Wagamama - Crap/Not Crap

[Dubversion]

Ok, Suplex, riddle me this.

I'm in town - say, lunchtime or early evening before a gig. I don't want to spend more than a tenner for some food and a drink. I don't eat meat and don't want to eat some fried crap.

where can i go that fulfils all those criteria that's better than Wagamama?

 

[Spion]

It is just another slightly anoying thing about wagamama that they say they have japanese noodles when they are not.

Ramen are apparently originally Chinese noodles that are very popular in Japan. Like many countries Japanese food is not all from Japan originally. Tempura is a Portuguese import of some sort I believe

 

[Dubversion]

the moral of the story: make ur own lunch.

you're just sulking cos you had to run round the corner for the bus this morning

 

[Xanadu]

You could do what I did, and buy a guide to cheap restaurants in london.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Ok, Suplex, riddle me this.

I'm in town - say, lunchtime or early evening before a gig. I don't want to spend more than a tenner for some food and a drink. I don't eat meat and don't want to eat some fried crap.

where can i go that fulfils all those criteria that's better than Wagamama?

Go to boots and get a meal deal.

 

[Xanadu]

You would rather eat a boots meal deal than wagamamas???!!!

 

[Dubversion]

Go to boots and get a meal deal.

and sit in a bus shelter? nice..

OK ( ) you don't want to sit in a bus shelter, maybe it's cold and raining, you're having a night out with friends and fancy some food that satisfies those ^^ criteria in town, in a hurry..

try again

 

[Dubversion]

You would rather eat a boots meal deal than wagamamas???!!!

i think he's being obtuse now, but i'll give it a shot..

 

[rennie]

you're just sulking cos you had to run round the corner for the bus this morning

I ran straight ahead NOT round the corner!

 

[Dubversion]

I ran straight ahead NOT round the corner!

i thought you failed to catch it at the Fridge and then scurried round the corner. My mistake

 

[rennie]

and sit in a bus shelter? nice..

OK ( ) you don't want to sit in a bus shelter, maybe it's cold and raining, you're having a night out with friends and fancy some food that satisfies those ^^ criteria in town, in a hurry..

try again

the falafel place on old comptin st is great. Maoz is it?

 

[Dubversion]

the falafel place on old comptin st is great. Maoz is it?

mebbes... that's kind of my point, though. If you know somewhere specific, great.. but if you need a chain because you don't want to take any risks and don't have somewhere in mind, Wagamama is perfect

 

[Thimble Queen]

Every so often we get two for one tickets left in our uni library which means I get a fairly decent lunch for around £3/4.. its much better than the shite they serve in the uni canteen or the filth that is subway


And its an nice change from cheese sandwiches

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Ramen are apparently originally Chinese noodles that are very popular in Japan. Like many countries Japanese food is not all from Japan originally. Tempura is a Portuguese import of some sort I believe

But they are done differently.

Most english curries are not available in india. Chips in the UK are not like US chips.

Ramen noodles are not quite like chinese noodles, there are sold in a different section of my chinese super market. As far as I can tell they are pretty much basic egg noodles but its all in the sauce and other bits and bobs. Don't get me wrong, I don't think ramen or soba or udon is any more high cultured than any chinese noodle dish but it's not what they serve at wagamamas and you should not expect to pay six fricking quid for filpping ramen anyway.

Also ramen is more like a dish than a type of noodle, you get ramen noodles for making ramen but they are basicaly egg noodles.

 

[Buds and Spawn]

I usually like it but the service is starting to piss me off now (Harvey Nicks branch - near where I work).

The way they just bring your food whenever they fancy is starting to grate. A group of us went the other day and everyone had nearly finished before one girl's food turned up. The vegetables in mine were raw and when I complanied, they looked at me like I was mental. They've also tried to charge for things they didn't actually bother to bring to the table. Maybe it's just that branch - I don't know.

They always try to excuse the poor service on the grounds that they're really busy because it's lunchtime. It's a fucking restaurant! When are we supposed to eat?

Thats how I found that branch in cental london too. Charged for other stuff, uncooked veg and food delivered whenever.


I hate it hate it hate it.

Same here. I've had appalling service several times at different Wagamamas... charged for stuff I never ordered, charged for stuff I did order but never got. I'm really very polite and a bit of a pushover, so find it quite shocking to get crap attitude off resting thesps (etc..) who reckon themselves... In some wagamamas I've got the feeling that the staff see themselves as some kind of elite. No idea why. I'm sure it's not a fun job, but that's no excuse to be rude, rude, rude....

If I'm in town then TAI's buffet on Greek St. is where I go for well-priced oriental vegan fare.

 

[christonabike]

I'm in town - say, lunchtime or early evening before a gig. I don't want to spend more than a tenner for some food and a drink. I don't eat meat and don't want to eat some fried crap.

Three pints of expensive middle of town Guinness

You really shouldn't eat before a gig

 

[spanglechick]

suplex - you cannot tell me that boots' nasty prepackaged sandwiches / salads are better value or even edible - even if wagamama costs twice as much, which admittedly it does, it's at least edible and made relatively freshly.

 

[The Groke]

I *heart* Wagamammas Chili Beef Ramen.

I was overjoyed when I found out that there is indeed a branch here in Dubai

w00t!

 

[Dubversion]

suplex - you cannot tell me that boots' nasty prepackaged sandwiches / salads are better value or even edible - even if wagamama costs twice as much, which admittedly it does, it's at least edible and made relatively freshly.

i bet he tries

suplex, i'll grant you that you may have a point viz the authenticity and 'japanese'ness of Wagamamas, but that's not why i (very occasionally) go there. I know what they sell, i know i like it, i know what it'll cost me. it's that simple. if i want authentic food, or a brilliant meal, i'll go elsewhere.

