Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: wagamama
Address: 57 JFK St, Cambridge, MA, 02138
Telephone: (617) 499-0930
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 2.93

wagamama

57 JFK St, Cambridge, MA, 02138

(617) 499-0930
Store is closed

wagamama Menu

Starters

Duck Dumplings

Chicken Dumplings

Yasai Dumplings

Ebi Dumplings

Ebi Katsu

Edamame

Japanese Flat Bread

Sweet Potato Fries

Chili Calamari

Suribachi Chicken Wings

Raw Salad

Miso Soup And Japanese Style Pickles

Wagamama Glazed Ribs

Grilled Asparagus

Seaweed Salad

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Tomato Tofu And Basil Salad

Teriyaki Steak Skewers
Salads

Stir-fried Ata-taka Chicken Salad

Marinated Yasai Noodle Salad

Stir-fried Miso Beef Salad

Mandarin Sesame Salad
Rice Dishes

Chicken Katsu Curry

Yasai Katsu Curry

Grilled Chicken Curry

Cha Han

Yasai Cha Han

Beef Cha Han

Dynamite Stir-fry

Mongolian Beef
Positive Eating

Absolute Wagamama

Pure Wagamama
Kare Noodle

Kare Lomen

Itame
Teppan

Lemongrass Shrimp Soba

Yaki Soba

Yasai Yaki Soba

Yaki Udon

Amai Noodle

Ginger Chicken Udon
Grilled Dishes

Japanese Grilled Steak

Teriyaki Soba

Blackened Chicken

Chicken Teriyaki

Salmon Teriyaki

Grilled Swordfish

Wagamama Glazed Ribs
Chili Men

Chili Men

Yasai Chili Men
Sides

Sticky Rice

Steamed White Rice

Plain Noodles

Whole Wheat Noodles

Udon Noodles

Sliced Fresh Chilies

Japanese Style Pickles

Katsu Curry Sauce

Side Bowl Fried Tofu

Japanese Coleslaw

Brown Rice

Steamed Broccoli
Ramen

Chili Ramen

Wagamama Seafood Ramen

Salmon Ramen

Chicken Ramen

Moyashi Soba

Miso Beef Ramen

Healthy Meal suggestions for wagamama

Starters

Duck Dumplings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Dumplings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai Dumplings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ebi Dumplings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ebi Katsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Edamame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Japanese Flat Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Suribachi Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Raw Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Soup And Japanese Style Pickles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wagamama Glazed Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Lettuce Wraps [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Tofu And Basil Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Teriyaki Steak Skewers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Stir-fried Ata-taka Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Marinated Yasai Noodle Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir-fried Miso Beef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mandarin Sesame Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Rice Dishes

Chicken Katsu Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai Katsu Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cha Han [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai Cha Han [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Cha Han [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dynamite Stir-fry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mongolian Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Positive Eating

Absolute Wagamama [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pure Wagamama [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kare Noodle

Kare Lomen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Itame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Teppan

Lemongrass Shrimp Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yaki Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai Yaki Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yaki Udon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Amai Noodle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Chicken Udon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Grilled Dishes

Japanese Grilled Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Teriyaki Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blackened Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Swordfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wagamama Glazed Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chili Men

Chili Men [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai Chili Men [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Sticky Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed White Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Plain Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Whole Wheat Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Udon Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sliced Fresh Chilies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Japanese Style Pickles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Katsu Curry Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Bowl Fried Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Japanese Coleslaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ramen

Chili Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wagamama Seafood Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moyashi Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Beef Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Josh R.

Good place to go for a quick group dinner with lots of options for everyone and generally good food and prices. They usually have space so it's good for short notice and not very loud so it's good for group conversation. I'm not a huge fan of how they bring entrees out as they're ready.
(3)
Chris M.

This is a fun place to eat your noodles with chopsticks. And if you're having trouble with the chopsticks, they also have forks. The noodles are kind of pricey.
(5)
Gab G.

Really good chicken teriyaki. Duck dumplings get 3 stars. I would come back here--I like that they bring the food at different times and the emphasis on sharing.
(4)
Haley T.

Things to note before you come here: This is a chain. This is cafeteria-style fast food. If you recognize these things, you'll probably enjoy wagamama. It's relatively cheap, always tasty, quick and somewhat healthy. The service is friendly, though you won't get a dedicated server. As they will warn you, your party's dishes won't come out at the same time. Adjust your expectations and you'll find fast, friendly service and a menu with plenty of tasty options for those with and without dietary restrictions.
(4)
Aaron M.

This is the second try I've given Wagamama. The atmosphere in this location was poorly lit and half of the place was being occupied by students having some sort of meeting. They made a few new tables leave in the hour I wasted there. This time i tried the chicken katsu curry, that came out 3 minutes after my gyoza. It's awkward to sit there looking at a hot plate of food and not eat because your date is still picking at the appetizer. I still don't understand why the food comes out this way. The dish was just not good. The chicken tasted like frozen institutional crap. I guess the instant curry sauce that was slathered on top would hide the cardboard flavor. Your eye could be distracted away from the screaming, clapping collage kids to notice the tomatoes on your salad look overtly beat. Why bother having an open kitchen with 6 guys on the line if you can't even put out a salad with fresh tomatoes? This place is all flair with no follow through, also the Japanese fair is dumbed down and tasteless. People should not have to pay for flair when they are there for food.
(2)
Shendi X.

As an Asian American, I can appreciate innovations on authentic ethnic dishes, but "fusion" generally rubs me the wrong way. For me, fusion connotes mediocrity, full stop. Given those comments, this place is fine. The dÃ©cor is refined and bougie enough, and the food is adequate - just nothing special. Knowing what more authentic versions of these taste like, I also find these dishes overpriced. Personally, I'd skip.
(3)
Justina D.

I thought this place was only a chain Asian restaurant but it turned out to be so good! The place close to Harvard Yard looks like an old McDonald's with new furniture, but the food is so great we decided to go back a couple of times. I ordered one of the curries and it turned out to be one of the best I have tried. I order the same thing every time I went back, it was so good. They have vegetarian and vegan options and the waiters we got were super nice and attentive.
(5)
Kassandra L.

Great overall experience. Dined on 8/7 Service was excellent! Our server (sadly forgetting her name) was very kind and great with recommendations. I had the Carrot Juice and Firecracker curry meal! juice was delicious though not very cold and the curry dish was extremely spicy but exactly what I was looking for!! Only Con - my food came out 5 minutes before my partners. I would hope next time they are able to bring both dishes out together. I will be returning to this restaurant!
(4)
Adam D.

It's not authentic food from any particular culture, but a fusion of good flavors. The good: pad thai and ramen bowls. The bad: Steamed gyoza was a bit too doughy. All in all, a good meal, if a bit on the expensive side. What they need: a better beer selection.
(4)
Jo M.

wagamama is always a great place for a quick meal, and this location is no exception. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. As usual, I had the sake mojito. This is one of my favorite cocktails, and wagamama does it well. On my last visit, I ordered the duck ramen. The duck had been pre-cooked, so it had lost a lot of the duck flavor. Overall, the dish was still good, and we enjoyed our meals.
(3)
Maria D.

I came here with three other people at 7:00 on a Friday. We arrived shortly after 7:00 PM and the first red flag should have been: there were many available seats. This is apparently a gluten-free friendly dining establishment, so I was willing to try it out. I ordered the chicken itame yesterday, expecting a flavorful dish that would leave me craving more. I asked the waiter whether it was gluten-free, whether it was mild, and whether I could get a lighter portion, or whether I could have a lighter dish. He said, "Yes," to all of these things, but the dish came out and it was this lukewarm broth with some, but not all, of the ingredients listed on the menu. I think there were two beansprouts total in my bowl. There was hardly any chicken in my bowl, and I assume that I was paying that premium price mostly for the chicken. I couldn't really consume the food because it was lukewarm, it was mostly just broth, and it didn't seem to do anything for my appetite. If I could go back in time, I would choose a place that is actually allergen-friendly. Don't get me wrong: wagamama does a decent job, but it's definitely not a place I can envision myself visiting again while I still have celiac disease. Oh, so that means, ...I can't envision myself visiting again, EVER.
(2)
Tuli S.

The calamari was delicious! It's cut into long pieces instead of small circles. Loved it and will come back for it! Everything else we ordered tasted a bit Americanized. The Mongolian beef had a lot of soy sauce and I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't so salty. My friend ordered the ramen with chicken which was also very salty. Overall the service was good and the food was ok.
(3)
Priyanka M.

Amazing place. The HBS experience is not complete without a trip to waga mama. Love the food and the service is amazing.
(5)
Chad C.

I am an out of town Yelper and am also a noodle addict. I stumbled upon this place just walking around. Went into this place and its open atmosphere with the trendy long tables is amazing. The server seated us and after we hung our coats on the coat hanger came immediately to get our drink order and suggested a great starter for us. We had duck guyazo which is like steamed and grilled dumplings. Then I had yaki soba and a Upside down Frown Drink. The food was great and the drink was too. While you wait they have provided you with a sheet of orgami paper and some instructions on the back of your place mat. Kind of the first time I have been to a restaurant where they have you play with yourself for entertainment before you eat. Great concept. Great job guys. I did get a latte to go because it was snowing and it was super tiny and lack luster. I guess you can't have it all.
(4)
Kevin H.

I was in Cambridge for work and being an expat Sydney sider I was surprised to see an "Aussie" restaurant right near the Harvard campus. Dining there was never a first choice as the last time I had dined with Wagamamama in Australia I had the pleasure of watching my partner eat her dinner while never receiving mine. Nevertheless, as the recommended excellent burger across the street was unavailable due to the new chef not showing up to work, Wagamamamamma it was... I was very much looking forward to some of the bright, clean, fresh flavors that exemplify Australian/Asian cooking and that I remember from the times in Sydney when I did get fed. My fried shrimp gyoza had what could have been a delicious filling buried in a thick, crispy, empanada style dough. Followed by "yakitori duck" a tasty but not delicious bit of duck meat on a bed of dry rice with an impossibly bland salad of cucumber and awkwardly cut "Asian pancakes" (tortillas) to wrap it in. The sauce for this dish, which could have maybe saved it sadly tasted of too much sugar, Tamarind and disappointment. My ginger lychee martini was insipid and overly sweet and the final insult was that my dinner partner ordered a vodka martini with a twist (simple right?) and was presented with some kind of lemon martini with an olive in it. This place was marginal in Sydney, it's freakin woeful here.
(1)
Todd S.

Meh. Gyoza was standard. Pad Thai was fine. No reason to add mint though. Flavor was unnecessarily strong. The yaki sobas were blandish. The ramen at the table next to us looked great. Service was great.
(3)
Christina V.

