wagamama maidstone — Restaurant in Maidstone

Today's visit to Wagamma was something of a mixed bag. (Today the least).

In the spirit of fairness I'm going to preface this review by saying my food was pretty decent, so the one star does seem a bit cruel, but please read on.

I enjoyed my meal, I had the Vegatsu and I have to say, as a fairly new vegetarian it is refreshing to have a number of tasty options to choose from on a menu. The reason I can't give the food more than one star however is that a member of our party found a snail (still slimy) in her salad. I've worked in kitchens, I get it can happen when things are brought in, but it put a huge downer on the meal. I'd already finished my food (garden visitor free, to my knowledge) but it understandably put our friend and my partner off the rest of their meals. There was no mistaking what it was, even the chef fessed up it was likely from the bag of salad they used.

This brings me to the service. We had three servers in our hourish visit. The one that greeted us largely seemed like she didn't want to be there. I've served, I get it, it can be a pretty unpleasant job and people have their own stuff going on but her sitting down at the table to take the order and largely being disinterested was hardly welcoming. The server that dealt with snailgate couldn't apologise enough for the "incident" and did at least comp the plate of food and a couple of peach iced teas (although we're fairly certain we ended up paying for the extra drinks). She was lovely. The final server literally just gave us our bill. It may be worth noting were it not for me really listening, I was also almost given chicken at the start of the meal. That order was for another table.

It was quiet for a Friday lunch time. The food was served quickly and it was hot and tasty. The restaurant itself was clean and smart, I would say that my napkin had a previous diners sauce smeared over it. Perhaps our table could've had a better wipe too.

All in all, I find it difficult to look past serving a snail. I would recommend Wagamma if it sounds like your thing, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this branch... At least for a good long while.

The total came to £47 which seemed quite expensive given one of the meals was comp'd because of the snail. I can't say it was worth it but we were a bit dejected at this point and wanted to leave.

Edits: left out some words and...

I wasnt sure whether to leave this review as we usually love the place- we went to wagamama on Fri the 8th a few weeks ago. We actually go to this branch quite a lot and even decided to bring some friends this time because it’s usually such a good experience. At first everything was great- the waitress who sat us down was really smiley (I think her name started with an S) the food came out quick, and my pork ramen was as perfect as always, honestly, the chefs here are super consistent every single time.

The problem came halfway through the meal. The restaurant had started to empty out, and while we were still finishing our mains, the manager came over and literally grabbed the sauces and cutlery basket off our table without saying anything. I thought it was odd, so I asked another staff member what time they closed -she said 11. At that point, it was barely 9 p.m. So I asked the manager if we could have the sauces and cutlery back since we weren’t finished, and he just shrugged and said he was “done with them for the night” and made a sarcastic joke about shutting early. Bear in mind we still had food in front of us.

Then, while standing by the kitchen (right next to our table), he turned to a chef and said something along the lines of "I cant wait for these people to leave already" it felt like he wanted us to hear, we were shocked. It completely killed the mood. Before wed even finished, the music shut off and he came back and just dropped the bill on the table without clearing our plates and asked bluntly "cash or card?" No mention of dessert, no offer of anything else and it wasn’t even 9:30 yet! We were actually planning on ordering dessert, but at that point we just wanted to get out of there.

On our way out we asked the barman for this person's name and I think it was Ayden- I get it, I’ve worked in service and yes, everyone wants to get home on time. But this wasn’t just trying to wrap up the night- it was rude, dismissive, and honestly embarrassing, especially since we’d brought friends along and it was 2 hours before they closed. We felt extremly uncomfortable and unwelcome and just wanted to get out of there- the chefs and other staff were great, but that managers attitude completely ruined what should have been a...

Aesthetically pleasing dining area, food, the kindest staff, my favourite food.

Wagamama’s is the place I introduce to everyone, and if someone hasn’t been, I can't help but audibly gasp. It’s like a calling—I feel compelled to spread the gospel of Wagamama’s to the uninitiated.

In the image attached, you’ll see three of our absolute favorites: the prawn firecracker curry, the mini chicken ramen, and the shirodashi pork belly ramen. Let’s take a moment for the mini chicken ramen—yes, it’s from the children’s menu, and yes, it’s only £5.50. But don’t underestimate it. If you’re not in the mood for a huge meal but still want something satisfying, this is a brilliant choice. It comes with marinated chicken breast, thin noodles, chicken broth, pea shoots, carrots, and sweetcorn. Exactly as it appears online, no disappointment here.

The waiting times? Short, as long as it’s not packed, and trust me, it’s beyond worth it once your food arrives. The staff are always friendly and attentive, and the menu is extensive, offering options for everyone—vegan, vegetarian, Hindu family members, and even the pickiest of eaters. The spicy dishes? They’re actually spicy, not watered down like you’ll find in most places. Refreshing, right?

And the drinks—don’t miss the ginger and lime nojito, one of the best I’ve had, or the peach iced tea, which is equally as impressive. Want a little extra heat? The chilli oil is the perfect touch for any ramen broth.

As for sides, the chilli squid and tama squid? Unbeatable. I’ve never said no to a Wagamama’s visit, and I doubt I ever will.

This place truly is food for the soul, and I would recommend it to anyone without hesitation.

I felt the need to add, I cannot think of a single group wagamamas isn't for. There is a menu you can request that has calorie information hidden, a full brail menu. I've come here with so many people who all have different requirements and they've been accommodated...