I lived in Italy for a while and i know the difference between authentic Italian cuisine and a high street bastardisation of it. Still doesn't mean that at a push i wouldn't eat in a Pizza Express if i didn't know anywhere local or have time for a proper sit down meal.

 

[spanglechick]

i bet he tries

suplex, i'll grant you that you may have a point viz the authenticity and 'japanese'ness of Wagamamas, but that's not why i (very occasionally) go there. I know what they sell, i know i like it, i know what it'll cost me. it's that simple. if i want authentic food, or a brilliant meal, i'll go elsewhere.

I lived in Italy for a while and i know the difference between authentic Italian cuisine and a high street bastardisation of it. Still doesn't mean that at a push i wouldn't eat in a Pizza Express if i didn't know anywhere local or have time for a proper sit down meal.

good analogy (also worked in italy for a while).

 

[Xanadu]

i bet he tries

suplex, i'll grant you that you may have a point viz the authenticity and 'japanese'ness of Wagamamas, but that's not why i (very occasionally) go there. I know what they sell, i know i like it, i know what it'll cost me. it's that simple. if i want authentic food, or a brilliant meal, i'll go elsewhere.

I lived in Italy for a while and i know the difference between authentic Italian cuisine and a high street bastardisation of it. Still doesn't mean that at a push i wouldn't eat in a Pizza Express if i didn't know anywhere local or have time for a proper sit down meal.

That's about the way I feel about most indian meals in london.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

i think he's being obtuse now, but i'll give it a shot..

Ok well I'm sure I could find somewhere for under a tenner that wasn't wagamamas. I have already said i hate the place so there is no way I would go there.
If I wanted a sit down meal I would pay more than a tenner, if I wanted a quick meal before a gig I would (and do) grab a pasty.

We obviously like different things, despite the atmos and the fact it is over price for a bowl of noodles I don't like it, therefore I would not go. You would not be able to perswade me to go to Mc Ds either, even if you asked the question 'I'm just off to a gig and I need a burger for under £2 where do I go then smarty pants?' I would never want to go for a burger in the first place so I wouldn't, you however can go wherever you like.

 

[Spion]

But they are done differently.

Most english curries are not available in india. Chips in the UK are not like US chips.

Ramen noodles are not quite like chinese noodles, there are sold in a different section of my chinese super market. As far as I can tell they are pretty much basic egg noodles but its all in the sauce and other bits and bobs. Don't get me wrong, I don't think ramen or soba or udon is any more high cultured than any chinese noodle dish but it's not what they serve at wagamamas and you should not expect to pay six fricking quid for filpping ramen anyway.

Also ramen is more like a dish than a type of noodle, you get ramen noodles for making ramen but they are basicaly egg noodles.

Yeah, whatever you say http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2042.html

 

[Xanadu]

We obviously like different things, despite the atmos and the fact it is over price for a bowl of noodles I don't like it, therefore I would not go. You would not be able to perswade me to go to Mc Ds either, even if you asked the question 'I'm just off to a gig and I need a burger for under £2 where do I go then smarty pants?' I would never want to go for a burger in the first place so I wouldn't, you however can go wherever you like.

Not even from the fine burger co, gourmet burger kitchen or hamburger union?

 

[sonik]

I hate Wagamamas, it sucks. Over priced rubbish, my food has never been hot when it arrives if it arrives. They always get my order wrong or charge me for the wrong thing. MSG overload Personally i think the place has had it's day.

 

[milesy]

Not even from the fine burger co, gourmet burger kitchen or hamburger union?

if he don't like burgers, he don't like burgers

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

i bet he tries

suplex, i'll grant you that you may have a point viz the authenticity and 'japanese'ness of Wagamamas, but that's not why i (very occasionally) go there. I know what they sell, i know i like it, i know what it'll cost me. it's that simple. if i want authentic food, or a brilliant meal, i'll go elsewhere.

I lived in Italy for a while and i know the difference between authentic Italian cuisine and a high street bastardisation of it. Still doesn't mean that at a push i wouldn't eat in a Pizza Express if i didn't know anywhere local or have time for a proper sit down meal.

Then you have yet again missed my very simple point.

The OP asks do you like Wagamamas, I do not.
I don't care if it is japanese lebanese or whatever that is just discriptive niggle.
I don't like wagamamas and will not eat there again. I don't like Mc Ds so will not eat there. I do not like Curries and will not eat them (I could also make the point again that most curries in the UK are not authentic).

 

[liberty]

I love it

 

[catrina]

i don't like it at all. first off, i'm just not into chinese food/noodle stuff, so it's not really my thing anyway. i also don't really like sharing tables with huge crowds, and it is always so damn loud in there. and finally, every time i've been there i've had to wait for a table.

now that is ludicrous. queueing for a table to share with people you don't know?
(wagamama is partially excused here because it's not so expensive...there's newer establishments that are extortionately expensive and make you share a table, now that's out of order!)

oh, and unless you're seriously cheap, bringing food out whenever you feel like it is just out of order and unpleasant. that policy just screams arrogance to me.

i prefer busaba, same theme but better food and decor. actually, the site of hamburger union makes me cringe, but went there for meal number 2 after a horrible meal we didn't eat it was so bad, and actually their burgers are quite good! they could work on the decor and atmosphere a bit, though, it feels more like a hospital than a restaurant.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Yeah, whatever you say http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2042.html

That is what I did say. They may have been imported but they are different in Japan, they have developed in a different way. Anyway if they are so chinese why call them japanese ramen in wagamama.