Tell me of Wagamama, oh London peoples

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I mentioned to a library cohort that I'd be heading out to London and she proceeded to rave about this one spot that apparently has the blessedly great noodles that should be consumed:

http://www.wagamama.com

So is it a good thing or not? Should I go? Does anyone else want to come along? Etc. etc.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Far too expensive for what it is, there's plenty cheaper places to get a blow of noodle soup or some gyoza or phad thai.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

when I was younger I was a wagamama - I would play Advanced Squad Leader and Starfleet Battles.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Shall we turn this into a 'where should Ned eat in London Thread?'?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the key thing is noodles.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Song que, kingsalnd rd

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, do you like Indian food?

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

It's in a windowless basement -- the walls are all white -- it is mentalism -- you eat at these long cafeteria communal style tables because apparently that's what they want you to think people in Japan eat like. The food is fine really -- by why put yourself through that torture. Apparerently the dude just opened another pan-Asiatic chain -- I forget the name of this one -- I'm sure I'll force myself to eat there the next time I'm in town. The best part of Wagamama though, it means "selfish" in Japanese, but on their menu they try to tell you that it means knowing how to take care of yourself.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:45 (twenty-two years ago)

you need to check out golders green's fabulous water margin

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

the one in islington is on the first floor and has a nice big window

i like the long tables

the service is often v.surly in an "yes i am only TEMPORARILY working at the ica bar but LOOK I AM CUTER THAN YOU" style

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I ate ate one (behind Selfridges?) a couple of years ago. It was quite nice, but, you know, there are WAY better ways and things to eat in Londinium.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, do you like Indian food?

Love it, and I know there was something curryish planned by Ed et al.

In terms of eating good foodage in London -- yes, all recommendations welcome, but remember my general schedule:

arrive Saturday the 11th
leave for Dublin on the 13th
return on the 16th
leave for LA on the 19th

...so if anyone wants to join me for foodstuffs, which will always be welcome, schedule accordingly/plan visits around that/etc. The 15th was supposed to be the pre-FAP FAP, I gather?

In any event, thanks for all the warnings! I have to say that given some of the fine noodle spots in the LA area I was going to have to really be given a glowing recommendation by all to check it out, and as it stands this sounds like time wasted...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been to (the?) one in Dublin; everyone who worked there was CUTER THAN me, but: "can you tell me how to get to the Wilde statue?" "um, I'm from Baltimore/Sydney/etc."

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually the Lexington Street Wagamama is pretty good. Excellent udon dishes and chili prawns. Go at lunch if you're shopping on Berwick Street or go to the cheap Japanese cafe on Kingly street if you want serious gyoza.

Also the Wagamama guy opened Busaba Eathai, which is definitely worth visiting. Mmmmmm green peppercorn calamari.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

the bangladeshi restaurants in brick lane are staffed by nice, normal, thoroughly ugly waiters. the best one i've been to is "preem", at 120 brick lane.
in carnaby street and islington, there's also "masala zone", which is the wagamama of indian restaurants, although the ambience is much nicer. the food's slightly less hyper-spiced, without being bland.
if you want some cheap-as-shit italian food, try "pollo's" on old compton st. the straticella soup, for about 2 quid, is fuckin' aces.
if you want to see the northwestern suburbs (i grew up there with TAFKAnordicskillz -- god knows why you'd want to visit ) -- but the best indian restaurants in london are up there in wembley
am afraid i'm complete rub on chinese food (ignore what i said about the water margin.)

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Chuck speaks the truth. Though we both used to like the Paradise Cafe. In Camden. *wink wink*

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

This shall turn into a sad London ex-pats thread if we're not careful.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

There's that Thai place right opposite Angel tube. Sometimes it's great, sometimes not. But it's always cheap!

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

everything there is a meat dish that is not made of meat. it is mystifying and amazing.

---sad english expat

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Sounds like Oakland.

