I've had the distinct displeasure of eating at Wagamama several times. I've ordered something different every time, in hopes of finding something that I find even remotely appetizing, but it has just gotten worse and worse, with yesterday being the last straw. I ordered the Wagamama Seafood Ramen and it was completely inedible. I'm shocked that a restaurant would even serve this to guests. It was a flavorless broth that tasted vaguely like dirty fish water with just a few bits of fish floating in it. it was literally inedible, my dining partner tried it and agreed. His food, the lemongrass shrimp whateveritscalled, wasn't anything spectacular either - a couple of shrimp butterflied to look bigger sitting on a bed of hard, dry noodles. One thing I am consistently astounded by at Wagamama is the disparity between their prices and the quality of the food. Why of why is it so expensive? Are they under the impression that they are serving something quality or even tasty? We spent $70 on lunch for 2 that was nothing short of disappointing, which is just absolutely outrageous - with the North End and Chinatown near by, we could have eaten much better food for much less. I'm convinced the only way this place stays in business is tourists who stumble in not knowing what it is only to get swindled out of a wad of cash and leave unsatisfied. Overall, the only good thing about Wagamama is the chocolate cake. Save your cash and go somewhere else! You can feed 3 people at Giaccamo's for like 85 bucks, and I guarantee you'll leave much, much happier.
(2)
Whiskey C.
This place is fantastic. I highly recommend the chicken, or anything, with the katsu curry. Had the Yasai cha han, a great veggie choice. People, the dishes come out as they are made fresh-to-order. You are told, or should have been, by the waiter. What don't you get about fresh? You want manners go across the way to Kingfish.
(4)
Will S.
I was first exposed to Wagamama in London, UK in 1997, and was an instant fan. While they have moved away from their original, exclusive focus on giant ramen bowls of various concoctions, the more diverse menu is still tasty, and the common-booth seating lends a casual, fun air to the place. I was very glad to see Wagamama make its way stateside, and the Quincy Market Wagamama is a great example. Try the lemongrass shrimp dish - it's terrific!
(3)
Jon H.
Its not as bad as people would think. I like the design of the place, with electronic ordering, long benches and you gotta love the plethora of coat racks. During the summer the doors open up and you get a great place to relax, have lunch, and people watch. While we were there an acapella band was performing right out in front of the urban outfitters, so we even had some music. As far as the food, its not too bad. I know British twists on Japanese cuisine might not sound so appealing, but its not too bad, the food is decently presented and obviously something went into the recipes. Not what you would call authentic asian cuisine, but for a ramen place that is clean, nice inside, friendly staff, and pretty safe as an introduction to ramen its not too bad. Go to Momofuku in NY for a more authentic experience, or anywhere in California (like SF) for the closest you'll get to the real stuff. But still, its not a bad place, I just wouldn't say I crave it anytime.
(3)
Liza R.
I'm no Japanese food connoisseur, but by my standards...this place was really good, it sure beat my late night packets of Ramen. I got the Chili chicken ramen and found it to be just spicy enough, plenty of chicken...and the portions, HUGE! My friend got the regular chicken ramen and wasn't really thrilled about it. Chicken dumplings were pretty good too. Perhaps a little pricey when you compare it to China Town prices, but if you're in the area it's definitely a place to try.
(4)
Aboud Y.
This place is alright but way over-hyped...and its spreading its tentacles across the world (over 100 locations in over a dozen countries!) Definitely not one of my favorite Asian noodle shops but its also easy / convenient to visit so I'll likely be back. They have a location in Harvard Square too which I prefer slightly to this one but is mostly the same.
I love carbs sooo much, theres no way I couldn't like this place. I was really excited about the whole community dining bit, but there were very few people in the place and everyone was sitting at a different table. I had the chicken Katsu Curry which was really good with the little chicken bits covered in panko bread crumbs. I could have done with a slightly spicier curry though. My boss (yes, this was a business lunch of sorts) had this really tasty looking beef dish with soba noodles. I was too scared to ask he for a bite. I was a little upset that the only iced tea they had was flavored. I'm a plain girl when it comes to my tea, so I had to have still water. The service was fast and friendly. No complaints there. I think I'll have to go back when there are more people dining.
(4)
Danielle H.
Went here for the first time for a quick dinner before an evening out. We had the chili ramen and the chili men dishes. The service for us was really good, and I liked the atmosphere a lot. I thought the picnic-style tables were great for a casual restaurant. The food was good but not spectacular. The chili men noodles had a particularly good flavor, but my soup base could have used a little more flavor. Overall decent food but a little pricey considering it's just ramen and noodles...
(3)
Sean M.
I really enjoyed the food there, but the service was horrible. Granted, it was during lunch, but at the same time, I saw other servers keeping pace with their tables. My guy disappeared almost completely after he brought me drinks. I had to get another server to bring my food and close my check. And the apps and entree came out at exactly the same time. Thanks, guy. The check closing process took a good 15 minutes, and I know this because I was almost going to be late to a meeting due to the slow service. I'll go back but definitely not for lunch.
(2)
Nicole M.
I might be the last person to have tried Wagamama. I will preface this by saying a couple things: 1) Heard this place was way overrated. I like to invent hype, not feed into it. ;) 2) I am not a fan of 'noodle dishes' apart from Pad Thai. The other day I said eff it, go in and try it. So I did. I ordered a side of edamame and the yasai katsu curry for my entree. The yasai katsu curry was AMAZING. Absolutely delectable. I may have kicked myself for waiting so long to go to wagamama. I can't tell you about the edamame, because they forgot to bring it, and I was in such a state of bliss after I ate my meal I didn't give a rat's ass about the beans. The service was by far one of, if not THE, worst I've ever had in Boston. I should knock off all stars for the lack of service, but that frickin dish was so tasty I just can't. I know that people gripe about dishes showing up at different random times. That, I don't care about, because I understand the need and reason for that. However, when there aren't that many patrons in the restaurant, and there are at least a whole handful of servers wandering around aimlessly, I expect at least one of them to at least respond to my obnoxious waving arms for attention, if not just automatically checking in on me after 20 mins of being neglected. Yeah, it took about 15mins to have someone come over to take the order, another 10mins to get drinks, then I get my food, and it's like I've been left to die. I've finished my water and am parched. Too bad. No one will see that you're in need of something. I'm all done with my food and would like to pay my bill. Oops. Looks like they want people to dine and dash. The best part was when I finally got the bill, all I had was a large bill and the guy who collected my payment actually asked if I needed change. Um, no, that's ok - you give me the worst service I've ever had in Boston, so why not take an 80% tip?!! Moron. Ugh. Wagamama, wake up and please train your servers to be present if not attentive to the diners. Thank you.
(4)
Peter K.
Wagamama is good... for Boston. The guy sitting next to me noticed that the placemat said there's a Wagamama opening in DC sometime in 2008. Then he said "I wonder why they haven't opened one in New York yet..." I said to him, "Because New York already has plenty of *real* noodle places and Wagamama wouldn't be able to compete." I don't think he appreciated my NYC snobbery because he didn't say anything back to me but it's not my problem if he wants to continue to live in culinary ignorance. My experience at Wagamama wasn't bad. I got the chili chicken ramen. It was okay. The noodles weren't as fresh as some of the Japanese places in the East Village but that's not unexpected. I don't think there are any ramen places in Boston other than Porter Exchange and Super 88, so hopefully Wagamama is just the start of Bostonians finally understanding why ramen is so awesome. The wife and I also got the shrimp dumplings. Once again, they were okay but pretty bad compared to the fried dumplings you can find at an authentic Japanese or Korean restaurant in New York. The whole handheld ordering system is supposed to make the food come out faster but our waiter who must have been new, seemed to have a hard time getting it to do what he wanted. I thought it was odd that there were absolutely no Asian people working at Wagamama. I would think they'd at least try to hire a few to make the experience seem somewhat authentic but whatever... In conclusion, if you want the best ramen in Boston, take a trip on the red line to Porter Square. But if you don't want to do that, Wagamama isn't a bad option.
(3)
Ligaya T.
Yet another fusion restaurant. Oh, but wait! It's British! And that makes it much cooler. NOT. So what if they stole spice from India? The food is going through a serious identity crisis. The bloody chefs are all, "How many Asian languages can you include in one dish title?" Ummm three. Okay. And it's lo-mein, not men. That should really be m-i-e-n if you want to spell it phonetically. Which really just represents the food at this place, an assortment of eastern flavors, combined in ways that aren't creative or innovative, but uncomplimentary and basic. Really now. I saw the staff playing musical chairs to get pumped up for the lunch shift. I'm not kidding. But they were cheerful so maybe it worked. I do like the whole chalkboard on the table thing, its cute, if not useful. And their fresh juice and elder presse which doesn't taste all that amazing, it's just cool to drink flowers. Did you know okra was in the same family as hibiscus? Ha, now this review has been useful dontcha think? If to persuade you not to go to this place cuz there's better noodles elsewhere.
(3)
Nancy Z.
"Eh.." That's exactly how I felt about it. Today, I ordered a Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup. Maybe it was because the thing was $10, and I knew I could grab a bag at a local store and make it myself in the comfort of my own home for $0.45, Wagamama was kind of a turn off. I mean.. I liked it? But then again, I don't think a chef can mess up making Ramen Noodles. Although there was some spinach and a piece of chicken breast in it, I wish I had went to Chinatown instead and just enjoyed a much bigger bowl of beef pho (beef noodle soup) for $7 on my lunch break. We're in a recession and I'm feeling cheap, ya know?! As far as the restaurant itself, the staff provides decent service. The restaurant is very simple, clean, and chic... it makes you wonder if the food will be the same. It's one of those places you can't go wrong with, as long as you don't mind paying a little more for what it's really worth.
(2)
Sheila T.
Ahh, yum anyone? Wagamama never disappoints! I dream of ramen noodles. I have aged past the point of eating them thinking the nissan cup of noodles is good, but that doesnt mean I havent found a kosher dried noodle bowl thats definately better tasting and a bit better for you - but, in my wisdom, I gotta get the real thing. Noodles get stuck in my head and I must have them!!! As is true with anything you over think/dream about, it has to be good once you get it. And wagamama was very good! I had too ginger cocktails (#51, I think) and I would have had more if society let me. Paired with vegetable dumplings that were pan seared, NOT fried, and the vegetable whole wheat ramen = an awesome delicious fullness that did not sit like a brick in mah bellahy!!!!!! Awesome. My server was a little slow on a not busy night and for a not at all demanding customer (I asked for the check when I ordered my second cocktail, which was slow coming and even slower coming was the check), but the (I think) manager picked up his slack. YUM YUM YUM
(4)
F. P.
While sightseeing near Fanueil Hall, I was surprised to see a Wagamama in Quincy Market. Having fond memories of the chain while in London, I jumped at the chance to reconnect. I'm not sure if I've outgrown the place or if this particular branch was different but it wasn't as great as I remember. The miso beef ramen had a rich satisfying broth but it was quite salty. Literally poured my green tea into the soup to dilute it, which made it a bit more palatable. I liked the plentiful veggies but the ramen noodles were just average. Apparently there are several chains in the Boston area (not sure if they're elsewhere in the US). I can see people checking it out for the novelty but not sure if it would be so successful in Japan (don't think there are branches out there) as the quality there is much better.
(3)
Liana K.
I missed it so much after moving back from London and was excited that Wagamama expanded to Allston. Be prepared for a long wait at any time when the weather is nice just as with any other place at Fanual Hall. The good part is that its a better alternative for lunch/dinner at the Fanual Hall Area besides the overpriced stands, pub food and the expensive restaurants. I always get the Chili Men dishes. The vegetarian one is my favorite (but the shrimp was good too) Its only mildly spicy but still good. I don't recommend getting desert here, go to the cookie stand on the other side of Fanual Hall instead. The last time I went I thought the noodles were a bit undercooked but It is still one of my favorite dinner places to go when its not hectically busy (end of winter around dinner time was perfect if you work in the area)
(4)
Parul L.
I recently visited Japan, and since then have loved noodle soups...I was soo excited to learn Wagamama was in Boston, and I visited it immediately. I love ordering the chicken noodle soup with added bamboo shoots and an apple/lime juice. The food here is soo fresh and delicious, and is great for a cold day in Boston.
(4)
Caitlin G.
I was really excited to try this place, but must admit that I was disappointed after my first visit. That's not to say that I wouldn't be open to giving Wagamama another shot, because my friends all swear by it. I guess my main complaint is that if I order an appetizer, I'm expecting to have it come out before my entree. This was not the case; apparently when you order your food, whatever comes out first is what you get. There's no particular order between appetizers or entrees. So our appetizer came halfway through our main course, and it wasn't the greatest either. We ordered the lettuce wraps and the lettuce hadn't been properly drained and patted dry, so everything on the plate was sitting (or sliding, I should say) in a pool of water. Needless to say, pretty disgusting. The noodle dish I ordered was all right, but it was really dry with hardly any sauce. It was supposed to come with teriyaki steak on top of soba noodles, but there were literally only microscopic specks of teriyaki sauce dotting the steak slices. Not my idea of teriyaki steak. I had to dump the remaining lettuce wrap appetizer sauces on my meal to get any flavor. The flavor I did get was decent, but nothing to write home about. The service was okay, but it was rushed because they try and turn tables over as fast as possible on a Friday night. Perhaps going during a slightly less popular time of day or maybe to a different location might be my course of action for the next time, if I do return.
(2)
Flavio S.
Very flavorful! The food was great!! My girlfriend got a Miso soup with noodles. The best of her life (you need to like spicy food). I had the noodles which also tasted great. We went to Wagamama on St. Patricks day - probably a busy day for them considering the number of people in the Quincy Market area - and still didn't need to wait too long to get served. We had a friendly service and the drinks were exotic (Mango Sekkai). Make sure to try it!
(5)
Chris D.
Shits whatevs. Meh.
(2)
Kelly N Z R.
It's not fine dining, but the food was delicious, and there were really interesting drinks and desserts on the menu. The service was attentive, the wait for a table was not long, and despite the communal dining we weren't seated too close to our family-of-four neighbors. I had the elderflower soda, which was pleasant and tasted lightly of a lychee/honey flavor. The server (sent here from England!) described it as a 'light flowery lemonade'. I really wanted to try the white chocolate ginger cheesecake, but was too stuffed after eating my delicious yasai chili men (suitable for vegetarians, as the menu clearly indicated). The whole wheat noodles were substantial, the chili men sauce very flavorful; the dish all-in-all was very enjoyable. Definitely a good place for vegetarians-- the menu denotes all vegetarian dishes. Their website denotes the vegan options (there's no link for it-- just scroll to the bottom of the 'dietary tables' page). They really worked with us, were accommodating with substitutions-- my dinner date got the Yaki Soba with Udon noodles instead, and sans chicken or shrimp. Inexpensive! Can't wait until the Harvard location opens-- definintely a great idea for the area-- it really needs some affordable, chic, fun dining!
(5)
P. N.
This place isn't great but it's fine for the occasional lunch and I like the location and bright atmosphere. It took me a few visits to find a couple dishes that I really like but the first couple times I was disappointed by an overly oily salad or a chili men dish that was just not even close to authentic. It also really bugs me the way they serve the food "as it's ready". It seems like an excuse for not putting in the effort that other restaurants do to time the table's meals so they all finish roughly on time. It doesn't bother me at all when I go with my husband because we always pick at each others food anyway but it's so awkward when you go with someone where you have to me more polite and wait for them to get their food before eating. I've also been with groups of six where one person got his food after the rest of us had nearly finished eating. Poor guy had ordered the same thing as someone else in our group so it shouldn't have taken so much longer. He had to rush to eat while the rest of waited for him. Sooo awkward. They should think about why other restaurants don't do this! It's not a social norm that's going to change. People dont like to watch others eat when they're not eating. I even feed my two little doggies at the same because they go nuts if one gets his kibble before the other.
(3)
Debra L.
This has to be one of the weirdest place I have ever eaten! I made a simple request for a knife (because some of the eggplant slices in my salad were a little bigger than what I'd consider bite sized and I didn't want to look like a slob eating). I was pretty much scolded by the waiter who replied: "We don't have knives. What do you need a knife for? Nothing we serve needs to be cut. And, if you did want something cut we'd have to bring it back to the kitchen and have them cut it for you." Completely baffled, I shut up and shoved a big ole' slice of eggplant in my mouth...
(3)
Jillian Q.
I've been going to this Wagamama for a while now, but they just revamped the menu and I'm pretty pleased about it. They added a number of new appetizers including the sweet potato fries (amazing and definitely worth getting) and the chicken wraps, which were different than ones I've had at other places but I really liked them a lot. Their edemame with chili garlic salt is addicting. Their fruit juices don't really do it for me (the watermelon/apple/orange combo is the only one I really like and I need to add ice to it to make it cold). I've had their stir-frys, soups, and noodle dishes. I've liked them, but have defintiely enjoyed just splitting a few appetizers better. The entree portions are large and I usually end up taking half home. It's not a place I go absolutely crazy over, but it's one of my top choices when deciding where to go for a lunch outside the office. Food is cooked to order, but I've found that most of the food comes out relatively quickly. I'm not a fan of communal seating, but I do enjoy the fact that you can sit outside and watch the antics in the market place.
(3)
Dawn A.
To be fair, I dined here as part of a private party (work related) in the downstairs room. We had several different appetizers and a choice of about 6 meals (all from the regular menu). But, we did not have our choice of the whole menu. I had some Edamame, sweet potato fries, (which were good). The chicken dumplings were good too. There was a shrimp appetizer too, which I didn't partake in. For a main course, I had the Mongolian beef. It was decent. About what I expected. It was a soy sauce based sauce so it was pretty salty. Everything was decent, but didn't knock my socks off. I would give this place another try, but I wouldn't run back. I tend to avoid the Marketplace area, especially in the summer (tourists! eek) We were there in early March, so it was fine.
(3)
Rocky S.
This place was my favorite restaurant in Boston for a while. I went to the original Wagamama restaurant in London and have loved the chain ever since. I would normally give this place a heaping five stars because their food is oh-so-good and the service is usually solid. However, I recently started cooking some Wagamama food at home after they released their cookbook. I completely applaud the company for doing this since I think it makes their customers better brand advocates and makes everyone feel more at home with the restaurant. One thing I noticed after cooking their food, though, is the outrageous amount of salt that goes into each dish. My guess is that everyone could have seen this coming, but one of the sauces I prepared for the Yaki Soba consisted of two different types of Soy Sauce, sugar, and some table salt! My favorite items here are: 1.) Chicken Ramen 2.) Chili Beef Ramen 3.) Gyoza 4.) Yaki Soba 5.) Chicken Curry Katsu All I'm saying with my lack of 5-stars is eat here in moderation... That much sodium can't be too healthy on a regular basis.
(4)
Maria M.
We had dinner here on New Years eve, and it was just a-ok. I really had to think about what we had for dinner, because it was otherwise not too memorable. We started with the fried calamari, and it was not what we expected. It was cut in awkwardly long curly pieces, and was very very chewy. I had a steak salad and it was .. salad. The BF had some spicy noodles and it was ok, but really not that spicy - - we had to add a lot of spicy oil to make it appetizing. To make things worse, they didn't have any hot sake! AHH!! It wasn't anything to remember, but wasn't terrible either.
(3)
Rob C.
Not up to the standards of the London counterparts i've been to; the appeal of those is partially a function of their being a bright white oasis of cheerful calm and reassuring efficiency in the middle of the gray, drizzle, and bustle. In Quincy Market, i think the location in the greenhouse undermines the former, and perhaps the latter aspect is still getting the bugs worked out (my dad waited an extra 15 minutes for the same dish my mom had, for instance). That said, the food is still tasty, and i'm a fan of the cafeteria-style seating. Certainly, i am about the furthest thing from any kind of authority on Asian food, and am timid to say the least, so i'm ill-qualified to comment on the authenticity or nuances of their food, but i've tried a bunch of stuff at assorted locations, and have yet to be disappointed.
(3)
Luke P.
2.5 stars. The combination of living about 5 minutes on foot from this place and having a British girlfriend at the time who was obsessed with Wagamama led me frequent this location on a weekly basis. I tried basically everything on the menu from when it first opened up. I know the menu has been revamped a few times since, but most of the staples are still there. The food overall is OK. Some items are definitely better than others. I am not a fan of their ramen. I give them credit for trying to clone what you find in Japan, but it's just not the same, especially when they get too creative and add all this weird stuff like chilis and grilled meats - try the tiny place at Porter Exchange for a more authentic version. I think some of the noodle/rice stir-fry dishes are decent. There's a good amount of flavor and spice, although they can be oily and greasy and on more than one occasion I've felt a bit ill several hours after consumption. I don't recommend getting the dumplings (gyozas) because I swear they taste identical to the frozen ones you find at Trader Joes. Not that they taste bad, but I feel cheated knowing I can perfectly replicate the appetizer by just pulling a bag out of the freezer. The service is usually acceptable although as they love telling you, the food comes out as it's cooked so you can easily receive your entree 5 to 10 minutes before anyone else at your table. This can certainly be awkward - I'd never come to Wagamama on a first date. You also sit on long benches with other people. They've improved this by adding more of a partition in recent years and the seats are way more comfortable now that they've added back support. If you don't expect much and are looking for some OK Asian-fusion style food, then you should be satisfied.
(3)
Jenny N.
I trekked through puddles wearing painful open-toed shoes just to get a taste of Wagamama again! Thankfully, the experience was good enough to warrant the wet feet and enduring a 15-20 minute wait in line....I started off with the warm sake to take the chill off the drizzly April day. We were seated at the small front counter on tall stools. Prime people watching spot. In fact, we were probably torturing the poor souls still standing in line, watching us tuck into the yasai curry and bowls of steaming chili beef ramen. The yasai curry was absolutely yummy. The panko fried rounds of eggplant, butternut squash and sweet potato were covered in a delightful yellow curry. It was served with a generous mound of perfectly fluffy rice and a small side salad dressed with miso. As for the chili beef ramen, it must be said that the broth was lacking flavor. However, the noodles were the right texture and the beef was nicely grilled. Service was excellent, and our food came out about 10 minutes after ordering. I overheard one of the waiters say that the average diner is in and out within 30 minutes--that's an express meal right there! They will also start offering takeout service in a week or two. Of note, you may be disappointed to find out that Wagamama doesn't have their own restroom on premises. You'll be forced to go down the hall and use the icky public restroom frequented by god knows how many tourists!! This revelation definitely contributed to the docking of at least half a star...the other half was for the weak ramen broth. But I'm glad that Boston had the honor of getting the first stateside Wagamama. It definitely brings me back to my London study abroad days :)
(4)
Paul D.
Wagaweewawa tries to be hip and trendy and 'Euro' but ends up just being like a kid who wears a She Wants Revenge t-shirt and black nail polish to be different in a cookie cutter sort of way... they try to put on airs of sophistication so they seem justified in charging 13 bucks for a cup of ramen. what? i don't care how fucking fancy your ramen, (or "Noodles" as they are referred to in English) is. they are fucking noodles! 13 dollars for noodles and broth! this is poor people food! it was invented to be poor people food! how dare you wagamimme and your hipster servers and your dressed up peasant chow. how dare you charge me 13 dollars for what i enjoy 10 for a dollar. holy shit! "wow that was some good ramen" is something you say when you are 19 in a college dorm stoned out of your tits, not after taking out some fly mama and droppin loot-cakes trying to get some ass. So what i meant to say, to sum it all up is....GET fucking REAL wagamepee
(1)
Jennifer K.
Went on a Monday night around 9:30pm. It was pretty empty, but we got to sit outside. The service was good, I guess I just don't get why people think it's that cool in general. I will say I thought the menu was extensive. We had the Miso Soup and the Salmon Ramen. Both were good. The Salmon Ramen had a pretty big piece of salmon in it, and I really liked the noodles. Overall, nothing wrong with the place, just not the best or coolest thing ever.
(3)
Triples R.
No Japanese on sight and very noisy crowd at the mall, but authentic well-thought/well prepared dishes. Chicken broth ramen, curry, donburi, gyoza, fried tofu, certainly to please every taste. Excellent for groups.
(4)
Kevin M.
The food here is pretty good, but not amazing. Our service was slow and inattentive. We had to wait to order, on any refills, and the check. The host at the front desk told us they could provide gluten free options, but their menu says they cannot guarantee that the food will not contain gluten. It was disappointing and my wife couldn't eat because she has Celiac disease and can't risk it. I hope that the restaurant was just busy tonight and that was why it was not the best dining experience. I think this place could have potential with a more attentive staff.
(3)
M.J. C.
Really disappointed - terrible service at the beginning- had to wait 10 mins before we asked who our waitress was. We ordered the calamari which seemed to be like frozen fish sticks heated up in a microwave. Same for the vegetable gyoza. Beef teriyaki was bland and the pad Thai was just awful covered in parsley and lemongrass. Next time Hillstones....
(1)
Ana G.
The first time I tried Wagamama was in London as we were looking for a "cheap eat". When you're out and about and don't want fast food this place is great. I would consider it casual dining. Everyone in my party enjoyed their meal. I had a seemingly bottomless green curry bowl, that I took half of home. Great asian inspired food.
(3)
Priscilla P.
Yummy, affordable food in a great location. Miso beef ramen and pork ramen were very good though the ramen here did taste a tad sweeter than what I am used to. Used the check-in yelp offer for a free order of gyoza which was ok... so I'm glad that was free. The pineapple power juice was surprisingly delicious and very refreshing! It was def pricey and the portion was very small but I guess that is normal for these. I would not consider this place authentic but it was tasty and I would return when I'm back in the area.
(4)
Christina Y.
Pretty good ramen! I love that the soup is flavorful but not too thick like some other places. It's a great balance with the meat and ramen and it's really refreshing. We got the fried calamari and it felt a bit too over-fried. But sauce is pretty good! Great for large parties as well since they have super long tables. Would definitely be back for the ramen!
(4)
T W.
Great first impression here! Savory and filling, with a good sized portion for the price. Did notice they have an exceptional Chili Garlic Topping on the Edamame, I'd love to have a shaker of that! Our server was prompt and helpful, the building was clean and simplistic really shows they focus on the food instead of ambience. Interesting mix of Asian flavored from multiple cuisines, including Thai, Japanese and Korean. I enjoyed the Pork Ramen and the Beef as well, both well balanced broth and left me feeling full with leftovers too boot. Going to try the Cambridge location while I'm in town, if your ever in Boston you should definitely do the same!
(4)
Nanci C.
Not good! The food could be better. The service is good though. My waiter with long hair is really nice.
(2)
Neal N.
Let me start out by saying that I absolutely love the origami paper provided. I would like to see more folding instructions. I had the grilled duck ramen. It was definitely tasty, fresh and satisfying. However, the bowl is smaller than what you'd find in a typical ramen house. Also, as an FYI, the ramen noodles are a little thicker and straight compared to most ramen I tried. Whatever style that is, I don't know. I'd have to watch more Mind of a Chef, I guess. Also, this particular item seemed to be a bit heavy on cilantro. It also lacks the numerous little extras I'm used to seeing in ramen. That being said, it still was a delicious bowl. The service was also really nice. I'd definitely go back for more ramen.
(4)
Nhi G.
I like the open space they have, it's a good place to have lunch and people watch. The noodle broth are very good, I had the wagamama noodle bowl, which come with everything. The pork was my favorite but unfortunately it came with three pieces, two of them were fat so I only got to enjoy one. My son got the tea stain egg and he love it.
(3)
Gina L.
I really don't understand these other reviews. Everything about this place is hip and fantastic. I had soba noodles with pickled ginger on top and it was one of the most flavorful dishes I have had in a long time! The seats are all connected in a row so you may sit next to strangers (I thought this was cool), and the plating was attractive. I wish they had one of these in Pittsburgh!
Wagamama was sadly not everything I hoped and expected it to be. I remember I had heard some great reviews of it when it first opened years ago, but I have to say I wasn't wowed at all when I just went this past Saturday. It was just me eating there and I only tried two items, both recommended by the waitress - the raisu karee (chicken curry with rice) and the crispy, spicy calamari appetizer. Without a doubt, the calamari won the war of deliciousness. The squid was fried perfectly and was wonderfully warm and crispy with its Japanese panko coating. It seemed like there was also some togarashi or shishito pepper in the fry batter as well which made it extra spicy and delicious, especially when paired with the sweet-and-salty dipping sauce. I felt like the portion size was pretty well-sized for what I paid (I think roughly $8), and would definitely order it again. If i actually lived in the Boston area, I honestly think I would've taken some home with me. The chicken curry and rice on the other hand was a complete disaster. The rice was overcooked, the broth had no depth or intensity of flavor, and the presentation was like a nightmare out of the 80s. When the dish came out, it was plated with a ring of curry, fresh vegetables, chicken, peppers, snap peas, and some herbs all around with a massive sandcastle-like mound of rice smack dab in the center of it all. What are they thinking in this day and age, seriously? Despite the awkward outdated presentation though, I thought it still might've had some hope until I actually took a bite out of the stew. Any chicken flavor was practically not present. There was nothing Japanese about it and instead it reminded me of some Asian food I concocted in college randomly on the fly. Sadly it felt like his was just some poor attempt at melding flavors together in 15 minutes without having time to coax any real flavor out of the fresh ingredients. I was hopeful, but ultimately was let down. I'd go again, but next time I'd probably try one of the noodle dishes instead.
(3)
Raphael C.
The soul of Ramen noodle is the SOUP same for the Vietnamese Pho. It Take many ingredients and many hours of simmering to get the right soup. The soup base here is not very tasty.
(3)
Vincent H.
If anything I would say that non-Asian "Asian" salads always tastes better that these establishments. Seaweed Salad - Excellent Thai Curry Mussels - Good but cmon, at least make sure all the shells are open before you serve them all...couldn't even eat them all cause of that I ordered the beef chili ramen just to play it safe and it was really so-so. Ramen noodles didn't really feel like ramen noodles and the soup was very bland. Wasn't as super spicy as advertised. Beef was even more bland as it could have been cut in a better way but oh well. What really confused me was why would you put a lime you're gonna squeeze inside the bowl of soup already?! Mixed mochi for dessert but nothing special...just half a packed box of mochi cut and reserved to you. Coconut Ice Cream was good though! I liked how they use Toscanini's for their ice cream choice. Overall, the food looks presentable and you can get your "Japanese" fix here...(why is Pad Thai on the menu again?)...the food wasn't horrible but given the high prices, I wouldn't come back but worth a try if you lived around here or are hungry! Service wise, I really liked my server but one random thing I thought was pointless was the ordering system with how my server had to punch everything in right in front of us creating an awkward silence along with me wondering whats the point of her writing all our order numbers on our little table covers when whoever brought out our food just ended up asking what we got... Come early cause it'll get busy!!
(3)
Toyo K.
This place was a bit disappointing. First off, the place is very spacious...a little too much where they could have done with just half the size. I ordered the gyoza and the pork ramen. Gyoza were of the frozen variety (not homemade). The ramen was not bad...the chashu was thick and meaty and broth had flavor. However, the noodles were a little too thick to my liking, more like spaghetti noodles than authentic ramen noodles. And the total came out to $18, and that was with the gyoza being half off as a special. You go to Japan or Los Angeles and you can have some bomb ass ramen and gyoza for about $12 where you can actually taste the effort the chef put into the bowl. Not so much here. This place feels like another ramen joint trying to piggy back on the hype thinking some people with capital can whip up a bowl of ramen noodles. Believe me, it takes much more than that.
(2)
Natalie M.
I went here last summer and had one of the best ramen I have had in a while so I wanted to come back again to get my ramen fix. Wow, what a difference a year makes! We started with the grilled pork bulgogi wraps...small portion and not tasty at all. My husband got the firecracker chicken, which had a good amount of heat to it. I ordered the chili beef ramen which I had ordered last year and loved it. This time, it wasn't the same as last time. The slices of beef were cut very thick and was overcooked. The broth was bland and not spicy at all; I had to put a lot of srichacha in my bowl to give it so heat and flavor. Disappointing the second time around. On a positive note, our waitress was very friendly and service was quick. The manager did email after I wrote this review. I appreciate her response and will be coming back and try it again.
I was sold just by the name. Asian is my day after drinking food and on New Years they were open and my friend from the UK was very excited to go. It is their go to spot there right after drinking. He had the chicken curry Katsu. His go to dish. I opted for the chicken Itame with rice noodles. Everything was pretty good about it. Lots of food with lots of flavor. The extra kimchi was the perfect accompaniment. Prices were alright and it took awhile to come out for some reason. This is a great lunch spot if you work in the area and want something healthy and cheap.
(3)
Hannah R.
You know, I'm usually not very into chains...and I'm loathe to admit it, but this place is pretty solid as chains go. The food is yummy and fresh, the menus are really user-friendly, and the staff is pretty good at what they do. If you're stuck in Faneuil Hall and don't want to wait in line for something that isn't that good, go to wagamama. The food is fast and won't break the bank.
Wagamama?? More like: "Woah Mama, this place is wicked good!" A friend of mine recommended this place, and I didn't know what to expect. I immediately looked at the bench seating and thought to myself: "I guess this cafeteria styled dining? But where is the food line?" At first, I was confused at what they were going for here. It seemed to have all the elements of a regular restaurant (ordering and such) but with the added shared school-like cafeteria seating. Upon sitting down I realized that Wagamama was Japanese NOT Korean (like I had initially thought) and their "thing" was ramen noodles. I was a little nervous. Let me emphasis... RA-MEN. When I think of ramen, I recall my poor-newly-housebroken college days, where all I could do was microwave a bowl of ramen at 2AM. Just because. It tickled the hunger, but let's be real, it wasn't "real food." I remember being left over sodi-fied and unsatisfied. Thankfully I kissed those culinary years goodbye and that Wagamama was NONE of those things. As my friend reeducated me between the difference between Korean and Japanese food, we ordered. We got the Chili Squid to share, which was flaky, light and seasoned with just enough spice. Very addicting. My only wish is that their serving was bigger. I ordered the savory Yasai Chili Men and a Hitachino Nest White Ale (exclusively from Japan). The service was wonderful. The waitress we had was helpful, always made sure we enjoyed our meals and fast in serving us. There was even a point in the night where I accidentally over tipped her ($20) and she came back to return it saying "uh, I think you meant to leave $5..." I was both embarrassed and extremely impressed. She could have easily taken that generous tip without blinking, but didn't. Very impressed with their service and food. Would definitely venture in here again!
(5)
Balaji I.
Like Yelp says, this place is great for Vegetarians. The portions are good and the food is also not too oily. Would really recommend it!
(5)
Melissa P.
Stopped in for lunch after Pride yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at how knowledgable and accomodating our server and the manager were! We were walked through the menu, and vegan options were explained. It was too hot for soup or a heavy noodle dish, so we settled for fried tofu and stir fried greens. Simple and yummy! I'm looking forward to stopping back in and trying some of the other offerings!
(4)
Sarah S.
I love the setup of this restaurant - everything is lined up all nice and neat and looks very clean. The only thing that is weird about having the tables organized all parallel to each other is you are kind of just staring at someone at another table or at the back of someone else's head ( I was by myself so didn't have a person to sit across from me at my table). The tables seem like they are setup for family-style dinning, but they do try to keep the parties separate from each other. I was immediately impressed that they had Tiger beer. Done deal - don't need to look any further once I see that! I came in knowing that I wanted ramen, so I didn't even look at anything else on the menu, except for appetizers. I decided on the duck gyoza to start with. They were interesting and I think they had a mix of the seafood gyoza and the duck gyoza on my plate because some of them definitely had a seafood taste to them. I got the chicken chili ramen as my main. It says it's super spicy, but I would just say it's moderately spicy. My noodles were impossible to separate, I wasn't a fan of the raw red onion, and I wish the chicken was in smaller pieces. Overall this was ok, not bad by any means, but I guess I was hoping for a more traditional ramen. I ate almost everything and was absolutely stuffed. It was under $30 for a beer, appetizer, and main.
(3)
Tin P.
Let me start with good thing first to change out my review pace. The restaurant location cannot be any better, inside Quincy market and look at people walking outside. Nice table and nice service, plus a very attractive name: WA-GA-MA-MA. However, that is all WA-GA-MA-MA offered for you. We came in as a group of 4. 3 of us ordered 3 different ramens and a recommended Chili Men (chicken tomato sauce pasta). Among 3 ramens, we were all disappointed at the quality of noodle and the broth. The noodle is not a real ramen noodle, tasted like a cold noodle. The broth is very plain, maybe super healthy I dont know but definitely not our group's favorite. The meat is very salty. We cannot stop drinking water. Now that is for the Ramens dishes. Now for my Chili men.... Wow what I can say about my men? It is a disappointment. It is nothing spicy like it is written on the menu and the sauce is also plain. Like a can tomato sauce stir-fried in a bunch of vegetable and chicken. I expected a lot from the description on the menu and came out to a huge disappointment. Well, let me put it this way. If you are really drunk and are looking for the quick hang over cure, this is probably the place to be cause of the location, right in the financial district. I give WA-GA-MA-MA 2 stars!
(2)
Miranda M.
The service is very good, but it's the first Japanese restaurant I've been to without sushi. I was hoping to have some sushi or sashimi, but the food they do have is fantastic! Be prepared to use chopsticks :)
(4)
Roxanna Q.
Had a great meal ! The flavors were wonderful and service was very helpful with our choices!
(5)
Jon L.
I pretty much come here every year with a big group of guys during PAX EAST (Nerds unite!) so I have many a fond memory of chillin here. But to be perfectly honest, I have never really understood why so many people seem to love this place so much. While some of the food is pretty good (i.e., this year I really liked many of the starters: chili squid, edamame, pork ribs) the main noodles dishes have always been pretty mediocre. I have tried a few of the ramen dishes, as well as the teppanyaki dishes and though the food is decent, it has never been particularly memorable. Are there no other good noodle places in Boston? But what they are good at is: 1) having a nice, clean, and modern atmosphere, 2) having a good selection of dishes that accommodate most dietary restrictions 3) having very nice and friendly serving staff, 4) being able to handle large groups.
(3)
A Z.
Wowza! The apps (edamame and pork belly) left much to be desired, but the chicken chili ramen was fantastical. I'd come back for that and skip the apps anytime.
(4)
Jolene S.
Great location...same food. The waitstaff isn't as well trained about the components of the dishes here as they are in Harv Sq or Prudential. But the value is good for the area and it's in a very convenient location (near Frost Ice Bar, Faneuil Hall/Govt Ctr). Lots of tables; no wait on a weeknight.
(3)
Robo T.
Wagamama coming to Boston from the UK was the best thing ever. The asian fusion casual style is right up my alley. Lets talk about the food: * Duck gyoza - deep fried, delicious, awesome cherry hoisin sauce too * Chicken gyoza (steamed) - waitress said what they actually do is steam them and then throw them in the grill. Came out blah - tasted like biting into balls of clay * Shrimp kushiyaki lollipops - delicious * Firecracker Chicken - awesome, spicy but not crazy spicy * Chicken Katsu Curry - very tasty, solid choice (though not as good as asian chain Go! Go! Curry!) * Chocolate Cake - fatty needs dessert! Cake is delicious!! Wagamama is always a good choice! Damn it Im hungry now!!! Service at this location was spot on. Although this location is at ground zero of tourist hell, its still worth the trip!
(4)
Cara B.
Just had a great experience here! Got the chili beef ramen and the basil pad thai with tofu. The ramen really hit the spot-- the broth had the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and spicy, and the beef inside was cooked to perfection. The noodles had a nice bite to them too- would definitely come back for this. The basil pad thai was awesome too- not your typical pad thai. It had an awesome kind of sweet and spicy sauce, the tofu was great, and loved the vegetables. The service here was also excellent. My friend had an allergy and they were incredibly nice and accommodating. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Brandy C.
This place is a little odd. It's like a weird mix of a Waffle House and a Japanese restaurant the way it's set up (can you tell I'm from the south?!) so you end up very close to other people and very close to the kitchen sights and sounds. Unlike the WH, it is clean, pleasing to the eyes and you're more likely to be served by a hipster with a crazy beard that a large southern woman with a beard. That matters. It was being adventurous with my order than led me astray. I liked the traditional noodle dish my husband got, but the odd crawfish roll thing I got wasn't my best choice ever. Japanese infusion isn't always a success. And as for the review I see here from Miranda M to be prepared to use chopsticks - they will supply you a fork. I've never bothered to learn how to use chopsticks and it's not going to happen probably ever. They didn't shame me either. Good location either way - right in the middle of the touristy action of Fenneil Hall. If Japanese noodles are your thing, you want a quick, reasonably priced meal and/or you've been through the tourist traps you want (or you're a local) I think this is worth a try. Easy in, easy out, which isn't true for many other places in the area. No bathroom though - you have to go find the public ones (boo).
(3)
Ryan D.
Wagamama was the best place to find on a cold, rainy New England Winter (even though it is still Fall) day. What a better way than getting a nice cup full of Seafood Ramen noodles? Wagamama gets top points for extremely fast service. Personally I like the bench style seating, it is a neat take on the whole quick eating place. However that might rub people the wrong way if you want some privacy. Save yourself the typical, overpriced seafood in Quincy Mkt and walk around to Wagamama.
(4)
James L.
First off, this place doesn't have anywhere to wash your hands before you eat. Maybe they're just trying to start a flu epidemic? I don't know. Anyways the food was horrible. Wayne's ramen was inedible. My chicken tasted like the chicken parmigiana served at the Residence Inn, which I think was the frozen Stouffers kind. Yuk.
(1)
Paisley P.
Interesting place! I got one of the rice bowls and it was super good and was a decent serving for the price, but wasn't in love with the whole experience. It was kind of just average to me. Nothing incredibly special. Seemed somewhat overpriced even though the plate was huge. The server was very nice and said he was in training but I couldn't understand why he kept writing everything down on my menu...? Like he would just reach over after talking to me and write down gibberish? It was all very confusing. Might come back but wasn't impressed.
(3)
Joe R.
Clean quick Asian fusion food. Picnic bench group seating inside two chair outdoors. Basically as good as you get with a franchise.
(4)
Russell G.
This has become my favorite first date place! It's a moderately priced quick food place that cooks food freshly and deliciously. A great variety of foods that can accommodate varied palates and dietary needs. A knowledgable staff and a clever serving approach keeps things moving along.
(4)
RJ T.
My introduction to Wagamama was in London at a time that noodle dishes were still new. Once the ramen revolution hit NYC and I learned what good ramen was...I did not go back until yesterday. Unfortunately, though our view of ramen has gotten much more sophisticated, Wagamama's has not. I had the pork ramen....it was more like a bad wonton soup trying to look like pho while wearing a ramen dress. The egg was wrong. The flavors were wrong. Where do they get that broth We also had the wok fried greens. They were quite good, but the order size was shocking for the $6.95 price. Now to the service. It was a bit odd. The server came around and gave a long description of how to order...OK...I put that one on the manager. When it was time to pay...we waited...and we waited...and we waited until I finally went up to the front thinking I had to pay on my way out. Wrong, someone quickly took my check and told me to wait at my table. On my way back to the table, I spied our waitress in the back on her cell phone. I put that one on waitress.... If you want ramen...go somewhere else. If you want Asian a safe, expensive, round-eyed version of Asian noodles, it is perfect. If you want great flavors at a great price. There are better options...
(2)
Quin A.
I saw Wagamama's billboard advertisement near the harbor and wanted to try it. It (Quincy Market) was a short walk from the Blue Line's Aquarium train stop and when we got there, there was a crowd. We were seated quickly, given menus and left to decide what we wanted to order. I had the Chili Ramen and my partner ordered some Gyoza. The potstickers tasted okay, but I'm not sure we'd get it again as the portion was small and tasted rather ordinary. I did really enjoy the big bowl of ramen noodles though. The broth was flavorful and the noodles had the right texture. The vegetables were fresh and it was a satisfying portion - good value! We were in and out of the place within an hour, with a fully belly ready to continue with our touristy activities. I wish the chain would expand over to the midwest of the country so that I can try all their offerings.
(4)
Bill C.
Shocked to see anything below a 4 star rating. I have always loved this place. But then again I've never had anything but the chicken chili ramen. It's one of my favorite all time dishes. Yes this is technically a chain restaurant but since they have such few locations in America - it doesn't feel like it. I actually think the ramen is a little better than from most mom and pops shops.
(5)
Katy M.
Hot damn, this is my jam. The Faneuil location is excellent, especially during the summer time. You can catch a street performance while eating dinner outside. My favorite is the chicken katsu curry; it is DELICIOUS. The raw juices are interesting too, but good. It's a nice place to go with friends for a special occasion if you're on a college budget. I've also read reviews complaining about how long the service took, which is weird because I've had nothing but quick service there.
(4)
Joe A.
The lobster salad was great, and they even had (unlike the "local" bars in this area) more than 1 local beer. I got the beef chile ramen, and the good news is the soup was great. Spicy and complex. But unfortunately, the ramen was not the super-chewy, shiny noodles I was craving and hoping for. They were undercooked, matte, and stuck together; my guess is they are maybe frozen until they are put in the hot soup? Not much flavor or texture to the noodles. The beef was not tough, but not great quality, somewhere between a sliced steak and a hamburger patty. Not bad by any stretch, but I was hoping for the perfect noodle - I'll have to keep looking. Prices are very reasonable for a touristy area, and the seating allows great people-watching!
(3)
Simon G.
Had the beef miso ramen. Spicy and delicious. Also had the spicy fried calamari and tried the basil pad Thai. I would recommend this spot. Good for groups, nice spot with a view of Fanuel hall area.
(3)
Ngan T.
While I'm not a fan of wagamama as a chain, this review is completely unbiased of that. Our initial welcome is always great here--so full of hope and promise! Lol and then we sit down...dun dun dun. I'm not sure of the reasoning but our waiter always goes missing even during slow hours while the rest of the staff just mills around. Drinks never get refilled until it comes time for our waiter to come collect tip. Food portions have definitely decreased over the past year. Their "new" highlighted items have been there since the stone age and back. I've been brought room temperature soups on several occasions. The one redeeming quality about wagamama is the ease with which you can easily customize your food, and the seaweed salad is always yummy. But just as I won't share my gripes about the chain in general, I won't praise either. This review is solely based on the consistently terrible service at this location.
(2)
Ali A.
Really liked this place after having some initial reservations. Went to it out of the blue one Saturday when my Fam and I were in the Quincy market area. I got the fire cracker chicken plate and it was dope as hell. Surprisingly actually spicy and not just "white people spicy" lol. Only complain was kinda slow service, however it was a Saturday night.
(4)
Kevin L.
Dish: Chicken Ramen Quality of Noodles: Amazing Quality of Chicken: Great Quality of Broth: Just about perfect Quality of Service: Good Overall Experience: Would Repeat :)
(5)
Genevieve F.
The ambiance was pleasant and simple. They have a handful of options for vegetarians which I appreciated. I ordered the moyashi soba. It was a generous portion so I felt full afterward, but not necessarily satisfied. The food was bland and I wanted to add spices to the broth. I would give this place another chance, but if I received a repeat performance I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Wendy S.
After fighting the crowds in Quincy Market and looking at all the food, we decided we wanted to sit down and have lunch on a lovely Sunday in Boston. We sat outside to people watch and enjoy the cool air. I have never eaten here before, but my BF has many times. We ordered beef kushiyaki based on the servers recommendation as we were torn between that and the duck gyoza with a spicy cherry hoisin sauce. The beef kushiyaki appetizer was listed as skewers of tender steak in a lime marinade drizzled with a sweet teriyaki sauce. For $8.95 we got 3 thin pieces of meat on bamboo skewers. The meat was moist, but did not taste like it had lime in it- just a somewhat sweet heavy sauce on it. Not impressed with flavor- and the price was high. Usually if you get beef teriyaki anywhere you get 5-7 skewers, not 3, for the same price. BF had the beef ramen soup (described as noodles in a chicken and pork spiced miso soup topped with stir-fried marinated beef, carrot, leek, garlic and beansprouts. garnished with wakame, menma, sesame seeds and chili ) and was happy. I tried it and it was good and a deal at $10-11.00 I ordered the yaki soba (described as teppan-fried soba noodles with chicken, shrimp, egg, beansprouts, peppers, red onions and scallions. garnished with fried shallots, pickled ginger and sesame seeds) that was $9.95. It looked pretty, but was incredibly dry with salty but no other real flavor and it was barely warm. I added a few teaspoons of my BF's ramen broth, some soy sauce and some chili oil to give it flavor. It was overcooked with 3-4 very small bay shrimp and a few chunks of chicken. After I "fixed it" it was pretty good. But I wouldn't order it again. Server was good but bust and hard to get water refills or the check at the end. So next time I'll pick somewhere else. Just not good enough to try again with the 100 or so other restaurants in the area.
(2)
Brian K.
Great food, found it by looking at the chicken Ramen ad on the t. Chili edamame is great for an appetizer. The udon noodles are so well cooked and delicious. Great for Sunday funday food!
(4)
Tyler M.
Absolutely the place to eat for a sit down dinner. Delicious and quick. Try the Calamari. Mmmm
(5)
Berke B.
Very nice place serving decent food. Location is wonderful and not overly crowded. Loved seafood ramen.
(4)
Mandy L.
A nice place to eat around Quincy Market Pros: -We got three entrees to share among the four of us: Chicken Raisukaree (the curry is sweet), Yaki Soba, Shrimp and Chicken Cha Han. The food was good but it's great. -Melon juice was very soothing after a long day under the sun -Nice atmosphere Cons: -Pricey, pricey, pricey
(3)
K C.
Yummy! Although super strange the restaurant doesn't have a restroom you have to walk into Quincy Market to get to the nearest one.
(3)
Rob S.
Chicken Katsu curry was outstanding. Raw juice is recommended. Was quite empty around 530 on a Monday. Emptiness was a little off putting however food and service were great. I will return often.
(5)
Brian L.
Ordered take out. Arrived 2 hours later - food was cold and not appetizing with small portions.
(1)
Nashrah R.
This isn't the best place to go for ramen. I tried their ramen at the Harvard location and it was a complete miss in terms of flavor and presentation. I recently went to this location and had the salmon donburi, which didn't meet my expectations either. I was served a small piece of dry salmon on top of a large pile of sprouts and not as much rice as I would have preferred. For the steep price, I expected larger portions. However, I enjoyed my appetizer of shrimp lollipops. The shrimps were juicy and fresh.
(2)
Ariel Z.
I went here despite all the forewarnings! The only things I liked were the gyoza appetizers and the fresh juices. I could pass on the entrees, which all seem to be a huge fail no matter how hard I try. On one unfortunate occasion, I ordered the itame (soup with rice noodles, green curry sauce, and tofu), which sounds really good but ended up with no flavor, meager amounts of tofu, and chunks of lemongrass stalk that prevented me from getting a single bite without having to chew on something that resembles a sugarcane stalk after all the sugar has been sucked out. Terrible.
(2)
Vivian C.
Always good, the Duck Dumplings particularly moist inside and tasty this time. For entrees, we selected two: Moyashi Soba $10 (whole wheat noodles in a vegetable broth filled with stir-fried tofu, button mushroom, zucchini, snow peas, leek, bean sprouts and garlic, garnished with scallion) (from a separately presented menu) Teriyaki Chicken Donburi $11.95 (grilled juicy chicken glazed with orange teriyaki sauce, sticky white rice, with thin sliced carrots, spinach, scallions and sesame seeds and a side of spicy kimchee) sans kimchee per our request The soba arrived in advance of the rice bowl. The portion was filling. The soup noodle homey and satisfying in a chilly winter day. The saucy sticky rice was comforting, while the chicken tender, and the spinach and carrots surprisingly served raw. 3.5 stars because the prices seem a bit high for lunch, especially within walking distance of Chinatown.
(3)
jason r.
Menu sounds great on paper. Nice presentation- fresh just stated mediocre. Overall a nice casual place in a great area. We had very good service.
(3)
Karisa D.
**** 3 1/2 Stars!!!!*** Besides having a name that's fun to say, I was pleasantly surprised by my first trip to Wagamama this past weekend. We went to Wagamama because they can adapt their menu based on different dietary needs (helpful for friends with Gluten allergies). Wagamama's serves Asian food but catered to a Western palet. I liked their menu; they have lots of options at decent prices. Food comes out relatively quick AND they serve complimentary green tea!! And this location is right in Fanueil Hall. We had a good view of some interesting street performers.
I don't know why the reviews are just lukewarm here.. I guess some are better than others (oh, franchises). I do recall the one in Harvard having GREAT customer service (i.e. I hated my chicken chili men and they offered me to get another dish entirely for free, even though I ate most of the bad chicken chili men). This one was a bit slow... they were slow with our dessert and our check. Anyway, I'm starting off backwards and I'm starting off with the bad. Waga is good- I enjoy their teppanyaki dishes (a more authentic version of hibachi). My bf and I shared the yasai yaki soba (all veg) which has a bunch of stir fry veggies (scallions, mung beans, pickled vegs). The highlight here is all the Asian seeds they use- black sesame, for instance. They're pretty generous with it and I enjoy the crispness of the teppanyaki gives the noodles. Bf ordered the grilled chicken ramen- I used to frequent Wagamama when I went to college in B-town and I remembered back then there was no ramen option. To me, the ramen didn't look much good- I had a hint of the broth and rather than porky, or meaty in general, it was just salty. The grilled wasn't soft and tender they way ramen meat gets in hot broth. The ramen noodles themselves were just eh looking. BF said it was just ok but I come from the land of NYC where ramen houses reign supreme... One of my favorite dishes at Waga is the Chicken Katsu Curry. Much more aesthetically pleasing than other Japanese curries I've seen. Big dish too! The katsu is just done perfectly (well it's hard to mess up panko fried chicken)- the right amount of fried panko and juicy chicken meat. They actually use authentic Japanese sticky rice which sops up the curry sauce quite perfectly. The best part is the side salad which comes with pickles red peppers- yum! For dessert, we had the coconut reika- which was 3 large scoops of coconut ice cream, tangy mango sauce, and toasted coconut. So yummy and also rich. All in all, dinner came to $20 per person- not bad for yummy noodles. I miss Wag's- I wish they had one here in NYC.
(4)
Jimmy Y.
Good location and nice atmosphere. Awful food. Small portions, burnt/overcooked veggies. Definitely a disappointment.
(2)
Steven T.
Worst service I ever had.. Grilled teriyaki steak was not served the way it was requested, also was served cold. Chicken had that old chicken smell.. Took an obnoxious time from the time Order was taken to be served. Highly not recommend to go here. The one in the prudential and Harvard square is your best bet.
(1)
Gurpreet N.
Everything is great about wagamama .. excellent location... yummy food.. outdoor seating .. but the one thing that has bothered me every time I have been there is the service. .. These guys can take any amount of time to give you food once you order .. I was forced to vent it out here today because they made me wait 50 minutes to finally bring the food .. I appreciate the manager who apologized and offered me the food for free but it was never worth an hour of wait .. i have experienced some wait time at this place earlier as well .. just make sure you have a ton of time when you visit this place again!
(3)
Jade R.
I didn't think I'd like Wagamama's as much as I did --- I tried it a few times in London, and it just wasn't my thing-- but oh my, the US threw me for a loop! marinated yasai noodle salad marinated and grilled eggplant, shitake mushroom and and zucchini. combined with caramelized red onion, roasted sweet potato, asparagus, diced tomato and mixed leaves. served with whole wheat noodles and garnished with crispy noodles, pickled red ginger and sesame seeds This salad was not only fresh and delicious, but an amazing sight! Im uploading a picture of it because it's that beautiful. The prices are hard to beat too. I can't remember when I went out to a non-fast food establishment and got a deliciously large meal for under 9 dollars. I had leftovers! And I obviously had to get a glass of white wine (pepperwood pinot grigio YUM) since the meal was so reasonably priced :) Not 5 stars because service was pretty awful and very slow! Good thing the food and company trumped it!
(4)
Amy C.
Place was nice. A little on the pricey side but it is Quincy Market. The chicken ramen was a client favorite. I had that and edamame. The soup was good nothing to rave home about. The edamame was very good. Wait staff is super fast and hospitable.
(3)
Jamie Y.
As an Asian who is more Asian than your average Asian, I have to give this place credit. Obviously, it's not authentic (which is why most of the patrons are non-Asians) but it gets an "A" for effort. The servers are friendly, the seating is fast, if you're looking for a lunch place to just get in and get out this is a good place. I had the yakisoba and it was decent. There was chicken and shrimp in it (the shrimp were very shrimpy, I mean small). It had some pickled red ginger on it which I didn't like but overall it was okay. It gets really crowded at lunch too, fyi.
(3)
Courtney M.
I loved the ramen bowls at Bento Express, but when I walked by this week I was sad to see that it had closed and a Fin's was being built in its place. I knew Wagamama served Ramen, and Fanueil Hall is close to my office, so I decided to go there one afternoon at lunchtime. It wasn't too busy when I got there, and I was seated quickly. When I took a look at the ramen dishes on the menu, I noticed that they were more than I wanted to spend for lunch, and they didn't have a veggie option (they did have tofu, which I hate). I know I could have asked for a bowl without tofu or meat, but I didn't want to spend almost $10 for something that I can easily make at home from a 30 cent packet, so I got the duck dumplings and a side of udon instead. The duck dumplings were good, but they brought that plate before they brought my water, so I had to wait a few minutes to start eating. Five minutes after I had finished the dumplings, they brought the udon, which was boiling hot and very watery and runny. Since I only had an hour for lunch, I intentionally ordered appetizers so I could eat everything at once instead of waiting for plates to arrive. Also, one of the servers (not the one who took my order) kept putting food that was supposed to go to the next table on my table without reading the order numbers written on the placemats and walking away, so I had to keep passing things over to the people at the other table. If I go there again, which probably won't be soon, I think I'll go for rice instead of udon. It looks like I'll have to try somewhere else to satisfy my ramen craving.
(3)
Isabella C.
I love japanese food so much that I rarely give bad reviews but this place was really not that great. I mean to be fair, it's not meant to be a super fancy japanese restaurant or anything and is actually decent-looking inside. But the food is just not that great... definitely the worst japanese food I've had (I actually prefer those express japanese take out places at food courts over this place). And service was alright. It's cheap though.
(1)
Michael A.
Wag-yo-mama I really had high hopes for you. For starters I ordered one of the most standard appetizers, beef teriyaki. Well, imagine a few skewers of undercooked beef "drizzled" with the equivalent of "cosco brand" teriyaki sauce... That wasn't the end of it. After ordering one of their big ramen bowls (thinking it was similar to Vietnamese pho... big mistake) I regretted every bite. Part of my disappointment was that I was expecting pho so this is partially my fault. The other part was the flavor, difficulty of actually eating my meal and the "smell" in general. Unfortunately the noodles were undercooked and it was also very difficult for some reason to work at the meal with their hand crafted ladle/spoon and chop sticks. I don't know what it was but the meal smelled funny (not a good funny)... not that it wasn't fresh but maybe it was the funky mushrooms or broth? Perplexed I suffered through 1/4 of the bowl and left. A message to some of the wait staff... please act like you care, thank you :)
(1)
Julie T.
Overpriced and unimpressive. I didn't even finish my dish... and trust me, I'm a huge fatass so that's saying something. My pad thai was super disappointing and dry, yuck. The service was okay but not enough to convince me to come back. See you never, wagamama.
(2)
Vira P.
I have been a fan of Wagamama since I first entered the restaurant in London. They can work around any food allergy without compromising taste. I wish they had the chocolate wasabi cake at this location as their dessert options didn't tempt me like it did before..
(4)
Gwynneth C.
The food was ok. The appetizers are small and not meant for sharing. The service was rushed or non existent. We were seated and rushed into making our selection and almost bullied by this bald guy with a lip/cheek ring into ordering appetizers. The place wasn't that busy yet there was a constant rush. Then when we needed something nobody was ever around.
(2)
Debby L.
I can't really decide if I like this place. I live in Costa Mesa, where a lot of the diaspora of Japanese people congregate, so I'm used to getting really good Japanese food. But being in Boston, I can understand why this is appealing. The bench style seating is nice. In SoCal, there isn't much of that. People don't like to sit communally and share table space, so this was refreshing. I love the bench style because you can meet new people and strike up a conversation out of nowhere. We ordered the Chicken Kare Lomen and Raw Juice for 4 people to share since we are eating our way through Boston. I thought the soups were ok, but I didn't eat that much. I wasn't impressed with the curry, but the noodles were good. The other soup was better and I ate most of that. They come in very large bowls, so sharing was great. They have the huge Kirin beer, but not the Lite.
(3)
Rahell N.
I'm a major lover of Asian food and I was disappointed at Wagamama. I am a vegetarian so I got one of the vegetarian dishes with rice and tofu while my friend got rice and shrimp and the other noodles. Not one of us enjoyed our food, it was bland and not worth it even though the meals were a good size and filling. The only thing that was good were the vegetable dumplings we got as appetizers. It was bad so we took what little bit of soy sauce we had from our vegetable dumplings and poured on our rice to give it some flavor. Even though the food was horrible we decided to come back a second time thinking maybe the dishes we ordered weren't good but some other dish may be great. Boy we were wrong!!! Horrible just as the first expect for the vegetable dumplings of course. I gave this review one star because it looked decent and the dumplings were good. We learned our lesson after the second time. If you like flavor and taste do yourself a favor and skip the Wagamama train both vegetarians and non vegetarians!!!!
(1)
Michelle S.
Great food and service. I am addicted to the Cherry Hoisin sauce. It is unbelievable. Great place for warm comfort food on a cold, Boston day.
(5)
Amanda M.
This was sort of what you'd imagine for this touristy area....pretty decent food, but priced too high. The seating is awful - long tables so you're sitting alongside people you don't know - no privacy. The portions were small and the long line made it feel like you were being pushed out to make way for the masses. Our waitress was excellent, but they take your order on a machine and it comes out as prepared in a very factory-like mechanistic way. In my opinion, walk a couple blocks to the Italian district and get a much better meal in a much better atmosphere for much better prices.
(2)
Christina C.
Fusion Japanese shop at a great people watching spot. Duck gyoza FTW! OMG Wagamama! I had no idea there were wagamamas in the US! I texted my friend (who first told me about it) when I saw it. I used to eat there a lot when I was living in London. Anyways, Wagamama at Faneuil Hall has both indoor and outdoor seating. I opted to sit outdoors. Its pretty much cafeteria style seating with long tables and benches. If you sit outdoors, you'll have the PERFECT view for PEOPLE WATCHING as that middle area is where performers set up. I ordered a raw juice, duck gyoza, and chicken ramen (without green onions). Normally I go with the chicken kare, but my stomach was a bit upset still so i went for regular chicken ramen. Whatever you order comes out whenever its done, so your entree can come out before your drink or appetizer. The raw juice was pretty good and crisp/refreshing- its a concoction of carrot, cucumber, tomato, orange and apple. Hah, probably too healthy for some people? If you don't drink it fast enough, it starts to separate so you'll want to use your straw to mix it up again. The ramen came out next. It was ok. Although I asked for no green onions, it came out with it. Really, not that hard to not put it in. =\. It was good, filling. Not very salty or anything else. It had like 4 huge slices of chicken, which I couldn't really finish. The duck gyoza was gooood. I actually couldn't finish it so I got the rest to go and finished it off on my flight home. Service was alright. Server kept coming out every 5 min to check up on me- a bit excessive. Go for the duck gyoza and sit outside to people-watch. :)
(4)
Carolyn L.
OH WAGAMAMA, you saucy minx. When are you going to venture beyond London and Boston to come to the Midwest?!?! Chicago needs your noodles, like yesterday! I hadn't been to a Wagamama in about 2 years, since I left London. So when I planned my trip to Boston, I knew it would include a stop at the Fanueil Hall location. My girlfriends and I sat down at an outdoor table so we could check out the awful street performers in the square. We ordered some nice sake-based cocktails to start off the lunch right. (I'm beginning to notice that I might drink a bit too much, but that's a concern that I will explore outside of Yelp, I guess! Haha). I ordered a sesame-asparagus appetizer. The spears were enormous and it had a lovely teriyaki flavor. Then for my main course, I had chicken itame: stir-fried chicken breast with bok choy, onion, red chilies, scallion, peppers and bean sprouts. served with rice noodles in a spicy coconut and green chili soup. garnished with cilantro, mint and a wedge of lime. It brought back so many good memories. I know Wagamama isn't fancy by any means. But I loved eating there because it was quick, delicious, and relatively inexpensive. Now if only they would open one in Chicago, I would be a VERY happy woman!
(5)
D'Arcy L.
Had dinner with the family as it looked decent walking by. The have a nice patio facing the street. We ordered the edamame and shrimp as an app. Then our girls shared a teriyaki chicken, wife had the chicken Katsura and I ordered the wagamama seafood ramen. Everything was just okay, not spectacular! Ambiance in Faneuil has was worth it. Don't just come here for the food as you will be disappointed. You can find better, but if you want a nice patio facing the street performers and watching the walkers by its great for that!
(3)
Horace L.
Fun modern atmosphere, and a cheap alternative in Quincy market. The summer curry mussels were so flavorful and tasty (really fresh). The beef ramen and stir fry bok choi were way too greasy, in a really bad way. The pad thai was also very good. I'll have to say the prices and portions were really generous. The wait staff very friendly and helpful. I guess the dishes are just hit or miss.
(4)
Cyn B.
Not what I remember from the one in London I went to. It was OK. One of the things I dislike the most is when you order something with a sauce and by the time you get it the top layer has cooled leave a congealed coating. YUK! Well, that's what exactly what I got with my curry. The one I went to in London was soooo much better. This place seems more of a tourist trap... well they sure trapped me! Sadly, I had raved about this place to my traveling companion who wasn't too impressed. Being that it may, I picked up the bill. My bad! Skip the one here if your on Boston. If you take a trip across the pond, go to one of those! I must say though, I still adore the picnic style eating.
(2)
Derek T.
It's a good place to sit down in Quincy market if you don't like the crowded food court. I ordered the fire cracker. It was good, but I expected a more spicy one. It is also a bit sweet for me. My girlfriend ordered a chili ramen. It was not bad.
(3)
Nicole K.
I got the chicken donburi, which is advertised as a favorite. It was so-so. Wait was pretty long. Staff was decent. One person got a health drink/shake containing ginger and she loved it. Location is excellent=longer lines.
(3)
Khawla A.
I just gave 2 stars, one for the service and one for the appetizer (calamari). The rest 2 entrees (chicken katsu curry and yaki soba) were tasteless and not even close to the Americanized Asian food. That was the first and the last visit.
(2)
Felicia S.
Went here after a visit to the New England Aquarium with my boyfriend. I was very satisfied with everything. The food wasn't greasy like at most japanese restaurants/take out joints. The food came out quickly and the staff met all of my expectations. There is a beautiful view into the Quincy Market if you sit outside, so if you dine here i'd recommend finding a seat outside to watch the passerby's.
(4)
Mallory S.
I like Wagamama. Food is good and service is quick. This trip was a little weird as all of our servers were constantly confused. Even the most simple questions like, "Could I have a water, please?" caused confused looks and stuttered responses. It's a good place to go with groups and the prices are decent.
(3)
Jonathan N.
This place is expensive. I ordered a plate of shrimp noodle for $15.00 and it doesn't even fill me up. The foods are in small portion but quality is good. The service is bad, the waiter seem to be in a rush to get you out of the restaurant.
(3)
Ash K.
Ordered Chicken noodle soup and fried rice. While fried rice was okay, chicken in the chicken noodle soup was so dried that I left quite a big chunk. My impression of the noodle soup was they could do much better even with the instant noodle soup. The noodle broth was not so rich either. Servers were friendly and setting was unique but the noodle soup made me feel bitter about the restaurant.
(2)
Alison T.
