Wagamama

Always a place to eat with friends or children. Food is always good quality and served quickly nothing to fault

I crave oriental soups, particularly on cold days, and this place did not disappoint. The summer rolls are another favorite of mine, and they were also quite good. We were not there at a peak time, so I have nothing to report about the noise level. Service was very nice. I would love to return for more.

Can’t go wrong with Wagamama after a long day at work. This is comfort food at it’s best (and best of all it is healthy)
The portions are big, the veggies are fresh nom nom nom … The only issue I have with Wagamama is how loud it can get, sometimes I wonder how people can talk so much and so loudly when the food is so good!
The soup is so filling and so unbelievably tasty that you’ll end up craving it on a winters day.
I could rave about the different dishes I’ve had that I love, but realistically they are all good, it just comes down to what mood you are in … rice, noodles, soup or salad… whatever you choose you will not be left unhappy :)
One thing to note, the desserts aren’t that great so I tend to get dessert elsewhere.

chicken. katsu. curry.
one curry was all it took to get me addicted
TRY IT AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE

What kind of Wagamama are you?
A Chicken Katsu Curry, or a Yasai Yaki Soba? Maybe a Ginger Chicken Udon (personally I’m usually a Chicken Ramen)… whatever you are, you know that when you rock up it’s what you’re getting. [I mean no one shows up at McDonalds and thinks, oooh I need to see the menu to know what I’m having… do they???]
Sometime I see the Itame and convince myself to deviate from the norm… it’s hard work though and I normally end up with food paranoia and know I should have gone for the usual…
I’m surprised to see the previous review commented that the service was slow, as I have long been coming here pretty much for one reason– the SPEEDY service! I mean Wagamana is what Wagamama is. It’s bastardised asian comfort fast food. Sadly it is not as cheap as I remember it being, I guess inflation does happen. But at least green tea is still free!

Haha, this place is terrible isn’t it?
I’ve already rated another Wagamama, with a view of the Tower of London; and for a cold and rainy night with ZERO business, that location earned its three stars from me a year or so ago. But this place is just … gross. If this is what Londoners think noodles are all about, I weep for them.
Not only did I have to wait 20 minutes for one of the most mediocre, overpriced dishes of my life, I suffered slow service, soggy soft noodles, flavorless broth, and no heat in a so-​called «spicy» dish.
BTW, this place is NOT Japanese. Nothing about it. At all. It’s a comparison that makes you look silly. Stop it. Wagamama’s is a travesty.

I have nothing against Wagamama. I remember when it first opened and it was a revelation — noodles, in SOUP? Dumplings? Let’s GO! Now of course there are Japanese places popping up everywhere that serve the same fare, plus some more authentic dishes, plus sushi. So I guess my problem with Wagamama is it just feels a bit watered down.
But this hasn’t apparently stopped the prices creeping ever upward. In the same way that Pizza Express pizzas seemed to shrink month on month for a while a few years back, my bill increases here on each visit.
The food is fine — ramen is quite difficult to get wrong, and their ingredients do taste fresh. I tried one of their new dishes the other day and it tasted remkably like the Thai curry i’d made from shop-​bought paste the week before. But no matter, it filled me up, I suppose. The gyoza are good, they’re happy to serve tap water, and also to let you sit and chat (at this venue anyway).
A plus point — I have a wheat-​intolerant friends and they have an allergies menu. Horrifyingly until recently, the edamame weren’t what free — erm, they’re just steamed beans? — but now they can make them so. Obviously, being a noodle joint, the wheat free choice isn’t vast but it’s nice that it’s there.
It started a trend but I think it’s been overtaken by local places, to be honest.
ps. the katsu curries are deeeelicious but they’re unmentionable on account that I found out they have more calories and fat than a big mac meal…

Now who doesn’t love a good noodle? Admit it — Wagamama is a happy happy place for all. Communal tables, quick service, fair prices, delicious ingredients, and slurp-​worthy, slurp-​worthy goodness await.
This specific location is my closest and therefore gets patronized be me often when it’s one of those noodle-​days… so when it’s raining, or cold, or warm, or Tuesday, or, or, or, so I like noodles, ok?

For me, Wagamama has 4 principles: superior quality ingredients, thoughtful masterpiece recipes, quick service, and consistency — I’ve eaten at about 6 different locations, Glasgow to Brighton.
Modeled after Japanese noodle houses, expect long tables where you may be shoulder –to-​shoulder with other patrons. The service is all about efficiency, so don’t expect to wait staff to invoke a friendly chit-​chat, although they are more than happy to rebut, recommend and teach about the menu and food. But don’t worry, they won’t rush and force you out, I’ve sat and chatted over a meal for 2 hours with no pressure.
No paper and pencil here, they carry electronic devices that send your order to the kitchen the second you order it. Freshness is a cornerstone of this franchise, so you may well get your main before an appetizer if you order it all at once. Might I mention, they also have apps so you can order via your mobile?
I find it difficult to eat here without getting an appetizer (they are all great!) and ramen (noodle soup), as they are so delicious, fresh, great value for money, leaves you full, and believe it or not, a bit difficult to replicate at home (shhhh, they’re also healthy!). Balance out the food with some great beers on hand, usually Asahi, Kirin, Singha, and Tiger.
To sum up, the food is delicious recipes made from top quality fresh ingredients, a vibrant and modern atmosphere, and quick service. A must try.

One of my favorite designers is always on about how much he loves Wagamama. While I’m sure he digs the noodles, I’ve always gotten the sense that he’s more so into the aesthetic of the space. In any case, Wagamama’s been on my list for quite awhile now and at long last I was able to visit on a recent trip to London.
Upon walking in it was immediately apparent why my pal appreciates Wagamama’s design details: long, blond wood communal tables in an otherwise spare space. Forced to pin down the vibe, I’d say it’s your classically modern Japanese design lovin’ on some Scandinavian touches. In short, it felt clean and it made me want to eat noodles.
We got the edamame with chili and garlic salt and the gyoza to share. My chili ramen was plenty spicy and I slurped it until I could slurp no more. The only disappointing aspect of the meal was the cloyingly sweet white wine which could only be described as the opposite of dry.
Service was sometimes brusque but efficient.
I’m still not sure if I like the concept or the food more, but I’m definitely a fan of both.