--sad english expat II

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Its very hard to find good indian on brick lane although there are a couple of good places left. In the east end its better round whitechapel, new road and commercial rd.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Though Sweet and Spicy is most basic and probably best. Ed and I like Shalamar Halal for their kebab rolls for £1.80.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Suzy OTM - I cannot recommend the Japanese cafe on Kingly Street enough - much nicer than Wagamama.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

good, choice, matt, i can never remember the name, perhaps it is just called the japanese cafe?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I just call it 'the one that's not Donzoko'.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

no it has a proper name of its own, i went there with T on my birthday

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

but can you remember it?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Which street is Little Japan again?

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

brewer, round the corner

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks, and can you tell that to Charlton, cause he didn't believe me.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

mr lido is lurking in the back, not even beer can bring him out.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

My wife is Japanese and has been to Wagamama once only, about four years ago. There's a strange little all-purpose oriental eatery in Bloomsbury called Hare and Tortoise. They do great gyoza, it's near the Horse Hospital and my (very picky) missus is not averse to being seen in there.

― Daniel (dancity), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Busaba, mentioned somewhere above, is just lovely. Their new branch on Store Street has a funky push button menu outside. Tasteful and tasty. [if that doesn't sound too trite]

― Daniel (dancity), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i think i wz thinking of donzoko, where is the other one?

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd always thought Brewer Street was all hardware shops, Glasshouse stores and seedy brothels. But the Chinese Rice Wine Shop does a fine range in Starry Sarah-friendly Japanese sweets.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh Wagamama is in Dublin too, I quite like it and particularly like the benches but I would imagine there are cheaper and nicer places in London, it is very very expensive here really, I think a starter and main course for 2 people and a beer or two came to 55 euro or something crazy last time I was there.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

but then Dublin is pretty bad like that anyway. over to andrew I suspect.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I never thought Wagamama was expensive. Of course I get the same thing everytime and the one time I deviated I hated the food. I get #41 because it is veggie and tasty. I usually go to the one in Soho, on my way from shopping on Berwick as Suzy suggested, but I think the one in Camden has windows. Also in Camden The Noodle Revolution has good dumplings.

As for Indian, just grab a bottle of wine from the off license and pick one at random on Brick Lane. I am fond of Shampane which is right across the street from Preem (also good and mentioned above). They have a wonderful orange colored coconut chutney (at least I think it's coconut).

Oh, and if you have time on Sunday, that would be good for Indian since you can check out spitalfields market and be completely overwhelmed and then maybe head to Brick Lane and get a 4 course lunch meal for about 5-6 pounds.

― Carey (Carey), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Carey, Ed has fixed it for Ned to be taken to Southall which is Brick Lane with KNOBS on. Sikh and ye shall find, etc.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Delicious. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

So was I taken to the only windowless dungeon-esque Waga? It was in Bloomsbury.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 21:42 (twenty-two years ago)

That's the original one -- Wagamama is now a CHAIN.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

It has plenty of vegan food and it is pretty inexpensive.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

They were going to open a Wagamama here in Singapore but the deal with the locals fell through. Then said locals quickly started a near-identical chain called Nooch, which is much better anyways IMHO.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 01:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Also the Wagamama guy opened Busaba Eathai, which is definitely worth visiting. Mmmmmm green peppercorn calamari.

we were in there on monday; the food was pretty good, but all the windows were closed and it was *boiling*, really ridiculously hot. we got them to open a window but the two sloans next to us (who were nearer the window) started bitching loads about how they were freezing to death so we left. i'd probably go back, and i'd definitely go back if i thought the temperature would be tolerable.

this japanese cafe on kingly st sounds key. time out restaurant guide suggests it's probably ramen seto (which they rave about) - is this right?

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 05:45 (twenty-two years ago)

There's even a Wagamama in Amsterdam. I don't think they are bad or expensive. Overpiced would be the sushi you can take out of the fridge (in a self-service restaurant): sushi should be prepared right before you eat it.