First time at the Faneuil Hall Wagamama tonight. I used to eat at the Harvard Square location years ago and truly loved the yasai itame soup (rice noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with stir-fried tofu, beansprouts, chillies, red and spring onions, bok choi, peppers and mushrooms. garnished with coriander and lime). It was always SO delicious and I've been telling my husband about this soup for years. I ordered the soup tonight and when it came it looked a bit darker than I remembered. Upon tasting it, it had a strong burnt/smoky/charred flavor. I typically do not send food back, but it was just terrible. They prepared me a new bowl of the soup, stating that each bowl was made up to order. The next bowl was still burnt tasting, possibly a little less but I couldn't even finish half of the bowl. Maybe they changed the recipe up or I glorified it a little too much. Or maybe it was just burnt. My husband's noodle dish had a slightly similar charred flavor, but less so than my soup. While I'm at it, I will say that it was very chilly/drafty near the windows where we sat and my sister's food was cold within no time. We had an awesome day together in Boston and then my dream soup had to go and leave an awful taste in my mouth. It was a sad situation, to say the least.
(2)
Lina R.
Service was good, food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect for a cute little date spot. The green tea is FREE which is a plus. The Katsu Curry was delicious, and my boyfriend got the Beef Ramen which was delicately spiced and great on a cold, rainy day.
(5)
Jean T.
After reading some of the reviews on Yelp about Wagamama, I was a little hesitant to go there. But I decided to try it out anyway and was very happy I did! I arrived about 20 minutes before my husband and they happily sat me in a table by the window. I enjoyed a glass of wine and some steamed and salted edamame which were cooked perfectly. My waiter was stretched a little thin as he was waiting tables and running the bar at the same time but he was pleasant and helpful. As soon as my husband arrived we ordered our food, Mongolian Beef for him and Miso Beef Ramen for me. They were both SPECTACULAR! The Miso Beef Ramen was piping hot, spicy and full of noodles (as Ramen should be!), perfect for a chilly fall evening in Boston. The Mongolian Beef was tender and tasty and came with a generous serving of steamed white rice. While they didn't have a big selection of sake, we tried one chilled and one hot and they were both tasty. Overall, we were both very pleased with our visit to Wagamama and will definitely go back!!
(5)
Norman F.
I visited this branch maybe a few months after they opened and that was years ago. Hope that things had changed since, but from the reviews, unlikely. Service was poor, male waiter was plain rude and incompetent. Food was mediocre and would appeal to pseudo- or non-foodie at most, period. I even remembered saying to myself that this place could ONLY survive in MA & not a fat chance in NY or CA. Today I checked their website and see if I was wrong. Nope, I was right then & I am still right, this kind of sub-par pseudo Japanese ramen will not & cannot survive outside of the most forgiving city when it comes to Asian fusion food - MA. This is gonna be a regional chain at best. Skip this, go for pho instead.
(2)
Becky S.
I agree with my fellow Yelpers that this place is A-OK. I appreciate that there are healthy options and the prices are quite reasonable for the location. I also liked the kids' meal choices for my son. We had three little ones with us, and it was quite family friendly. The negatives for me were the service -- a bit spotty. The server disappeared for long periods of time and accidentally threw an extra glass of wine on our bill (she did remove it quickly when it was pointed out). The food was good but nothing particularly special.
(3)
Malden G.
a bit expensive but worth it. This gem sits in the middle of a tourist trap of dining options in all directions. For the Quincy Market area this place deserves 6 stars. the host Adrianna is like a walking beautiful computer - and quickly zipped around doing 3x what a normal skilled host would do. This branch of Wagamama rates above what the world standard is - mainly because it is managed so well. Plates are hot, fresh and so good - i'm usually licking the plate when i'm done. Thats not all i'd like to lick.
(4)
Phuong D.
Service is so slow and the food was very overpriced.
(1)
Eric F.
Was here for a friend's birthday last night and it wasn't too bad. I have to echo what many fellow Yelpers have said about the ramen...mediocrity at its best. The chicken breast was on the verge of being totally dry and the ramen was on the soggier side, tasting like it came from Maruchan. My friend's chicken katsu curry was a little better - thick, flavorful curry though average chicken. The tastiest dish was probably my other friend's yaki udon, but the noodles were noticeably overcooked. I must give a big thumbs up to our server as he did a great job managing our large party - very patient and accommodating! He came by frequently to offer his assistance when it came to breaking down the bill and made adjustments to our seats to make sure everyone had enough room at our somewhat cramped table. The service and experience is easily worthy of 4 stars, it's just unfortunate that the food's overpriced for the quality.
(3)
Nicole S.
I just want a soup spoon. That is all I ask for. Every time I come here I get ebi kare lome.... I love the coconut flavor! Well every time I get a laddle. Yes a laddle. I cant eat with a laddle. Maybe their intension is so that you eat the noodles then slurp up the broth, but that is not how I want to make a mess of myself. So once I get my soup spoon I am happy and I get to enjoy my soup. ***I would like to explain that they dont have a bathroom in there. You have to leave the restaurant and head down the hall to the public bathrooms. My office worked on this place and there would have been no way to fit bathrooms without loosing the dining room downstairs. It sucks but you gotta deal**
(4)
Steve G.
I ate here for a quick lunch while at jury duty at the Superior Couthouse at Center Plaza. As I left court, I was trying to think of a healthy place in the area. I decided on Wagamama and had the Chicken Ramen: "noodles in a pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled chicken breast, seasonal greens, menma and spring onions" It was a very cold day, and this hot soup hit the spot. Fun to eat with chopsticks and the cool soup spoon. It's very bright and has a lot of windows looking out on the marketplace. In fact, the whole place is one huge window. I like the Harvard Square location too.
(4)
Michael L.
This place was really good for Asian food of all kinds. I loved the chicken lettuce wraps I had & my veggie wheat noodle stir fry dish. The mixed drink I had with mint & ginger root was really good too. This is really worth it to try. I liked it a lot & wasn't expecting to like it so much. I would go back soon.
(4)
Katharine T.
For a Japanese restaurant, Wagamama is ok, but for a Japanese restaurant in the US based on a Japanese restaurant in the UK, I'd say they do a pretty good job! I had the chicken ramen meal that comes with 3 gyoza and a drink. The ramen was quite good! I was disappointed that the gyoza were boiled, I prefer mine fried, but I will definitely be going back to try more menu items! Though the being served at different times is weird, we had it sufficiently explained to us ahead of time, and it wasn't a big deal, as our food came pretty quickly. I do think they should do away with the menu-scribbling though.
(4)
Maren C.
The new broth for the ramen soups is terrible!! Bring back the old broth. Why change something that was good? Disappointing.
(2)
Amy B.
To sum up the Wagamama Faneuil location: decent food, fast service, great prices. My boyfriend and I ate here for lunch last weekend and were both happy with our meals. I got the sweet potato and eggplant tempura with a curry sauce, which was only slightly spicy and actually very sweet. My meal came with sticky rice too which I love. The service was very fast as it needs to be in this busy location. I recommend ordering the melon juice - it was great!
(3)
Robbo O.
Came for lunch with party of eight. My rice dish, yasai cha han, was devoid of flavor, emphasis on "devoid." Nothing there. My co-eaters' plates were, frankly, unappetizing in appearance. The curry chicken dish is a mound of rice with this glossy yellow stuff covering it, the chicken off to the side. Just awful to behold. Worst of all - and I rarely delve into this aspect of restaurants - the service was craptacular. The first plates were brought out a full 10 minutes before the last. Unacceptable. I'll never go back. Tourists: Sultan's Kitchen is just around the corner. Keep walking.
(2)
Heather G.
Help me understand why this place is so popular in the UK. The food is completely forgettable, you have to sit at a counter or family-style, and "the food comes out as it's ready" is just a nice way of saying "we don't feel like taking the time or effort into timing your dishes so you and your companion can get and enjoy your meal at the same time". Come on. With Chinatown just down the street from the Faneuil location and a decent pho place next to the Harvard location, I do not quite understand why people still go here. BORING.
(2)
Noah N.
Service is so slow!
(1)
Su Ting C.
Is this really a Japanese (Asian Fusion) restaurant? Or non-Asian managed Japanese Rest.? It really makes a difference. There was 4 of us, we ordered a dish of duck dumpling for appetizer, main dishes are chili ramen with beef and chicken katsu curry. I feel sorry, but, these are the worst Japanese food I've ever tasted.
(1)
Susan N.
What's the hype with this place? After hearing about Wagamama and how good it is and blah blah blah, and seeing it's cult-like status, I thought, well, this place has to be fantastic! So I met up with a friend and went here one day during the summer, talking about how it's so recommended and so it must be good. What was I thinking? It really does have a cult following but I wonder if it's the David Koresh or Jews for Jesus cult members or something. Because no sane person can actually really like what Wagamama served, much less praise it. First off, my friend and I sat down outside. When we had decided what to order, the waitress wrote a bunch of stuff on the blackboard on our table and my friend, who has lived through a major war, looked absolutely terrified. It's gimmicky but not in a cute way. When we got our meal, we were less than impressed. We shared gyoza and it was on the bland side. I cannot remember what she had for her meal but she said it wasn't very good. I ordered the chicken itame (a chicken in spicy coconut soup). It sounded so fantastic. It wasn't. This dish leans more towards Thai, which usually has a great balance of different flavors. This dish tasted spicy and that's it. There was no flavor other than chicken and sheer spicy hotness. I really don't know how they could mess up such an easy dish. The hype is just that. Hype. For your money, you're better off eating anywhere else and actually having a tasty, non-bland meal. --------------------------------------------------Â----------------------------------- I now wish I could drop this place down from one star to negative 60 stars. After receiving such a nasty email from an oh-so-lovely Claire A, who I can only presume is a horrible manager at the place or a waitress who is incapable of decent customer service and thus totally undeserving of a tip, as follows, I'd recommend just avoiding the place entirely: "the waiters write on your placemat/the tables outside because tips are pooled, and therefore it's everyone's job to make sure that every customer is taken care of. the servers write specific words and symbols on your table so that other severs know you're being checked on. it's not a gimmick, you idiot." Guess what? I don't care the reason they do it. Every retail establishment has their own methods for things. IT'S STILL GIMMICKY. And it doesn't make the food taste any less gross. Nasty staff just deters me from giving a not even mediocre place a second chance.
(1)
Dave F.
I went into Wagamama with fond memories from my time frequenting their London establishments when I lived there 8 years ago. My recent trip to the Faneuil location didn't live up to the hype. I don't know if it's because my palate has become more refined, or if the execution here doesn't match its British forbears. Either way, the spicy beef ramen I had was adequate, featured some decent flavor, but was oversaturated in broth, and overpriced at the register. There is better, more authentic, Asian food to be had for less money at numerous locations in Boston. The Bon Me food truck is an excellent example.
(3)
Eve C.
"OMG! They have Wagamama!!" Such was my exclamation to my brother upon walking through the Faneil Hall Marketplace on a recent trip to Boston and stumbling across my favorite Japanese-Thai fusion place from across the pond. Of course, we had to eat there. My brother had never experienced the wonder of Wagamama before, and he LOVED it. I opted for the ebi kare lomen (coconut curry with shrimp) - and it was delish! My brother had the teriyaki beef soba, and practically licked his plate clean. We also had some miso soup with Japanese pickles, which this time, I was brave enough to try. They're nothing super-exciting, but a nice little tart kick to clear your palate. We also got the edamame with the spicy salt. It was truly spicy, which was nice. I became familiar with Wagama when I lived in London a couple years ago, and it was pretty much my favorite restaurant. I completely forgot that they even had locations in the U.S. (especially since the locations are where I live or visit frequently), so I was ecstatic to see one at Faneil Hall! I hope to be back soon!
(5)
Stacy-Michelle R.
I decided to up my review one star. Actually, it went up two stars and then down one star. Let me explain. - My friend who works there (yes, they know I'm her friend because we do harass her when we're in there), who never waits on us, who was not there that night, and who did not even know I came in - got "talked to" about giving free food to friends. Are you f'in kidding me?!? NO ONE has ever charged me $3 extra and I ALWAYS get the same thing. No one. MInus one star (we're sitting at a zero at this point, but they don't let you do that.) - I forwarded my yelp review to the corporate office. Basically said that they sucked that day and I would miss going there. Lo and behold! They cared! A lovely lady (who happened to be there for part of the ordering phase) very politely apologized, explain what they needed to work on, and offered a gift card to have me try the place out again. As most of you yelpers know, many businesses don't offer that much of a personal response when you are angry with them - so it was very nice. Plus two stars. So here we are at two. I seriously love love love the food there, so I will hit the place up again on a random day - but there will be a lot riding on that one trip if they're hoping to have a regular back regularly.
(2)
Andrea M.
The 2 stars go to the fairly basic Asian food - It's tasty, but heavy on the noodles, light on the meat. My yaki soba came with a few chicken pieces and the tiniest shrimp ever. The noodles were not proper soba noodles either - they were definitely not buckwheat. Service: Friendly, I guess, but they never came to refill my green tea. The food never comes out all at once because "it's all made fresh to order!" - I'd certainly hope so! But other restaurants manage to serve food to a table all together. Also, it's a bit strange how the waiters reach over the table to scrawl on your place mat when you order. Value: Overpriced for the food alone, but if you include the fact that you get to sit on a patio outside Faneuil Hall, I guess it's ok.
(2)
Frank N.
Went on the advice of a good friend who loves this place and goes each time she's in London. Hmm...I may have ordered wrong but the 2 stars above are indicative of the two things I tried there. First was the duck dumpling. I wish they came steamed but they only serve these fried. I wonder why that is - they do their other dumplings steamed. Hmm.... Anyways the taste was pretty good and it came with a sweet/spicy sauce that was... ok. Second was the spicy chicken ramen. The noodles were over-cooked (in Korean we say "mool-lung, mool-lung") and the soup was pretty darn bland. I even tried incorporating the sweet-spicy dumpling sauce to no avail. The only good thing in that dish was the chicken - tender, moist, and well-cooked. Maybe I should've gotten something else?
(2)
Reham A.
OK so I was visiting Boston aka home for Xmas just like usual. and i am always looking for a new place to have a one night out with my good ol friends. One of my friends said Reham you gotta make res at this new restaurant called Wagamama. at first I'm all like waga who? and i was laughing so hard. but anyways so we make reservations there and I'm thinking what is this place. so we go in and the service there is OK. they are all young kids who just wants to make a few bucks. they don't really seem to care. so the waiter brought out some glass wear for our wine and they were all foggy and something i wouldn't serve to people. anyways i just wiped it down with my scarf. and so did my other friend who noticed it as well. so now the food. the food was good and healthy and fresh. my friend got a noodle dish i don't remember but the noodles were so fresh and i got the house seafood soup and that was just amazing. it was very light meal and healthy. i loved it. i would come here again for sure. you just can't expect much from the service. then again the meals are really cheap so i am not complaining. P'S. to Wagamama wipe down your silver wear and your glass wear. i hate seeing stains on things like that. change your seats. they hurt my butt. i couldn't sit there for too long and enjoy my meal. and my knee kept hitting the metal bar under the table. it looks cool and all but so uncomfortable. and just teach your staff how to show that they actually care about working there.
(3)
Angela V.
We're visiting Boston for the weekend and found wagamama while wandering, looking for vegan options for me that my non-veg hubby would also like. In a nutshell: good food, lots of choices, low prices, decent service. I had the tomato, tofu & basil salad (vegan take on caprese), which was delicious. My daughter nibbled on fried tofu dipped in some kind of sauce (they offered to bring her any sauce they had) and ate it all. My hubby had the Mongolian beef & enjoyed it. We finished up with the raspberry sorbet and all left happy - not an easy thing to achieve for a mixed veg'n/meat-eating family!
(4)
Binh L.
Sorry, it's hard to justify paying for such food that can be made so cheaply. To compensate, I expect out of this world flavors. There is nothing really out of the ordinary though.. disappointing. You have "fusion" food, "chic" furniture, and you can charge up your ass for noodles? No thanks. Although if you must go here, I got the vegetarian fried rice for 7 bucks. Big portion, yum enough to fill my belly. Plus, I got a little soup bowl. I think it's the best deal on the menu.
(2)
Jacob E.
While in Boston for PAX East, my friends and I wandered to Quincy Market in search of food. The consensus was avoiding seafood but probably an Irish bar. Little did we know that they were all full of drunk tourists. Wagamama to the rescue! On a whim, we all sat down at the community-style benches and ordered their combo meal, the absolute wagamama. The yaki soba and ramen were exactly what we needed, and the dumplings and beer helped seal the deal. The chili oil was a perfect addition to the noodles. While our service could have been a little more organized (they serve based on what comes out first), the experience was solid. I'd definitely eat there again.
(4)
Gustavo C.
Food is good (that's why I gave it three, above average), but service is slow even on a slow day... WTF?! Edamame are well spiced and so is the seaweed salad, but I'm sure you can find cheaper and much better noodle joint in Cambridge.
(3)
Samir N.
Three words - CHICKEN KATSU CURRY. I fell in love with this place while visiting London many years ago. It's kind of pricy for what it is, but anytime the guy next to you leans over to ask what you ordered with drool dribbling down his chin you know you have done okay.
(4)
lily l.
You decieved me! Your advertisements of happy people eating noodles should be of people throwing their dishes away. Went there in person once, you honestly can say to me that this is somehow worth the price? The quality of the noodles are horrible, the ingredients are poor quality. What did I ever do to you for you to decieve me in this manner. Of course me being a person that always allows a place a second chance, I gave you another try to redeem yourself through delivery with Grub-Hub. Again I was decieved..let me ask you something. If you specialize in soups..especially noodle based soups..how can you NOT KNOW to pack the noodles seperate from the broth. My ramen seafood soup came late and stunk of bad fish, not only that the ramen which has soaked in the broth for too long now instead of a soup now has become a bowl of moosh. I could not even have a bite of the fish because it just smelled so horrible, and me being a seafood lover knows when she has been served thawed not well prepped seafood. I dislike you, I would rather spend my time and money on packaged ramen where I know it's safe!
(1)
Phil C.
Good solid food. Service was excellent. A couple of things to watch out for at this location - of you're travelling with kids, they serve plain noodles as a side which is a big plus, but they use benches and no chairs with backs. That makes it tough for the 4-8 year olds. Also, this location does not have it's own washroom - they share with Quincy Market.
(3)
Julie S.
I was seated immediately on a Saturday night with a party of five people. Our waiter was really attentive and got us drinks right away. The menu is large and all of us were torn about what to order. Our waiter offered honest input- what he liked and didn't. The food was fantastic and came out so quickly we barely had time to eat our edamame. My only issue- food comes out as it's ready meaning some people get food and others don't, plus they can't guarantee that appetizers come out before entrees (WTF?) which sucked. This is what took it from 5 to 4 stars. I had Mongolian beef, it was the first entree to be ready and it was delicious.
(4)
Celeste M.
Hello Wagamama! So, I am a big noodle person. I will eat Italian noodles and Asian noodles alike. Noodles noodles noodles. So I have been interested in trying Wagamama for a while. I was seated at a long table between two other parties and drank my water and ordered the yaki soba. I thought about ordering the ginger chicken udon too but was interested in having the chicken and the shrimp in the yaki soba. The end result was okay. I found out that I do not really like picked red ginger. It is kind of a distracting and overwhelming taste and was hard to isolate from the rest of the food. The best I could do was to still have some in pretty much every bite. I liked the decor and the outdoor seating. I might come again as long as I can order food without that ginger.
(3)
Brian L.
Sure. Sure. It's chain. But it's a chain from Over There that came here.... not quite like the US bombarding the World with KFCs and MickeyDs... And sure it's not just Japanese... And sure it's in two of the most touristy areas of Boston and Cambridge... But it ain't half-bad. I had some of that Katsu Curry Chicken... along with the two 10-year olds that were with us. It had to be good if they ate it. They're kids. What kind of kid eats curry? I think it was the appeal of fried chicken with gravy on it... and it was made with just the right amount of curry. And the sticky rice was fresh and sticky. Not bad at all. The wait staff is fun because they hire people not looks... or maybe it is looks... everyone resembled an art school drop-out and were actually sincere and fun... and not bad. The Post-Moderen Pre-Asain Mid-Contemporary Uber Arab Design of the place is not bad either. So basically... it's not bad.
(4)
Niki M.
Every time I go to Wagamama I have the same experience, which can be summed up as "great - no complaints whatsoever, only satisfaction." The food is dependably fresh and delicious; I know what to expect, and my expectations are consistently met. I'm a big fan of the salmon ramen and the chicken katsu curry. The ebi dumplings are very tasty, as is the miso and the cute, shriveled little pickles. It's a great place to go for a quick meal (forget your conventional fast food, this place moves fast, and the food is healthy). Their mission: "we celebrate consistency and quality in everything we do. our ethos, developed since the first wagamama opened in london's bloomsbury in 1992, is 'to combine great, fresh and nutritious food in an sleek yet simple setting with helpful, friendly service and value for money.'" I've eaten here over a dozen times and can say that they are true to their mission.
(5)
J L.
An interesting concept for a restaurant, but we found the food t be very bland, and boring they had a very limited and simple menu, I didn't enjoy anything we ordered. We will likely never return. I had my two nephews with me and there was little on the menu that the kids wanted to order.
(2)
CeeCee R.
To satisfy my noodle craving and the fact that we love Wagamama food, we decided to go get lunch at Wagamama. Yasai Yaki Soba, I totally can't get enough of. Love the medley of veggies mixed in for my pan fried noodles. Chicken Chilli Mein, my husband's all time favorite. Chicken, veggies and spicy sauce altogether. $21 for two, not bad at all! Food was fantastic, one of the servers was just a little of.
(4)
Betty M.
Pros: It's Ramen, it's good anytime... maybe Cons: Staff don't look too happy being there. Spicy Beef Miso Ramen was drenched in OIL. Know before you go: This is a London chain... It is A LOT better in London My Critique: I enjoyed Wagamama the two times I had it in London. I'm not sure if it's cause it was cold or we just didn't have better, but it made me craving for Ramen once I got back to the states. This time however, I don't know if this one killed the buzz. We ordered the Seafood Ramen and the Spicy Beef Miso Ramen. There was a good quarter inch of fat still sitting in the bowl of the Spicy Beef. We needed to get a bowl to seep out the fat. The Seafood Ramen didn't taste the same as when I had it in London. It was oddly flavored and didn't leave me wanting more. Alternatives: Unless you can get the next flight out to London for this, the next best thing might be going to Chinatown for some Wonton Mein. I haven't come across a Ramen shop worht trying in Boston yet.
(2)
Daniel M.
Wagamama got me in London. When I found that they were opening a location here I got all fan boy and stalked the joint. Here are a few things to consider before heading here. 1. It's from the UK. Nothing says authentic Asian like that...right? 2. You have to sit next to people. *gasp* you might not know them. 3. Things come to the table when ready. 4. Fanueil Hall :'( 5. Fanueil Hall :'( (worth repeating) Chain restaurant? Yes. Gimmicky? Yes. Clearly designed for tourists? Yes. In England they tend to be near tourist spots, the Tower, Piccadilly. In New England they tend to do the same. Hmmm Still the food is fresh, plentiful, and arrives quickly. If you go for nothing else go for the ginger cheesecake. It's worth writing home about.
(4)
Colleen B.
Ahhh communal dining. Not something Bostonians are used to. But if there's food involved I think we'll make an exception. I met a friend for lunch on a tourist-heavy Saturday. At first we were sat next to two children with crayons. Not my idea of communal seating. They left and were replaced by two elderly women. How cute! When my Asian Style Fish Salad arrived they were more than forward (must have been tourists), leaning into my dish and asking "What's that?". We'll I said "It's the Asian Style Fish Salad and it's so fresh and just outstanding". The two women turned to their server and said "We'll have two of those!". Ahh communal dining. Helping people make up their minds for years. Don't miss the melon fruit juice (I was licking the glass clean!) and any of the gyozas. Service is tough. It pretty much involves a lot your part to constantly flag them down for things. The food is worth it though.
(4)
Brenda H.
love love love this fresh and good-for-you noodle spot. they do have other dishes, but i got a noodle dish. i got: Yasai Chili Men (v) - stir fried shitake and button mushrooms, fried tofu, squash, red onion, peppers, snow peas and scallion served with whole wheat noodles in a sauce made from chiles, ginger, garlic, onion, lemongrass, sweet red pepper and tomato I was naughty and got a dish of their coconut ice cream with toasted coconut shavings. OMG, delicious. unfortunately, when i was in town, i came here on my last night. if i discovered this place sooner.... i woulda came here every night for dinner!!
(5)
Kate A.
For me this place screams "industrial-chic," and "overpriced cafeteria" (conjure images of the IKEA cafeteria). Nothing was wrong with the food or the atmosphere, but nothing was great either. For $20 I would hop a T or muster up some oomph and walk to Chinatown for some real Asian food. Then I'd have $10 left for dinner. However, I have to say, desert and juice at Wagamama are really quite yummy and completely worth that extra $10 from the real Asian placed down the way. Here's the skinny: Pluses: - Clean - Vegetarian options - Simple options for picky guests - Great juice bar - free green tea with a meal if you ask for it (but you have to ask) Minuses: - Food comes out whenever it is ready for each individual, not group - Food is pricey for what it is, $16+ a person, easily and Menu actually contains glorified ramen noodles (that 25 cent meal), in variations, starting at about $12. - Food can be bland, boring, not very regionally inspired Could be a plus or a minus depending on you: - The waitstaff is actually required to write on your place mat. The waiting style is communal. So those scribbles say "I am waiting on this person" and the marks each mean something. However, if the scribble is too hard to read or covered by a guest, dishes will often be announced, so remember the name of yours. - The seating is picnic-table style, including a handy shelf (don't knock your knees or forget your stuff down there)
(2)
Ina C.
I usually hate on Asian fusion places or Asian restaurants run by non-Asian people, but I can't do that here because the food doesn't dress itself up as authentically Asian food. Yes, they use typically Asian ingredients and they use Asian terms to describe the food, but this is an altogether different kind of cuisine that shouldn't necessarily be compared with real Japanese or Korean or Chinese or Thai food. How many times can -you- type the word "Asian" in a paragraph? :) I like Wagamama a lot because it's quick, cheap, well-run, unpretentious and the food is exactly what the menu describes and nothing more. Like I tell my first graders: "You get what you get, and you don't get upset." I usually get the miso beef ramen, which is just spicy enough to have a kick, but not so much that there's no flavor. The beef is tender and the noodles are cooked just right. I really like how there's a lot of veggies in the soup. The winning dish was the Wagamama seafood ramen, though, which was somehow very light and nutty (in Korean we use the word "koo-soh-heh."). The broth had a hint of tea to it, which gave it a lot of richness. Yes, it is a bit strange that they write your order all over your placemat, but if that means that I'm not gonna get my order messed up, then write away! Three stars for Wagamama for efficient service, decent food and confidence in its own identity as a seemingly Asian place founded by white guys!
(3)
Rachel V.
My boyfriend has been wanting a Wagamama in the United States for 10 years, he has a friend in New Zealand who has been telling him about it. We went to this location sometime in August with a friend of mine who was visiting from Hawaii. We all ordered different dishes, which came out at different times, this is one of the things Wagamama prides itself on. The food was hot and delicious, you can really taste all of the spices that they put into the food. This particular location seems to be the more "hipper" of the wagamas that we have been to. What I mean by this is the wait staff seemed to be alteranitive and different. That did not take away from the great experience that we had there. However, if you want a more "laid back" eating experience I recommend going to the Harvard Square one.
(4)
Jack C.
Clear your mind. Picture an Japanese/asian fusion restaurant in Faneuil Hall. That's exactly what this wagamama is. The noodles were tasty enough, if a little salty. The atmosphere was clean and modernish. What I don't understand is how a place like this can exist in a city with a fairly decent-sized Chinatown with all the variety of pho, ramen, and other authentic Asian food that is much better, and much more reasonably priced. Well, I can understand, but I don't like it.
(2)
Lily C.
Not impressed. Was expecting better. + = pros - = cons + i was hungry, so the food tasted better than expected + no real wait + decent selection + food came out fairly quick + acceptable portion size..not the greatest + OK pricing + the food tastes good - fake Japanese food - the food came out at different times... i got mine first, my mom got her's like 5 minutes later ...WTF (happened at wagamama in backbay too) - service sucked... i had to stare down someone as if i had a vision problem to get their attention - sometimes slow service, sometimes fast. hit or miss depending on your server All in all, OK place if you're dying for some food. Not exactly the best value but acceptable if you're trying to get a wannabe Japanese meal.
(2)
Bo W.
I guess this would be exciting if there weren't a million great, cheap ramen joints in Boston. But... there are, so there's no reason to ever pay Wagamama prices for sub-standard ramen. I'm glad they make t-shirts, though, because they seem to be really small, and I've greatly enjoyed watching some of our more endowed celebs squeeze into one. For that, I give them one star.
(1)
Jen H.
I heart wagamama! I have never, repeat... never, had a bad experience when visiting a wagamama. The servers all assist one another, so you are well taken care of. The food has always been good (I would lick the plate clean if that were acceptable behavior), and there are a good number of things I like on the menu. One "downside" to Wagamama is that it has "group seating." They are going to seat your party of however many people next to other parties on picnic style benches. If that sort of thing bothers you, then you're not going to be comfortable and it will ruin your dining experience. Speaking of the tables... they have these "place mats" on them and the servers take your order and write the # down on your "placemat." The first time I came here I was caught a little off guard by this, but whatever... if that's their thing... doesn't bother me. All I care about is that my food is brought to me in a decent amount of time, it's made well, my service is friendly, and I feel like I received a good value.... and Wagamama delivers on those items.
(4)
Sean R.
I had to stop to grab a bowl ramen on a business trip to Boston. Wagamama was so hyped up by my girlfriend who would eat at Wagamama while spending time in London. I thought the Ramen was OK, but a weak OK. I think her memories of Wagamama are distored by her love of anything British (or related to her time spent in London). Give me Ramen Setagaya over this place anyday!
(3)
Gail V.
Common tables & plastic menus, but awesome noodles for a pretty good price. Descriptions on the menu don't help you much, but ask the waiters. You can get stuff way too spicy if you are not careful. I've been here several times and it was always consistently good. I've been by a few times when the line was unbelievable, but meeting here on a week night for dinner we've never had to wait.
(4)
Amanda Z.
Pretty nice place with a nice layout and clean lines. I liked that there was a shelf under the table to place my purse and that there were coat hooks available since it had been pretty chilly out this past weekend even though it was sunny. Not overly crowded around 3 on a Saturday, which was also a plus. Kind of sucked that there wasn't a bathroom in the place, but that's what you get when situated in Fanuiel Hall. Food presentation was nice. Large portions. I got the yaki udon which was pretty good. The noodles were very big and there was something that seemed to be a cross between a calamari hood and a curled piece of cooked shrimp in it. The wait staff were nice, but a bit impersonal and seemed to rush through things though they were very knowledgeable. I'm not in love with them writing on my place mat, but it's how they operate and get the right orders to the right people without having to dedicate a server to that particular table.
(3)
Leigh C.
If you love noodle bowls like I do...you will love Wagamama! It's always tasty, filling and delicious! I like to stop in for lunch, during the week. The seating is family style, and that's always fun! Great prices, for Faneuil Hall....I think, anyways. Try it, you will not be dissapointed.
(4)
Q S.
Why pay over $10 for a bowl of ramen? Nothing is impressive, so I don't quite understand why people rave about this place. I got a noodle dish - it was super bland.
(2)
Claudia H.
A fast-casual Asian restaurant, so you get what you asked for. You can choose to be seated along the windows or the bench style tables. There are downsides to each: if you sit along the windows, you cannot face anybody; but if you sit at the tables, you may be seated right next to another group. Look under the benches, as there are shelves to hold your coats and belongings. I always order the chicken katsu curry and sweet potato fries. The food is made to order and also delivered to order. You should expect different members of your party to receive their meals at differing times. Expect to pay about $15-20 per person, but the food is well worth it.
(4)
Alan R.
While venturing out to the usual tourist spots in Beantown, I noticed Wagamama. My sister studied in London in 2000 and drawing on my great memory, I instantly remembered hearing about Wags. This was definitely one of the best chains I have ever eaten at. The sauce on my dish was amazing!!! When I told my sister about it, she had so many q's. When did they open.? Where else in the US are they? Where else are they going to open and when?! While I will wait patiently, I will definitely make a trip to Wags if and when they open in the Chicago area.
(4)
Matt C.
Wagamama, where pleasant dining comes to die. The Wagamama staff live by some sort of ethereal flawed logic that eludes the rest of us mere mortals. If your food is lukewarm, it's your fault because you should have anticipated its arrival, calculated the rate at which it would cool down, and barbarically stuffed it in your mouth before it started condensating on the outside of the bowl. Too complex? Too bad. Should you need a spoon because your dish requires something other than a fork and knife, that is your fault. You should have anticipated that you would order the shrimp soup and should have sat at a spot equipped for soup consumption. There is only one of these per cafeteria table, and you will have to fight for it. If your food should arrive before the rest of your tablemates, also your fault. At Wagamama, everyone at the table should know to order things that take the same time to prepare. If you don't eat, you will be encouraged to, so as to avoid complaints about the temperature, which, if you were paying attention, is also your fault. If you require the bill to be split, and you are given attitude about such a request, it's your fault. You should know that, at Wagamama, splitting checks is a very complex process akin to open heart surgery, requiring delicate and careful planning, prep work and foresight. To ask for it on the fly is completely unacceptable. Food wasn't bad though, once it was the right temp. Three stars.
(3)
Bo D.
3 is pretty dead on for Wagamama's in General, I've been to 5 so far, two in London, one in Amsterdam, and two here in Boston. I was pretty surprised when I saw Wagamama in Boston at first, then after living here for a while, I soon realized this city's comparatively homogeneous in terms of race, and hence lacked diversity in restaurants compare to New York or LA. An overpriced asian restaurant could just be able to survive in such a setting. Wagamama is overpriced asian food (mainly ramen noodles). The extra few dollars you pay is going into its design and branding. I do have to say it's one of the best designed restaurants in the world, everything is (pardon the cliche) form follows function, and unlike a whole lot of Asian restaurants, cleanliness isn't an afterthought. So, price brings it down to 2, design makes it 5. The food I ate there is nice most of the time, but when I order rice dishes, they often tastes over microwaved or dry, so that makes me think not everything there's made fresh. A-OK for me.
(3)
RB B.
We were in Boston as one of the stops on a cruise. My brother had recently eaten here and suggested it to us. We ordered the pad thai and a vegetable katsu. The katsu was good....all the vegetable pieces came out hot and crispy. The curry sauce was delicious but they were so skimpy with the sauce. The pad thai was kind of bland. It was covered with so many crushed peanuts that it made it annoying to eat. Service was mediochre. The place was practically empty at lunch time.
(2)
Nicole E.
I am a huge Wagamama fan. I always have a good time. And Tiger Beer! Loves it! I have been to 3 Wagamamas. The first taste I got was 2 years ago in Dublin, Ireland. Then when I found out they were putting one in Faneuil Hall then later in Harvard Sq, I was basically ecstatic. The food is sooo good. Today we chose to have Diningin.com deliver it to the office for lunch. I had the Yaki Udon. It was a bit spicy but not overwhelmingly so. The ingredients were having a party on the plate that I couldn't wait to have in my mouth. The veggies were crisp and the noodles were big and playful. The black sesame seeds were also a cool way to punch up the presentation. The miso soup was pretty run of the mill but still good. We also had the duck gyoza. Heavenly! The cherry sauce they have to accompany it was divine. You only need a dot or two to turn the flavor up to 11. I've eaten here a number of times but just none recent enough that I felt I should review. I have never once been disappointed but I also love to try new things. A couple other points- all of their food is GMO free. I feel that while delicious, some of the dishes are pretty salty so make sure you have plenty of water, though the bottled water does get pricey. Also, if you eat in, not everything comes at once. I do like the seating style though. Long tables where you have other parties sitting right next to you. Its unique. I think you'll have a fun time here.
(4)
Greg F.
Wagamama is cool for a handful of reasons. First of which, you can type the name into a phone by only pushing each number once. (92426262). In addition to it being easy to text your friends to tell them to join you, Wagamama has a unique way of seating your party. You sit at a long bench like table, along side other parties. Its a much more communal way of sitting and you cant help but eaves drop on the people around you. Like the couple sitting next to me that was having an argument. Well, it wasn't so much an argument, as the girl talking about feelings and the guy simply eating... apparently more interested in his noodles then in his lady friend. When your server comes to take your order (mine was Olga from Russia) they enter it in on their cool little hand held thingie, and write your order on your placemat. It's always fun seeing people who are there for the first time ordering, they get so confused when the server reaches out and starts scribbling all over their place setting. They bring each item out when it's ready, as opposed to waiting to bring everyone's food out at once. So I like to order a bowl of salted edamame right away to share as an appetizer (mmmm fiber...). For my main course, got the chicken ramen (it came highly recommended), and it was delicious. This is not your college-dorm food ramen. It does not come in a plastic wrapper. Quite the contrary- it comes in a huge bowl and you're given a large ladle-like spoon to aid you in your efforts. The soup contains some greens, a bunch of noodles and juicy white sliced chicken. Everything is cooked to perfection and nothing is too salty. The noodles are a bit slippery and are difficult to eat with chop sticks, but I managed. We passed on dessert (the portions are quite large), and after leaving Olga a tip and a 'spasiba' we headed back out to finish the freedom trail!
(4)
Anna F.
I am such a fan of Wagamama. I first discovered the one in Leicester Square when I was living in London. From my first bowl of Chicken Kare Lomen I was hooked. I've eaten at several Wagamamas in London, Amsterdam, Sydney and Melbourne and enjoyed them all. Favorites: chicken (or ebi) kare lomen, chicken katsu curry, salmon ramen, edamame (with chili and garlic salt!), duck gyoza, and of course the ginger stem cheesecake! great for vegetarians and vegans too! my healthy lunch option: Asian style fish salad ($10.95) a grilled fillet of barramundi with a coconut, cilantro and chili dressing, on a salad of thin cut zucchini, daikon, carrot, red onion, bean sprouts and chipped cilantro, served with a wedge of lime.
(5)
Sean S.
EDIT: Removed server's name upon her request... I'm not a complete tyrant I suppose. --------------------------------- Went there with my Girlfriend tonight. The food was ok. Nothing spectacular. What really made me dislike the place, was the service. We saw our server, ONCE. She brought us drinks, took our order and never came back. My girlfriend's order was completely WRONG, but, the fact that our server never came back, we wouldn't have been able to do anything about it anyway, plus, we had been walking and roaming all day and were just hungry, so, she ate it anyway. She finished her wine, I finished my beer, and we had both finished our waters. So we wait. We wait. We wait some more. My girlfriend saw our server and just stared at her waiting to get her attention. Finally, the server looked her dead in the face, smiled, and walked right on by. At one point, the manager noticed me "rubber necking" for ANYONE to come over, and when he did, I got a little snippy (been waiting for something to drink for almost 25 minutes at this point). He asks "Can I help you two over here?" and I reply "Some water would be awesome, we haven't seen our server since the Bush administration". To which he replies, "well, we don't like to bother people while they are eating" to which I retort "thats fine and dandy, but to not check back at all is a little overboard". sigh... The other thing I didn't like was the way they seat people. Giant picnic tables. The sense of intimacy was lost. AS soon as they sat a party of four (literally) right next us, elbow to elbow, it felt like we couldn't really talk to each other, at least not about anything private or personal. So, we finish up our meal, we need a check and we need to go stuff, cause the portions were generous and we had left overs. We Wait. We wait some more, and we wait some more, and then we waited again for good measure, finally I flagged down the server to the table next us and requested our server saying that we needed "to go" stuff and a check. HE then wraps our food up and then brings us our check. Our server didn't even come back AFTER we mentioned something to the manager. As we were leaving, I noticed our server and manager just hanging out chillin and talking and smiling and joking. To me that was a big slap in my face. "Oh you didn't have a great experience, thats a shame, fuck you pay us." Like I said, food was ok, but not worth the effort or trouble to go down there. Service was HORRIBLE. My girlfriend and I both work in the service biz, and for us to leave 3 bucks on 40, you know its bad. I would much rather spend my money on local business than to ever have to go back to this place.
(2)
Molly M.
I am gluten-free which sometimes makes me feel high maintenance but the staff here was amazing!!! So helpful and all with a great attitude. Then the food came out and it was amazing!! Healthy, fresh, and flavorful food... Highly recommend this restaurant!!
(5)
Sophie H.
This place is boring and felt overpriced even when someone else was paying for me. I got the Ebi Kare Lomen, which says it's a ramen-and-shrimp soup "made from lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste, red chilies, fresh ginger and galangal." I was expecting something that tasted more Thai-inspired, maybe something like Tom Yum. What I got instead was a bright orange bowl of bland coconut milk that tasted like straight curry powder. The ramen was mushy and messy. Add that to their bizarre faux-hip affect and annoying, inefficient serving practices (leaning over each of us to write down what we had ordered on our placemats, and then asking us what we had ordered again when the food came out), and what you get is just total lameness.
(2)
laura d.
went back today for the first time in awhile. I think that wagamama was merely a bridge for me to begin to eat more asian noodle dishes. Since eating pho on a weekly basis, this just seems kinda bleh. I still like it for being accessible, but gotta say not so impressed anymore. -- the duck gyoza are really good though!
(2)
richard s.
Hmm... I have to pay extra for meat in my ramen? Oh wait, the ramen is just super salty water with no flavor? So many other solid choices nearby. Pass on this. * Just a thought that occurred... I'm so used to having good / authentic Asian food in Cali so I might be overly harsh and critical. Then again, this still doesn't change the fact that the food isn't good.
(2)
chris r.
I have a like/hate relationship with Wagamama. The food is solid, if somewhat difficut to eat. (How do you eat a giant bowl of noodles and broth gracefully?) The waitstaff is usually attentive and don't worry too much about whether you are at "their" table (which is nice, since all I usually need is a napkin or something). There is plenty of outdoorish / open-air seating. That's the "like" part done. Things I don't like -- Family style seating; Waiters writing all over a paper placemat; Entrees coming out in waves rather than all at once. Finally -- unless you love salt (and human hair, in one case) avoid the calamari.
(3)
Elena A.
For one of my college courses, I got to go to London for two weeks to watch and write about plays (best course ever) and while I was there, I fell in love with Wagamama's. I pined when I came back, thinking I'd never get to go again, and would have to sooth the loss with pictures and website-stalking instead. Then, one day, I discovered Wags was coming to the US. And their first store was going to be in Faneuil Hall. ZOMG!! I started counting down the days. Wags opened right at the end of my 1L year in law school, just about the time I needed comfort from the stresses of finals. I dragged my roommates there and made them fall in love with Wags as well. Now, even though we no longer live together, we still go to Wags to celebrate milestones, ease sadness, or because we're craving the noodles (chicken itame, seafood ramen, curry, yakisoba!), edamame (chili + garlic salt!), and dessert (ginger cheesecake...wow). The service has always been fabulous and even though it's the heart of the super-touristy area, I still love it. There's plenty of outdoor seating when it's warm, the indoor seating is pretty good although it is communal tables, and there's a downstairs area I have yet to sit in (but looks pretty, from what I can tell).
(4)
Andrew M.
Been here 2x. Both times I found the food boring. The kids noodle & tofu dish was pretty dismal. The tofu tasted bad. The broth was also not very good. I got some fried sweet potato thing and that was basically some cut up veggies, fried sweet potatoes and a mound of rice. That was ok, not exciting at all. My wife's dish tasted burnt. The raw veggie fruit drink was good, though. I guess the only saving grace to this location, is that the kids can run around in the courtyard while you eat dinner.
(2)
Brian B.
As close to a Japanese noodle joint you can find in what is a chain restaurant. Order EVERYTHING on the menu and be amazed at how fresh, tasty, and creative their meals are.
(4)
Jamie A.
The service here was A+, but I give it an overall "meh." I'd probably come back here, as the food was indeed tasty, but it's nothing that I would go out of my way for. The locale in Harvard Square is really good, and when other restaurants are packed to the gills, I'll probably venture in here again.
(3)
Diane H.
I don't know why, but everytime I come here I'm excited and I leave very happy and satisfied! Food taste really good! Usually order a noodle plate..should try RAMEN next time I go ! and I get a cup of juice and then coconut ice cream! Everyone I came here with seems to enjoy it! Very fast service..seated within 30 seconds of walking through the door! Will go back ! LOVE it!
(5)
Kalimuthu C.
Food was different would try it as first time but did not impress me to make it a regular one. The service was okay in the Faneuil Hall restaurant, the waiter/s could have been much more responsive and not being naive about serving. This was my first trip to Wagamama. I have been longing to go there for a long time but never had a chance to go. So this day me and my wife decided to visit Boston Harbor and then go to Wagamama for lunch. We ordered for the pure wagamama that has the veg dumplings and moyashi soba and the raw juice. We also ordered for the yasai chilli men. I found the menu intriguing and the food different. We went with the veg options and ramen with miso soup was not bad but I did over spoil it with the chilli oil and soy sauce - so be careful about using it. The chill men was not bad for some reason I thought I could find this chilli sauce on the supermarket aisle and not sure what wagamama had new to it. Anyways..would try the meat version the next time and post the feedback.
(3)
Curtis C.
Food is well prepared. I was a bit confused when I first saw the menu--the place has like 1-2 items from a variety of Japanese cuisine. Good place to go for groups that want variety.
(3)
Michelle O.
You know what? I really wanted to like this place, but wouldn't you know it - Wagamama's just gets it all wrong for so many reasons. I went there late one night, with a friend, when the place was pretty dead. The server seated us at the end of one long, empty table and that was fine and dandy by me. Who wants to sit near strangers when you don't have to, right? Wrong. Not even ten minutes later, another party walks in. Though we were the only ones there, the server seats this party right next to us. That's right - not even a seat between. I felt so crowded by the portly gentleman invading my elbowspace I wanted to hightail it outta there. Now, I could understand if seating was limited or if we were there during the lunch rush, but like I already said, it was dead in there and near closing. So why sit two separate parties so close together when there's no shortage of open tables and seats? Preposterous. As far as the food goes, it was extremely-limited in terms of vegan entrees, so I opted for a couple of appetizers: the yasai gyoza and grilled asparagus. Not all that tasty or filling, these underwhelming sides and my one drink ended up costing me well over $15.00. This could almost be forgiven if not for the horrible eating conditions and lousy service. So, yeah, the service. It's already been established that they see nothing wrong with crowding people together when it isn't necessary, but on top of it all, they are remarkably slow. The food took forever to arrive, drinks forever to refill, and the check - yeah, that took forever to come as well. If you want to overpay, be told to sit next to strangers (when, really, you shouldn't have to if other seats are open), and get third-rate service, by all means go to Wagamama. I, on the other hand, would rather take my business to the Faneuil Hall food court where I can sit wherever I please AND get what I pay for.
(1)
Maxine H.
Definitely a must-visit if you're in the area. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston! The outside dining in Faneuil Hall is very nice, and the heaters they have out there do a good job of keeping you warm. I love the variety of juices and vegetarian options they have. My absolute favorite dish is the yasai katsu curry--fried sweet potato and eggplant with rice and a curry sauce. I would eat it every day if I could. The food is flavorful and the portions are pretty decent. Service is quick and generally friendly. The communal dining style can be kind of annoying during a dinner rush but it's usually not a big problem. Order the yasai katsu curry. You will not regret it.
(4)
K G.
Chicken Katsu Curry and sticky rice...open air and crazy street performers. That is why I like this location the best. Gyoza is my favorite app. For obvious reasons it reminds me of England so that is a bonus.
(4)
Anino X.
I was craving some Japanese food that didn't involve sushi (which while awesome, gets old for me after awhile). More specifically, I wanted curry rice. So I gave wagamama a shot. I wasn't terribly impressed overall; the service was a bit slow and the food was on par with Mentei in the Back Bay, but way more expensive. There are other places to spend your hard-earned bucks for lunch.
(2)
Chloe F.
I went there with 2 friends on a whim while strolling through Faneuil Hall and the name caught my attention. When we went inside, I remember that I really liked the atmosphere and the way the place looked - very modern and clean. I ordered a melon fruit juice (apple, orange, watermelon) and yaki soba. I didn't like the red ginger on the yaki soba, but they weren't hard to pick out. The noodles were delicious, as was the juice -- really fresh. One of my friends ordered chicken ramen and we all split one of the side dishes. They liked those as well. I really like Wagamama, but I talked to another friend about it and she really didn't like it because it was too salty and too expensive for some noodles. While I guess it does depend on your tastes, I really liked it and would totally go back to try out some of their other dishes.
(4)
Paul G.
Wagamama. Check. Truly uncoordinated service. Dishes were arriving randomly and my friends main course came 15 minutes after mine. Got it comp'd by the manager, something I never really do unless the place is an insult to my dining experience. Wagamama was an insult. What's with the waiter scribbling the numbers of everything we ordered on my place mat? Outside of the really bad device I have to say the food was ok, three stars. One star for service, therefore my two rating. I'm also not fond of the communal style dining. Did it. Won't be back.
(2)
Cameron T.
Have to agree with everyone else. We've eaten numerous times at many Wagamama locations all over London. I was really excited that they finally made it across the pond, and yet it was very disappointing. I've always ordered the same thing (Chili beef ramen) every time I visit. The Boston version was bland, not spicy as it should be, and the beef was WAY overcooked. The service wasn't so great either. They were nice but our server was some loud guy who called everyone boss. "Hey Boss!, how's your food? Ya doing okay Boss?" That was kinda annoying. Won't be going back anytime soon, which is sad because we were so excited about them coming to America :(
(2)
A Y.
We get to the restaurant and sit at one of the long wooden tables that we share with a few other parties (how picnic-like!). Our waitress, pierced and tattooed to the hilt (Wags apparently likes to have creative looking employees), was a bit intimidating at first sight, but was actually very friendly. Plus, she took our order on this cool PDA-type thing! I ordered the yasai yaki soba, which was a dish of whole wheat noodles with egg and a bunch of veggies. It arrived steaming hot and smelled like a delicious mountain of carbs. The dish itself was pretty standard (basically noodles with vegetables), but it was sure tasty! The portions were very generous (almost enough for 2 lunches) and there was a good blend of plump shiitake mushrooms, scrambled egg slivers, and firm and flavorful sauteed noodles. Including tax and tip, my meal was only $10, so I definitely was not expecting a culinary masterpiece. I would say Wags is a great place for the price (very low), atmosphere (cute/modern), and food (satisfying /served quick and hot). I would recommend Wags as the best bet if you are looking for a place for a quick but yummy sit down lunch or if you are looking to satisfy a Westernized-Japanese food craving.
(4)
Erin G.
I remember when this place opened up and everyone was screaming with delight and eating lunch here every single day. I never found a reason to go Wagamama's when I lived here but my boyfriend took me for lunch a few days ago when we were strolling around. The menu selection is poor. that's all there is to it. you can have noodle in soup, noodles grilled, noodles on a salad or noodles in curry sauce. yawn. I mean the food itself was fine, but it took me a while to find something i actually wanted to eat. The fresh apple-lime juice was very good though. I don't dig the way the food comes out - whatever is ready first gets to the table first, which means my meal came out 10 minutes before my boyfriend's and our drinks came out later. I just don't get the hype.
(2)
Katia M.
It's ... okay. The concept is neat, and I definitely liked the space and the waitstaff style they use. But the menu is far from extensive, which sucks when you are not a meat-eater and came for the ramen. Glorious ramen! I wanted it so, but there is no veggie ramen! So, I had the vegetarian soba, which was ... okay. Luckily, I went when this place wasn't busy, because I've heard it's a nightmare when it is ... of course, I'm sure most places anywhere near the Finny D are somewhat nightmarish between 12-2 on a weekday (yeah, I just called it the Finny D ... and you know you want to join me ... say it out loud -- it's fun!). Anyway, I might let myself be dragged along if someone I knew wanted to try it, but I probably won't roll solo again. Those benches are mighty lonely when it's empty, pardner.
(3)
Anna P.
You know what it's like: Your friends are in from out of town, and they MUST see the swan boats, the Freedom Trail, and Faneuil Hall. By the time you've hit that last red brick, you're ready to pass out. That's when the zen-like benches at Wagamama start to look good. Don't be fooled! Aside from the decor, there's nothing appealing about Wagamama. I've been a couple times now, ordered different things, and everything I ordered tasted kind of like. . . soap. I don't get why the waiters write your order number on the table - is it honestly that hard to remember which food goes where in a party of four? If you don't remember, is it so painful to ask? Reducing my food order to scribbles on the table doesn't exactly make my mouth water. Oh, and don't take an outdoor table. You never know when an off-key a cappella group will sneak up behind you and start belting out "Kiss from a Rose."
(1)
Daniel F.
Coming from my London experience, it was very similar vis a vis the table arrangements. When in a group, it is true that dishes will not necessarily come out simultaneously, though you know it is fresh made. For some reason, I feel the food quality was notch higher in London, though it's fast and provides a great selection of well-spiced food. There's even vegan and vegetarian options as well, so you can bring a mixed group of diners.
(3)
Steve S.
Hate to be the contrarian, but I liked this place for some very wrong reasons A. Its Fanueil Hall..I expect to be fleeced B. Its soup...It should be hot with noodles C. Its Asian American food..How authentic could it be? So in short if you are looking for a fresh, hip and Asian inspired yet slightly overpriced food, then this is the place for you...
(4)
H L.
what, they are still open for business? The poor service from waitresses were so bad, and the floor manager,freshly imported Ortental(that's how Asians are called across the pond) skinhead guy from London, has no clue what to do to improve the service because his eyes are not following staff or customers while standing on the floor. The food is boring compared to those chains in London. In fact, their menu is not as interesting as the long table and bench in all locations . Bland, no flavor, poor services(only in Boston). Even the freshly frozen Asian noodle packages you can buy at Asian Grocery shops will taste better and even a bachelor like myself can cook better than most of those on the menu. Great that they opened their business in a prime spot, and that is the only positive thing to say.
(1)
Ulli K.
I like it here! The food is solid. Been 3-4 times and the food was always fresh and delicious. A real laid-back place if you want to hang out with friends. People sit on loooong tables, so don't expect to have a intimate setting. This is delicious "fast-food" in the best of ways..and way healthier than other fast food. Definitely a place I enjoy to go.
(4)
Ty D.
Food is great. Ate here twice and I gave this a low review because you are rushed thru you meal. Several times the wait staff comes over to ask if you are finished eventhough there is a substantial amount of food. Its just annoying. I went at lunch both times and was in a rush BUT they made it more of a rush.
(2)
David L.
It's been years since I first tried Wagamama in London (based on a recommendation from Rick Steves' travel book, of course). I can't believe that they are now in the U.S. Since they are in Boston (2 locations), we decided to come here for lunch while we were visiting Faneuil Hall. I had the seafood ramen ($12.50), which was a little bit pricey but it did have big pieces of salmon and shrimp in it, which I liked. People probably overlook the salads in this place, but my wife ordered the grilled yasai salad ($8.75), which is a salad served with grilled eggplant, portabella mushroom, and squash topped with noodles (sounds like a strange combination, but reportedly very good). We also got a free side from a coupon that we got from some tourist's map. I chose one of the most expensive side items, the ebi katsu (fried shrimp, 6 pieces, normally $6.95), and they were delicious. My only complaint is that our drinks took a really long time to arrive (I had to remind them of the fact two times for a diet pepsi and 2 glasses of water to appear). My waiter was very apologetic though. They also warn you upfront that various food orders for the same party will come out at different times, which was annoying. Despite the place's negatives, I will still remember my dining experiences at Wagamama fondly, mainly for the novelty factor. Bottom Line: It's a neat concept and is fun to go to once in a long while.
(4)
Kirs P.
Ehhhhh. I've been twice now. Once, when it first opened, and now a few days ago. The low down: Getting there/hosting/seating: The first time there was a line (but a short wait), the second, no line. Seated fairly quickly although the second time annoyed me. I walk in with Joc and they want to sit us next to these two women who have their shit all sprawled out on the other half of the table. The restaurant is half empty. Yes, I get the whole "communal" dining experience. I heard it's very chi-chi in NYC right now. But, I think it's super lame. I don't like strangers. And I definitely don't want to risk sitting next to some moron who can't eat quietly or properly. So, I said, "You know what, let's just go outside" where we had our own table. Pros- our own table. Cons- it was freakin' 90+ degrees out and there were really annoying buskers within tossing distance. Waiter/Menu/Ordering: Okay- the menu is not confusing. I'm confused by that remark. It's a menu. The types of dishes are clearly labeled. Beverages are on the back. Pretty freakin' standard. The waiting thing was kind of strange- we had at least three people tending to our small table. I hate that. Just give me one waiter. Back when I waited tables it was my job to 1) take the order; 2) bring out the food and drinks; 3) bring the bill. Now it seems the waiter has one job: take the order and come back and make sure everything is okay. Some other schmo has to do the dirty work. Who exactly am I tipping here? Pros: lots of options for the veggies, neat drink options. Cons: Strange serving hierarchy. The food: Pretty okay. I mean, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. It's a British chain. Brits have awful food. And don't talk to me about the great Curry Take-Aways. They aren't run by those whitey Brits. And, yes, I hate the whole "food comes out when it comes out" thing. Maybe it's just me, but I tend to follow proper table etiquette. This means you don't start eating until everyone has been served. I don't like to eat when no one else is. And I don't like to watch people eat while I sit there, twiddling my thumbs. Pros: Lots of veggie options. The Chili stuff was actually kind of hot, which was nice. Cons: Watching the rest of the table eat while I wait another five minutes for food Atmosphere and Miscellaneous: I like big open spaces, so this place works for me on that level, but it also has a big cafeteria vibe. It's almost too bright. Reminds me of the gym-turned-lunchroom in elementary school with those gigantic fluorescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The prices were also pretty good. $13 bucks for a sit-down lunch with an appetizer ain't too bad, especially in that part of town. So, Pros: Price. Cons: Feeling like I'm 9 and sitting at the dork table while the cool kids look on.
(3)
Lina G.
This is a tourist trap. It's over priced and not creative at all. I like that's it's outside, sort-a and it's not like I found bugs in the food and it wasn't terrible. It just was NOT authentic.
(2)
Peter R.
NO NO NO!!!! that is not how u make Noodlezzzz I was sooo excited to see this place open and boy was i disappointed when i went. The service was fine and the place had that "I'm a hip place to eat where all my servers have dyed hair and Mohawks". But when it comes to the food they were way off. I think they might have spent too much on those expensive palm pilot things they use to take ur order and not enough on good recipes. So the food.. probably ok if u never had real ramen before, but noodles were overdone broth was ehhh, the beef needed to be cut,it was like a whole steak in my soup. I would say ur better off cooking ur own instant ramen and putting what you like in it.
(1)
Alexis J.
I really enjoyed Wagamama. From what I read on Yelp, the reviews are really mixed but I found the food to be tasty and fresh. I thought the concept was cool/cheesy. When you order, you sit here while the waiter jots unidentifiable notes on a mini-chalkboard embedded in your table. They even use a wireless system to take your order and even swipe your credit card. At Wagamama, you sit family style, at huge benches so it is not a romantic place to talk. I found it to be great for meeting a bunch of friends and hanging out. The staff was friendly enough and I really enjoyed the ice tea and yasai itame, vegetarian friendly noodles in coconut broth. The soup dish had all kinds of delicious spices and veggies floating around in it. Soup doesn't usually sound filling, but this really was. They have beer and wine, fresh juices, and lots of side dishes. I wouldn't go here expecting customization, though, because your food comes out as it is ready and you can't really add or edit any order. All in all, I really enjoyed my meal at Wagamama. I would definitely go back. I do agree with Anna P. though, after a long day of trekking through the city the zen looking benches can be very incising.
(4)
Jen C.
When I was living in London, wagamama was a godsend. The food was fresh, the service was (perfunctory), and the general restaurant concept was pretty cool. In a land of bland bangers and mushy mash, Japanese fusion cuisine that was actually flavorful was a mouthgasm everytime. I was beyond ecstatic when I found out that wagamama's first US location would be here in Boston. That made my disappointment just a little harsher when, upon dining there, I discovered that the Fanueil Hall location is just average at best. Not going to comment on the service, as I was expecting the gadgets and the writing on the communal tables - plus, I'm not a huge fan in general of servers hovering at your elbow to refill your glass whenever you take a sip. We started with the tori kara age, which was nicely marinated but fried a little too long, so kind of stringy. I also got a piece of rosemary caught in my teeth, but that's more due to my general gracelessness. For entrees, I ordered the yaki udon, and my friend (also fluent in wagamama) ordered the yasai chilli men. The udon came with teeny tiny little shrimp and barely any chicken. While the udon noodles were nice and spicy, there wasn't that much flavor to them. My friend decided that the chilli men was boring, despite the many veggies. The sauce didn't have any kick, and the tofu was soggy. Overall, the food was just 'meh'. Sad, since we were huge fans of wagamama when in need of some flavor in London. Maybe something got lost in translation, kinda like pants aren't Dockers in the merry olde. Or maybe our taste buds were so depressed by British food that they were prematurely excited by any sort of flavor. Either way, I refuse to give up on wagamama just yet. Insert parting shot here. ** Update ** Just tried the Harvard Sq location last week. Same experience, different location. I'm starting to lean towards premature excitation... Still, it's a good place to grab a quick, big, bite - just don't expect Morimoto greatness.
(3)
Diane D.
I wish you could do what you do just a little bit BETTER, Wagamama! I was soooo excited to get Wagamama in Boston because it was one of my favorite establishments for cheap eats when I lived in London. Luckily, the eats have remained cheap, but they just aren't as yummy as I remember them being in this Boston location... I think the cafeteria style seating and method of ordering is nifty, but in the summer I seriously cannot eat in this place until after 8 pm... it's a sauna!! For you non sweaty folks no problem, but I'm just saying...beware of the potential for some swamp if you're here too long! The noodles are tasty and if you like spicy you can get that... but on the whole, Wagamama is not as great an addition to Faneuil Hall as I expected.
(2)
Chris B.
The food was definitely fresh and that maybe the reason why I didnt quite like the food as I wasnt use to it. overall it was a good place. just didnt care for the bench seating. My wife and i went there last weekend and we got seated next to two guys that were cussing and carrying on about their girlfriends being no good. they were also clearly drunk as one of the men kept nodding off. it also was a bit chilly in there but other then that its really a nice place. the staff was really nice and polite. the manager even came to our table and offered us a sample of these sweet potato fries that were delicious. my wife and I will definitely come back to this spot.
(3)
Heidi W.
Ehh.. Its trendy. The food is "made to order" but I don't understand how that works since it's a set menu. I was under the impression that I got to pick want I wanted IN my dish. Not A dish. It was still yummy, but not impressive. I ordered the Yasai Yaki Soba. Flavorful, but nothing special. My friend ordered Chicken Ramen. I thought the broth was good, but he thought it was bland. For the type of food we got, I think it was a bit over priced. For 2 entrees & 2 drinks & ice cream, my bill came out to be $32. The tables have chalkboards where the waitresses write down what you ordered. Interesting but...again, nothing special. One thing that I will go back for are the fresh juices. I'm a slight health nut. If anyone is looking for a real "made to order" experience, go to Noodle Street on Comm. Ave. You get to pick the broth/sauce, the noodle type & any toppings you want. And its cheaper.
(3)
John L.
Visited Wagamama this past weekend in Boston because I experienced the restaurant in the UK and bought the cookbook for my wife. This was the first time she got to experience the food in person instead of using the cookbook and she loved it. The food was great wish they had a west coast presence.
(4)
Charles K.
I've been to this wagamama location twice and my highly adventuresome self has chosen the Chicken Katsu Kurry both times. It's technically just a fried chicken breast with a hunk of white rice and curry sauce poured over it. It's nothing all that special but tastes good nonetheless, and you really cannot go wrong with it.
(3)
Charoline D.
After reading that Wagamama was opening a location right across from where I work in the Financial, I decided I at least had to check it out. Typically the line is going out the door, but this particular time we got there a little after 1, and didn't even have to wait. I ordered #43 - Yaki Soba. This was a panfried noodle dish with shrimp & chicken, pickled ginger, peppers, and onions. Very good. The communal dining tables were a little difficult to get used to as my friend Adam and I are quite fond of talking about inappropriate subject content over meals, and a mother and her 13 yr old daughter were sat next to us. Adam orderded a #25 which was some sort of soupy ramen noodle with chicken breast sliced over the top. He had basically pointed to the Japanese guy sitting next to him and said I'll take what he's having. Only problem was trying to figure out how to eat it properly using only a pair of chopsticks and this weird ladel type dealie. Our neighbor at the table had the tactic down....Adam, not so much. I did find it a tad odd that they wrote on our paper placemats the numbers of what we had ordered because presumably the waitstaff doesn't run their own food or they haven't worked out a good system yet, so we had about 3 different people come to our table and put "x"s on our placemats to be shown that our food had been delivered. I thought us eating it was apparent enough. Pretty enjoyable though at about $12/person. I'll come back.
(3)
Ryan B.
While our waiter was zany and I was entertained by his antics it did not distract from the fact that our food was great! This place was unique and refreshing for Boston. We had the chicken goza and some tasty soba noodles. Everything was very well prepared and served with promptness. My only big struggle is the location. I am not a huge fan of the fanual hall area of Boston. With that being said the location does not take away anything from the experience. Nothing is cheep in Fanuale Hall and Wagamama follows suit.
(4)
Bryan S.
Oh Daddy, Wagamama is a-ok! So, Wagamama is a very cool, unique dining experience. You share tables (picnic tables) - there is waitservice (knowledgeable, friendly and efficient) - and it is fast, rapid, quick, no waiting... for this ADD guy, perfect! They feature some nice Japanese beers, sake, wine and super-delicious fresh squeezed juices. The menu is made up of main dishes and side dishes rather than entree/appetizer... the food comes out as fresh and hot as possible, so you don't get your food at the same time as the others in your party. This is kind of nice, as it encourages sharing/sampling, which I"m all about. I had the duck gyoza side dish which were good and the chicken katsu curry which was fantastic. My friend is a vegetarian with a mushroom allergy and the hyper-efficient server handled the tall order with ease and good cheer. The incredibly busy kitchen staff made sure that they burned out a wok so that there would be no danger of contamination via mushroom and produced a tofu rice stir fry that my friend absolutely loved. The Faneuil Hall location... well, it is what it is, I can say that Friday evening downtown parking is a cinch and I will make my way into tourist Hell just to try the rest of the menu at Wagamama!
(5)
Jim C.
A friend was in town, visiting, and had noticed Wagamama a few days earlier as we walked past Faneuil Hall. He had eaten at their London location and suggested we try it for lunch. We were quickly seated in one of their many empty tables, as there were very few people with the same meal plans at that time. If you've ever been to an October-fest celebration, you know - the kind with the long rows of picnic tables? The seating arrangement at Wagamama had a similar feel. Much more classy tables, but still a picnic table type seating arrangement. For those of you who enjoy your space and privacy while eating, you may want to skip this place, as there's a good chance you may be sharing a bench with other diners. The host made sure to point out the shelf they have underneath the table to store your purse or other belongings while you dine. If you're not careful, your knees could be attacked by the ledge as you get seated. The place gave off an industrial and upscale feel. Nothing about it felt very welcoming. On top of this, the staff seemed very zombie like. Everyone appeared to be young college students who were likely not sober. I'm not at all accusing anyone off being drunk on the job; I don't think alcohol can give you the lack of emotion and blank stares that seemed to occupy the faces of our waiter and his co-workers. We placed our order, only three of us dining, and our zombie-waiter simply looks at the menu, and writes the number of the dish we ordered on our paper placemats. I began to wonder how difficult it would be to remember three dishes. Before I could wonder further, he writes down the number for tap water; yes water. How high do you have to be to not be able to remember a glass of water? He explained to us, in a flat voice, that the meals will all come out as soon as they were ready. I actually liked this touch. Let's skip the pleasantries, and eat our food when its ready. I don't want to watch my food cool up on the line for fifteen minutes while my table-mate's dish is still being prepared. My "Yaki Udon" came out second, about 3 minutes after the first and 5 minutes before the last. I enjoyed the dish. Udon noodles have become my favorite type of noodle, and this dish did not let down. It was heavily spiced and has a lot going on. The only element that I could do without is the ginger. Its heavily garnished with strips of pickled ginger, which is one of the few foods I'm not a fan of. I can take it in small doses, but this dish contains much more than a small dose of the stuff. I feel like the dish also skimps on the chicken a bit. For the price, they could include a little more meat. Since then, I've eaten at Wagamama several times, and have had a near similar experience. The food is good, not great, and they have some very interesting dishes. The service has always been mediocre at best, and I have yet to find a non zombie waiter. Its definitely a place to try; just don't go with high expectations.