Went here for the first time last weekend and LOVED the Basil Pad Thai I got. I was having trouble deciding what I wanted as the menu is rather extensive but I was definitely happy with my choice. The service was okay, nothing spectacular. They are rather casual. My friend got the Beef Ramen and loved it. Especially with cold weather coming I'll be back!
(4)
Simon L.

Just not a fan. Watery broth. Nothing special. Everything except the ramen is good. Chili beef ramen is not spicy. Chili chicken ramen is neither spicy or boiled for any length of time. The miso beef ramen lacks much miso. Pork ribs are succulent and covered in a thick, sweet bbq sauce - one of the better things on the menu. Hypoxia are hard to make poorly so these are fairly reasonable with a think wrapper and decent filling, both chicken and duck. The two versions of teppanyaki I've had, chicken and beef, both came with reasonable amount of noodles but seriously lacking in soy sauce and too sweet - as in sweet from a mall food court. A clean setting with extremely pre-occupied servers.
(2)
Margarette N.

There is a bit of hype that could be created around this place with the trendy atmosphere, long table seating, intentional lowercasing etc etc, which means it's going to be a place that people love to hate--explaining some of the low reviews. I, however, buy it (whatever "it" is). The ambiance is well-executed. I find the food the best part however (I'll get wagamama to go at times), with plenty of flavor and filling proportions. I usually order the Yaki Soba or Yaki Udon.
(4)
Lina F.

Get the chicken katsu curry dish! It was amazing .....The servers are really friendly and your food gets to you hot! Delicious!
(4)
Carl W.

I was visiting from New York and became curious about this place because, I'll admit, the pictures of the food looked amazing. They just looked so refined. I didn't even know this was a chain, from Britain no less. Anyway, I gave it a try. I was very disappointed the first time, in fact so much so that I felt I must have happened to order all the worst items on the menu, because such a nice-looking restaurant couldn't POSSIBLY produce something so bad. So I gave it the benefit of the doubt and came back twice to order different things. Maybe I'm spoiled by NYC Asian food, but I've never had Asian cooking that tastes so... wrong. By wrong I don't mean it's different--different can be good, as in some modern Asian fusion dishes. I mean they just eviscerated the dishes they borrowed from. Nothing is the way it's supposed to taste like, from the ramen (bland and sour and sweet broth; wrong kind of noodle), meat (the chicken is rough, not juicy like in real Asian restaurants), curry sauce down to the dumpling dipping sauce (whatever the hell that tastes like, can't even describe it). Frankly it tastes like someone who tried Japanese food one time and decided to replicate it in their home kitchen with cobbled-together ingredients.
(1)
Bo F.

The first time I came I was underwhelmed, but went back because I had good reason, in the form of a gift card... I am very glad I had a second opportunity because upon further review was completely blown away, I will Chuck be underwhelming first visit up to the fact I visited very close to opening time and this second visit came while they were in full dinner stride at 9 PM.. I had a fantastic beef ramen, and amazing pineapple fusion pressed juice and chicken gyoza.. And without the good sense somebody had of luring me back with a gift card I would not have had a fantastic second trip.. Well done Wagamama
(4)
Meagan F.

Wagamama is awesome, but this location goes above and beyond! The staff are always friendly and the food is fresh and delicious! Went here on a Friday night with a friend and even though it was packed, the staff is efficient and welcoming -- we only waited about 5 minutes for a table. We ordered a few appetizers and some drinks and were served them almost immediately! Because the food comes out at different times, we had a never ending stream of different courses, each more delicious than the next. The food was fresh and served in large portions -- we had a lot to take home. Each server that greeted our table was friendly and quick, clearing plates a they were done and refilling waters when appropriate. I definitely recommend this location for a great time, and great food!
(5)
Ken M.

Well, I actually liked the taste of my food. I ordered the Duck Ramen and my daughter had the Chicken Ramen. She had been in Tokyo last year and was looking forward to Ramen. We split a plate of Gyoza We both agreed that the food was decent tasting and the service was OK. Now... the portions are smallish. The ingredients are so-so. They seem to use decent vegetables, but very sparingly, where the noodles seem closer to spaghetti than ramen, are plentiful and overwhelming to the dish. Same with the Gyoza. We agreed that the taste was OK but far from authentic. The decor is stylish in a broad-stroke sense and the waitpeople in black and with stylish haircuts suggest a level that they don't really attain. $7 for a 12 oz bottle of beer. $5 for a juice concoction that was maybe 10 oz and fairly tasty. $14 for a bowl of soup. and so on. Not a total ripoff, but you walk away thinking how much better it could be done.
(2)
Shannon K.

We came here looking for something quick, easy, and fairly light, and that's exactly what we got. The restaurant has cafeteria style tables and really great love seat benches for 2 facing the street, which gave us a great view for people watching in Harvard Square. The waitress helped us right away and we were pleasantly surprised that they also had a full bar. Our sakes came out very quick and the food was not far behind. I ordered the shrimp lemongrass soba noodles which was pretty good but needed a fair helping of soy sauce to liven up the flavor. My fiancÃ© ordered the shrimp firecracker which was awesome. It was very spicey with some scary red chilis and also sweet at the same time. It got to the point that it was kind of unfair how delicious the flavor was but how much the spice built up over time to an uncomfortable mouth on fire scenario. It was the perfect amount of food considering we were looking for something light, but if we had been hungrier we would have needed an appetizer. And for the casual quick atmosphere, the price was a little steep. Given similar circumstances, I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
Jess Y.

steeply overpriced, absolutely mediocre "ramen". I got the pork ramen: the meat was overcooked and too lean, the broth honestly no different from instant ramen seasoned water with some store made stock poured in, the "tea stained egg" literally just a regular egg, vegetables undercooked and did not fit the taste profile of the rest of the dish. the only saving grace might be he noodles, which were decent. save yourself twenty bucks and go to a real ramen place.
(1)
Minh C.

I've been here twice - both about an hour before closing. Not surprisingly, service was relatively quick as the restaurant is only about 10% at capacity during that time. Both times I've found the service to be kind of weird. The first time our waitress was overly fake to the point of being comical. The second time our waiter was more "real" but something was still a bit off. I would give this Wagamama 3.5 stars in service for at least trying. Food-wise, I had the Yaki Soba - teppan-fried wheat noodles with a heaping of chicken, shrimp, egg, and a bunch of other goodies. I also had the Pad Thai. Both plates were decent portion sizes for normal folks who are not me (I eat quite a bit, so I'll be honest and say I was still hungry after both meals). I will be back because it's convenient, food is decent, and service is quick during my dinner hours.
(3)
Kaleigh H.

Free green tea, clean food, dependable quality, light atmosphere. The chicken katsu curry is AMAZING. The panko breading cannot be beat here - even covered in sauce, it retains its crispiness. Everything I've tried has been light, filling, but not greasy. If you're uncomfortable with combined booth seating, you may want to sit towards the back. If not, there are great people watching opportunities here for Harvard Sq.! Selection of imported beers I haven't seen elsewhere.
(4)
Shuang Y.

The place nice for single, couple and a group! Food are fresh and tasty, not greasy, nor salty, tastes just right! Duck ramen soup was really great! And my Thai shrimp rice was good too, but if the rice could change from jasmine to sushi rice would be much better. Jasmine rice taste hard and dry, and I'd like have more Curry sauce.
(4)
Anna J.

For a chain they're doing something right. I really liked the bar style seating by the windows. It's fun to people watch while enjoying some tasty ramen. It's a great view as the season is changing. Each time I've visited with friends the place is never too busy, part of me is curious to know what their busy time looks like, and how long the wait is. The service can be iffy. The staff is always friendly but there have been times visiting that they're all over you and other times that I was looking for assistance. The food is good and is usually out pretty quickly. I steer more towards the ramen dishes and they never disappoint. I especially like the desserts, my favorite being the coconut ice cream with mango sauce. Very tasty!
(3)
Kelsey G.

I am a sucker for this overpriced white person Asian food. That's really all it is, expensive noodles spiced for the American palette (I am aware they are international, which is all the more reason for it to be overpriced and boring) That being said, I've never really been that bored here. They do a great job mixing flavors and busting out great bowls of ramen. I've always gotten the chili chicken (udon noodles please) and been very happy. It's become my go to when I'm sick as it's just spicy enough to get my sinuses going but not so crazy that I can't down it. I also recommend their salads and the chicken lettuce wraps. Yum! They do have a cocktail menu- but I've never had a good drink. The pours are weak for the price you pay. All in all, as someone who loves spicy Asian food, who's got a palette that can handle much more, wagamama doesn't disappoint entirely. The prices keep me from coming in again and again, but the carb-full noodle bowls and convenient location make me crave it here and there.
(3)
Janka L.

Pros * fresh rolls + dipping sauce = 100% necessity * no bs/frills ordering and service. Food's ready, it arrives. Eat up. * large portions could make for next day leftovers, if you aren't suckered into eating it all at once * choose your noodles is like choosing your own goosebumps adventure Cons - too many options! - only one cider, and it's not a Bantam - large portions could easily cause anyone to mistake you for 8 months pregnant
(4)
Rachel L.

I don't see why not a fan. The only con of it would probably be parking, but we got a spot just fine at around 830pm on a Wednesday night. Super T-accessible, so no complaints. Again, came here on a Wednesday night and just had a soupy/noodle crave. Started off with the shrimp and leek gyoza, a little meh because it was way too crispy to the point where it was burn. My date got the chicken ramen and I got the beef chili ramen. Gave it a lot of that chili oil on the side and eh, it wasn't mega spicy as I would have liked. But the broth was flavorful and they gave out a generous portion and I even had extras to take home. Staff was friendly and attention, though, my date and I got sat side by side, with our view outside the window. Not exactly a fan of that, but eh.
(3)
sunny n.

I was looking forward to try this place but I have to say the ones Ive tried in London are far better. The main reason for this is very simple: Better ingredients and concept of service in most Europe and Asia...higher standards..if u will...u get my drift.. Newayz.. M happy to see this int'l chain finally in the US. The concept is very simple, clean and fresh...with enough choice of noodles from Soba to Udon. Food: very good and in decent portions. My friend and I tried the ebi kare lomen and the yasai chilli men (v) which were both quite good..accompanied some hot sake which definately kicked things up a notch in the bitter cold...:-))...Service was not good at all..my waitress was taking frequent trips to La La land..the only thing I liked about the service was that the server could swipe my card by means of a hand held device..which also noted our order by the way....The decor is very cool..casual..modern..open..oriental contemporary cafeteria feel..but I can understand some people not liking this because they arent used to it in the US...For desert the ginger cheescake was subtle and dense..and actually quite good...w some hot tea! I would go here again but with so many choices in great japanese, thai, malaysian food in Boston now...M less likely to go often!
(3)
Anthony B.