― nathalie (nathalie), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 06:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Toby, go to the Busaba on Store Street not Wardour Street - the Sloanes will at least be sitting MILES away from you there. Alternatively tell them to fuck off back to Surrey next time they complain MORE OBNOXIOUSLY THAN ANY OTHER COMPONENT OF HUMANKIND KNOWN TO LONDONERS.

Cafe on Kingly Street is Ramen Seto and yeah, it rocks.

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 06:50 (twenty-two years ago)

It's where all of the famous people are spotted in Heat!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 07:23 (twenty-two years ago)

(I realise how that must read. I guess it's too late to say that Heat is a magazine!)

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Where, Pink, Busaba?

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 07:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 17 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Dave: that Brick Lane place you're on about is Sweet and Spicy, last Sylheti caff left on the street. I mention it upthread.

(also people shhhh! abut Zipangu or Ye Hordes will discover it!)

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

so it is - i never look at the name - i just walk in! same with most of the places i like to eat!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Busaba is the second most authentic thai food I've had in London and is very good

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I know I'm always banging about this, and I'm sure that these days there other nu-Indian restaurants a mile apart from the standard stuff you get on Brick Lane, but you should totally check out RASA. Terrific south Indian cookery, and if you go to the original (vegetarian) one on Stoke Newington Church St, cheap too. The two that have opened up in the west end are a bit pricier.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 11:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris, are you going to tell us the number one? Can I guess 'Thailand' (snappy name) in New Cross?

― Daniel (dancity), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

hey dave my girlfriend lives in stoke newington. what makes it easy to find? where is it near? is it on church street or further towards the train station on stamford hill? sounds good...not up for glands though, eh.

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I could tell you Daniel, so long as you're not part of "the hordes"

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Punkum?

(Hey Punkum, how ya doin'...)

It has got a shower in the blokes lavvies. And all within twenty yards of the Friday night bouzin' venue.

What about "Ye Hordes". I fear I might be a Ye Hordes. I eat Thai food with knife and fork.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris, I've done some horde things in my time. OK, if you tell me the name of the resto I promise never to go there. How's that?

― Daniel (dancity), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

last year zipangu opened a second restaurant at the very top of old compton street, so ye hordes are pretty much in residence already, i'd guess

― pulpo, Wednesday, 1 October 2003 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Wagamama = slightly overpriced, but still good. Get the chicken curry thing (#71?) and the sesame seed cheesecake.

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Pete = bang on

I heart the hordes though

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

everyone should eat thai food with a knife and fork. chopsticks not wildly popular there.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

fork and spoon if you're going to be rockist, but yr pad thai = eaten with small chopsticks.

To qualify my hearting the hordes, what I mean is that I'd rather queue for good food in a bustling restaurant than smugly sit with two other people thinking "I am sooooo cool, and to prove it I'm here in a restaurant with two other people"

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

There's another really good Japanese right by Zipangu, tho' it's on Newport Place (and there's a bubble tea place next to it! That road == my heaven.) - can't remember the name offhand, but it's got those classic grey-brown timbers on the outside and has some insane pricing system whereby if you order a lunch set before 5pm you get a discount, or something. Rice rather than noodle-based, but gooooood foooooood.

And all positive mentions of the New Culture Revolution seconded. I love that place.

― cis (cis), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm extremely protective of my favourite small restaurants, to the point that I won't tell the name/location of the restaurant due to Gentrification-Related Quality Downturn Paranoia *but* I will take people there and swear them to secrecy in the sense that the only way anyone finds out subsequently is by being taken there for the food. It's word of mouth in action, the restaurant is full but not too crowded. I only do that with a couple of restaurants anyway so a bit less going out on a limb for an elitism accusation, mm-kay?

There is nothing more depressing than an empty restaurant with great food. Like, duh...

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Wagamama's not that expensive, when you consider just about any food in London is expensive. I love that Burmese place on Edgeware Road (the one with all the Norwegian flags, they're Burmese by way of Norway).

