If you thought getting a table at 311 Omakase was hard before, it’s about to get even harder. With the release of Boston’s Michelin Guide at an awards ceremony in Philadelphia on November 17, 311 Omakase made Boston food industry history; the tiny omakase restaurant became the first Boston restaurant to receive a Michelin star.
The restaurant snagged one star, a recognition defined as “high quality cooking,” according to Michelin. In Layman’s terms, it’s the Oscar of the food industry.
Prior to the accolade, 311 already proved popular as one of Boston’s hardest to get reservations. Seats open on the 15th of each month with a 45-day advance reservation window. Guests could wait weeks (and sometimes months) before settling into this intimate omakase experience set in the basement of a South End brownstone.
About 311 Omakase
Spearheaded by Chef Wei Fa Chen, the restaurant opened inside a brownstone on Tremont Street in Boston’s South End in the summer of 2023. Chef Wei’s been committed to excellence and a “revelation” in every bite of his omakase experience, manifesting a Michelin star in the process:
My goal is to create exceptional traditional Japanese cuisine that reflects the artful use of ingredients and meticulous mastery of preparation techniques, while infusing classic dishes with my own creativity and style. Each dish is crafted with care and attention to detail, using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients to offer our guests an authentic and exciting dining experience. We are committed to pushing the limits of ourselves to achieve Michelin-level excellence in all aspects of our restaurant, from the food we serve to the service we provide, said Chef Wei in a statement.”
The name, formally transcribed as Three 1 One, celebrates the relationship between chef, food, and diners. “Our name symbolizes the trinity of the chef, the ingredients, and the customers — with the number 3 representing creativity, self-expression, and communication, and the number 11 signifying intuition, spiritual awakening, and enlightenment,” notes the restaurant.
A new take on omakase in Boston
The restaurant seats 10 and offers an immersive 18-course omakase experience starting at $230 per person. 311 is Chef Wei’s first restaurant; he took the entrepreneurial leap after over a decade of professional training and mentorship in high-end Japanese restaurants, like the 3-star Michelin hotspot in Manhattan, Masa, which offers a $750 omakase.
Chef Wei works in partnership with 311 manager (who also happens to be his wife) Carrie Ko. Ko operates the managerial side of the restaurant and, during service, shares the story behind each course.
The menu adapts to each season and always includes a selection of meticulously sourced fish—much of which travels to Boston from Japan. The Japanese resources don’t conclude with the food.
Wei collected the restaurant’s ceramic dinnerware from Japanese artists over several years touring Japan. The sushi counter, composed of imported Japanese Hinoki Cypress wood, emits a subtle forest aroma that enhances the dining experience and mirrors a large part of traditional Japanese culture.
The intentionally selected details align with 311’s mission: to put a surprising twist on omakase while simultaneously bringing an authentic Japanese experience to the heart of Boston’s South End.
Find 311 Omakase at 605 Tremont Street, Boston
Tuesday-Sunday 5:30-11 PM