(3)
Liz M.
I think people are putting too much thought into this place. It's a chain, but a yummy chain that is fairly basic. I really like the udon soba and there is so much there, you won't be hungry for a while. I like the idea of communal tables, but the last time I went, I got it to go so I could eat outside. The the portions were still generous and tasty.
(4)
Vanilla P.
I'll probably have to revise my initial 3 star rating after I visit this place a few more times, and they're ironed out their kinks. I would say this is a 3.5 star rating (dammit, yelp! Put in some half star rating capability!) but I always round down because I'm pessimistic. We go, we sit at the end of one of the tables, and we wait. I finally asked my husband if he forgot to take off his invisibility cloak, because I thought mine might still be on. Shore nuff, when I took that cloak off the waitress popped right over. We started laughing hysterically, so she must have thought we were high or something. Ordered drinks... and waited. They came, we drank, and then we waited a little more. Then we ordered and waited, and finally got one meal (chili chicken ramen -- good but broth was off a little). Then second meal arrived (chicken chili men -- flavorful with a strange Italian sauce. Japan, u so crazy!), and then two appetizers of the same kind appeared (we only ordered one). We sent back the dupe, and continued to eat until we realized our edamame still hadn't appeared. I was about to tell the waitress that we didn't need it, but she went and grabbed the plate in a hurry. So we ate the edamame. No biggie. I need isoflavins. They were pretty good about clearing the plates, almost ... TOO good. I still had a swig of my beer left, and one server walked by and grabbed it, and I was like, "Uh, not done with that..." She brought it back, and I nursed that bottle like the beastly little Irish fool I am. Time for the bill, and we were charged twice for the double app. No big deal, but when we pointed it out, I think we pissed off our waitress or something. She and the server girl went over by the end of our table and looked as if they were in a heated discussion, and then the manager ended up bringing us our bill and credit card.... After waiting some more. We never saw our waitress again. No "Thanks" or "Sorry about that extra charge!" I did see her bolt from the front door after we left. I'd like to think she was coming to tell me I had left my invisibility cloak on the bench or something becaue I can't find it anywhere... but in reality I think it must have gone something like, "I didn't mean to double charge someone, and I hate my job, so I QUIT!! I'm outta here!" If you add a little imaginary drama to the evening it gets soooo much better. So, after an hour and a half meal (only reiterated by the $15 / 1.5 hour parking fee -- whatever, that's a whole other review on its own), we were full, happy, but feeling like they are still working out their kinks. Yes, I'll go back. But I will take a book and my comfy sitting pants. The jeans I wore tonight made me a little edgy. Keep trying, Boston Wagamama, and hope your Cambridge sibling doesn't show you up. Its a lot closer to me, and I'm a fickle fool....
(3)
Ariel W.
Great spot.. I was just there on Friday. Unforch, this one is in the area where all the meat-heads play (ahem, fanueil hall)..so i'll be checking out the one in Harvard Sq soon(closer to home anyway) Other than that, tasty food, small but decent beer list, cheap, cheeaaap prices, and good service. downfall-all food comes out as its prepared, so my chicken came out about 20 mins after my friends salad and noodles came out. the nice waiter and his sweet mohawk made up for it :) will be going again THIS WEEKEND for sure. ya-hoo, waga-mama!
(4)
Jenny F.
It was a very hot afternoon and we had just finished up a few appointments in the area. Dining choices are a little bit eh in the Quincy Market area. Mostly dining establishments that cater to the tourists...I mean a Cheers....really? Would anyone from New England actually eat there? Anyway, we decided that Wagamama was just beckoning us to come sit down and rest our tired little feet. It's London's favorite noodle restaurant so it's got to be good (insert bad joke about English dining here). We sat outside so that we could people watch but that wasn't the best idea because it felt like it was a steamy 90 degrees. Looked at the menu and decided to split a few things with my husband. The waitress comes around and writes a bunch of numbesr on the slate portion of the table. Food is cooked to order...which is usually true at most restaurants. They just bring everything out one at a time because they think it is cool or something. First came an order of udon which we liberally dosed with chilli oil and hot peper flakes. The noodles were chewy and very good mixed with the peppers though I think I can do this simple dish at home. Next came the duck gyoza. Just your average gyoza and if I was not told it was duck I doubt I would have ever guessed it. Last course was the veggie katsu curry....it had a sillier name but I have no clue. Panko battered and fried eggplant, squash, and sweet potato with sticky rice, pickles and a strangely booger colored katsu sauce. It was just okay and a little too oily. The giant piece of eggplant was kind of gross. So the food was just ok. If I had more time for lunch I would have gone somewhere else..... far from the tourists. However the service was pretty good and it was fun to people watch.
(2)
Alexis B.
Chili beef ramen. Chili beef ramen. I'm addicted. If you go for nothing else - chili beef ramen!! My boyfriend and I have been here maybe 20 times now, and we love it. It's fast, it's clean, it's something different. Open floor plan. You order by number at large communal tables. It's fun. BUT it is different. Ok so you order and whenever it's ready it comes out. So your app might come out after your main course. Also your party's food may come out at different times. I say just enjoy. Snipe a bite of their food. They won't make you wait long. It's great bc you don't get ONE waiter. Everyone working their can take your order, get you drinks, and do whatever. That's why it's fast. The duck gyoza leave something to be desired, but the regular gyoza are much better. Yesterday we tried the chili squid app-- it was good. Crunchy fried squid with chili powder, and sweet dipping sauce. Very good. Also on other times I've gone I've had the ginger chicken udon. Their chicken sketches me out, but the noodles are amazingggggg. Also the miso beef ramen is kinda meh. I love Wagamama. Also had a cappucino to go yesterday- it was pretty awesome too. Love the chili oil and chili powder condiments. I always add tons extra.
(4)
Amber S.
Ok,I don't usually go for chain restaurants but in my travels, when I want a reasonably priced, yummy, and healthy meal, I've been known to go to Wagamama. I admit I've only tried them in the UK, but when I found out one had opened in the states, I thought I'd yelp out to ya'll... The atmosphere (communal long tables and benches, light wood, simple) and food (noodles, asian fusion) are much like Republic in Union Square , only the food is WAY more tasty and W doesn't play music so loud that you can't have a conversation... Try the itame, katsu curry, duck gyoza, and/or any of the fresh juices.
(4)
kevin d.
I just came from lunch at Wagamama..It was pretty bad the last time I went & I gave it about a 8 month rest despite the fact that its right around the corner. Well, I was craving some noodles, so I went for it, but I will probably hold off for another 8 months or so. Service wasn't terrible, but I asked for no cilantro and got a heaping pile on top of my noodle soup. Not a big deal as it was easy to remove, but lacking nonetheless. Food came up pretty quickly, but the quality just isn't very good. Veggies are tired, not really fresh, the sticky rice was just plain rice, noodles are as average as noodles get, and the broth was ok, but lacking in flavor. Pretty slick marketing, and it looks like a lot is spent on design, but the final product just always disappoints.
(2)
Deepa C.
One year in London is all I needed to get hooked to the noodles, the dumplings and the edamame at Wagamama's in London. We always went there with the program (and on the program's bill) so it was a free for all each time. Lots of good memories there - lots of good noodles. So you can imagine the glee when I heard they were coming to the states, to Boston no less! Five London alums and I went to check it out Saturday night at Quincy Market. First of all, I am glad they are opening in Harvard as well, since it was a zoo. The line when we left around 7:30/8 was at least 150 strong. Wagamama's is good, but not that good. If you are going to go on a weekend, get there around 6. The wait wasn't top bad then. As for food - the chickn dumplings were just as I remembered them. Good flavor, good dipping sauce, nothing too spectacular. I didn't try the ones here, but the veggie ones are equally flavorful, if you are a non meat eater (as I was when I was in London). I had my yaki yaki soba and was very happy. A bit more gingery than I remember, but good portion size. The chili chicken ramen was not as spicy as we had hoped, but still good. Service was still gaining balance, as I waited 10 minutes longer than my party to get my meal (although, it is customary to just bring out the dishes as they are ready - no waiting for everyone to be done with apps, etc). We ordered one chili edamame and one salt, but but got two salted ones - not a big deal but worth mentioning. I would def go back, but not to the FH location. After going back there, I remembered why I avoided it in the first place... too many tourists!!
(4)
Daniel T.
Wagamama is a pale pale imitation of Asian Fusion, much less real Asian food. The service was impersonal and slow. The hostress tried squeezing two grown men into a table of 4 with a family of 3, did she really think asian men are that thin? Then we waited for our food. For 45 mins. The best part was since we're seated next to the kitchen, we were staring at 6-8 bowls of cooked noodles just idling there, wondering whose noodles are those. It turns out 2 of them were ours and we have been staring at our dinner for 30 mins before we were allowed to eat them. The serving size made no sense except to the owner's bankers and I was left even more hungry after dinner due to the tease. And to top it off, we had to wait another 20 mins before a server saw that we're finished, ready to pay and actually wanted to collect our money. There are tons of other Asian/Asian Fusion restaurants with much better food and better attitude.
(1)
Aretha B.
Meh! Despite the reviews already written I had higher expectations. The service was awkward. It took three times as long to take the order down in the palm pilots and scribble on our placemats than it would have if he'd just written down our order old school. My rice dish was kind of bland - it was a LOT of rice, and not a lot else. Flavorless fried tofu. The dish seemed absent of flavor and ingredients. I was expecting a bevy of vegetables and mushrooms (BUTTON MUSHROOMS) but I just got 2 measly chunks of white mushroom. The green, flavorless part of the scallion, no squash... it was just disappointing. I ordered the duck dumplings. The first time they came out, they were chicken. The waiter didn't know what was going on. The second time they came out, 2 were duck, the other three were chicken! The third time, all 5 were duck. They were quite good, I must say. I was eating around a bunch of people and nothing anyone else was eating was all that compelling looking. Nothing smelled fantastic. It wasn't fragrant. The server forgot my iced tea, but when it arrived at the end of the meal it was quite good. The management comped us all our drinks and apps because of the series of mix ups. The whole experience from getting in line to leaving took about an hour and 12 minutes, so I won't be trying this place for a quick lunch again. I'll go again if a group of people insist it's the place to be, but i know, like others in here, that there are MANY better options right in chinatown that are cheaper, more flavorful, and with better service. You won't see me eating here alone. OH for you curry heads, I tried that curry sauce on the menu - it's just ok. Nothing special.
(2)
Mike T.
There is alot of hype around this place so many reviewers seem disappointed. No, Wagamama is not equivalent to the second coming of Christ and it will not make you smarter, faster and better looking.......only beer can do that. Wagamama is a basic but kind of cool pan Asian fusion place that serves fresh noodle dishes for a decent price especially given their location in quincy market. They are more efficiency oriented than service oriented which is how they keep their prices low. They aren't rude but they move you through pretty quick. Many dishes are sort of bland but somehow tasty and fresh. The fruit juices are good but they are too pricey. They have a very nice outdoor seating area. Its a fun change of pace and the food is very good but not the most exciting. After all, the place was started across the pond in England and everyone knows the English are wonderful at colonizing but not so hot at cooking. We must give our awkward European cousins the benefit of the doubt and try Wagamama with an open mind.
(3)
Daphne X.
Lets be short and sweet... fake Japanese food! Some of the terms on the menu were obviously Chinese... the person who owns it needs to do more research. We ordered yaki udon and it was just crap. Dried and piled up with cheap toppings that you would normally use with instant noodles... The ice tea was watered down... the only thing good about this place was their duck dumplings... and they were very minuscule in size; you would need 2 plates to compensate for the horrible pan fried udon noodles!
(1)
Kelly C.
So, I keep going back, but I'm not entirely sure why.Everytime I go, I am really annoyed by the clueless waiters bringing over things that aren't ours(why bother writing it on the table?), and also eating while everyone else at the table watches! You can end up sharing your whole meal before anyone else gets food, and then you sit there at the end watching everyone else eat! I've also ordered water and/or other drinks, and not received them until after I had finished eating. What's with that? Frankly, its annoying! Maybe the reason I keep torturing myself is that I quite enjoy the #35 ebi kare lomen $11.25 a spicy soup made from lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste, red chilies, fresh ginger and galangal. served with ramen noodles and garnished with grilled black tiger shrimp, bean sprouts, cucumber, cilantro and a wedge of lime. Really good... but Does anyone else find it odd that the same soup but with CHICKEN instead of SHRIMP is .50 more? Usually its the other way around.
(2)
Ilya Jacob R.
I went over there tonight w/ my wife and some friends. She had been to Wagamama in London. She said the ambiance is different - although we're expecting the Harvard Square location may be more "London-esque". As far as the service, I really liked our waitress - Merissa/Marissa - something like that. She was honest and helpful. It's possible some may be taken aback by the use of technology and low-tech approach. It's not high-class or even that essential/effective, but its different than the norm and that's fine by me. Food-wise, it was my first time and I'll need to go back to try different dishes, but I ordered the Chicken Kare Lomen. It was not as coconut-y as I expected and prefer w/ some Thai dishes. I probably wouldn't get it again - but it was just a personal preference. Also, it was spicier than expected (but I love spicy!) I'll be back and then add some more to this review.
(3)
Tim B.
First of all, I have to say that the food was delicious. The dish I had (Ebi Chili Men - Shrimp with noodles in a chili sauce) beats anything similar I've had in Chinatown. But when you talk about Wagamama you can't avoid their service style. Not only does the design feel IKEA-esque (as Jocelyn said), but you feel like IKEA is serving your food. Everything runs on a system designed to get you in, get you fed and get you out. My problem is for the price ($11-$15 for most entrees) and the high quality food, I wouldn't mind waiting a while and relaxing. The entrees are well worth the money, but for that price I would rather a quiet, more intimate dining experience with one waiter, not eight. Instead, you get a lunchtime, mess-hall atmosphere with hands flying into your table every which way. If I had $25 to spend on lunch every day, Wagamama would probably be my favorite place. But for now it hangs in limbo: too expensive for lunch, too impersonal for a nice dinner.
(4)
Marie J.
I enjoyed the food @ Wagama, the service was smooth and the place was busy at the same time....the food was a bit pricey but I guess that's what you get for dining out in Faneuil Hall.. I came for lunch with out of towners...we stayed a while,, i had a standard ramen dish and some veggies for appetizers.. Veryy nice and fancy decor!
(4)
Jen J.
As a noodle-lover, I was very excited to hear that a new noodle restaurant was coming to Boston. I did not realize that I had actually been to a Wagamama when I was in London many years ago until I arrived at the Faneuil Hall location. The restaurant has the same cafeteria bench style seating as I remembered of the London location. Unfortunately, the noodle house did not make an impression on me back then, and again, it did not do much for me this time around. The service was average and I did not get their method for taking orders. In addition to entering orders on a hand-held electronic device, the waitress also made some scribbles onto each person's place setting. It was just awkward that she had to reach over everyone to write down our table number and orders on the place setting. I guess it makes it easier on the servers to know who ordered what when bringing out meals, but.... Moving on, my beef ramen noodle soup was too salty (and I'm a gal that likes salty stuff!). I've had really good, fresh noodles before, so these noodles were nothing special to me. You can get the same meal by going to an Asian grocery store and buying some of those noodle packages that come with soup base (good ones, not the 25 cent ones!) either dry or the refrigerated kind and adding some fresh veggies, frozen dumplings, etc. The Good: They got noodles...who doesn't like noodles??? Love the concept of a noodle house and we definitely need more in Boston. Quick service, after the wait in line. The Bad: Food not worth the price. You end up spending $20 for an entree and a drink...a little too much for lunch based on what you are getting. Conclusion: Cool new place from the U.K., but over priced, average food. I like how my friend put it: It is like an IKEA...a fun place to go to that that has trendy stuff, but if you want quality furniture that will last, you don't shop there. Recommendation: Go to Chinatown or an authentic Japanese/Korean restaurant if you want soba/ramen/udon noodles.
(3)
Lauren W.
I got takeout from here last night with my neighbor that is allergic to wheat and dairy. Their online menu is extremely helpful, breaking down entrees that you can order "as is" and "with modifications" for a variety of dietary needs. Perfect for my friend! I ended up getting chicken ramen, I was overwhelmed by the number of options and figured this would be a safe dish. My allergy-proned friend got the chicken itame. My ramen was good but I wish I had been more adventurous. My friend's itame was delicious! My entire experience was expeditious and satisfying. I don't like crowd that flocks to Faneuil Hall so I'll probably only get take out from here but we'll definitely come back.
(4)
Rebecca Y.
Not impressed. We waited over an hour for a table (truthfully, we were a party of 7). All the host kept saying was "15 more minutes". After our hour wait, it took another 15 minutes for our waitress. The drinks did come and the food came very fast. For the record, I don't like the "your food comes out when it is ready and screw the rest of your table" idea. The person who got their food first was subjected to death glares because we were so hungry. (See the comment above for a RIDICULOUS wait). With all that said, we all did like the food. Most of the table had the chicken katsu and we all cleaned our plates - even my extremely picky boyfriend! The teriyaki beef soba was good as well. Overall, this would be a great place for two people who are not hungry or in a hurry. Hmmmm. Sounds like a tourist spot...
(2)
Jocelyn C.
Most definitely the best lunch during the work week that I've had in a loooong time (I guess my company helped, but we didn't talk much once the food came out anyway)! They just opened, but you wouldn't know it by how efficiently the place is ran. Everyone seems to know exactly what they're doing and how to treat their hungry customers. Excellent service, excellent food, sleek IKEA-esque minimalist design, pleasant atmosphere, and the prices aren't too shabby, either... I am making this a regular lunchtime haunt, even if it means having to walk through stupid, annoying Faneuil Hall to get there. Plus, BONUS: They serve sake!!! (They also have beer and wine, and green tea is free upon request.)
(5)
Zach M.
I have so many fond memories of this restaurant. Years ago, when living and working in London, England, this restaurant provided me with much needed good food. Those who have been to England for a prolonged period of time know that the food in general leaves a little something to be desired. Namely, food that isn't disgusting. When I got word that they were opening their first American location in MY HOME TOWN, I flipped my shit. My first return trip home included three visits to Quincy Market. Chicken katsu curry is delicious on legendary levels. Ramen usually evokes feelings of poverty, college, and laziness. At Wagamama, it should evoke feelings of sheer joy at how Goddamn good it is. AND, free green tea. I'm a fan for life.
(5)
Mandi M.
Went here during the summer and ordered some sort of duck appetizer that was awesome, and I got chicken katsu curry (I believe it was called that, anyway, it was somewhat breaded chicken) - it was unbelievably good. The service was pretty good as well.
(4)
Korri Leigh C.
I loved Wagamama when I tried it in London and I loved it here in Boston. The food is delish, well priced, and I had no problems with the service at all. Only two slight complaints...the all glass walls and ceiling coupled with the open kitchen made it quite hot the day we were in there...so it may be a good idea to dress in layers. Additionally, I have no problem with communal tables since i'm friendly and whatnot but they put you RIGHT beside other parties...like no elbow room sharing the same bench close. So if you're awkward like that dont' go at a busy time! All is all, I'll definitely become a frequent Wagamama-er
(4)
luke b.
I don't understand why this place is getting so many good reviews with all of the wonderful Asian soup and noodle places in the Boston area. Wagamama is a crappy chain with crappy food. Bland broths, boring combinations and prices that would make anyone ask, "I paid $11 for THIS??!" I say, "Go back to England, Wagamama... we don't want your watery soups and sub-par curries here!" I suggest checking out the Porter Exchange, or Chinatown, etc. for the good stuff.
(1)
Bevin C.
Four stars for the food, two stars for the silly service. Average three stars. I asked several people why the writing on the placemats, and none of them gave me a reasonable explanation. The numbers didn't seem to tip the servers off where to put the plates of food or the drinks. The digital ordering and stubborn insistence on referring to dishes and drinks as numbers was almost equally as silly. My yaki soba dish was deeeee-lishus. BUT my friend's beef spicy noodle soup sported way overcooked and scantily portioned beef and completely imbalanced flavors. I would have been mightily bummed if I had ordered that. Also, there was a poor selection of drinks (only one kind of sake?) which were waay overpriced. But this is Fanueil Hall, after all...
(3)
Liz H.
Reviewers are right on here. I was expecting way more from you, waga-mama. (is that how you pronounce it? whatever, i won't be saying it too often i guess)... The concept is really cute and different from Boston. I didn't mind the communal table (but then again, I sat with three randoms at a table in chinatown for lunch today)...and I like their concept of "fresh." But other than that, the eats were seriously lacking. I ordered the chicken yaki soba, after seeing all of these glorious pictures of it. Not to mention the description sounded heavenly. Sadly, I was disappointed to discover that the dish had practically no taste (had to add massive quantities of chili oil). The seafood ramen was a little better - I actually ended up eating most of my BF's. The only thing that did have a nice, strong taste was the edamame with chili-garlic salt on it - and that was only because it was doused in about a pound of salt. I had to have about 5 glasses of water to replenish myself after all of the sodium. I guess it's worth a try, for the novelty of it - - but you can get much better pho or noodle in chinatown for half the price.
(3)
bettina c.
We decided to try Wagamama at the recommendation of a couple of friends and the glowing review it received in the Improper Bostonian. Would I go back? Yes. But I wouldn't make a special trip. The food is fresh. The atmosphere is fun and laidback. My only reservation is that I'm sure there are better noodle shops in Boston (I'm new to the area, so I haven't found them yet). My food: I ordered a rice/ curry dish. It tasted like regular friend rice. It only tasted really good when I poured the sauce from my grilled asparagus on top. My spouce ordered a chili noodle dish which was also decent. Overall, decent food. Was I excited by it? No, sorry. :(
(3)
Alyssa H.
Hmm.. Maybe this was just way too hyped up for me. My friends who had worked in London were so excited for this place to open. I got there and there was no bar. I guess this was the first sign i was not going to enjoy my Wagamama experience. We waited for our complete party and were seated in not too long of a wait. I ended up ordering one of the rice dishes, because the description was chock full of vegetables and I was feeling like I'd been carbing up too much. However, when it arrived the vegetables were few and far between and mostly shredded with a very thin peeler. I couldn't taste them at all. In fact the entire dish lacked taste and was mostly a giant bowl of rice. The other annoying thing about Wagamama is they serve the food as soon as it's done being prepared, so 3/4 of our party was eating while one person was waiting for her meal. I would go back and try the soup, but so far I think it's just a nostalgic place for ex-Londoners.
(3)
midnight i.
I'm very excited that Wagamama is opening its first US location in Boston (and its second in Cambridge!). This place is amazing, everything on the menu is cheap and served quickly and - best of all - it's delicious. I'm not sure what differences this will have from their current European establishments, but I'll be first in line this spring to find out... UPDATE: So, I've been meaning to update this for a while, but haven't had the motivation. In any case, I finally ate there the first week it opened, and it was average at best. The food just wasn't up to par with its European counter-parts, and the prices lost much of their value when seen in US dollars in a Boston setting. In fact, I haven't gone back a single time. The noodle places in Chinatown blow the first state-side Wagamama AWAY... (Rating changed from 5 star to 2 star.)
(2)
Sarah B.
Really great place. First of all - if you've ever been to the Wagamama's in Europe, you know this is a fun experience. Minimalist architecture, high tech ordering system (they magically beam your order from little hand held devices to the kitchen!), fast service, cool drinks, and huge portions make this place pretty sweet. There was a line, but it wasn't too long - and they had you look at menus while waiting. Apparently, in a few weeks, you'll be able to order take-out. The seating is a little weird - because they sit you at long tables, you may be next to a group you don't know. Also - they bring your food out as it's ready "to ensure freshness" so that can be strange if you're used to waiting for everyone to get food before eating. All in all - a pretty awesome place. I highly recommend.
(5)
Felecia C.
Knowing at least 1 person who studied abroad in London and would rave about this restaurant, I had been hearing about Wagamama's Boston opening for the past several months. Discovering that they have separate menus for special dietary needs made me all the more excited to try this place. So, I rounded up some friends and we headed here on a Friday night. There was no wait when we arrived, so we were promptly seated at a completely empty table. Having more than 1 server was a bit confusing when I asked about the gf menu twice and Server #2 had no clue what I was talking about. She did, however, send over a manager with a special laminated menu detailing what I could and could not eat. I ordered the chicken itame and was presented with basically the largest bowl of noodles I have ever seen in my life accompanied by the largest spoon ever crafted out of bamboo. Overwhelming? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely. It was so good that even though I forgot to tell them to leave out the bean sprouts (probably #3 on my Most Hated Foods List), I caught myself actually eating some. The whole writing-illegible-numbers-on-the-menus thing is kind of weird, but I will definitely be back.
(4)
sierra l.
I thought there food was great
(5)
S T.
Only come here, if you are too lazy to make your own instant Top Ramen Noodles and you don't mind burning at least $15. Need I say more?
(2)
John F.
I had heard about Wagamama from my girlfriend, who had spent a year in the UK, and so there was some excitement about one opening in our own town. The excitement was warranted, as the food was delicious! I had the Chicken Katsu Curry, which was really, really good. It was odd at first, perhaps because there was a bit of lemon to the curry that I didn't expect, but it was excellent. We passed on dessert to hit up the Chipyard, but the vanilla ice cream with mango sauce was tempting. The service was really good; they didn't know all of the dishes, but this was their second night of operation, so it's to be expected. The staff was friendly and helpful. I would definitely go back. I hear tell of one coming to Harvard Square, and this would be wonderful.
(5)
Val E.
I used to live in London. That's where I first discovered the wonder that is Wagamama. I dreamed about the noodles for years... LITERALLY. Until I went to Boston, the last time I had eaten at a Wagamama was over a decade ago. Because this is America, Wagamama has been bastardized. In London you sit at a long picnic-style table, sharing your meal experience with strangers. This is part of what I loved about it. Because Americans hate strangers, you get your own table... but it might be a little closer than you're used to to someone else's. Anyway, I still think the food is fabulous. Udon? OMG, I wish I could have it boxed up and overnighted to me. Also? Great hangover meal. Or cold weather meal. Or too tired to cook meal. Or....
(4)
Allison C.
Although I didnt have to wait for a table like some other reviewers. I was really not thrilled with my wagamama experience. Even though it wasnt particularly busy when we went (a Friday around 4:45ish) the place still seemed very chaotic to me. I DID NOT like sitting with strangers and I didn't like getting my food "fresh" meaning 15 minutes before my boyfriend. This left me two choices, I could eat it right away in front of him, or I could wait until he got his, and then mine would be cold, and thus not "fresh." Annoying. I didn't like the ordering process or the impersonal waitstaff who oscillate between the high tech (with their ordering gadgets instead of notepads) and the ultra low tech- reaching in front of me and scribbling things on the paper in front of me. I give it a two stars only bc my meal was tasty, although no entirely filling. I got the pan fried noodles with chicken and ginger. It was really nice. My boyfriend got the chicken ramen. It was incredibly bland and unoriginal and was even less filling than my noodles. The juices were deccent but way overpriced, considering its just juice. I would possibly consider going back to try some other dishes, but now I have a better idea of what to expect. After some of the rave reviews on yelp when it first opened I went in expecting too much the first time.
(2)
Yianni L.
I really liked this place. I was a bit skeptical at first when I noticed all the tables were connected but it didn't seem to bother our meal in any way. I've come here three times and each time I ordered something different. The menu seemed a bit small but the entrees are very distinct and have their own flavors. For being a chain restaurant I think this place deserves some props and I'm sure there are more authentic places out there, but if you're just looking for something a bit unique and you happen to come upon this place, I'd definitely recommend trying it out.
(3)
Tony L.
Due to all of the hype surrounding the opening of this restaurant here in the States, I was looking forward to giving it a try. I wanted a taste of some of the examples of asian food my sister, who lives in London, would have to choose from. I decided to head over there for lunch, and as expected, it looked like a full house and there was a medium-sized waiting line. Luckily for me, as I was a party of one, I was fortunate enough to have skipped the wait for a cozy spot on the corner at the tabletop, perhaps the best seat in the house for people-watching. The menu presented some very unique (if not completely random) approaches to making ramen and how it is prepared in the various ways that it is. I opted for the miso beef ramen, as well as a side order of the gyoza. The prices were noticably higher than the standard prices at your typical ramen houses (6.95 for five pieces of gyoza!). The quality of the food was... again I think the most suitable term would be "unique". The miso broth interpretation was different with what I think would have a more Western influence. The ramen noodles also seemed to be different, and my bowl didn't quite have the right amount of noodles. The slices of beef were an odd option to the dish. I'm still curious enough to want to come back to try out some of their other unique styles of ramen, but if I ever had a craving for just the "regular-stuff", I would probably not want to come here for it. The service was sufficient and pleasant.
(3)
Harry D.
I was happpily suprised with the vegetarian and vegan friendly menu items this restaurant offers. The coconut milk based vegetarian with fried tofu soup is delicious, try it!
(4)
Nick B.
I am torn.... Wagamama is something that I wanted to love, but I can't. The restaurant is a young, hip place with a kind of Euro/international flair-definitely something that Boston needs. I went around dinner time on a Friday. I was given the table of my choice immediately. I didn't mind sitting next to other people. I didn't even mind the whole switching waiter thing. The main think that irked me is the idea that your food comes out whenever. My fiance's food came about 5-10 mins before mine. I got the chicken ramen dish and to tel you I wasn't very impressed. I mean it was decent, but not nearly as good as people of the Wagamama cult would have you believe. I think it was average at best. I also didn't find the portions very satisfying. I would have thought the portions would have been bigger given the cost. The redeeming qualities were: * the superior chopsticks * the napkins (second only to Morton's) * the juice drinks My recommendation is to give it a try, but don't go in thinking it will be the best meal ever.
(3)
christina c.
Thank god for the food being amazing because they still have no idea what they are doing service wise. They have this system which in theory should work well but I have been here 4 times and each time they try to deliver food to us that's not ours and half the time our beers came after our food. I understand that the food comes when its ready so you have to sit there and either eat in front of your date or let your food get cold but can I at least have me beer to suck down while I wait? The food is really good and I like sitting outside and people watching.
(4)
Kristin B.
My boyfriend studied in London and was all sorts excited to see that the chain is branching out to Boston...so we went right away.He was a little disappointed that it lacked the same character as London but wasn't sure how to pin down what was missing. Perhaps the accents? We arrived at about 11:30ish for lunch and had no problem getting a seat but it was getting crowded. By the time we left there was a long line snaked out the door so I would go at odd times or sit on one of the benches with the birds and the moms and the kids and the tourists and the annoying street performers, munch on some snacks, and then run up to the door when you see the line thinning. Maybe a fellow reviewer can let us know how long a "long" wait is, but I suspect that it actually can't be all that bad as they seem to hustle you out fairly quickly.... I hope you eat downstairs because that's the fun part with the sleek interior and lighting and such. There is a lot of code written down on your paper tablecloths, which I was told is because the food comes out to your table as soon as it's ready and various servers bring the food out and need to look at your table to see who ordered what. I like that the food came out ASAP but its not a good place to bring a first date or someone that is a stickler for super-polite "dont-eat-until-everyone-in-the-party-has-their-Âfood" type of person, because someone's food is going to get cold this way. Instead, pledge to share all foodstuffs and just enjoy it as it appears. And don't talk about your personal doctor things either as you sit in communal tables with other dining parties and we can hear all...everything....that you say. My recommendation: The ginger chicken noddle dishes. OUTstanding.
(4)
Amy Z.
Now that I've been to both US locations and sampled several things on the menu, I feel I can justify a Yelp review. The first time I came here, I had the yasai chilli men, which was tasty yet boring. In fact, I really wouldn't order it again. It was the Japanese equivalent of spaghetti with marinara. Now this is more of a Japanese-style restaurant, so bear this in mind. One of my sisters ordered the yasai yaki soba, which I liked a lot better than my own dish. I remember it being not spicy at all, which was mildly disappointing, but I guess not everything has to be spicy, y'know? My other sister ordered the yasai itame, which was so good that both she and the first sister (I have two. Still with me?) ordered it again the next time we all went. I ordered the yasai katsu curry last night, and while it was good, I felt like it was something I could order in just any hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. In one way, it's a good thing, because if you're looking for that same curry sauce you've had somewhere else, this is most likely it. If given the chance, I'll most likely go again, but I'll definitely avoid the Fanueil Hall location because as we were leaving there was a lonnnnnnnnnng line. Also, the people we shared the semiprivate room with were being loud as hell, which was much more irritating than the constant din of a larger restaurant. Oh yeah, and order the edamame with salt. Ohhhhhh.
(3)
K O.
OK, this is a new trendy eating place, that is worth a visit. The menu is based on exquisitely cooked ramen noodles and a hodge podge of "Asian" cuisine. If you are friends are easily impressed with your restaurant stories... go here and talk about how they write your orders in chalk on the table. And the best part is you are seated next to complete strangers in an uninspired "experience creating" space saving restaurant floor plan. FYI: Please know how to use chopsticks when going here.
(3)
Julia H.
So, okay. I had to see what all of the hype was about, so I stopped in for lunch. I was seated promptly, and I liked the long table/multiple parties idea. But then the waitress told me that my food would take a long time since I had requested it without scallions, which made me think that the chefs didn't cook things to order. I mean, how hard can it be to leave out an ingredient in a stir-fry? And then she completely forgot to place the order at all, so everyone around us was eating, and we were still waiting. And then, since we were in a rush, we asked where our food was, and it was clear that she had forgotten us, so the general manager came over and took the food off the bill. And then we asked to have the food boxed up since we didn't have time to eat it anymore, and it came in bowls anyway, and they'd forgotten the edamame. But the food was hot and fresh. And the bill was $6. And the GM was appropriately apologetic. Would this place have gotten 3 stars if my food wasn't free? Probably not. But I'm sure I'll go back. They did seem to care a lot about the customer, and I'm not one to judge a restaurant based on the performance of one waitress.
(3)
Nicole B.
my bosses are huge wagamama friends and have been urging me to go for ages. i finally did this afternoon for lunch and was very happy i did. the prices are reasonable, the menu extensive, and the food very tasty! it's wild enough for the crazy eater but mild enough for some of the more picky ones. i got one of their specials, yaki noodles with 3 dumplings, and a juice for $14ish. i would have liked to see more than 2 specials but the two they had were good. my only complaint was when the dumplings came, my friend who also ordered the same thing mentions to the waiter "oh! i thought the dumplings were steamed." instead of telling/asking her if she'd like to get them steamed he goes "so do you want them or not?" rude dude. however, the dumplings didn't taste greasy or fried. they tasted more baked than anything. good place. i'd go back.
(3)
Angel S.
Fancy cheap japanese in faneil hall. Service were helpful
(4)
Noel F.
Wagamama broke my heart. I used to love the grilled teppan noodles, the ginger cheesecake, but alas, the Faniuel Hall location has been reduced to an unimpressive chain franchise. The cheesecake is off the menu in favor of more mainstream American fare. My noodles were terribly overseasoned. Change isn't always a good thing, and it definitely hasn't been for Wagamama.
(2)
Sandra L.
I spent a year in London and Wagamama's help to bring back that great feeling of being there. Since I am a vegetarian, I always have something to eat here. I have been about five times and the wait staff is always welcoming to give a great suggestion. If you're looking for an authentic Japanese place, then this is not for you. But if you like ramen noodles and sitting in a fun setting. This by no means compares the the original in London, but it's the best you can get in the USA.
(4)
Greg N.
I'm not going to pretend that I can shed any more light on this place, I merely feel the impulse to add my two cents worth. The "european" style seating (we'll sit you wherever you fit, feel free to meet some new folks) reminded me of the years I spent in Germany so I got off to a good start. I liked that the menu was numbered so I didn't have to try and pronounce the names of my dishes. That kinda got screwed up when the waiter brought the food because he used the names so I didn't know what was what. He must have noticed the look on my face because he reverted to the number system fairly quickly. My chili lo-mein (or something like that) was not as spicy as I would have liked. My wife tried a bite and said that it reminded her of asian spaghetti. Don't get me wrong though...I really enjoyed it. She had some kind of ginger chicken with udon noodles. Neither of us had eaten udon noodles before so she was surprised to find noodles the size of earthworms wrapped around her chicken pieces. Trooper that she it, she dug in with gusto and was very pleased with the flavor. She did give up on the noodles though. We both really liked the food, we learned that udon noodles are not our bag baby, and the price was very comfortable. We'll be back.
(4)
Francesca R.
Solid three stars, from me and everybody else. Nope, the food's not authentic but it sure is tasty. I've had several different dishes and they all taste vaguely the same, but in a good way. The service here is better than the one in Harvard Square. You will be sat at the same table as other random people so keep that in mind if you want to come here for your al fresco dining. Inside it's a bit too industrial for my tastes but outdoors it makes for a nice casual night out or breezy lunch. It's a bit less cheesy than other restaurants in Quincy Market so if for some reason you find yourself hungry in this vicinity, Wagamama's is a solid choice.
(3)
Sutee D.
I was both skeptical and hopeful on my first visit. If you understand the format, you'll enjoy eating at Wagamama. The service is fast and efficient which is good or bad, depending on what you're in the mood for. You may be sitting next to strangers and not everyone's food will come at the same time. You also can't make special orders (they couldn't even make my noodles extra spicy but they had some chili oil condiment available). Their menu is one of the rare menus that actually helps you decide what to order. The dish names are exotic and some are hard to pronounce, but everything is organized in neat categories. The flavors are bold and satisfying. I tasted my friend's curry, and I have to say I never tasted anything quite like it. I am surprised that this British chain could bring flavors like to the mainstream in such an efficient manner. The prices are a tad expensive for the fast style, but the combination between efficiency and originality promises to give Wagamama good repeat value.
(4)
Kim D.
I love this place - super casual and great fresh, fast food. Plus children are welcome! Whether you eat here in Boston or in one of their other restaurants (spotted around the world) you get exactly the same delicious meal. Try no. 23 - fillet of salmon sitting in a bowl of steaming hot soup and noodles.
(4)
Matthew V.
It is a good place to drop in on if you want some other flavors that are not usually on Boston menus. The last time I was here my food took a really long time to come out. My buddy was almost finished with his meal. The wait staff warns you about this but this was a lot longer. The very attractive female manager came out to apologize and took it off my bill. I was not expecting that at all. Thank you attractive manager. The wait staff all work together pretty hard it seemed like. The food is always awesome and the juices rock. Definitely will go back again and again. Its funny it does not have more stars. This is pretty much the only chain I can still go to if that helps chain haters like myself. Good luck all.
(4)
Amie R.
I've only been here once, and I definitely want to try it again! I went with a few co-workers on the afternoon that it opened. It took a long time to be sat and it was a bit chaotic, but once we sat it was totally worth it! The seating is kind of "shared seating", at long bench tables. The waitresses use hand-held devices to instantly put in your order / print your check which was pretty cool. The portions are HUGE, and they'd better be for the price! I think the least expensive was around $8, which to me is a bit much for lunch. They had some really interesting drinks - I had the peach iced tea which was great. I'd like to go back and sample some of their wines too... Food was awesome, nice atmosphere.
(4)
Calvin C.
For all the hype surrounding Wagamama, I thought the food was just okay. While it wasn't bad, it definitely wasn't worth the price. Especially when you're paying $13 for a bowl of ramen. However, I might be slightly biased after having ramen in Tokyo, where it's insanely good for a bowl of egg noodles. We went four days after they opened and it was crazy packed. The line was so long, they actually hired a security guard to make sure people didn't cut. Once he left though, it became a free for all. People were ready to knock everyone and their momma out of line to get some noodles. Luckily the food comes out real fast. The staff wasn't kidding when they said people are out within 15-30 minutes. I ordered the chili beef ramen, which was decent, but didn't really have any flavor to it. On the plus side, the egg noodle texture was excellent. The cuts of sirloin steak were also very good. A little on the chewy side, but substantial. While they may be known for their ramen, I think the best part about Wagamama were the curry dishes. Their yasai katsu curry was excellent. It was a combination of sweet potato, eggplant, and butternut squash deep-fried and coated in panko breadcrumbs. It also came with a side of white rice and salad. I wasn't impressed with Wagamama, but I would definitely give it another try. The service is very fast and friendly, and best of all, they have booze! Nothing like ramen and a bottle of Asahi.
(3)
Janice T.
Does Wagamama have a cool kid atmosphere and cool kid waitstaff? Sure. Does it have nice outdoor seating? Well, yeah, okay. Sure. Is the Asian food knock-your-socks off delicious. Well....it's okay. "Meh" comes to mind when describing their food. The dumplings and noodle dishes were quite bland; they lacked depth of flavor and just did not even impress at all. And the prices are kind of high for the kind of food you get. Ramen noodles with some veggies thrown in at home taste just as good.
(2)
Terry W.
I too was excited to try Wagamama as many of the others on this post were. I thought the food was good quality, I was comparing it to Fugakyu on the Udon dish, so I figured that for half the price it was pretty good. I was a little surprised that being an asian/japanese themed restaurant, no asians were present at all...and like my wife's mom would say if the restaurant is full of white people, probably not that authentic. I mean the wait staff looked like I took a trip down my Sid and Nancy memory lane. I asked for an apple juice for my kid, considering it was 85 degrees out and the waitress just spoke without really looking at us that we had to order the kids meal to get the drink? What the EFF Do you think we are going to do Bikini Kill. Not that I thought that the service was bad, just odd with odd questions. I just kept hearing Gordon Ramsay saying what the hell is this christsakes. Anyway..I will go again possibly incognioto as I don't want the waitress spitting in my food if she remembers me. I don't think that would be a problem however as food comes out randomly and usually each dish came from a different wanker..I mean waiter. Cheers Mates, Oh..this couple was there when i was, and they had a small 1 year old, well the high chair they gave the people wasn't the correct size for the table or bench they seat you at. I would recommend leaving the kids at home...
(3)
Share W.
Boston...here I come again...yasai yaki soba i can live on you once again!!! Oh how the mouth waters at your wheat noodles glisten through the mix of eggs, onions, peppers (red & green), onions, mushrooms, and topped with red pickled ginger, sesame seeds, & fried shallots. The chicken tama rice, although not as visually-pallet impressive (a mound of rice in the middle of the dish, chicken, mushrooms and veggies swim in a brown gravy around it), makes up in it's simple, but delightful taste. Don't forget: fried gyoza are a great start to a meal! Edamame if your vegan.
(5)
Simon L.
I like to think that I don't succumb to hype, but in this case, I think I did. Wagamama, with a reputation that long preceded the actual opening of the restaurant, is pretty much decidedly average. Copping their concept from Republic in Union Square (New York), or the other way around, these two noodle joints are carbon copies of each other--right down to the little electronic devices the waiters use to send orders to the kitchen. Republic has two decided advantages here, that being a socialist design scheme and a far superior location. The food at Wagamama was good--salty, tasty--but nothing special, and the location is a definite drawback (unless you happen to be so unlucky as to work in the area, as in the case of Jake F., a friend of mine who intro'd me to this place). I guess I wish Wagamama was a little more innovative and a little less trendy.
(3)
Vincent P.
Sat outside on the LAST day one could in 2009 (Dec 3) - they took the tables in on the 4th - a nice way to end Autumn in NE. Service was very friendly and fast. Food was a great value and tasty - a very serviceable lunch place, especially given that it is tourist heaven.
(3)
Ona K.
Not worth the money, especially when Boston has such a stellar Chinatown that would have been less than half of what Wagamama charged. Sharing is almost impossible when ordering the apps, as they are puny. Service is poor, maybe due to the size of our party that guaranteed gratuity at 15%. However, we always tip much more than 25%, but tonight left the tip at 15% because it was less than the server deserved; in fact, the server really should not have received any tip at all. To sum up, it's not that good, it's much over-priced, and the staff is lazy.
(1)
youngmi a.
i've been here a few times, each with the hope that it will be better but it's still just "meh". it looks so promising but it's pretty disappointing. on my most recent trip, my fiance and i ordered the chicken dumplings, kare lomen, and the chili men. the filling in the chicken dumplings was so mushy that i didn't want to eat more than one. sad because they cost more than a dollar per dumpling! the chili men was pretty tasty but the top layer of the dish was super burnt. i had to cut the tops of my tofu cubes off to eat it. the kare lomen was just okay. most likely won't be back and not a place i'd bring visiting friends to.
(2)
Jessica E.
Lots of menu options, all overpriced. Tasty but not delicious or outrageous or worth traveling for. They try too hard to find hip looking asian kids to be their waitstaff, and then when the service sucks, I wish they'd just take Sally Next Door or whoever, anyone who can see that the entire table's glasses are empty and have been for 15 minutes.
(3)
Natalia T.
the food wasn't too bad, pretty average however, there are plenty of other noodle places in Boston where you can get much better meal for much less. the seating is awful ... if you feel like having a completely random person stare at your plate, then this is a place for you! and seriously, why do you need to write my order number on the table napkin? why not just put in on a post-it and stick it on my forehead. and how great is it when all of your friends got their meal, and you're still waiting for the salad ........... why do they bring out one dish at a time, not our whole party's order?? the waitstaff just seems untrained and pretty much clueless
(2)
Arnab M.
I friends who have spent time in London have raved about Wagamama ad nauseam, slightly perplexing since it is just another chain. However, after spending a summer in London myself, I realized that this appreciation for mass produced Asian fusion food stemmed from the fact that affordable-yet-delicious food is an alien concept and servings larger than the size of your palm are rare at fancy and hole-in-the-wall places. Wagamama provides a variety of light but filling options, quick and efficient service, Japanese beers, sake among other items at very reasonable prices and large portions. The British chain established first of it's American outlets in Boston recently and they certainly live up to the standards set by their British counterparts. It is much needed in Boston as dining options in the Boston area is comparable to London trends, though not quite as dire. I certainly enjoyed my faux-Asian meal! I recommend the noodle soups and Kirin Ichiban or Asahi beer if you like light beers.
(4)
nicole p.
Very, very disappointing. If I had wanted tasteless, limpid noodles, I would have overboiled some pasta or stored ramen leftovers in liquids for three days. The food tasted like mass prepared food from a cafeteria. You know the type - when all the sauces and cooking ingredients are pre-mixed and it becomes the cook-by-numbers method of cooking. Someone orders a #134 - get noodles from pot 3, add pre-prepared accessories 6 and 8, add three squeezes of red bottle and two squeezes of clear bottle. Mix. Like most of the tourist eateries at Faneuil Hall, this place will flourish because there are tourists who do not know any better.
(1)
Sara S.
Not worth your time or money. Food is decent but incredibly salty. Also, you can't "add" anything to your meal, only "take ingredients out". For example, I tried to add chicken to a vegetable noodle dish and they wouldn't do it... but there wasn't any other option loaded with veggies. That annoyed me. I'm not a big fan of the communal seating, nor do I like them writing my order on the table... but I guess that's just how they do things. I recommend other Asian restaurants close by, like Ma Soba, which has great noodle dishes.
(2)
cricket c.
The ebi chilli men was really bland. I've had it at the other Wagamama many times, and though it's never exactly bursting at the seams with flavour, this was insipid to the point of being inedible. Also, the cooks were loud and obnoxious. One star for the ginger cheesecake, but overall: what a waste of $35!
(1)
gado.gado D.
Somewhat new in the stuffy Faneuil Hall. Watch the waitstaff write down your order numbers on table placemat-paper. 713 is for H2O. This is the first import from London. The design of the space is not as cool as other Wagamama restaurants in UK or world (perhaps it's the Boston thing or the execution by us architecture firm). Check out their website and cookbook.
(4)
Mary c.
This is for people who want to try Japanese food for the sake of saying they ate Japanese, but are afraid of "new" things. The menu is very generic and caters to an American and un-Japanese palette... I ordered the Chicken Fried Rice with snow peas which was very bland and the person I was with ordered stir fried udon, which was just as boring. The fried gyozas were ok because of clean frying oil so it crunched, but the filling was very bland. I don't know if it just opened or what (I went on November 2nd) but the waitstaff seemed very scatter minded like they had no idea what was going on nor confidence in what they were doing. A blonde woman with her hair in a pony tail picked a dish off of the kitchen counter, looked like she was going to drop it off to us but instead scoweled and put it back on the kitchen counter. She looked again at the kitchen counter, then to our table, picked it up again and looked at our table then walked past and AROUND to the other end of the restaurant... the circled BACK to us and asked "Did you order this?". On the other hand, I did like the atmosphere and it was very clean and everything was cooked to order so it was nice and hot, even after our Udon made a huge circle trip around the restaurant. If you want real Japanese food, look elsewhere for ramen/udon shops.
(1)
Matt L.
A new addition to Quincy Market and the first of its kind in the U.S., this out of the ordinary place has some very inventive menu creations and some great flavored food! Its not your average noodle place and there are soups, salads as well as steamed dumplings and other nice selections! I was impressed at the fusion of flavors and the combo service that provides quick easy delivery of the meal. The seating was a bit strange sitting on benches and the decor is like a train station in front of a kitchen. Not sure I would eat dinner here...but lunch was very good! An excellent addition to Quincy Market!
(3)
Jessica C.
I have been to a Wagamama's overseas so I understand the hype and was looking forward to introducing the place to my husband. All in all - it was a cool place and a nice addition to the area. If you want to check it out for yourself- here are my rules to enjoying the place: Rule 1: Go early. Lines are no fun... do the early bird special. Rule 2: Be prepared to have fifteen million servers assist you and not one will really give a damn about what happens while they're serving you - but suddenly they all want to say "Have a Nice Night" in tandem on your way out. That's just the way it is... everyone is there to serve you but no one is really there to wait on you. Does that make sense? Rule 3: Just eat it. You're not really going to know everything that's on the plate, but I bet it will taste good. I got a bit annoyed by the third time my hubby help something up on the end of his chopsticks and said, "What is this?" as I didn't have a clue either - but it tasted good... Hum, in hindsight, maybe that's also not a good thing. Rule 4: It's all about the experience - you'll sit too close to strangers, you'll have ink all over your forearms from them writing on your placemats, and the dishes will come out when they want them to come out, not when you all want to eat them together. It sucks a bit.. but that's Wagamama's. Just eat the noodles in front of you and love it. It's an Asian chain - just like McDonald's after awhile you realize it's not about the service or the quality of the food - it's the experience and for the most part, it's a good time out.
(4)
Maggie H.
This place was pretty good. It is just not something that I would crave or really go out of my way to go back. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. Fine place for a lunch, but don't expect to be blown away.
(3)
Deb K.
Been there twice now. Not impressed. Salad was literally swimming in dressing/potentially grease from the chicken and it was small and overpriced. First time they let me get a kid's meal (that's why I gave the extra star). Won't be going back and it's even on my way home from work.
(2)
San D.
It's okay. I've only been once to this location, well, any location. A friend from out of town loves this place so we went during the first week of opening. Hopefully the hype (as well as the 40 minute line) died down. I hear the London one is better. But maybe it's just because it's in London.
(2)
J R.
Welcome to Quincy Market! Congratulations! You've made it past the amazing street buskers. You've navigated the cobblestone walkway, hopefully without injury. You controlled your Cheers urge. (I love the 80's too.) Alas, no, it's not the one from the show, and, no, they don't know your name. Welcome to Wagamama! It's completely mediocre! (But, in a good way) I have to say that I've enjoyed my meals here. I've had the: Chili and garlic salt edamame ($3.95). Miso soup ($2.50). Chicken Itame ($12.50): stir-fried chicken breast with bok choi, red onion, red chilies, scallion, red pepper and bean sprouts. Served with rice noodles in a spicy coconut and green chili soup. Chicken Chili Men ($11.75): stir-fried chicken, zucchini, red onion, green and red peppers, snow peas and scallion. Served with soba noodles in a chili sauce made from chilies, ginger, garlic, onion, lemongrass, sweet red pepper and tomato. Yaki Udon ($10.75): teppan-fried udon noodles with curry oil, shiitake mushroom, egg, leek, shrimp, chicken, yaki chikuwa, bean sprouts, green and red peppers. Garnished with spicy ground fish powder, black and white sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled red ginger *Teriyaki Steak Soba* ($13.75): grilled, sliced sirloin steak on a bed of teppan-fried soba noodles with curry oil, snow peas, chilies, red onion, scallion, ginger, bean sprouts and bok choi. Garnished with cilantro and black and white sesame seeds. And, I usually get an Asahi Super Dry 22oz bottle of beer ($6.95). The *Teriyaki Steak Soba* was delicious and perfectly grilled medium rare. That was totally unexpected. You'll also find communal seating, which can be disturbing to some. Especially when the stranger sitting directly next to you uses "like" often and incorrectly. You'll notice the cooperative service system, a system where you don't have just one specific server. You'll also notice the server writing on your menu/place setting as to keep track of your ordering. You'll notice you don't receive all your parties main courses at the same time, they are delivered as soon as they are done being prepared. Overall, not bad, decent food, kinda fun atmosphere, nothing special, feels a little trendy. Just try the Teriyaki Steak Soba.
(3)
Andrew F.
I happened upon wagamama purely on accident and was pleasantly surprised. The food is cooked to order (if you are with friends, this means you may not all eat at the same time) and it delicious. There are a number of vegetarian options on the menu and the prices are very reasonable considering the ample portion sizes that are doled out. I got curried tofu and rice in a huge bowl, served with miso soup and pickled what-nots to munch on. A great stop - definitely worth checking out.
(3)
Liz M.
Normally I am a fan of Wagamama and relish those workday lunches when I allow myself to detour there from my usual virtuous salad. Tonight I ordered Cha Han for take out, a rice dish described to include chicken, shrimp, egg, mushrooms, snow peas, corn and scallion. I dug around in the rice and greens and finally found 3 tiny, lonely pieces of dark meat chicken, 3 or 4 individual corn kernels and a couple of mushroom slices. Shrimp? Egg? Not a hint of either. Combine that with confused staff at pick up. Swing and a miss this time Wagamama.
(2)
Joe M.
Okay, I want to make one thing clear. The food here was REALLY GOOD. This might have just been bad luck, or an oversight, but the food was good enough that I'll try it again and give them a second shot. My story- I went in there, Friday night around 9 PM. It wasn't terribly busy, there was no line and empty spots to sit. So me and the girlfriend try it. We get seated no problem (WARNING- The floor is VERY SLIPPERY) and we look over the menu, excited to try something new. Now, these tables, they're like park benches. So another couple gets seated at the end of our table. We're still waiting for someone to come over to take our drink over when our waitress goes over and asks the other couple what they want to drink first. At this point, no big deal. Maybe she was in the back and just saw two couples at her section. Not even worth a thought, she'll ask us next. Yeah, she doesn't. But hey, she's getting them their drinks and she can't carry four at once, she'll ask when she gets back. Yeah, no, ignored again. At this point, I tell my girlfriend do not flag our waitress down. I want to see how long it takes our waitress to realize there is a second couple. At her table. With menus and not even so much as water. Girlfriend's a waitress too, she knows that's pretty much a red flag. So a third couple gets seated at our table. No way they can forget us now.... Yeaaah, they did. They got their drinks too. By this point the lady I'm with just gets the waitresses' attention so we can finally start to order. 20 minutes wait time to get our drink ORDER in. Okay. So now that the venting's done... Food came out without a hitch. Can't speak for the girl, she didn't get what she expected. I however got curry with the same Japanese curry taste I expected. Not as MUCH curry as I'd hope, but next time I'll go and order the side of sticky rice, side of curry, and side of fried shrimp, and mix them together myself. The food taste itself was great, as I said. Service was so off-putting though it ruined my appetite. I'll go back to give them a second chance. Even though it wasn't that busy, maybe I just caught a new waitress. Maybe it was just an off day for her. Not gonna condemn a place for one bad experience. I'll update my review at that time.
(2)
Julie T.
The man and I came here when we first met, I'd say almost two years ago and I didn't enjoy it. It was such a long time ago so I can't exactly pinpoint what was wrong with it, but it was bad enough that we decided to never go back. I guess this is a pretty horrible review cuz I can't specify anything, but if it's been two years and I refuse to go back? I'd say I had a good reason at that time. I guess the food just didn't wow me taste-wise. I do remember thinking that everything was very bland, but I'm a non-taster anyways.
(2)
Michelle D.
My sister doesn't like it, but I've been a fan of Wagamama's since it opened up as a big hit when I was studying abroad in London. I had been quite excited for its expansion into the states (i have been to the harvard sq. one here only). My love for Wagamamas has to do with my love for modernism - I worked in modern furniture and interior design settings, and there is such thing as modern food - simplistic, clean, healthy, tasty, and satisfying. Wagamama's encompasses all of these characteristics, and to me, it is a wonderful place to go when you are relaxing on the weekend and want something interesting yet good for you. Hopefully Bostonians do appreciate the sense of modernism for the masses that is paired with the attempt at keeping things customized to each individuals needs. If you have yet to try Wagamama's then I'd say give it a shot and see for yourself just how good it is!
(5)
Trish F.
I don't wanna go laundry on them.. but here's my list. Go grab some treats, because this is a long one.. *After waiting in line for 15 minutes (which was fine).. it took an additional 15-20 minutes for the waitress to even pass our table. When she finally did grace us with her presence, she said that she couldn't actually take our order. What's the point of those fancy hand helds? When asked why she couldn't, she gave an explanation so non-sensical I think my brain went dead for a few seconds. I blame her for my lost ability to tie my shoes. *After the wait was up the waitress asked us for our order. During that time.. we had heard mumblings from people and staff alike that they had run out of fried tofu, most meat, and some of the seafood. My friend asked if this was true.. to which our waitress responded with, "Uh yeah." She wasn't even going to tell us herself! We were starving at this point.. so we picked the simplest dishes possible. *A couple minutes later.. she came back saying she had run out of our appetizer, which she thought was gyoza. I replied, "Well that's what we initially wanted.. but you said you ran out so we ordered the vegetable version". She said, "Oh right," then walked away. Another waiter came up and placed, I believe, the Tora kara age (deep fried chicken) on the table. I told him that we didn't order that.. but honestly, we'd take it because we were starving. He walked away and I overheard our waitress tell him that that was actually what we ordered, but "those girls just forgot or something". The chicken wasn't too bad. *Our food comes out and I've thrown away my watch at this point because I don't even want to know how long we've been there. Mine is okay, overpriced ramen blah blah blah. My friend had gotten tofu in her dish but saw none after digging around for it. We flagged the waitress down, because we've apparently become the hated table, and the waitress asked if that is in fact the dish my friend ordered. C'mon, you wrote our order on our table (paper place mats)! There's actually proof. lol So she took it away and came back and there are a few pieces of cold tofu thrown into her soup. Funny part of it is, the girl sitting next to us had ordered tofu before us and was kind of pissed that my friend got it first. The waitress then explained that they were out of fried tofu, but she could maybe get her regular tofu. I'm no chef.. but are there so many special ingredients that tofu goes through to become fried? I'm confuzzbled. *After they had closed the door to the public about an hour before they were supposed to since they ran out of food, I took my long coat off my lap (those cubby holes are kind of ridiculous and small) and put it on the bench next to me where no one was seated. A waitress came up to me and said, "Uh, didn't they tell you to put your coat underneath the table?" with a look that likened my coat to an animal that I was feeding table food. They closed the doors..no one was sitting there.. Is it a fire hazard to put your coat on an extra chair? Has no one ever done that in the history of restaurants? Now I know.. sh*t happens. Hell, I worked at a pizza place that ran out of dough! The thing is.. when that stuff does happen.. you charm your little butt out of the situation. You overcompensate for the lack of everything else by being nice or something. I'll admit when I'm sassy and give attitude, but we were incredibly nice because I actually felt bad for them. They were comping a lot of people but I guess since we were actually a nice party and didn't huff and puff (to their faces).. they didn't feel the need to be nice to us at all. I know I know... should have said something.. but shouldn't they also have noticed as well? Bah. Okay. I'm done. Time for some yoga. Or carbs.
(1)
Nora G.
Not all that
(2)
Alan L.
wow, they must sell haterade at this wagamama... i became addicted to wagamama while i was a student studying in london. this is one of those places you want to try everything on the menu, but that first dish was so good you can't deny it... when i heard boston was receiving the first US wagamama i made a trip specifically for it (and to visit my brother at BU). yeah, this may not be for everyone, but the food is delicious if you're into trying new things. my dad is the guy who orders a burger everywhere we eat out, and even he liked it.
(4)
Shang S.
Wagamama may be fun and the way they take your orders on a little PDA would delight the technophile, the food is nothing else but overpriced and dressed up ramen. Do not go if you're very particular about Asian food. I only order out here on late work nights because their takeout is fast
(2)
SAMMY D.
CONS -awkward service -annoying order-on-table scribbling -lame water-glass-like beer glasses -bad food delivery timing -no draft beers -confusing menu PROS -heat lamps in outdoor seating area -short wait tonight (Friday 6/08) at ~9:00pm -cheap if you share two apps and an entree Conclusion: Would I go again? Only if I were really hungry, there were no line, and the tables had been converted from picnic style to restaurant style.
(2)
Ian W.
I had the same experience as Dagmar, namely inedible Ramen noodle soup. It even smelled revolting. The only thing worse than an American fast food chain is a British fast food chain.
(1)
Matt W.
I should perhaps give this place another try, but my first impression is that the popularity of Wagamama is centered around the cool name and not the food. I ordered the Yaki Udon, which came out after a few minutes steaming hot. My complaint, and I heard this echoed by the couple next to me, is how bland the food was. I doubt my dish would have had any flavor if not for the tablespoon of chili powder they dumped on top of it....literally just a pile of powder half heartedly sprinkled on top. The first few bites I had of the dish were pleasing but I quickly grew bored of the dish and even considered not finishing it....except I was ravenous. They do give you complementary green tea....almost makes up for the over-priced, bland food...ok not really.
(3)
Nicole N.
Quick service! Not the biggest selection but what they do have is definitely tasty. Enough veggie options that I felt like I had choices. Convenient location if you want to see some historic Boston or just happen to be shopping downtown. I wouldn't recommend it if you're on a date unless you're out in a group or doubling up with another couple. It isn't the kind of place you go for privacy. The servers are pretty friendly and there is plenty of table space (including the shelf underneath all of the family-style picnic tables for your bags).
(3)
S S.
Someone told me that Wagamama mean canterkous or child like in Japanese, not sure how it applies to this Asian fusion resturant. This is chain. I love the food here, greasy and healthy. This is a community dinning experience. They have tables outside too in Fanueil Hall. They write your order on the table . The portion are decent , ample but not overwhleming. I ve had their salads and noodle dish, they are usually done very well. I like this place.
(3)
M M.
this place is great! my sister took me here when i first moved to boston 2 years ago, and she said the service used to be awful. since i've been there though, they've been great! (apparently a lot of the staff got switched out) anyway, it's an interesting place, and i've never had a bad experience there.. one time they forgot to bring out my takeout box and they made me a whole new dish the food is delicious! and there's tons of it! (any kind of udon is amazing) mmm...
(4)
H C.
OMG... Am I really back in the Bay already? Here I was, thinking on the stuffy United plane that I would be welcomed by cool Bay breezes. Oh, I was wrong. Smacked by the freakin' heat wave. So here I am, in total darkness, hoping my stuffy room will cool down, and writing my Wagamama review after taking a shower and now I'm sweaty again. *sigh* Okay, here we go. Wagamama was a total disappointment. I was hoping for the glory days, when I visited a few separate Wagamama establishments in London circa 2000 and 2001. Oh, I have outgrown you... Let's put it this way - there was no wait at 4:30 p.m. - so if you're worried about a wait, I can guarantee lots of empty tables at this time. Maybe the hype has died down. Yet, despite available servers and a handful of customers, service was *not* speedy. To start, the menu was super-disappointing. Let's see, why not create a menu with two columns. Column A would have wet udon, wet soba, dry udon, dry soba, and rice. Column B would have pork, beef, chicken, vegetarian, and seafood. Then, you would draw a line between your selection from Column A to your selection in Column B, and hand the menu to your waiter. None of this waiting for the waiter to find a pen to write on his fancy electronic gadget. None of the same waiter defacing your paper placemat with ugly numbers on the corner and edge. And finally, none of this expensive pricing only to get a few shreds of snap peas and sprouts, and some not-so-tender slices of beef atop stir fried soba. All for a whopping $13.75 (I had to try the teriyaki steak soba, a dish specially created for the Boston location). In retrospect, that money would have been better spent on a lobster roll or cream puffs. Damn! boston.com/ae/food/artic… I DARE Wagamama to come to the Bay. DARE THEM. The local yelpers would scream bloody murder. Let the tourists frequent this place. I'm done.
(2)
ron k.
I rather pay $1 for instant noodles.
(1)
Helen L.
Okay, I LOVE this place. And I'm Asian. It's not what I call REAL Asian food, but it's got this great not-really-authentic-but-sorta-tasty Asian taste to all their noodles and soup dishes. I love it. The cafeteria seating doesn't really bother me, although the fact that they serve their food as it comes out instead of altogether at the same time is kinda awkward. Because you might get your food and your friend will be staring at you while you eat. Hmm. But other than that, I love it!
(4)
Allison B.
not great. not bad. but one thing is for sure - overrated. if you have any friends who studied abroad in london, i'm sure they've told you countless times that wagamama is the bee's knees. but apparently everyone just loved it so much because it was cheap (relatively, by london standards). like i said, the food is just fine (albeit underwhelming for all the hype) and the fanieul hall location is good if you're entertaining tourists, but if you just want lots of delicious noodles for cheap, there are tons of other and better places in this city.
(3)
Judi D.
I've eaten here twice, once for Saturday lunch and once for a week day lunch. Both times the place was about 3/4 full, so we didn't have to wait at all for a table. The service was a bit awkward on both visits, like the servers haven't gotten the hang of the ordering system. Also both servers seemed like they were trying to project some sort of cool persona, when they should really be concentrating on being good waitresses! For the first meal I got a noodle soup with tofu and vegetables. It was huge! Everything was tasty, although slightly bland. The second time I ordered yakisoba. My companion's meal came out immediately, before our drinks had even arrived, which was strange. The drinks came out about 2-3 minutes later, and my meal arrived about 2-3 minutes after that. Not terribly awkward, but what does it mean that your meal takes less time to prepare than your iced tea? I was much more pleased with my entree this time. One of my complaints with thai-style curries is the vegetables are always huge and thus half-raw, but this dish had smaller vegetables but they were also well-cooked. The pickled red ginger on top gave it a nice kick. I only ate half of it and got the most pleasantly packaged to-go box I've seen in a while. I've been hearing about this place for years and years so I don't know what I was expecting, but what I got was a solid noodle joint. The space is pleasant and clean and definitely parent and visitor friendly. They need to work out the kinks in their service. Overall I'd say keep your expectations low and you'll be pleased.
(4)
Sarah R.
I periodically crave the yaki soba. It's also my pre-race meal the day before a good run. Because I crave it, I rarely order anything else -- but I can vouch for the edamame with chili and garlic salt, as well as the excellent coconut ice cream. Service here is fast and friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(4)
Adam S.
Cool place for a casual lunch or dinner. Table turnover was quick so, although the line was out the door, we only waited about 10min for a table. Food is very reasonably priced, though I thought drinks (non-alcoholic) were a bit on the expensive side but interesting and original. Interior and furniture is minimalist yet comfortable and the place is well-lit. There was none of that dim mood lighting (at least upstairs) which is often bothersome. I definitely recommend.