― David Beckhouse (David Beckhouse), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 22:20 (twenty-two years ago)

i eat japanese nordic pizza with a fistful of tiny needles and a balloon

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 22:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Why is eating out in Britain so expensive? We need Stelios to shake things up by launching EasyEating.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe you're getting ripped off? http://www.rip-off.co.uk/beeb.htm

I'd imagine that Britain is also a net importer of food, which tends to drive up prices.

― David Beckhouse (David Beckhouse), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 23:31 (twenty-two years ago)

England was once the most heavily agriculturalised nation in the world (according to M in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', anyway). I blame sugar snap peas.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 2 October 2003 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

eating in London is cheaper than Dublin, trust me. exchange rates or no exchange rates.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 07:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't need to go out on a limb Suzy, you are pretty much the most elitist person on these boards.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 2 October 2003 07:30 (twenty-two years ago)

*limb breaks*

Wow, that's really insulting. What the fuck did I ever do to you?

― suzy (suzy), Thursday, 2 October 2003 07:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just making my opinion, sometime's I feel that you come over as incredibly elitist, with your shushing people over "your" bars/restaurants. Proclamations over the "only" way to make food, that sort of thing.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 2 October 2003 07:53 (twenty-two years ago)

How do you make an opinion? Do I need sticky-back plastic or summat?

― suzy (suzy), Thursday, 2 October 2003 07:59 (twenty-two years ago)

ouch. No just a brain.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Erm?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

well, Chris, I think they sell them at the comma store. You could kill two birds with one stone.

― suzy (suzy), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

get to fuck, chris! i am the most elitist person on these boards and will not have anyone take it away from me!!!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah 55 euro is way off. Or at least, it's about 40 quid without the beer, if you want to drink 15 quid of beer between you it's up to you.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:39 (twenty-two years ago)

just realised - i am also one of the rudest. apologies for the "get to fuck" bit.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:41 (twenty-two years ago)

So people, back to noodles...

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I hate that guy. You hear me, Noodles? Fuck you!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:50 (twenty-two years ago)

*sniggers*

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 2 October 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah Andrew four beers is about 15 euro! I don't consider 2 bottles of beer with a meal to be excessive!

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 09:36 (twenty-two years ago)

4 beers may be even more than 15, but either way it's still an expensive place to eat. Mind you you're right about it being non destinational.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the Yaki Udon.

― Mark C (Mark C), Thursday, 2 October 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe I should just eat at every place in London. Gosh, that'd take a while.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 2 October 2003 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you should totally do this Ned. If you need an eating partner, I'm your gal!! ;-)

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 3 October 2003 12:17 (twenty-two years ago)

rasa is fabulous - squid and mushroom thing is just great (though slightly perverse to go for pretty much the only non veggi thing on the menu)

tandoori nights in east dulwich is also great for indian

― adam b (adam b), Friday, 3 October 2003 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Revive! I mean, what's with all this furrin stuff anyway? Take Ned to Faulkners on Kingsland Road for chish and fips.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I hoped you might be trying to revive the, um, "discussion" between Chris and Suzy...

― Mark C (Mark C), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:15 (twenty-two years ago)

faulkners is excellent but I still think fryers delight is better (I never thought I'd find a London chippy better than faulkners when i lived up that way)

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

He'll have been in Burdocks => we will have spoiled him for your chippers.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

(or possibly spoiled your chippers for him)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Ew, sorta.

(Andrew and I went to the Wagamama in Dublin the other night, actually. Tasty but I like the local ramen place near where I live better, though I can see how the chain would be successful in places without a lot of noodle places around in the first instance.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.thisisblythe.com/images/ukblythe4.jpg

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 17 October 2003 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

The Wagamama mailing list sent me a voucher for two free tickets to Lost in Translation!!!

― Madchen (Madchen), Sunday, 28 December 2003 10:06 (twenty-one years ago)

this thread is insane - i haven't been to any of these places and know not of them (except Wagamama's), clearly there is something deeply wrong with me

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 28 December 2003 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

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