wagamama covent garden — Restaurant in London

Wagamama Covent Garden: A Japanese-Inspired Culinary Haven

Introduction Located at 17 Bedford Street in the heart of Covent Garden, Wagamama offers a dynamic and vibrant dining experience inspired by Japanese cuisine. Known for its fresh, flavorful dishes and communal dining setup, it’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists seeking a casual yet satisfying meal.

Ambiance and Atmosphere Wagamama Covent Garden exudes a modern, minimalist vibe, with its signature communal seating that encourages a lively, social atmosphere. The open kitchen allows diners to witness the preparation of their meals, adding an interactive touch to the experience. While the setting is energetic and welcoming, it can get quite noisy during peak hours, so it’s best suited for those who enjoy a bustling environment.

Menu and Cuisine The menu at Wagamama is a celebration of Japanese-inspired flavors, offering something for everyone. From their iconic Chicken Katsu Curry to warming bowls of Ramen, and sizzling Teppanyaki, the variety ensures there’s always something new to try.

For those with dietary restrictions, Wagamama shines with an extensive range of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, such as the Vegan Yasai Katsu Curry or the Bang Bang Cauliflower. Seasonal specials and customizable dishes further add to the appeal, making it a versatile choice for diverse palates.

Service and Experience The service at Wagamama Covent Garden is efficient and friendly, with staff known for their attentiveness and warm demeanor. One unique aspect of Wagamama’s service style is that dishes are brought to the table as soon as they’re prepared, ensuring maximum freshness. However, this means that meals for groups may arrive at different times, which could be a consideration for diners expecting synchronized service.

The restaurant’s fast-paced nature makes it an excellent choice for a quick bite or a casual meal, but it may not be ideal for those seeking a quiet, leisurely dining experience.

Location and Accessibility Conveniently located in Covent Garden, Wagamama is easily accessible by public transport, with the Covent Garden and Leicester Square Underground stations nearby. Its central location makes it a prime spot for shoppers, theatre-goers, or anyone exploring the vibrant Covent Garden area.

Pricing Wagamama offers great value for its quality and portion sizes, with most dishes reasonably priced for central London. The affordability, combined with the diverse menu, makes it a solid choice for both solo diners and groups.

Conclusion Wagamama Covent Garden delivers a lively and satisfying dining experience that blends fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and efficient service. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick meal or fueling up after a day exploring Covent Garden, this Wagamama location is a reliable choice for delicious Japanese-inspired cuisine in a fun, casual setting.

Recommendation: Ideal for anyone seeking a vibrant atmosphere and a variety of tasty dishes in the...

DO NOT GO HERE! Came here yesterday evening for my birthday and it was the worst customer service we have ever received. We were served by a very rude waiter named Henrique.

Waited 20 minutes to get Henriques attention to be served. We ordered 2 g&t's, a starter of squid and 2 Katsu curries. Drinks took another 15 minutes to come and when our food arrived it came one dish at a time (If we wanted to eat individually, we wouldn't be dining out together).

My Katsu curry came first and when I tried it it was cold. Waited another 15 minutes to get Henriques attention to make him aware that my food my cold, my sister's food hadn't arrived and it was odd that my main came before the starter. Henrique offered no apology, only told me that the dishes come when they are ready. He said he would replace my cold dish, which of course...took another long while.

Eventually our food came but by this point we were so fed up of waiting and were so hungry that we gobbled our food down. Curry was nice but not worth all this hassle and waiting.

Took ages to get Henriques attention to ask for the bill. When he walked past, my sister waved to get his attention and he blatantly ignored her, which was beyond rude. He eventually gave us the bill and charged us for 4 Katsu curries rather than 2.

We then had to wait another while to get Henriques attention, to little success, as my sister had to go to the till to tell another waiter that we had been overcharged. We waited for the new bill which never came. The waiter eventually told us that it had been updated and we could pay on our phones (my sister had already asked if we could pay in cash). We payed and left, no goodbyes or thank yous to be had, even though the members of staff saw us getting up to leave.

We were so infuriated by this awful experience that we advised a group of customers just about to enter the restaurant not to dine there, and they thanked us for the warning and went to Pasta Brown instead.

I'm not usually a customer who complains, but this was the worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant. It was a shame as I don't usually spend money eating out, and it completely ruined my birthday dinner. I'm annoyed that I am even having to waste more time writing this review. But I think it's worth it if it will save anyone else having the same awful experience we did, and I certainly will not be returning back to...

I went to this place on the 12th August 2024. Originally, I had wanted to go to Blacklock Covent Garden branch which was next door but their booking was full and there was a one-hour wait for dinner.

I've always been iffy about this chain because as a British born Chinese person, I've been exposed to Asian cuisine all my life and looking at the pictures and menus through the years from this joint, I was positive that the owners didn't have a clue about Asian cooking and I was right.

Firstly, to address the elephant in the room: Wagamama is NOT Asian. It's not Asian-inspired, it's not Asian-themed. It's a restaurant that has chopsticks and poor service and attitude...

...and the food is barely edible.

The waiter/ person posing as a waiter was hardly ever seen such was his impressive disappearing act whenever I wanted to order something. It's quite an achievement in itself that he absconded all his duties and when I'd gotten frustrated at waiting 15 minutes just for my drinks and started to complain to a hapless colleague of his (whom I know wasn't stationed to me and my wife's corner), she went away and tried to find my order only to come back 5 minutes later with said drinks.

My wife and me found the menu very amusing with the made-up names and equally "creative" food combinations that this company trumped up. We were gobsmacked, confused and gobsmacked again when our starter of beef and rice cake came to our table and found it dreadful because nobody in Asia does this. The rice cake was deep-fried instead of being grilled, the steak pieces were okay but as a combination?

The ramen was just as terrible; I opted for a brisket ramen and my wife ordered a different ramen. The soup was weird. The brisket was this mass of days-old tough meat posing as beef. Honestly, everything about this place is pretence and the art of "faking it until you make it"

If only those founders had actually BEEN to Asia and brought back proper Asian food.

Also, the total bill came to over fifty pounds. I'm not baulking at the price; I'm just frustrated how in the world this company is still in operation to this day. My conclusion? This is a tourist trap and one that caters to people who THINK they're eating Asian food. I'll make sure anyone visiting UK steers clear of this third-rate...