(5)
eileen b.
I hate to be the pube in the toothbrush here, but I wasn't blown away. Service was spotty- understandable for a new place, but there are plenty of tasty noodle joints around here that don't leave you feeling like you just fell off an assembly line.
(3)
Amy D.
Cheap, delicious food, with helpful and quick waitstaff. I went on a tuesday evening at about 8 and it was not crowded at all (harvard sq). My food (a fried eggplant and sweet potato curry) was delicious, my friends mostly got udon dishes which they also enjoyed. I will definitely come here again
(5)
Daphne M.
It ain't perfect, I grant you that. But ultimately, after several visits to a few different London locations and two to this new Boston one, I am hard-pressed to find much fault with the quality of the food. It's not gourmet, but it's really tasty and you can tell it's freshly made. I've had different dishes every time - I've tried the ramen, the chili men, the teppan, and most recently a curry rice dish (all yasai, or vegetarian, versions), and they were all really good. The moyashi soba relies a tad too much on salt instead of other seasonings, but otherwise for a high-volume restaurant like this it's all quite good. I give especially high thumbs up to the yasai katsu curry - thick, zesty sauce over veggies that have been fried to a melted-soft texture, but still retain all of their natural flavors, and plenty of rice to soak up the overflow. The desserts are also delicious, if you're adventurous; the chocolate cake has a sour plum filling in Boston, and in Britain it's wasabi. I am not crazy about the serving system, and the Faneuil Hall location looks WAY too yuppie for my idea of wagamama. In London, the two locations I went to were in windowless basements, and were minimal by necessity, whereas in Boston, it's got that sleek, IKEA-style minimalism that looks intentional and thus prententious, instead of pleasantly simple. And after going there once on a Sunday and waiting a good 30+ minutes in line at around 3-4 p.m., I would not bother going on a weekend, as it's really not great enough to be worth a long wait. But I enjoyed it, and when the Harvard Square location opens up, I will be back from time to time. Very glad they chose Boston for their first American location.
(4)
Elizabeth M.
I've been here twice with the same person now, and as much I enjoy variety at the table we ended up ordering the same thing. I put off writing the review, so I'm going to give very basic food descriptions. The first time we were there, we ordered edamame and noodles with steak, rare....It came out and although the noodles were tasty, the steak was, well? Well. No good. We did ask the sever about it and he was super nice and brought us out rare steak to enjoy. The second time... I don't even remember what I ordered. All I remember is that I didn't get my first course, and my drink came out after my meal. Honestly, I wasn't even pissed. The poor girl serving us was so "in the weeds" the whole time, that I saw her screw up on at least two other tables. Everyone has an off night.
(3)
Brian M.
Great to see Wagamama's opening here - the food is top-notch. On my trips home I usually manage to cram in at least two visits. The one caveat I would make based on my visits to several Ireland & UK ones, is that it is not a place to go for a leisurely 'catch-up with friends' sort of meal. The seating and the service is geared towards a high turnaround. It's not obnoxious at all, but not a place for any sort of laid back / intimate eating experience. You go here for the food - it is very tasty and pretty reasonable
(4)
Tracey N.
If I could give this 3.5 stars, I would. Been twice, once when it first opened and once this past weekend and was surprised that it wasn't mobbed during lunch. Yes, it's Ikea-esque (but better), and the food is good. Prices seem a little high for Asian fusion food, but the portions are just right--filling but not huge. I like the kids menu, and my little guy was surprised that the ramen wasn't anything like Cup of Noodles. He had to sit on my lap to eat because the seats were too low, and used the shelf to push against me the whole time. The desserts were good (try the coconut ice cream), but not amazing. Our service was good, and the icing was that they broke up our bill, and the tip levels and amounts are printed at the bottom of your receipt to make the math easier.
(3)
Joe B.
Made it there last w/e. Cold (outdoors/20 minute) wait and shared a table in the basement. Nicely done space. This place is about volume, so they come for our order before we get a chance to really look at the menu, but that's fine. They have wireless devices to input your oder, so its almost better to order by number than menu item, as the wait staff has no idea what the corresponding number is for each dish, at least not yet. Then the strange thing is they write your order number on the placemats. Servers then come down and announce the dish, walk around and look at the numbers on your placemat. If you don't pay attention, someone else will get your order, especially for things like Gyoza, which are fairly widely ordered. Little chaotic, maybe they will work this out. Had the Yaki Udon Teppan. Lots going on in the dish, but everything was muted. I would expect the dish to have a lot of flavors, heat and nuances, but they were not fully there. Like everything was toned down. Strange. Dish was OK, but not great. The chili oil on the table could not revive the lack of flavors. So had the chicken katsu curry dish, which looked like a mess. Chicken was nicely breaded and fried, but the curry sauce was a mess all over the rice and chicken. Again, same muted flavor experience. Our server was fine (a little caffeinated), the orders came when they wanted, and the food looked good for mass production or current first class airline food. Yakitori was reminiscent of squirrel on a stick. Duck Gyoza were frymated and served with a wrong choice sauce. Bill for three soups and two side dishes with 2 soda and a beer with tip was $72. (An international chain of 40+ Wagamamas in 10 countries I noticed they just copied the euro prices without converting.) Probably no need to revist it. Londoners may love it whatever that means to us but I think its best chance to flourish here is to create a wider if not inflated way for regular palates to try something different. Perhaps it will trickle down to the local ethnic spots and Bangkok push carts. If you haven't already a must try is Saporro Ramen or Tampopo at the Porter Exchange.
(2)
Kara S.
I love eating at Wagamama's in London, so when we heard that one was opening up here, my friends and I were very excited. We all met up soon after it opened and had a big dinner party there. I think because we had such fond memories of it from London, we were somewhat underwhelmed by the Boston one. The food was good but not great, and I personally avoid Faneuil Hall like the plague. So I highly doubt I will be back. I will, however, be giving the Cambridge outpost a try one of these days.
(3)
Jenny M.
I was trying to find an allergen-friendly restaurant to eat at with my sister. She loved her dish, the very garlicky "chicken chili men". I have many food intolerances right now but Jay Lam, the manager himself, took 10-15 minutes during the busy weekend lunch time to help me figure out what I could eat. Overall, they seem very attentive and catering to people with allergies. We liked the atmosphere. I'd likely come back during another visit to Boston.
(4)
Nate Y.
I've been there twice. First time had a wait but was seated pretty quickly considering the number of people waiting. Appetizers were very good, and the main dish I had, a soup-based beef ramen, I thought was pretty good. I did have a col and found it was very comforting. We also ordered dessert which were very good as well. Service was friendly and a bit off-beat with writing your order on the table with chalk. I looked forward to trying it a second time for the udon since that is what I enjoyed most when I visited Japan. So the second visit I had the chicken udon, but this was disappointing. The fried udon noodle was more sticky and oily rather than a bit crispy. Maybe it was because I was used to having udon in soup, but they didn't offer this. The appetizer was good, and their lime mango cake dessert was excellent and refreshing, but I didn't like their chocolate cake. It tasted like it was from a bad box of cake mix. My ex who went with me the second time didn't like the soup ramen she had, felt it lacked any taste. So if you do decide to go stick with the appetizers and desserts. Nice though that they do serve beer and wine.
(3)
Sean M.
A step up from "Panda Express". The food is bland and over salty. It's a nice space and the bicycle-messenger-as-waite-staff theme is hip too. I like the ordering by number scheme, very efficient and the staff have the numbers memorized. The food comes out in a timely fashion but it's over priced for the quality level(see initial comment). High point for me was the duck gyoza. Chili Chicken Ramen and Yaki Soba were a big let down. What we need in Boston is some those great Ramen places like they have in Honolulu and LA.
(2)
Eliz O.
Generally speaking I like this place. I know it's Japanese but something is missing... I have had a few different dishes every time I come here and I am still looking for my favorite one. I don't really like spicy, so right there I am limited in my selection. Today I had number 77, which is the equivalent of chicken/shrimp fried rice. In a huge bowl, there were only three (yes I counted) pieces of shrimp. The chicken was all black meat and I hate that part of the chicken. I have had better experiences here before. I am not a big fan of the picnic-like seating, the benches are uncomfortable and there is really no place where to put your stuff. Overall I like it there since it's close to work and fast enough, but if I had to choose I wouldn't go there too often, once a month is enough I think.
(3)
Amanda W.
I really wanted to like this place because I absolutely love a good bowl of ramen on a chilly night, but I just can't do it. The ramen is overpriced, flavorless, and inauthentic. It is a fun restaurant to go with friends, but the ramen itself is extremely disappointing, and obviously it is all about the food. I am still waiting for a good ramen place to pop up in Boston, and Wagamama certainly does not fit the bill.
(2)
jenilee p.
alright alright. i'm still not too jazzed by the soggy ramen noodles that could be immediately housed by ken's offering... BUT after returning here over a year later, i'll concede that the miso beef broth is pretty darn tasty. if you are here, you can surely enjoy at least the liquid portion of an order of miso beef broth.
(2)
cyndi L.
You guys in Boston are so lucky! Wagamama opening up in Spring '07! I've eaten at many of the locations in London and everything was consistent from location to location, quick service, good food and atmosphere. The school cafeteria style seating may not be popular with some but it's kind of a retro thing. The prices aren't too bad either.
(5)
Laura P.
This must be a love it or hate it place, and while I don't hate it, I certainly can't rave about it. The food was just so-so. We had the grilled asparagus with a decent teriyaki-like sauce, but for $7, the portion was a bit stingy. I had the yasai itame and the noodles were just ok- the veggies were a bit overcooked. Service was mediocre but nothing really to fuss about. My friend and I sat next to a bunch of obnoxious females who couldn't stop taking photos, so that really didn't help. I doubt that I'd go back because Boston has much more to offer in the same price range. Wagamama is going to suffer the consequences of being in a touristy location with not much emphasis on culinary delights (though inside Fanueil there are several great take-out places, most notably the Indian place).
(3)
Meredith S.
Having been to Wagamama overseas and loving it, I was excited to see that they had opened up shop in Boston as well. We had a group of 7 go on a Friday night around 8pm and we had no trouble being seated pretty quickly. The food was as fabulous as I remembered it and the stem ginger cheesecake and key lime mousse were out-of-this-world good. I ordered the #41, a vegetarian noodle dish which I loved, which featured a wide variety of vegetables and the perfect amount of pickled ginger. Once the Harvard Square location opens, I'll probably stick to that one, but the food here did not dissapoint.
(5)
k s.
Great menu, fresh ingredients, fast service in a bustling environment. Great place to grab a quick bite.
(4)
C C.
i've been incredibly excited to try wagamama, and finally had the chance this afternoon. the staff, however, were so incredibly rude when we walked in that we walked right back out. their loss, since it was completely dead and they missed out on a very hungry party of 5 that would have tipped well.
(1)
Bridget D.
The first time I went here during the summer was for lunch with some girlies from work. One of the girlies had been to Wagamama in London and was pumped to try it here. We sat down at the long tables and we were kindly greeted by an attractive Russian lad. My small vegetable frame was pleased to see so many options. I went for the yasai yaki soba and the other ladies chose a chickeny dish. They warned us that things are brought to the table as soon as they are ready. We found that strange but accepted it. So my noodles came with all the assorted veggies that I could not identify. The tastes were interesting and I enjoyed the different flavors. However, I ate it with the eyes of my lunch companions beating down on me for their food had not arrived. Ten minutes passed since my plate was placed in front of me, "oh go ahead, eat!" they said to me. Ten more minutes passed. We flagged down a waiter, any waiter we could spot. Ten more minutes he said. Time was starting to tick by, my food was gone, and the end of lunch hour was rapidly approaching, but still no food for the girls. Finally, we couldn't take it anymore and asked them to pack up their food to go. The manager came over and comp'd their meals and delivered the takeout bag. I tried it a few more times, because work was comping dinner. We got takeout and it was usually easy to order over the phone. The edamame with chili garlic salt was always good. I once ordered the asparagus side for my friends and it was four stalks of celery with some sauce on top! 4 for like 6 bucks! I refuse to eat asparagus becuase of what it does to your fluids. My friends seemed to enjoy it, the actual asparagus not the fluid scent. I enjoyed the yasai katzu curry over rice because it has fried sweet potato and a decent curry sauce. The moyashi soba vegetarian style ramen was not so good. I found it very oily, floating on top, and the flavors were not very pleasing. The last time I went here was for lunch with a friend I had not seen in a while. It was not very busy when we went, shortly before noon. The atmosphere is fun with lots of people, but it can be awkward bumping elbows with strangers. It is nice also to actually be able to have a private conversation with a friend. Anyway, we both enjoyed our food. I had the yasai yaki soba again and he had some ramen. We shared the vegetable gyoza appetizers. Everything was decent, but by far the best part of the meal was when we stepped outside and were greeted by a pleasant British chap. He was conducting a survey of our experience at Wagamama and offered us 10 bucks for our time. It was short and sweet and the ten bucks were crisp in my paw. Overall, I think the prices are a bit high, but it is in a very touristy area. I like most of the food I have had, but I never crave it.
(3)
Mina I.
Wagamama opened at Faneuil Hall on April 23rd! I finally made it over for lunch yesterday - right now it is still a hot spot! I waited in line for 30 mins and it was just me, not going with a group. The staff were totally on top of everything once I was seated though - food was served up faster than anywhere else I have ever been for lunch in the city. I got chicken ramen & gyoza. The gyoza was the best- the chicken raman is yummy buy very simple.. my table was missing it's condiment tray, otherwise I think I would have put a little little bit of chili to kick it up a notch. You can also get chili chicken ramen but my server said she loves spicy stuff but that is even a little too much for her. Overall a good experience - for my ramen, gyoza, & diet pepsi was $22 (including tip). Fun popular new restaurant!
(3)
Justine D.
My sister LOVES this place and was all pumped up for me to come and try it with her. Honestly, I didn't think it was all that great; then again, it wasn't all that bad. Here are my likes and dislikes: Likes: Lots of healthy options, vegetarian options, whole grain options, etc. But also there are meat, fried and less healthy options Service was really good. A friend we were with was disappointed that he had regular noodles instead of whole wheat ones in his soup - there was an error in the order. They were happy to make him a new one and also offered us dessert to make up for it. They were really nice about it. Very clean. Food is cooked to order. Dislikes: Nothing on the menu really captured my interest. It was a pretty boring menu, in my opinion - especially when compared w/ all the other asian places around. Food really wasn't all that exciting. It also didn't taste that great - just average. The prices were not that great either. Average $10 for a dinner dish - which is pretty typical in Harvard Square, but for what you get (essentially a pile of noodles and some veggies/meat) it doesn't really seem worth it at all. Because the food is cooked to order, it all comes out at different times for each person. They have this sort of gimmicky thing about that- it should be so fresh that everyone ends up eating at a different time. Personally, I'm fine w/ the way other restaurants do it - put the food up under the heater and have it wait til it's all ready and bring it together. I was halfway through my meal by the time my sister had hers. If I hadn't started to eat, it would have just sat there in front of me, cold. No-win situation there. Personally, by choice, I wouldn't return there.
(2)
Ryan M.
Seriously, what is up with the servers?! The whole disinterested, soft spoken act needs to change. The food on the otherhand was quite good. Started off with duck gyoza and then had a delicous bowl of chicken ramen noodle. I thought the portions sizes and prices were quite appopriate for the quality and the location.
(4)
Jamie H.
Recently had lunch here with some friends. I had a really good experience. I had a nice spicy chicken dish. The food definitely surprised on the upside for me. Points off for the seating arrangements as its bench style. If you don't want to get to know your neighbors its not a good spot. Also the lack organization led to one of my friends to get the wrong meal brought out. Otherwise the food came out pretty quickly.
(3)
Thomas M.
Been there a couple of times, food just does not do it for me. Expensive for what it is -- noodles and a little bit of meat and veggies. Service okay, family style seating. Food comes out at different times. Beer list weak. Food is not very flavorful, it is almost like they are trying to hard to be hip and cool, and not paying enough attention to the food.
(2)
Jennifer B.
I love Wagamama!!!! I had it in England and was so happy when I found out that it was opening here in Boston. Great place to eat. I love the ginger chicken udon especially. check out my review of Wagamama, other asian restaurants and Boston area eateries on my food blog. emptyfridge.wordpress.com
(5)
Rory R.
Oh man. What an odd concept! Go out to eat with your friends but don't expect to be able to eat when they do even if you order at the exact same time. This concept might fly in the UK but it just doesn't work here. I asked about the strange practice of brining food out separately and I was told it was because "all the food is cooked fresh and to order". Last time I checked and of the other DOZENS if not hundreds of other restaurants at which I have dined also cook my food to order and can manage to time it so that all people in the party get their orders at about the same time. For some reason they also scribble all over your place mat. Which I guess does add or subtract from the experience but is just weird. The staff is almost pompous about the fact that they can't time you order correctly. They don't have appetizers because again they can't figure out how to serve food. Here's a hint guys; put the appetizer order in first and then put in the entrees. Doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that out. As warned I did get my dinner before my companion so I sat there like a civilized person and waited for by friend to get her dinner. Thus my food got cold. My dish was ok (probably better if I was able to enjoy it hot). It was a bit salty and the veggies didn't seem all that fresh. The whole concept I find aggravating and wish they'd adapt their service model to better fit the dining experience to which Americans are a custom. There are far better noodle joints in Boston than this. I'd give it one star, but they do an excellent job training their staff. They try to make it enjoyable it's not their fault that they can't bring out the food together.
(2)
Diana C.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I saw that my favorite London staple was coming to Boston and I was definitely that girl who waited in line opening night to get some of the yaki soba and ginger chicken udon that I had been craving for the last two years... I've been back a number of times since then and it is always delicious, but never the mind-blowing, toe-curling experience I had remembered it to be. Something is definitely missing... Maybe it's the one hour wait in a line that wraps halfway around Faneuil Hall or the hit or miss service... Don't get me wrong- That was always an issue at the London locations, but the hot accents more than compensated for it. At any rate, the food is still good enough to warrant a four star review and it keeps me coming back to battle the tourists week after week. Definitely worth at least one visit just to say that you have tried it.
(4)
Laura L.
I originally fell in love with Wagamama two years ago when I was in London. When I heard is was coming to Boston, I was thrilled. The reason I loved it so much was the vegetarian dishes seemed to be really high quality. I went last night and wanted to share my thoughts on the yasai chilli men dish I tried last night as well as the teryaki steak soba, which my boyfriend tried. The yasai chilli men was the perfect level of spicy, but the quality of the vegetables was a little low. I find that the quality of most vegetables in casual Boston restaurant isn't good anyway. I would go with the yasai katsu curry which had better vegetables (when I tried it in London), but it is less spicy. The teryaki steak soba is listed as an undercooked item on the menu, but when my boyfriend got the dish, the steak was well past well done. He saved it by adding chilli oil from the table to the steak.
(3)
Sarah R.
Wagamama is a great quick, light, inexpensive lunch/dinner place, and that's all. I became annoyed with the restaurant as soon as I learned they do not have a restroom, you have to use the community one all the way in the middle of Quincy Market. I did enjoy my shrimp noodle dish, but thought it unnecessary for the chalk writing on the table. My biggest complaint is the same that some other reviewers wrote too, that the food comes out when it is ready, therefore, not all together. This just seems like a trick to make it easy on the cooks and waitstaff to not have to put the effort in to bring out everyones food out at once. Would I return? Yes. The prices are great, it was quick and easy, and I did like the food. I also want to try the fresh fruit drinks.
(3)
Sam C.
I think Wagamama is great. It is what it is - an affordable and clean place to get a decent meal. I spent a year in London eating Wagamama at least once a week. When I returned to Boston I was excited to see they opened on nearby in Fanuel Hall. I ordered the same thing I frequently got in London (which was #27 - the bowl of weat noodles, veggies, and tofu) and it was exactly the same as I remembered it. My two friends both got different noodle bowls and they were satisfied. There is a wide variety of flavors offered on the menu. You also get complimentary green tea. I can even say the meats, especially the chicken, are of much better quality than overseas. Yes, there are more authentic places, but I'm still a fan of Wagamama!
(4)
Joey M.
I was so happy when I heard this place would be opening in Boston. They're everywhere in the UK. It's fun, inexpensive and mostly healthy. They have good vegetarian/vegan options. I recommend the Yasai Yakisoba or the Chilli Men. I love that they have whole wheat noodles. The portions are big and very filling. The appetizers- raw salad, steamed dumpling, asparagus, etc are also all good. I don't like when I have to sit right next to someone else which is why I take one star off. They also won't do simple things like substitute tofu instead of eggs which is just stupid, especially when they says things are "cooked to order". Will still go often, though. Both locations are similar, which it was in the back bay though.
(4)
Russell D.
What will happent o my old review
(3)
Jen O.
Let me just preface this by saying that I am not generally a fan of Japanese food, nor am I very adventurous when it comes to food choices in general. I am, however, a ramen addict who had to cut myself off from the stuff cold turkey a few years ago for my general health. So when my friend told me that we were going to a restaurant that serves ramen, I was quite intrigued. We all ordered the chicken ramen meal which comes with 3 gyoza (dumplings) and a drink. The ramen was unlike any ramen that I have ever had. It was a heaping bowlful of noodles, fresh chicken breast, broth, spring onions, and some greens - spinach I think. The gyoza were also delicious and came with a lovely dipping sauce. Their table set up is a bit out of the ordinary - you could end up sitting right next to a complete stranger. When we went it wasn't busy so we had our own area. Definitely a nice alternative to the typical restaurant fare in the Boston area.
(4)
Kristin Y.
My very first experience could have been alot better. When I ordered my food I asked without onions, which I was told would take a little longer and come out after everyone else's. I was fine with this but wasn't expecting to wait twice as long. There were four of us and the food came out all except mine. After another 20mins I finally inquired where my food was since everyone else was just about done with their meals. Apparently my food was brought to a different table and I had to wait for them to make it again. It would have been nice if someone had told me about the mix up. Meanwhile, we never got refills and had to flag someone down for another "706." My food was compensated since it took forever to get to me. I did enjoy my food but the experience could have been alot better. I was also very confused with all the wait staff that kept apologizing for my food. Our original waitress disappeared and never returned.
(1)
Rob C.
I'm not surprised by the lack of good reviews; it's tough being a chain restaurant these days. I don't have problems with Wagamama for what it is: convenient, consistent and fast. We came here with 3 hungry kids and 4 hungry adults. They got the kids food to the table super fast and the staff was very attentive to everyone. I think the total bill for 7 (including apps and a couple beers) was right around $100 - so not bad at all for that many people in boston.
(4)
PatrickJ T.
We were staying close by, and one night we tried this place. It was one of the few places still open. The food wasn't too bad. I cannot recall the exact names of the dishes we tried. All I remember was that it was okay, the service was fine, and the price was not too expensive.
(3)
Jackel J.
Too strange tastes of Japanese food here but maybe only American like those tastes.
(2)
Lauren B.
We decided to try this place because it looks cool from the outside and we were freeezing.... The menu is hard to decipher because everything has froo-froo names when really, each expensive dish is rice or noodles with meat and veggies. Also, if you are thinking of going out or being romantic after eating here, I'd suggest going else where because your night will be miserable... (lots of running to the bathroom and burping nasty breath). If you do decide to stay, the lettuce wraps were okay and the specialty drink with ginger in it is quite good... kinda like a mojito. If Asian food is what you're in the mood for, I'd save my cash and do Chinese take out.... its slightly questionable but so is this place.
(1)
Michael C.
Stopped by Wagamama for lunch on a Sunday and got the Dynamite Chicken on the waitress' reccomendation. It was very good and perfectly spiced but not overpowering. My friend ordered one of their gluten free items on the menu that they advertise and they had a little trouble putting it together, but in the end they were able to do it. It is a little pricey for a chicken and rice dish, but given the location it is to be expected. The server was friendly as well.
(3)
Quang H.
Aight, here's the run down. I ordered the Blackened Chicken with brown rice, seaweed salad, and the mango salsa. The only reason why I wanted this dish because I apparently have high blood pressure (trying to avoid the fried junk), and I'm making "life style changes" (hahaha) to avoid getting a heart attack by the time I'm 30. Brown rice was toooooo dry in my opinion. Seaweed salad was subpar. The chicken was a tad saltier than I thought, but I liked the salty/spicey rub on the chicken. Best part of the dish was the mango salsa. It looked like Bolocco's mango salsa, except this had a more a lemony taste. Very good addition to the chicken. Service was pretty good. The waitress was timely in terms of filling my water, and the wait for food wasn't too bad. In essence, not a bad place to eat, but it is a bit pricey. Come prepared for some good eating and lots of tourists.
(4)
Robert B.
Wagamama, you're okay in my book. Sure, the aloof waiters scribbling all over your placemat in an attempt to crack some sort of ancient code is kind of obnoxious. And your food coming out at different times 'because it's made fresh' may be completely defeated by the fact you are a polite person and wait for your dining guest to get their dish, too. And of course then by the time your food actually comes you have the Fibonacci code going across your place setting, but whatever. It's decent food and serving sizes for a price that won't break the bank. It might not be phenomenal, but it certainly isn't bad. There are lots of yummy dishes, actually. And considering what's in the area, it's one of the better options and a good lunchtime spot.
(3)
April M.
I love wagamama! I've eaten at all 3 in Boston multiple times (Harvard Square, Pru and Fanueil Hall). This review encompasses all three locations. Now anyone whos had real Japanese food would probably scoff at that. So go right ahead. Scoff away. I know it's fast food, I know it's a chain. But I also know my taste buds are happy when I eat here. It's kind of a weird set up. You get seated, and to be honest, the seating is kind of uncomfortable and I imagine it worse for taller people. There is this little bag-bench under the table, which gets kudos for creativity and efficiency, but negative points for obstructiveness. Don't like. Anywho, there are place mats, which triple as part of the menu and a scribe for the waiter, who will obnoxiously scribble everything you order past your arm onto your placemat. I must say, I do not understand why they do this, when everything is punched into their handheld ordering device anyways? And it certainly doesn't help them place the meals when they bring them out. They have to ask just like most waitstaff. So annoying there, but not enough to keep me away. Just an FYI. As for the food, you've got quite a selection from rice dishes, noodle dishes, soup dishes and more. And plenty of yummy apps. I highly recommend the edamame. I get an order every time I go. Super yummms! Main course, I highly recommend the Ginger Chicken Udon, if you're into that sort of thing. I don't eat seafood, so no comments there. The Dynamite Chicken stir fry was VERY spicy. Not the spiciest thing I've ever eaten, but whatever was in there was def. giving me a burning in my stomach. I couldn't help but imagine it on the way out (which ended up not being a problem, FYI). They have some neat drinks too. Tea, raw juices (excellent) and even beer. For desert, I'm in love with the Coconut Reika. It's enough for at LEAST 2 people, so split one. Wait: A+, I've never had to wait for a seat, even with a group of 6+. Service: A+, always friendly, smiling, quick, attentive - although the staff at Fan Hall was kind of aloof Food: A, I know it's a chain but it serves up some fresh and tasty options Price: A, I think bag for buck factor is good, about $15-20 pp Give 'em a shot!
(4)
Kitty C.
I can't bring myself to enjoy Wagamama as much as my coworkers try to get me to. It just has too much of an artificial American taste, I don't get the sense of authenticity or potent flavors.
(1)
Christine T.
Pretty bad. Not worth the money. Does not hold a candle to the London establishment I remember. The fried duck dumplings were just awful -- soggy, no longer crispy; flavorless small-quantity filling; westernized dipping sauce whose flavor was completely off-putting. The ramen broth wasn't exceptional; the vegetarian ingredients weren't flavorful either but I can see how it would appeal to some vegetarian purists. The pickles had been hanging around for a while, so they lacked a nice crunch but were still okay. When I asked about their iced tea, the waitress indicated that it tasted like regular tea to her. (The table placard indicated to ask your waitress about the specially-brewed tea of the day! -- or something like that.) So, it was just black tea -- nothing special like green or white iced tea -- which I expected from an asian fusion place that already modified other key foods. Yeah, table needed some deep cleaning. Sticky from months of liquid and food abuse. The wait service was for acceptable (she was nowhere near cheery but did a decent job) and the free street entertainment from our patio seating. The bathroom is halfway down the long Hall, through throngs of tourists.
(1)
dave r.
Solid venue for vegetarian lunchtime cuisine in Fanueil Hall! I work near North Station and get starved for choices around these parts, so about once a month I leg it here to eat one of the maybe 12 vegetarian choices. The staggering array of choices nearly knocks me unconscious sometimes! I used to frequent the one in Dublin -- which I'm pretty sure was cheaper? -- so I can easily get over some of the tourist-y comments people have made about this place. But there are a few things I love there. The yasai itame is a great coconut noodle soup with tasty chunks of tofu. The yasai yaki noodles are a pretty solid choice, topped with yummy pickled onions? peppers? not sure, but they're pink. And there's a chili dish that, well, is not really hot in any way, but I also enjoy.
(3)
Ting W.
Great food, fast service, but expensive price.... Definitely in a tourist trap location but food was surprisingly good and well made. I had the yakisoba with salmon, definitely recommended.
(4)
Michele G.
I've been here on a few occasions, since it's so close to my abode. I love a great bowl of soup, and the lore kamen never disappoints. Well, maybe just one disappointment: For the price, I wish there was more of it. While striding through the rain for a very late lunch, I stopped in, craving the Thai-like goodness of this noodle soup. I ordered, and out it came delivered in a to-go bag with fork, napkin, and chopsticks. I returned home soaked and eagerly ripped off the soup lid. It was about 2/3 of the way full. For over $13, I expected it to be spilling on the placemat as soon as I opened it. Sad. However delicious it was, it did not fill me up, and I made some toast. Come on Wags, give a girl the full value of your addictive soup. Don't make me beg.
(4)
Thaila S.
I'm very surprised by the poor reviews because this is my go to place for lunch in the area and I've always had a terrific meal and great service. If you're looking for a nice, casual sit down place for lunch with very good food, come here. I usually have the yasai chilli men, which is spicy noodles with an array of vegetables and tofu. It's really delicious. Today, I tried to branch out and had the yatsu curry with brown rice. AMAZING! The curry sauce especially was fantastic. My friend and I also split some veggie dumplings which were very good as well. They have lots of vegetarian options, which is wonderful. The servers are always friendly and are very helpful about answering questions, and the service is prompt. Highly recommend a visit.
(5)
kea b.
I love it here! Great place for kids! The waitress are nice. Great noodles! YUM
(5)
Gina E.
For those of you who lived on ramen in college, you MUST try this for the real deal. Of course, you'll not want the dollar packets anymore though. I had Wagamama's first in London ten years ago, and I've raved about it...and craved and missed it since then! Ten years later, and it still exceeds my expectations. We ate here even though we were only in Boston for the weekend and it's a chain--it's that good. No restaurant bathrooms, so you have to use the Quincy market (crowded) ones. Outside seating available, but not really dog friendly, as dogs have to stay off the patio and behind the chain railing.
(5)
Jenn S.
I LOVED Wagamama when I lived in London. It was one of my favorite places. So when I found out they had 2 in Boston? I couldn't have been more excited!! Some friends and I went on a GORGEOUS day an got a prime table outside, where we were able to watch the Faneuil Hall performers throughout our meal. A very nice addition. I didn't try their fresh juices, which sounded great, but one of my friends did get an elderflower drink (a "sparkling health drink made with flowers picked from specially cultivated hedgerows, delightfully fragrant") - we all tried it and it was very nice! She also ordered the edamame, which we all tried as well. My friend and I shared an order of the gyoza: five grilled chicken dumplings filled with cabbage, chinese leaf, chinese chives and water chestnut. Served with a [VERY YUMMY] chilli, garlic and soy sauce. I think my fiance ordered the Yaki-soba: teppan-fried soba noodles with egg, chicken, shrimps, onions, green and red peppers, beansprouts and spring onions. garnished with mixed sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled ginger. Also tasty. And I LOVED my Chicken Itame: stir-fried chicken breast with bok choi, red and spring onions, red peppers and beansprouts. served with rice noodles in a spicy coconut and green chilli soup. Garnished with coriander, mint and a wedge of lime. I don't know how healthy mine was, as it was coconut-based, but I think all-in-all, it's was a fairly healthy option. I cannot wait to go back and try all the other amazing-sounding options on the menu. I highly recommend this restaurant! Be adventurous and try something new if you go. :)
(4)
Jess K.
AHHH! I went last night (opening night) and the menu is the exact same as in London and delicious! I studied abroad for a year in London and definitely went to Wagamama's way too frequently. I HIGHLY recommend the Chicken Katsu Curry (spelling?). It is amaaazing. I work around the corner from here so this is going to be dangerous. Also though, if you remember the chocolate wasabi cheesecake (I think it was cheesecake?) from the UK restaurants, sadly they don't have that here. They do have an assortment of desserts but no ginger ice cream like I was looking forward to either!
(5)
Jeff D.
I'm trying to think about a way to be kind about this, but I can't. This place sucks. Out loud. Perhaps our expectations were set to high. I'd heard good things about Wagamamas from a friend in London. Also, every one of the four people who went had just spent time in Taiwan or Japan and had experienced multiple times what good noodles were about. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentson: I know good noodles sir. And these are not good noodles. My major problem is this. How does one claim to be a Japanese-style noodle house and have no pork on the menu? Rich, fatty pork broth is the absolute key to any good ramen. And this magical animal appears not once on their menu. That fact so disappointed me that I ordered curry rice instead. The ones I make at home are far superior. I also tried my wife's beef noodles. Bland. The broth, instead of being rich and tasty was watery and bland. Both of my other friends had identical complaints. We got some dumplings as an appetizer, and those were the highlight of the meal even though any of the restaurants in Porter Exchange can do it better. In conclusion, even if you're paying, I'm not going to Wagamamas again when there are better, cheaper sources of noodles available to me.
(1)
Jim O.
I have to give this restaurant 4-stars based on a truly gracious gesture offered by the manager. We met our daughter and her fella for dinner at 6pm on St. Patrick's Day. Clearly the staff was exhausted from two days of green mayhem. We were seated inside at a corner so had windows on two sides out onto the sea of green outfits and ordered promptly. We had a long wait for our Kirins, and a long wait for a shared appetizer, including a hiccup when after 10 minutes or so a waiter came by to apologize that the appetizer we ordered was no longer available. One by one our meals were delivered to us. We excused them not serving us simultaneously, given what they probably had been going thru. However, the fourth meal didn't arrive. After pointing out the omission, we were assured that it would be out soon, the manager was handling it. After a further delay the fourth meal arrived, but without the substitution of noodles for rice we requested. Finally, the noodles did arrive. We all enjoyed what we were served, salmon, swordfish (a bit dry), steak entrees, and the place was comfortable and not too noisy to hear each other. Basically, a three star experience. However, when the check arrived, the waiter said the manager comped the 4th meal, as it arrived unacceptably late to our table. We hadn't carried on or threw a fit, the manger did what was right. 4th star from me, thanks wagamama.
(4)
Julie C.
love the food here but seriously, get some new & somewhat attentive servers. the person who took our order never came back..someone else took care of us. WTF?
(2)
Kunal M.
Never tried ramen before, not a big fan. Service was good, dumplings appetizer was good.
(2)
Bob L.
Big fan of lunchtime at Wagamama. Very fresh ingredients in unique dishes not found anywhere near here. This chain is welcome to come to Providence - soon! Sitting family style seems a bit weird at first but everyone gets that. Here's hoping you don't sit next to a loud talker. My favorite here is the Ginger Chicken Udon and a glass of the Raw Juice. Really giant portion so you'll most likely be taking some back to the office for "second lunch".
(4)
Rachel B.
I always order chili-chicken ramen, chicken wings with Kirin beer. It's a clean environment and OK service. Great place to go and have noodle soup but I think other dishes aren't that impressive. 1 order of Coconut iced cream was nice to share with three people. There is no in unit bathroom in this restaurant so try not to order finger food for the date.
(4)
Mia N.
I've only been here a couple of times, but I usually order the Chicken Katsu Curry since the portion sizing is perfect to fill anyone up for dinner. The curry isn't spicy enough and that's the only downfall with the dish.
(4)
Erica S.
Vegetarians, stick with the moyashi soba. And start your meal off with edamame and a glass of fresh-squeezed juice, such as carrot.
(4)
Mimi H.
I really have nothing bad to say about Wagamama's. It's really yummy Japanese fusion. The salty Edamame was so good. I've had curry and cold spicy noodles. Both dishes were great! The style the serve is interesting and fun. Yeah this place wins.
(4)
Karlis B.
Wagamama is a collection of contradictions. Their slogan is "positive eating + positive living". And given the menu, it's (seemingly) easy to choose a healthy option because the ingredients are fresh and they use spices (instead of fat) to pack every dish with flavor. But just last night, I ordered the chicken itame and there was a flood of oil sitting on TOP of the spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup. It was stratified layers of oil and broth. I wanted to ask for some paper napkins to soak up the grease--which is what I have to do when I eat pepperoni pizza! The only way I could explain how that could happen is that the chicken, with all the oil it's cooked in, is just poured in the bowl. So there I was shaking each bite in the broth to push away the oil before I lifted my chopsticks. Sigh. Another contradiction: all the place mats say this place is great for big groups. Which is just wrong seeing as they do not have a system in place to serve everyone in a party at the same time. I love that the food is cooked to order. But when there's only two of us a party, why is the food arriving 10 minutes apart? What's gonna happen when I bring a group of 10? I'm not trying to find out. For Asian soups, I'll stick with Le's or Pho Pasteur.
(2)
Scott J.
Yum! This is a fun place to dine. Wagamama chose Boston over NY to introduce their London-based restaurant to the United States. It's Asian fusion, with an emphasis on noodle and rice dishes, focuses on bringing fresh ingredients to you as soon as the dish is ready. Unlike other restaurants, you receive your food immediately after it's prepared, meaning that you might not start eating at the same time as your tablemates. The seating arrangements are interesting, too. You sit at long tables on benches (coat hooks at the top of the windows) next to other patrons, providing a more authentic experience to say, being in Japan. Servers write down your order using numbers on your placemat; ours had a great sense of humor and was quite friendly. This was my second time visiting this restaurant and certainly want to go back for the quality and experience -- plus, the view of Quincy Market is excellent, too -- even when it was raining.
(3)
Francisca W.
went there last autumn/winter (or was it yet another year ago?) when they first opened for a couple months. heard good things about the restaurants in london so thought we should give it a try. waited a good 20 or so minutes because the place was packed! once seated, liked the clean decor and all, but thought the bench seats could render a bit "unromantic" to some. well, it's a cafeteria-style ramen place (read: "fast food" in japan) anyway, so i don't know why anyone would come there for first dates. i believe in japan, this kind of places would have been self-served, but i guess they want to adapt to the western cultures, so they added other perks and made it into a real restaurant. menu items looked attractive; everything was calling my name i could not decide for a while. the food that came, honestly, was not superb, delicate, or gourmet in any sense, but we were not (i hope nobody is) going there for that level of food quality. as an everyday, casual dining joint, the food is acceptable, if a bit pricey for that matter. service was a little rushed and slow due to the workload (it was a saturday, i believe), but wait staff was polite and professional. overall, a good experience, and would return if parking in the area isn't that unpredictable. :)
(4)
Jamie S.
Wagamama is my favorite downtown take-out place when I'm stuck working late at the office. I can really only vouch for one thing on the menu -- miso beef ramen -- but man, is it good. Having been there once to stay, I can echo what others have said about the mediocre service. And the whole thing where the server writes my order on my placemat always feels like a violation of my personal space, but maybe that's just me.
(3)
Maria P.
I was in the area to meet a friend and I was hungry so I stopped by Wagamama. I got the chicken dumplings which weren't very good. They were doughy and the filling was bland, the dumplings seemed like they were reheated and not freshly made. There was hardly any chicken in the dumpling. I also got the yaki soba which was filling and decent. It was topped with some pickled ginger and shallots. I didn't care for the pickled ginger but the shallots were a nice addition. The egg and chicken in the soba was well cooked and was a nice touch. It was quite greasy and loaded with sodium though so it isn't really a healthy option. Service was ok, not impressive in any way but functional.
(3)
Ash T.
Pros: Great location in the heart of Fanueil Hall area, Wait staff is decent and service is prompt. Food is served right after its prepared, but not everyone's food comes out at the same time which can be annoying if you're vigourously slurping down the noodles and your spouse/date is foodless for that moment. The Chicken Chilli Ramen is good. Cons: No beer on Draft. Price is a little too high for Ramen type of noodle dishes.
(3)
Anne F.
I fell in love with this chain in London and the U.S. stores have lived up to my memory. The food is great and fresh, though a little carb heavy. I don't find the place pricey at all, especially since the food is so good and the portions are very large. All in all, this is one of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Boston.
(5)
Kelly H.
what's so special about this place?? is it even japanese?!?!?! is it "asian-fusion" cuz it's cooked by non asian people? cuz it's not good... i should have know and just turned away after i saw the color of the ramen... saving grace was that their duck dumpling's fillings were tasty... but why fry it?? makes the crust hard and yucky... seriously, this place is ONE and DONE... only thing good about this place is it's fun to say the name... that's it.
(2)
Karen B.
what's that word the yelp community uses when places are sub-par? oh yeah. meh. but the freshly squeezed juices are good.
(2)
Kristina S.
My first time at wagamama was when I was traveling in England. Went to the one in Liverpool with good friends and ordered the chicken katsu curry. What a treat! The one in Liverpool also has some awesome sparkling elderflower. Went to this one in Boston for the first time about a month ago with my cousin and his bf. We had a most excellent time. I ordered the yaki soba. Thennn I went here just last weekend, when visiting Boston again, and had the grilled chicken curry, which was just as wonderful as the chicken katsu curry, but a tad on the lighter/ healthier side. Recommend wagamama whole-heartedly! Great location in Faneuil Hall and outdoor seating, too!
(5)
Daniel P.
I finally came here for the first time this week. The drinks are pretty tasty, the sweet potato fries are PERFECT, and the steak I had was cooked fantastically. It was a thin cut and I ordered it rare, expecting it to be more of a medium rare. But no, quite rare. And delicious. I'll be back here again. And maybe even again.
(4)
J J.
We got the pad thai and the beef ramen. Thought they were better than other Japanese restaurants around. The fruit smoothie was so fresh.
(4)
Leighann F.
Like a child to those checkout lane candy stands, like a moth to a flame...I am to noodles. Just getting the idea into my head, I have to have them. And there is little restraining me from doing so. A noodle shop in some form, pho place or ramen option now sits within minutes from, more or less, where ever I am. Wagamama in Faneuil Hall was conveniently on the way from Eastie to South Station...if you consider walking in the opposite direction from where you need to be going, through throngs of misdirected and distracted tourists, a convenience. For obvious reasons, Faneuil Hall is not a spot I frequent, so it should be pretty darn clear at this point how much I wanted these noodles. So noodles I wanted and noodles I got! A piping hot bowl with superfresh ingredients, (the quality of the chicken was really impressive) and perfectly spiced broth. The ratio of noodles/veggies to broth wasn't exactly in the proportion that I would have liked (always err on the side of a few extra veggies and noodles Mr. Chef), and the noodles weren't the ramen that I like so much at Mentai. Wagamana is to noodle shops as Olive Garden is to your Italian grandmother's homemade meatballs. Or your friend's grandmothers. Whatever. The point here is that it's a chain shop with chain interpretations of a traditional foodstuff. Like Chipotle (which I LOVE) to a spot like Villa Mexico. Chipotle may not be as 'authentic" as Villa Mexico, but they use the best ingredients and their locations are convenient. While I may enjoy Villa Mexico more, Chipotle is sometimes more convenient and still viably enjoyable.
(3)
Barrett F.
So, went to Wagamama this past weekend for a late lunch after a movie. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but alas, all I can say is the food was mediocre. I didn't find out until after that it was a chain type, but I would put it just above an Apple-Bee's or a Friday's. Granted the Asian fusion'esq food was more interesting, there just wasn't any wow factor. I had one of the coconut based soup and my date had an interesting salad. Both were good, I'm not complaining, but as I said before the wow factor seemed MIA. In short: Good place for an afternoon meal after a movie, not so sure I'd use it as a typical date place, but for an after a movie meal, it's a fair pick.
(3)
Ian M.
Although the food was good and probably worthy of 4 stars, this location had one of the worst table service ever. With the place practically empty after lunch, I didn't think being waited on would be such an issue. Not one person checked in to ask how things were. We had to ask for the bill at least twice. This chain might want to work on customer service a bit more.
(2)
Dennis A.
This is a great place to grab something quick to eat. Everything was fresh and tasted good. The service solid especially for a "cafeteria" style restaurant. This is definitely a place I would come back to.
(4)
Purvi R.
I've always had a nice experience at Wagamama. First off, how fun is it to say?? I dare you to say it 3 times fast without smiling. :) My first Wagamama experience was when I first moved to Boston and it was still warm out. I had heard about it from friends who had lived in London, but never having spent time there myself I was eager to give it a shot. I was with a girlfriend and we sat outside of course...and had the best time chatting with this hilarious family from Staten Island. Subsequent visits have always been made a bit more interesting by those communal tables. The food? Pretty good actually. I don't feel it's too greasy, but just greasy enough. The soups are yummy, and their noodle dishes are the right proportion. I always get their side bowl of fried tofu to dip in soy sauce and have as a side dish. I also love their gyoza. They also have a meal deal that is $13.50, but if you don't intend on a beer or beverage and just want water, it's better to go a la carte. Oh! And don't forget to ask for the FREE green tea - not openly publicized, but listed in nondescript small font on the beverage list. Thank goodness Wagamama opened in the Pru, so I don't have to go all the way to Fanueil to satisfy my soba cravings!!
(4)
Matthew W.
Went here yesterday evening. It was our second visit -- last time, the GF ordered something spicy by mistake, so we ended up switching dishes and I'd prefer to evaluate a restaurant only after I've eaten what I really ordered, so this review had to wait. Food-wise, I have no complaints about Wagamama. It's good. I ordered the chicken katsu curry and everything tasted, well, the way I expected it to taste. Curry was delicious, chicken was well-prepared. I demolished that thing. The portion size was just right. While I certainly wasn't blown away -- it's good, but nothing unique and nothing I can't find at a dozen different places for a similar price -- Wagamama gets points for being exactly as advertised. As for the service... it isn't bad, but being waited on by five different people is inherently confusing, I'm always briefly taken by surprise when a waiter reaches out toward the table to write my order down, and it would be nice for everyone's food to come out at the same time. None of this is bad, per se, but from my perspective it takes away from the dining experience just a bit, and if the food is somewhere in the neighborhood of three-and-a-half stars, service gets to be the tiebreaker. Wagamama is quite good, though, and convenient as well. I'm pretty sure I'll be back.
(3)
Katie L.
Though I wouldn't rate Wagamama as one of the BEST places to go, it offers some good standard dishes that you can count on to satisfy your noodle urge. If you get that Kind of Thing. (like me) There are a number of things I really like here: the chicken chili men, the chicken katsu curry, and the ginger chicken udon, specifically. I think their noodle soups are overrated - I would head for some authentic pho if you are looking for some satisfying asian style soup. I think their whole 'write the order on your placemat' thing is a little gimmicky, but the service here is pretty good and you can count on the meals to be good each time you go.
(4)
Teo B.
This restaurant is considered as a Japanese fusion cuisine. On my last day in Boston, we had dinner here before heading to the airport. It's located towards the backside of Quincy Market, across from Urban Outfitters store. I had the cha han and boy was there enough rice to feed two people with it. It's your typical fried rice with mushrooms, chicken, shrimp and peas. I was looking for my stir fried egg but couldn't find it. Maybe it blended too well with the soy sauce. It also came with vegetarian miso broth and it had too much scallions and wasn't hot at all, the pickled vegetables could go because it was sorry looking. Sister ordered the steak and it had lots of onions, peppers and sauce on the side and she said it was good but if you're used to eating steak with starch, better order a side order because it doesn't come with it. Her hubby ordered the blackened chicken with brown rice and SPICY ALERT! You can totally taste the curry and there's some red peppers on the coating. He said he could still feel his lips burn. My niece ordered the chicken ramen and the lil boy had chicken terriyaki. Everyone enjoyed their dinner and we had coconut ice cream with mango sauce for dessert. They also make their own juice, just don't forget to ask with ice or else your drink is gonna be warm. For a place that's located in a central, busy and touristy location, the price is right =) They also have locations in other countries as well. P.S. they have street performers by this restaurant and we were surely entertained by the irish guy who plays the bag pipes, does his cycle trick and strips down to his funny boxers at the end.
(3)
Milee S.
Wagamama is pretty cool. I love the location and the set up (although some might be turned off by the "communal" dining tables) is kinda different. I started with edamame, which was perfectly salted. My friend had the duck gyoza, which she said was pretty good. We each got the yaki soba. They do make subtractions, which is nice to have in a restaurant. I really liked my meal as it wasn't too large (portion wise) and was very tasty. The only reason I can't give this a five is because the wait staff is TOO attentive. I don't need 3 servers asking if everything is ok--they should have one stick to your table. Also, one of the more clueless servers took away the soy sauce before the meal came out, which made no sense to me. As I was leaving, 4 (yes, 4!) different people wished me a good night. In the span of 20 seconds. It's a bit much...too friendly. I'll go back cause I like the food, however.
(4)
Shelly A.
This place was really good, then gave a few people food poisoning, and now is back to being good. I adore the edamame. The entrees are pretty good but I'm annoyed that no changes can be made (additions / subtractions). I would like to give them a higher score but they haven't been consistent enough.
(3)
Johnny L.
I went there yesterday. It's a cozy place and their service is nice, but the food is just ok. We ordered a chili ramen , a miso ramen with beef and a shrimp dumpling. The miso ramen is too salty that I need to drink lots of water, and the chili ramen was not so Japanese style but more like Thai food. Anyway I won't be there next time.
(3)
Rhett S.
So after days and days... and days and days of deleterious pub food and its many libations, Wagamama's was the panacea that I severely was in need of. Chicken Kare Lomen and Raw Juice was the fix. The Lomen is a spicy soup made from lemongrass and coconut milk. In it you will find lots of veggies, chicken, and an assortment of spices. Ask for extra limes... it will take it to a whole new level. The raw juice is way good too. It's a mixture of carrot, cucumber, tomato, orange and apple. It's an all-round high-nutrient and high-energy drink. In addition to above they have lots of yakitori, katsu, and yaki soba/udon etc.... Wagamama's is clean, cheap, fast, fresh, large, and trendy. I think the best way to describe it is a trendy Japanese cafeteria from the UK. It's all bench seating, which I hear is the fear of opening in California. I guess it's assumed Californians don't like to share food space with wierdos. Big cities have the whole subways and lack of personal space thing going on. If you are listening Wagamama's.... you would make another few boat loads of money if you opened up in SoCal. Specificly Orange County. Anyways the food really hit the spot, but I will always still have my favorite ramen places in costa mesa. Yo yo yo Santouka and Mentatsu.
(4)
Ken M.
okay, okay, okay, I'm a Wagamama convert. I'll still never eat the Ramen or anything else super brothy there, but I get that that might be your bag. The Chicken Katsu Curry dish is amazing but I always eat too much. The iced tea is pretty darn good here, but it does need a fair amount of sweetner. Mad props to this location for being super good about alergens. We had someone in our party allergic to shrimp and the waitress made absolute sure that she didn't get any, she even came back and verified that it was not an allergy to oystersas well because there was oyster sauce in one of the apps the girl with the allergy got. The prices are a bit too high, but it's fun to splurge every once in a while, and for dinner it's not bad at all (maybe above my usual lunch limit).
(4)
Aditi R.
I went here for the first time with some family friends and had a few dishes. We told the waiter that a couple people in the party had shrimp allergies and the manager quickly came out and told us he'd himself make sure that everything was in order - great service all in all. They have asahi beer which is awesome and I really liked it. To start off with we had chicken dumplings which were amazing. Then we had the chicken katsu curry with rice (awesome flavor), yasai chili men (awesome tofu chili noodle dish), & the ginger chicken udon which was another great noodle dish. I can't believe I hadn't been to this place in the entire year I've been to Boston - I'll definitely be frequenting here more often especially since I'm such a fan of Asian food. And with the service being so great and this being in fanueil hall, nothing more really can be asked for of this establishment. Love it :)
(4)
Jenelle J.
Wagamama is a nice place to go if you're looking for a little asian taste but not necessarily a stickler for authenticity. I just had their beef kabobs which were surprisingly good - tender, spiced well, and a good amount for the price. In past times I had had the mandarin sesame salad - I had chosen the addition of shrimp which felt like too much salad but not enough shrimp to top it off. I guess that's why the prices aren't too expensive here? All in all a nice casual place to eat if you are veggie or happen to be avoiding protein.
(3)
Dana P.
Years ago when I used to travel to London regularly for work, Wagamama was my favorite spot. I used to go a few times each trip. I still have a Wagamama t-shirt from like 10 years ago. I recently moved back to Massachusetts and was so excited to find out there was a Wagamama in Faneuil Hall. I went before a show and was incredibly disappointed. I ordered the moyashi soba. Bland, flavorless soup with barely any vegetables aside from a heavy flooding of scallions and leeks. I loved Wagamama, and had fond memories, so I wanted to give them another chance. Maybe it was just a fluke? Nope. Went back and ordered the yasai itame. Super oily and not much flavor. It was so greasy it actually made me feel sick. I wanted to love you Wagamama, really I did, but your food is just bad and incredibly overpriced. Save your money and go elsewhere.
(1)
Steve K.
Fresh ingredients, tasty, and appealing presentation Family style bench seating. Surrounded by windows so you can see street activity at Faneuil Hall Sq Don't miss the coconut ice cream Disappointed no beers on tap...only bottles of Asian beers plus Sam Adams $35 nearby parking garages, but it is Faneuil Hall area
(4)
Melissa B.
LOVE this place! I have to make a stop every time I am in town.
(5)
Keith C.
Disclaimer: I had just walked the Freedom Trail and climbed to the top of the bunker hill monument. It was 4pm and we hadn't had lunch. Ambiance: It's noisy and somewhat crowded. But it's in Fanuil Hall, you were expecting quiet and secluded? We didn't wait for a table at all really, but it wasn't prime time when we went. They have that crazy pseudo-shared table set up, which means we got to sit next to a vapid couple that gave us numerous laughs for the rest of the day. So, bonus points on getting surprise comedy. Food: I got a special chicken dish, which was basically grilled chicken, with a special sauce over rice spinach and carrot shavings. The sauce was really tasty and the chicken was grilled perfectly. The sauce was a bit too rich actually, and the rice really soaked up a bunch at the bottom and was a little overpowering. It came with a side of Kimchee, not enough unfortunately. But enough Kimchee would mean more than I could physically consume and still be mobile, so yeah. Price: Damn reasonable. After tax and tip it was about $17 a person, and that's right in tourist central, so good prices. Service: Prompt. Though, they don't bring all the food out at once, so my one friend wound up waiting for a bit to get his food. Not sure how I feel about that, but there you go. Bottom line, I'd go again, but I'm not rushing to get back. It's worth checking out if you're in the area.
(4)
Brian W.
Where else in downtown Boston can you share a picnic table bench with a complete stranger while trying to get Japanese noodles in your mouth without staining that new sweater you just bought? They recently revamped their menu and although I'm not exactly sure what is new I did notice that they added a little symbol next to the few options that can be made gluten free. We've been here a handful of times and every time we always get the same thing. I love the chicken itame mainly because of the delicious coconut soup. I could do without some of the large Chinese green vegetables that just take up space, but the taste of the broth is worth it. My wife always gets the GF chicken chili men which is too spicy for me but she always eats every last bite. We also tried the sweet potato fries for the first time, but they were rather soft and squishy in the middle which was a bit of a disappointment. The dipping sauce was flavorful and spicy, but I wish the fries were crispier. The iced tea is usually pretty good and there are free refills which is nice.
(4)
Robyn R.
First time trying this place, and after reading the reviews, I understand why it's not the best place. Their menu is great and exciting! But my food was blah - had to add a lot of heat and flavor on my own. I got the lemongrass shrimp. It was really bland unfortunately. Our service was pretty bad, but they were slammed at lunch around the holidays, so i felt bad for our waiter. The other bad thing is i felt pretty terrible after eating my meal. Like, bad that I would not eat there again... great concept, wish there were more noodle type joints around.
(2)
Sara M.
This place does NOT serve real ramen. I was excited to try it out since I am a huge fan of ramen and my husby said it was good when he had it in England. They also marketed the crap out of this place when it opened raving about how wonderful their ramen is, among other things. First of all, they have these weird bench tables reminiscent of cafeteria style seating. Secondly, they also bring you food whenever they feel like it, which bothers my polite manners since you always wait for everyone to receive their food before eating. All nice restaurants serve all seated at the same time. As soon as they brought the ramen out and I smelled it, my heart sank because I knew it was not right. I dug in anyway and continued to be disappointed. The flavors didn't work well and the noodles were just okay. Husby seemed to enjoy his but I was too crestfallen to pay attention. The kicker was the price - way too much for the quality of food. All in all, I would never come back and still mutter under my breath when I walk by one.
(1)
Cindy K.
When I don't want to trek down to Chinatown from work, but have a craving for noodle soup, I come here. Although quite Americanized, it does the job of satisfying my craving until I desperately need to go get my authentic pho fix. I've only had noodle soup here so I can only comment on the ramen and the coconut-based noodle soups. First off, the ramen really isn't authentic ramen noodles at all. It honestly doesn't even come close and the soup base is also off. But in terms of Asian Fusion cuisine, it's pretty decent and flavorful. What I always end up ordering is the itame or the kare lomen; both are coconut based soups and have more of a southeast Asian taste to it. If you go at 12pm, you'll definitely hit the lunch time crowd from both "suits" as well as the tourists so be prepared to wait. Service is fast and food comes pretty quickly.
(3)
P C.
I came in for quick Asian soup.... Had the chili chix ramen - portion was huge, had some veggies- fairly priced for Americanized Asian 14 including tip. Plus there's outdoor seating ... Not much of the same cuisine in thus area...
(4)
Kim H.
A gem ... My best friend brought me here - Having worked in Gov Center for a number of years, I thought I knew all the food establishments in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace ... at least all the ones that I had any interest in dining at. I was wrong. This place is incredible! 'Clean' delicious & healthy. Funky & extremely knowledgeable waitstaff.
(4)
Jamie P.
The plus is the free tea ... the downside is the fact the soy sauce tht was given gor our appetizers both times had to be used yo flavor our dishes (I had a rice bowl and other time noodles). That simple fact about flavor wasn't good. Also the curry dish had too much curry and didnt taste as well. They might have good healthy food but the flavoring combo falls short.
(3)
Tu-van L.
Solid fast-food/watered down Asian cuisine restaurant in the heart of Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. A British Asian eatery chain provides tender fried squid and tasty dumplings. I prefer the steamed over fried since the deep fried crusty shell made for interesting dumpling texture. Not exactly innovative and mind blowing but satisfying at a reasonable tourist price. Outdoor seating is great for people watching and street performance gazing.
(3)
Alan Y.
I'm not a big fan of asian fusion restaurants, and my experience at Wagamama confirmed that fact. The food, at least what I sampled, simply did not deliver. For an appetizer, I ordered the seaweed salad, which was surprisingly decent. The portions were ample and the flavor was just right. However, my spicy beef ramen was merely adequate at best. The noodles were a bit chewy and did not seem exactly "right" for a ramen-dish. The broth was extremely watery and lacked any flavor at all. It really pales in comparison to the ramen served inside Porter Exchange. I might decide to come back to sample some of their rice dishes. However, this is somewhere where I would repeatedly visit.
(2)
Alison M.
I love Wagamama! I can not tell you how surprised I was walking around fanuiel hall when I spotted a Wagamama. I love this place! I used to eat here all the time back in college when I studied abroad in London and had no idea that they had locations in the US. Funny how it seems that they have a few, but only in Boston and we actually ate at 2 of them over the 3 nights we spent in Boston. Once here and another time in Cambridge. Anyways, it was just the same as in London right down to decor except happily the prices are in dollars and not pounds which makes it much more affordable. I ordered udon noodles both times I was here with different ingredients and sauces. They let you swap out the noodles or rice in each dish which is really nice and I absolutely love how they do udon noodles here without broth. And let me tell you it is absolutely impossible to find anything like this anywhere else. Believe me I've tried in the 9 years since I've left London. I've ordered udon noodles everywhere I've seen them on a menu and it never compares. The servings are really large. Service is extremely fast. The food is fresh and yummy and there's free green tea. I'm totally a fan of this place.
(5)
Marie C.
We've been to Wagamama several times, always with the kids, and have enjoyed its loud ambience, location, and inexpensive prices.. The menu is big, and eclectic -- it seems to be mostly Japanese based with soba noddles, udon, but there are several curries and coconut based soups in there as well, and plenty of rice dishes. This place is usually crowded, and this location is in prime real estate in Fanueil Hall. It's part of a British chain, so it has some panache, and is a nice place for a casual, inexpensive dinner after work or with kids.
(4)
Andrea P.
Being Asian I needed a ramen "fix" while on vacation. I didn't expect much since there wasn't one Asian on the staff. To my surprise everything that our party of four ordered was very good----vegetarian summer rolls, yakisoba, ramen in soup, udon in soup. Prices are very reasonable and it's in a great location. Our daughter who lives in London says she enjoys eating at the Wagamama there.
(4)
Daphna R.
In theory, this place should rock. I feel like total crap when I eat here, no matter what I eat, no matter how much I eat, no matter how gluten free they say it is. Its greasy, its salty, and its NOT gluten free.
(1)
Kevin W.
Just had dinner here on a Tuesday night, the place wasn't packed. I asked to be seated near the TV so I could watch CNN while eating dinner. The restaurant is located outside of Quincy market and has a very nice ambiance, not only because of its location, but because the place uses floor to ceiling windows for exterior walls, enabling customers to view the Quincy Market area, its a pleasant sight with Quincy Market filled with xmas lighting and street lamps. Overall, the service was very pleasant but was a little slow, but I wasn't in a rush. And why do waitresses like calling me "hon"? Maybe its because I'm young looking? lol To start things off, I ordered an Apple and Lime fruit juice and an order of the Duck Dumplings. A waiter came by to give me a glass of ice water and said, "enjoy." hahahah, enjoy? what, my ice water? I thought that was funny. But anyway, the juice came, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was fresh-made with real apples and some lime juice, it was very good. The duck dumplings were pretty good too. See my pictures, but it was a good portion of shredded duck in each dumpling, wrapped in wonton and deep-fried. Dip it in some hoisin sauce and it was good to go. I also had a bowl of miso beef ramen. It was just okay, it was kind of on the salty side. The beef and veggies were stir fried first and then it was put into the bowl of miso ramen, not bad, but not great either. Lots of flavor, but salty. Overall this place was "A-ok." Service was decent, atmosphere very nice, food was good. But I'd definitely give this place another try, maybe try another dish like the Chicken Katsu curry over rice, which could warrant a higher rating. 3 stars - Total bill = $24.50 ($4 juice, $7 duck, $12 ramen)
(3)
R S.
Ramen noodle soup is pretty good but service is bad. Our waitress never checked on us (despite trying to flag them down for more water) and acted like she was doing us a favor by serving us.
(3)
Lindsay G.
Staff is always super friendly and accomodating. Food is always amazing. I recommend this place to everyone!
(5)
Danny C.
My group of friends and I love eating ramen and sushi. So when we were touring around Haymarket Square and spotted this place, we decided to go in and try the ramen. Thinking back, I wished we did some research first instead of going in because one of us "heard" about the place. I don't even recall what I ordered exactly, but I believe it was the spicy miso ramen and the tea of the day. The iced tea was very bitter and I had to pour a couple of sugar packs in. The ramen was terrible and had more bean sprouts and carrots than noodles. The beef was tough and hard to chew apart. It was a waste of money going here and I would recommend finding another place that serves more authentic Japanese dishes.
(2)
Kerry D.
The chicken itame soup calls my name! I love the fresh juices! The $1 japanese pickles are TDF. And even the kids meals are fabulous. I love me some Wagamama!
(5)
K. L.
I should preface this by saying that I've only really ever had one thing at Wagamama - but I keep ordering it again and again. I love the Yaki Udon and order this every time. It's a unique combination of flavors and a big portion. Don't come here if you want privacy - everyone is seated at long cafeteria style tables. Brisk service but that's part of their schtick.
(4)
Chase M.
I lived and traveled throughout Japan. I have had most the regional varieties of Japanese ramen: Hakata, Sapporo, and Tokyo styles eaten from most types of venues: stand up ramen stands at train stations and the more elaborate indoor restaurants. Wagamama is one of the more better and authentic chain style contemporary ramen eateries stateside I have tried. Not to be mistaken for a small mom and pop business run by U.S. residing Japanese, for it's trendy look and style Wagamama is very good. I have only had the ramen as there is no shortage of Japanese restaurants nation wide offering most their other non-ramen menu items. But good hot ramen in a large bowl seasoned well is not so common here in the U.S.
(4)
Lan T.
On the plus side- 1-Whole wheat ramen noodles (good for diabetics) 2-Fresh and piping hot (hits the spot for wintery days) 3-Flavorful (can add spicy powder for an extra kick) 4-Bench Style seating (can accomodate large groups quickly) 5. Fun and quirky spoons for slurping down their delish ramen. Not so good- 1. The duck dumplings 2. Not in California. (Come to Socal) We had a large group quickly sat down for some warm ramen. We have a diabetic in our group and wheat noodles help him keep his blood sugars more level. Having that option was great! Many ordered spicy miso. I ordered Salmon Miso. A large portion of Salmon filet was grilled and placed on a bed of fresh baby spinach. It was soooooooo good. I made my hubby jealous.
(5)
Monte R.
Wagamama is solid gourmet Japanese food. It's in a mall but who cares - it's good. Nice interior, good service, too.
(4)
Sid W.
Great location, friendly service. The christmas lighting all around added to the experience. Started off the the Tiger Beer and for main course, had the salmon teriyaki which was quite good. Chicken dumplings were quite tasty as appetizers and the chicken noodle soup my friend ordered was quite spicy and fun! The seating style of long benches makes you more sociable.
(4)
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Address :Quincy Market Bldg,1 S Market St
Boston, MA, 02109
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brenda S.
I've had the distinct displeasure of eating at Wagamama several times. I've ordered something different every time, in hopes of finding something that I find even remotely appetizing, but it has just gotten worse and worse, with yesterday being the last straw. I ordered the Wagamama Seafood Ramen and it was completely inedible. I'm shocked that a restaurant would even serve this to guests. It was a flavorless broth that tasted vaguely like dirty fish water with just a few bits of fish floating in it. it was literally inedible, my dining partner tried it and agreed. His food, the lemongrass shrimp whateveritscalled, wasn't anything spectacular either - a couple of shrimp butterflied to look bigger sitting on a bed of hard, dry noodles. One thing I am consistently astounded by at Wagamama is the disparity between their prices and the quality of the food. Why of why is it so expensive? Are they under the impression that they are serving something quality or even tasty? We spent $70 on lunch for 2 that was nothing short of disappointing, which is just absolutely outrageous - with the North End and Chinatown near by, we could have eaten much better food for much less. I'm convinced the only way this place stays in business is tourists who stumble in not knowing what it is only to get swindled out of a wad of cash and leave unsatisfied. Overall, the only good thing about Wagamama is the chocolate cake. Save your cash and go somewhere else! You can feed 3 people at Giaccamo's for like 85 bucks, and I guarantee you'll leave much, much happier.
(2)Whiskey C.
This place is fantastic. I highly recommend the chicken, or anything, with the katsu curry. Had the Yasai cha han, a great veggie choice. People, the dishes come out as they are made fresh-to-order. You are told, or should have been, by the waiter. What don't you get about fresh? You want manners go across the way to Kingfish.