The Chicken & Shrimp Yaki Soba was crazy good. I'll certainly be making this a regular lunch spot!
(5)
Sonia D.

Needed some warm and soupy during our cold winter nights. I am gluten free and remembered they have a decent menu so headed here on a Sunday night to get me some gluten free noodle soup. We got here around 7pm and there was no wait, literally 15min later it was packed. I think they were a bit short staffed because our server took a bit to bring us menus and take/bring our drinks over. We weren't in a rush so not going to complain too much about it. I ordered the moyashi soba gluten free and my bf ordered Mongolian beef. My soup was huge with tons of veggies and fried tofu. It was so good. The veggies were grilled prior to putting them in the soup and you could taste the char on them. Super yummy!! I couldn't finish the entire soup so I took a doggie bag home for lunch the next day. The Mongolian beef looked and smelled great. Big chunks of beef that were not breaded with veggies and white rice. He loved it. It's not an expensive spot but expensive for Asian food, if you get what I mean. Love the sense of community seating there. If you are gluten free, definitely check out this place. Not too many places for us to eat at.
(4)
San W.

b. and I came here for dinner a couple of weekends ago. Known for their communal seating, we were able to score a table to ourselves since it was still fairly early for dinnertime. It was my first experience with Wagamama and I have to say that it was rather underwhelming. Along with a Kirin and some jasmine tea, we got: Ebi Gyoza (five shrimp and vegetable dumplings) I decided to order these fried but made the mistake of thinking "pan-fried" in my mind. Don't you hate it when you do that? In any case, steamed or fried, I would say that it was not worth it at over $1 a dumpling. Teriyaki Beef Donburi (served on bed of rice and garnished with mixed leaves and carrots with house dressing) I ordered the beef cooked medium and it came out closer to medium rare, which was fine but makes a place seem a little unpredictable. The meat was kind of tough, not as tender as I would have liked, and the portion seemed rather small. In the end, I just wished I had ordered something else instead. Wagamama Seafood Ramen (vegetable broth with shrimp, salmon, cod, and squid, topped with menma, wakame, scallions, baby spinach, and a lime wedge) b. got this with udon and it was alright. We had the usual complaint of there not being enough noodles. The broth tasted a little fishier than we would have liked. The lime made it somewhat better but the overall flavor of the broth tasted odd to me. Wagamama Chocolate Cake (served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream) The cake was chocolate-y and moist. Our only complaint, as usual, was that there was not enough ice cream to go with it. General plea to all establishments: C'mon guys! Lets get the ratio right! Service was friendly and attentive enough. Know that they will scribble all over your place mat while you're ordering; this is not rude and strange behavior. Food comes as it is ready so there was a short delay between the arrival of our two dishes. But yeah, just meh. Probably wouldn't revisit (at least not this location) since there are plenty of other (better) food options around.
(2)
Angie B.

The food here is delicious and affordable for Harvard Square, and the service is extremely friendly. This is one of my go-to places because they accommodate food allergies. I always get the Chicken Itame because it is both dairy and soy free. They have changed their menu somewhat recently, and I wish they would bring the fresh rolls back but look forward to trying some other things on it.
(5)
Vivek S.

I went here yesterday. Yes it is the amazing wagamamas from the UK but it really is not all that if you ask me. The dishes are just alright and while it feels different than most restuarants you aren't getting a true dining experience. I would still go to penang which is upstairs compared to this.
(2)
David T.

I think people expect more of Wagamama than they should. Basically Wagamama tries to do good fast food well, and I think they succeed quite admirably at that. I'd much prefer a quick bite at Wagamama, than Mcdonalds or Panda Express. They have a very efficient ordering and food delivery system, so that most of the time you get your food really fast. Yes, they can get overwhelmed when they get busy, but that is true anywhere. If they are not swamped, I can be seated and fed a tasty meal and on my way very quickly.
(4)
Pablo R.

I'll be honest I wasn't overly impressed with Wagamama. That said, their food is definitely one of a kind, and is far better than its college-life counter part in plain Ramen (with all due respect to Ramen of course. That stuff never gets old) It's a nice "hip" (I use that word hesitantly, because it's no skinny-jean, thrift store, fedora & monocle lounge) place with a totally unique vibe. It bends the light of a specific type, in that you can walk in and find business dinners, family outings, dates, solo college kids, etc. sitting in the busy-bee atmosphere waiting for their oodles of noodles. It's a good place to be if you're looking for a night out in Harvard Sq and are looking to avoid overly quiet, drop-your-fork-and-you're-glared-at spots. Food is what it makes its name for. It's definitely a top-tenner in soups, especially if popularity is indicative of anything. If you can, try an appetizer in addition to their food. I suggest one of their Ramens, because that's what they're famous for, but you could easily get something else and not regret it. I will say that the food isn't overall extraordinary, and if all you care about is a top quality meal there are probably better alternatives. But wagamama is so popular because of its combination of a bumpin' atmosphere, unique food, and decent taste. Prices are definitely higher than most soups out there. Portions are big enough that I'm not complaining. Overall, I'll recommend it. Not my favorite spot, but definitely on the list of places to consider when I want to go out and not spend too much or too little. TIP: The juice is a rip! I got one with watermelon and it tastes terrible. And it's way too expensive. Stick to the water!
(3)
viv S.

Went to Wagamama last week with a friend. The staff is very friendly. Based on the long bench style tables and open kitchen, I was expecting this place to be cafe style where we pre-pay for the food. I was disappointed that is a full service restaurant which means my dinner will cost additional 20% (tip). it is not that I don't want to tip but eating here everyday is ruled out. The place is too loud which makes it a very noisy eating experience. I wish they considered the acoustics of the place in their design. I ordered the veggie chilli men and my friend ordered seafood noodle soup (don't know the exact name). Food was decent, nothing great and we were somewhat disappointed. The chilli men was too saucy..something you can find at a cheap Chinese restaurant. Like someone suggested, I would rather go to Les Though not ruled out completely, Wagamama is low on our dining list in Harvard Sq.
(2)
Fancypants X.

Here are two of the scariest, most abhorred words in the yelp dictionary: chain restaurant and Asian fusion, which describes Wagamama, but I ain't hatin'. After three visits, I'm a fan. Things I've tried: -- veggie ramen: whole wheat noodles. Check. Veggie stock. Check. Loaded with veggies. Check. I'll get this again & again. Few complaints: bamboo shoot portion I asked to be added was abysmal, shrimp I added had very little flavor, & stock could stand to be less salty. -- chicken katsu teriyaki: it's grilled chicken on the menu, but I wanted crunch & went the unhealthy route of panko-breaded & fried. Sauce is a perfectly sweet, but rice is a little hard. -- firecracker chicken: yay for white meat! Yay for heat & flavor! I like this one a lot! Seating: benches Service: slow. As to be expected, long waits on fri & sat (the days I avoid this joint), but zero waiting any other day. Not too shabby, quasi-Japanese restaurant with a funny name.
(4)
Harriet H.

I first was introduced to Wagamammas while on vacation in England as recommended by my cousin. I never thought I would have food from here again until I discovered there were locations in the states lol. I order my usual and the only thing I have ever tried which is the chicken katsu curry. That dish is sooo good. I don't think I will try anything else. Highly recommended
(5)
Lizzy G.

Wagamama was wonderful! The first time I went I was with my friend, he showed me what was good and what wasnt that great. We both ordered the fried rice bowl and a side glass of apple and lime juice. I thought the juice would be heinous, but it was actually one of the most flavourful and delicious drinks I have ever had! The fried rice was yummy and came with an array of extras like 3 different types of exotic-coloured pickles and a bowl of miso soup. The service was fast and friendly and the bathrooms are as good as they get. Our server wrapped up the extra fried rice in a cute little box and I toted it around harvard square for the rest of the night.
(5)
Kelly K.

The sake, miso, and Japanese pickles were delicious. However, the yakisoba was bland and needed sauce (any sauce!), and the curry I saw looked bland and sauceless as well. Service and decor were great. But the main dishes were poor enough that I wouldn't come here again.
(2)
Nikki N.

The food is not as flavorful and the menu has little variety. I prefer the one in Prudential since I like the location and atmosphere there. The fried noodles here is kind of dry, but I do like the calamari!
(3)
Jes W.

I love this place, like in an obsessive stalker way. It all started in London about 5 years ago. I swear my second trip back to London wasn't to celebrate a milestone in my relationship, but to feed our Wagamama cravings. Anyway...when i found out Wagamama was hitting up Boston with not one but two restaurants I was elated. I couldn't believe that Boston was getting dibs on that fabby place first! I've been to the Harvard location 3 times...and yes i'll keep going..but there is some magic that is missing. I can't quite put my finger on it..maybe it's the ingredients, maybe it's the way it's prepared. I hate hate giving this place three starts...but that's how i felt. Like i wrote I'll keep going back..and i don't think people will be disappointed. The menu is great and the service was great too..but it lacks that oomph that makes you want to brag to your friends about this rad new place on jfk st.
(3)
Robert C.

The food was decent, but I expected much more! I was hungry so I ate everything on my plate. I ordered the chicken-chilli-men dish, but I'd swear it tasted more like an Italian dish than Japanese. Had I known beforehand that it was a UK Asian Inspired restaurant I would not have gone here for dinner..... UK restaurants aren't known for being flavorful. I'm from California, specifically Los Angeles so my standards for Asian food are high.... Sorry! Looking at the fresh vegetables used for the dish ordered, they were not cut in the typical Asian style. Instead, They were just cut up into chunky odd pieces that appeared to be "just there".... No care taken in how the food was prepared! The chicken was good, but a little on the dry side.... Maybe over cooked a bit. If you are ever in Los Angeles try Kabuki, Noodle Planet or even Noodle World.... These restaurants are great!
(2)
Dina C.

Emily was so sweet. Made me feel most welcome..I had the salmon teriyaki. it hit the spot I was so so so hungry after class. Emily suggested I try the cheesecake.....guys it rivaled a New York institution....but will remain nameless.
(5)
Rich T.

Food is a miss. For me. It's very bland. Not much flavor in any of the food. Rice dishes and noodle soups alike. I've tried this chain about 3 times and I really want to like it because it seems like a sleek fresh place to dine but the food is simple bland.
(2)
Joss G.

