Wagamama
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Recommendation added: 24/01/2007 20:06
By: grace (YSUK rating +4)grace has been thanked 4 times for this contribution
"My sister and I recently met up in Manchester. Strolling around the centre and unsure of where to eat, we came across Wagamama within the Printworks centre in the city centre. I have seen Wagamama in Soho but have never eaten in there so I was a little unsure. Admittedly, I thought that it would be an expensive let down, but after looking at the extensive menu of noodles and rice at great prices, we couldn't wait to try it.
Wagamama is a network of Japanese Noodle bars. They have over 46 of these in the UK with over half existing in the Greater London area. They also have international restaurants in Australia, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Turkey, Belgium, Denmark and Dubai. The wagamama concept is modelled on the ramen shops popular in japan for over two hundred years. Wagamama specialises in noodle dishes - ramen are chinese-style thread noodles, served in soups with delicious toppings or griddle-cooked (teppan-fried). noodles are the perfect fast food offering a nutritionally complete meal in a bowl. They also do rice dishes and they try and cater for all with a selection of side dishes such as duck dumplings, and salads that can be enjoyed by both meat eaters and vegetarians.
On entering Wagamama, you immediately see that the restaurant is sociable and smart. Obviously being a chain, there is an element of branding (uniforms, cutlery, bowls etc) but done in a very chic and untacky way. The restaurants is made up of long, large bench -tables which seat up to about 10 people so you will be sitting next to people you don't know. I love this set up, but beware if you don't. Also the kitchen is open and visible so you can watch the chefs cook your meal while you wait - japanese cooking is fast and fascinating to watch!
The service is efficient and professional. Our waiter was very charismatic and friendly. We ordered butterfly prawns to start and ginger chicken udon (teppan-fried udon noodles with chicken marinated in ginger, garlic and lemongrass. served with snow peas, red onions, beansprouts, chilli, egg and spring onions. garnished with red ginger and fresh coriander) as our main course. The food was delicious infused with so many flavours and fresh ingredients. We both had green tea (served in a trademark cup) although next time I go to Wagamama, I will definitely try one of the many fresh fruit juices prepared in the kitchen.
So after my first ever visit to wagamama, I am a fan. Unfortunately I don't live very near to my local Wagamama although I have bought the Wagamama cookbook and I order Japanese cooking ingredients online so I can recreate the dish I recently had."
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