(4)Will S.
I was first exposed to Wagamama in London, UK in 1997, and was an instant fan. While they have moved away from their original, exclusive focus on giant ramen bowls of various concoctions, the more diverse menu is still tasty, and the common-booth seating lends a casual, fun air to the place. I was very glad to see Wagamama make its way stateside, and the Quincy Market Wagamama is a great example. Try the lemongrass shrimp dish - it's terrific!
(3)Jon H.
Its not as bad as people would think. I like the design of the place, with electronic ordering, long benches and you gotta love the plethora of coat racks. During the summer the doors open up and you get a great place to relax, have lunch, and people watch. While we were there an acapella band was performing right out in front of the urban outfitters, so we even had some music. As far as the food, its not too bad. I know British twists on Japanese cuisine might not sound so appealing, but its not too bad, the food is decently presented and obviously something went into the recipes. Not what you would call authentic asian cuisine, but for a ramen place that is clean, nice inside, friendly staff, and pretty safe as an introduction to ramen its not too bad. Go to Momofuku in NY for a more authentic experience, or anywhere in California (like SF) for the closest you'll get to the real stuff. But still, its not a bad place, I just wouldn't say I crave it anytime.
(3)Liza R.
I'm no Japanese food connoisseur, but by my standards...this place was really good, it sure beat my late night packets of Ramen. I got the Chili chicken ramen and found it to be just spicy enough, plenty of chicken...and the portions, HUGE! My friend got the regular chicken ramen and wasn't really thrilled about it. Chicken dumplings were pretty good too. Perhaps a little pricey when you compare it to China Town prices, but if you're in the area it's definitely a place to try.
(4)Aboud Y.
This place is alright but way over-hyped...and its spreading its tentacles across the world (over 100 locations in over a dozen countries!) Definitely not one of my favorite Asian noodle shops but its also easy / convenient to visit so I'll likely be back. They have a location in Harvard Square too which I prefer slightly to this one but is mostly the same.
(3)Mike G.
out-of-towners insisted on lunch at Faneuil Hall. then relented after a wade through the weekend hordes, settling for a sane meal here. i like the mandarin salad & kare lomen w/ grilled chicken (ramen in coco-lemongrass broth) though i found dishes salty compared to food at the Pru branch. must point out that service is always excellenté.
(3)Chrissy H.
I love carbs sooo much, theres no way I couldn't like this place. I was really excited about the whole community dining bit, but there were very few people in the place and everyone was sitting at a different table. I had the chicken Katsu Curry which was really good with the little chicken bits covered in panko bread crumbs. I could have done with a slightly spicier curry though. My boss (yes, this was a business lunch of sorts) had this really tasty looking beef dish with soba noodles. I was too scared to ask he for a bite. I was a little upset that the only iced tea they had was flavored. I'm a plain girl when it comes to my tea, so I had to have still water. The service was fast and friendly. No complaints there. I think I'll have to go back when there are more people dining.
(4)Danielle H.
Went here for the first time for a quick dinner before an evening out. We had the chili ramen and the chili men dishes. The service for us was really good, and I liked the atmosphere a lot. I thought the picnic-style tables were great for a casual restaurant. The food was good but not spectacular. The chili men noodles had a particularly good flavor, but my soup base could have used a little more flavor. Overall decent food but a little pricey considering it's just ramen and noodles...
(3)Sean M.
I really enjoyed the food there, but the service was horrible. Granted, it was during lunch, but at the same time, I saw other servers keeping pace with their tables. My guy disappeared almost completely after he brought me drinks. I had to get another server to bring my food and close my check. And the apps and entree came out at exactly the same time. Thanks, guy. The check closing process took a good 15 minutes, and I know this because I was almost going to be late to a meeting due to the slow service. I'll go back but definitely not for lunch.
(2)Nicole M.
I might be the last person to have tried Wagamama. I will preface this by saying a couple things: 1) Heard this place was way overrated. I like to invent hype, not feed into it. ;) 2) I am not a fan of 'noodle dishes' apart from Pad Thai. The other day I said eff it, go in and try it. So I did. I ordered a side of edamame and the yasai katsu curry for my entree. The yasai katsu curry was AMAZING. Absolutely delectable. I may have kicked myself for waiting so long to go to wagamama. I can't tell you about the edamame, because they forgot to bring it, and I was in such a state of bliss after I ate my meal I didn't give a rat's ass about the beans. The service was by far one of, if not THE, worst I've ever had in Boston. I should knock off all stars for the lack of service, but that frickin dish was so tasty I just can't. I know that people gripe about dishes showing up at different random times. That, I don't care about, because I understand the need and reason for that. However, when there aren't that many patrons in the restaurant, and there are at least a whole handful of servers wandering around aimlessly, I expect at least one of them to at least respond to my obnoxious waving arms for attention, if not just automatically checking in on me after 20 mins of being neglected. Yeah, it took about 15mins to have someone come over to take the order, another 10mins to get drinks, then I get my food, and it's like I've been left to die. I've finished my water and am parched. Too bad. No one will see that you're in need of something. I'm all done with my food and would like to pay my bill. Oops. Looks like they want people to dine and dash. The best part was when I finally got the bill, all I had was a large bill and the guy who collected my payment actually asked if I needed change. Um, no, that's ok - you give me the worst service I've ever had in Boston, so why not take an 80% tip?!! Moron. Ugh. Wagamama, wake up and please train your servers to be present if not attentive to the diners. Thank you.
(4)Peter K.
Wagamama is good... for Boston. The guy sitting next to me noticed that the placemat said there's a Wagamama opening in DC sometime in 2008. Then he said "I wonder why they haven't opened one in New York yet..." I said to him, "Because New York already has plenty of *real* noodle places and Wagamama wouldn't be able to compete." I don't think he appreciated my NYC snobbery because he didn't say anything back to me but it's not my problem if he wants to continue to live in culinary ignorance. My experience at Wagamama wasn't bad. I got the chili chicken ramen. It was okay. The noodles weren't as fresh as some of the Japanese places in the East Village but that's not unexpected. I don't think there are any ramen places in Boston other than Porter Exchange and Super 88, so hopefully Wagamama is just the start of Bostonians finally understanding why ramen is so awesome. The wife and I also got the shrimp dumplings. Once again, they were okay but pretty bad compared to the fried dumplings you can find at an authentic Japanese or Korean restaurant in New York. The whole handheld ordering system is supposed to make the food come out faster but our waiter who must have been new, seemed to have a hard time getting it to do what he wanted. I thought it was odd that there were absolutely no Asian people working at Wagamama. I would think they'd at least try to hire a few to make the experience seem somewhat authentic but whatever... In conclusion, if you want the best ramen in Boston, take a trip on the red line to Porter Square. But if you don't want to do that, Wagamama isn't a bad option.
(3)Ligaya T.
Yet another fusion restaurant. Oh, but wait! It's British! And that makes it much cooler. NOT. So what if they stole spice from India? The food is going through a serious identity crisis. The bloody chefs are all, "How many Asian languages can you include in one dish title?" Ummm three. Okay. And it's lo-mein, not men. That should really be m-i-e-n if you want to spell it phonetically. Which really just represents the food at this place, an assortment of eastern flavors, combined in ways that aren't creative or innovative, but uncomplimentary and basic. Really now. I saw the staff playing musical chairs to get pumped up for the lunch shift. I'm not kidding. But they were cheerful so maybe it worked. I do like the whole chalkboard on the table thing, its cute, if not useful. And their fresh juice and elder presse which doesn't taste all that amazing, it's just cool to drink flowers. Did you know okra was in the same family as hibiscus? Ha, now this review has been useful dontcha think? If to persuade you not to go to this place cuz there's better noodles elsewhere.
(3)Nancy Z.
"Eh.." That's exactly how I felt about it. Today, I ordered a Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup. Maybe it was because the thing was $10, and I knew I could grab a bag at a local store and make it myself in the comfort of my own home for $0.45, Wagamama was kind of a turn off. I mean.. I liked it? But then again, I don't think a chef can mess up making Ramen Noodles. Although there was some spinach and a piece of chicken breast in it, I wish I had went to Chinatown instead and just enjoyed a much bigger bowl of beef pho (beef noodle soup) for $7 on my lunch break. We're in a recession and I'm feeling cheap, ya know?! As far as the restaurant itself, the staff provides decent service. The restaurant is very simple, clean, and chic... it makes you wonder if the food will be the same. It's one of those places you can't go wrong with, as long as you don't mind paying a little more for what it's really worth.
(2)Sheila T.
Ahh, yum anyone? Wagamama never disappoints! I dream of ramen noodles. I have aged past the point of eating them thinking the nissan cup of noodles is good, but that doesnt mean I havent found a kosher dried noodle bowl thats definately better tasting and a bit better for you - but, in my wisdom, I gotta get the real thing. Noodles get stuck in my head and I must have them!!! As is true with anything you over think/dream about, it has to be good once you get it. And wagamama was very good! I had too ginger cocktails (#51, I think) and I would have had more if society let me. Paired with vegetable dumplings that were pan seared, NOT fried, and the vegetable whole wheat ramen = an awesome delicious fullness that did not sit like a brick in mah bellahy!!!!!! Awesome. My server was a little slow on a not busy night and for a not at all demanding customer (I asked for the check when I ordered my second cocktail, which was slow coming and even slower coming was the check), but the (I think) manager picked up his slack. YUM YUM YUM
(4)F. P.
While sightseeing near Fanueil Hall, I was surprised to see a Wagamama in Quincy Market. Having fond memories of the chain while in London, I jumped at the chance to reconnect. I'm not sure if I've outgrown the place or if this particular branch was different but it wasn't as great as I remember. The miso beef ramen had a rich satisfying broth but it was quite salty. Literally poured my green tea into the soup to dilute it, which made it a bit more palatable. I liked the plentiful veggies but the ramen noodles were just average. Apparently there are several chains in the Boston area (not sure if they're elsewhere in the US). I can see people checking it out for the novelty but not sure if it would be so successful in Japan (don't think there are branches out there) as the quality there is much better.
(3)Liana K.
I missed it so much after moving back from London and was excited that Wagamama expanded to Allston. Be prepared for a long wait at any time when the weather is nice just as with any other place at Fanual Hall. The good part is that its a better alternative for lunch/dinner at the Fanual Hall Area besides the overpriced stands, pub food and the expensive restaurants. I always get the Chili Men dishes. The vegetarian one is my favorite (but the shrimp was good too) Its only mildly spicy but still good. I don't recommend getting desert here, go to the cookie stand on the other side of Fanual Hall instead. The last time I went I thought the noodles were a bit undercooked but It is still one of my favorite dinner places to go when its not hectically busy (end of winter around dinner time was perfect if you work in the area)
(4)Parul L.
I recently visited Japan, and since then have loved noodle soups...I was soo excited to learn Wagamama was in Boston, and I visited it immediately. I love ordering the chicken noodle soup with added bamboo shoots and an apple/lime juice. The food here is soo fresh and delicious, and is great for a cold day in Boston.
(4)Caitlin G.
I was really excited to try this place, but must admit that I was disappointed after my first visit. That's not to say that I wouldn't be open to giving Wagamama another shot, because my friends all swear by it. I guess my main complaint is that if I order an appetizer, I'm expecting to have it come out before my entree. This was not the case; apparently when you order your food, whatever comes out first is what you get. There's no particular order between appetizers or entrees. So our appetizer came halfway through our main course, and it wasn't the greatest either. We ordered the lettuce wraps and the lettuce hadn't been properly drained and patted dry, so everything on the plate was sitting (or sliding, I should say) in a pool of water. Needless to say, pretty disgusting. The noodle dish I ordered was all right, but it was really dry with hardly any sauce. It was supposed to come with teriyaki steak on top of soba noodles, but there were literally only microscopic specks of teriyaki sauce dotting the steak slices. Not my idea of teriyaki steak. I had to dump the remaining lettuce wrap appetizer sauces on my meal to get any flavor. The flavor I did get was decent, but nothing to write home about. The service was okay, but it was rushed because they try and turn tables over as fast as possible on a Friday night. Perhaps going during a slightly less popular time of day or maybe to a different location might be my course of action for the next time, if I do return.
(2)Flavio S.
Very flavorful! The food was great!! My girlfriend got a Miso soup with noodles. The best of her life (you need to like spicy food). I had the noodles which also tasted great. We went to Wagamama on St. Patricks day - probably a busy day for them considering the number of people in the Quincy Market area - and still didn't need to wait too long to get served. We had a friendly service and the drinks were exotic (Mango Sekkai). Make sure to try it!
(5)Chris D.
Shits whatevs. Meh.
(2)Kelly N Z R.
It's not fine dining, but the food was delicious, and there were really interesting drinks and desserts on the menu. The service was attentive, the wait for a table was not long, and despite the communal dining we weren't seated too close to our family-of-four neighbors. I had the elderflower soda, which was pleasant and tasted lightly of a lychee/honey flavor. The server (sent here from England!) described it as a 'light flowery lemonade'. I really wanted to try the white chocolate ginger cheesecake, but was too stuffed after eating my delicious yasai chili men (suitable for vegetarians, as the menu clearly indicated). The whole wheat noodles were substantial, the chili men sauce very flavorful; the dish all-in-all was very enjoyable. Definitely a good place for vegetarians-- the menu denotes all vegetarian dishes. Their website denotes the vegan options (there's no link for it-- just scroll to the bottom of the 'dietary tables' page). They really worked with us, were accommodating with substitutions-- my dinner date got the Yaki Soba with Udon noodles instead, and sans chicken or shrimp. Inexpensive! Can't wait until the Harvard location opens-- definintely a great idea for the area-- it really needs some affordable, chic, fun dining!
(5)P. N.
This place isn't great but it's fine for the occasional lunch and I like the location and bright atmosphere. It took me a few visits to find a couple dishes that I really like but the first couple times I was disappointed by an overly oily salad or a chili men dish that was just not even close to authentic. It also really bugs me the way they serve the food "as it's ready". It seems like an excuse for not putting in the effort that other restaurants do to time the table's meals so they all finish roughly on time. It doesn't bother me at all when I go with my husband because we always pick at each others food anyway but it's so awkward when you go with someone where you have to me more polite and wait for them to get their food before eating. I've also been with groups of six where one person got his food after the rest of us had nearly finished eating. Poor guy had ordered the same thing as someone else in our group so it shouldn't have taken so much longer. He had to rush to eat while the rest of waited for him. Sooo awkward. They should think about why other restaurants don't do this! It's not a social norm that's going to change. People dont like to watch others eat when they're not eating. I even feed my two little doggies at the same because they go nuts if one gets his kibble before the other.
(3)Debra L.
This has to be one of the weirdest place I have ever eaten! I made a simple request for a knife (because some of the eggplant slices in my salad were a little bigger than what I'd consider bite sized and I didn't want to look like a slob eating). I was pretty much scolded by the waiter who replied: "We don't have knives. What do you need a knife for? Nothing we serve needs to be cut. And, if you did want something cut we'd have to bring it back to the kitchen and have them cut it for you." Completely baffled, I shut up and shoved a big ole' slice of eggplant in my mouth...
(3)Jillian Q.
I've been going to this Wagamama for a while now, but they just revamped the menu and I'm pretty pleased about it. They added a number of new appetizers including the sweet potato fries (amazing and definitely worth getting) and the chicken wraps, which were different than ones I've had at other places but I really liked them a lot. Their edemame with chili garlic salt is addicting. Their fruit juices don't really do it for me (the watermelon/apple/orange combo is the only one I really like and I need to add ice to it to make it cold). I've had their stir-frys, soups, and noodle dishes. I've liked them, but have defintiely enjoyed just splitting a few appetizers better. The entree portions are large and I usually end up taking half home. It's not a place I go absolutely crazy over, but it's one of my top choices when deciding where to go for a lunch outside the office. Food is cooked to order, but I've found that most of the food comes out relatively quickly. I'm not a fan of communal seating, but I do enjoy the fact that you can sit outside and watch the antics in the market place.
(3)Dawn A.
To be fair, I dined here as part of a private party (work related) in the downstairs room. We had several different appetizers and a choice of about 6 meals (all from the regular menu). But, we did not have our choice of the whole menu. I had some Edamame, sweet potato fries, (which were good). The chicken dumplings were good too. There was a shrimp appetizer too, which I didn't partake in. For a main course, I had the Mongolian beef. It was decent. About what I expected. It was a soy sauce based sauce so it was pretty salty. Everything was decent, but didn't knock my socks off. I would give this place another try, but I wouldn't run back. I tend to avoid the Marketplace area, especially in the summer (tourists! eek) We were there in early March, so it was fine.
(3)Rocky S.
This place was my favorite restaurant in Boston for a while. I went to the original Wagamama restaurant in London and have loved the chain ever since. I would normally give this place a heaping five stars because their food is oh-so-good and the service is usually solid. However, I recently started cooking some Wagamama food at home after they released their cookbook. I completely applaud the company for doing this since I think it makes their customers better brand advocates and makes everyone feel more at home with the restaurant. One thing I noticed after cooking their food, though, is the outrageous amount of salt that goes into each dish. My guess is that everyone could have seen this coming, but one of the sauces I prepared for the Yaki Soba consisted of two different types of Soy Sauce, sugar, and some table salt! My favorite items here are: 1.) Chicken Ramen 2.) Chili Beef Ramen 3.) Gyoza 4.) Yaki Soba 5.) Chicken Curry Katsu All I'm saying with my lack of 5-stars is eat here in moderation... That much sodium can't be too healthy on a regular basis.
(4)Maria M.
We had dinner here on New Years eve, and it was just a-ok. I really had to think about what we had for dinner, because it was otherwise not too memorable. We started with the fried calamari, and it was not what we expected. It was cut in awkwardly long curly pieces, and was very very chewy. I had a steak salad and it was .. salad. The BF had some spicy noodles and it was ok, but really not that spicy - - we had to add a lot of spicy oil to make it appetizing. To make things worse, they didn't have any hot sake! AHH!! It wasn't anything to remember, but wasn't terrible either.
(3)Rob C.
Not up to the standards of the London counterparts i've been to; the appeal of those is partially a function of their being a bright white oasis of cheerful calm and reassuring efficiency in the middle of the gray, drizzle, and bustle. In Quincy Market, i think the location in the greenhouse undermines the former, and perhaps the latter aspect is still getting the bugs worked out (my dad waited an extra 15 minutes for the same dish my mom had, for instance). That said, the food is still tasty, and i'm a fan of the cafeteria-style seating. Certainly, i am about the furthest thing from any kind of authority on Asian food, and am timid to say the least, so i'm ill-qualified to comment on the authenticity or nuances of their food, but i've tried a bunch of stuff at assorted locations, and have yet to be disappointed.
(3)Luke P.
2.5 stars. The combination of living about 5 minutes on foot from this place and having a British girlfriend at the time who was obsessed with Wagamama led me frequent this location on a weekly basis. I tried basically everything on the menu from when it first opened up. I know the menu has been revamped a few times since, but most of the staples are still there. The food overall is OK. Some items are definitely better than others. I am not a fan of their ramen. I give them credit for trying to clone what you find in Japan, but it's just not the same, especially when they get too creative and add all this weird stuff like chilis and grilled meats - try the tiny place at Porter Exchange for a more authentic version. I think some of the noodle/rice stir-fry dishes are decent. There's a good amount of flavor and spice, although they can be oily and greasy and on more than one occasion I've felt a bit ill several hours after consumption. I don't recommend getting the dumplings (gyozas) because I swear they taste identical to the frozen ones you find at Trader Joes. Not that they taste bad, but I feel cheated knowing I can perfectly replicate the appetizer by just pulling a bag out of the freezer. The service is usually acceptable although as they love telling you, the food comes out as it's cooked so you can easily receive your entree 5 to 10 minutes before anyone else at your table. This can certainly be awkward - I'd never come to Wagamama on a first date. You also sit on long benches with other people. They've improved this by adding more of a partition in recent years and the seats are way more comfortable now that they've added back support. If you don't expect much and are looking for some OK Asian-fusion style food, then you should be satisfied.
(3)Jenny N.
I trekked through puddles wearing painful open-toed shoes just to get a taste of Wagamama again! Thankfully, the experience was good enough to warrant the wet feet and enduring a 15-20 minute wait in line....I started off with the warm sake to take the chill off the drizzly April day. We were seated at the small front counter on tall stools. Prime people watching spot. In fact, we were probably torturing the poor souls still standing in line, watching us tuck into the yasai curry and bowls of steaming chili beef ramen. The yasai curry was absolutely yummy. The panko fried rounds of eggplant, butternut squash and sweet potato were covered in a delightful yellow curry. It was served with a generous mound of perfectly fluffy rice and a small side salad dressed with miso. As for the chili beef ramen, it must be said that the broth was lacking flavor. However, the noodles were the right texture and the beef was nicely grilled. Service was excellent, and our food came out about 10 minutes after ordering. I overheard one of the waiters say that the average diner is in and out within 30 minutes--that's an express meal right there! They will also start offering takeout service in a week or two. Of note, you may be disappointed to find out that Wagamama doesn't have their own restroom on premises. You'll be forced to go down the hall and use the icky public restroom frequented by god knows how many tourists!! This revelation definitely contributed to the docking of at least half a star...the other half was for the weak ramen broth. But I'm glad that Boston had the honor of getting the first stateside Wagamama. It definitely brings me back to my London study abroad days :)
(4)Paul D.
Wagaweewawa tries to be hip and trendy and 'Euro' but ends up just being like a kid who wears a She Wants Revenge t-shirt and black nail polish to be different in a cookie cutter sort of way... they try to put on airs of sophistication so they seem justified in charging 13 bucks for a cup of ramen. what? i don't care how fucking fancy your ramen, (or "Noodles" as they are referred to in English) is. they are fucking noodles! 13 dollars for noodles and broth! this is poor people food! it was invented to be poor people food! how dare you wagamimme and your hipster servers and your dressed up peasant chow. how dare you charge me 13 dollars for what i enjoy 10 for a dollar. holy shit! "wow that was some good ramen" is something you say when you are 19 in a college dorm stoned out of your tits, not after taking out some fly mama and droppin loot-cakes trying to get some ass. So what i meant to say, to sum it all up is....GET fucking REAL wagamepee
(1)Jennifer K.
Went on a Monday night around 9:30pm. It was pretty empty, but we got to sit outside. The service was good, I guess I just don't get why people think it's that cool in general. I will say I thought the menu was extensive. We had the Miso Soup and the Salmon Ramen. Both were good. The Salmon Ramen had a pretty big piece of salmon in it, and I really liked the noodles. Overall, nothing wrong with the place, just not the best or coolest thing ever.
(3)Triples R.
No Japanese on sight and very noisy crowd at the mall, but authentic well-thought/well prepared dishes. Chicken broth ramen, curry, donburi, gyoza, fried tofu, certainly to please every taste. Excellent for groups.
(4)Kevin M.
The food here is pretty good, but not amazing. Our service was slow and inattentive. We had to wait to order, on any refills, and the check. The host at the front desk told us they could provide gluten free options, but their menu says they cannot guarantee that the food will not contain gluten. It was disappointing and my wife couldn't eat because she has Celiac disease and can't risk it. I hope that the restaurant was just busy tonight and that was why it was not the best dining experience. I think this place could have potential with a more attentive staff.
(3)M.J. C.
Really disappointed - terrible service at the beginning- had to wait 10 mins before we asked who our waitress was. We ordered the calamari which seemed to be like frozen fish sticks heated up in a microwave. Same for the vegetable gyoza. Beef teriyaki was bland and the pad Thai was just awful covered in parsley and lemongrass. Next time Hillstones....
(1)Ana G.
The first time I tried Wagamama was in London as we were looking for a "cheap eat". When you're out and about and don't want fast food this place is great. I would consider it casual dining. Everyone in my party enjoyed their meal. I had a seemingly bottomless green curry bowl, that I took half of home. Great asian inspired food.
(3)Priscilla P.
Yummy, affordable food in a great location. Miso beef ramen and pork ramen were very good though the ramen here did taste a tad sweeter than what I am used to. Used the check-in yelp offer for a free order of gyoza which was ok... so I'm glad that was free. The pineapple power juice was surprisingly delicious and very refreshing! It was def pricey and the portion was very small but I guess that is normal for these. I would not consider this place authentic but it was tasty and I would return when I'm back in the area.
(4)Christina Y.
Pretty good ramen! I love that the soup is flavorful but not too thick like some other places. It's a great balance with the meat and ramen and it's really refreshing. We got the fried calamari and it felt a bit too over-fried. But sauce is pretty good! Great for large parties as well since they have super long tables. Would definitely be back for the ramen!
(4)T W.
Great first impression here! Savory and filling, with a good sized portion for the price. Did notice they have an exceptional Chili Garlic Topping on the Edamame, I'd love to have a shaker of that! Our server was prompt and helpful, the building was clean and simplistic really shows they focus on the food instead of ambience. Interesting mix of Asian flavored from multiple cuisines, including Thai, Japanese and Korean. I enjoyed the Pork Ramen and the Beef as well, both well balanced broth and left me feeling full with leftovers too boot. Going to try the Cambridge location while I'm in town, if your ever in Boston you should definitely do the same!
(4)Nanci C.
Not good! The food could be better. The service is good though. My waiter with long hair is really nice.
(2)Neal N.
Let me start out by saying that I absolutely love the origami paper provided. I would like to see more folding instructions. I had the grilled duck ramen. It was definitely tasty, fresh and satisfying. However, the bowl is smaller than what you'd find in a typical ramen house. Also, as an FYI, the ramen noodles are a little thicker and straight compared to most ramen I tried. Whatever style that is, I don't know. I'd have to watch more Mind of a Chef, I guess. Also, this particular item seemed to be a bit heavy on cilantro. It also lacks the numerous little extras I'm used to seeing in ramen. That being said, it still was a delicious bowl. The service was also really nice. I'd definitely go back for more ramen.
(4)Nhi G.
I like the open space they have, it's a good place to have lunch and people watch. The noodle broth are very good, I had the wagamama noodle bowl, which come with everything. The pork was my favorite but unfortunately it came with three pieces, two of them were fat so I only got to enjoy one. My son got the tea stain egg and he love it.
(3)Gina L.
I really don't understand these other reviews. Everything about this place is hip and fantastic. I had soba noodles with pickled ginger on top and it was one of the most flavorful dishes I have had in a long time! The seats are all connected in a row so you may sit next to strangers (I thought this was cool), and the plating was attractive. I wish they had one of these in Pittsburgh!
(5)Todd K.
Portions small, service slow and order incorrect. Place is very poorly managed. After receiving the wrong entrée waitress got the right one and then charged us for both. Food is just ok. There are better restaurants to choose from. The only good thing is sitting outside.
(2)Andrew G.
Wagamama was sadly not everything I hoped and expected it to be. I remember I had heard some great reviews of it when it first opened years ago, but I have to say I wasn't wowed at all when I just went this past Saturday. It was just me eating there and I only tried two items, both recommended by the waitress - the raisu karee (chicken curry with rice) and the crispy, spicy calamari appetizer. Without a doubt, the calamari won the war of deliciousness. The squid was fried perfectly and was wonderfully warm and crispy with its Japanese panko coating. It seemed like there was also some togarashi or shishito pepper in the fry batter as well which made it extra spicy and delicious, especially when paired with the sweet-and-salty dipping sauce. I felt like the portion size was pretty well-sized for what I paid (I think roughly $8), and would definitely order it again. If i actually lived in the Boston area, I honestly think I would've taken some home with me. The chicken curry and rice on the other hand was a complete disaster. The rice was overcooked, the broth had no depth or intensity of flavor, and the presentation was like a nightmare out of the 80s. When the dish came out, it was plated with a ring of curry, fresh vegetables, chicken, peppers, snap peas, and some herbs all around with a massive sandcastle-like mound of rice smack dab in the center of it all. What are they thinking in this day and age, seriously? Despite the awkward outdated presentation though, I thought it still might've had some hope until I actually took a bite out of the stew. Any chicken flavor was practically not present. There was nothing Japanese about it and instead it reminded me of some Asian food I concocted in college randomly on the fly. Sadly it felt like his was just some poor attempt at melding flavors together in 15 minutes without having time to coax any real flavor out of the fresh ingredients. I was hopeful, but ultimately was let down. I'd go again, but next time I'd probably try one of the noodle dishes instead.
(3)Raphael C.
The soul of Ramen noodle is the SOUP same for the Vietnamese Pho. It Take many ingredients and many hours of simmering to get the right soup. The soup base here is not very tasty.
(3)Vincent H.
If anything I would say that non-Asian "Asian" salads always tastes better that these establishments. Seaweed Salad - Excellent Thai Curry Mussels - Good but cmon, at least make sure all the shells are open before you serve them all...couldn't even eat them all cause of that I ordered the beef chili ramen just to play it safe and it was really so-so. Ramen noodles didn't really feel like ramen noodles and the soup was very bland. Wasn't as super spicy as advertised. Beef was even more bland as it could have been cut in a better way but oh well. What really confused me was why would you put a lime you're gonna squeeze inside the bowl of soup already?! Mixed mochi for dessert but nothing special...just half a packed box of mochi cut and reserved to you. Coconut Ice Cream was good though! I liked how they use Toscanini's for their ice cream choice. Overall, the food looks presentable and you can get your "Japanese" fix here...(why is Pad Thai on the menu again?)...the food wasn't horrible but given the high prices, I wouldn't come back but worth a try if you lived around here or are hungry! Service wise, I really liked my server but one random thing I thought was pointless was the ordering system with how my server had to punch everything in right in front of us creating an awkward silence along with me wondering whats the point of her writing all our order numbers on our little table covers when whoever brought out our food just ended up asking what we got... Come early cause it'll get busy!!
(3)Toyo K.
This place was a bit disappointing. First off, the place is very spacious...a little too much where they could have done with just half the size. I ordered the gyoza and the pork ramen. Gyoza were of the frozen variety (not homemade). The ramen was not bad...the chashu was thick and meaty and broth had flavor. However, the noodles were a little too thick to my liking, more like spaghetti noodles than authentic ramen noodles. And the total came out to $18, and that was with the gyoza being half off as a special. You go to Japan or Los Angeles and you can have some bomb ass ramen and gyoza for about $12 where you can actually taste the effort the chef put into the bowl. Not so much here. This place feels like another ramen joint trying to piggy back on the hype thinking some people with capital can whip up a bowl of ramen noodles. Believe me, it takes much more than that.
(2)Natalie M.
I went here last summer and had one of the best ramen I have had in a while so I wanted to come back again to get my ramen fix. Wow, what a difference a year makes! We started with the grilled pork bulgogi wraps...small portion and not tasty at all. My husband got the firecracker chicken, which had a good amount of heat to it. I ordered the chili beef ramen which I had ordered last year and loved it. This time, it wasn't the same as last time. The slices of beef were cut very thick and was overcooked. The broth was bland and not spicy at all; I had to put a lot of srichacha in my bowl to give it so heat and flavor. Disappointing the second time around. On a positive note, our waitress was very friendly and service was quick. The manager did email after I wrote this review. I appreciate her response and will be coming back and try it again.
(3)Chris C.
My dinner group ate here on a Friday night in January. RATNGS Food: 4 Service: 4 Decor: 3.5 Overall: 4 CAPSULE REVIEW Diners found Wagamama in Fanueil Hall to be surprisingly tasty. Heart Asian fare Decor was sparse but comfortable and clean and seating in the basement, though strange, allowed for a more "private party" feel than the noisy upstairs dining room. Appetizers like chili-garlic edamame and tempura fried calamari were hits. Entrees like duck ramen, chicken donburi and yaki soba were deliciously satisfying, however, chicken lettuce wraps were "tired pieces of wiry chicken on sad looking lettuce". Fruity cocktails were refreshing but not as imaginative as one would hope. Service was polite and attentive. All in all, a delicious, affordable and fairly healthy place to stop in for a warm bowl of ramen and some crispy calamari." ALL COMMENTS Wagamama, was surprisingly delicious. I found my duck soup to be warm and filling. The chili-garlic edamame was a nice twist on the classic. I think the server did a good job making sure we had our drinks/food. I thought the decor was sparse, and though it was odd being stuffed in the basement, the space was perfect for our large party. -- I love Wagamama, and as always, the food was affordable, tasty, and (relatively) good for you. The drinks were also nice. the ribs were tasty and the yaki soba was delicious. I win, and i loved the secret basement / PDR. -- My gin, pineapple and ginger concoction was a little less imaginative than I had hoped for, but the edamame and calamari apps were yummy. I had the chicken donburi and it was tasty and hearty. I didn't mind the space, it was nice to be away from the people in the main dining room. Two thumbs up! -- Liked that we had the downstairs which felt like a private room, and more intimate. Nice that a restaurant this informal has that option. I appreciated the appetizers & really liked the fried calamari which was battered in panko, and the pork ribs, much more than my entrée, which were tired pieces of wiry chicken on sad looking lettuce. The cocktail was good, but nothing to really remember. But, guess it's the place to get noodles and other pan-Asian fare. I'd come back for more appetizers.
(4)Peter K.
I was sold just by the name. Asian is my day after drinking food and on New Years they were open and my friend from the UK was very excited to go. It is their go to spot there right after drinking. He had the chicken curry Katsu. His go to dish. I opted for the chicken Itame with rice noodles. Everything was pretty good about it. Lots of food with lots of flavor. The extra kimchi was the perfect accompaniment. Prices were alright and it took awhile to come out for some reason. This is a great lunch spot if you work in the area and want something healthy and cheap.
(3)Hannah R.
You know, I'm usually not very into chains...and I'm loathe to admit it, but this place is pretty solid as chains go. The food is yummy and fresh, the menus are really user-friendly, and the staff is pretty good at what they do. If you're stuck in Faneuil Hall and don't want to wait in line for something that isn't that good, go to wagamama. The food is fast and won't break the bank.
(3)Tony L.
While in Boston, we were craving ramen, and this place popped up on Yelp searches. It was within walking distance from the freedom trail building. The seating felt a bit like cafeteria, you could potentially share a table with random strangers. We were a little skeptical when we first saw the menu since they have a whole bunch of other things in addition to ramen. We got Duck Gyoza and Beef Kushiyaki for starter. Both were just ok. The ducks were quite dried inside in the gyoza, and the sauce for the kushiyaki was too sweet. We got Chicken Chili Ramen and Seafood Ramen for entrée. The chicken was a bit overcooked and dried, even soaking in the soup did not help much. The seafood ramen had a lot of spinach on top, few pieces of fish and some shrimp. Not of them was that good, I failed to see how they could not get decent seafood next to the ocean. Both ramen had some chewy noodles, definitely not handmade nor intended for ramen, and the soup broths were comparable with package ramen. Wagamama, a prime example of fusion-confusion. Those that say they offer good ramen probably never had a bowl of real ramen.
(2)Kristine R.
Wagamama?? More like: "Woah Mama, this place is wicked good!" A friend of mine recommended this place, and I didn't know what to expect. I immediately looked at the bench seating and thought to myself: "I guess this cafeteria styled dining? But where is the food line?" At first, I was confused at what they were going for here. It seemed to have all the elements of a regular restaurant (ordering and such) but with the added shared school-like cafeteria seating. Upon sitting down I realized that Wagamama was Japanese NOT Korean (like I had initially thought) and their "thing" was ramen noodles. I was a little nervous. Let me emphasis... RA-MEN. When I think of ramen, I recall my poor-newly-housebroken college days, where all I could do was microwave a bowl of ramen at 2AM. Just because. It tickled the hunger, but let's be real, it wasn't "real food." I remember being left over sodi-fied and unsatisfied. Thankfully I kissed those culinary years goodbye and that Wagamama was NONE of those things. As my friend reeducated me between the difference between Korean and Japanese food, we ordered. We got the Chili Squid to share, which was flaky, light and seasoned with just enough spice. Very addicting. My only wish is that their serving was bigger. I ordered the savory Yasai Chili Men and a Hitachino Nest White Ale (exclusively from Japan). The service was wonderful. The waitress we had was helpful, always made sure we enjoyed our meals and fast in serving us. There was even a point in the night where I accidentally over tipped her ($20) and she came back to return it saying "uh, I think you meant to leave $5..." I was both embarrassed and extremely impressed. She could have easily taken that generous tip without blinking, but didn't. Very impressed with their service and food. Would definitely venture in here again!
(5)Balaji I.
Like Yelp says, this place is great for Vegetarians. The portions are good and the food is also not too oily. Would really recommend it!
(5)Melissa P.
Stopped in for lunch after Pride yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at how knowledgable and accomodating our server and the manager were! We were walked through the menu, and vegan options were explained. It was too hot for soup or a heavy noodle dish, so we settled for fried tofu and stir fried greens. Simple and yummy! I'm looking forward to stopping back in and trying some of the other offerings!
(4)Sarah S.
I love the setup of this restaurant - everything is lined up all nice and neat and looks very clean. The only thing that is weird about having the tables organized all parallel to each other is you are kind of just staring at someone at another table or at the back of someone else's head ( I was by myself so didn't have a person to sit across from me at my table). The tables seem like they are setup for family-style dinning, but they do try to keep the parties separate from each other. I was immediately impressed that they had Tiger beer. Done deal - don't need to look any further once I see that! I came in knowing that I wanted ramen, so I didn't even look at anything else on the menu, except for appetizers. I decided on the duck gyoza to start with. They were interesting and I think they had a mix of the seafood gyoza and the duck gyoza on my plate because some of them definitely had a seafood taste to them. I got the chicken chili ramen as my main. It says it's super spicy, but I would just say it's moderately spicy. My noodles were impossible to separate, I wasn't a fan of the raw red onion, and I wish the chicken was in smaller pieces. Overall this was ok, not bad by any means, but I guess I was hoping for a more traditional ramen. I ate almost everything and was absolutely stuffed. It was under $30 for a beer, appetizer, and main.
(3)Tin P.
Let me start with good thing first to change out my review pace. The restaurant location cannot be any better, inside Quincy market and look at people walking outside. Nice table and nice service, plus a very attractive name: WA-GA-MA-MA. However, that is all WA-GA-MA-MA offered for you. We came in as a group of 4. 3 of us ordered 3 different ramens and a recommended Chili Men (chicken tomato sauce pasta). Among 3 ramens, we were all disappointed at the quality of noodle and the broth. The noodle is not a real ramen noodle, tasted like a cold noodle. The broth is very plain, maybe super healthy I dont know but definitely not our group's favorite. The meat is very salty. We cannot stop drinking water. Now that is for the Ramens dishes. Now for my Chili men.... Wow what I can say about my men? It is a disappointment. It is nothing spicy like it is written on the menu and the sauce is also plain. Like a can tomato sauce stir-fried in a bunch of vegetable and chicken. I expected a lot from the description on the menu and came out to a huge disappointment. Well, let me put it this way. If you are really drunk and are looking for the quick hang over cure, this is probably the place to be cause of the location, right in the financial district. I give WA-GA-MA-MA 2 stars!
(2)Miranda M.
The service is very good, but it's the first Japanese restaurant I've been to without sushi. I was hoping to have some sushi or sashimi, but the food they do have is fantastic! Be prepared to use chopsticks :)
(4)Roxanna Q.
Had a great meal ! The flavors were wonderful and service was very helpful with our choices!
(5)Jon L.
I pretty much come here every year with a big group of guys during PAX EAST (Nerds unite!) so I have many a fond memory of chillin here. But to be perfectly honest, I have never really understood why so many people seem to love this place so much. While some of the food is pretty good (i.e., this year I really liked many of the starters: chili squid, edamame, pork ribs) the main noodles dishes have always been pretty mediocre. I have tried a few of the ramen dishes, as well as the teppanyaki dishes and though the food is decent, it has never been particularly memorable. Are there no other good noodle places in Boston? But what they are good at is: 1) having a nice, clean, and modern atmosphere, 2) having a good selection of dishes that accommodate most dietary restrictions 3) having very nice and friendly serving staff, 4) being able to handle large groups.
(3)A Z.
Wowza! The apps (edamame and pork belly) left much to be desired, but the chicken chili ramen was fantastical. I'd come back for that and skip the apps anytime.
(4)Jolene S.
Great location...same food. The waitstaff isn't as well trained about the components of the dishes here as they are in Harv Sq or Prudential. But the value is good for the area and it's in a very convenient location (near Frost Ice Bar, Faneuil Hall/Govt Ctr). Lots of tables; no wait on a weeknight.
(3)Robo T.
Wagamama coming to Boston from the UK was the best thing ever. The asian fusion casual style is right up my alley. Lets talk about the food: * Duck gyoza - deep fried, delicious, awesome cherry hoisin sauce too * Chicken gyoza (steamed) - waitress said what they actually do is steam them and then throw them in the grill. Came out blah - tasted like biting into balls of clay * Shrimp kushiyaki lollipops - delicious * Firecracker Chicken - awesome, spicy but not crazy spicy * Chicken Katsu Curry - very tasty, solid choice (though not as good as asian chain Go! Go! Curry!) * Chocolate Cake - fatty needs dessert! Cake is delicious!! Wagamama is always a good choice! Damn it Im hungry now!!! Service at this location was spot on. Although this location is at ground zero of tourist hell, its still worth the trip!
(4)Cara B.
Just had a great experience here! Got the chili beef ramen and the basil pad thai with tofu. The ramen really hit the spot-- the broth had the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and spicy, and the beef inside was cooked to perfection. The noodles had a nice bite to them too- would definitely come back for this. The basil pad thai was awesome too- not your typical pad thai. It had an awesome kind of sweet and spicy sauce, the tofu was great, and loved the vegetables. The service here was also excellent. My friend had an allergy and they were incredibly nice and accommodating. Will definitely be back!
(5)Brandy C.
This place is a little odd. It's like a weird mix of a Waffle House and a Japanese restaurant the way it's set up (can you tell I'm from the south?!) so you end up very close to other people and very close to the kitchen sights and sounds. Unlike the WH, it is clean, pleasing to the eyes and you're more likely to be served by a hipster with a crazy beard that a large southern woman with a beard. That matters. It was being adventurous with my order than led me astray. I liked the traditional noodle dish my husband got, but the odd crawfish roll thing I got wasn't my best choice ever. Japanese infusion isn't always a success. And as for the review I see here from Miranda M to be prepared to use chopsticks - they will supply you a fork. I've never bothered to learn how to use chopsticks and it's not going to happen probably ever. They didn't shame me either. Good location either way - right in the middle of the touristy action of Fenneil Hall. If Japanese noodles are your thing, you want a quick, reasonably priced meal and/or you've been through the tourist traps you want (or you're a local) I think this is worth a try. Easy in, easy out, which isn't true for many other places in the area. No bathroom though - you have to go find the public ones (boo).
(3)Ryan D.
Wagamama was the best place to find on a cold, rainy New England Winter (even though it is still Fall) day. What a better way than getting a nice cup full of Seafood Ramen noodles? Wagamama gets top points for extremely fast service. Personally I like the bench style seating, it is a neat take on the whole quick eating place. However that might rub people the wrong way if you want some privacy. Save yourself the typical, overpriced seafood in Quincy Mkt and walk around to Wagamama.
(4)James L.
First off, this place doesn't have anywhere to wash your hands before you eat. Maybe they're just trying to start a flu epidemic? I don't know. Anyways the food was horrible. Wayne's ramen was inedible. My chicken tasted like the chicken parmigiana served at the Residence Inn, which I think was the frozen Stouffers kind. Yuk.
(1)Paisley P.
Interesting place! I got one of the rice bowls and it was super good and was a decent serving for the price, but wasn't in love with the whole experience. It was kind of just average to me. Nothing incredibly special. Seemed somewhat overpriced even though the plate was huge. The server was very nice and said he was in training but I couldn't understand why he kept writing everything down on my menu...? Like he would just reach over after talking to me and write down gibberish? It was all very confusing. Might come back but wasn't impressed.
(3)Joe R.
Clean quick Asian fusion food. Picnic bench group seating inside two chair outdoors. Basically as good as you get with a franchise.
(4)Russell G.
This has become my favorite first date place! It's a moderately priced quick food place that cooks food freshly and deliciously. A great variety of foods that can accommodate varied palates and dietary needs. A knowledgable staff and a clever serving approach keeps things moving along.
(4)RJ T.
My introduction to Wagamama was in London at a time that noodle dishes were still new. Once the ramen revolution hit NYC and I learned what good ramen was...I did not go back until yesterday. Unfortunately, though our view of ramen has gotten much more sophisticated, Wagamama's has not. I had the pork ramen....it was more like a bad wonton soup trying to look like pho while wearing a ramen dress. The egg was wrong. The flavors were wrong. Where do they get that broth We also had the wok fried greens. They were quite good, but the order size was shocking for the $6.95 price. Now to the service. It was a bit odd. The server came around and gave a long description of how to order...OK...I put that one on the manager. When it was time to pay...we waited...and we waited...and we waited until I finally went up to the front thinking I had to pay on my way out. Wrong, someone quickly took my check and told me to wait at my table. On my way back to the table, I spied our waitress in the back on her cell phone. I put that one on waitress.... If you want ramen...go somewhere else. If you want Asian a safe, expensive, round-eyed version of Asian noodles, it is perfect. If you want great flavors at a great price. There are better options...
(2)Quin A.
I saw Wagamama's billboard advertisement near the harbor and wanted to try it. It (Quincy Market) was a short walk from the Blue Line's Aquarium train stop and when we got there, there was a crowd. We were seated quickly, given menus and left to decide what we wanted to order. I had the Chili Ramen and my partner ordered some Gyoza. The potstickers tasted okay, but I'm not sure we'd get it again as the portion was small and tasted rather ordinary. I did really enjoy the big bowl of ramen noodles though. The broth was flavorful and the noodles had the right texture. The vegetables were fresh and it was a satisfying portion - good value! We were in and out of the place within an hour, with a fully belly ready to continue with our touristy activities. I wish the chain would expand over to the midwest of the country so that I can try all their offerings.
(4)Bill C.
Shocked to see anything below a 4 star rating. I have always loved this place. But then again I've never had anything but the chicken chili ramen. It's one of my favorite all time dishes. Yes this is technically a chain restaurant but since they have such few locations in America - it doesn't feel like it. I actually think the ramen is a little better than from most mom and pops shops.
(5)Katy M.
Hot damn, this is my jam. The Faneuil location is excellent, especially during the summer time. You can catch a street performance while eating dinner outside. My favorite is the chicken katsu curry; it is DELICIOUS. The raw juices are interesting too, but good. It's a nice place to go with friends for a special occasion if you're on a college budget. I've also read reviews complaining about how long the service took, which is weird because I've had nothing but quick service there.
(4)Joe A.
The lobster salad was great, and they even had (unlike the "local" bars in this area) more than 1 local beer. I got the beef chile ramen, and the good news is the soup was great. Spicy and complex. But unfortunately, the ramen was not the super-chewy, shiny noodles I was craving and hoping for. They were undercooked, matte, and stuck together; my guess is they are maybe frozen until they are put in the hot soup? Not much flavor or texture to the noodles. The beef was not tough, but not great quality, somewhere between a sliced steak and a hamburger patty. Not bad by any stretch, but I was hoping for the perfect noodle - I'll have to keep looking. Prices are very reasonable for a touristy area, and the seating allows great people-watching!
(3)Simon G.
Had the beef miso ramen. Spicy and delicious. Also had the spicy fried calamari and tried the basil pad Thai. I would recommend this spot. Good for groups, nice spot with a view of Fanuel hall area.
(3)Ngan T.
While I'm not a fan of wagamama as a chain, this review is completely unbiased of that. Our initial welcome is always great here--so full of hope and promise! Lol and then we sit down...dun dun dun. I'm not sure of the reasoning but our waiter always goes missing even during slow hours while the rest of the staff just mills around. Drinks never get refilled until it comes time for our waiter to come collect tip. Food portions have definitely decreased over the past year. Their "new" highlighted items have been there since the stone age and back. I've been brought room temperature soups on several occasions. The one redeeming quality about wagamama is the ease with which you can easily customize your food, and the seaweed salad is always yummy. But just as I won't share my gripes about the chain in general, I won't praise either. This review is solely based on the consistently terrible service at this location.
(2)Ali A.
Really liked this place after having some initial reservations. Went to it out of the blue one Saturday when my Fam and I were in the Quincy market area. I got the fire cracker chicken plate and it was dope as hell. Surprisingly actually spicy and not just "white people spicy" lol. Only complain was kinda slow service, however it was a Saturday night.
(4)Kevin L.
Dish: Chicken Ramen Quality of Noodles: Amazing Quality of Chicken: Great Quality of Broth: Just about perfect Quality of Service: Good Overall Experience: Would Repeat :)
(5)Genevieve F.
The ambiance was pleasant and simple. They have a handful of options for vegetarians which I appreciated. I ordered the moyashi soba. It was a generous portion so I felt full afterward, but not necessarily satisfied. The food was bland and I wanted to add spices to the broth. I would give this place another chance, but if I received a repeat performance I wouldn't go back.
(3)Wendy S.
After fighting the crowds in Quincy Market and looking at all the food, we decided we wanted to sit down and have lunch on a lovely Sunday in Boston. We sat outside to people watch and enjoy the cool air. I have never eaten here before, but my BF has many times. We ordered beef kushiyaki based on the servers recommendation as we were torn between that and the duck gyoza with a spicy cherry hoisin sauce. The beef kushiyaki appetizer was listed as skewers of tender steak in a lime marinade drizzled with a sweet teriyaki sauce. For $8.95 we got 3 thin pieces of meat on bamboo skewers. The meat was moist, but did not taste like it had lime in it- just a somewhat sweet heavy sauce on it. Not impressed with flavor- and the price was high. Usually if you get beef teriyaki anywhere you get 5-7 skewers, not 3, for the same price. BF had the beef ramen soup (described as noodles in a chicken and pork spiced miso soup topped with stir-fried marinated beef, carrot, leek, garlic and beansprouts. garnished with wakame, menma, sesame seeds and chili ) and was happy. I tried it and it was good and a deal at $10-11.00 I ordered the yaki soba (described as teppan-fried soba noodles with chicken, shrimp, egg, beansprouts, peppers, red onions and scallions. garnished with fried shallots, pickled ginger and sesame seeds) that was $9.95. It looked pretty, but was incredibly dry with salty but no other real flavor and it was barely warm. I added a few teaspoons of my BF's ramen broth, some soy sauce and some chili oil to give it flavor. It was overcooked with 3-4 very small bay shrimp and a few chunks of chicken. After I "fixed it" it was pretty good. But I wouldn't order it again. Server was good but bust and hard to get water refills or the check at the end. So next time I'll pick somewhere else. Just not good enough to try again with the 100 or so other restaurants in the area.
(2)Brian K.
Great food, found it by looking at the chicken Ramen ad on the t. Chili edamame is great for an appetizer. The udon noodles are so well cooked and delicious. Great for Sunday funday food!
(4)Tyler M.
Absolutely the place to eat for a sit down dinner. Delicious and quick. Try the Calamari. Mmmm
(5)Berke B.
Very nice place serving decent food. Location is wonderful and not overly crowded. Loved seafood ramen.
(4)Mandy L.
A nice place to eat around Quincy Market Pros: -We got three entrees to share among the four of us: Chicken Raisukaree (the curry is sweet), Yaki Soba, Shrimp and Chicken Cha Han. The food was good but it's great. -Melon juice was very soothing after a long day under the sun -Nice atmosphere Cons: -Pricey, pricey, pricey
(3)K C.
Yummy! Although super strange the restaurant doesn't have a restroom you have to walk into Quincy Market to get to the nearest one.
(3)Rob S.
Chicken Katsu curry was outstanding. Raw juice is recommended. Was quite empty around 530 on a Monday. Emptiness was a little off putting however food and service were great. I will return often.
(5)Brian L.
Ordered take out. Arrived 2 hours later - food was cold and not appetizing with small portions.
(1)Nashrah R.
This isn't the best place to go for ramen. I tried their ramen at the Harvard location and it was a complete miss in terms of flavor and presentation. I recently went to this location and had the salmon donburi, which didn't meet my expectations either. I was served a small piece of dry salmon on top of a large pile of sprouts and not as much rice as I would have preferred. For the steep price, I expected larger portions. However, I enjoyed my appetizer of shrimp lollipops. The shrimps were juicy and fresh.
(2)Ariel Z.
I went here despite all the forewarnings! The only things I liked were the gyoza appetizers and the fresh juices. I could pass on the entrees, which all seem to be a huge fail no matter how hard I try. On one unfortunate occasion, I ordered the itame (soup with rice noodles, green curry sauce, and tofu), which sounds really good but ended up with no flavor, meager amounts of tofu, and chunks of lemongrass stalk that prevented me from getting a single bite without having to chew on something that resembles a sugarcane stalk after all the sugar has been sucked out. Terrible.
(2)Vivian C.
Always good, the Duck Dumplings particularly moist inside and tasty this time. For entrees, we selected two: Moyashi Soba $10 (whole wheat noodles in a vegetable broth filled with stir-fried tofu, button mushroom, zucchini, snow peas, leek, bean sprouts and garlic, garnished with scallion) (from a separately presented menu) Teriyaki Chicken Donburi $11.95 (grilled juicy chicken glazed with orange teriyaki sauce, sticky white rice, with thin sliced carrots, spinach, scallions and sesame seeds and a side of spicy kimchee) sans kimchee per our request The soba arrived in advance of the rice bowl. The portion was filling. The soup noodle homey and satisfying in a chilly winter day. The saucy sticky rice was comforting, while the chicken tender, and the spinach and carrots surprisingly served raw. 3.5 stars because the prices seem a bit high for lunch, especially within walking distance of Chinatown.
(3)jason r.
Menu sounds great on paper. Nice presentation- fresh just stated mediocre. Overall a nice casual place in a great area. We had very good service.
(3)Karisa D.
**** 3 1/2 Stars!!!!*** Besides having a name that's fun to say, I was pleasantly surprised by my first trip to Wagamama this past weekend. We went to Wagamama because they can adapt their menu based on different dietary needs (helpful for friends with Gluten allergies). Wagamama's serves Asian food but catered to a Western palet. I liked their menu; they have lots of options at decent prices. Food comes out relatively quick AND they serve complimentary green tea!! And this location is right in Fanueil Hall. We had a good view of some interesting street performers.
(3)Natalya R.
After a long morning of touring Boston, we found our self in Faneuil Hall. Seeing that it was crowded at Quincy Market, I pulled out my phone and the yelpers recommended me to quickly head here. Two minutes walk, thank you Yelpers! I hesitantly order food due to 3 stars for my family and took recommendations from server. Everything from drinks, appetizers to entrée meals was delish. I can't seem to remember if they offer vegan dishes but lots of vegetarian dishes and you may substitute if you would like. Thank you Wagamama. If I am ever Back at Boston, as Terminator said "I'll be back."
(5)Stephanie C.
I don't know why the reviews are just lukewarm here.. I guess some are better than others (oh, franchises). I do recall the one in Harvard having GREAT customer service (i.e. I hated my chicken chili men and they offered me to get another dish entirely for free, even though I ate most of the bad chicken chili men). This one was a bit slow... they were slow with our dessert and our check. Anyway, I'm starting off backwards and I'm starting off with the bad. Waga is good- I enjoy their teppanyaki dishes (a more authentic version of hibachi). My bf and I shared the yasai yaki soba (all veg) which has a bunch of stir fry veggies (scallions, mung beans, pickled vegs). The highlight here is all the Asian seeds they use- black sesame, for instance. They're pretty generous with it and I enjoy the crispness of the teppanyaki gives the noodles. Bf ordered the grilled chicken ramen- I used to frequent Wagamama when I went to college in B-town and I remembered back then there was no ramen option. To me, the ramen didn't look much good- I had a hint of the broth and rather than porky, or meaty in general, it was just salty. The grilled wasn't soft and tender they way ramen meat gets in hot broth. The ramen noodles themselves were just eh looking. BF said it was just ok but I come from the land of NYC where ramen houses reign supreme... One of my favorite dishes at Waga is the Chicken Katsu Curry. Much more aesthetically pleasing than other Japanese curries I've seen. Big dish too! The katsu is just done perfectly (well it's hard to mess up panko fried chicken)- the right amount of fried panko and juicy chicken meat. They actually use authentic Japanese sticky rice which sops up the curry sauce quite perfectly. The best part is the side salad which comes with pickles red peppers- yum! For dessert, we had the coconut reika- which was 3 large scoops of coconut ice cream, tangy mango sauce, and toasted coconut. So yummy and also rich. All in all, dinner came to $20 per person- not bad for yummy noodles. I miss Wag's- I wish they had one here in NYC.
(4)Jimmy Y.
Good location and nice atmosphere. Awful food. Small portions, burnt/overcooked veggies. Definitely a disappointment.
(2)Steven T.
Worst service I ever had.. Grilled teriyaki steak was not served the way it was requested, also was served cold. Chicken had that old chicken smell.. Took an obnoxious time from the time Order was taken to be served. Highly not recommend to go here. The one in the prudential and Harvard square is your best bet.
(1)Gurpreet N.
Everything is great about wagamama .. excellent location... yummy food.. outdoor seating .. but the one thing that has bothered me every time I have been there is the service. .. These guys can take any amount of time to give you food once you order .. I was forced to vent it out here today because they made me wait 50 minutes to finally bring the food .. I appreciate the manager who apologized and offered me the food for free but it was never worth an hour of wait .. i have experienced some wait time at this place earlier as well .. just make sure you have a ton of time when you visit this place again!
(3)Jade R.
I didn't think I'd like Wagamama's as much as I did --- I tried it a few times in London, and it just wasn't my thing-- but oh my, the US threw me for a loop! marinated yasai noodle salad marinated and grilled eggplant, shitake mushroom and and zucchini. combined with caramelized red onion, roasted sweet potato, asparagus, diced tomato and mixed leaves. served with whole wheat noodles and garnished with crispy noodles, pickled red ginger and sesame seeds This salad was not only fresh and delicious, but an amazing sight! Im uploading a picture of it because it's that beautiful. The prices are hard to beat too. I can't remember when I went out to a non-fast food establishment and got a deliciously large meal for under 9 dollars. I had leftovers! And I obviously had to get a glass of white wine (pepperwood pinot grigio YUM) since the meal was so reasonably priced :) Not 5 stars because service was pretty awful and very slow! Good thing the food and company trumped it!
(4)Amy C.
Place was nice. A little on the pricey side but it is Quincy Market. The chicken ramen was a client favorite. I had that and edamame. The soup was good nothing to rave home about. The edamame was very good. Wait staff is super fast and hospitable.
(3)Jamie Y.
As an Asian who is more Asian than your average Asian, I have to give this place credit. Obviously, it's not authentic (which is why most of the patrons are non-Asians) but it gets an "A" for effort. The servers are friendly, the seating is fast, if you're looking for a lunch place to just get in and get out this is a good place. I had the yakisoba and it was decent. There was chicken and shrimp in it (the shrimp were very shrimpy, I mean small). It had some pickled red ginger on it which I didn't like but overall it was okay. It gets really crowded at lunch too, fyi.
(3)Courtney M.
I loved the ramen bowls at Bento Express, but when I walked by this week I was sad to see that it had closed and a Fin's was being built in its place. I knew Wagamama served Ramen, and Fanueil Hall is close to my office, so I decided to go there one afternoon at lunchtime. It wasn't too busy when I got there, and I was seated quickly. When I took a look at the ramen dishes on the menu, I noticed that they were more than I wanted to spend for lunch, and they didn't have a veggie option (they did have tofu, which I hate). I know I could have asked for a bowl without tofu or meat, but I didn't want to spend almost $10 for something that I can easily make at home from a 30 cent packet, so I got the duck dumplings and a side of udon instead. The duck dumplings were good, but they brought that plate before they brought my water, so I had to wait a few minutes to start eating. Five minutes after I had finished the dumplings, they brought the udon, which was boiling hot and very watery and runny. Since I only had an hour for lunch, I intentionally ordered appetizers so I could eat everything at once instead of waiting for plates to arrive. Also, one of the servers (not the one who took my order) kept putting food that was supposed to go to the next table on my table without reading the order numbers written on the placemats and walking away, so I had to keep passing things over to the people at the other table. If I go there again, which probably won't be soon, I think I'll go for rice instead of udon. It looks like I'll have to try somewhere else to satisfy my ramen craving.
(3)Isabella C.
I love japanese food so much that I rarely give bad reviews but this place was really not that great. I mean to be fair, it's not meant to be a super fancy japanese restaurant or anything and is actually decent-looking inside. But the food is just not that great... definitely the worst japanese food I've had (I actually prefer those express japanese take out places at food courts over this place). And service was alright. It's cheap though.
(1)Michael A.
Wag-yo-mama I really had high hopes for you. For starters I ordered one of the most standard appetizers, beef teriyaki. Well, imagine a few skewers of undercooked beef "drizzled" with the equivalent of "cosco brand" teriyaki sauce... That wasn't the end of it. After ordering one of their big ramen bowls (thinking it was similar to Vietnamese pho... big mistake) I regretted every bite. Part of my disappointment was that I was expecting pho so this is partially my fault. The other part was the flavor, difficulty of actually eating my meal and the "smell" in general. Unfortunately the noodles were undercooked and it was also very difficult for some reason to work at the meal with their hand crafted ladle/spoon and chop sticks. I don't know what it was but the meal smelled funny (not a good funny)... not that it wasn't fresh but maybe it was the funky mushrooms or broth? Perplexed I suffered through 1/4 of the bowl and left. A message to some of the wait staff... please act like you care, thank you :)
(1)Julie T.
Overpriced and unimpressive. I didn't even finish my dish... and trust me, I'm a huge fatass so that's saying something. My pad thai was super disappointing and dry, yuck. The service was okay but not enough to convince me to come back. See you never, wagamama.
(2)Vira P.
I have been a fan of Wagamama since I first entered the restaurant in London. They can work around any food allergy without compromising taste. I wish they had the chocolate wasabi cake at this location as their dessert options didn't tempt me like it did before..
(4)Gwynneth C.
The food was ok. The appetizers are small and not meant for sharing. The service was rushed or non existent. We were seated and rushed into making our selection and almost bullied by this bald guy with a lip/cheek ring into ordering appetizers. The place wasn't that busy yet there was a constant rush. Then when we needed something nobody was ever around.
(2)Debby L.
I can't really decide if I like this place. I live in Costa Mesa, where a lot of the diaspora of Japanese people congregate, so I'm used to getting really good Japanese food. But being in Boston, I can understand why this is appealing. The bench style seating is nice. In SoCal, there isn't much of that. People don't like to sit communally and share table space, so this was refreshing. I love the bench style because you can meet new people and strike up a conversation out of nowhere. We ordered the Chicken Kare Lomen and Raw Juice for 4 people to share since we are eating our way through Boston. I thought the soups were ok, but I didn't eat that much. I wasn't impressed with the curry, but the noodles were good. The other soup was better and I ate most of that. They come in very large bowls, so sharing was great. They have the huge Kirin beer, but not the Lite.
(3)Rahell N.
I'm a major lover of Asian food and I was disappointed at Wagamama. I am a vegetarian so I got one of the vegetarian dishes with rice and tofu while my friend got rice and shrimp and the other noodles. Not one of us enjoyed our food, it was bland and not worth it even though the meals were a good size and filling. The only thing that was good were the vegetable dumplings we got as appetizers. It was bad so we took what little bit of soy sauce we had from our vegetable dumplings and poured on our rice to give it some flavor. Even though the food was horrible we decided to come back a second time thinking maybe the dishes we ordered weren't good but some other dish may be great. Boy we were wrong!!! Horrible just as the first expect for the vegetable dumplings of course. I gave this review one star because it looked decent and the dumplings were good. We learned our lesson after the second time. If you like flavor and taste do yourself a favor and skip the Wagamama train both vegetarians and non vegetarians!!!!
(1)Michelle S.
Great food and service. I am addicted to the Cherry Hoisin sauce. It is unbelievable. Great place for warm comfort food on a cold, Boston day.
(5)Amanda M.
This was sort of what you'd imagine for this touristy area....pretty decent food, but priced too high. The seating is awful - long tables so you're sitting alongside people you don't know - no privacy. The portions were small and the long line made it feel like you were being pushed out to make way for the masses. Our waitress was excellent, but they take your order on a machine and it comes out as prepared in a very factory-like mechanistic way. In my opinion, walk a couple blocks to the Italian district and get a much better meal in a much better atmosphere for much better prices.
(2)Christina C.
Fusion Japanese shop at a great people watching spot. Duck gyoza FTW! OMG Wagamama! I had no idea there were wagamamas in the US! I texted my friend (who first told me about it) when I saw it. I used to eat there a lot when I was living in London. Anyways, Wagamama at Faneuil Hall has both indoor and outdoor seating. I opted to sit outdoors. Its pretty much cafeteria style seating with long tables and benches. If you sit outdoors, you'll have the PERFECT view for PEOPLE WATCHING as that middle area is where performers set up. I ordered a raw juice, duck gyoza, and chicken ramen (without green onions). Normally I go with the chicken kare, but my stomach was a bit upset still so i went for regular chicken ramen. Whatever you order comes out whenever its done, so your entree can come out before your drink or appetizer. The raw juice was pretty good and crisp/refreshing- its a concoction of carrot, cucumber, tomato, orange and apple. Hah, probably too healthy for some people? If you don't drink it fast enough, it starts to separate so you'll want to use your straw to mix it up again. The ramen came out next. It was ok. Although I asked for no green onions, it came out with it. Really, not that hard to not put it in. =\. It was good, filling. Not very salty or anything else. It had like 4 huge slices of chicken, which I couldn't really finish. The duck gyoza was gooood. I actually couldn't finish it so I got the rest to go and finished it off on my flight home. Service was alright. Server kept coming out every 5 min to check up on me- a bit excessive. Go for the duck gyoza and sit outside to people-watch. :)
(4)Carolyn L.
OH WAGAMAMA, you saucy minx. When are you going to venture beyond London and Boston to come to the Midwest?!?! Chicago needs your noodles, like yesterday! I hadn't been to a Wagamama in about 2 years, since I left London. So when I planned my trip to Boston, I knew it would include a stop at the Fanueil Hall location. My girlfriends and I sat down at an outdoor table so we could check out the awful street performers in the square. We ordered some nice sake-based cocktails to start off the lunch right. (I'm beginning to notice that I might drink a bit too much, but that's a concern that I will explore outside of Yelp, I guess! Haha). I ordered a sesame-asparagus appetizer. The spears were enormous and it had a lovely teriyaki flavor. Then for my main course, I had chicken itame: stir-fried chicken breast with bok choy, onion, red chilies, scallion, peppers and bean sprouts. served with rice noodles in a spicy coconut and green chili soup. garnished with cilantro, mint and a wedge of lime. It brought back so many good memories. I know Wagamama isn't fancy by any means. But I loved eating there because it was quick, delicious, and relatively inexpensive. Now if only they would open one in Chicago, I would be a VERY happy woman!
(5)D'Arcy L.
Had dinner with the family as it looked decent walking by. The have a nice patio facing the street. We ordered the edamame and shrimp as an app. Then our girls shared a teriyaki chicken, wife had the chicken Katsura and I ordered the wagamama seafood ramen. Everything was just okay, not spectacular! Ambiance in Faneuil has was worth it. Don't just come here for the food as you will be disappointed. You can find better, but if you want a nice patio facing the street performers and watching the walkers by its great for that!
(3)Horace L.
Fun modern atmosphere, and a cheap alternative in Quincy market. The summer curry mussels were so flavorful and tasty (really fresh). The beef ramen and stir fry bok choi were way too greasy, in a really bad way. The pad thai was also very good. I'll have to say the prices and portions were really generous. The wait staff very friendly and helpful. I guess the dishes are just hit or miss.
(4)Cyn B.