Delicious fresh juices, where fresh means freshly made on the spot. Not like some that say fresh if the carton says fresh. The food is very good. Much better on premises than takeout. I love that you get served immediately and steaming hot. Nice staff. In fact very nice.
(4)
Francis L.

Had the beef ramen. The beef, ramen noodle and soup tasted great!
(4)
Christine J.

The second time I had the Curry Chicken (thai style?) and it was delicious!!! Conflicted about the rating, so 3 stars it is. I def have a better impression of this place now that I've had a good dish here.
(3)
Mark T.

I liked this place, but I do not plan on returning any time soon. The place is pretty expensive, for an appetizer, main dish, and iced tea, with tips I dished out 30 dollars for lunch! Also this location is spotlessly clean. Literally. What I really like about this place is that everything here is made when ordered, it is not frozen or pre-made. I'm okay with a slightly longer wait Duck Gyoza was very good, and the sauce was nice too. If you are willing to dish out two bucks a dumpling, and have sauce left over, save it. For main course I had a disk whose name I don't remember. There was a side salad, rice covered with curry, and some fried chicken underneath. The salad was light, had just the right amount of crunch and freshness, and dressed perfectly. I usually have issues with restaurants saturating salads in dressings. Not in this case though. Again, dressed perfectly. Rice was well cooked, curry was very tasty, and very mild, not too spicy. They have a spicy spice at every table though that will add punch to anything. The chicken underneath was also well cooked through, also made when I ordered it. But, like I mentioned earlier, save the sauce. The main dish, despite its tastiness has little spice. There is soy sauce, there is that spice I mentioned. The sauce you may have saved may help add the tastiness. Service was polite, and attentive. While my experience was pleasant, I don't think it's worth the money for me.
(3)
Matt D.

Worst service I've ever received in my life. Our waitress took forever to come get our order, and I mentioned to her that we were in a rush to catch a special lecture going on nearby. When our check finally came, I tried to find our waitress for 10 minutes to give her the credit card, and when she came by the table, and I tried to hand it to her, she said she was too busy. Literally, she stood in front of me and said she was too busy to take the check I was holding in my hand.
(1)
Clay N.

Of all the restaurants in Harvard Square, Wagamama is my #1 go-to. This may sound weird - after all, it's (a) a global chain, (b) a pan-Asian mix of various loosely related cuisins, and (c) doesn't have the most amazing atmosphere. But stay with me. First and foremost, the food is delicious, Like, really, reliably delicious. The chicken pad thai is great, as are the hearty ramen bowls and curries. Second, they take my shellfish allergy seriously - using different utensils and modifying the recipe - which is more than I can say for most shellfish-heavy restaurants I've been to. Finally, the vibe here is pure Harvard Square - I've never had a meal where the neighboring tables weren't talking about comp sci, quantum physics, Renaissance art or some variation on the above. Good stuff.
(4)
Jackie K.

I had good service (had to call my waiter over a few times) but it was fine. Food is okay to great. I get the Yakai Yaki Soba (or something like that) and sometimes it is amazing and sometimes it's so-so. This trip was a so-so but I've liked it a lot before. I wouldn't object to coming here but overall, I have to be in the mood since the food may not be the best.
(3)
Di L.

The Pinkberry of Ramen. 'Nuff said. This location is clean and roomy, so +1 star for that.
(3)
Karina L.

Another restaurant that tries to hit up every dish on the Asian food spectrum, and ends up messing up every single dish. The vibe of the restaurant boasts of fast, cheap, cafeteria-style food. Service was not fast, nor was the menu any cheaper than a normal restaurant. Food lives up to the cafeteria-style standard if the cafeteria is a public elementary school cafeteria in NYC. The last time I came here, I got the Mongolian Beef. Came with 2 overcooked slices of beef, wilted (frozen?) broccoli, and an overwhelmingly salty sauce. I paid around $14 for old beef in soy sauce. This was a completely foolish call on my part, as the dish doesn't even look remotely appetizing online, either ( wagamama.us/our-menu/monâ€¦ ).
(2)
Arlene O.

Don't go to Wagammas in Boston thinking it is anything like the Wagammas in London. You will be sorely disappointed.
(2)
Anna C.

Oh, Wagamama. I'm so glad I gave you a second chance. Your Moyashi Soba Ramen is so delicious! This place is kind of hit or miss. It's not really a good "ramen" place, but they do have some good items if you're into Asian Fusion-y stuff. It's definitely not a "must-try" place, but if you're in the area, and want some noodles, this wouldn't be a horrible choice.
(4)
Aanchal J.

Having lived in London for two years and being a Wagamama addict there, when I moved to Cambridge from Chicago I was so excited about having Wagamama at my disposal. However, time and again I have been disappointed. The quality is not the same as I remember from London. My favorite is Yasai Katsu Curry, but the eggplant and squash are not fried well, and have found excess oil in the preparation on multiple occasions. Once I got the coconut broth soup and the milk seemed to be split. The menu has changed a bit in recent times, I wish they hadn't!
(3)
Tracy L.

I really enjoyed our meal here. We met up with friends and also had my parents with us, so we were a larger party of 8. I liked the way they arranged their seating with tables and benches so it was like booths, but placed in a way where you can use as many booths as you like for one party, yet it was easy day to get in and out of each bench. They also have the most extensive children's menu that I have ever seen. They also gave my son chopstick holders for kids that was sealed in a bag (thus clean). I ordered him a small kids bowl of ramen. He LOVED the ramen noodles and ate it all, but the chicken was a bit dry so he wouldn't eat it. My dish of teriyaki noodles was very tasty, with very fresh noodles. I tried my dad's Pad Thai and really liked that as well. I didn't taste my husband's katsu dish but it came with a huge mound of white rice and he finished a good portion of it so I assumed it was good as well. When they open a branch in Northern California near my home, I'll look forward to dining there!
(4)
Mirta S.

The portions here are really small and the food is nowhere above mediocre, which is a shame for the price. The taste is really just weird. The broths were not that great, rice was undercooked for the meat, the food always took forever to get to the table... I keep coming back here with a student organization but have honestly never had a good experience, even for the very large amount of money we leave there for all of our members. Service is nice but not particularly helpful or flexible with large groups, and all of us had food coming in at different times, which was a bummer since we were going for the family-style dinner. The tables are nicely large, but if you were going with a big group and wanted flexibility, I would recommend Fire and Ice or a place where everyone could get the food they really wanted, not Wagamama.
(2)
Tia T.

Good, but not what I wanted. Ramen here is not traditional Japanese ramen. And the raw juice is so weird, kinda spicy actually. Not worth the price.
(3)
Marie Y.

My company ordered a large $200 lunch from Wagamama today. While one of my coworkers was enjoying his chicken itame soup, he noticed a dead bug belly up in his soup. I don't want to think too hard about what this bug might be since I also had the chicken itame soup, but it is certainly no ant or fruit fly. It has an exoskeleton and is bigger than the pad on my finger. They "rectified" the situation by refunding my company for one soup (disregarding the other soups that may have been adversely affected by the contamination). Eat there with caution.
(1)
Kathleen C.

The service at this location was great and we were able to snag a window seat but I wasn't very impressed with the food. We ordered the chili and garlic salt edamame as suggested by the yelp tips/highlights and I was very unimpressed. I've had way better edamame at other sushi restaurants and so this was very mediocre. I felt like they bought frozen peas from the store and simply microwaved them. Threw some chili powder and salt and called it a day. I wish they would have used at least fresh garlic with salt or something along those lines. I ordered the Miso Beef Ramen and at first I felt like there was a lack of noodle but as I ate, there was too much noodle. There was an abundance of carrots and bean sprouts and even though the beef was "freshly cooked" it was tough and jerky like. Overall, the food was too salty and overcooked (meat-wise). I've been to another wagamama a few years ago and remembered it tasted better than the food I ate this time. Try to find another place to eat if you want some good food.
(2)
Catherine W.

I loved this place! The calamari was awesome; it was a hot, dry spicy take on an appetizer. Had the chicken curry katsu which was delicious. This place is clean and modern, but super casual and affordable. Also tried one of their juices, the raw juice - it was a nice option. Would come again.
(4)
Olivia J.

Went here twice. First time experience was pretty bad... I got an eggplant katsu and a friend got a spicy ramen soup. Very bland tasting stuff, but not in a good way. Wanted to give a second try so went back the second time and tried pork katsu. Also bland, and the things that come in the dish along with the katsu just didn't mesh well together. Will not go back... not sure why this place is so crowded all the time.
(1)
Kevin T.

Came here on a whim with some friends since I've heard mixed things about the place and wanted to see what the fuss was about. The decor is nice and bright, but it can definitely strike a nerve in some people. It was fairly clean and minimal. Service was reasonable, albeit a bit slow on the day we ate for whatever reason. The food on the other-hand....I've had much better yakisoba. The only things I can think to describe it was bland and dry. There wasn't enough flavor in it at all. The portion size was reasonable, maybe a little small for what I was expecting. However, one friend ordered a lettuce wrap (chicken or pork?) small plate and it was...really small, especially for a price approaching entree levels. All in all it just seemed like really poor bang for your buck as far as their fried noodles and appetizers go. Maybe I'll give their ramen a try next time but I'm not expecting much.
(2)
Arti P.

Loved the Ramen and the Heavenlicious Chocolate Moist Cake w/ ice cream .. OMG that was more better than Heaven ..
(5)
Robert F.

I fell in love with ramen years ago while living in NYC and re-visited this love affair a couple years ago while travelling to Oahu and Australia. The ramen or noodle shops I enjoyed abroad were very different. I love fresh made udon noodles or soba noodles in broth with a soft poached egg and veggie tempura on the side...really delicious and filling cheap eats. Even though this isn't what I grew to love I wanted something hot on a cold day. I sat along the window and enjoyed a spicy, chili chicken ramen. When seated they offer you green tea -- it is FREE! I opted for a hibiscus option since green tea is not my favorite. The ramen was great. I am sensitive to heat but I didn't find it unbearable. It was spicy but didn't stop me from enjoying each bite. As always the serving is too big to finish but the upside I was able to make a delicious soup the next day, too. The chilis that sat in the broth overnight strengthened slightly. If ramen isn't your thing there are a variety of teppanyaki - noodle dishes, salads, donburi and gyoza starters. The server I had was really good -- don't remember his name, but he was bright and cheerful. He was busy, but his upbeat, casual and friendly manner made the experience easy.
(3)
Andrew K.

Food was delicious but the service was slow to nonexistent. Had the Firecracker chicken and the Mongolian Beef with Udon. Appetizer was chicken dumplings. It took over 10 minutes to get our beverage order taken and this was at 5pm with barely any crowd. The wait staff did not ask how our food was or if we needed refills even though our glasses were empty (and we ordered spicy dishes). Will not come back.
(2)
Kristina L.

