Wagamama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wagamama is a restaurant chain serving pan-Asian food in the style of a modern noodle bar. The first Wagamama opened in 1992 in Bloomsbury, London. The chain has grown to include branches in London and across the United Kingdom, as well as in Ireland, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Australia, Dubai, Belgium, Auckland and Copenhagen. The chain's website defines wagamama as "wilful / naughty child". However, a more accurate translation of the Japanese word would be "self centered and inconsiderate to others." Their trademarked slogan is: positive eating + positive living.
[edit] Food
Food items served in Wagamama establishments is marketed as Japanese food, but in reality is fusion food which in Japan would be considered distinctly Chinese or Southeast Asian. It is centred around ramen (Chinese style noodle soup) and stir-fries. Amongst the differences between authentic Japanese food are:
- Use of ingredients never used in Japanese food, such as coriander, mint, lime, pak choi, courgette, oyster sauce, hoi sin sauce, lemon grass, water chestnut and peanuts.
- Ramen (Chinese style noodle soup) in Japan is always topped with slices of roast or braised pork, never with chicken, beef or fried tofu as in Wagamama.
- Gyoza in Japan is served with a soy-vinegar-chilli dip.
- Wagamama curry is marketed as karee (Japanese curry) but is actually of the Thai style coconut based variety.
- Dishes such as chahan (fried rice) is Chinese food, and serving it with miso soup would be seen as distinctly odd in Japan.
[edit] Features
Wagamama has a number of features that set them apart from other restaurants. These include:
- Orders are taken via electronic order pads; these are personal digital assistant-sized, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so that as soon as an order is taken it can begin to be prepared.
- Food is delivered to the table as soon as it is ready, they sell sides instead of starters and these and the main courses can arrive in any order.
- Customers sit on either side of large tables—one table-set can seat up to 20 people.
- All restaurants are non-smoking, by Law in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and also Scotland.
- Green tea is supplied free on request.
- Reservations are not taken; all customers are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Wagamama merchandise can be bought in the restaurant, including a cookbook, dishes and cutlery.
The chain was created by Alan Yau, who also subsequently created the high-class Chinese restaurants Hakkasan and Yauatcha in London.