Not what I remember from the one in London I went to. It was OK. One of the things I dislike the most is when you order something with a sauce and by the time you get it the top layer has cooled leave a congealed coating. YUK! Well, that's what exactly what I got with my curry. The one I went to in London was soooo much better. This place seems more of a tourist trap... well they sure trapped me! Sadly, I had raved about this place to my traveling companion who wasn't too impressed. Being that it may, I picked up the bill. My bad! Skip the one here if your on Boston. If you take a trip across the pond, go to one of those! I must say though, I still adore the picnic style eating.
(2)Derek T.
It's a good place to sit down in Quincy market if you don't like the crowded food court. I ordered the fire cracker. It was good, but I expected a more spicy one. It is also a bit sweet for me. My girlfriend ordered a chili ramen. It was not bad.
(3)Nicole K.
I got the chicken donburi, which is advertised as a favorite. It was so-so. Wait was pretty long. Staff was decent. One person got a health drink/shake containing ginger and she loved it. Location is excellent=longer lines.
(3)Khawla A.
I just gave 2 stars, one for the service and one for the appetizer (calamari). The rest 2 entrees (chicken katsu curry and yaki soba) were tasteless and not even close to the Americanized Asian food. That was the first and the last visit.
(2)Felicia S.
Went here after a visit to the New England Aquarium with my boyfriend. I was very satisfied with everything. The food wasn't greasy like at most japanese restaurants/take out joints. The food came out quickly and the staff met all of my expectations. There is a beautiful view into the Quincy Market if you sit outside, so if you dine here i'd recommend finding a seat outside to watch the passerby's.
(4)Mallory S.
I like Wagamama. Food is good and service is quick. This trip was a little weird as all of our servers were constantly confused. Even the most simple questions like, "Could I have a water, please?" caused confused looks and stuttered responses. It's a good place to go with groups and the prices are decent.
(3)Jonathan N.
This place is expensive. I ordered a plate of shrimp noodle for $15.00 and it doesn't even fill me up. The foods are in small portion but quality is good. The service is bad, the waiter seem to be in a rush to get you out of the restaurant.
(3)Ash K.
Ordered Chicken noodle soup and fried rice. While fried rice was okay, chicken in the chicken noodle soup was so dried that I left quite a big chunk. My impression of the noodle soup was they could do much better even with the instant noodle soup. The noodle broth was not so rich either. Servers were friendly and setting was unique but the noodle soup made me feel bitter about the restaurant.
(2)Alison T.
First time at the Faneuil Hall Wagamama tonight. I used to eat at the Harvard Square location years ago and truly loved the yasai itame soup (rice noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with stir-fried tofu, beansprouts, chillies, red and spring onions, bok choi, peppers and mushrooms. garnished with coriander and lime). It was always SO delicious and I've been telling my husband about this soup for years. I ordered the soup tonight and when it came it looked a bit darker than I remembered. Upon tasting it, it had a strong burnt/smoky/charred flavor. I typically do not send food back, but it was just terrible. They prepared me a new bowl of the soup, stating that each bowl was made up to order. The next bowl was still burnt tasting, possibly a little less but I couldn't even finish half of the bowl. Maybe they changed the recipe up or I glorified it a little too much. Or maybe it was just burnt. My husband's noodle dish had a slightly similar charred flavor, but less so than my soup. While I'm at it, I will say that it was very chilly/drafty near the windows where we sat and my sister's food was cold within no time. We had an awesome day together in Boston and then my dream soup had to go and leave an awful taste in my mouth. It was a sad situation, to say the least.
(2)Lina R.
Service was good, food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect for a cute little date spot. The green tea is FREE which is a plus. The Katsu Curry was delicious, and my boyfriend got the Beef Ramen which was delicately spiced and great on a cold, rainy day.
(5)Jean T.
After reading some of the reviews on Yelp about Wagamama, I was a little hesitant to go there. But I decided to try it out anyway and was very happy I did! I arrived about 20 minutes before my husband and they happily sat me in a table by the window. I enjoyed a glass of wine and some steamed and salted edamame which were cooked perfectly. My waiter was stretched a little thin as he was waiting tables and running the bar at the same time but he was pleasant and helpful. As soon as my husband arrived we ordered our food, Mongolian Beef for him and Miso Beef Ramen for me. They were both SPECTACULAR! The Miso Beef Ramen was piping hot, spicy and full of noodles (as Ramen should be!), perfect for a chilly fall evening in Boston. The Mongolian Beef was tender and tasty and came with a generous serving of steamed white rice. While they didn't have a big selection of sake, we tried one chilled and one hot and they were both tasty. Overall, we were both very pleased with our visit to Wagamama and will definitely go back!!
(5)Norman F.
I visited this branch maybe a few months after they opened and that was years ago. Hope that things had changed since, but from the reviews, unlikely. Service was poor, male waiter was plain rude and incompetent. Food was mediocre and would appeal to pseudo- or non-foodie at most, period. I even remembered saying to myself that this place could ONLY survive in MA & not a fat chance in NY or CA. Today I checked their website and see if I was wrong. Nope, I was right then & I am still right, this kind of sub-par pseudo Japanese ramen will not & cannot survive outside of the most forgiving city when it comes to Asian fusion food - MA. This is gonna be a regional chain at best. Skip this, go for pho instead.
(2)Becky S.
I agree with my fellow Yelpers that this place is A-OK. I appreciate that there are healthy options and the prices are quite reasonable for the location. I also liked the kids' meal choices for my son. We had three little ones with us, and it was quite family friendly. The negatives for me were the service -- a bit spotty. The server disappeared for long periods of time and accidentally threw an extra glass of wine on our bill (she did remove it quickly when it was pointed out). The food was good but nothing particularly special.
(3)Malden G.
a bit expensive but worth it. This gem sits in the middle of a tourist trap of dining options in all directions. For the Quincy Market area this place deserves 6 stars. the host Adrianna is like a walking beautiful computer - and quickly zipped around doing 3x what a normal skilled host would do. This branch of Wagamama rates above what the world standard is - mainly because it is managed so well. Plates are hot, fresh and so good - i'm usually licking the plate when i'm done. Thats not all i'd like to lick.
(4)Phuong D.
Service is so slow and the food was very overpriced.
(1)Eric F.
Was here for a friend's birthday last night and it wasn't too bad. I have to echo what many fellow Yelpers have said about the ramen...mediocrity at its best. The chicken breast was on the verge of being totally dry and the ramen was on the soggier side, tasting like it came from Maruchan. My friend's chicken katsu curry was a little better - thick, flavorful curry though average chicken. The tastiest dish was probably my other friend's yaki udon, but the noodles were noticeably overcooked. I must give a big thumbs up to our server as he did a great job managing our large party - very patient and accommodating! He came by frequently to offer his assistance when it came to breaking down the bill and made adjustments to our seats to make sure everyone had enough room at our somewhat cramped table. The service and experience is easily worthy of 4 stars, it's just unfortunate that the food's overpriced for the quality.
(3)Nicole S.
I just want a soup spoon. That is all I ask for. Every time I come here I get ebi kare lome.... I love the coconut flavor! Well every time I get a laddle. Yes a laddle. I cant eat with a laddle. Maybe their intension is so that you eat the noodles then slurp up the broth, but that is not how I want to make a mess of myself. So once I get my soup spoon I am happy and I get to enjoy my soup. ***I would like to explain that they dont have a bathroom in there. You have to leave the restaurant and head down the hall to the public bathrooms. My office worked on this place and there would have been no way to fit bathrooms without loosing the dining room downstairs. It sucks but you gotta deal**
(4)Steve G.
I ate here for a quick lunch while at jury duty at the Superior Couthouse at Center Plaza. As I left court, I was trying to think of a healthy place in the area. I decided on Wagamama and had the Chicken Ramen: "noodles in a pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled chicken breast, seasonal greens, menma and spring onions" It was a very cold day, and this hot soup hit the spot. Fun to eat with chopsticks and the cool soup spoon. It's very bright and has a lot of windows looking out on the marketplace. In fact, the whole place is one huge window. I like the Harvard Square location too.
(4)Michael L.
This place was really good for Asian food of all kinds. I loved the chicken lettuce wraps I had & my veggie wheat noodle stir fry dish. The mixed drink I had with mint & ginger root was really good too. This is really worth it to try. I liked it a lot & wasn't expecting to like it so much. I would go back soon.
(4)Katharine T.
For a Japanese restaurant, Wagamama is ok, but for a Japanese restaurant in the US based on a Japanese restaurant in the UK, I'd say they do a pretty good job! I had the chicken ramen meal that comes with 3 gyoza and a drink. The ramen was quite good! I was disappointed that the gyoza were boiled, I prefer mine fried, but I will definitely be going back to try more menu items! Though the being served at different times is weird, we had it sufficiently explained to us ahead of time, and it wasn't a big deal, as our food came pretty quickly. I do think they should do away with the menu-scribbling though.
(4)Maren C.
The new broth for the ramen soups is terrible!! Bring back the old broth. Why change something that was good? Disappointing.
(2)Amy B.
To sum up the Wagamama Faneuil location: decent food, fast service, great prices. My boyfriend and I ate here for lunch last weekend and were both happy with our meals. I got the sweet potato and eggplant tempura with a curry sauce, which was only slightly spicy and actually very sweet. My meal came with sticky rice too which I love. The service was very fast as it needs to be in this busy location. I recommend ordering the melon juice - it was great!
(3)Robbo O.
Came for lunch with party of eight. My rice dish, yasai cha han, was devoid of flavor, emphasis on "devoid." Nothing there. My co-eaters' plates were, frankly, unappetizing in appearance. The curry chicken dish is a mound of rice with this glossy yellow stuff covering it, the chicken off to the side. Just awful to behold. Worst of all - and I rarely delve into this aspect of restaurants - the service was craptacular. The first plates were brought out a full 10 minutes before the last. Unacceptable. I'll never go back. Tourists: Sultan's Kitchen is just around the corner. Keep walking.
(2)Heather G.
Help me understand why this place is so popular in the UK. The food is completely forgettable, you have to sit at a counter or family-style, and "the food comes out as it's ready" is just a nice way of saying "we don't feel like taking the time or effort into timing your dishes so you and your companion can get and enjoy your meal at the same time". Come on. With Chinatown just down the street from the Faneuil location and a decent pho place next to the Harvard location, I do not quite understand why people still go here. BORING.
(2)Noah N.
Service is so slow!
(1)Su Ting C.
Is this really a Japanese (Asian Fusion) restaurant? Or non-Asian managed Japanese Rest.? It really makes a difference. There was 4 of us, we ordered a dish of duck dumpling for appetizer, main dishes are chili ramen with beef and chicken katsu curry. I feel sorry, but, these are the worst Japanese food I've ever tasted.
(1)Susan N.
What's the hype with this place? After hearing about Wagamama and how good it is and blah blah blah, and seeing it's cult-like status, I thought, well, this place has to be fantastic! So I met up with a friend and went here one day during the summer, talking about how it's so recommended and so it must be good. What was I thinking? It really does have a cult following but I wonder if it's the David Koresh or Jews for Jesus cult members or something. Because no sane person can actually really like what Wagamama served, much less praise it. First off, my friend and I sat down outside. When we had decided what to order, the waitress wrote a bunch of stuff on the blackboard on our table and my friend, who has lived through a major war, looked absolutely terrified. It's gimmicky but not in a cute way. When we got our meal, we were less than impressed. We shared gyoza and it was on the bland side. I cannot remember what she had for her meal but she said it wasn't very good. I ordered the chicken itame (a chicken in spicy coconut soup). It sounded so fantastic. It wasn't. This dish leans more towards Thai, which usually has a great balance of different flavors. This dish tasted spicy and that's it. There was no flavor other than chicken and sheer spicy hotness. I really don't know how they could mess up such an easy dish. The hype is just that. Hype. For your money, you're better off eating anywhere else and actually having a tasty, non-bland meal. --------------------------------------------------Â----------------------------------- I now wish I could drop this place down from one star to negative 60 stars. After receiving such a nasty email from an oh-so-lovely Claire A, who I can only presume is a horrible manager at the place or a waitress who is incapable of decent customer service and thus totally undeserving of a tip, as follows, I'd recommend just avoiding the place entirely: "the waiters write on your placemat/the tables outside because tips are pooled, and therefore it's everyone's job to make sure that every customer is taken care of. the servers write specific words and symbols on your table so that other severs know you're being checked on. it's not a gimmick, you idiot." Guess what? I don't care the reason they do it. Every retail establishment has their own methods for things. IT'S STILL GIMMICKY. And it doesn't make the food taste any less gross. Nasty staff just deters me from giving a not even mediocre place a second chance.
(1)Dave F.
I went into Wagamama with fond memories from my time frequenting their London establishments when I lived there 8 years ago. My recent trip to the Faneuil location didn't live up to the hype. I don't know if it's because my palate has become more refined, or if the execution here doesn't match its British forbears. Either way, the spicy beef ramen I had was adequate, featured some decent flavor, but was oversaturated in broth, and overpriced at the register. There is better, more authentic, Asian food to be had for less money at numerous locations in Boston. The Bon Me food truck is an excellent example.
(3)Eve C.
"OMG! They have Wagamama!!" Such was my exclamation to my brother upon walking through the Faneil Hall Marketplace on a recent trip to Boston and stumbling across my favorite Japanese-Thai fusion place from across the pond. Of course, we had to eat there. My brother had never experienced the wonder of Wagamama before, and he LOVED it. I opted for the ebi kare lomen (coconut curry with shrimp) - and it was delish! My brother had the teriyaki beef soba, and practically licked his plate clean. We also had some miso soup with Japanese pickles, which this time, I was brave enough to try. They're nothing super-exciting, but a nice little tart kick to clear your palate. We also got the edamame with the spicy salt. It was truly spicy, which was nice. I became familiar with Wagama when I lived in London a couple years ago, and it was pretty much my favorite restaurant. I completely forgot that they even had locations in the U.S. (especially since the locations are where I live or visit frequently), so I was ecstatic to see one at Faneil Hall! I hope to be back soon!
(5)Stacy-Michelle R.
I decided to up my review one star. Actually, it went up two stars and then down one star. Let me explain. - My friend who works there (yes, they know I'm her friend because we do harass her when we're in there), who never waits on us, who was not there that night, and who did not even know I came in - got "talked to" about giving free food to friends. Are you f'in kidding me?!? NO ONE has ever charged me $3 extra and I ALWAYS get the same thing. No one. MInus one star (we're sitting at a zero at this point, but they don't let you do that.) - I forwarded my yelp review to the corporate office. Basically said that they sucked that day and I would miss going there. Lo and behold! They cared! A lovely lady (who happened to be there for part of the ordering phase) very politely apologized, explain what they needed to work on, and offered a gift card to have me try the place out again. As most of you yelpers know, many businesses don't offer that much of a personal response when you are angry with them - so it was very nice. Plus two stars. So here we are at two. I seriously love love love the food there, so I will hit the place up again on a random day - but there will be a lot riding on that one trip if they're hoping to have a regular back regularly.
(2)Andrea M.
The 2 stars go to the fairly basic Asian food - It's tasty, but heavy on the noodles, light on the meat. My yaki soba came with a few chicken pieces and the tiniest shrimp ever. The noodles were not proper soba noodles either - they were definitely not buckwheat. Service: Friendly, I guess, but they never came to refill my green tea. The food never comes out all at once because "it's all made fresh to order!" - I'd certainly hope so! But other restaurants manage to serve food to a table all together. Also, it's a bit strange how the waiters reach over the table to scrawl on your place mat when you order. Value: Overpriced for the food alone, but if you include the fact that you get to sit on a patio outside Faneuil Hall, I guess it's ok.
(2)Frank N.
Went on the advice of a good friend who loves this place and goes each time she's in London. Hmm...I may have ordered wrong but the 2 stars above are indicative of the two things I tried there. First was the duck dumpling. I wish they came steamed but they only serve these fried. I wonder why that is - they do their other dumplings steamed. Hmm.... Anyways the taste was pretty good and it came with a sweet/spicy sauce that was... ok. Second was the spicy chicken ramen. The noodles were over-cooked (in Korean we say "mool-lung, mool-lung") and the soup was pretty darn bland. I even tried incorporating the sweet-spicy dumpling sauce to no avail. The only good thing in that dish was the chicken - tender, moist, and well-cooked. Maybe I should've gotten something else?
(2)Reham A.
OK so I was visiting Boston aka home for Xmas just like usual. and i am always looking for a new place to have a one night out with my good ol friends. One of my friends said Reham you gotta make res at this new restaurant called Wagamama. at first I'm all like waga who? and i was laughing so hard. but anyways so we make reservations there and I'm thinking what is this place. so we go in and the service there is OK. they are all young kids who just wants to make a few bucks. they don't really seem to care. so the waiter brought out some glass wear for our wine and they were all foggy and something i wouldn't serve to people. anyways i just wiped it down with my scarf. and so did my other friend who noticed it as well. so now the food. the food was good and healthy and fresh. my friend got a noodle dish i don't remember but the noodles were so fresh and i got the house seafood soup and that was just amazing. it was very light meal and healthy. i loved it. i would come here again for sure. you just can't expect much from the service. then again the meals are really cheap so i am not complaining. P'S. to Wagamama wipe down your silver wear and your glass wear. i hate seeing stains on things like that. change your seats. they hurt my butt. i couldn't sit there for too long and enjoy my meal. and my knee kept hitting the metal bar under the table. it looks cool and all but so uncomfortable. and just teach your staff how to show that they actually care about working there.
(3)Angela V.
We're visiting Boston for the weekend and found wagamama while wandering, looking for vegan options for me that my non-veg hubby would also like. In a nutshell: good food, lots of choices, low prices, decent service. I had the tomato, tofu & basil salad (vegan take on caprese), which was delicious. My daughter nibbled on fried tofu dipped in some kind of sauce (they offered to bring her any sauce they had) and ate it all. My hubby had the Mongolian beef & enjoyed it. We finished up with the raspberry sorbet and all left happy - not an easy thing to achieve for a mixed veg'n/meat-eating family!
(4)Binh L.
Sorry, it's hard to justify paying for such food that can be made so cheaply. To compensate, I expect out of this world flavors. There is nothing really out of the ordinary though.. disappointing. You have "fusion" food, "chic" furniture, and you can charge up your ass for noodles? No thanks. Although if you must go here, I got the vegetarian fried rice for 7 bucks. Big portion, yum enough to fill my belly. Plus, I got a little soup bowl. I think it's the best deal on the menu.
(2)Jacob E.
While in Boston for PAX East, my friends and I wandered to Quincy Market in search of food. The consensus was avoiding seafood but probably an Irish bar. Little did we know that they were all full of drunk tourists. Wagamama to the rescue! On a whim, we all sat down at the community-style benches and ordered their combo meal, the absolute wagamama. The yaki soba and ramen were exactly what we needed, and the dumplings and beer helped seal the deal. The chili oil was a perfect addition to the noodles. While our service could have been a little more organized (they serve based on what comes out first), the experience was solid. I'd definitely eat there again.
(4)Gustavo C.
Food is good (that's why I gave it three, above average), but service is slow even on a slow day... WTF?! Edamame are well spiced and so is the seaweed salad, but I'm sure you can find cheaper and much better noodle joint in Cambridge.
(3)Samir N.
Three words - CHICKEN KATSU CURRY. I fell in love with this place while visiting London many years ago. It's kind of pricy for what it is, but anytime the guy next to you leans over to ask what you ordered with drool dribbling down his chin you know you have done okay.
(4)lily l.
You decieved me! Your advertisements of happy people eating noodles should be of people throwing their dishes away. Went there in person once, you honestly can say to me that this is somehow worth the price? The quality of the noodles are horrible, the ingredients are poor quality. What did I ever do to you for you to decieve me in this manner. Of course me being a person that always allows a place a second chance, I gave you another try to redeem yourself through delivery with Grub-Hub. Again I was decieved..let me ask you something. If you specialize in soups..especially noodle based soups..how can you NOT KNOW to pack the noodles seperate from the broth. My ramen seafood soup came late and stunk of bad fish, not only that the ramen which has soaked in the broth for too long now instead of a soup now has become a bowl of moosh. I could not even have a bite of the fish because it just smelled so horrible, and me being a seafood lover knows when she has been served thawed not well prepped seafood. I dislike you, I would rather spend my time and money on packaged ramen where I know it's safe!
(1)Phil C.
Good solid food. Service was excellent. A couple of things to watch out for at this location - of you're travelling with kids, they serve plain noodles as a side which is a big plus, but they use benches and no chairs with backs. That makes it tough for the 4-8 year olds. Also, this location does not have it's own washroom - they share with Quincy Market.
(3)Julie S.
I was seated immediately on a Saturday night with a party of five people. Our waiter was really attentive and got us drinks right away. The menu is large and all of us were torn about what to order. Our waiter offered honest input- what he liked and didn't. The food was fantastic and came out so quickly we barely had time to eat our edamame. My only issue- food comes out as it's ready meaning some people get food and others don't, plus they can't guarantee that appetizers come out before entrees (WTF?) which sucked. This is what took it from 5 to 4 stars. I had Mongolian beef, it was the first entree to be ready and it was delicious.
(4)Celeste M.
Hello Wagamama! So, I am a big noodle person. I will eat Italian noodles and Asian noodles alike. Noodles noodles noodles. So I have been interested in trying Wagamama for a while. I was seated at a long table between two other parties and drank my water and ordered the yaki soba. I thought about ordering the ginger chicken udon too but was interested in having the chicken and the shrimp in the yaki soba. The end result was okay. I found out that I do not really like picked red ginger. It is kind of a distracting and overwhelming taste and was hard to isolate from the rest of the food. The best I could do was to still have some in pretty much every bite. I liked the decor and the outdoor seating. I might come again as long as I can order food without that ginger.
(3)Brian L.
Sure. Sure. It's chain. But it's a chain from Over There that came here.... not quite like the US bombarding the World with KFCs and MickeyDs... And sure it's not just Japanese... And sure it's in two of the most touristy areas of Boston and Cambridge... But it ain't half-bad. I had some of that Katsu Curry Chicken... along with the two 10-year olds that were with us. It had to be good if they ate it. They're kids. What kind of kid eats curry? I think it was the appeal of fried chicken with gravy on it... and it was made with just the right amount of curry. And the sticky rice was fresh and sticky. Not bad at all. The wait staff is fun because they hire people not looks... or maybe it is looks... everyone resembled an art school drop-out and were actually sincere and fun... and not bad. The Post-Moderen Pre-Asain Mid-Contemporary Uber Arab Design of the place is not bad either. So basically... it's not bad.
(4)Niki M.
Every time I go to Wagamama I have the same experience, which can be summed up as "great - no complaints whatsoever, only satisfaction." The food is dependably fresh and delicious; I know what to expect, and my expectations are consistently met. I'm a big fan of the salmon ramen and the chicken katsu curry. The ebi dumplings are very tasty, as is the miso and the cute, shriveled little pickles. It's a great place to go for a quick meal (forget your conventional fast food, this place moves fast, and the food is healthy). Their mission: "we celebrate consistency and quality in everything we do. our ethos, developed since the first wagamama opened in london's bloomsbury in 1992, is 'to combine great, fresh and nutritious food in an sleek yet simple setting with helpful, friendly service and value for money.'" I've eaten here over a dozen times and can say that they are true to their mission.
(5)J L.
An interesting concept for a restaurant, but we found the food t be very bland, and boring they had a very limited and simple menu, I didn't enjoy anything we ordered. We will likely never return. I had my two nephews with me and there was little on the menu that the kids wanted to order.
(2)CeeCee R.
To satisfy my noodle craving and the fact that we love Wagamama food, we decided to go get lunch at Wagamama. Yasai Yaki Soba, I totally can't get enough of. Love the medley of veggies mixed in for my pan fried noodles. Chicken Chilli Mein, my husband's all time favorite. Chicken, veggies and spicy sauce altogether. $21 for two, not bad at all! Food was fantastic, one of the servers was just a little of.
(4)Betty M.
Pros: It's Ramen, it's good anytime... maybe Cons: Staff don't look too happy being there. Spicy Beef Miso Ramen was drenched in OIL. Know before you go: This is a London chain... It is A LOT better in London My Critique: I enjoyed Wagamama the two times I had it in London. I'm not sure if it's cause it was cold or we just didn't have better, but it made me craving for Ramen once I got back to the states. This time however, I don't know if this one killed the buzz. We ordered the Seafood Ramen and the Spicy Beef Miso Ramen. There was a good quarter inch of fat still sitting in the bowl of the Spicy Beef. We needed to get a bowl to seep out the fat. The Seafood Ramen didn't taste the same as when I had it in London. It was oddly flavored and didn't leave me wanting more. Alternatives: Unless you can get the next flight out to London for this, the next best thing might be going to Chinatown for some Wonton Mein. I haven't come across a Ramen shop worht trying in Boston yet.
(2)Daniel M.
Wagamama got me in London. When I found that they were opening a location here I got all fan boy and stalked the joint. Here are a few things to consider before heading here. 1. It's from the UK. Nothing says authentic Asian like that...right? 2. You have to sit next to people. *gasp* you might not know them. 3. Things come to the table when ready. 4. Fanueil Hall :'( 5. Fanueil Hall :'( (worth repeating) Chain restaurant? Yes. Gimmicky? Yes. Clearly designed for tourists? Yes. In England they tend to be near tourist spots, the Tower, Piccadilly. In New England they tend to do the same. Hmmm Still the food is fresh, plentiful, and arrives quickly. If you go for nothing else go for the ginger cheesecake. It's worth writing home about.
(4)Colleen B.
Ahhh communal dining. Not something Bostonians are used to. But if there's food involved I think we'll make an exception. I met a friend for lunch on a tourist-heavy Saturday. At first we were sat next to two children with crayons. Not my idea of communal seating. They left and were replaced by two elderly women. How cute! When my Asian Style Fish Salad arrived they were more than forward (must have been tourists), leaning into my dish and asking "What's that?". We'll I said "It's the Asian Style Fish Salad and it's so fresh and just outstanding". The two women turned to their server and said "We'll have two of those!". Ahh communal dining. Helping people make up their minds for years. Don't miss the melon fruit juice (I was licking the glass clean!) and any of the gyozas. Service is tough. It pretty much involves a lot your part to constantly flag them down for things. The food is worth it though.
(4)Brenda H.
love love love this fresh and good-for-you noodle spot. they do have other dishes, but i got a noodle dish. i got: Yasai Chili Men (v) - stir fried shitake and button mushrooms, fried tofu, squash, red onion, peppers, snow peas and scallion served with whole wheat noodles in a sauce made from chiles, ginger, garlic, onion, lemongrass, sweet red pepper and tomato I was naughty and got a dish of their coconut ice cream with toasted coconut shavings. OMG, delicious. unfortunately, when i was in town, i came here on my last night. if i discovered this place sooner.... i woulda came here every night for dinner!!
(5)Kate A.
For me this place screams "industrial-chic," and "overpriced cafeteria" (conjure images of the IKEA cafeteria). Nothing was wrong with the food or the atmosphere, but nothing was great either. For $20 I would hop a T or muster up some oomph and walk to Chinatown for some real Asian food. Then I'd have $10 left for dinner. However, I have to say, desert and juice at Wagamama are really quite yummy and completely worth that extra $10 from the real Asian placed down the way. Here's the skinny: Pluses: - Clean - Vegetarian options - Simple options for picky guests - Great juice bar - free green tea with a meal if you ask for it (but you have to ask) Minuses: - Food comes out whenever it is ready for each individual, not group - Food is pricey for what it is, $16+ a person, easily and Menu actually contains glorified ramen noodles (that 25 cent meal), in variations, starting at about $12. - Food can be bland, boring, not very regionally inspired Could be a plus or a minus depending on you: - The waitstaff is actually required to write on your place mat. The waiting style is communal. So those scribbles say "I am waiting on this person" and the marks each mean something. However, if the scribble is too hard to read or covered by a guest, dishes will often be announced, so remember the name of yours. - The seating is picnic-table style, including a handy shelf (don't knock your knees or forget your stuff down there)
(2)Ina C.
I usually hate on Asian fusion places or Asian restaurants run by non-Asian people, but I can't do that here because the food doesn't dress itself up as authentically Asian food. Yes, they use typically Asian ingredients and they use Asian terms to describe the food, but this is an altogether different kind of cuisine that shouldn't necessarily be compared with real Japanese or Korean or Chinese or Thai food. How many times can -you- type the word "Asian" in a paragraph? :) I like Wagamama a lot because it's quick, cheap, well-run, unpretentious and the food is exactly what the menu describes and nothing more. Like I tell my first graders: "You get what you get, and you don't get upset." I usually get the miso beef ramen, which is just spicy enough to have a kick, but not so much that there's no flavor. The beef is tender and the noodles are cooked just right. I really like how there's a lot of veggies in the soup. The winning dish was the Wagamama seafood ramen, though, which was somehow very light and nutty (in Korean we use the word "koo-soh-heh."). The broth had a hint of tea to it, which gave it a lot of richness. Yes, it is a bit strange that they write your order all over your placemat, but if that means that I'm not gonna get my order messed up, then write away! Three stars for Wagamama for efficient service, decent food and confidence in its own identity as a seemingly Asian place founded by white guys!
(3)Rachel V.
My boyfriend has been wanting a Wagamama in the United States for 10 years, he has a friend in New Zealand who has been telling him about it. We went to this location sometime in August with a friend of mine who was visiting from Hawaii. We all ordered different dishes, which came out at different times, this is one of the things Wagamama prides itself on. The food was hot and delicious, you can really taste all of the spices that they put into the food. This particular location seems to be the more "hipper" of the wagamas that we have been to. What I mean by this is the wait staff seemed to be alteranitive and different. That did not take away from the great experience that we had there. However, if you want a more "laid back" eating experience I recommend going to the Harvard Square one.
(4)Jack C.
Clear your mind. Picture an Japanese/asian fusion restaurant in Faneuil Hall. That's exactly what this wagamama is. The noodles were tasty enough, if a little salty. The atmosphere was clean and modernish. What I don't understand is how a place like this can exist in a city with a fairly decent-sized Chinatown with all the variety of pho, ramen, and other authentic Asian food that is much better, and much more reasonably priced. Well, I can understand, but I don't like it.
(2)Lily C.
Not impressed. Was expecting better. + = pros - = cons + i was hungry, so the food tasted better than expected + no real wait + decent selection + food came out fairly quick + acceptable portion size..not the greatest + OK pricing + the food tastes good - fake Japanese food - the food came out at different times... i got mine first, my mom got her's like 5 minutes later ...WTF (happened at wagamama in backbay too) - service sucked... i had to stare down someone as if i had a vision problem to get their attention - sometimes slow service, sometimes fast. hit or miss depending on your server All in all, OK place if you're dying for some food. Not exactly the best value but acceptable if you're trying to get a wannabe Japanese meal.
(2)Bo W.
I guess this would be exciting if there weren't a million great, cheap ramen joints in Boston. But... there are, so there's no reason to ever pay Wagamama prices for sub-standard ramen. I'm glad they make t-shirts, though, because they seem to be really small, and I've greatly enjoyed watching some of our more endowed celebs squeeze into one. For that, I give them one star.
(1)Jen H.
I heart wagamama! I have never, repeat... never, had a bad experience when visiting a wagamama. The servers all assist one another, so you are well taken care of. The food has always been good (I would lick the plate clean if that were acceptable behavior), and there are a good number of things I like on the menu. One "downside" to Wagamama is that it has "group seating." They are going to seat your party of however many people next to other parties on picnic style benches. If that sort of thing bothers you, then you're not going to be comfortable and it will ruin your dining experience. Speaking of the tables... they have these "place mats" on them and the servers take your order and write the # down on your "placemat." The first time I came here I was caught a little off guard by this, but whatever... if that's their thing... doesn't bother me. All I care about is that my food is brought to me in a decent amount of time, it's made well, my service is friendly, and I feel like I received a good value.... and Wagamama delivers on those items.
(4)Sean R.
I had to stop to grab a bowl ramen on a business trip to Boston. Wagamama was so hyped up by my girlfriend who would eat at Wagamama while spending time in London. I thought the Ramen was OK, but a weak OK. I think her memories of Wagamama are distored by her love of anything British (or related to her time spent in London). Give me Ramen Setagaya over this place anyday!
(3)Gail V.
Common tables & plastic menus, but awesome noodles for a pretty good price. Descriptions on the menu don't help you much, but ask the waiters. You can get stuff way too spicy if you are not careful. I've been here several times and it was always consistently good. I've been by a few times when the line was unbelievable, but meeting here on a week night for dinner we've never had to wait.
(4)Amanda Z.
Pretty nice place with a nice layout and clean lines. I liked that there was a shelf under the table to place my purse and that there were coat hooks available since it had been pretty chilly out this past weekend even though it was sunny. Not overly crowded around 3 on a Saturday, which was also a plus. Kind of sucked that there wasn't a bathroom in the place, but that's what you get when situated in Fanuiel Hall. Food presentation was nice. Large portions. I got the yaki udon which was pretty good. The noodles were very big and there was something that seemed to be a cross between a calamari hood and a curled piece of cooked shrimp in it. The wait staff were nice, but a bit impersonal and seemed to rush through things though they were very knowledgeable. I'm not in love with them writing on my place mat, but it's how they operate and get the right orders to the right people without having to dedicate a server to that particular table.
(3)Leigh C.
If you love noodle bowls like I do...you will love Wagamama! It's always tasty, filling and delicious! I like to stop in for lunch, during the week. The seating is family style, and that's always fun! Great prices, for Faneuil Hall....I think, anyways. Try it, you will not be dissapointed.
(4)Q S.
Why pay over $10 for a bowl of ramen? Nothing is impressive, so I don't quite understand why people rave about this place. I got a noodle dish - it was super bland.
(2)Claudia H.
A fast-casual Asian restaurant, so you get what you asked for. You can choose to be seated along the windows or the bench style tables. There are downsides to each: if you sit along the windows, you cannot face anybody; but if you sit at the tables, you may be seated right next to another group. Look under the benches, as there are shelves to hold your coats and belongings. I always order the chicken katsu curry and sweet potato fries. The food is made to order and also delivered to order. You should expect different members of your party to receive their meals at differing times. Expect to pay about $15-20 per person, but the food is well worth it.
(4)Alan R.
While venturing out to the usual tourist spots in Beantown, I noticed Wagamama. My sister studied in London in 2000 and drawing on my great memory, I instantly remembered hearing about Wags. This was definitely one of the best chains I have ever eaten at. The sauce on my dish was amazing!!! When I told my sister about it, she had so many q's. When did they open.? Where else in the US are they? Where else are they going to open and when?! While I will wait patiently, I will definitely make a trip to Wags if and when they open in the Chicago area.
(4)Matt C.
Wagamama, where pleasant dining comes to die. The Wagamama staff live by some sort of ethereal flawed logic that eludes the rest of us mere mortals. If your food is lukewarm, it's your fault because you should have anticipated its arrival, calculated the rate at which it would cool down, and barbarically stuffed it in your mouth before it started condensating on the outside of the bowl. Too complex? Too bad. Should you need a spoon because your dish requires something other than a fork and knife, that is your fault. You should have anticipated that you would order the shrimp soup and should have sat at a spot equipped for soup consumption. There is only one of these per cafeteria table, and you will have to fight for it. If your food should arrive before the rest of your tablemates, also your fault. At Wagamama, everyone at the table should know to order things that take the same time to prepare. If you don't eat, you will be encouraged to, so as to avoid complaints about the temperature, which, if you were paying attention, is also your fault. If you require the bill to be split, and you are given attitude about such a request, it's your fault. You should know that, at Wagamama, splitting checks is a very complex process akin to open heart surgery, requiring delicate and careful planning, prep work and foresight. To ask for it on the fly is completely unacceptable. Food wasn't bad though, once it was the right temp. Three stars.
(3)Bo D.
3 is pretty dead on for Wagamama's in General, I've been to 5 so far, two in London, one in Amsterdam, and two here in Boston. I was pretty surprised when I saw Wagamama in Boston at first, then after living here for a while, I soon realized this city's comparatively homogeneous in terms of race, and hence lacked diversity in restaurants compare to New York or LA. An overpriced asian restaurant could just be able to survive in such a setting. Wagamama is overpriced asian food (mainly ramen noodles). The extra few dollars you pay is going into its design and branding. I do have to say it's one of the best designed restaurants in the world, everything is (pardon the cliche) form follows function, and unlike a whole lot of Asian restaurants, cleanliness isn't an afterthought. So, price brings it down to 2, design makes it 5. The food I ate there is nice most of the time, but when I order rice dishes, they often tastes over microwaved or dry, so that makes me think not everything there's made fresh. A-OK for me.
(3)RB B.
We were in Boston as one of the stops on a cruise. My brother had recently eaten here and suggested it to us. We ordered the pad thai and a vegetable katsu. The katsu was good....all the vegetable pieces came out hot and crispy. The curry sauce was delicious but they were so skimpy with the sauce. The pad thai was kind of bland. It was covered with so many crushed peanuts that it made it annoying to eat. Service was mediochre. The place was practically empty at lunch time.
(2)Nicole E.
I am a huge Wagamama fan. I always have a good time. And Tiger Beer! Loves it! I have been to 3 Wagamamas. The first taste I got was 2 years ago in Dublin, Ireland. Then when I found out they were putting one in Faneuil Hall then later in Harvard Sq, I was basically ecstatic. The food is sooo good. Today we chose to have Diningin.com deliver it to the office for lunch. I had the Yaki Udon. It was a bit spicy but not overwhelmingly so. The ingredients were having a party on the plate that I couldn't wait to have in my mouth. The veggies were crisp and the noodles were big and playful. The black sesame seeds were also a cool way to punch up the presentation. The miso soup was pretty run of the mill but still good. We also had the duck gyoza. Heavenly! The cherry sauce they have to accompany it was divine. You only need a dot or two to turn the flavor up to 11. I've eaten here a number of times but just none recent enough that I felt I should review. I have never once been disappointed but I also love to try new things. A couple other points- all of their food is GMO free. I feel that while delicious, some of the dishes are pretty salty so make sure you have plenty of water, though the bottled water does get pricey. Also, if you eat in, not everything comes at once. I do like the seating style though. Long tables where you have other parties sitting right next to you. Its unique. I think you'll have a fun time here.
(4)Greg F.
Wagamama is cool for a handful of reasons. First of which, you can type the name into a phone by only pushing each number once. (92426262). In addition to it being easy to text your friends to tell them to join you, Wagamama has a unique way of seating your party. You sit at a long bench like table, along side other parties. Its a much more communal way of sitting and you cant help but eaves drop on the people around you. Like the couple sitting next to me that was having an argument. Well, it wasn't so much an argument, as the girl talking about feelings and the guy simply eating... apparently more interested in his noodles then in his lady friend. When your server comes to take your order (mine was Olga from Russia) they enter it in on their cool little hand held thingie, and write your order on your placemat. It's always fun seeing people who are there for the first time ordering, they get so confused when the server reaches out and starts scribbling all over their place setting. They bring each item out when it's ready, as opposed to waiting to bring everyone's food out at once. So I like to order a bowl of salted edamame right away to share as an appetizer (mmmm fiber...). For my main course, got the chicken ramen (it came highly recommended), and it was delicious. This is not your college-dorm food ramen. It does not come in a plastic wrapper. Quite the contrary- it comes in a huge bowl and you're given a large ladle-like spoon to aid you in your efforts. The soup contains some greens, a bunch of noodles and juicy white sliced chicken. Everything is cooked to perfection and nothing is too salty. The noodles are a bit slippery and are difficult to eat with chop sticks, but I managed. We passed on dessert (the portions are quite large), and after leaving Olga a tip and a 'spasiba' we headed back out to finish the freedom trail!
(4)Anna F.
I am such a fan of Wagamama. I first discovered the one in Leicester Square when I was living in London. From my first bowl of Chicken Kare Lomen I was hooked. I've eaten at several Wagamamas in London, Amsterdam, Sydney and Melbourne and enjoyed them all. Favorites: chicken (or ebi) kare lomen, chicken katsu curry, salmon ramen, edamame (with chili and garlic salt!), duck gyoza, and of course the ginger stem cheesecake! great for vegetarians and vegans too! my healthy lunch option: Asian style fish salad ($10.95) a grilled fillet of barramundi with a coconut, cilantro and chili dressing, on a salad of thin cut zucchini, daikon, carrot, red onion, bean sprouts and chipped cilantro, served with a wedge of lime.
(5)Sean S.
EDIT: Removed server's name upon her request... I'm not a complete tyrant I suppose. --------------------------------- Went there with my Girlfriend tonight. The food was ok. Nothing spectacular. What really made me dislike the place, was the service. We saw our server, ONCE. She brought us drinks, took our order and never came back. My girlfriend's order was completely WRONG, but, the fact that our server never came back, we wouldn't have been able to do anything about it anyway, plus, we had been walking and roaming all day and were just hungry, so, she ate it anyway. She finished her wine, I finished my beer, and we had both finished our waters. So we wait. We wait. We wait some more. My girlfriend saw our server and just stared at her waiting to get her attention. Finally, the server looked her dead in the face, smiled, and walked right on by. At one point, the manager noticed me "rubber necking" for ANYONE to come over, and when he did, I got a little snippy (been waiting for something to drink for almost 25 minutes at this point). He asks "Can I help you two over here?" and I reply "Some water would be awesome, we haven't seen our server since the Bush administration". To which he replies, "well, we don't like to bother people while they are eating" to which I retort "thats fine and dandy, but to not check back at all is a little overboard". sigh... The other thing I didn't like was the way they seat people. Giant picnic tables. The sense of intimacy was lost. AS soon as they sat a party of four (literally) right next us, elbow to elbow, it felt like we couldn't really talk to each other, at least not about anything private or personal. So, we finish up our meal, we need a check and we need to go stuff, cause the portions were generous and we had left overs. We Wait. We wait some more, and we wait some more, and then we waited again for good measure, finally I flagged down the server to the table next us and requested our server saying that we needed "to go" stuff and a check. HE then wraps our food up and then brings us our check. Our server didn't even come back AFTER we mentioned something to the manager. As we were leaving, I noticed our server and manager just hanging out chillin and talking and smiling and joking. To me that was a big slap in my face. "Oh you didn't have a great experience, thats a shame, fuck you pay us." Like I said, food was ok, but not worth the effort or trouble to go down there. Service was HORRIBLE. My girlfriend and I both work in the service biz, and for us to leave 3 bucks on 40, you know its bad. I would much rather spend my money on local business than to ever have to go back to this place.
(2)Molly M.
I am gluten-free which sometimes makes me feel high maintenance but the staff here was amazing!!! So helpful and all with a great attitude. Then the food came out and it was amazing!! Healthy, fresh, and flavorful food... Highly recommend this restaurant!!
(5)Sophie H.
This place is boring and felt overpriced even when someone else was paying for me. I got the Ebi Kare Lomen, which says it's a ramen-and-shrimp soup "made from lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste, red chilies, fresh ginger and galangal." I was expecting something that tasted more Thai-inspired, maybe something like Tom Yum. What I got instead was a bright orange bowl of bland coconut milk that tasted like straight curry powder. The ramen was mushy and messy. Add that to their bizarre faux-hip affect and annoying, inefficient serving practices (leaning over each of us to write down what we had ordered on our placemats, and then asking us what we had ordered again when the food came out), and what you get is just total lameness.
(2)laura d.
went back today for the first time in awhile. I think that wagamama was merely a bridge for me to begin to eat more asian noodle dishes. Since eating pho on a weekly basis, this just seems kinda bleh. I still like it for being accessible, but gotta say not so impressed anymore. -- the duck gyoza are really good though!
(2)richard s.
Hmm... I have to pay extra for meat in my ramen? Oh wait, the ramen is just super salty water with no flavor? So many other solid choices nearby. Pass on this. * Just a thought that occurred... I'm so used to having good / authentic Asian food in Cali so I might be overly harsh and critical. Then again, this still doesn't change the fact that the food isn't good.
(2)chris r.
I have a like/hate relationship with Wagamama. The food is solid, if somewhat difficut to eat. (How do you eat a giant bowl of noodles and broth gracefully?) The waitstaff is usually attentive and don't worry too much about whether you are at "their" table (which is nice, since all I usually need is a napkin or something). There is plenty of outdoorish / open-air seating. That's the "like" part done. Things I don't like -- Family style seating; Waiters writing all over a paper placemat; Entrees coming out in waves rather than all at once. Finally -- unless you love salt (and human hair, in one case) avoid the calamari.
(3)Elena A.
For one of my college courses, I got to go to London for two weeks to watch and write about plays (best course ever) and while I was there, I fell in love with Wagamama's. I pined when I came back, thinking I'd never get to go again, and would have to sooth the loss with pictures and website-stalking instead. Then, one day, I discovered Wags was coming to the US. And their first store was going to be in Faneuil Hall. ZOMG!! I started counting down the days. Wags opened right at the end of my 1L year in law school, just about the time I needed comfort from the stresses of finals. I dragged my roommates there and made them fall in love with Wags as well. Now, even though we no longer live together, we still go to Wags to celebrate milestones, ease sadness, or because we're craving the noodles (chicken itame, seafood ramen, curry, yakisoba!), edamame (chili + garlic salt!), and dessert (ginger cheesecake...wow). The service has always been fabulous and even though it's the heart of the super-touristy area, I still love it. There's plenty of outdoor seating when it's warm, the indoor seating is pretty good although it is communal tables, and there's a downstairs area I have yet to sit in (but looks pretty, from what I can tell).
(4)Andrew M.
Been here 2x. Both times I found the food boring. The kids noodle & tofu dish was pretty dismal. The tofu tasted bad. The broth was also not very good. I got some fried sweet potato thing and that was basically some cut up veggies, fried sweet potatoes and a mound of rice. That was ok, not exciting at all. My wife's dish tasted burnt. The raw veggie fruit drink was good, though. I guess the only saving grace to this location, is that the kids can run around in the courtyard while you eat dinner.
(2)Brian B.
As close to a Japanese noodle joint you can find in what is a chain restaurant. Order EVERYTHING on the menu and be amazed at how fresh, tasty, and creative their meals are.
(4)Jamie A.
The service here was A+, but I give it an overall "meh." I'd probably come back here, as the food was indeed tasty, but it's nothing that I would go out of my way for. The locale in Harvard Square is really good, and when other restaurants are packed to the gills, I'll probably venture in here again.
(3)Diane H.
I don't know why, but everytime I come here I'm excited and I leave very happy and satisfied! Food taste really good! Usually order a noodle plate..should try RAMEN next time I go ! and I get a cup of juice and then coconut ice cream! Everyone I came here with seems to enjoy it! Very fast service..seated within 30 seconds of walking through the door! Will go back ! LOVE it!
(5)Kalimuthu C.
Food was different would try it as first time but did not impress me to make it a regular one. The service was okay in the Faneuil Hall restaurant, the waiter/s could have been much more responsive and not being naive about serving. This was my first trip to Wagamama. I have been longing to go there for a long time but never had a chance to go. So this day me and my wife decided to visit Boston Harbor and then go to Wagamama for lunch. We ordered for the pure wagamama that has the veg dumplings and moyashi soba and the raw juice. We also ordered for the yasai chilli men. I found the menu intriguing and the food different. We went with the veg options and ramen with miso soup was not bad but I did over spoil it with the chilli oil and soy sauce - so be careful about using it. The chill men was not bad for some reason I thought I could find this chilli sauce on the supermarket aisle and not sure what wagamama had new to it. Anyways..would try the meat version the next time and post the feedback.
(3)Curtis C.
Food is well prepared. I was a bit confused when I first saw the menu--the place has like 1-2 items from a variety of Japanese cuisine. Good place to go for groups that want variety.
(3)Michelle O.
You know what? I really wanted to like this place, but wouldn't you know it - Wagamama's just gets it all wrong for so many reasons. I went there late one night, with a friend, when the place was pretty dead. The server seated us at the end of one long, empty table and that was fine and dandy by me. Who wants to sit near strangers when you don't have to, right? Wrong. Not even ten minutes later, another party walks in. Though we were the only ones there, the server seats this party right next to us. That's right - not even a seat between. I felt so crowded by the portly gentleman invading my elbowspace I wanted to hightail it outta there. Now, I could understand if seating was limited or if we were there during the lunch rush, but like I already said, it was dead in there and near closing. So why sit two separate parties so close together when there's no shortage of open tables and seats? Preposterous. As far as the food goes, it was extremely-limited in terms of vegan entrees, so I opted for a couple of appetizers: the yasai gyoza and grilled asparagus. Not all that tasty or filling, these underwhelming sides and my one drink ended up costing me well over $15.00. This could almost be forgiven if not for the horrible eating conditions and lousy service. So, yeah, the service. It's already been established that they see nothing wrong with crowding people together when it isn't necessary, but on top of it all, they are remarkably slow. The food took forever to arrive, drinks forever to refill, and the check - yeah, that took forever to come as well. If you want to overpay, be told to sit next to strangers (when, really, you shouldn't have to if other seats are open), and get third-rate service, by all means go to Wagamama. I, on the other hand, would rather take my business to the Faneuil Hall food court where I can sit wherever I please AND get what I pay for.
(1)Maxine H.
Definitely a must-visit if you're in the area. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston! The outside dining in Faneuil Hall is very nice, and the heaters they have out there do a good job of keeping you warm. I love the variety of juices and vegetarian options they have. My absolute favorite dish is the yasai katsu curry--fried sweet potato and eggplant with rice and a curry sauce. I would eat it every day if I could. The food is flavorful and the portions are pretty decent. Service is quick and generally friendly. The communal dining style can be kind of annoying during a dinner rush but it's usually not a big problem. Order the yasai katsu curry. You will not regret it.
(4)K G.
Chicken Katsu Curry and sticky rice...open air and crazy street performers. That is why I like this location the best. Gyoza is my favorite app. For obvious reasons it reminds me of England so that is a bonus.
(4)Anino X.
I was craving some Japanese food that didn't involve sushi (which while awesome, gets old for me after awhile). More specifically, I wanted curry rice. So I gave wagamama a shot. I wasn't terribly impressed overall; the service was a bit slow and the food was on par with Mentei in the Back Bay, but way more expensive. There are other places to spend your hard-earned bucks for lunch.
(2)Chloe F.
I went there with 2 friends on a whim while strolling through Faneuil Hall and the name caught my attention. When we went inside, I remember that I really liked the atmosphere and the way the place looked - very modern and clean. I ordered a melon fruit juice (apple, orange, watermelon) and yaki soba. I didn't like the red ginger on the yaki soba, but they weren't hard to pick out. The noodles were delicious, as was the juice -- really fresh. One of my friends ordered chicken ramen and we all split one of the side dishes. They liked those as well. I really like Wagamama, but I talked to another friend about it and she really didn't like it because it was too salty and too expensive for some noodles. While I guess it does depend on your tastes, I really liked it and would totally go back to try out some of their other dishes.
(4)Paul G.
Wagamama. Check. Truly uncoordinated service. Dishes were arriving randomly and my friends main course came 15 minutes after mine. Got it comp'd by the manager, something I never really do unless the place is an insult to my dining experience. Wagamama was an insult. What's with the waiter scribbling the numbers of everything we ordered on my place mat? Outside of the really bad device I have to say the food was ok, three stars. One star for service, therefore my two rating. I'm also not fond of the communal style dining. Did it. Won't be back.
(2)Cameron T.
Have to agree with everyone else. We've eaten numerous times at many Wagamama locations all over London. I was really excited that they finally made it across the pond, and yet it was very disappointing. I've always ordered the same thing (Chili beef ramen) every time I visit. The Boston version was bland, not spicy as it should be, and the beef was WAY overcooked. The service wasn't so great either. They were nice but our server was some loud guy who called everyone boss. "Hey Boss!, how's your food? Ya doing okay Boss?" That was kinda annoying. Won't be going back anytime soon, which is sad because we were so excited about them coming to America :(
(2)A Y.
We get to the restaurant and sit at one of the long wooden tables that we share with a few other parties (how picnic-like!). Our waitress, pierced and tattooed to the hilt (Wags apparently likes to have creative looking employees), was a bit intimidating at first sight, but was actually very friendly. Plus, she took our order on this cool PDA-type thing! I ordered the yasai yaki soba, which was a dish of whole wheat noodles with egg and a bunch of veggies. It arrived steaming hot and smelled like a delicious mountain of carbs. The dish itself was pretty standard (basically noodles with vegetables), but it was sure tasty! The portions were very generous (almost enough for 2 lunches) and there was a good blend of plump shiitake mushrooms, scrambled egg slivers, and firm and flavorful sauteed noodles. Including tax and tip, my meal was only $10, so I definitely was not expecting a culinary masterpiece. I would say Wags is a great place for the price (very low), atmosphere (cute/modern), and food (satisfying /served quick and hot). I would recommend Wags as the best bet if you are looking for a place for a quick but yummy sit down lunch or if you are looking to satisfy a Westernized-Japanese food craving.
(4)Erin G.
I remember when this place opened up and everyone was screaming with delight and eating lunch here every single day. I never found a reason to go Wagamama's when I lived here but my boyfriend took me for lunch a few days ago when we were strolling around. The menu selection is poor. that's all there is to it. you can have noodle in soup, noodles grilled, noodles on a salad or noodles in curry sauce. yawn. I mean the food itself was fine, but it took me a while to find something i actually wanted to eat. The fresh apple-lime juice was very good though. I don't dig the way the food comes out - whatever is ready first gets to the table first, which means my meal came out 10 minutes before my boyfriend's and our drinks came out later. I just don't get the hype.
(2)Katia M.
It's ... okay. The concept is neat, and I definitely liked the space and the waitstaff style they use. But the menu is far from extensive, which sucks when you are not a meat-eater and came for the ramen. Glorious ramen! I wanted it so, but there is no veggie ramen! So, I had the vegetarian soba, which was ... okay. Luckily, I went when this place wasn't busy, because I've heard it's a nightmare when it is ... of course, I'm sure most places anywhere near the Finny D are somewhat nightmarish between 12-2 on a weekday (yeah, I just called it the Finny D ... and you know you want to join me ... say it out loud -- it's fun!). Anyway, I might let myself be dragged along if someone I knew wanted to try it, but I probably won't roll solo again. Those benches are mighty lonely when it's empty, pardner.
(3)Anna P.
You know what it's like: Your friends are in from out of town, and they MUST see the swan boats, the Freedom Trail, and Faneuil Hall. By the time you've hit that last red brick, you're ready to pass out. That's when the zen-like benches at Wagamama start to look good. Don't be fooled! Aside from the decor, there's nothing appealing about Wagamama. I've been a couple times now, ordered different things, and everything I ordered tasted kind of like. . . soap. I don't get why the waiters write your order number on the table - is it honestly that hard to remember which food goes where in a party of four? If you don't remember, is it so painful to ask? Reducing my food order to scribbles on the table doesn't exactly make my mouth water. Oh, and don't take an outdoor table. You never know when an off-key a cappella group will sneak up behind you and start belting out "Kiss from a Rose."
(1)Daniel F.
Coming from my London experience, it was very similar vis a vis the table arrangements. When in a group, it is true that dishes will not necessarily come out simultaneously, though you know it is fresh made. For some reason, I feel the food quality was notch higher in London, though it's fast and provides a great selection of well-spiced food. There's even vegan and vegetarian options as well, so you can bring a mixed group of diners.
(3)Steve S.
Hate to be the contrarian, but I liked this place for some very wrong reasons A. Its Fanueil Hall..I expect to be fleeced B. Its soup...It should be hot with noodles C. Its Asian American food..How authentic could it be? So in short if you are looking for a fresh, hip and Asian inspired yet slightly overpriced food, then this is the place for you...
(4)H L.
what, they are still open for business? The poor service from waitresses were so bad, and the floor manager,freshly imported Ortental(that's how Asians are called across the pond) skinhead guy from London, has no clue what to do to improve the service because his eyes are not following staff or customers while standing on the floor. The food is boring compared to those chains in London. In fact, their menu is not as interesting as the long table and bench in all locations . Bland, no flavor, poor services(only in Boston). Even the freshly frozen Asian noodle packages you can buy at Asian Grocery shops will taste better and even a bachelor like myself can cook better than most of those on the menu. Great that they opened their business in a prime spot, and that is the only positive thing to say.
(1)Ulli K.
I like it here! The food is solid. Been 3-4 times and the food was always fresh and delicious. A real laid-back place if you want to hang out with friends. People sit on loooong tables, so don't expect to have a intimate setting. This is delicious "fast-food" in the best of ways..and way healthier than other fast food. Definitely a place I enjoy to go.
(4)Ty D.
Food is great. Ate here twice and I gave this a low review because you are rushed thru you meal. Several times the wait staff comes over to ask if you are finished eventhough there is a substantial amount of food. Its just annoying. I went at lunch both times and was in a rush BUT they made it more of a rush.
(2)David L.
It's been years since I first tried Wagamama in London (based on a recommendation from Rick Steves' travel book, of course). I can't believe that they are now in the U.S. Since they are in Boston (2 locations), we decided to come here for lunch while we were visiting Faneuil Hall. I had the seafood ramen ($12.50), which was a little bit pricey but it did have big pieces of salmon and shrimp in it, which I liked. People probably overlook the salads in this place, but my wife ordered the grilled yasai salad ($8.75), which is a salad served with grilled eggplant, portabella mushroom, and squash topped with noodles (sounds like a strange combination, but reportedly very good). We also got a free side from a coupon that we got from some tourist's map. I chose one of the most expensive side items, the ebi katsu (fried shrimp, 6 pieces, normally $6.95), and they were delicious. My only complaint is that our drinks took a really long time to arrive (I had to remind them of the fact two times for a diet pepsi and 2 glasses of water to appear). My waiter was very apologetic though. They also warn you upfront that various food orders for the same party will come out at different times, which was annoying. Despite the place's negatives, I will still remember my dining experiences at Wagamama fondly, mainly for the novelty factor. Bottom Line: It's a neat concept and is fun to go to once in a long while.
(4)Kirs P.
Ehhhhh. I've been twice now. Once, when it first opened, and now a few days ago. The low down: Getting there/hosting/seating: The first time there was a line (but a short wait), the second, no line. Seated fairly quickly although the second time annoyed me. I walk in with Joc and they want to sit us next to these two women who have their shit all sprawled out on the other half of the table. The restaurant is half empty. Yes, I get the whole "communal" dining experience. I heard it's very chi-chi in NYC right now. But, I think it's super lame. I don't like strangers. And I definitely don't want to risk sitting next to some moron who can't eat quietly or properly. So, I said, "You know what, let's just go outside" where we had our own table. Pros- our own table. Cons- it was freakin' 90+ degrees out and there were really annoying buskers within tossing distance. Waiter/Menu/Ordering: Okay- the menu is not confusing. I'm confused by that remark. It's a menu. The types of dishes are clearly labeled. Beverages are on the back. Pretty freakin' standard. The waiting thing was kind of strange- we had at least three people tending to our small table. I hate that. Just give me one waiter. Back when I waited tables it was my job to 1) take the order; 2) bring out the food and drinks; 3) bring the bill. Now it seems the waiter has one job: take the order and come back and make sure everything is okay. Some other schmo has to do the dirty work. Who exactly am I tipping here? Pros: lots of options for the veggies, neat drink options. Cons: Strange serving hierarchy. The food: Pretty okay. I mean, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. It's a British chain. Brits have awful food. And don't talk to me about the great Curry Take-Aways. They aren't run by those whitey Brits. And, yes, I hate the whole "food comes out when it comes out" thing. Maybe it's just me, but I tend to follow proper table etiquette. This means you don't start eating until everyone has been served. I don't like to eat when no one else is. And I don't like to watch people eat while I sit there, twiddling my thumbs. Pros: Lots of veggie options. The Chili stuff was actually kind of hot, which was nice. Cons: Watching the rest of the table eat while I wait another five minutes for food Atmosphere and Miscellaneous: I like big open spaces, so this place works for me on that level, but it also has a big cafeteria vibe. It's almost too bright. Reminds me of the gym-turned-lunchroom in elementary school with those gigantic fluorescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The prices were also pretty good. $13 bucks for a sit-down lunch with an appetizer ain't too bad, especially in that part of town. So, Pros: Price. Cons: Feeling like I'm 9 and sitting at the dork table while the cool kids look on.
(3)Lina G.
This is a tourist trap. It's over priced and not creative at all. I like that's it's outside, sort-a and it's not like I found bugs in the food and it wasn't terrible. It just was NOT authentic.
(2)Peter R.
NO NO NO!!!! that is not how u make Noodlezzzz I was sooo excited to see this place open and boy was i disappointed when i went. The service was fine and the place had that "I'm a hip place to eat where all my servers have dyed hair and Mohawks". But when it comes to the food they were way off. I think they might have spent too much on those expensive palm pilot things they use to take ur order and not enough on good recipes. So the food.. probably ok if u never had real ramen before, but noodles were overdone broth was ehhh, the beef needed to be cut,it was like a whole steak in my soup. I would say ur better off cooking ur own instant ramen and putting what you like in it.
(1)Alexis J.
I really enjoyed Wagamama. From what I read on Yelp, the reviews are really mixed but I found the food to be tasty and fresh. I thought the concept was cool/cheesy. When you order, you sit here while the waiter jots unidentifiable notes on a mini-chalkboard embedded in your table. They even use a wireless system to take your order and even swipe your credit card. At Wagamama, you sit family style, at huge benches so it is not a romantic place to talk. I found it to be great for meeting a bunch of friends and hanging out. The staff was friendly enough and I really enjoyed the ice tea and yasai itame, vegetarian friendly noodles in coconut broth. The soup dish had all kinds of delicious spices and veggies floating around in it. Soup doesn't usually sound filling, but this really was. They have beer and wine, fresh juices, and lots of side dishes. I wouldn't go here expecting customization, though, because your food comes out as it is ready and you can't really add or edit any order. All in all, I really enjoyed my meal at Wagamama. I would definitely go back. I do agree with Anna P. though, after a long day of trekking through the city the zen looking benches can be very incising.
(4)Jen C.
When I was living in London, wagamama was a godsend. The food was fresh, the service was (perfunctory), and the general restaurant concept was pretty cool. In a land of bland bangers and mushy mash, Japanese fusion cuisine that was actually flavorful was a mouthgasm everytime. I was beyond ecstatic when I found out that wagamama's first US location would be here in Boston. That made my disappointment just a little harsher when, upon dining there, I discovered that the Fanueil Hall location is just average at best. Not going to comment on the service, as I was expecting the gadgets and the writing on the communal tables - plus, I'm not a huge fan in general of servers hovering at your elbow to refill your glass whenever you take a sip. We started with the tori kara age, which was nicely marinated but fried a little too long, so kind of stringy. I also got a piece of rosemary caught in my teeth, but that's more due to my general gracelessness. For entrees, I ordered the yaki udon, and my friend (also fluent in wagamama) ordered the yasai chilli men. The udon came with teeny tiny little shrimp and barely any chicken. While the udon noodles were nice and spicy, there wasn't that much flavor to them. My friend decided that the chilli men was boring, despite the many veggies. The sauce didn't have any kick, and the tofu was soggy. Overall, the food was just 'meh'. Sad, since we were huge fans of wagamama when in need of some flavor in London. Maybe something got lost in translation, kinda like pants aren't Dockers in the merry olde. Or maybe our taste buds were so depressed by British food that they were prematurely excited by any sort of flavor. Either way, I refuse to give up on wagamama just yet. Insert parting shot here. ** Update ** Just tried the Harvard Sq location last week. Same experience, different location. I'm starting to lean towards premature excitation... Still, it's a good place to grab a quick, big, bite - just don't expect Morimoto greatness.
(3)Diane D.
I wish you could do what you do just a little bit BETTER, Wagamama! I was soooo excited to get Wagamama in Boston because it was one of my favorite establishments for cheap eats when I lived in London. Luckily, the eats have remained cheap, but they just aren't as yummy as I remember them being in this Boston location... I think the cafeteria style seating and method of ordering is nifty, but in the summer I seriously cannot eat in this place until after 8 pm... it's a sauna!! For you non sweaty folks no problem, but I'm just saying...beware of the potential for some swamp if you're here too long! The noodles are tasty and if you like spicy you can get that... but on the whole, Wagamama is not as great an addition to Faneuil Hall as I expected.
(2)Chris B.
The food was definitely fresh and that maybe the reason why I didnt quite like the food as I wasnt use to it. overall it was a good place. just didnt care for the bench seating. My wife and i went there last weekend and we got seated next to two guys that were cussing and carrying on about their girlfriends being no good. they were also clearly drunk as one of the men kept nodding off. it also was a bit chilly in there but other then that its really a nice place. the staff was really nice and polite. the manager even came to our table and offered us a sample of these sweet potato fries that were delicious. my wife and I will definitely come back to this spot.
(3)Heidi W.
Ehh.. Its trendy. The food is "made to order" but I don't understand how that works since it's a set menu. I was under the impression that I got to pick want I wanted IN my dish. Not A dish. It was still yummy, but not impressive. I ordered the Yasai Yaki Soba. Flavorful, but nothing special. My friend ordered Chicken Ramen. I thought the broth was good, but he thought it was bland. For the type of food we got, I think it was a bit over priced. For 2 entrees & 2 drinks & ice cream, my bill came out to be $32. The tables have chalkboards where the waitresses write down what you ordered. Interesting but...again, nothing special. One thing that I will go back for are the fresh juices. I'm a slight health nut. If anyone is looking for a real "made to order" experience, go to Noodle Street on Comm. Ave. You get to pick the broth/sauce, the noodle type & any toppings you want. And its cheaper.
(3)John L.
Visited Wagamama this past weekend in Boston because I experienced the restaurant in the UK and bought the cookbook for my wife. This was the first time she got to experience the food in person instead of using the cookbook and she loved it. The food was great wish they had a west coast presence.
(4)Charles K.
I've been to this wagamama location twice and my highly adventuresome self has chosen the Chicken Katsu Kurry both times. It's technically just a fried chicken breast with a hunk of white rice and curry sauce poured over it. It's nothing all that special but tastes good nonetheless, and you really cannot go wrong with it.
(3)Charoline D.
After reading that Wagamama was opening a location right across from where I work in the Financial, I decided I at least had to check it out. Typically the line is going out the door, but this particular time we got there a little after 1, and didn't even have to wait. I ordered #43 - Yaki Soba. This was a panfried noodle dish with shrimp & chicken, pickled ginger, peppers, and onions. Very good. The communal dining tables were a little difficult to get used to as my friend Adam and I are quite fond of talking about inappropriate subject content over meals, and a mother and her 13 yr old daughter were sat next to us. Adam orderded a #25 which was some sort of soupy ramen noodle with chicken breast sliced over the top. He had basically pointed to the Japanese guy sitting next to him and said I'll take what he's having. Only problem was trying to figure out how to eat it properly using only a pair of chopsticks and this weird ladel type dealie. Our neighbor at the table had the tactic down....Adam, not so much. I did find it a tad odd that they wrote on our paper placemats the numbers of what we had ordered because presumably the waitstaff doesn't run their own food or they haven't worked out a good system yet, so we had about 3 different people come to our table and put "x"s on our placemats to be shown that our food had been delivered. I thought us eating it was apparent enough. Pretty enjoyable though at about $12/person. I'll come back.
(3)Ryan B.
While our waiter was zany and I was entertained by his antics it did not distract from the fact that our food was great! This place was unique and refreshing for Boston. We had the chicken goza and some tasty soba noodles. Everything was very well prepared and served with promptness. My only big struggle is the location. I am not a huge fan of the fanual hall area of Boston. With that being said the location does not take away anything from the experience. Nothing is cheep in Fanuale Hall and Wagamama follows suit.
(4)Bryan S.