We ordered two small plates of Japanese-style pickles because my boyfriend is a fan. Very tasty! We also shared Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which were nowhere near as good as the ones I've had elsewhere. On to our underwhelming main dishes: my Chicken Ramen soup was oh-so-bland, and my boyfriend's Chili Ramen wasn't much better (but at least it had some "kick" to it). Enjoyed my Celery/Apple/Mint/Lime juice! I tasted the celery at the very end, but I kind of liked that element of surprise. I can see many folks not liking it, though. I just don't think I could justify coming back here just for this juice.
(2)
Susan C.

I'm generally not a fan of Wagamama's because I think their food and service is overpriced, plus I always leave with that food smell marinated into me for the rest of the day (you know the one I'm talking about). But my friend had a $10 off coupon and we were hungry and in the area, so I thought why the hell not. I still think the service is meh, but I was very surprised at how delicious their Sesame Beef Salad was (I don't remember if this was the exact name of the dish, but it was a salad topped with grilled beef and sesame seeds). Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for anything sesame flavored, but I inhaled that sucker. And the try plus of any meal, the salad left me satisfied and full, and not feeling bloated and thinking why did I eat the entire thing. So if you're going to Wagamama's, I recommend the salad.
(3)
Robo T.

Finally got the chance to taste what people in London and all around the UK have been eating for years. Contemporary Asian fusion noodle, ramen and rice dishes served by hipsters in a casual atmosphere. It's not top notch cuisine but it's tasty and does the trick. I'm definitely a fan. The duck gyoza are deep fried and delicious. The veggie gyoza are lightly pan fried and delicious. For a main dish I had the firecracker chicken. Other than the chicken being a little overlooked it was deliciously yummy and spicy. Apps and entrees come out as they are ready. Staff was attentive, friendly and enthusiastic. Im looking forward to going back to try some other things.
(4)
Jonathan S.

This place has gotten really bad, I used to love it but the food has zero flavor, the quality of the shrimp and meat are terrible, really low quality and they want $15 for a terrible take on their dishes. I felt like I was scammed, I used to work in Harvard square and went to wagamamas a lot, I don't know if I just had terrible taste or they gotten themselves really bad.
(1)
Shengyi Y.

good place to go when you need a quick and warm meal. Reasonable price. Food have strong flavor though. Not authentic Japanese food but very unique. The soba and ramen are my favorite~
(4)
Jolene S.

I like eating here. I will order out here. I would skip the fruit drinks, but the coconut ice cream dessert, beef teriyaki (rice dish), cha han (yasai or meat), yaki soba, and duck gyoza are solid. Plus I approve of all the side dishes (delicious kimchi on the beef teriyaki). Many good experiences here and generally no wait for a table.
(4)
Aaron P.

The beef chili ramen is one of my favorite dishes at any restaurant. The combo of spices and other flavors, mixed with the delicious ramen noodles, meat, and that little wedge of lime, is just heavenly. Sometimes the meat is a liiiiittle tough, but it's still awesome. I don't love the Wagamama format of "your food comes when it's ready." Would it really slow them down to bring a table's food all at once? I also have no idea how their system of writing on your paper placemat with crayon works, and I half suspect that it's just for show :) Despite these debatable flaws, I find myself coming back to Wagamama because that chili ramen is just so darn good.
(4)
Mel S.

The food is good, and I enjoyed their diverse selection of hot tea. The service was perfect, too: friendly (without being overly perky), and we weren't constantly checked on (without being ignored). Good place for omnivores and vegetarians, and could be enjoyed by children as well.
(5)
Willanne W.

Food and Beverage at this Wagamama is disappointing!! I dined at Wagamama in Earl's Court London a few years ago and had a meal comparable to what I had in Japan. Based on that experience, I spotted this restaurant while wandering the Harvard Square area back in June (2012) and decided to give it a try. Ordered a Jinja -Nashi to drink. Rum, fresh ginger root, lime and mint with freshly squeezed asian pear for $8.95. Boring. How can something with ginger and mint in it be boring? Perhaps they wafted some booze fumes over it, but they didn't pour any in! Ordered the Pad Thai. What the heck? Looked appetizing but was utterly tasteless, rather greasy, and somewhat congealed. I had to pour tons of chili on it to make if palatable. The only positive was sitting at the window overlooking the street activities.
(1)
Carrianne C.

Ehh. Price was high for what it is. But you gotta get your ramen fix somewhere! And I liked the chili ramen. Would be better on a cold day, because the warm broth and spicy flavors will toast you right up!
(3)
Alma C.

A wise man once told me that for any new restaurant, he visited the restroom before taking a seat. if the visit passed inspection then he stayed; if not, he left. Alas, hungry forgetful me did not heed that sage advice and had a very mediocre meal that took a long time to come out. After my meal, I went to the bathroom to freshen up and......... it's lunch, how does every stall have no toilet paper and did I seriously have a meal here when now I can't leave the restroom without feeling like I need to grab a paper towel so I can avoid touching the door handle? yuck. my friend liked her meal though and at least the servers were nice, but next time I'm not forgetting the bathroom rule.
(2)
Joe T.

A wonderful experience! Unique, trendy, and delicious. All the people I went with had a good time. The waiters were fun. They wrote mysterious symbols on our paper placemats, which told them what meals to give us. Free green tea! I loved the yisai itame (noodles, tofu, veggies, etc, in soup). Very filling, and delicious!
(4)
Ran L.

The service is just average. And their foods are always too dry for me. Yet, it is still a decent place if you want to try something new.
(3)
Michelle L.

Ok so the food here isn't mind blowing but if you are looking for a place that is really good about taking big groups, is not too expensive and is quick enough for lunch (or causal dinner) then its not a bad option for Harvard Square. I am giving it three stars and not two because I don't think it is trying to be much more than I described above. It is clean, simple, and consistent.
(3)
Jenny K.

Wagamama is the epitome of Pan-Asian food gone completely amuck. Read: total train wreck! Don't be wooed by the communal seating and modern design, if you go here more than once, the place is ripping you off big time. Ashamedly, it's taken me 10 years to figure this out. So I was in Boston for a conference and stumbled upon this place. I thought, cool, haven't eaten here since I lived in Dublin back in '04 and London in '01. Weirdly, I never even liked it when I lived in Ireland and the U.K.; it must have been the longing then for chicken katsu curry and ramen, or whatever facsimile I could find in the land of curry chips and shepard's pie. Their dumplings are overpriced and ambiguously filled, the katsu drier than oberto's beef jerky, and the ramen contains a sinful list of clashing ingredients. In a nutshell, Wagamama is the embodiment of style over substance, a British import robbing us in the same vein as TopShop with their $70 jeggings.
(1)
Jane C.

The decor/ambience was what drew me in; it looked neat and trendy from the outside so I thought i'd try it out. Unfortunately, the ramen didn't taste very much like ramen. I understand it's Asian fushion, but I thought they could've done a little bit better. However, I thought the portion was fine- I was given more than enough.
(4)
Michael M.

Soup does the body good on cold New England nights. I suggest the miso beef ramen and add curry or chilis for flavor. I was disappointed I did not see popular Japanese soup dishes available. Where is the plastic soup display typical in Tokyo soup restaurants?
(3)
G C.

I am an Asian and had numerous ramen experience before...I am here to say this is the worst ramen I ever had....the ramen is not real ramen, the dumplings are not real dumplings, it's bad...so bad. I heard this chain was opened by a hongkong businessman in UK...what a horrible combination...
(1)
Aries S.

The place is pretty ideal (spacious, inside the Harvard's bubble, near the COOP, near the T station) and has a great view to the street. The servant was also helpful and nice. But when it comes to the food, I was disappointed with the taste. I ordered a vegetarian ramen and the only tasty part of it was the fried tofu. The broth taste like water.
(3)
Jenni H.

Randomly stumbled into this restaurant while wandering around Harvard square because its diner styled ramen theme piqued my interest. Apparently this is a chain but I have never seen it outside of Boston. Ordered the seafood ramen and my sister got the miso ramen. The latter was a little too savoury and spicy for my taste. Tasted decent but nothing special.
(2)
Sam A.

I'm not a Japanese and I've never been in Japan. However I like this place and there food, specially there coconut-lime soup. There service is good and fits restaurant's style. You should not expect anything extra fancy from this place.
(4)
Hannah K.

So I never left a yelp review before, but I have to for this one. I had a very mixed feeling about this place, and feel a need to let people know why. So here's the problem I have with these Americanized Asian chains. They disassemble the original recipe and reassemble things the wrong way. There's a reason why people make things a certain way, for years and years. And when you try to make it differently, you have to give it a good thought, and if you do, it could be amazing. And this place, like many other places, doesn't. I lived in New York, Korea, and California, so I know what a good noodle soup is, when I have one. I was craving bowl of spicy ramen today so I ordered their chili chicken ramen. But what I got was some strange assembly of pho broth and veggies, ramen noodle, and grilled chicken breast on top. Don't get me wrong. Each element of this dish was good. Nice and clean broth, fresh bean sprout and cilantro and lime, nice and chewy ramen noodle, and tender chicken breast. BUT. It was just wrong. So wrong. It didn't have the richness of the pork broth you'd expect from a good ramen, didn't have that perfect harmony of tender rice noodle and clean yet tangy broth you'd expect from a good pho, and didn't have that rich and almost sweet taste of chicken soup. It wasn't even spicy, with just a few pieces of pickled red pepper slices sitting on top of the noodle. It was.. Just nothing I'd expect from a good Asian noodle soup, not in a good way. It's even sadder because everything in it was good, just how they assembled it was bad. Maybe it's just the one dish I had they did wrong. But there's no reason to go back and spend 12-15 dollars on a noodle soup unless I know for sure it is exceptionally good.
(2)
Shane J.

You get what you expect at an Asian fusion restaurant. White people serving mediocre "Japanese" dishes. Surprisingly they got the kimchee right which is unusual on the east coast. I ordered one of the teriyaki dishes. It was alright for what I ordered. Wagamama is okay for a meal. I'm not exactly crazy for it but it's satisfying. I guess I could see myself returning here sometime in the future. I'm not the biggest fan but the staff is very kind and helpful. A bit pricey, but what isn't around here?
(3)
Monica P.

Food is pretty good. Everything it's made to order but still didn't take long. I gave the restaurant 3 because it was good and not remarkable. I ordered the chicken ramen and the chicken was dry. But the broth was good.
(3)
Sarah F.

