on top of your steak is actually butter, as I found out later. Also very good.
Staff are polite and very friendly. Definitely a date spot, albeit expensive but a dressy affair and one to be remembered.