- Harris
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
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Editor Pick
Popular, Cheap and Tasty Pan Asian
- November 22, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
sararevell from London, United Kingdom
A friend from the US came to visit us in London a few months ago and a friend had recommended he eat at Wagamama during his trip. I was impressed that this chain of noodle restaurants had a following abroad but then I went to their website and learnt that as well as their 65 UK restaurants, they also have 37 chains internationally. Zagat readers voted them ‘most popular London restaurant’ in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 so it’s no wonder they have a good reputation at home and abroad.
Walking along the South Bank on a Sunday afternoon we were in need of a very late lunch. The row of new restaurants under the Royal Festival Hall (which also includes Giraffe, Eat, Strada) seem to be permanently busy and Wagamama was no exception. We managed to score an outdoor seat by the arches of the Hungerford Bridge. Tables and benches are long and you’re expected to share with other people but it all adds to the canteen-style atmosphere. Your order is chalked up in the middle of the table and there’s a constant buzz about the place, with efficient servers running between the till, the table and the kitchen. It’s definitely not a place you would come to relax.
I went for the Wagamama Ramen and my husband ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry and a large bottle of Asahi beer. I asked for green tea, which is complimentary with meals. Our waitress told us our meals would not be served at the same time but as it was, they arrived within about a minute of each other. The Chicken Katsu Curry is slices of chicken breast deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs served with a neat mound of sticky white rice covered in bright curry sauce. My Ramen noodles came in a vegetable broth with slices of grilled chicken, seaweed and watercress, chunks of fried tofu and a single piece of dory, one prawn and one mushroom. To be fair it does only say "prawn", "mushroom" and "dory" in the singular on their menu so they weren’t lying.
Although the food is served quickly, it’s a nice change from the usual sandwich and burger selection at many chain restaurants and you do feel like you’re getting a healthy, substantial meal for a fairly reasonable price. My Ramen was £7.80 and the curry was £8.25. With the free tea and one beer, it’s about £20 for two people, including tip, which is something of an achievement when eating out in central London. It’s also an good way to introduce children to pan-Asian cuisine. I saw a few families eating here and saw a six year old happily eating his way through a plate of salad and dumplings. I’m not sure if they had ordered a side dish but they do also have a kids menu with some ‘mini’ food options alongside a ‘noodle doodle’ fun page to keep them preoccupied.
Despite not being a fan of chain restaurants, I can see myself going to a Wagamama again. The food was good, substantial and interesting, which is a lot more than can be said for many other chain eateries.
From journal Living in London
Wagamama
Wagamama is a great restaurant offering fast service, minimalist design and atmosphere, and great food. This is the perfect restaurant for a quick bite between classes or sightseeing schedule. My roomate was a vegetarian and this was one of the few restaurants that served a wide variety of vegetarian meals.
My favorite dish is the chili beef ramen. The gyozas are also a must-try!
From journal London Fog
Wagamama
- August 15, 2006
- Rated 2 of 5 by
lucinda3 from Alpharetta, Georgia
Wagamama is a chain of Chinese inspired restaurants. There is one very convenient to the British Museum, so I stopped there for lunch. The restaurant is very open and modern in design. The seating is cafeteria-style tables and benches, which can mean sitting right next to people in a different party.
Paper placemats serve their usual function and as a place for the waiter to write down the numbers from the menu as you place your order. They use this to calculate the check at the end.
You can check out the menu at their website. The most popular choices for entrees are noodle bowls. You can choose from different meat, seafood, or vegetarian selections. I ate the spicy chicken, which was disappointingly bland. I added lots of chili oil to try to revive it, but that meant adding lots of fat as well. Even though it lacked spice and flavor, the food was quite fresh and the chicken was tender. So, if you have lower need for full flavor, you might be quite satisfied with a meal here.
From journal Summertime in London
Wagamama
- June 30, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
ps12 from Baltimore, Maryland
Wagamama is a London institution. In fact, I should say it's a European institution since I've also seen locations in Amsterdam and Dublin.
For a quick meal at a good price, Wagamama can't be beat. But this also means there are often lines out the door. Fortunately, with the cafeteria-style tables and quick service, the lines move fairly quickly.
When you come in, you'll be directed to a place at one of the long tables, usually sitting next to people you don't know. But there's still plenty of space, and room underneath the table for your bags.
Waiters use a little machine to type in your order and write the number of what you ordered right on your placemat.
A lot of the menu consists of soups, but there's also the cha han (rice with vegetables) and my favorite, the soba (7 or 8 pounds), which comes with those Japanese noodles. My husband always opts for the soup with pieces of steak since it seems like one of the few places in London where you can get a decent piece of meat! Wagamama also offers smoothies which look really interesting.
Wagamama is a great place to go with friends if you want something quick—or a great place to go before the theater given locations in Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Just be prepared to feel like you're back in your high school cafeteria!
From journal Bang for Your Buck London Restaurants
Wagamama
- April 3, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
The Breeze from Mayfield, Ohio
This noodle bar was one of my favorite dining experiences while visiting London. I saw many of these in other locations during my stay. It’s a very clean, modern, upbeat restaurant with the slogan
Positive eating – Positive living. The young man who served us was experienced, savvy and efficient. I chose ramen: a "big bowl of noodles in soup" with nice big chunks of chicken. It looked like so much that I didn’t think I could possibly eat it all, but I did, probably because it was so light and tasty. Served with big pitchers of ice water or peach iced tea. £6.60
From journal I Love London!