This isn't even Asian fusion; it's spaghetti with some tomato sauce and shrimp that they call "pad-thai." There are so many great Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Thai options around Harvard Square that I don't know why you would want to eat here. The food is very bland and absolutely not authentic. I will say that the service is friendly and the atmosphere nice; I like the large bay windows and the location close to the Charles River. If only the food was on the same level.
(1)
Criselle O.

I was kinda disappointed with this place but I think I was expecting way too much. I couldn't decide on what I wanted to order but I ended up getting the dynamite shrimp stir fry and it was just okay. Nothing wowed me with the flavor but it was ridiculously spicy. I had to keep taking sips of water after every bite! I like my food spicy but not to the point where my mouth is on fire.
(3)
N T.

Good vegan gluten free options. The options are limited, but there are a few, and that is a lot more than can be said for most restaurants, especially with Asian foods because the sauces often have fish or gluten in them. I had a lemongrass green curry noodle with tofu that was delicious (yasai itame). The tofu was fried and a bit sparse, and the noodles were soggy white rice noodles which were too sparse as well, but there were a lot of vegetables and the curry sauce was wonderful and tasted very fresh. I think the dish should be offered with brown rice noodles which would hold up better to the sauce and offer more flavor. Wagamama already has a health slant so I think this would be received favorably by their typical customer. I received excellent service. My waiter was among the best waiters I've had, he made everything run smoothly, was knowledgeable about the menu, helpful with my questions and requests, and had a pleasant friendly demeanor. He could work at a five star restaurant (with some additional training). Of course, the restaurant was not crowded when I visited, so I imagine service might suffer when there is more stress on the system - but that said my experience was top notch. Wagamama has great fresh juices - something rather tricky to find around here. I had a watermelon juice which was made to order and excellent. I recommend this Wagamama to anyone looking for vegan or gluten free food, as I found them to be highly accommodating and offer tasty (limited) options. There was also some kind of spicy noodle dish that could be made vegan and gluten free, and the sides: miso soup, brown rice, broccoli, and tofu, were all gluten free and vegan. A lot of the dishes at Wagamama come close to being vegan or gluten free but just have one ingredient that precludes that - it would be great if Wagamama could change the menu slightly to expand the options for vegan and gluten free dining. (use gluten free soy sauce, rice noodle options, vegetable-only broth, tofu instead of egg)
(4)
Ari L.

Went with a party of six. 5 entrees came, 6th didn't. After everyone else was done with theirs, we had to flag down a waiter to ask what happened. We were told it had been made incorrectly and was being remade right then. It then took approximately a full prep time to get it to us. We then sat and waited 15 minutes after the last person was done without someone coming to us with a bill.
(1)
David R.

Wagamama's strength is its consistency. You probably won't have a bad experience, but it won't knock it out of the park either. The service is pretty quick, in part because everything comes as it's finished, instead of batched. The dishes tend to be pretty good. It's a bit disconcerting seeing the waiter take your order by scribbling on your place mat, but you get used to it. One major drawback is the dining hall bench-style seating, which may force you to share conversations with strangers. Every time I've gone here, it's because after debating 3 or 4 other places, someone said "Whatever, lets just go to Wagamama." That pretty much sums it up.
(3)
Yue Z.

Service: 2 Food: 1 Ambiance: 2 Not impressed with this over-priced Japanese American place. I would've preferred Panda Express for cheaper, and more delicious food. This place serves the under-flavored, instant noodle version of japanese ramen.. You can count the number of ingredients they have in the back, because everything on the menu is made with the same 15, plus variations of salt, miso, soy sauce, and spicy sauce. They food is overpriced as well, charging $10+ per bowl. Sadly, because they're good for large groups, I've tried their yasai ramen, katsu curry, chili ramen, and even pad thai. Each more under-flavored and unimpressive as the next. The service and ambiance is okay, so if you're really not eating for the quality of food, it's easy to get a spot, the service is decent, and the place is clean.
(2)
Rob S.

I'm a fan of Wagamama. I love the food here and I love the coconut ice cream with the mango sauce drizzle. So many good choices for a reasonable price!
(4)
Colleen M.

Delicious spicy beef ramen. They charge $6 or so for delivery, but there were a few cold nights where it was totally worth it. The servings are large and I (almost) always had food to take home.
(4)
Jenny C.

Meh. Yep, that pretty much sums up my experiences with Wagamama. From the outside, the whole decor of Wagamama seems so hip and modern and low-key. The waitstaff is pretty friendly and accommodating. But the food? Meh. I bring my friends to Wagamama for an introduction to Asian food. There's nothing special about their ramen and their noodle soups only look good. In fact, my experiences with Wagamama were so mediocre that I really have nothing more to day, other than the fact that I do not understand where the hype is coming from.
(2)
Cassy H.

I've been to this Cambridge location a couple of times and every time I go, I want to be wowed by something.. its food, its service, but nope, never been wowed. However, I still go just b/c friends enjoy this place. What I've had: 1) Chicken katsu curry: Lots of rice and crispy, panko breaded chicken (chicken is so thin that you can't really tell if it's dry or moist). I wish there was more curry sauce, or maybe it's just a personal preference to drench my rice with curry sauce. Finally, there's a side of fresh green salad with pickled ginger or something. Overall, it's solid, good, but not mind blowing. 2) Yaki soba: teppan-fried soba noodles with egg, chicken, shrimps, onions, green and red peppers, beansprouts and spring onions and garnished with mixed sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled ginger (I totally cheated and just copied the dish description from the website) Overall, another good, solid dish, but not out of the world amazing. 3) Cheesecake: super, super rich and dense.. definitely good for cheesecake lovers and not good for lactose intolerant folks. 4) Chili squid: deep-fried squid seasoned with sea salt and shichimi (japanese chilli pepper) served with a chilli, garlic and coriander dipping sauce (again, I cheated and copied the description). Last time I got this dish, the seasoning wasn't balance... in other words, parts of the dish had seasoning and other parts were bland. =/ Anyway, the place has a minimal, causal atmosphere. It's a nice place to grab lunch with friends, but definitely not ideal for a first date.
(3)
Sharon O.

What does wagamama mean? Those were my first thoughts upon learning we were going here for a friend's birthday celebration. It really could have been almost anything. I'm still not sure where the name comes from. But I shortly discovered, that at the very least, it is the name of an Asian fusion noodle place in Harvard Square. The pork ribs app was really tasty. Yaki udon was decent. Open atmosphere. Friendly, task-oriented staff. Not a fancy place. Food comes out as it's ready, so we got an app so the unlucky last to be served wouldn't start to have their eyes pop out of their head, staring longingly at food already delivered. This was a good meet-up spot for our group of 4.
(3)
Camellia I.

Was so excited to see that they have Wagamama in the US...one of my favorite restaurants in Australia. The pad thai is always made perfectly, and their edamame is seasoned just right!
(4)
Michael P.

I generally don't think Asian food should ever cost more than $10 per entree, so I'm already biased against this place, but Wagamama, "you're not too shabby." This place is a trendy take on Japanese food. I ordered the Chili Ramen with Chicken (~$12) extra spicy. Despite this, the dish still wasn't spicy enough, and the lime was a little too overpowering. Other than that, it's an enjoyable bowl of ramen. I'm not a true judge of authenticity or anything, but I've had better ramen elsewhere (but to be honest, there's not many ramen places in Boston so this place is up in the ranks). My friend ordered the chicken katsu curry. Heaping portion of chicken katsu, rice, and curry poured on top. Delicious!! I'd rather get that dish next time.
(3)
Aka S.

Food was not that great as I expected.I ordered Chicken Ramen with broccoli for take out, I dont see any brocolli, I called them and asked about broccoli, they told me its a chinese brocolli and looks like spinach instead, anyway I was starving and had no choice at all.
(3)
Manfred S.

Yaki soba and Sapporo are a perfect combination for a cold winter day. Service is friendly and food is a little salty, but a beer washes it out. Wagamama is always a good choice for an affordable quick meal in Harvard Square.
(4)
Ana S.

The trouble with a lot of "fusion" restaurants is that they try to be too many things at once and end up not being any of those things particularly well. That's very much the case with Wagamama. I've tried several different ramen dishes and they all kind of blur together. Sometimes I wonder if some restaurants would be best served with a Chipotle-style combinatory menu that just lets you build your own dishes from modular components. It's an admission that none of the dishes are all that different and the ingredients are fairly interchangeable, which is damning if you're positioning yourself as a premium establishment, but it would certainly streamline the menu. At the end of the day, Wagamama is a decent source of quasi-Japanese cuisine with no close substitutes within walking distance. There just isn't anything that stands out on the menu as something that would compel me to come back regularly.
(3)
Peter Y.

I love this place for the ramen. The noodles are fresh, slippery and good consistency, just what I look for in ramen. Been to the Cambridge location five different trips to the boston area. My ramen of choice is the miso beef ramen. This is a hearty and slightly spicy dish. The soap is well stocked and has a good thick consistency. Wagamama had added cha siu slices, but oddly I didn't have it on my last visit. The cha siu has the right amount of pork meat and fat. Lastly, love the atmosphere around the Restuarant. Being near Harvard square is fun.
(4)
Kelly O.

3.5 stars. I'm a fan in general of Wagamama and have been to all the locations in Boston, but haven't gotten around to reviewing until now. This is not a place to go when you want a leisurley/romantic/intimate meal. This is a place you go when you want a quick cheap bite in a casual sit-down setting and have a craving for Asian. Is it authentic? I have no idea. Do I care? Nope. But for what it is, Wagamama does the job nicely. I usually stick to their noodle dishes, although I've been with dining companions who have enjoyed their soups and rice dishes. I'm a big fan of their ginger chicken udon in particular, freshly cooked and packed with flavorful ingredients (it is dark meat chicken though, FYI). For about $10, I'm pretty full by the end, and sometimes even have some leftovers for the next day's lunch, depending on how many apps I've had beforehand (edamame with chili and salt is my go-to, but their dumplings are decent too). Our dinner at the Harvard Square location recently was a standard experience; professional and prompt service, clean sparse dining room, fresh and tasty food, no major complaints. Just the thing to help combat a belly full of beer (oh, day drinking, how I love/hate you so...). I haven't noticed a difference in their 3 locations in terms of food or service personally, but it looks like other Yelpers have, so take that into consideration.
(3)
Khoa N.

Americanized Japanese food. It's easy to find better elsewhere. The ramen here is not even close to authentic. No pork. No egg. No wait, that's not ramen!! Other dishes are OK but again, you can get the same or better somewhere else for cheaper.
(2)
Annalise F.

