Wagamama Restaurant gets Londoners Vote
UK Noodle Bar Voted Most Popular London Restaurant since 2005
Oct 28, 2009
The explosion of Wagamama restaurants across Europe and beyond has continued unabated since its inception in 1992. Born in Bloomsbury, London and now at 65 UK and 37 international branches Wagamama has rapidly become the UK’s latest fast-food chain. Thankfully though this is not another purveyor of burgers or fried chicken, this is an empire of noodle bars and where the food is fast, it is also healthy.
Rock up to a Wagamama for lunch and you will likely take a pew at a long bench alongside throngs of other ramen-lovers. Don’t be shy about table sharing though as it all adds to the canteen-style atmosphere. Orders are chalked up in the middle of the table and dexterous servers weave in and around customers, shuttling steamed dumplings and big bowls of soupy ramen from the kitchen.
Wagamama Ramen and Chicken Curry
The food service and rhythm of Wagamama has a steady and infectious buzz and if that doesn’t keep you coming back, the food will. The Wagamama Ramen is a wide bowl of a vegetable broth with slices of grilled chicken, seaweed and watercress, chunks of fried tofu and single chunks of dory, prawn and mushroom. On the rice menu, the Chicken Katsu Curry is a presentation of chicken breast slices, deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs served with a neat mound of sticky white rice covered in bright curry sauce. Other tempting dishes can be ordered from their kare and teppan noodle dishes and lighter fare is available in the form of salads given a Japanese twist.
Drinks Include Wine, Beer and Fresh Juice
Pots of green tea are complimentary with food orders and fresh fruit juices and soft drinks are available. There is a modest beer list including Asahi and Kirin, a small selection of European wines and sake and plum wine for pretend purists.
Wagamama is Great for Childrens too
Wagamama is also an innocuous way to introduce children to pan-Asian cuisine. The kids’ menu offers ‘mini’ food options and staff hand out a ‘noodle doodle’ fun page to keep little ones entertained. In addition there are plenty of side dishes such as gyoza dumplings, edamame soya beans and chicken yakitori skewers, which are perfect for sharing between adults or children. The Wagamama menu kindly provides translations so you can discover for yourself or explain to others what miso is made from or what menma and ebi are.
London has many unique and wonderful restaurants but as chains go, the food at Wagamama is reasonably priced, substantial and interesting and if London Zagat readers are still voting it their most popular restaurant, they must be doing something right.
To read more about kid friendly and cheap places to eat in London, go to:
London With Kids – South Bank Guide
Cheap London Restaurants & Pubs
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