Oh Daddy, Wagamama is a-ok! So, Wagamama is a very cool, unique dining experience. You share tables (picnic tables) - there is waitservice (knowledgeable, friendly and efficient) - and it is fast, rapid, quick, no waiting... for this ADD guy, perfect! They feature some nice Japanese beers, sake, wine and super-delicious fresh squeezed juices. The menu is made up of main dishes and side dishes rather than entree/appetizer... the food comes out as fresh and hot as possible, so you don't get your food at the same time as the others in your party. This is kind of nice, as it encourages sharing/sampling, which I"m all about. I had the duck gyoza side dish which were good and the chicken katsu curry which was fantastic. My friend is a vegetarian with a mushroom allergy and the hyper-efficient server handled the tall order with ease and good cheer. The incredibly busy kitchen staff made sure that they burned out a wok so that there would be no danger of contamination via mushroom and produced a tofu rice stir fry that my friend absolutely loved. The Faneuil Hall location... well, it is what it is, I can say that Friday evening downtown parking is a cinch and I will make my way into tourist Hell just to try the rest of the menu at Wagamama!
(5)Jim C.
A friend was in town, visiting, and had noticed Wagamama a few days earlier as we walked past Faneuil Hall. He had eaten at their London location and suggested we try it for lunch. We were quickly seated in one of their many empty tables, as there were very few people with the same meal plans at that time. If you've ever been to an October-fest celebration, you know - the kind with the long rows of picnic tables? The seating arrangement at Wagamama had a similar feel. Much more classy tables, but still a picnic table type seating arrangement. For those of you who enjoy your space and privacy while eating, you may want to skip this place, as there's a good chance you may be sharing a bench with other diners. The host made sure to point out the shelf they have underneath the table to store your purse or other belongings while you dine. If you're not careful, your knees could be attacked by the ledge as you get seated. The place gave off an industrial and upscale feel. Nothing about it felt very welcoming. On top of this, the staff seemed very zombie like. Everyone appeared to be young college students who were likely not sober. I'm not at all accusing anyone off being drunk on the job; I don't think alcohol can give you the lack of emotion and blank stares that seemed to occupy the faces of our waiter and his co-workers. We placed our order, only three of us dining, and our zombie-waiter simply looks at the menu, and writes the number of the dish we ordered on our paper placemats. I began to wonder how difficult it would be to remember three dishes. Before I could wonder further, he writes down the number for tap water; yes water. How high do you have to be to not be able to remember a glass of water? He explained to us, in a flat voice, that the meals will all come out as soon as they were ready. I actually liked this touch. Let's skip the pleasantries, and eat our food when its ready. I don't want to watch my food cool up on the line for fifteen minutes while my table-mate's dish is still being prepared. My "Yaki Udon" came out second, about 3 minutes after the first and 5 minutes before the last. I enjoyed the dish. Udon noodles have become my favorite type of noodle, and this dish did not let down. It was heavily spiced and has a lot going on. The only element that I could do without is the ginger. Its heavily garnished with strips of pickled ginger, which is one of the few foods I'm not a fan of. I can take it in small doses, but this dish contains much more than a small dose of the stuff. I feel like the dish also skimps on the chicken a bit. For the price, they could include a little more meat. Since then, I've eaten at Wagamama several times, and have had a near similar experience. The food is good, not great, and they have some very interesting dishes. The service has always been mediocre at best, and I have yet to find a non zombie waiter. Its definitely a place to try; just don't go with high expectations.
(3)Liz M.
I think people are putting too much thought into this place. It's a chain, but a yummy chain that is fairly basic. I really like the udon soba and there is so much there, you won't be hungry for a while. I like the idea of communal tables, but the last time I went, I got it to go so I could eat outside. The the portions were still generous and tasty.
(4)Vanilla P.
I'll probably have to revise my initial 3 star rating after I visit this place a few more times, and they're ironed out their kinks. I would say this is a 3.5 star rating (dammit, yelp! Put in some half star rating capability!) but I always round down because I'm pessimistic. We go, we sit at the end of one of the tables, and we wait. I finally asked my husband if he forgot to take off his invisibility cloak, because I thought mine might still be on. Shore nuff, when I took that cloak off the waitress popped right over. We started laughing hysterically, so she must have thought we were high or something. Ordered drinks... and waited. They came, we drank, and then we waited a little more. Then we ordered and waited, and finally got one meal (chili chicken ramen -- good but broth was off a little). Then second meal arrived (chicken chili men -- flavorful with a strange Italian sauce. Japan, u so crazy!), and then two appetizers of the same kind appeared (we only ordered one). We sent back the dupe, and continued to eat until we realized our edamame still hadn't appeared. I was about to tell the waitress that we didn't need it, but she went and grabbed the plate in a hurry. So we ate the edamame. No biggie. I need isoflavins. They were pretty good about clearing the plates, almost ... TOO good. I still had a swig of my beer left, and one server walked by and grabbed it, and I was like, "Uh, not done with that..." She brought it back, and I nursed that bottle like the beastly little Irish fool I am. Time for the bill, and we were charged twice for the double app. No big deal, but when we pointed it out, I think we pissed off our waitress or something. She and the server girl went over by the end of our table and looked as if they were in a heated discussion, and then the manager ended up bringing us our bill and credit card.... After waiting some more. We never saw our waitress again. No "Thanks" or "Sorry about that extra charge!" I did see her bolt from the front door after we left. I'd like to think she was coming to tell me I had left my invisibility cloak on the bench or something becaue I can't find it anywhere... but in reality I think it must have gone something like, "I didn't mean to double charge someone, and I hate my job, so I QUIT!! I'm outta here!" If you add a little imaginary drama to the evening it gets soooo much better. So, after an hour and a half meal (only reiterated by the $15 / 1.5 hour parking fee -- whatever, that's a whole other review on its own), we were full, happy, but feeling like they are still working out their kinks. Yes, I'll go back. But I will take a book and my comfy sitting pants. The jeans I wore tonight made me a little edgy. Keep trying, Boston Wagamama, and hope your Cambridge sibling doesn't show you up. Its a lot closer to me, and I'm a fickle fool....
(3)Ariel W.
Great spot.. I was just there on Friday. Unforch, this one is in the area where all the meat-heads play (ahem, fanueil hall)..so i'll be checking out the one in Harvard Sq soon(closer to home anyway) Other than that, tasty food, small but decent beer list, cheap, cheeaaap prices, and good service. downfall-all food comes out as its prepared, so my chicken came out about 20 mins after my friends salad and noodles came out. the nice waiter and his sweet mohawk made up for it :) will be going again THIS WEEKEND for sure. ya-hoo, waga-mama!
(4)Jenny F.
It was a very hot afternoon and we had just finished up a few appointments in the area. Dining choices are a little bit eh in the Quincy Market area. Mostly dining establishments that cater to the tourists...I mean a Cheers....really? Would anyone from New England actually eat there? Anyway, we decided that Wagamama was just beckoning us to come sit down and rest our tired little feet. It's London's favorite noodle restaurant so it's got to be good (insert bad joke about English dining here). We sat outside so that we could people watch but that wasn't the best idea because it felt like it was a steamy 90 degrees. Looked at the menu and decided to split a few things with my husband. The waitress comes around and writes a bunch of numbesr on the slate portion of the table. Food is cooked to order...which is usually true at most restaurants. They just bring everything out one at a time because they think it is cool or something. First came an order of udon which we liberally dosed with chilli oil and hot peper flakes. The noodles were chewy and very good mixed with the peppers though I think I can do this simple dish at home. Next came the duck gyoza. Just your average gyoza and if I was not told it was duck I doubt I would have ever guessed it. Last course was the veggie katsu curry....it had a sillier name but I have no clue. Panko battered and fried eggplant, squash, and sweet potato with sticky rice, pickles and a strangely booger colored katsu sauce. It was just okay and a little too oily. The giant piece of eggplant was kind of gross. So the food was just ok. If I had more time for lunch I would have gone somewhere else..... far from the tourists. However the service was pretty good and it was fun to people watch.
(2)Alexis B.
Chili beef ramen. Chili beef ramen. I'm addicted. If you go for nothing else - chili beef ramen!! My boyfriend and I have been here maybe 20 times now, and we love it. It's fast, it's clean, it's something different. Open floor plan. You order by number at large communal tables. It's fun. BUT it is different. Ok so you order and whenever it's ready it comes out. So your app might come out after your main course. Also your party's food may come out at different times. I say just enjoy. Snipe a bite of their food. They won't make you wait long. It's great bc you don't get ONE waiter. Everyone working their can take your order, get you drinks, and do whatever. That's why it's fast. The duck gyoza leave something to be desired, but the regular gyoza are much better. Yesterday we tried the chili squid app-- it was good. Crunchy fried squid with chili powder, and sweet dipping sauce. Very good. Also on other times I've gone I've had the ginger chicken udon. Their chicken sketches me out, but the noodles are amazingggggg. Also the miso beef ramen is kinda meh. I love Wagamama. Also had a cappucino to go yesterday- it was pretty awesome too. Love the chili oil and chili powder condiments. I always add tons extra.
(4)Amber S.
Ok,I don't usually go for chain restaurants but in my travels, when I want a reasonably priced, yummy, and healthy meal, I've been known to go to Wagamama. I admit I've only tried them in the UK, but when I found out one had opened in the states, I thought I'd yelp out to ya'll... The atmosphere (communal long tables and benches, light wood, simple) and food (noodles, asian fusion) are much like Republic in Union Square , only the food is WAY more tasty and W doesn't play music so loud that you can't have a conversation... Try the itame, katsu curry, duck gyoza, and/or any of the fresh juices.
(4)kevin d.
I just came from lunch at Wagamama..It was pretty bad the last time I went & I gave it about a 8 month rest despite the fact that its right around the corner. Well, I was craving some noodles, so I went for it, but I will probably hold off for another 8 months or so. Service wasn't terrible, but I asked for no cilantro and got a heaping pile on top of my noodle soup. Not a big deal as it was easy to remove, but lacking nonetheless. Food came up pretty quickly, but the quality just isn't very good. Veggies are tired, not really fresh, the sticky rice was just plain rice, noodles are as average as noodles get, and the broth was ok, but lacking in flavor. Pretty slick marketing, and it looks like a lot is spent on design, but the final product just always disappoints.
(2)Deepa C.
One year in London is all I needed to get hooked to the noodles, the dumplings and the edamame at Wagamama's in London. We always went there with the program (and on the program's bill) so it was a free for all each time. Lots of good memories there - lots of good noodles. So you can imagine the glee when I heard they were coming to the states, to Boston no less! Five London alums and I went to check it out Saturday night at Quincy Market. First of all, I am glad they are opening in Harvard as well, since it was a zoo. The line when we left around 7:30/8 was at least 150 strong. Wagamama's is good, but not that good. If you are going to go on a weekend, get there around 6. The wait wasn't top bad then. As for food - the chickn dumplings were just as I remembered them. Good flavor, good dipping sauce, nothing too spectacular. I didn't try the ones here, but the veggie ones are equally flavorful, if you are a non meat eater (as I was when I was in London). I had my yaki yaki soba and was very happy. A bit more gingery than I remember, but good portion size. The chili chicken ramen was not as spicy as we had hoped, but still good. Service was still gaining balance, as I waited 10 minutes longer than my party to get my meal (although, it is customary to just bring out the dishes as they are ready - no waiting for everyone to be done with apps, etc). We ordered one chili edamame and one salt, but but got two salted ones - not a big deal but worth mentioning. I would def go back, but not to the FH location. After going back there, I remembered why I avoided it in the first place... too many tourists!!
(4)Daniel T.
Wagamama is a pale pale imitation of Asian Fusion, much less real Asian food. The service was impersonal and slow. The hostress tried squeezing two grown men into a table of 4 with a family of 3, did she really think asian men are that thin? Then we waited for our food. For 45 mins. The best part was since we're seated next to the kitchen, we were staring at 6-8 bowls of cooked noodles just idling there, wondering whose noodles are those. It turns out 2 of them were ours and we have been staring at our dinner for 30 mins before we were allowed to eat them. The serving size made no sense except to the owner's bankers and I was left even more hungry after dinner due to the tease. And to top it off, we had to wait another 20 mins before a server saw that we're finished, ready to pay and actually wanted to collect our money. There are tons of other Asian/Asian Fusion restaurants with much better food and better attitude.
(1)Aretha B.
Meh! Despite the reviews already written I had higher expectations. The service was awkward. It took three times as long to take the order down in the palm pilots and scribble on our placemats than it would have if he'd just written down our order old school. My rice dish was kind of bland - it was a LOT of rice, and not a lot else. Flavorless fried tofu. The dish seemed absent of flavor and ingredients. I was expecting a bevy of vegetables and mushrooms (BUTTON MUSHROOMS) but I just got 2 measly chunks of white mushroom. The green, flavorless part of the scallion, no squash... it was just disappointing. I ordered the duck dumplings. The first time they came out, they were chicken. The waiter didn't know what was going on. The second time they came out, 2 were duck, the other three were chicken! The third time, all 5 were duck. They were quite good, I must say. I was eating around a bunch of people and nothing anyone else was eating was all that compelling looking. Nothing smelled fantastic. It wasn't fragrant. The server forgot my iced tea, but when it arrived at the end of the meal it was quite good. The management comped us all our drinks and apps because of the series of mix ups. The whole experience from getting in line to leaving took about an hour and 12 minutes, so I won't be trying this place for a quick lunch again. I'll go again if a group of people insist it's the place to be, but i know, like others in here, that there are MANY better options right in chinatown that are cheaper, more flavorful, and with better service. You won't see me eating here alone. OH for you curry heads, I tried that curry sauce on the menu - it's just ok. Nothing special.
(2)Mike T.
There is alot of hype around this place so many reviewers seem disappointed. No, Wagamama is not equivalent to the second coming of Christ and it will not make you smarter, faster and better looking.......only beer can do that. Wagamama is a basic but kind of cool pan Asian fusion place that serves fresh noodle dishes for a decent price especially given their location in quincy market. They are more efficiency oriented than service oriented which is how they keep their prices low. They aren't rude but they move you through pretty quick. Many dishes are sort of bland but somehow tasty and fresh. The fruit juices are good but they are too pricey. They have a very nice outdoor seating area. Its a fun change of pace and the food is very good but not the most exciting. After all, the place was started across the pond in England and everyone knows the English are wonderful at colonizing but not so hot at cooking. We must give our awkward European cousins the benefit of the doubt and try Wagamama with an open mind.
(3)Daphne X.
Lets be short and sweet... fake Japanese food! Some of the terms on the menu were obviously Chinese... the person who owns it needs to do more research. We ordered yaki udon and it was just crap. Dried and piled up with cheap toppings that you would normally use with instant noodles... The ice tea was watered down... the only thing good about this place was their duck dumplings... and they were very minuscule in size; you would need 2 plates to compensate for the horrible pan fried udon noodles!
(1)Kelly C.
So, I keep going back, but I'm not entirely sure why.Everytime I go, I am really annoyed by the clueless waiters bringing over things that aren't ours(why bother writing it on the table?), and also eating while everyone else at the table watches! You can end up sharing your whole meal before anyone else gets food, and then you sit there at the end watching everyone else eat! I've also ordered water and/or other drinks, and not received them until after I had finished eating. What's with that? Frankly, its annoying! Maybe the reason I keep torturing myself is that I quite enjoy the #35 ebi kare lomen $11.25 a spicy soup made from lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste, red chilies, fresh ginger and galangal. served with ramen noodles and garnished with grilled black tiger shrimp, bean sprouts, cucumber, cilantro and a wedge of lime. Really good... but Does anyone else find it odd that the same soup but with CHICKEN instead of SHRIMP is .50 more? Usually its the other way around.
(2)Ilya Jacob R.
I went over there tonight w/ my wife and some friends. She had been to Wagamama in London. She said the ambiance is different - although we're expecting the Harvard Square location may be more "London-esque". As far as the service, I really liked our waitress - Merissa/Marissa - something like that. She was honest and helpful. It's possible some may be taken aback by the use of technology and low-tech approach. It's not high-class or even that essential/effective, but its different than the norm and that's fine by me. Food-wise, it was my first time and I'll need to go back to try different dishes, but I ordered the Chicken Kare Lomen. It was not as coconut-y as I expected and prefer w/ some Thai dishes. I probably wouldn't get it again - but it was just a personal preference. Also, it was spicier than expected (but I love spicy!) I'll be back and then add some more to this review.
(3)Tim B.
First of all, I have to say that the food was delicious. The dish I had (Ebi Chili Men - Shrimp with noodles in a chili sauce) beats anything similar I've had in Chinatown. But when you talk about Wagamama you can't avoid their service style. Not only does the design feel IKEA-esque (as Jocelyn said), but you feel like IKEA is serving your food. Everything runs on a system designed to get you in, get you fed and get you out. My problem is for the price ($11-$15 for most entrees) and the high quality food, I wouldn't mind waiting a while and relaxing. The entrees are well worth the money, but for that price I would rather a quiet, more intimate dining experience with one waiter, not eight. Instead, you get a lunchtime, mess-hall atmosphere with hands flying into your table every which way. If I had $25 to spend on lunch every day, Wagamama would probably be my favorite place. But for now it hangs in limbo: too expensive for lunch, too impersonal for a nice dinner.
(4)Marie J.
I enjoyed the food @ Wagama, the service was smooth and the place was busy at the same time....the food was a bit pricey but I guess that's what you get for dining out in Faneuil Hall.. I came for lunch with out of towners...we stayed a while,, i had a standard ramen dish and some veggies for appetizers.. Veryy nice and fancy decor!
(4)Jen J.
As a noodle-lover, I was very excited to hear that a new noodle restaurant was coming to Boston. I did not realize that I had actually been to a Wagamama when I was in London many years ago until I arrived at the Faneuil Hall location. The restaurant has the same cafeteria bench style seating as I remembered of the London location. Unfortunately, the noodle house did not make an impression on me back then, and again, it did not do much for me this time around. The service was average and I did not get their method for taking orders. In addition to entering orders on a hand-held electronic device, the waitress also made some scribbles onto each person's place setting. It was just awkward that she had to reach over everyone to write down our table number and orders on the place setting. I guess it makes it easier on the servers to know who ordered what when bringing out meals, but.... Moving on, my beef ramen noodle soup was too salty (and I'm a gal that likes salty stuff!). I've had really good, fresh noodles before, so these noodles were nothing special to me. You can get the same meal by going to an Asian grocery store and buying some of those noodle packages that come with soup base (good ones, not the 25 cent ones!) either dry or the refrigerated kind and adding some fresh veggies, frozen dumplings, etc. The Good: They got noodles...who doesn't like noodles??? Love the concept of a noodle house and we definitely need more in Boston. Quick service, after the wait in line. The Bad: Food not worth the price. You end up spending $20 for an entree and a drink...a little too much for lunch based on what you are getting. Conclusion: Cool new place from the U.K., but over priced, average food. I like how my friend put it: It is like an IKEA...a fun place to go to that that has trendy stuff, but if you want quality furniture that will last, you don't shop there. Recommendation: Go to Chinatown or an authentic Japanese/Korean restaurant if you want soba/ramen/udon noodles.
(3)Lauren W.
I got takeout from here last night with my neighbor that is allergic to wheat and dairy. Their online menu is extremely helpful, breaking down entrees that you can order "as is" and "with modifications" for a variety of dietary needs. Perfect for my friend! I ended up getting chicken ramen, I was overwhelmed by the number of options and figured this would be a safe dish. My allergy-proned friend got the chicken itame. My ramen was good but I wish I had been more adventurous. My friend's itame was delicious! My entire experience was expeditious and satisfying. I don't like crowd that flocks to Faneuil Hall so I'll probably only get take out from here but we'll definitely come back.
(4)Rebecca Y.
Not impressed. We waited over an hour for a table (truthfully, we were a party of 7). All the host kept saying was "15 more minutes". After our hour wait, it took another 15 minutes for our waitress. The drinks did come and the food came very fast. For the record, I don't like the "your food comes out when it is ready and screw the rest of your table" idea. The person who got their food first was subjected to death glares because we were so hungry. (See the comment above for a RIDICULOUS wait). With all that said, we all did like the food. Most of the table had the chicken katsu and we all cleaned our plates - even my extremely picky boyfriend! The teriyaki beef soba was good as well. Overall, this would be a great place for two people who are not hungry or in a hurry. Hmmmm. Sounds like a tourist spot...
(2)Jocelyn C.
Most definitely the best lunch during the work week that I've had in a loooong time (I guess my company helped, but we didn't talk much once the food came out anyway)! They just opened, but you wouldn't know it by how efficiently the place is ran. Everyone seems to know exactly what they're doing and how to treat their hungry customers. Excellent service, excellent food, sleek IKEA-esque minimalist design, pleasant atmosphere, and the prices aren't too shabby, either... I am making this a regular lunchtime haunt, even if it means having to walk through stupid, annoying Faneuil Hall to get there. Plus, BONUS: They serve sake!!! (They also have beer and wine, and green tea is free upon request.)
(5)Zach M.
I have so many fond memories of this restaurant. Years ago, when living and working in London, England, this restaurant provided me with much needed good food. Those who have been to England for a prolonged period of time know that the food in general leaves a little something to be desired. Namely, food that isn't disgusting. When I got word that they were opening their first American location in MY HOME TOWN, I flipped my shit. My first return trip home included three visits to Quincy Market. Chicken katsu curry is delicious on legendary levels. Ramen usually evokes feelings of poverty, college, and laziness. At Wagamama, it should evoke feelings of sheer joy at how Goddamn good it is. AND, free green tea. I'm a fan for life.
(5)Mandi M.
Went here during the summer and ordered some sort of duck appetizer that was awesome, and I got chicken katsu curry (I believe it was called that, anyway, it was somewhat breaded chicken) - it was unbelievably good. The service was pretty good as well.
(4)Korri Leigh C.
I loved Wagamama when I tried it in London and I loved it here in Boston. The food is delish, well priced, and I had no problems with the service at all. Only two slight complaints...the all glass walls and ceiling coupled with the open kitchen made it quite hot the day we were in there...so it may be a good idea to dress in layers. Additionally, I have no problem with communal tables since i'm friendly and whatnot but they put you RIGHT beside other parties...like no elbow room sharing the same bench close. So if you're awkward like that dont' go at a busy time! All is all, I'll definitely become a frequent Wagamama-er
(4)luke b.
I don't understand why this place is getting so many good reviews with all of the wonderful Asian soup and noodle places in the Boston area. Wagamama is a crappy chain with crappy food. Bland broths, boring combinations and prices that would make anyone ask, "I paid $11 for THIS??!" I say, "Go back to England, Wagamama... we don't want your watery soups and sub-par curries here!" I suggest checking out the Porter Exchange, or Chinatown, etc. for the good stuff.
(1)Bevin C.
Four stars for the food, two stars for the silly service. Average three stars. I asked several people why the writing on the placemats, and none of them gave me a reasonable explanation. The numbers didn't seem to tip the servers off where to put the plates of food or the drinks. The digital ordering and stubborn insistence on referring to dishes and drinks as numbers was almost equally as silly. My yaki soba dish was deeeee-lishus. BUT my friend's beef spicy noodle soup sported way overcooked and scantily portioned beef and completely imbalanced flavors. I would have been mightily bummed if I had ordered that. Also, there was a poor selection of drinks (only one kind of sake?) which were waay overpriced. But this is Fanueil Hall, after all...
(3)Liz H.
Reviewers are right on here. I was expecting way more from you, waga-mama. (is that how you pronounce it? whatever, i won't be saying it too often i guess)... The concept is really cute and different from Boston. I didn't mind the communal table (but then again, I sat with three randoms at a table in chinatown for lunch today)...and I like their concept of "fresh." But other than that, the eats were seriously lacking. I ordered the chicken yaki soba, after seeing all of these glorious pictures of it. Not to mention the description sounded heavenly. Sadly, I was disappointed to discover that the dish had practically no taste (had to add massive quantities of chili oil). The seafood ramen was a little better - I actually ended up eating most of my BF's. The only thing that did have a nice, strong taste was the edamame with chili-garlic salt on it - and that was only because it was doused in about a pound of salt. I had to have about 5 glasses of water to replenish myself after all of the sodium. I guess it's worth a try, for the novelty of it - - but you can get much better pho or noodle in chinatown for half the price.
(3)bettina c.
We decided to try Wagamama at the recommendation of a couple of friends and the glowing review it received in the Improper Bostonian. Would I go back? Yes. But I wouldn't make a special trip. The food is fresh. The atmosphere is fun and laidback. My only reservation is that I'm sure there are better noodle shops in Boston (I'm new to the area, so I haven't found them yet). My food: I ordered a rice/ curry dish. It tasted like regular friend rice. It only tasted really good when I poured the sauce from my grilled asparagus on top. My spouce ordered a chili noodle dish which was also decent. Overall, decent food. Was I excited by it? No, sorry. :(
(3)Alyssa H.
Hmm.. Maybe this was just way too hyped up for me. My friends who had worked in London were so excited for this place to open. I got there and there was no bar. I guess this was the first sign i was not going to enjoy my Wagamama experience. We waited for our complete party and were seated in not too long of a wait. I ended up ordering one of the rice dishes, because the description was chock full of vegetables and I was feeling like I'd been carbing up too much. However, when it arrived the vegetables were few and far between and mostly shredded with a very thin peeler. I couldn't taste them at all. In fact the entire dish lacked taste and was mostly a giant bowl of rice. The other annoying thing about Wagamama is they serve the food as soon as it's done being prepared, so 3/4 of our party was eating while one person was waiting for her meal. I would go back and try the soup, but so far I think it's just a nostalgic place for ex-Londoners.
(3)midnight i.
I'm very excited that Wagamama is opening its first US location in Boston (and its second in Cambridge!). This place is amazing, everything on the menu is cheap and served quickly and - best of all - it's delicious. I'm not sure what differences this will have from their current European establishments, but I'll be first in line this spring to find out... UPDATE: So, I've been meaning to update this for a while, but haven't had the motivation. In any case, I finally ate there the first week it opened, and it was average at best. The food just wasn't up to par with its European counter-parts, and the prices lost much of their value when seen in US dollars in a Boston setting. In fact, I haven't gone back a single time. The noodle places in Chinatown blow the first state-side Wagamama AWAY... (Rating changed from 5 star to 2 star.)
(2)Sarah B.
Really great place. First of all - if you've ever been to the Wagamama's in Europe, you know this is a fun experience. Minimalist architecture, high tech ordering system (they magically beam your order from little hand held devices to the kitchen!), fast service, cool drinks, and huge portions make this place pretty sweet. There was a line, but it wasn't too long - and they had you look at menus while waiting. Apparently, in a few weeks, you'll be able to order take-out. The seating is a little weird - because they sit you at long tables, you may be next to a group you don't know. Also - they bring your food out as it's ready "to ensure freshness" so that can be strange if you're used to waiting for everyone to get food before eating. All in all - a pretty awesome place. I highly recommend.
(5)Felecia C.
Knowing at least 1 person who studied abroad in London and would rave about this restaurant, I had been hearing about Wagamama's Boston opening for the past several months. Discovering that they have separate menus for special dietary needs made me all the more excited to try this place. So, I rounded up some friends and we headed here on a Friday night. There was no wait when we arrived, so we were promptly seated at a completely empty table. Having more than 1 server was a bit confusing when I asked about the gf menu twice and Server #2 had no clue what I was talking about. She did, however, send over a manager with a special laminated menu detailing what I could and could not eat. I ordered the chicken itame and was presented with basically the largest bowl of noodles I have ever seen in my life accompanied by the largest spoon ever crafted out of bamboo. Overwhelming? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely. It was so good that even though I forgot to tell them to leave out the bean sprouts (probably #3 on my Most Hated Foods List), I caught myself actually eating some. The whole writing-illegible-numbers-on-the-menus thing is kind of weird, but I will definitely be back.
(4)sierra l.
I thought there food was great
(5)S T.
Only come here, if you are too lazy to make your own instant Top Ramen Noodles and you don't mind burning at least $15. Need I say more?
(2)John F.
I had heard about Wagamama from my girlfriend, who had spent a year in the UK, and so there was some excitement about one opening in our own town. The excitement was warranted, as the food was delicious! I had the Chicken Katsu Curry, which was really, really good. It was odd at first, perhaps because there was a bit of lemon to the curry that I didn't expect, but it was excellent. We passed on dessert to hit up the Chipyard, but the vanilla ice cream with mango sauce was tempting. The service was really good; they didn't know all of the dishes, but this was their second night of operation, so it's to be expected. The staff was friendly and helpful. I would definitely go back. I hear tell of one coming to Harvard Square, and this would be wonderful.
(5)Val E.
I used to live in London. That's where I first discovered the wonder that is Wagamama. I dreamed about the noodles for years... LITERALLY. Until I went to Boston, the last time I had eaten at a Wagamama was over a decade ago. Because this is America, Wagamama has been bastardized. In London you sit at a long picnic-style table, sharing your meal experience with strangers. This is part of what I loved about it. Because Americans hate strangers, you get your own table... but it might be a little closer than you're used to to someone else's. Anyway, I still think the food is fabulous. Udon? OMG, I wish I could have it boxed up and overnighted to me. Also? Great hangover meal. Or cold weather meal. Or too tired to cook meal. Or....
(4)Allison C.
Although I didnt have to wait for a table like some other reviewers. I was really not thrilled with my wagamama experience. Even though it wasnt particularly busy when we went (a Friday around 4:45ish) the place still seemed very chaotic to me. I DID NOT like sitting with strangers and I didn't like getting my food "fresh" meaning 15 minutes before my boyfriend. This left me two choices, I could eat it right away in front of him, or I could wait until he got his, and then mine would be cold, and thus not "fresh." Annoying. I didn't like the ordering process or the impersonal waitstaff who oscillate between the high tech (with their ordering gadgets instead of notepads) and the ultra low tech- reaching in front of me and scribbling things on the paper in front of me. I give it a two stars only bc my meal was tasty, although no entirely filling. I got the pan fried noodles with chicken and ginger. It was really nice. My boyfriend got the chicken ramen. It was incredibly bland and unoriginal and was even less filling than my noodles. The juices were deccent but way overpriced, considering its just juice. I would possibly consider going back to try some other dishes, but now I have a better idea of what to expect. After some of the rave reviews on yelp when it first opened I went in expecting too much the first time.
(2)Yianni L.
I really liked this place. I was a bit skeptical at first when I noticed all the tables were connected but it didn't seem to bother our meal in any way. I've come here three times and each time I ordered something different. The menu seemed a bit small but the entrees are very distinct and have their own flavors. For being a chain restaurant I think this place deserves some props and I'm sure there are more authentic places out there, but if you're just looking for something a bit unique and you happen to come upon this place, I'd definitely recommend trying it out.
(3)Tony L.
Due to all of the hype surrounding the opening of this restaurant here in the States, I was looking forward to giving it a try. I wanted a taste of some of the examples of asian food my sister, who lives in London, would have to choose from. I decided to head over there for lunch, and as expected, it looked like a full house and there was a medium-sized waiting line. Luckily for me, as I was a party of one, I was fortunate enough to have skipped the wait for a cozy spot on the corner at the tabletop, perhaps the best seat in the house for people-watching. The menu presented some very unique (if not completely random) approaches to making ramen and how it is prepared in the various ways that it is. I opted for the miso beef ramen, as well as a side order of the gyoza. The prices were noticably higher than the standard prices at your typical ramen houses (6.95 for five pieces of gyoza!). The quality of the food was... again I think the most suitable term would be "unique". The miso broth interpretation was different with what I think would have a more Western influence. The ramen noodles also seemed to be different, and my bowl didn't quite have the right amount of noodles. The slices of beef were an odd option to the dish. I'm still curious enough to want to come back to try out some of their other unique styles of ramen, but if I ever had a craving for just the "regular-stuff", I would probably not want to come here for it. The service was sufficient and pleasant.
(3)Harry D.
I was happpily suprised with the vegetarian and vegan friendly menu items this restaurant offers. The coconut milk based vegetarian with fried tofu soup is delicious, try it!
(4)Nick B.
I am torn.... Wagamama is something that I wanted to love, but I can't. The restaurant is a young, hip place with a kind of Euro/international flair-definitely something that Boston needs. I went around dinner time on a Friday. I was given the table of my choice immediately. I didn't mind sitting next to other people. I didn't even mind the whole switching waiter thing. The main think that irked me is the idea that your food comes out whenever. My fiance's food came about 5-10 mins before mine. I got the chicken ramen dish and to tel you I wasn't very impressed. I mean it was decent, but not nearly as good as people of the Wagamama cult would have you believe. I think it was average at best. I also didn't find the portions very satisfying. I would have thought the portions would have been bigger given the cost. The redeeming qualities were: * the superior chopsticks * the napkins (second only to Morton's) * the juice drinks My recommendation is to give it a try, but don't go in thinking it will be the best meal ever.
(3)christina c.
Thank god for the food being amazing because they still have no idea what they are doing service wise. They have this system which in theory should work well but I have been here 4 times and each time they try to deliver food to us that's not ours and half the time our beers came after our food. I understand that the food comes when its ready so you have to sit there and either eat in front of your date or let your food get cold but can I at least have me beer to suck down while I wait? The food is really good and I like sitting outside and people watching.
(4)Kristin B.
My boyfriend studied in London and was all sorts excited to see that the chain is branching out to Boston...so we went right away.He was a little disappointed that it lacked the same character as London but wasn't sure how to pin down what was missing. Perhaps the accents? We arrived at about 11:30ish for lunch and had no problem getting a seat but it was getting crowded. By the time we left there was a long line snaked out the door so I would go at odd times or sit on one of the benches with the birds and the moms and the kids and the tourists and the annoying street performers, munch on some snacks, and then run up to the door when you see the line thinning. Maybe a fellow reviewer can let us know how long a "long" wait is, but I suspect that it actually can't be all that bad as they seem to hustle you out fairly quickly.... I hope you eat downstairs because that's the fun part with the sleek interior and lighting and such. There is a lot of code written down on your paper tablecloths, which I was told is because the food comes out to your table as soon as it's ready and various servers bring the food out and need to look at your table to see who ordered what. I like that the food came out ASAP but its not a good place to bring a first date or someone that is a stickler for super-polite "dont-eat-until-everyone-in-the-party-has-their-Âfood" type of person, because someone's food is going to get cold this way. Instead, pledge to share all foodstuffs and just enjoy it as it appears. And don't talk about your personal doctor things either as you sit in communal tables with other dining parties and we can hear all...everything....that you say. My recommendation: The ginger chicken noddle dishes. OUTstanding.
(4)Amy Z.
Now that I've been to both US locations and sampled several things on the menu, I feel I can justify a Yelp review. The first time I came here, I had the yasai chilli men, which was tasty yet boring. In fact, I really wouldn't order it again. It was the Japanese equivalent of spaghetti with marinara. Now this is more of a Japanese-style restaurant, so bear this in mind. One of my sisters ordered the yasai yaki soba, which I liked a lot better than my own dish. I remember it being not spicy at all, which was mildly disappointing, but I guess not everything has to be spicy, y'know? My other sister ordered the yasai itame, which was so good that both she and the first sister (I have two. Still with me?) ordered it again the next time we all went. I ordered the yasai katsu curry last night, and while it was good, I felt like it was something I could order in just any hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. In one way, it's a good thing, because if you're looking for that same curry sauce you've had somewhere else, this is most likely it. If given the chance, I'll most likely go again, but I'll definitely avoid the Fanueil Hall location because as we were leaving there was a lonnnnnnnnnng line. Also, the people we shared the semiprivate room with were being loud as hell, which was much more irritating than the constant din of a larger restaurant. Oh yeah, and order the edamame with salt. Ohhhhhh.
(3)K O.
OK, this is a new trendy eating place, that is worth a visit. The menu is based on exquisitely cooked ramen noodles and a hodge podge of "Asian" cuisine. If you are friends are easily impressed with your restaurant stories... go here and talk about how they write your orders in chalk on the table. And the best part is you are seated next to complete strangers in an uninspired "experience creating" space saving restaurant floor plan. FYI: Please know how to use chopsticks when going here.
(3)Julia H.
So, okay. I had to see what all of the hype was about, so I stopped in for lunch. I was seated promptly, and I liked the long table/multiple parties idea. But then the waitress told me that my food would take a long time since I had requested it without scallions, which made me think that the chefs didn't cook things to order. I mean, how hard can it be to leave out an ingredient in a stir-fry? And then she completely forgot to place the order at all, so everyone around us was eating, and we were still waiting. And then, since we were in a rush, we asked where our food was, and it was clear that she had forgotten us, so the general manager came over and took the food off the bill. And then we asked to have the food boxed up since we didn't have time to eat it anymore, and it came in bowls anyway, and they'd forgotten the edamame. But the food was hot and fresh. And the bill was $6. And the GM was appropriately apologetic. Would this place have gotten 3 stars if my food wasn't free? Probably not. But I'm sure I'll go back. They did seem to care a lot about the customer, and I'm not one to judge a restaurant based on the performance of one waitress.
(3)Nicole B.
my bosses are huge wagamama friends and have been urging me to go for ages. i finally did this afternoon for lunch and was very happy i did. the prices are reasonable, the menu extensive, and the food very tasty! it's wild enough for the crazy eater but mild enough for some of the more picky ones. i got one of their specials, yaki noodles with 3 dumplings, and a juice for $14ish. i would have liked to see more than 2 specials but the two they had were good. my only complaint was when the dumplings came, my friend who also ordered the same thing mentions to the waiter "oh! i thought the dumplings were steamed." instead of telling/asking her if she'd like to get them steamed he goes "so do you want them or not?" rude dude. however, the dumplings didn't taste greasy or fried. they tasted more baked than anything. good place. i'd go back.
(3)Angel S.
Fancy cheap japanese in faneil hall. Service were helpful
(4)Noel F.
Wagamama broke my heart. I used to love the grilled teppan noodles, the ginger cheesecake, but alas, the Faniuel Hall location has been reduced to an unimpressive chain franchise. The cheesecake is off the menu in favor of more mainstream American fare. My noodles were terribly overseasoned. Change isn't always a good thing, and it definitely hasn't been for Wagamama.
(2)Sandra L.
I spent a year in London and Wagamama's help to bring back that great feeling of being there. Since I am a vegetarian, I always have something to eat here. I have been about five times and the wait staff is always welcoming to give a great suggestion. If you're looking for an authentic Japanese place, then this is not for you. But if you like ramen noodles and sitting in a fun setting. This by no means compares the the original in London, but it's the best you can get in the USA.
(4)Greg N.
I'm not going to pretend that I can shed any more light on this place, I merely feel the impulse to add my two cents worth. The "european" style seating (we'll sit you wherever you fit, feel free to meet some new folks) reminded me of the years I spent in Germany so I got off to a good start. I liked that the menu was numbered so I didn't have to try and pronounce the names of my dishes. That kinda got screwed up when the waiter brought the food because he used the names so I didn't know what was what. He must have noticed the look on my face because he reverted to the number system fairly quickly. My chili lo-mein (or something like that) was not as spicy as I would have liked. My wife tried a bite and said that it reminded her of asian spaghetti. Don't get me wrong though...I really enjoyed it. She had some kind of ginger chicken with udon noodles. Neither of us had eaten udon noodles before so she was surprised to find noodles the size of earthworms wrapped around her chicken pieces. Trooper that she it, she dug in with gusto and was very pleased with the flavor. She did give up on the noodles though. We both really liked the food, we learned that udon noodles are not our bag baby, and the price was very comfortable. We'll be back.
(4)Francesca R.
Solid three stars, from me and everybody else. Nope, the food's not authentic but it sure is tasty. I've had several different dishes and they all taste vaguely the same, but in a good way. The service here is better than the one in Harvard Square. You will be sat at the same table as other random people so keep that in mind if you want to come here for your al fresco dining. Inside it's a bit too industrial for my tastes but outdoors it makes for a nice casual night out or breezy lunch. It's a bit less cheesy than other restaurants in Quincy Market so if for some reason you find yourself hungry in this vicinity, Wagamama's is a solid choice.
(3)Sutee D.
I was both skeptical and hopeful on my first visit. If you understand the format, you'll enjoy eating at Wagamama. The service is fast and efficient which is good or bad, depending on what you're in the mood for. You may be sitting next to strangers and not everyone's food will come at the same time. You also can't make special orders (they couldn't even make my noodles extra spicy but they had some chili oil condiment available). Their menu is one of the rare menus that actually helps you decide what to order. The dish names are exotic and some are hard to pronounce, but everything is organized in neat categories. The flavors are bold and satisfying. I tasted my friend's curry, and I have to say I never tasted anything quite like it. I am surprised that this British chain could bring flavors like to the mainstream in such an efficient manner. The prices are a tad expensive for the fast style, but the combination between efficiency and originality promises to give Wagamama good repeat value.
(4)Kim D.
I love this place - super casual and great fresh, fast food. Plus children are welcome! Whether you eat here in Boston or in one of their other restaurants (spotted around the world) you get exactly the same delicious meal. Try no. 23 - fillet of salmon sitting in a bowl of steaming hot soup and noodles.
(4)Matthew V.
It is a good place to drop in on if you want some other flavors that are not usually on Boston menus. The last time I was here my food took a really long time to come out. My buddy was almost finished with his meal. The wait staff warns you about this but this was a lot longer. The very attractive female manager came out to apologize and took it off my bill. I was not expecting that at all. Thank you attractive manager. The wait staff all work together pretty hard it seemed like. The food is always awesome and the juices rock. Definitely will go back again and again. Its funny it does not have more stars. This is pretty much the only chain I can still go to if that helps chain haters like myself. Good luck all.
(4)Amie R.
I've only been here once, and I definitely want to try it again! I went with a few co-workers on the afternoon that it opened. It took a long time to be sat and it was a bit chaotic, but once we sat it was totally worth it! The seating is kind of "shared seating", at long bench tables. The waitresses use hand-held devices to instantly put in your order / print your check which was pretty cool. The portions are HUGE, and they'd better be for the price! I think the least expensive was around $8, which to me is a bit much for lunch. They had some really interesting drinks - I had the peach iced tea which was great. I'd like to go back and sample some of their wines too... Food was awesome, nice atmosphere.
(4)Calvin C.
For all the hype surrounding Wagamama, I thought the food was just okay. While it wasn't bad, it definitely wasn't worth the price. Especially when you're paying $13 for a bowl of ramen. However, I might be slightly biased after having ramen in Tokyo, where it's insanely good for a bowl of egg noodles. We went four days after they opened and it was crazy packed. The line was so long, they actually hired a security guard to make sure people didn't cut. Once he left though, it became a free for all. People were ready to knock everyone and their momma out of line to get some noodles. Luckily the food comes out real fast. The staff wasn't kidding when they said people are out within 15-30 minutes. I ordered the chili beef ramen, which was decent, but didn't really have any flavor to it. On the plus side, the egg noodle texture was excellent. The cuts of sirloin steak were also very good. A little on the chewy side, but substantial. While they may be known for their ramen, I think the best part about Wagamama were the curry dishes. Their yasai katsu curry was excellent. It was a combination of sweet potato, eggplant, and butternut squash deep-fried and coated in panko breadcrumbs. It also came with a side of white rice and salad. I wasn't impressed with Wagamama, but I would definitely give it another try. The service is very fast and friendly, and best of all, they have booze! Nothing like ramen and a bottle of Asahi.
(3)Janice T.
Does Wagamama have a cool kid atmosphere and cool kid waitstaff? Sure. Does it have nice outdoor seating? Well, yeah, okay. Sure. Is the Asian food knock-your-socks off delicious. Well....it's okay. "Meh" comes to mind when describing their food. The dumplings and noodle dishes were quite bland; they lacked depth of flavor and just did not even impress at all. And the prices are kind of high for the kind of food you get. Ramen noodles with some veggies thrown in at home taste just as good.
(2)Terry W.
I too was excited to try Wagamama as many of the others on this post were. I thought the food was good quality, I was comparing it to Fugakyu on the Udon dish, so I figured that for half the price it was pretty good. I was a little surprised that being an asian/japanese themed restaurant, no asians were present at all...and like my wife's mom would say if the restaurant is full of white people, probably not that authentic. I mean the wait staff looked like I took a trip down my Sid and Nancy memory lane. I asked for an apple juice for my kid, considering it was 85 degrees out and the waitress just spoke without really looking at us that we had to order the kids meal to get the drink? What the EFF Do you think we are going to do Bikini Kill. Not that I thought that the service was bad, just odd with odd questions. I just kept hearing Gordon Ramsay saying what the hell is this christsakes. Anyway..I will go again possibly incognioto as I don't want the waitress spitting in my food if she remembers me. I don't think that would be a problem however as food comes out randomly and usually each dish came from a different wanker..I mean waiter. Cheers Mates, Oh..this couple was there when i was, and they had a small 1 year old, well the high chair they gave the people wasn't the correct size for the table or bench they seat you at. I would recommend leaving the kids at home...
(3)Share W.
Boston...here I come again...yasai yaki soba i can live on you once again!!! Oh how the mouth waters at your wheat noodles glisten through the mix of eggs, onions, peppers (red & green), onions, mushrooms, and topped with red pickled ginger, sesame seeds, & fried shallots. The chicken tama rice, although not as visually-pallet impressive (a mound of rice in the middle of the dish, chicken, mushrooms and veggies swim in a brown gravy around it), makes up in it's simple, but delightful taste. Don't forget: fried gyoza are a great start to a meal! Edamame if your vegan.
(5)Simon L.
I like to think that I don't succumb to hype, but in this case, I think I did. Wagamama, with a reputation that long preceded the actual opening of the restaurant, is pretty much decidedly average. Copping their concept from Republic in Union Square (New York), or the other way around, these two noodle joints are carbon copies of each other--right down to the little electronic devices the waiters use to send orders to the kitchen. Republic has two decided advantages here, that being a socialist design scheme and a far superior location. The food at Wagamama was good--salty, tasty--but nothing special, and the location is a definite drawback (unless you happen to be so unlucky as to work in the area, as in the case of Jake F., a friend of mine who intro'd me to this place). I guess I wish Wagamama was a little more innovative and a little less trendy.
(3)Vincent P.
Sat outside on the LAST day one could in 2009 (Dec 3) - they took the tables in on the 4th - a nice way to end Autumn in NE. Service was very friendly and fast. Food was a great value and tasty - a very serviceable lunch place, especially given that it is tourist heaven.
(3)Ona K.
Not worth the money, especially when Boston has such a stellar Chinatown that would have been less than half of what Wagamama charged. Sharing is almost impossible when ordering the apps, as they are puny. Service is poor, maybe due to the size of our party that guaranteed gratuity at 15%. However, we always tip much more than 25%, but tonight left the tip at 15% because it was less than the server deserved; in fact, the server really should not have received any tip at all. To sum up, it's not that good, it's much over-priced, and the staff is lazy.
(1)youngmi a.
i've been here a few times, each with the hope that it will be better but it's still just "meh". it looks so promising but it's pretty disappointing. on my most recent trip, my fiance and i ordered the chicken dumplings, kare lomen, and the chili men. the filling in the chicken dumplings was so mushy that i didn't want to eat more than one. sad because they cost more than a dollar per dumpling! the chili men was pretty tasty but the top layer of the dish was super burnt. i had to cut the tops of my tofu cubes off to eat it. the kare lomen was just okay. most likely won't be back and not a place i'd bring visiting friends to.
(2)Jessica E.
Lots of menu options, all overpriced. Tasty but not delicious or outrageous or worth traveling for. They try too hard to find hip looking asian kids to be their waitstaff, and then when the service sucks, I wish they'd just take Sally Next Door or whoever, anyone who can see that the entire table's glasses are empty and have been for 15 minutes.
(3)Natalia T.
the food wasn't too bad, pretty average however, there are plenty of other noodle places in Boston where you can get much better meal for much less. the seating is awful ... if you feel like having a completely random person stare at your plate, then this is a place for you! and seriously, why do you need to write my order number on the table napkin? why not just put in on a post-it and stick it on my forehead. and how great is it when all of your friends got their meal, and you're still waiting for the salad ........... why do they bring out one dish at a time, not our whole party's order?? the waitstaff just seems untrained and pretty much clueless
(2)Arnab M.
I friends who have spent time in London have raved about Wagamama ad nauseam, slightly perplexing since it is just another chain. However, after spending a summer in London myself, I realized that this appreciation for mass produced Asian fusion food stemmed from the fact that affordable-yet-delicious food is an alien concept and servings larger than the size of your palm are rare at fancy and hole-in-the-wall places. Wagamama provides a variety of light but filling options, quick and efficient service, Japanese beers, sake among other items at very reasonable prices and large portions. The British chain established first of it's American outlets in Boston recently and they certainly live up to the standards set by their British counterparts. It is much needed in Boston as dining options in the Boston area is comparable to London trends, though not quite as dire. I certainly enjoyed my faux-Asian meal! I recommend the noodle soups and Kirin Ichiban or Asahi beer if you like light beers.
(4)nicole p.
Very, very disappointing. If I had wanted tasteless, limpid noodles, I would have overboiled some pasta or stored ramen leftovers in liquids for three days. The food tasted like mass prepared food from a cafeteria. You know the type - when all the sauces and cooking ingredients are pre-mixed and it becomes the cook-by-numbers method of cooking. Someone orders a #134 - get noodles from pot 3, add pre-prepared accessories 6 and 8, add three squeezes of red bottle and two squeezes of clear bottle. Mix. Like most of the tourist eateries at Faneuil Hall, this place will flourish because there are tourists who do not know any better.
(1)Sara S.
Not worth your time or money. Food is decent but incredibly salty. Also, you can't "add" anything to your meal, only "take ingredients out". For example, I tried to add chicken to a vegetable noodle dish and they wouldn't do it... but there wasn't any other option loaded with veggies. That annoyed me. I'm not a big fan of the communal seating, nor do I like them writing my order on the table... but I guess that's just how they do things. I recommend other Asian restaurants close by, like Ma Soba, which has great noodle dishes.
(2)cricket c.
The ebi chilli men was really bland. I've had it at the other Wagamama many times, and though it's never exactly bursting at the seams with flavour, this was insipid to the point of being inedible. Also, the cooks were loud and obnoxious. One star for the ginger cheesecake, but overall: what a waste of $35!
(1)gado.gado D.
Somewhat new in the stuffy Faneuil Hall. Watch the waitstaff write down your order numbers on table placemat-paper. 713 is for H2O. This is the first import from London. The design of the space is not as cool as other Wagamama restaurants in UK or world (perhaps it's the Boston thing or the execution by us architecture firm). Check out their website and cookbook.
(4)Mary c.
This is for people who want to try Japanese food for the sake of saying they ate Japanese, but are afraid of "new" things. The menu is very generic and caters to an American and un-Japanese palette... I ordered the Chicken Fried Rice with snow peas which was very bland and the person I was with ordered stir fried udon, which was just as boring. The fried gyozas were ok because of clean frying oil so it crunched, but the filling was very bland. I don't know if it just opened or what (I went on November 2nd) but the waitstaff seemed very scatter minded like they had no idea what was going on nor confidence in what they were doing. A blonde woman with her hair in a pony tail picked a dish off of the kitchen counter, looked like she was going to drop it off to us but instead scoweled and put it back on the kitchen counter. She looked again at the kitchen counter, then to our table, picked it up again and looked at our table then walked past and AROUND to the other end of the restaurant... the circled BACK to us and asked "Did you order this?". On the other hand, I did like the atmosphere and it was very clean and everything was cooked to order so it was nice and hot, even after our Udon made a huge circle trip around the restaurant. If you want real Japanese food, look elsewhere for ramen/udon shops.
(1)Matt L.
A new addition to Quincy Market and the first of its kind in the U.S., this out of the ordinary place has some very inventive menu creations and some great flavored food! Its not your average noodle place and there are soups, salads as well as steamed dumplings and other nice selections! I was impressed at the fusion of flavors and the combo service that provides quick easy delivery of the meal. The seating was a bit strange sitting on benches and the decor is like a train station in front of a kitchen. Not sure I would eat dinner here...but lunch was very good! An excellent addition to Quincy Market!
(3)Jessica C.
I have been to a Wagamama's overseas so I understand the hype and was looking forward to introducing the place to my husband. All in all - it was a cool place and a nice addition to the area. If you want to check it out for yourself- here are my rules to enjoying the place: Rule 1: Go early. Lines are no fun... do the early bird special. Rule 2: Be prepared to have fifteen million servers assist you and not one will really give a damn about what happens while they're serving you - but suddenly they all want to say "Have a Nice Night" in tandem on your way out. That's just the way it is... everyone is there to serve you but no one is really there to wait on you. Does that make sense? Rule 3: Just eat it. You're not really going to know everything that's on the plate, but I bet it will taste good. I got a bit annoyed by the third time my hubby help something up on the end of his chopsticks and said, "What is this?" as I didn't have a clue either - but it tasted good... Hum, in hindsight, maybe that's also not a good thing. Rule 4: It's all about the experience - you'll sit too close to strangers, you'll have ink all over your forearms from them writing on your placemats, and the dishes will come out when they want them to come out, not when you all want to eat them together. It sucks a bit.. but that's Wagamama's. Just eat the noodles in front of you and love it. It's an Asian chain - just like McDonald's after awhile you realize it's not about the service or the quality of the food - it's the experience and for the most part, it's a good time out.
(4)Maggie H.
This place was pretty good. It is just not something that I would crave or really go out of my way to go back. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. Fine place for a lunch, but don't expect to be blown away.
(3)Deb K.
Been there twice now. Not impressed. Salad was literally swimming in dressing/potentially grease from the chicken and it was small and overpriced. First time they let me get a kid's meal (that's why I gave the extra star). Won't be going back and it's even on my way home from work.
(2)San D.
It's okay. I've only been once to this location, well, any location. A friend from out of town loves this place so we went during the first week of opening. Hopefully the hype (as well as the 40 minute line) died down. I hear the London one is better. But maybe it's just because it's in London.
(2)J R.
Welcome to Quincy Market! Congratulations! You've made it past the amazing street buskers. You've navigated the cobblestone walkway, hopefully without injury. You controlled your Cheers urge. (I love the 80's too.) Alas, no, it's not the one from the show, and, no, they don't know your name. Welcome to Wagamama! It's completely mediocre! (But, in a good way) I have to say that I've enjoyed my meals here. I've had the: Chili and garlic salt edamame ($3.95). Miso soup ($2.50). Chicken Itame ($12.50): stir-fried chicken breast with bok choi, red onion, red chilies, scallion, red pepper and bean sprouts. Served with rice noodles in a spicy coconut and green chili soup. Chicken Chili Men ($11.75): stir-fried chicken, zucchini, red onion, green and red peppers, snow peas and scallion. Served with soba noodles in a chili sauce made from chilies, ginger, garlic, onion, lemongrass, sweet red pepper and tomato. Yaki Udon ($10.75): teppan-fried udon noodles with curry oil, shiitake mushroom, egg, leek, shrimp, chicken, yaki chikuwa, bean sprouts, green and red peppers. Garnished with spicy ground fish powder, black and white sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled red ginger *Teriyaki Steak Soba* ($13.75): grilled, sliced sirloin steak on a bed of teppan-fried soba noodles with curry oil, snow peas, chilies, red onion, scallion, ginger, bean sprouts and bok choi. Garnished with cilantro and black and white sesame seeds. And, I usually get an Asahi Super Dry 22oz bottle of beer ($6.95). The *Teriyaki Steak Soba* was delicious and perfectly grilled medium rare. That was totally unexpected. You'll also find communal seating, which can be disturbing to some. Especially when the stranger sitting directly next to you uses "like" often and incorrectly. You'll notice the cooperative service system, a system where you don't have just one specific server. You'll also notice the server writing on your menu/place setting as to keep track of your ordering. You'll notice you don't receive all your parties main courses at the same time, they are delivered as soon as they are done being prepared. Overall, not bad, decent food, kinda fun atmosphere, nothing special, feels a little trendy. Just try the Teriyaki Steak Soba.
(3)Andrew F.
I happened upon wagamama purely on accident and was pleasantly surprised. The food is cooked to order (if you are with friends, this means you may not all eat at the same time) and it delicious. There are a number of vegetarian options on the menu and the prices are very reasonable considering the ample portion sizes that are doled out. I got curried tofu and rice in a huge bowl, served with miso soup and pickled what-nots to munch on. A great stop - definitely worth checking out.
(3)Liz M.
Normally I am a fan of Wagamama and relish those workday lunches when I allow myself to detour there from my usual virtuous salad. Tonight I ordered Cha Han for take out, a rice dish described to include chicken, shrimp, egg, mushrooms, snow peas, corn and scallion. I dug around in the rice and greens and finally found 3 tiny, lonely pieces of dark meat chicken, 3 or 4 individual corn kernels and a couple of mushroom slices. Shrimp? Egg? Not a hint of either. Combine that with confused staff at pick up. Swing and a miss this time Wagamama.
(2)Joe M.
Okay, I want to make one thing clear. The food here was REALLY GOOD. This might have just been bad luck, or an oversight, but the food was good enough that I'll try it again and give them a second shot. My story- I went in there, Friday night around 9 PM. It wasn't terribly busy, there was no line and empty spots to sit. So me and the girlfriend try it. We get seated no problem (WARNING- The floor is VERY SLIPPERY) and we look over the menu, excited to try something new. Now, these tables, they're like park benches. So another couple gets seated at the end of our table. We're still waiting for someone to come over to take our drink over when our waitress goes over and asks the other couple what they want to drink first. At this point, no big deal. Maybe she was in the back and just saw two couples at her section. Not even worth a thought, she'll ask us next. Yeah, she doesn't. But hey, she's getting them their drinks and she can't carry four at once, she'll ask when she gets back. Yeah, no, ignored again. At this point, I tell my girlfriend do not flag our waitress down. I want to see how long it takes our waitress to realize there is a second couple. At her table. With menus and not even so much as water. Girlfriend's a waitress too, she knows that's pretty much a red flag. So a third couple gets seated at our table. No way they can forget us now.... Yeaaah, they did. They got their drinks too. By this point the lady I'm with just gets the waitresses' attention so we can finally start to order. 20 minutes wait time to get our drink ORDER in. Okay. So now that the venting's done... Food came out without a hitch. Can't speak for the girl, she didn't get what she expected. I however got curry with the same Japanese curry taste I expected. Not as MUCH curry as I'd hope, but next time I'll go and order the side of sticky rice, side of curry, and side of fried shrimp, and mix them together myself. The food taste itself was great, as I said. Service was so off-putting though it ruined my appetite. I'll go back to give them a second chance. Even though it wasn't that busy, maybe I just caught a new waitress. Maybe it was just an off day for her. Not gonna condemn a place for one bad experience. I'll update my review at that time.
(2)Julie T.
The man and I came here when we first met, I'd say almost two years ago and I didn't enjoy it. It was such a long time ago so I can't exactly pinpoint what was wrong with it, but it was bad enough that we decided to never go back. I guess this is a pretty horrible review cuz I can't specify anything, but if it's been two years and I refuse to go back? I'd say I had a good reason at that time. I guess the food just didn't wow me taste-wise. I do remember thinking that everything was very bland, but I'm a non-taster anyways.
(2)Michelle D.
My sister doesn't like it, but I've been a fan of Wagamama's since it opened up as a big hit when I was studying abroad in London. I had been quite excited for its expansion into the states (i have been to the harvard sq. one here only). My love for Wagamamas has to do with my love for modernism - I worked in modern furniture and interior design settings, and there is such thing as modern food - simplistic, clean, healthy, tasty, and satisfying. Wagamama's encompasses all of these characteristics, and to me, it is a wonderful place to go when you are relaxing on the weekend and want something interesting yet good for you. Hopefully Bostonians do appreciate the sense of modernism for the masses that is paired with the attempt at keeping things customized to each individuals needs. If you have yet to try Wagamama's then I'd say give it a shot and see for yourself just how good it is!
(5)Trish F.
I don't wanna go laundry on them.. but here's my list. Go grab some treats, because this is a long one.. *After waiting in line for 15 minutes (which was fine).. it took an additional 15-20 minutes for the waitress to even pass our table. When she finally did grace us with her presence, she said that she couldn't actually take our order. What's the point of those fancy hand helds? When asked why she couldn't, she gave an explanation so non-sensical I think my brain went dead for a few seconds. I blame her for my lost ability to tie my shoes. *After the wait was up the waitress asked us for our order. During that time.. we had heard mumblings from people and staff alike that they had run out of fried tofu, most meat, and some of the seafood. My friend asked if this was true.. to which our waitress responded with, "Uh yeah." She wasn't even going to tell us herself! We were starving at this point.. so we picked the simplest dishes possible. *A couple minutes later.. she came back saying she had run out of our appetizer, which she thought was gyoza. I replied, "Well that's what we initially wanted.. but you said you ran out so we ordered the vegetable version". She said, "Oh right," then walked away. Another waiter came up and placed, I believe, the Tora kara age (deep fried chicken) on the table. I told him that we didn't order that.. but honestly, we'd take it because we were starving. He walked away and I overheard our waitress tell him that that was actually what we ordered, but "those girls just forgot or something". The chicken wasn't too bad. *Our food comes out and I've thrown away my watch at this point because I don't even want to know how long we've been there. Mine is okay, overpriced ramen blah blah blah. My friend had gotten tofu in her dish but saw none after digging around for it. We flagged the waitress down, because we've apparently become the hated table, and the waitress asked if that is in fact the dish my friend ordered. C'mon, you wrote our order on our table (paper place mats)! There's actually proof. lol So she took it away and came back and there are a few pieces of cold tofu thrown into her soup. Funny part of it is, the girl sitting next to us had ordered tofu before us and was kind of pissed that my friend got it first. The waitress then explained that they were out of fried tofu, but she could maybe get her regular tofu. I'm no chef.. but are there so many special ingredients that tofu goes through to become fried? I'm confuzzbled. *After they had closed the door to the public about an hour before they were supposed to since they ran out of food, I took my long coat off my lap (those cubby holes are kind of ridiculous and small) and put it on the bench next to me where no one was seated. A waitress came up to me and said, "Uh, didn't they tell you to put your coat underneath the table?" with a look that likened my coat to an animal that I was feeding table food. They closed the doors..no one was sitting there.. Is it a fire hazard to put your coat on an extra chair? Has no one ever done that in the history of restaurants? Now I know.. sh*t happens. Hell, I worked at a pizza place that ran out of dough! The thing is.. when that stuff does happen.. you charm your little butt out of the situation. You overcompensate for the lack of everything else by being nice or something. I'll admit when I'm sassy and give attitude, but we were incredibly nice because I actually felt bad for them. They were comping a lot of people but I guess since we were actually a nice party and didn't huff and puff (to their faces).. they didn't feel the need to be nice to us at all. I know I know... should have said something.. but shouldn't they also have noticed as well? Bah. Okay. I'm done. Time for some yoga. Or carbs.
(1)Nora G.
Not all that
(2)Alan L.
wow, they must sell haterade at this wagamama... i became addicted to wagamama while i was a student studying in london. this is one of those places you want to try everything on the menu, but that first dish was so good you can't deny it... when i heard boston was receiving the first US wagamama i made a trip specifically for it (and to visit my brother at BU). yeah, this may not be for everyone, but the food is delicious if you're into trying new things. my dad is the guy who orders a burger everywhere we eat out, and even he liked it.
(4)Shang S.
Wagamama may be fun and the way they take your orders on a little PDA would delight the technophile, the food is nothing else but overpriced and dressed up ramen. Do not go if you're very particular about Asian food. I only order out here on late work nights because their takeout is fast
(2)SAMMY D.
CONS -awkward service -annoying order-on-table scribbling -lame water-glass-like beer glasses -bad food delivery timing -no draft beers -confusing menu PROS -heat lamps in outdoor seating area -short wait tonight (Friday 6/08) at ~9:00pm -cheap if you share two apps and an entree Conclusion: Would I go again? Only if I were really hungry, there were no line, and the tables had been converted from picnic style to restaurant style.
(2)Ian W.
I had the same experience as Dagmar, namely inedible Ramen noodle soup. It even smelled revolting. The only thing worse than an American fast food chain is a British fast food chain.
(1)Matt W.
I should perhaps give this place another try, but my first impression is that the popularity of Wagamama is centered around the cool name and not the food. I ordered the Yaki Udon, which came out after a few minutes steaming hot. My complaint, and I heard this echoed by the couple next to me, is how bland the food was. I doubt my dish would have had any flavor if not for the tablespoon of chili powder they dumped on top of it....literally just a pile of powder half heartedly sprinkled on top. The first few bites I had of the dish were pleasing but I quickly grew bored of the dish and even considered not finishing it....except I was ravenous. They do give you complementary green tea....almost makes up for the over-priced, bland food...ok not really.
(3)Nicole N.
Quick service! Not the biggest selection but what they do have is definitely tasty. Enough veggie options that I felt like I had choices. Convenient location if you want to see some historic Boston or just happen to be shopping downtown. I wouldn't recommend it if you're on a date unless you're out in a group or doubling up with another couple. It isn't the kind of place you go for privacy. The servers are pretty friendly and there is plenty of table space (including the shelf underneath all of the family-style picnic tables for your bags).
(3)S S.
Someone told me that Wagamama mean canterkous or child like in Japanese, not sure how it applies to this Asian fusion resturant. This is chain. I love the food here, greasy and healthy. This is a community dinning experience. They have tables outside too in Fanueil Hall. They write your order on the table . The portion are decent , ample but not overwhleming. I ve had their salads and noodle dish, they are usually done very well. I like this place.
(3)M M.
this place is great! my sister took me here when i first moved to boston 2 years ago, and she said the service used to be awful. since i've been there though, they've been great! (apparently a lot of the staff got switched out) anyway, it's an interesting place, and i've never had a bad experience there.. one time they forgot to bring out my takeout box and they made me a whole new dish the food is delicious! and there's tons of it! (any kind of udon is amazing) mmm...
(4)H C.
OMG... Am I really back in the Bay already? Here I was, thinking on the stuffy United plane that I would be welcomed by cool Bay breezes. Oh, I was wrong. Smacked by the freakin' heat wave. So here I am, in total darkness, hoping my stuffy room will cool down, and writing my Wagamama review after taking a shower and now I'm sweaty again. *sigh* Okay, here we go. Wagamama was a total disappointment. I was hoping for the glory days, when I visited a few separate Wagamama establishments in London circa 2000 and 2001. Oh, I have outgrown you... Let's put it this way - there was no wait at 4:30 p.m. - so if you're worried about a wait, I can guarantee lots of empty tables at this time. Maybe the hype has died down. Yet, despite available servers and a handful of customers, service was *not* speedy. To start, the menu was super-disappointing. Let's see, why not create a menu with two columns. Column A would have wet udon, wet soba, dry udon, dry soba, and rice. Column B would have pork, beef, chicken, vegetarian, and seafood. Then, you would draw a line between your selection from Column A to your selection in Column B, and hand the menu to your waiter. None of this waiting for the waiter to find a pen to write on his fancy electronic gadget. None of the same waiter defacing your paper placemat with ugly numbers on the corner and edge. And finally, none of this expensive pricing only to get a few shreds of snap peas and sprouts, and some not-so-tender slices of beef atop stir fried soba. All for a whopping $13.75 (I had to try the teriyaki steak soba, a dish specially created for the Boston location). In retrospect, that money would have been better spent on a lobster roll or cream puffs. Damn! boston.com/ae/food/artic… I DARE Wagamama to come to the Bay. DARE THEM. The local yelpers would scream bloody murder. Let the tourists frequent this place. I'm done.
(2)ron k.
I rather pay $1 for instant noodles.
(1)Helen L.
Okay, I LOVE this place. And I'm Asian. It's not what I call REAL Asian food, but it's got this great not-really-authentic-but-sorta-tasty Asian taste to all their noodles and soup dishes. I love it. The cafeteria seating doesn't really bother me, although the fact that they serve their food as it comes out instead of altogether at the same time is kinda awkward. Because you might get your food and your friend will be staring at you while you eat. Hmm. But other than that, I love it!
(4)Allison B.
not great. not bad. but one thing is for sure - overrated. if you have any friends who studied abroad in london, i'm sure they've told you countless times that wagamama is the bee's knees. but apparently everyone just loved it so much because it was cheap (relatively, by london standards). like i said, the food is just fine (albeit underwhelming for all the hype) and the fanieul hall location is good if you're entertaining tourists, but if you just want lots of delicious noodles for cheap, there are tons of other and better places in this city.