The first time I ever went to Wagamama, I was in Amsterdam on vacation with my mom. It was somewhat cold and dreary, and hot Asian-inspired soup sounded fabulous. Needless to say, when I stumbled upon Wagamama in Cambridge- it was a delightful surprise! However, maybe it was the fact that I was eating alone, or that I couldn't witness the cute older men playing chess right outside on the plein, but I just wasn't as satisfied with the US location. Although I wouldn't hesitate to come back (I do love their soup, aspargus, and gyoza) its lost its magic!
(3)
June O.

I used to be a huge fan of the Kare Lomen before they took it off the menu :( I used to go here at least once a month, but I haven't found anything as flavorful, so I haven't gone back for at least six months. The service is also often pretty bad, not that the servers aren't polite, but I feel like they don't have a very good system for assigning people to tables, because there will be long blocks of time before someone comes by, which can mean a long time to order, or no refills on your water. Wagamama is great though for people with any food restrictions, they can make any modification to a dish and there are lots of vegetarian/vegan options.
(3)
Paige L.

A Friday night, stomach growling, super parched- why not go someplace comfortable and that we know has variety!? Wagamama's it is! We called before heading over, and were told, a 5 minute wait (at 7:45p) but in 15-20 minutes, we'd have a table right away. I guess 5 minutes is a long time, usually when I go to Wagamama's it's so packed that we have to wait 15-20 minutes. Lucky us! We were sat in what looked like one of only 2 tables with stools rather than seats with backs. I am not really sure why there would even be stools, why not just make all of the seats back friendly? After we were sat, we asked the waiter if we could move tables once a back rest table became available- he said he'd let us know, and we ordered our drink- I got this delicious run and fruit drink. I had to keep myself from just sucking it down! However, before getting our drinks, including jut 2 waters, we waited and waited for a good 10 minutes as I became more and more parched. Yes, I know, tough life, but in the end, my gf went to the bar and asked for a water for me. As soon as she was handed the water, a waiter came over to deliver our drinks. As our main waiter ran around cleaning up tables, welcoming newcomers, he kept skipping our table. Another 10 minutes later, he finally came over after I got his eye and called him, and we ordered, and then asked again if we could move to another table (I have a bad back, this would have been a VERY long night). he said he would have to ask his manager because there were a number of reservations. He finally came over and kindly shared that we could move- yay! So we finally got what we wanted, and for the rest of the night our waiter was so attentive, I just couldn't be frustrated with him. He delivered our food only a few minutes later, mine was an amazing Yasai Itame and my gf got a Yasai Yaki Soba which was okay. We both kept fighting over my Yasai. I am starting to enjoy curry sauce, and this was PACKED with it. I really really enjoyed it. The Yaki Soba is what I usually get, and I really like the seeds and the cilantro, but there is no question that I will go with the Itame on my next trip. Then I will branch out again. Food- YUM Service- got better over the evening Windows- so clean, it felt like we were outside! Seriously, I was amazed at how clean the windows were that I made sure to tell our waiter to compliment the cleaner.
(4)
Jennifer E.

Oh goodness, no. Katsu-curry - no. Some noodle dish - no. It was basically spaghetti that I could've made better at home. Wagamama is exactly why I hate "fusion" food.
(2)
Leslie M.

I'm giving wagamama more of a 3.5 stars based on the one dish I've tried here. Chili beef ramen. Mmm. The broth was actually pretty delicious. The beef on the other hand was dry and lacking in flavor. They do offer a chicken option which my sister has tried and said was surprisingly tender. I'll have to see for myself the next time I decide to venture here. Maybe ill give them a 4 star then. Don't expect authentic Japanese ramen if you come here. You're not going to get it. But nevertheless tasty. I've had the famous ippudo in NYC, ramen in Tokyo, as well as Sapporo at Porter and this isn't that. I do prefer this to Sapporo which I honestly feel is overrated!
(3)
Puma E.

Yummy gluten and soy free options. The itame has wonderful rich and a little spicy flavor and pretty darn healthy too. Servers are knowledgable about gluten free options and even bring the manager over to double check and reassure (thanks Eric and Dannny). Absolute must if you're in Boston!
(4)
Mike O.

It's hard to not like this place; the quasi-chic design and fun layout is suited for the young and wallet conscious demo this place is geared to. The food is okay, not terrible, not outstanding, just pretty good though and a lot healthier than many other quick service establishments. It took off in the UK and was brought this side of the pond some years back and has been doing relatively well for a variety of reasons, most of which I've just mentioned. I have one issue with Wagamama though: if you are going to attempt to make "Asian inspired" meals why wouldn't you try to get them to be as authentic as possible? Instead, customers are given a watered down version of noodle dishes that just don't stack up to the Chinatown classics. Seeing as though Harvard Sq is somewhat lacking in this department it does not surprise me in the least that Wagamama flourishes; great business sense...
(2)
Sabrina B.

Perfect for what it is. Quick workday lunch or a convenient place to get off your feet while site-seeing. I have a restricted diet (vegan and gluten-free) and love Asian restaurants because they offer many options. Wagamama had plenty of options. I got the Yasai Cha Han (stir-fried brown rice with egg, squash, snow peas, sweetcorn, fried tofu, mushrooms, and scallions). It was bland but good. Healthy, nutritious, and fresh. It came with miso soup that was perfect on a cold January day. He got the Itame (rice noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with stir-fried chicken breast, beansprouts, chilies, red onions, scallions, bok choy, peppers and mushrooms, cilantro, and lime). I snuck a few tastes and will definitely order the vegan version next time (fried tofu instead of chicken).
(3)
Joanne G.

Excellent seaweed salad. I was totally overwhelmed with the menu. So much to choose from. But let me tell you, the smartest thing they could have done was put those little "v"'s next to all the vegetarian dishes. Had the yasai cha han, which was supposed to have: stir-fried rice with egg, butternut squash, snow peas, sweet corn, fried tofu, button and shiitake mushroom and scallion. accompanied by a bowl of vegetarian miso soup and japanese style pickles but instead I had sweet corn, fried tofu, button mushrooms and scallions. Didn't see a squash, snow pea or shiitake anywhere....but the saddest thing is that reading the ingredients on their website was the only way I realized I didn't have any of those things...everything was so tasty! We also had the yasai dumplings - the chili sauce was excellent. So other than NOT knowing I didn't get anything...I guess it is a complete GOOD washout =) Highly recommend!
(5)
Tiff D.

I was attracted by the menu. We had teryaki chicken and chicken lettuce wraps. The lettuce wraps were rediculously small...Im talking 3 very small slices of chicken on the plate with 2 spoonfuls of edamae/carrot slaw for $8. The chicken was also seriously lacking in flavor, basically pan saute with some salt. The teryaki chicken was tastey but again the portion was smaller than I was expecting for the price. Over, Ive experienced better. There wasnt anything memorable about the food and the prices were too high.
(2)
Jeremy K.

Despite some hype online and spotting this place in London for the first time, I decided to walk to 200 yards from where I work over to this location after work one day to pickup some food I had ordered over the phone 15 minutes before. I had some difficulty ordering over the phone; there was a lot of background noise coming from the restaurant over the phone and the women could barely hear me. I repeated myself about 4 times until she finally got it. I did not order anything too complex; yasai gyoza, tori kara age and saien soba. I picked them up and got charged a "decent" charge, about 24 dollars if I recall correctly and rushed home, tired from work and hungry from the establishment which I must say looks absolutely fantastic. The decor and setting is amazing. It's very clean, very very bright and just really cool, modern looking. I have not seen such kinds of interior decors in the US as many times as I have in Europe and it was very refreshing to see it. I'm amazed and give this place a star just for that. I then unpacked the food in front of the NFL network and let the chopsticks do the talking. The food was very well packed in these little boxes. It's adorable. Unfortunately, that was the only nice part of my evening... I took a bite of the gyoza. Not good at all. They looked a lot better than they tasted and I honestly was very disappointed by them. Sure they were a bit soggy because I took them to go, but the stuffing just tasted gross. I then proceeded to my second appetizer, something that I have only tried once before at another restaurant: tori kara age. I took a bite and let's just say that it was the only one I took. Disgusting. It tasted like fried chicken gizzards (at least I think it would, I've never actually had gizzards...). Lastly I happily opened up the big box full of my noodle. This can't disappoint, its their specialty. Nothing can go wrong with this. It's soba. Noodles. I love noodles. With veggies and stuff. Nope, the saien soba was disgusting too. Not only that, but it also had shrimp in it. I didn't notice until my second bite and I promptly ran to the bathroom to "evacuate" the food asap. Their menu never mentioned that ingredient under the description of that item. So not only was it not good, but I almost got my allergies to kick in. I'm pretty pissed about the whole experience and probably won't ever return there. I give it one star because of the decor which was amazing. The food really just wasn't good. 9 Tastes across the street is a lot more affordable and authentic, and probably tastes a whole lot better from what I hear. For the price I paid I expected high quality, tasty food and was duped. Fool me one shame on you, fool me twice... well, that won't happen.
(1)
Patricia H.

Delicious, fresh food - the kind I wish I could make at home myself. I was dining alone, which usually relegates me to a bad table and bad service, but here I was given a great windowside seat and treated with graciousness. I ordered the ginger chicken with udon, and it was simply outstanding. Atmosphere not as chic as other Wagamamas overseas, but the food is the same deliciousness.
(5)
Tanya F.

Good and friendly service. However, the dish I had I wasnt crazy about... ($8.95 steak stir fry type dish with carrots, greens, and rice) it did not tickle my taste buds too much - this dish had the option of chicken, steak, or salmon . I feel like I would've been happier with a soup meal though. The dish just didn't seem "Asian" enough...almost an American version of Chinese or Asian stir fry. I'll have to try this place out again but I'll definitely try something else the next time I'm there
(3)
Ari P.

I didn't love the food, but they were accommodating with the meal when I didn't like my dish. However, there was a long wait despite the fact that we had a reservation, and I got a little attitude about it. When we were seated, I started with the seaweed salad, which was decent, followed by the dynamite shrimp stir-fry. Herein lies the problem. The stir-fry tasted more like a sear-burn. When I told the waitress that I simply couldn't stomach it, she was cool and asked if there was anything that she could bring out to fill me up. I just got another seaweed salad appetizer and dessert comped. But they also knew it was my birthday, so that might have motivated the accommodation. But because I ate so much of the salad, I didn't think it was wow-factor. Not the best, and not the worst in the Square. I'd come back, the birthday betch in me hasn't clawed too deeply into this one.
(3)
Gina C.

