http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama <b>Wagamama</b><br />London, 14A Irving Street, WC2H 7AF, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/194m87
Review by Jongleur

Rating: 3.00
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Wagamama do Westernised Japanese food and pop up everywhere these days. This one's one of the better restaurants in Leicester Square, hidden downstairs in an air-conditioned basement.

Seating is on crowded benches and the noise level tends to be high, so I wouldn't bring my granny here. However, the food's great, with a wide variety of noodles, rice dishes and salads. Service is efficient and largely technology-driven ⬠they track your order and should your dish take 35 minutes or more to reach you they will automatically take it off your bill (this has happened to me once although the average time from order to eating is more like ten minutes).

Discounts for this chain are often available online so check before you go.]]> Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:52:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/194m87280281015 Jongleur 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1w1ba8
Review by Rhydster

Rating: 3.00
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The difference here, as with other Wagamamas and Japanese eateries, is the seating arrangements that put you at elbows with others. I see this as just different and interesting.

The good: the menuâ¬"s range of noodles is expansive and the portions are very well sized. The quality isn't the best for Japanese cuisine but it's more of a fast-food-come-eat-in service, rather like Speedy Noodle is for Chinese. It's interesting, again in keeping with Japanese eateries, to be able to see the cooks making the dishes.

It's not badly priced for a central London eatery and they often have 2 for 1 offers.

Itâ¬"s located within 5 minutes walk of Leicester Square tube station, making it easily accessible.

The bad: the service to the table is not very attentive.
]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:35:52 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1w1ba8770635347 Rhydster 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/136an8
Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 4.00
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Another of Londonâ¬"s more popular chains, Wagamama scores with fast friendly service and good value. The restaurants are modelled on the ramen bars popular in Japan for many years. You eat communally, sat at long wooden tables and benches, although there are a few more cosy corners which, if you come as a couple, you MAY be lucky enough to grab (donâ¬"t count on this though).

The menu consists of side dishes and main meals (no starters), plus desserts. Your order for the first courses will be marked up on the paper table mat, and also taken on an electronic handheld device and zapped through to the kitchen by radio signal where it is cooked immediately. All dishes are delivered to the table as soon as they are ready, so you need to be happy to eat whatever comes whenever it comes!

On a recent visit with friends I chose a side of ebi gyoza: deep-fried dumplings filled with chopped black tiger prawns, water chestnut and spinach, and served with a spicy citrus ponzu sauce. These were absolutely delicious, but I managed to sacrifice one to trade with a friend and sample her almost as tasty duck gyoza, served with a spicy cherry hoi sin sauce. My main dish was chicken kare lomen: a spicy soup made from lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste, red chillies, fresh ginger and galangal, and served with ramen noodles and garnished with a marinated and grilled chicken breast, beansprouts, cucumber, fresh coriander and a wedge of lime. This was also delicious, but came in too large a portion. Despite that, I managed to squeeze in a dessert of tamarind and chilli pavlova ⬠sounds odd, but was REALLY good! The white chocolate and ginger cheesecake went down well with one of my friends too, by the way. My very filling meal, with a fresh juice to start with and a large glass of white wine, cost in the region of £20 ⬠very reasonable indeed for central London.
]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:35:27 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/136an8307969224 Sarah_W 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1369o7
Review by secoelho

Rating: 4.00
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I was there only once! I was quite hungry so I really appreciated the quick service and tasty food! I think they provide good value for money and I will recommend it to friends and family. Next time I will try a different dish (I had a tasty yaky udon) because I like to experiment.]]> Mon, 26 May 2008 17:43:07 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1369o71853413733 secoelho 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1488c8
Review by lightlines

Rating: 3.00
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I like wagamama's. The food is my kind of thing, hot and spicy, with plenty of coconut. However, this particular branch disappointed me for the following reasons:
1) too much salt in the dishes - designed to make me drink more, but making me all too crabby instead.
2) lack of awareness as to what is contained in their dishes as concerns peanuts.
3) too hot - again, I think this has to do with a cynical attempt to maximise drink sales.

Nevertheless, for those reasons alone I wouldn't go back to this one without someone else assuring me of change in the venue. ]]> Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:59:41 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1488c81114745415 lightlines 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/135868
Review by pjbfcp

Rating: 4.00
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I was first introduced to wagamama in 2000 while visiting London. It was such a foreign idea compared to most American versions of Asian restaurants. The communal seating seemed quirky at first but then it grew on me. I realized that it was a great way to meet people. The food was fantastic. I had the yaki soba which was delicious and very flavorful. When I returned to London in 2007 I had wagamama on my list of places to visit. I ordered the yaki soba again because I loved it so much the first time. I would highly recommend wagamama for lunch especially to foreign travelers. It is not only great food but a great experience.]]> Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:35:00 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/135868601379327 pjbfcp 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1o64w8
Review by amandaharrison

Rating: 2.00
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I know it is good value and does what it says on the tin, but I've gone off Wagamama. I have the cook book n'all and love the food generally but felt that the cooking was under par when i went there last Friday. The place is packed, as it would be, but felt I was part of a process and really rushed.]]> Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:14:35 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1u62i7o/wagamama/1o64w81060713067 amandaharrison 51.509352139758 -0.12955350917115