(3)Judi D.
I've eaten here twice, once for Saturday lunch and once for a week day lunch. Both times the place was about 3/4 full, so we didn't have to wait at all for a table. The service was a bit awkward on both visits, like the servers haven't gotten the hang of the ordering system. Also both servers seemed like they were trying to project some sort of cool persona, when they should really be concentrating on being good waitresses! For the first meal I got a noodle soup with tofu and vegetables. It was huge! Everything was tasty, although slightly bland. The second time I ordered yakisoba. My companion's meal came out immediately, before our drinks had even arrived, which was strange. The drinks came out about 2-3 minutes later, and my meal arrived about 2-3 minutes after that. Not terribly awkward, but what does it mean that your meal takes less time to prepare than your iced tea? I was much more pleased with my entree this time. One of my complaints with thai-style curries is the vegetables are always huge and thus half-raw, but this dish had smaller vegetables but they were also well-cooked. The pickled red ginger on top gave it a nice kick. I only ate half of it and got the most pleasantly packaged to-go box I've seen in a while. I've been hearing about this place for years and years so I don't know what I was expecting, but what I got was a solid noodle joint. The space is pleasant and clean and definitely parent and visitor friendly. They need to work out the kinks in their service. Overall I'd say keep your expectations low and you'll be pleased.
(4)Sarah R.
I periodically crave the yaki soba. It's also my pre-race meal the day before a good run. Because I crave it, I rarely order anything else -- but I can vouch for the edamame with chili and garlic salt, as well as the excellent coconut ice cream. Service here is fast and friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Adam S.
Cool place for a casual lunch or dinner. Table turnover was quick so, although the line was out the door, we only waited about 10min for a table. Food is very reasonably priced, though I thought drinks (non-alcoholic) were a bit on the expensive side but interesting and original. Interior and furniture is minimalist yet comfortable and the place is well-lit. There was none of that dim mood lighting (at least upstairs) which is often bothersome. I definitely recommend.
(5)eileen b.
I hate to be the pube in the toothbrush here, but I wasn't blown away. Service was spotty- understandable for a new place, but there are plenty of tasty noodle joints around here that don't leave you feeling like you just fell off an assembly line.
(3)Amy D.
Cheap, delicious food, with helpful and quick waitstaff. I went on a tuesday evening at about 8 and it was not crowded at all (harvard sq). My food (a fried eggplant and sweet potato curry) was delicious, my friends mostly got udon dishes which they also enjoyed. I will definitely come here again
(5)Daphne M.
It ain't perfect, I grant you that. But ultimately, after several visits to a few different London locations and two to this new Boston one, I am hard-pressed to find much fault with the quality of the food. It's not gourmet, but it's really tasty and you can tell it's freshly made. I've had different dishes every time - I've tried the ramen, the chili men, the teppan, and most recently a curry rice dish (all yasai, or vegetarian, versions), and they were all really good. The moyashi soba relies a tad too much on salt instead of other seasonings, but otherwise for a high-volume restaurant like this it's all quite good. I give especially high thumbs up to the yasai katsu curry - thick, zesty sauce over veggies that have been fried to a melted-soft texture, but still retain all of their natural flavors, and plenty of rice to soak up the overflow. The desserts are also delicious, if you're adventurous; the chocolate cake has a sour plum filling in Boston, and in Britain it's wasabi. I am not crazy about the serving system, and the Faneuil Hall location looks WAY too yuppie for my idea of wagamama. In London, the two locations I went to were in windowless basements, and were minimal by necessity, whereas in Boston, it's got that sleek, IKEA-style minimalism that looks intentional and thus prententious, instead of pleasantly simple. And after going there once on a Sunday and waiting a good 30+ minutes in line at around 3-4 p.m., I would not bother going on a weekend, as it's really not great enough to be worth a long wait. But I enjoyed it, and when the Harvard Square location opens up, I will be back from time to time. Very glad they chose Boston for their first American location.
(4)Elizabeth M.
I've been here twice with the same person now, and as much I enjoy variety at the table we ended up ordering the same thing. I put off writing the review, so I'm going to give very basic food descriptions. The first time we were there, we ordered edamame and noodles with steak, rare....It came out and although the noodles were tasty, the steak was, well? Well. No good. We did ask the sever about it and he was super nice and brought us out rare steak to enjoy. The second time... I don't even remember what I ordered. All I remember is that I didn't get my first course, and my drink came out after my meal. Honestly, I wasn't even pissed. The poor girl serving us was so "in the weeds" the whole time, that I saw her screw up on at least two other tables. Everyone has an off night.
(3)Brian M.
Great to see Wagamama's opening here - the food is top-notch. On my trips home I usually manage to cram in at least two visits. The one caveat I would make based on my visits to several Ireland & UK ones, is that it is not a place to go for a leisurely 'catch-up with friends' sort of meal. The seating and the service is geared towards a high turnaround. It's not obnoxious at all, but not a place for any sort of laid back / intimate eating experience. You go here for the food - it is very tasty and pretty reasonable
(4)Tracey N.
If I could give this 3.5 stars, I would. Been twice, once when it first opened and once this past weekend and was surprised that it wasn't mobbed during lunch. Yes, it's Ikea-esque (but better), and the food is good. Prices seem a little high for Asian fusion food, but the portions are just right--filling but not huge. I like the kids menu, and my little guy was surprised that the ramen wasn't anything like Cup of Noodles. He had to sit on my lap to eat because the seats were too low, and used the shelf to push against me the whole time. The desserts were good (try the coconut ice cream), but not amazing. Our service was good, and the icing was that they broke up our bill, and the tip levels and amounts are printed at the bottom of your receipt to make the math easier.
(3)Joe B.
Made it there last w/e. Cold (outdoors/20 minute) wait and shared a table in the basement. Nicely done space. This place is about volume, so they come for our order before we get a chance to really look at the menu, but that's fine. They have wireless devices to input your oder, so its almost better to order by number than menu item, as the wait staff has no idea what the corresponding number is for each dish, at least not yet. Then the strange thing is they write your order number on the placemats. Servers then come down and announce the dish, walk around and look at the numbers on your placemat. If you don't pay attention, someone else will get your order, especially for things like Gyoza, which are fairly widely ordered. Little chaotic, maybe they will work this out. Had the Yaki Udon Teppan. Lots going on in the dish, but everything was muted. I would expect the dish to have a lot of flavors, heat and nuances, but they were not fully there. Like everything was toned down. Strange. Dish was OK, but not great. The chili oil on the table could not revive the lack of flavors. So had the chicken katsu curry dish, which looked like a mess. Chicken was nicely breaded and fried, but the curry sauce was a mess all over the rice and chicken. Again, same muted flavor experience. Our server was fine (a little caffeinated), the orders came when they wanted, and the food looked good for mass production or current first class airline food. Yakitori was reminiscent of squirrel on a stick. Duck Gyoza were frymated and served with a wrong choice sauce. Bill for three soups and two side dishes with 2 soda and a beer with tip was $72. (An international chain of 40+ Wagamamas in 10 countries I noticed they just copied the euro prices without converting.) Probably no need to revist it. Londoners may love it whatever that means to us but I think its best chance to flourish here is to create a wider if not inflated way for regular palates to try something different. Perhaps it will trickle down to the local ethnic spots and Bangkok push carts. If you haven't already a must try is Saporro Ramen or Tampopo at the Porter Exchange.
(2)Kara S.
I love eating at Wagamama's in London, so when we heard that one was opening up here, my friends and I were very excited. We all met up soon after it opened and had a big dinner party there. I think because we had such fond memories of it from London, we were somewhat underwhelmed by the Boston one. The food was good but not great, and I personally avoid Faneuil Hall like the plague. So I highly doubt I will be back. I will, however, be giving the Cambridge outpost a try one of these days.
(3)Jenny M.
I was trying to find an allergen-friendly restaurant to eat at with my sister. She loved her dish, the very garlicky "chicken chili men". I have many food intolerances right now but Jay Lam, the manager himself, took 10-15 minutes during the busy weekend lunch time to help me figure out what I could eat. Overall, they seem very attentive and catering to people with allergies. We liked the atmosphere. I'd likely come back during another visit to Boston.
(4)Nate Y.
I've been there twice. First time had a wait but was seated pretty quickly considering the number of people waiting. Appetizers were very good, and the main dish I had, a soup-based beef ramen, I thought was pretty good. I did have a col and found it was very comforting. We also ordered dessert which were very good as well. Service was friendly and a bit off-beat with writing your order on the table with chalk. I looked forward to trying it a second time for the udon since that is what I enjoyed most when I visited Japan. So the second visit I had the chicken udon, but this was disappointing. The fried udon noodle was more sticky and oily rather than a bit crispy. Maybe it was because I was used to having udon in soup, but they didn't offer this. The appetizer was good, and their lime mango cake dessert was excellent and refreshing, but I didn't like their chocolate cake. It tasted like it was from a bad box of cake mix. My ex who went with me the second time didn't like the soup ramen she had, felt it lacked any taste. So if you do decide to go stick with the appetizers and desserts. Nice though that they do serve beer and wine.
(3)Sean M.
A step up from "Panda Express". The food is bland and over salty. It's a nice space and the bicycle-messenger-as-waite-staff theme is hip too. I like the ordering by number scheme, very efficient and the staff have the numbers memorized. The food comes out in a timely fashion but it's over priced for the quality level(see initial comment). High point for me was the duck gyoza. Chili Chicken Ramen and Yaki Soba were a big let down. What we need in Boston is some those great Ramen places like they have in Honolulu and LA.
(2)Eliz O.
Generally speaking I like this place. I know it's Japanese but something is missing... I have had a few different dishes every time I come here and I am still looking for my favorite one. I don't really like spicy, so right there I am limited in my selection. Today I had number 77, which is the equivalent of chicken/shrimp fried rice. In a huge bowl, there were only three (yes I counted) pieces of shrimp. The chicken was all black meat and I hate that part of the chicken. I have had better experiences here before. I am not a big fan of the picnic-like seating, the benches are uncomfortable and there is really no place where to put your stuff. Overall I like it there since it's close to work and fast enough, but if I had to choose I wouldn't go there too often, once a month is enough I think.
(3)Amanda W.
I really wanted to like this place because I absolutely love a good bowl of ramen on a chilly night, but I just can't do it. The ramen is overpriced, flavorless, and inauthentic. It is a fun restaurant to go with friends, but the ramen itself is extremely disappointing, and obviously it is all about the food. I am still waiting for a good ramen place to pop up in Boston, and Wagamama certainly does not fit the bill.
(2)jenilee p.
alright alright. i'm still not too jazzed by the soggy ramen noodles that could be immediately housed by ken's offering... BUT after returning here over a year later, i'll concede that the miso beef broth is pretty darn tasty. if you are here, you can surely enjoy at least the liquid portion of an order of miso beef broth.
(2)cyndi L.
You guys in Boston are so lucky! Wagamama opening up in Spring '07! I've eaten at many of the locations in London and everything was consistent from location to location, quick service, good food and atmosphere. The school cafeteria style seating may not be popular with some but it's kind of a retro thing. The prices aren't too bad either.
(5)Laura P.
This must be a love it or hate it place, and while I don't hate it, I certainly can't rave about it. The food was just so-so. We had the grilled asparagus with a decent teriyaki-like sauce, but for $7, the portion was a bit stingy. I had the yasai itame and the noodles were just ok- the veggies were a bit overcooked. Service was mediocre but nothing really to fuss about. My friend and I sat next to a bunch of obnoxious females who couldn't stop taking photos, so that really didn't help. I doubt that I'd go back because Boston has much more to offer in the same price range. Wagamama is going to suffer the consequences of being in a touristy location with not much emphasis on culinary delights (though inside Fanueil there are several great take-out places, most notably the Indian place).
(3)Meredith S.
Having been to Wagamama overseas and loving it, I was excited to see that they had opened up shop in Boston as well. We had a group of 7 go on a Friday night around 8pm and we had no trouble being seated pretty quickly. The food was as fabulous as I remembered it and the stem ginger cheesecake and key lime mousse were out-of-this-world good. I ordered the #41, a vegetarian noodle dish which I loved, which featured a wide variety of vegetables and the perfect amount of pickled ginger. Once the Harvard Square location opens, I'll probably stick to that one, but the food here did not dissapoint.
(5)k s.
Great menu, fresh ingredients, fast service in a bustling environment. Great place to grab a quick bite.
(4)C C.
i've been incredibly excited to try wagamama, and finally had the chance this afternoon. the staff, however, were so incredibly rude when we walked in that we walked right back out. their loss, since it was completely dead and they missed out on a very hungry party of 5 that would have tipped well.
(1)Bridget D.
The first time I went here during the summer was for lunch with some girlies from work. One of the girlies had been to Wagamama in London and was pumped to try it here. We sat down at the long tables and we were kindly greeted by an attractive Russian lad. My small vegetable frame was pleased to see so many options. I went for the yasai yaki soba and the other ladies chose a chickeny dish. They warned us that things are brought to the table as soon as they are ready. We found that strange but accepted it. So my noodles came with all the assorted veggies that I could not identify. The tastes were interesting and I enjoyed the different flavors. However, I ate it with the eyes of my lunch companions beating down on me for their food had not arrived. Ten minutes passed since my plate was placed in front of me, "oh go ahead, eat!" they said to me. Ten more minutes passed. We flagged down a waiter, any waiter we could spot. Ten more minutes he said. Time was starting to tick by, my food was gone, and the end of lunch hour was rapidly approaching, but still no food for the girls. Finally, we couldn't take it anymore and asked them to pack up their food to go. The manager came over and comp'd their meals and delivered the takeout bag. I tried it a few more times, because work was comping dinner. We got takeout and it was usually easy to order over the phone. The edamame with chili garlic salt was always good. I once ordered the asparagus side for my friends and it was four stalks of celery with some sauce on top! 4 for like 6 bucks! I refuse to eat asparagus becuase of what it does to your fluids. My friends seemed to enjoy it, the actual asparagus not the fluid scent. I enjoyed the yasai katzu curry over rice because it has fried sweet potato and a decent curry sauce. The moyashi soba vegetarian style ramen was not so good. I found it very oily, floating on top, and the flavors were not very pleasing. The last time I went here was for lunch with a friend I had not seen in a while. It was not very busy when we went, shortly before noon. The atmosphere is fun with lots of people, but it can be awkward bumping elbows with strangers. It is nice also to actually be able to have a private conversation with a friend. Anyway, we both enjoyed our food. I had the yasai yaki soba again and he had some ramen. We shared the vegetable gyoza appetizers. Everything was decent, but by far the best part of the meal was when we stepped outside and were greeted by a pleasant British chap. He was conducting a survey of our experience at Wagamama and offered us 10 bucks for our time. It was short and sweet and the ten bucks were crisp in my paw. Overall, I think the prices are a bit high, but it is in a very touristy area. I like most of the food I have had, but I never crave it.
(3)Mina I.
Wagamama opened at Faneuil Hall on April 23rd! I finally made it over for lunch yesterday - right now it is still a hot spot! I waited in line for 30 mins and it was just me, not going with a group. The staff were totally on top of everything once I was seated though - food was served up faster than anywhere else I have ever been for lunch in the city. I got chicken ramen & gyoza. The gyoza was the best- the chicken raman is yummy buy very simple.. my table was missing it's condiment tray, otherwise I think I would have put a little little bit of chili to kick it up a notch. You can also get chili chicken ramen but my server said she loves spicy stuff but that is even a little too much for her. Overall a good experience - for my ramen, gyoza, & diet pepsi was $22 (including tip). Fun popular new restaurant!
(3)Justine D.
My sister LOVES this place and was all pumped up for me to come and try it with her. Honestly, I didn't think it was all that great; then again, it wasn't all that bad. Here are my likes and dislikes: Likes: Lots of healthy options, vegetarian options, whole grain options, etc. But also there are meat, fried and less healthy options Service was really good. A friend we were with was disappointed that he had regular noodles instead of whole wheat ones in his soup - there was an error in the order. They were happy to make him a new one and also offered us dessert to make up for it. They were really nice about it. Very clean. Food is cooked to order. Dislikes: Nothing on the menu really captured my interest. It was a pretty boring menu, in my opinion - especially when compared w/ all the other asian places around. Food really wasn't all that exciting. It also didn't taste that great - just average. The prices were not that great either. Average $10 for a dinner dish - which is pretty typical in Harvard Square, but for what you get (essentially a pile of noodles and some veggies/meat) it doesn't really seem worth it at all. Because the food is cooked to order, it all comes out at different times for each person. They have this sort of gimmicky thing about that- it should be so fresh that everyone ends up eating at a different time. Personally, I'm fine w/ the way other restaurants do it - put the food up under the heater and have it wait til it's all ready and bring it together. I was halfway through my meal by the time my sister had hers. If I hadn't started to eat, it would have just sat there in front of me, cold. No-win situation there. Personally, by choice, I wouldn't return there.
(2)Ryan M.
Seriously, what is up with the servers?! The whole disinterested, soft spoken act needs to change. The food on the otherhand was quite good. Started off with duck gyoza and then had a delicous bowl of chicken ramen noodle. I thought the portions sizes and prices were quite appopriate for the quality and the location.
(4)Jamie H.
Recently had lunch here with some friends. I had a really good experience. I had a nice spicy chicken dish. The food definitely surprised on the upside for me. Points off for the seating arrangements as its bench style. If you don't want to get to know your neighbors its not a good spot. Also the lack organization led to one of my friends to get the wrong meal brought out. Otherwise the food came out pretty quickly.
(3)Thomas M.
Been there a couple of times, food just does not do it for me. Expensive for what it is -- noodles and a little bit of meat and veggies. Service okay, family style seating. Food comes out at different times. Beer list weak. Food is not very flavorful, it is almost like they are trying to hard to be hip and cool, and not paying enough attention to the food.
(2)Jennifer B.
I love Wagamama!!!! I had it in England and was so happy when I found out that it was opening here in Boston. Great place to eat. I love the ginger chicken udon especially. check out my review of Wagamama, other asian restaurants and Boston area eateries on my food blog. emptyfridge.wordpress.com
(5)Rory R.
Oh man. What an odd concept! Go out to eat with your friends but don't expect to be able to eat when they do even if you order at the exact same time. This concept might fly in the UK but it just doesn't work here. I asked about the strange practice of brining food out separately and I was told it was because "all the food is cooked fresh and to order". Last time I checked and of the other DOZENS if not hundreds of other restaurants at which I have dined also cook my food to order and can manage to time it so that all people in the party get their orders at about the same time. For some reason they also scribble all over your place mat. Which I guess does add or subtract from the experience but is just weird. The staff is almost pompous about the fact that they can't time you order correctly. They don't have appetizers because again they can't figure out how to serve food. Here's a hint guys; put the appetizer order in first and then put in the entrees. Doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that out. As warned I did get my dinner before my companion so I sat there like a civilized person and waited for by friend to get her dinner. Thus my food got cold. My dish was ok (probably better if I was able to enjoy it hot). It was a bit salty and the veggies didn't seem all that fresh. The whole concept I find aggravating and wish they'd adapt their service model to better fit the dining experience to which Americans are a custom. There are far better noodle joints in Boston than this. I'd give it one star, but they do an excellent job training their staff. They try to make it enjoyable it's not their fault that they can't bring out the food together.
(2)Diana C.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I saw that my favorite London staple was coming to Boston and I was definitely that girl who waited in line opening night to get some of the yaki soba and ginger chicken udon that I had been craving for the last two years... I've been back a number of times since then and it is always delicious, but never the mind-blowing, toe-curling experience I had remembered it to be. Something is definitely missing... Maybe it's the one hour wait in a line that wraps halfway around Faneuil Hall or the hit or miss service... Don't get me wrong- That was always an issue at the London locations, but the hot accents more than compensated for it. At any rate, the food is still good enough to warrant a four star review and it keeps me coming back to battle the tourists week after week. Definitely worth at least one visit just to say that you have tried it.
(4)Laura L.
I originally fell in love with Wagamama two years ago when I was in London. When I heard is was coming to Boston, I was thrilled. The reason I loved it so much was the vegetarian dishes seemed to be really high quality. I went last night and wanted to share my thoughts on the yasai chilli men dish I tried last night as well as the teryaki steak soba, which my boyfriend tried. The yasai chilli men was the perfect level of spicy, but the quality of the vegetables was a little low. I find that the quality of most vegetables in casual Boston restaurant isn't good anyway. I would go with the yasai katsu curry which had better vegetables (when I tried it in London), but it is less spicy. The teryaki steak soba is listed as an undercooked item on the menu, but when my boyfriend got the dish, the steak was well past well done. He saved it by adding chilli oil from the table to the steak.
(3)Sarah R.
Wagamama is a great quick, light, inexpensive lunch/dinner place, and that's all. I became annoyed with the restaurant as soon as I learned they do not have a restroom, you have to use the community one all the way in the middle of Quincy Market. I did enjoy my shrimp noodle dish, but thought it unnecessary for the chalk writing on the table. My biggest complaint is the same that some other reviewers wrote too, that the food comes out when it is ready, therefore, not all together. This just seems like a trick to make it easy on the cooks and waitstaff to not have to put the effort in to bring out everyones food out at once. Would I return? Yes. The prices are great, it was quick and easy, and I did like the food. I also want to try the fresh fruit drinks.
(3)Sam C.
I think Wagamama is great. It is what it is - an affordable and clean place to get a decent meal. I spent a year in London eating Wagamama at least once a week. When I returned to Boston I was excited to see they opened on nearby in Fanuel Hall. I ordered the same thing I frequently got in London (which was #27 - the bowl of weat noodles, veggies, and tofu) and it was exactly the same as I remembered it. My two friends both got different noodle bowls and they were satisfied. There is a wide variety of flavors offered on the menu. You also get complimentary green tea. I can even say the meats, especially the chicken, are of much better quality than overseas. Yes, there are more authentic places, but I'm still a fan of Wagamama!
(4)Joey M.
I was so happy when I heard this place would be opening in Boston. They're everywhere in the UK. It's fun, inexpensive and mostly healthy. They have good vegetarian/vegan options. I recommend the Yasai Yakisoba or the Chilli Men. I love that they have whole wheat noodles. The portions are big and very filling. The appetizers- raw salad, steamed dumpling, asparagus, etc are also all good. I don't like when I have to sit right next to someone else which is why I take one star off. They also won't do simple things like substitute tofu instead of eggs which is just stupid, especially when they says things are "cooked to order". Will still go often, though. Both locations are similar, which it was in the back bay though.
(4)Russell D.
What will happent o my old review
(3)Jen O.
Let me just preface this by saying that I am not generally a fan of Japanese food, nor am I very adventurous when it comes to food choices in general. I am, however, a ramen addict who had to cut myself off from the stuff cold turkey a few years ago for my general health. So when my friend told me that we were going to a restaurant that serves ramen, I was quite intrigued. We all ordered the chicken ramen meal which comes with 3 gyoza (dumplings) and a drink. The ramen was unlike any ramen that I have ever had. It was a heaping bowlful of noodles, fresh chicken breast, broth, spring onions, and some greens - spinach I think. The gyoza were also delicious and came with a lovely dipping sauce. Their table set up is a bit out of the ordinary - you could end up sitting right next to a complete stranger. When we went it wasn't busy so we had our own area. Definitely a nice alternative to the typical restaurant fare in the Boston area.
(4)Kristin Y.
My very first experience could have been alot better. When I ordered my food I asked without onions, which I was told would take a little longer and come out after everyone else's. I was fine with this but wasn't expecting to wait twice as long. There were four of us and the food came out all except mine. After another 20mins I finally inquired where my food was since everyone else was just about done with their meals. Apparently my food was brought to a different table and I had to wait for them to make it again. It would have been nice if someone had told me about the mix up. Meanwhile, we never got refills and had to flag someone down for another "706." My food was compensated since it took forever to get to me. I did enjoy my food but the experience could have been alot better. I was also very confused with all the wait staff that kept apologizing for my food. Our original waitress disappeared and never returned.
(1)Rob C.
I'm not surprised by the lack of good reviews; it's tough being a chain restaurant these days. I don't have problems with Wagamama for what it is: convenient, consistent and fast. We came here with 3 hungry kids and 4 hungry adults. They got the kids food to the table super fast and the staff was very attentive to everyone. I think the total bill for 7 (including apps and a couple beers) was right around $100 - so not bad at all for that many people in boston.
(4)PatrickJ T.
We were staying close by, and one night we tried this place. It was one of the few places still open. The food wasn't too bad. I cannot recall the exact names of the dishes we tried. All I remember was that it was okay, the service was fine, and the price was not too expensive.
(3)Jackel J.
Too strange tastes of Japanese food here but maybe only American like those tastes.
(2)Lauren B.
We decided to try this place because it looks cool from the outside and we were freeezing.... The menu is hard to decipher because everything has froo-froo names when really, each expensive dish is rice or noodles with meat and veggies. Also, if you are thinking of going out or being romantic after eating here, I'd suggest going else where because your night will be miserable... (lots of running to the bathroom and burping nasty breath). If you do decide to stay, the lettuce wraps were okay and the specialty drink with ginger in it is quite good... kinda like a mojito. If Asian food is what you're in the mood for, I'd save my cash and do Chinese take out.... its slightly questionable but so is this place.
(1)Michael C.
Stopped by Wagamama for lunch on a Sunday and got the Dynamite Chicken on the waitress' reccomendation. It was very good and perfectly spiced but not overpowering. My friend ordered one of their gluten free items on the menu that they advertise and they had a little trouble putting it together, but in the end they were able to do it. It is a little pricey for a chicken and rice dish, but given the location it is to be expected. The server was friendly as well.
(3)Quang H.
Aight, here's the run down. I ordered the Blackened Chicken with brown rice, seaweed salad, and the mango salsa. The only reason why I wanted this dish because I apparently have high blood pressure (trying to avoid the fried junk), and I'm making "life style changes" (hahaha) to avoid getting a heart attack by the time I'm 30. Brown rice was toooooo dry in my opinion. Seaweed salad was subpar. The chicken was a tad saltier than I thought, but I liked the salty/spicey rub on the chicken. Best part of the dish was the mango salsa. It looked like Bolocco's mango salsa, except this had a more a lemony taste. Very good addition to the chicken. Service was pretty good. The waitress was timely in terms of filling my water, and the wait for food wasn't too bad. In essence, not a bad place to eat, but it is a bit pricey. Come prepared for some good eating and lots of tourists.
(4)Robert B.
Wagamama, you're okay in my book. Sure, the aloof waiters scribbling all over your placemat in an attempt to crack some sort of ancient code is kind of obnoxious. And your food coming out at different times 'because it's made fresh' may be completely defeated by the fact you are a polite person and wait for your dining guest to get their dish, too. And of course then by the time your food actually comes you have the Fibonacci code going across your place setting, but whatever. It's decent food and serving sizes for a price that won't break the bank. It might not be phenomenal, but it certainly isn't bad. There are lots of yummy dishes, actually. And considering what's in the area, it's one of the better options and a good lunchtime spot.
(3)April M.
I love wagamama! I've eaten at all 3 in Boston multiple times (Harvard Square, Pru and Fanueil Hall). This review encompasses all three locations. Now anyone whos had real Japanese food would probably scoff at that. So go right ahead. Scoff away. I know it's fast food, I know it's a chain. But I also know my taste buds are happy when I eat here. It's kind of a weird set up. You get seated, and to be honest, the seating is kind of uncomfortable and I imagine it worse for taller people. There is this little bag-bench under the table, which gets kudos for creativity and efficiency, but negative points for obstructiveness. Don't like. Anywho, there are place mats, which triple as part of the menu and a scribe for the waiter, who will obnoxiously scribble everything you order past your arm onto your placemat. I must say, I do not understand why they do this, when everything is punched into their handheld ordering device anyways? And it certainly doesn't help them place the meals when they bring them out. They have to ask just like most waitstaff. So annoying there, but not enough to keep me away. Just an FYI. As for the food, you've got quite a selection from rice dishes, noodle dishes, soup dishes and more. And plenty of yummy apps. I highly recommend the edamame. I get an order every time I go. Super yummms! Main course, I highly recommend the Ginger Chicken Udon, if you're into that sort of thing. I don't eat seafood, so no comments there. The Dynamite Chicken stir fry was VERY spicy. Not the spiciest thing I've ever eaten, but whatever was in there was def. giving me a burning in my stomach. I couldn't help but imagine it on the way out (which ended up not being a problem, FYI). They have some neat drinks too. Tea, raw juices (excellent) and even beer. For desert, I'm in love with the Coconut Reika. It's enough for at LEAST 2 people, so split one. Wait: A+, I've never had to wait for a seat, even with a group of 6+. Service: A+, always friendly, smiling, quick, attentive - although the staff at Fan Hall was kind of aloof Food: A, I know it's a chain but it serves up some fresh and tasty options Price: A, I think bag for buck factor is good, about $15-20 pp Give 'em a shot!
(4)Kitty C.
I can't bring myself to enjoy Wagamama as much as my coworkers try to get me to. It just has too much of an artificial American taste, I don't get the sense of authenticity or potent flavors.
(1)Christine T.
Pretty bad. Not worth the money. Does not hold a candle to the London establishment I remember. The fried duck dumplings were just awful -- soggy, no longer crispy; flavorless small-quantity filling; westernized dipping sauce whose flavor was completely off-putting. The ramen broth wasn't exceptional; the vegetarian ingredients weren't flavorful either but I can see how it would appeal to some vegetarian purists. The pickles had been hanging around for a while, so they lacked a nice crunch but were still okay. When I asked about their iced tea, the waitress indicated that it tasted like regular tea to her. (The table placard indicated to ask your waitress about the specially-brewed tea of the day! -- or something like that.) So, it was just black tea -- nothing special like green or white iced tea -- which I expected from an asian fusion place that already modified other key foods. Yeah, table needed some deep cleaning. Sticky from months of liquid and food abuse. The wait service was for acceptable (she was nowhere near cheery but did a decent job) and the free street entertainment from our patio seating. The bathroom is halfway down the long Hall, through throngs of tourists.
(1)dave r.
Solid venue for vegetarian lunchtime cuisine in Fanueil Hall! I work near North Station and get starved for choices around these parts, so about once a month I leg it here to eat one of the maybe 12 vegetarian choices. The staggering array of choices nearly knocks me unconscious sometimes! I used to frequent the one in Dublin -- which I'm pretty sure was cheaper? -- so I can easily get over some of the tourist-y comments people have made about this place. But there are a few things I love there. The yasai itame is a great coconut noodle soup with tasty chunks of tofu. The yasai yaki noodles are a pretty solid choice, topped with yummy pickled onions? peppers? not sure, but they're pink. And there's a chili dish that, well, is not really hot in any way, but I also enjoy.
(3)Ting W.
Great food, fast service, but expensive price.... Definitely in a tourist trap location but food was surprisingly good and well made. I had the yakisoba with salmon, definitely recommended.
(4)Michele G.
I've been here on a few occasions, since it's so close to my abode. I love a great bowl of soup, and the lore kamen never disappoints. Well, maybe just one disappointment: For the price, I wish there was more of it. While striding through the rain for a very late lunch, I stopped in, craving the Thai-like goodness of this noodle soup. I ordered, and out it came delivered in a to-go bag with fork, napkin, and chopsticks. I returned home soaked and eagerly ripped off the soup lid. It was about 2/3 of the way full. For over $13, I expected it to be spilling on the placemat as soon as I opened it. Sad. However delicious it was, it did not fill me up, and I made some toast. Come on Wags, give a girl the full value of your addictive soup. Don't make me beg.
(4)Thaila S.
I'm very surprised by the poor reviews because this is my go to place for lunch in the area and I've always had a terrific meal and great service. If you're looking for a nice, casual sit down place for lunch with very good food, come here. I usually have the yasai chilli men, which is spicy noodles with an array of vegetables and tofu. It's really delicious. Today, I tried to branch out and had the yatsu curry with brown rice. AMAZING! The curry sauce especially was fantastic. My friend and I also split some veggie dumplings which were very good as well. They have lots of vegetarian options, which is wonderful. The servers are always friendly and are very helpful about answering questions, and the service is prompt. Highly recommend a visit.
(5)kea b.
I love it here! Great place for kids! The waitress are nice. Great noodles! YUM
(5)Gina E.
For those of you who lived on ramen in college, you MUST try this for the real deal. Of course, you'll not want the dollar packets anymore though. I had Wagamama's first in London ten years ago, and I've raved about it...and craved and missed it since then! Ten years later, and it still exceeds my expectations. We ate here even though we were only in Boston for the weekend and it's a chain--it's that good. No restaurant bathrooms, so you have to use the Quincy market (crowded) ones. Outside seating available, but not really dog friendly, as dogs have to stay off the patio and behind the chain railing.
(5)Jenn S.
I LOVED Wagamama when I lived in London. It was one of my favorite places. So when I found out they had 2 in Boston? I couldn't have been more excited!! Some friends and I went on a GORGEOUS day an got a prime table outside, where we were able to watch the Faneuil Hall performers throughout our meal. A very nice addition. I didn't try their fresh juices, which sounded great, but one of my friends did get an elderflower drink (a "sparkling health drink made with flowers picked from specially cultivated hedgerows, delightfully fragrant") - we all tried it and it was very nice! She also ordered the edamame, which we all tried as well. My friend and I shared an order of the gyoza: five grilled chicken dumplings filled with cabbage, chinese leaf, chinese chives and water chestnut. Served with a [VERY YUMMY] chilli, garlic and soy sauce. I think my fiance ordered the Yaki-soba: teppan-fried soba noodles with egg, chicken, shrimps, onions, green and red peppers, beansprouts and spring onions. garnished with mixed sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled ginger. Also tasty. And I LOVED my Chicken Itame: stir-fried chicken breast with bok choi, red and spring onions, red peppers and beansprouts. served with rice noodles in a spicy coconut and green chilli soup. Garnished with coriander, mint and a wedge of lime. I don't know how healthy mine was, as it was coconut-based, but I think all-in-all, it's was a fairly healthy option. I cannot wait to go back and try all the other amazing-sounding options on the menu. I highly recommend this restaurant! Be adventurous and try something new if you go. :)
(4)Jess K.
AHHH! I went last night (opening night) and the menu is the exact same as in London and delicious! I studied abroad for a year in London and definitely went to Wagamama's way too frequently. I HIGHLY recommend the Chicken Katsu Curry (spelling?). It is amaaazing. I work around the corner from here so this is going to be dangerous. Also though, if you remember the chocolate wasabi cheesecake (I think it was cheesecake?) from the UK restaurants, sadly they don't have that here. They do have an assortment of desserts but no ginger ice cream like I was looking forward to either!
(5)Jeff D.
I'm trying to think about a way to be kind about this, but I can't. This place sucks. Out loud. Perhaps our expectations were set to high. I'd heard good things about Wagamamas from a friend in London. Also, every one of the four people who went had just spent time in Taiwan or Japan and had experienced multiple times what good noodles were about. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentson: I know good noodles sir. And these are not good noodles. My major problem is this. How does one claim to be a Japanese-style noodle house and have no pork on the menu? Rich, fatty pork broth is the absolute key to any good ramen. And this magical animal appears not once on their menu. That fact so disappointed me that I ordered curry rice instead. The ones I make at home are far superior. I also tried my wife's beef noodles. Bland. The broth, instead of being rich and tasty was watery and bland. Both of my other friends had identical complaints. We got some dumplings as an appetizer, and those were the highlight of the meal even though any of the restaurants in Porter Exchange can do it better. In conclusion, even if you're paying, I'm not going to Wagamamas again when there are better, cheaper sources of noodles available to me.
(1)Jim O.
I have to give this restaurant 4-stars based on a truly gracious gesture offered by the manager. We met our daughter and her fella for dinner at 6pm on St. Patrick's Day. Clearly the staff was exhausted from two days of green mayhem. We were seated inside at a corner so had windows on two sides out onto the sea of green outfits and ordered promptly. We had a long wait for our Kirins, and a long wait for a shared appetizer, including a hiccup when after 10 minutes or so a waiter came by to apologize that the appetizer we ordered was no longer available. One by one our meals were delivered to us. We excused them not serving us simultaneously, given what they probably had been going thru. However, the fourth meal didn't arrive. After pointing out the omission, we were assured that it would be out soon, the manager was handling it. After a further delay the fourth meal arrived, but without the substitution of noodles for rice we requested. Finally, the noodles did arrive. We all enjoyed what we were served, salmon, swordfish (a bit dry), steak entrees, and the place was comfortable and not too noisy to hear each other. Basically, a three star experience. However, when the check arrived, the waiter said the manager comped the 4th meal, as it arrived unacceptably late to our table. We hadn't carried on or threw a fit, the manger did what was right. 4th star from me, thanks wagamama.
(4)Julie C.
love the food here but seriously, get some new & somewhat attentive servers. the person who took our order never came back..someone else took care of us. WTF?
(2)Kunal M.
Never tried ramen before, not a big fan. Service was good, dumplings appetizer was good.
(2)Bob L.
Big fan of lunchtime at Wagamama. Very fresh ingredients in unique dishes not found anywhere near here. This chain is welcome to come to Providence - soon! Sitting family style seems a bit weird at first but everyone gets that. Here's hoping you don't sit next to a loud talker. My favorite here is the Ginger Chicken Udon and a glass of the Raw Juice. Really giant portion so you'll most likely be taking some back to the office for "second lunch".
(4)Rachel B.
I always order chili-chicken ramen, chicken wings with Kirin beer. It's a clean environment and OK service. Great place to go and have noodle soup but I think other dishes aren't that impressive. 1 order of Coconut iced cream was nice to share with three people. There is no in unit bathroom in this restaurant so try not to order finger food for the date.
(4)Mia N.
I've only been here a couple of times, but I usually order the Chicken Katsu Curry since the portion sizing is perfect to fill anyone up for dinner. The curry isn't spicy enough and that's the only downfall with the dish.
(4)Erica S.
Vegetarians, stick with the moyashi soba. And start your meal off with edamame and a glass of fresh-squeezed juice, such as carrot.
(4)Mimi H.
I really have nothing bad to say about Wagamama's. It's really yummy Japanese fusion. The salty Edamame was so good. I've had curry and cold spicy noodles. Both dishes were great! The style the serve is interesting and fun. Yeah this place wins.
(4)Karlis B.
Wagamama is a collection of contradictions. Their slogan is "positive eating + positive living". And given the menu, it's (seemingly) easy to choose a healthy option because the ingredients are fresh and they use spices (instead of fat) to pack every dish with flavor. But just last night, I ordered the chicken itame and there was a flood of oil sitting on TOP of the spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup. It was stratified layers of oil and broth. I wanted to ask for some paper napkins to soak up the grease--which is what I have to do when I eat pepperoni pizza! The only way I could explain how that could happen is that the chicken, with all the oil it's cooked in, is just poured in the bowl. So there I was shaking each bite in the broth to push away the oil before I lifted my chopsticks. Sigh. Another contradiction: all the place mats say this place is great for big groups. Which is just wrong seeing as they do not have a system in place to serve everyone in a party at the same time. I love that the food is cooked to order. But when there's only two of us a party, why is the food arriving 10 minutes apart? What's gonna happen when I bring a group of 10? I'm not trying to find out. For Asian soups, I'll stick with Le's or Pho Pasteur.
(2)Scott J.
Yum! This is a fun place to dine. Wagamama chose Boston over NY to introduce their London-based restaurant to the United States. It's Asian fusion, with an emphasis on noodle and rice dishes, focuses on bringing fresh ingredients to you as soon as the dish is ready. Unlike other restaurants, you receive your food immediately after it's prepared, meaning that you might not start eating at the same time as your tablemates. The seating arrangements are interesting, too. You sit at long tables on benches (coat hooks at the top of the windows) next to other patrons, providing a more authentic experience to say, being in Japan. Servers write down your order using numbers on your placemat; ours had a great sense of humor and was quite friendly. This was my second time visiting this restaurant and certainly want to go back for the quality and experience -- plus, the view of Quincy Market is excellent, too -- even when it was raining.
(3)Francisca W.
went there last autumn/winter (or was it yet another year ago?) when they first opened for a couple months. heard good things about the restaurants in london so thought we should give it a try. waited a good 20 or so minutes because the place was packed! once seated, liked the clean decor and all, but thought the bench seats could render a bit "unromantic" to some. well, it's a cafeteria-style ramen place (read: "fast food" in japan) anyway, so i don't know why anyone would come there for first dates. i believe in japan, this kind of places would have been self-served, but i guess they want to adapt to the western cultures, so they added other perks and made it into a real restaurant. menu items looked attractive; everything was calling my name i could not decide for a while. the food that came, honestly, was not superb, delicate, or gourmet in any sense, but we were not (i hope nobody is) going there for that level of food quality. as an everyday, casual dining joint, the food is acceptable, if a bit pricey for that matter. service was a little rushed and slow due to the workload (it was a saturday, i believe), but wait staff was polite and professional. overall, a good experience, and would return if parking in the area isn't that unpredictable. :)
(4)Jamie S.
Wagamama is my favorite downtown take-out place when I'm stuck working late at the office. I can really only vouch for one thing on the menu -- miso beef ramen -- but man, is it good. Having been there once to stay, I can echo what others have said about the mediocre service. And the whole thing where the server writes my order on my placemat always feels like a violation of my personal space, but maybe that's just me.
(3)Maria P.
I was in the area to meet a friend and I was hungry so I stopped by Wagamama. I got the chicken dumplings which weren't very good. They were doughy and the filling was bland, the dumplings seemed like they were reheated and not freshly made. There was hardly any chicken in the dumpling. I also got the yaki soba which was filling and decent. It was topped with some pickled ginger and shallots. I didn't care for the pickled ginger but the shallots were a nice addition. The egg and chicken in the soba was well cooked and was a nice touch. It was quite greasy and loaded with sodium though so it isn't really a healthy option. Service was ok, not impressive in any way but functional.
(3)Ash T.
Pros: Great location in the heart of Fanueil Hall area, Wait staff is decent and service is prompt. Food is served right after its prepared, but not everyone's food comes out at the same time which can be annoying if you're vigourously slurping down the noodles and your spouse/date is foodless for that moment. The Chicken Chilli Ramen is good. Cons: No beer on Draft. Price is a little too high for Ramen type of noodle dishes.
(3)Anne F.
I fell in love with this chain in London and the U.S. stores have lived up to my memory. The food is great and fresh, though a little carb heavy. I don't find the place pricey at all, especially since the food is so good and the portions are very large. All in all, this is one of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Boston.
(5)Kelly H.
what's so special about this place?? is it even japanese?!?!?! is it "asian-fusion" cuz it's cooked by non asian people? cuz it's not good... i should have know and just turned away after i saw the color of the ramen... saving grace was that their duck dumpling's fillings were tasty... but why fry it?? makes the crust hard and yucky... seriously, this place is ONE and DONE... only thing good about this place is it's fun to say the name... that's it.
(2)Karen B.
what's that word the yelp community uses when places are sub-par? oh yeah. meh. but the freshly squeezed juices are good.
(2)Kristina S.
My first time at wagamama was when I was traveling in England. Went to the one in Liverpool with good friends and ordered the chicken katsu curry. What a treat! The one in Liverpool also has some awesome sparkling elderflower. Went to this one in Boston for the first time about a month ago with my cousin and his bf. We had a most excellent time. I ordered the yaki soba. Thennn I went here just last weekend, when visiting Boston again, and had the grilled chicken curry, which was just as wonderful as the chicken katsu curry, but a tad on the lighter/ healthier side. Recommend wagamama whole-heartedly! Great location in Faneuil Hall and outdoor seating, too!
(5)Daniel P.
I finally came here for the first time this week. The drinks are pretty tasty, the sweet potato fries are PERFECT, and the steak I had was cooked fantastically. It was a thin cut and I ordered it rare, expecting it to be more of a medium rare. But no, quite rare. And delicious. I'll be back here again. And maybe even again.
(4)J J.
We got the pad thai and the beef ramen. Thought they were better than other Japanese restaurants around. The fruit smoothie was so fresh.
(4)Leighann F.
Like a child to those checkout lane candy stands, like a moth to a flame...I am to noodles. Just getting the idea into my head, I have to have them. And there is little restraining me from doing so. A noodle shop in some form, pho place or ramen option now sits within minutes from, more or less, where ever I am. Wagamama in Faneuil Hall was conveniently on the way from Eastie to South Station...if you consider walking in the opposite direction from where you need to be going, through throngs of misdirected and distracted tourists, a convenience. For obvious reasons, Faneuil Hall is not a spot I frequent, so it should be pretty darn clear at this point how much I wanted these noodles. So noodles I wanted and noodles I got! A piping hot bowl with superfresh ingredients, (the quality of the chicken was really impressive) and perfectly spiced broth. The ratio of noodles/veggies to broth wasn't exactly in the proportion that I would have liked (always err on the side of a few extra veggies and noodles Mr. Chef), and the noodles weren't the ramen that I like so much at Mentai. Wagamana is to noodle shops as Olive Garden is to your Italian grandmother's homemade meatballs. Or your friend's grandmothers. Whatever. The point here is that it's a chain shop with chain interpretations of a traditional foodstuff. Like Chipotle (which I LOVE) to a spot like Villa Mexico. Chipotle may not be as 'authentic" as Villa Mexico, but they use the best ingredients and their locations are convenient. While I may enjoy Villa Mexico more, Chipotle is sometimes more convenient and still viably enjoyable.
(3)Barrett F.
So, went to Wagamama this past weekend for a late lunch after a movie. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but alas, all I can say is the food was mediocre. I didn't find out until after that it was a chain type, but I would put it just above an Apple-Bee's or a Friday's. Granted the Asian fusion'esq food was more interesting, there just wasn't any wow factor. I had one of the coconut based soup and my date had an interesting salad. Both were good, I'm not complaining, but as I said before the wow factor seemed MIA. In short: Good place for an afternoon meal after a movie, not so sure I'd use it as a typical date place, but for an after a movie meal, it's a fair pick.
(3)Ian M.
Although the food was good and probably worthy of 4 stars, this location had one of the worst table service ever. With the place practically empty after lunch, I didn't think being waited on would be such an issue. Not one person checked in to ask how things were. We had to ask for the bill at least twice. This chain might want to work on customer service a bit more.
(2)Dennis A.
This is a great place to grab something quick to eat. Everything was fresh and tasted good. The service solid especially for a "cafeteria" style restaurant. This is definitely a place I would come back to.
(4)Purvi R.
I've always had a nice experience at Wagamama. First off, how fun is it to say?? I dare you to say it 3 times fast without smiling. :) My first Wagamama experience was when I first moved to Boston and it was still warm out. I had heard about it from friends who had lived in London, but never having spent time there myself I was eager to give it a shot. I was with a girlfriend and we sat outside of course...and had the best time chatting with this hilarious family from Staten Island. Subsequent visits have always been made a bit more interesting by those communal tables. The food? Pretty good actually. I don't feel it's too greasy, but just greasy enough. The soups are yummy, and their noodle dishes are the right proportion. I always get their side bowl of fried tofu to dip in soy sauce and have as a side dish. I also love their gyoza. They also have a meal deal that is $13.50, but if you don't intend on a beer or beverage and just want water, it's better to go a la carte. Oh! And don't forget to ask for the FREE green tea - not openly publicized, but listed in nondescript small font on the beverage list. Thank goodness Wagamama opened in the Pru, so I don't have to go all the way to Fanueil to satisfy my soba cravings!!
(4)Matthew W.
Went here yesterday evening. It was our second visit -- last time, the GF ordered something spicy by mistake, so we ended up switching dishes and I'd prefer to evaluate a restaurant only after I've eaten what I really ordered, so this review had to wait. Food-wise, I have no complaints about Wagamama. It's good. I ordered the chicken katsu curry and everything tasted, well, the way I expected it to taste. Curry was delicious, chicken was well-prepared. I demolished that thing. The portion size was just right. While I certainly wasn't blown away -- it's good, but nothing unique and nothing I can't find at a dozen different places for a similar price -- Wagamama gets points for being exactly as advertised. As for the service... it isn't bad, but being waited on by five different people is inherently confusing, I'm always briefly taken by surprise when a waiter reaches out toward the table to write my order down, and it would be nice for everyone's food to come out at the same time. None of this is bad, per se, but from my perspective it takes away from the dining experience just a bit, and if the food is somewhere in the neighborhood of three-and-a-half stars, service gets to be the tiebreaker. Wagamama is quite good, though, and convenient as well. I'm pretty sure I'll be back.
(3)Katie L.
Though I wouldn't rate Wagamama as one of the BEST places to go, it offers some good standard dishes that you can count on to satisfy your noodle urge. If you get that Kind of Thing. (like me) There are a number of things I really like here: the chicken chili men, the chicken katsu curry, and the ginger chicken udon, specifically. I think their noodle soups are overrated - I would head for some authentic pho if you are looking for some satisfying asian style soup. I think their whole 'write the order on your placemat' thing is a little gimmicky, but the service here is pretty good and you can count on the meals to be good each time you go.
(4)Teo B.
This restaurant is considered as a Japanese fusion cuisine. On my last day in Boston, we had dinner here before heading to the airport. It's located towards the backside of Quincy Market, across from Urban Outfitters store. I had the cha han and boy was there enough rice to feed two people with it. It's your typical fried rice with mushrooms, chicken, shrimp and peas. I was looking for my stir fried egg but couldn't find it. Maybe it blended too well with the soy sauce. It also came with vegetarian miso broth and it had too much scallions and wasn't hot at all, the pickled vegetables could go because it was sorry looking. Sister ordered the steak and it had lots of onions, peppers and sauce on the side and she said it was good but if you're used to eating steak with starch, better order a side order because it doesn't come with it. Her hubby ordered the blackened chicken with brown rice and SPICY ALERT! You can totally taste the curry and there's some red peppers on the coating. He said he could still feel his lips burn. My niece ordered the chicken ramen and the lil boy had chicken terriyaki. Everyone enjoyed their dinner and we had coconut ice cream with mango sauce for dessert. They also make their own juice, just don't forget to ask with ice or else your drink is gonna be warm. For a place that's located in a central, busy and touristy location, the price is right =) They also have locations in other countries as well. P.S. they have street performers by this restaurant and we were surely entertained by the irish guy who plays the bag pipes, does his cycle trick and strips down to his funny boxers at the end.
(3)Milee S.
Wagamama is pretty cool. I love the location and the set up (although some might be turned off by the "communal" dining tables) is kinda different. I started with edamame, which was perfectly salted. My friend had the duck gyoza, which she said was pretty good. We each got the yaki soba. They do make subtractions, which is nice to have in a restaurant. I really liked my meal as it wasn't too large (portion wise) and was very tasty. The only reason I can't give this a five is because the wait staff is TOO attentive. I don't need 3 servers asking if everything is ok--they should have one stick to your table. Also, one of the more clueless servers took away the soy sauce before the meal came out, which made no sense to me. As I was leaving, 4 (yes, 4!) different people wished me a good night. In the span of 20 seconds. It's a bit much...too friendly. I'll go back cause I like the food, however.
(4)Shelly A.
This place was really good, then gave a few people food poisoning, and now is back to being good. I adore the edamame. The entrees are pretty good but I'm annoyed that no changes can be made (additions / subtractions). I would like to give them a higher score but they haven't been consistent enough.
(3)Johnny L.
I went there yesterday. It's a cozy place and their service is nice, but the food is just ok. We ordered a chili ramen , a miso ramen with beef and a shrimp dumpling. The miso ramen is too salty that I need to drink lots of water, and the chili ramen was not so Japanese style but more like Thai food. Anyway I won't be there next time.
(3)Rhett S.
So after days and days... and days and days of deleterious pub food and its many libations, Wagamama's was the panacea that I severely was in need of. Chicken Kare Lomen and Raw Juice was the fix. The Lomen is a spicy soup made from lemongrass and coconut milk. In it you will find lots of veggies, chicken, and an assortment of spices. Ask for extra limes... it will take it to a whole new level. The raw juice is way good too. It's a mixture of carrot, cucumber, tomato, orange and apple. It's an all-round high-nutrient and high-energy drink. In addition to above they have lots of yakitori, katsu, and yaki soba/udon etc.... Wagamama's is clean, cheap, fast, fresh, large, and trendy. I think the best way to describe it is a trendy Japanese cafeteria from the UK. It's all bench seating, which I hear is the fear of opening in California. I guess it's assumed Californians don't like to share food space with wierdos. Big cities have the whole subways and lack of personal space thing going on. If you are listening Wagamama's.... you would make another few boat loads of money if you opened up in SoCal. Specificly Orange County. Anyways the food really hit the spot, but I will always still have my favorite ramen places in costa mesa. Yo yo yo Santouka and Mentatsu.
(4)Ken M.
okay, okay, okay, I'm a Wagamama convert. I'll still never eat the Ramen or anything else super brothy there, but I get that that might be your bag. The Chicken Katsu Curry dish is amazing but I always eat too much. The iced tea is pretty darn good here, but it does need a fair amount of sweetner. Mad props to this location for being super good about alergens. We had someone in our party allergic to shrimp and the waitress made absolute sure that she didn't get any, she even came back and verified that it was not an allergy to oystersas well because there was oyster sauce in one of the apps the girl with the allergy got. The prices are a bit too high, but it's fun to splurge every once in a while, and for dinner it's not bad at all (maybe above my usual lunch limit).
(4)Aditi R.
I went here for the first time with some family friends and had a few dishes. We told the waiter that a couple people in the party had shrimp allergies and the manager quickly came out and told us he'd himself make sure that everything was in order - great service all in all. They have asahi beer which is awesome and I really liked it. To start off with we had chicken dumplings which were amazing. Then we had the chicken katsu curry with rice (awesome flavor), yasai chili men (awesome tofu chili noodle dish), & the ginger chicken udon which was another great noodle dish. I can't believe I hadn't been to this place in the entire year I've been to Boston - I'll definitely be frequenting here more often especially since I'm such a fan of Asian food. And with the service being so great and this being in fanueil hall, nothing more really can be asked for of this establishment. Love it :)
(4)Jenelle J.
Wagamama is a nice place to go if you're looking for a little asian taste but not necessarily a stickler for authenticity. I just had their beef kabobs which were surprisingly good - tender, spiced well, and a good amount for the price. In past times I had had the mandarin sesame salad - I had chosen the addition of shrimp which felt like too much salad but not enough shrimp to top it off. I guess that's why the prices aren't too expensive here? All in all a nice casual place to eat if you are veggie or happen to be avoiding protein.
(3)Dana P.
Years ago when I used to travel to London regularly for work, Wagamama was my favorite spot. I used to go a few times each trip. I still have a Wagamama t-shirt from like 10 years ago. I recently moved back to Massachusetts and was so excited to find out there was a Wagamama in Faneuil Hall. I went before a show and was incredibly disappointed. I ordered the moyashi soba. Bland, flavorless soup with barely any vegetables aside from a heavy flooding of scallions and leeks. I loved Wagamama, and had fond memories, so I wanted to give them another chance. Maybe it was just a fluke? Nope. Went back and ordered the yasai itame. Super oily and not much flavor. It was so greasy it actually made me feel sick. I wanted to love you Wagamama, really I did, but your food is just bad and incredibly overpriced. Save your money and go elsewhere.
(1)Steve K.
Fresh ingredients, tasty, and appealing presentation Family style bench seating. Surrounded by windows so you can see street activity at Faneuil Hall Sq Don't miss the coconut ice cream Disappointed no beers on tap...only bottles of Asian beers plus Sam Adams $35 nearby parking garages, but it is Faneuil Hall area
(4)Melissa B.
LOVE this place! I have to make a stop every time I am in town.
(5)Keith C.
Disclaimer: I had just walked the Freedom Trail and climbed to the top of the bunker hill monument. It was 4pm and we hadn't had lunch. Ambiance: It's noisy and somewhat crowded. But it's in Fanuil Hall, you were expecting quiet and secluded? We didn't wait for a table at all really, but it wasn't prime time when we went. They have that crazy pseudo-shared table set up, which means we got to sit next to a vapid couple that gave us numerous laughs for the rest of the day. So, bonus points on getting surprise comedy. Food: I got a special chicken dish, which was basically grilled chicken, with a special sauce over rice spinach and carrot shavings. The sauce was really tasty and the chicken was grilled perfectly. The sauce was a bit too rich actually, and the rice really soaked up a bunch at the bottom and was a little overpowering. It came with a side of Kimchee, not enough unfortunately. But enough Kimchee would mean more than I could physically consume and still be mobile, so yeah. Price: Damn reasonable. After tax and tip it was about $17 a person, and that's right in tourist central, so good prices. Service: Prompt. Though, they don't bring all the food out at once, so my one friend wound up waiting for a bit to get his food. Not sure how I feel about that, but there you go. Bottom line, I'd go again, but I'm not rushing to get back. It's worth checking out if you're in the area.
(4)Brian W.
Where else in downtown Boston can you share a picnic table bench with a complete stranger while trying to get Japanese noodles in your mouth without staining that new sweater you just bought? They recently revamped their menu and although I'm not exactly sure what is new I did notice that they added a little symbol next to the few options that can be made gluten free. We've been here a handful of times and every time we always get the same thing. I love the chicken itame mainly because of the delicious coconut soup. I could do without some of the large Chinese green vegetables that just take up space, but the taste of the broth is worth it. My wife always gets the GF chicken chili men which is too spicy for me but she always eats every last bite. We also tried the sweet potato fries for the first time, but they were rather soft and squishy in the middle which was a bit of a disappointment. The dipping sauce was flavorful and spicy, but I wish the fries were crispier. The iced tea is usually pretty good and there are free refills which is nice.
(4)Robyn R.
First time trying this place, and after reading the reviews, I understand why it's not the best place. Their menu is great and exciting! But my food was blah - had to add a lot of heat and flavor on my own. I got the lemongrass shrimp. It was really bland unfortunately. Our service was pretty bad, but they were slammed at lunch around the holidays, so i felt bad for our waiter. The other bad thing is i felt pretty terrible after eating my meal. Like, bad that I would not eat there again... great concept, wish there were more noodle type joints around.
(2)Sara M.
This place does NOT serve real ramen. I was excited to try it out since I am a huge fan of ramen and my husby said it was good when he had it in England. They also marketed the crap out of this place when it opened raving about how wonderful their ramen is, among other things. First of all, they have these weird bench tables reminiscent of cafeteria style seating. Secondly, they also bring you food whenever they feel like it, which bothers my polite manners since you always wait for everyone to receive their food before eating. All nice restaurants serve all seated at the same time. As soon as they brought the ramen out and I smelled it, my heart sank because I knew it was not right. I dug in anyway and continued to be disappointed. The flavors didn't work well and the noodles were just okay. Husby seemed to enjoy his but I was too crestfallen to pay attention. The kicker was the price - way too much for the quality of food. All in all, I would never come back and still mutter under my breath when I walk by one.
(1)Cindy K.
When I don't want to trek down to Chinatown from work, but have a craving for noodle soup, I come here. Although quite Americanized, it does the job of satisfying my craving until I desperately need to go get my authentic pho fix. I've only had noodle soup here so I can only comment on the ramen and the coconut-based noodle soups. First off, the ramen really isn't authentic ramen noodles at all. It honestly doesn't even come close and the soup base is also off. But in terms of Asian Fusion cuisine, it's pretty decent and flavorful. What I always end up ordering is the itame or the kare lomen; both are coconut based soups and have more of a southeast Asian taste to it. If you go at 12pm, you'll definitely hit the lunch time crowd from both "suits" as well as the tourists so be prepared to wait. Service is fast and food comes pretty quickly.
(3)P C.
I came in for quick Asian soup.... Had the chili chix ramen - portion was huge, had some veggies- fairly priced for Americanized Asian 14 including tip. Plus there's outdoor seating ... Not much of the same cuisine in thus area...
(4)Kim H.
A gem ... My best friend brought me here - Having worked in Gov Center for a number of years, I thought I knew all the food establishments in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace ... at least all the ones that I had any interest in dining at. I was wrong. This place is incredible! 'Clean' delicious & healthy. Funky & extremely knowledgeable waitstaff.
(4)Jamie P.
The plus is the free tea ... the downside is the fact the soy sauce tht was given gor our appetizers both times had to be used yo flavor our dishes (I had a rice bowl and other time noodles). That simple fact about flavor wasn't good. Also the curry dish had too much curry and didnt taste as well. They might have good healthy food but the flavoring combo falls short.
(3)Tu-van L.
Solid fast-food/watered down Asian cuisine restaurant in the heart of Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. A British Asian eatery chain provides tender fried squid and tasty dumplings. I prefer the steamed over fried since the deep fried crusty shell made for interesting dumpling texture. Not exactly innovative and mind blowing but satisfying at a reasonable tourist price. Outdoor seating is great for people watching and street performance gazing.
(3)Alan Y.
I'm not a big fan of asian fusion restaurants, and my experience at Wagamama confirmed that fact. The food, at least what I sampled, simply did not deliver. For an appetizer, I ordered the seaweed salad, which was surprisingly decent. The portions were ample and the flavor was just right. However, my spicy beef ramen was merely adequate at best. The noodles were a bit chewy and did not seem exactly "right" for a ramen-dish. The broth was extremely watery and lacked any flavor at all. It really pales in comparison to the ramen served inside Porter Exchange. I might decide to come back to sample some of their rice dishes. However, this is somewhere where I would repeatedly visit.
(2)Alison M.
I love Wagamama! I can not tell you how surprised I was walking around fanuiel hall when I spotted a Wagamama. I love this place! I used to eat here all the time back in college when I studied abroad in London and had no idea that they had locations in the US. Funny how it seems that they have a few, but only in Boston and we actually ate at 2 of them over the 3 nights we spent in Boston. Once here and another time in Cambridge. Anyways, it was just the same as in London right down to decor except happily the prices are in dollars and not pounds which makes it much more affordable. I ordered udon noodles both times I was here with different ingredients and sauces. They let you swap out the noodles or rice in each dish which is really nice and I absolutely love how they do udon noodles here without broth. And let me tell you it is absolutely impossible to find anything like this anywhere else. Believe me I've tried in the 9 years since I've left London. I've ordered udon noodles everywhere I've seen them on a menu and it never compares. The servings are really large. Service is extremely fast. The food is fresh and yummy and there's free green tea. I'm totally a fan of this place.
(5)Marie C.
We've been to Wagamama several times, always with the kids, and have enjoyed its loud ambience, location, and inexpensive prices.. The menu is big, and eclectic -- it seems to be mostly Japanese based with soba noddles, udon, but there are several curries and coconut based soups in there as well, and plenty of rice dishes. This place is usually crowded, and this location is in prime real estate in Fanueil Hall. It's part of a British chain, so it has some panache, and is a nice place for a casual, inexpensive dinner after work or with kids.
(4)Andrea P.
Being Asian I needed a ramen "fix" while on vacation. I didn't expect much since there wasn't one Asian on the staff. To my surprise everything that our party of four ordered was very good----vegetarian summer rolls, yakisoba, ramen in soup, udon in soup. Prices are very reasonable and it's in a great location. Our daughter who lives in London says she enjoys eating at the Wagamama there.
(4)Daphna R.
In theory, this place should rock. I feel like total crap when I eat here, no matter what I eat, no matter how much I eat, no matter how gluten free they say it is. Its greasy, its salty, and its NOT gluten free.
(1)Kevin W.
Just had dinner here on a Tuesday night, the place wasn't packed. I asked to be seated near the TV so I could watch CNN while eating dinner. The restaurant is located outside of Quincy market and has a very nice ambiance, not only because of its location, but because the place uses floor to ceiling windows for exterior walls, enabling customers to view the Quincy Market area, its a pleasant sight with Quincy Market filled with xmas lighting and street lamps. Overall, the service was very pleasant but was a little slow, but I wasn't in a rush. And why do waitresses like calling me "hon"? Maybe its because I'm young looking? lol To start things off, I ordered an Apple and Lime fruit juice and an order of the Duck Dumplings. A waiter came by to give me a glass of ice water and said, "enjoy." hahahah, enjoy? what, my ice water? I thought that was funny. But anyway, the juice came, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was fresh-made with real apples and some lime juice, it was very good. The duck dumplings were pretty good too. See my pictures, but it was a good portion of shredded duck in each dumpling, wrapped in wonton and deep-fried. Dip it in some hoisin sauce and it was good to go. I also had a bowl of miso beef ramen. It was just okay, it was kind of on the salty side. The beef and veggies were stir fried first and then it was put into the bowl of miso ramen, not bad, but not great either. Lots of flavor, but salty. Overall this place was "A-ok." Service was decent, atmosphere very nice, food was good. But I'd definitely give this place another try, maybe try another dish like the Chicken Katsu curry over rice, which could warrant a higher rating. 3 stars - Total bill = $24.50 ($4 juice, $7 duck, $12 ramen)
(3)R S.
Ramen noodle soup is pretty good but service is bad. Our waitress never checked on us (despite trying to flag them down for more water) and acted like she was doing us a favor by serving us.
(3)Lindsay G.
Staff is always super friendly and accomodating. Food is always amazing. I recommend this place to everyone!
(5)Danny C.
My group of friends and I love eating ramen and sushi. So when we were touring around Haymarket Square and spotted this place, we decided to go in and try the ramen. Thinking back, I wished we did some research first instead of going in because one of us "heard" about the place. I don't even recall what I ordered exactly, but I believe it was the spicy miso ramen and the tea of the day. The iced tea was very bitter and I had to pour a couple of sugar packs in. The ramen was terrible and had more bean sprouts and carrots than noodles. The beef was tough and hard to chew apart. It was a waste of money going here and I would recommend finding another place that serves more authentic Japanese dishes.
(2)Kerry D.
The chicken itame soup calls my name! I love the fresh juices! The $1 japanese pickles are TDF. And even the kids meals are fabulous. I love me some Wagamama!
(5)K. L.
I should preface this by saying that I've only really ever had one thing at Wagamama - but I keep ordering it again and again. I love the Yaki Udon and order this every time. It's a unique combination of flavors and a big portion. Don't come here if you want privacy - everyone is seated at long cafeteria style tables. Brisk service but that's part of their schtick.
(4)Chase M.
I lived and traveled throughout Japan. I have had most the regional varieties of Japanese ramen: Hakata, Sapporo, and Tokyo styles eaten from most types of venues: stand up ramen stands at train stations and the more elaborate indoor restaurants. Wagamama is one of the more better and authentic chain style contemporary ramen eateries stateside I have tried. Not to be mistaken for a small mom and pop business run by U.S. residing Japanese, for it's trendy look and style Wagamama is very good. I have only had the ramen as there is no shortage of Japanese restaurants nation wide offering most their other non-ramen menu items. But good hot ramen in a large bowl seasoned well is not so common here in the U.S.
(4)Lan T.
On the plus side- 1-Whole wheat ramen noodles (good for diabetics) 2-Fresh and piping hot (hits the spot for wintery days) 3-Flavorful (can add spicy powder for an extra kick) 4-Bench Style seating (can accomodate large groups quickly) 5. Fun and quirky spoons for slurping down their delish ramen. Not so good- 1. The duck dumplings 2. Not in California. (Come to Socal) We had a large group quickly sat down for some warm ramen. We have a diabetic in our group and wheat noodles help him keep his blood sugars more level. Having that option was great! Many ordered spicy miso. I ordered Salmon Miso. A large portion of Salmon filet was grilled and placed on a bed of fresh baby spinach. It was soooooooo good. I made my hubby jealous.
(5)Monte R.
Wagamama is solid gourmet Japanese food. It's in a mall but who cares - it's good. Nice interior, good service, too.
(4)Sid W.
Great location, friendly service. The christmas lighting all around added to the experience. Started off the the Tiger Beer and for main course, had the salmon teriyaki which was quite good. Chicken dumplings were quite tasty as appetizers and the chicken noodle soup my friend ordered was quite spicy and fun! The seating style of long benches makes you more sociable.
(4)