Having passed by wagamama several times.. I'd gotten quite curious at the workings of this store as it reminded me of a comic book themed restaurant. I'd say the store has a correct concept in regards to customer attraction... however, their application is all wrong. confused? read on. My dining experience here was lackluster , "OH KAY" at most. Twas the evening of Super bowl Sunday, when me and my good friend of many, many years decided to choose our reunion spot at Wagamama. Upon stepping into the store, we found there to be exactly 2 other patrons (most likely non-football enthusiasts as we were) The spankin' flat screen was playing the game however no one was watching... except our server. She was a chipper lady and sat us down, asking us if this was our first dining experience at Wagamama. When we both said yes, I expected her to explain what type of cuisine was served. But she just said, "Great! We have a lot of wonderful choices" and proceeded to give us our menu. Upon glancing at the menu, I immediately induced an immense headache. There were at least 50 things on the menu in size 9 font. (They were numbered) and although each item was further described. A lot of the names were foreign. No Worries! There is a Glossary. * faints * really? A glossary for the menu? I came here to relax, not study. After 10 minutes of choosing, my friend and I decided to enlist the help of our waiter who kindly but unhelpfully ended up recommended basically everything on the menu. In the end, I chose blackened chicken. The chicken was not tender. Spices were too strong and spicy, even though there was no "spicy" sign next to the menu item. The broccoli listed on the menu for this dish was literally... five pieces of steamed broccoli. My friend ordered the itame said it was good.... but didn't finish 1/2 of it. I'd say she spoken out of courtesy. Maybe I'll come here for dessert some day. However, in terms of meals... nah. Two stars.
(2)
Sandy W.

The place is cute, but the food was pretty terrible. I vaguely remember liking wagamama in london, but that was 7 years ago. I had the ebi chili men and my hubby had the chili chicken ramen...mine was gross and he felt sick after his meal. Although my friend had the Yaki Soba and it looked better, but i'm not sure how it tasted. The dumplings were bad too. Anyways, i would never go back again.
(1)
Andrew C.

Mediocrity with a fusion "M" Pros: good beer selection & prices, service, location, good for groups Cons: mediocre food, expensive I'm usually inspired to write a review if a place is either A) Awesome or B) Bad. In WagaMama's case, I feel that its utterly forgettable menu has instead been my source of inspiration. First off, in case you weren't aware, this is a restaurant chain. Apparently there are a few locations even in the UK, where I'm sure this would be a 4-star place. Unfortunately, since we actually have decent food in the states, Wagamama comes up short. The layout of all their restaurants is pretty cool. Think Japanese but IKEA-style. Looks trendy and hip, but will probably completely fall apart in a few years without a remodel. The food ranges from ramen to fried noodles to grilled items like chicken teriyaki. I've tried both their ramen and their fried noodles and the BEST I can say about the taste and quality is "meh." For those who haven't heard this before, "meh" is the sound that a kid makes when he gets a disappointing christmas gift. It's the sound your girlfriend may make if you give her those cheap-a$$ $5.99 flowers from Shaw's. It's probably the sound that your college TA made when you handed in that lame-a$$ essay you wrote in 2 hours at 4 am in the morning. I suppose one of the best things I can say is that I didn't get a stomach-ache from my food but is that really an accomplishment in 2012?? Everything about the food here is pretty safe, but pretty bland and not very delicious. Which is why I'm sure it's an absolute hit in asian-food deaf/dumb/blind Boston. So should you come here? Well, expect to pay at least $20-25 per person here, including drinks. That's not too terrible for Harvard Square but not great either. So you're not coming here really for value. We already covered taste. So uh... yeah, you probably shouldn't...
(3)
Christopher I.

Warm, Futurey, Spicy-Tasty. It was a cold, damp evening and my partner and I decided to keep it local and warm up with a big steamy bowl of noodles. And we did just that, snuggled next to the window watching the ivy leaguers and snazzy-panted persons stroll by toward the many classy establishments in Harvard Square. I first experienced Wagamma in London and found it to feel strangely foreign for being a massive chain staffed by people dressed in black with tricorders to take your order.... (maybe not so strangely foreign.) We both ordered a big bowl of brothy, fragrant, noodle soup and it went down easy. It was filling, unpretentious, and priced averagely. ~$35 for two entrees, an app, and two teas.
(4)
Emma D.

Definitely not a fan. I don't think Wagamama can really compete in a country where we have actual decent food options. It's overpriced, everything looks the same, and there doesnt seem to be any impressive flavor associated with the noodle dishes. I didn't finish my spicy chicken noodle dish and still felt unwell after.
(2)
Julie B.

while i'm cool with the way wagamama does things, i'm not so cool with their mediocre food. it might just be me, but my dish (ginger chicken) was bland, and unimpressive. maybe i'll give it another shot, but probably if it's the only thing available.
(2)
Courtney H.

I'm adding a star because the service has improved a great deal since the last time I went, and the food is so yummy. I was too harsh before.
(4)
Mike W.

Wagamama is a very interesting concept. If you're expecting authentic Japanese food, you're coming to the wrong place. If you're expecting dumbed-down Americanized Japanese food, however, you'll still be left wanting. What Wagamama does is take traditional Japanese dishes like noodle soups and dumplings and such and give them a thorough make-over with a fresh/healthy/new age aesthetic. The result is something both tasty and healthy. Although as I said their offerings are far from original, the chefs are not afraid of flavor and spice. The vegetable noodle soup (served with whole-wheat noodles) features a vegetable broth with more flavor than most every other fish- or beef-based Japanese soup I've ever had (although it is a little bit salty). The miso beef ramen has a bit of a kick to it, but it is a subtle and complex spicy rather than just "we poured some hot sauce in". Each of the different kinds of dumplings comes with a different kind of dipping sauce, and they all tend to be pretty good. The fresh-squeezed juices are delicious - try the watermelon/apple/orange combo! While Wagamama is more expensive than your average Japanese noodlery, it is far from outrageous - you can generally walk out of there with an entree, an appetizer and a drink for 15 bucks after tax+tip, less if you take advantage of their frequent discounts. The minimalist decor is very nice, and if you're eating alone they tend to seat you by the floor-to-ceiling window with a great street view. The service is a bit wanting, but that's really my only complaint about what is otherwise one of my favorite restaurants in Harvard Square.
(4)
Caitlyn L.

::sniff:: Memories of London gone awry...I was expecting greatness from the (for me) nostalgia-laden Britain-based chain. However, this Wagamama didn't live up to the hype ("Really? Wagamama's coming HERE??" was the reaction of all my study abroad comrades). First off, I got the plum wine, which I hadn't had before. It was seriously watered down (seven dollars, really???) and in a plain old water glass. I had the miso ramen, which was OKAY, but definitely not great and much too salty (and I LOVE salt, so that's saying something). The atmosphere and service are fine, but not enough to make up for the lackluster food and wine.
(2)
rachel b.

Fabulous. Great noodle soups (chicken ramen is a little bland, but fabulous hang-over food and going spicy is always a good experience too..), edamame, and decent wine - all priced spot on. Only thing that would improve it for me is if they would take substitutions - they won't add bean sprouts, for example, even though they obviously have them by the zillion back in the kitchen. Coconut ice cream pleases every time too - with a mango sauce drizzled over the top! I get it to go when i'm there and the servers are happy to help out.
(4)
Christine P.

OK, So I was one of those people salivating over wagamama hitting harvard sq. At work we were literally ordering there the first day they did take out and devoured the food in 14 seconds flat because we were so excited. Since then we have all ordered from there numerous times and I have to say the food is a great addition to the square, lunch can be challenging in the square, however, I feel that some love could be added to the food itself, regularly overly oily( but not so much I stop eating) and usually OK.
(4)
Linda L.

The service in this place is terrible! I waited to write that statement till I went back a second time a few weeks after my first visit-I thought maybe I just had a bad server the first time. No. The servers are in your face to place your order before you have even taken your jacket off, but then once you have your food, you never see them again. On both occasions it took forever to get the bill. And last night, not only did the guy forget to bring us the bill after we asked for it, but my friend's leftovers never made it back to her. After waiting 20 minutes for the bill and finally getting another waiter to get it for us, we were anxious to leave. Also, they are really bad about refilling the water-you have to flag someone down and beg then to hydrate you. The only reason this is getting 2 stars instead of one was because the food was fairly tasty-except for the disgusting "vegetarian" miso soup.
(2)
Barney B.

ok, so it's the Dunkin Donuts of London, and I tend to loathe chains, but this place kinda hits the spot. I like the setup which allows them to seemingly seat more oddly numbered groups more quickly. I haven't tried everything on the menu - and frankly I probably won't - but the standards I pick are filling, and fresh tasting. And i think it's the perfect window to sit in on a snowy evening, watching life on JFK go by.
(4)
Ja H.

Good, tasty chain.
(3)
Neha Y.

The location is ideal - its right in the hub of harvard square where its got some mighty tasty competition! But I absolutely adore it for a quick bite with friends post-work. The service is quick (not always the friendliest or chit-chattiest) but they get the job done with a very very efficient system. Its tasty asian - fusion food for scrumptious prices. The spicy chicken chen with soba noodles has a sauce with just the right kick and I actually even eat all the veggies! They have a unique array of beers that compliment the food perfect - and gives you a great wind-down post work.
(4)
Emily H.

YUMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. pre-dinner pickles. vegan-friendly-ness. community table sharing. yup. served when it's ready so if you're someone who's invested in timing your eating with your fellow diners, it could be awkward. suggestion: get zen. it is what it is: delicious albeit scattered in terms of arrival.
(5)
Elise W.

The yaki soba ($9) is amazing! And if you don't go when it you're super starving, it is perfect to share and therefore not expensive at all. Highly recommend topping it with some spices and chili oil that can be found at your table. Yum! Also, I recommend the fresh fruit juices. The apple + lime is my personal favorite!
(4)
Em C.

The food is a solid 3 stars. I had the grilled salmon ramen which was quite tasty with just a hint of spice. The high marks on this review are mainly due to the service. Wagamama's style is to bring food out as it is ready. I'm not a huge fan of this but it fits with the causal concept and the long shared tables. One member of my party was left waiting for her food and our server informed us that she had to send that meal back because the kitchen had sent it out blackened instead of grilled. She was very apologetic and was willing to bring out more snacks to compensate. I appreciated the fact that she noticed the mistake and was proactive about it. The kitchen re-did the meal and this time put the wrong sides with it. By the time the last entree came out our entire party had already finished our meals. The manager stopped by our table (before being asked for by us) and not only did they comp that meal but they sent us dessert as well. While the kitchen errors were frustrating I really appreciated the staff stepping up to the plate and apologizing for the errors and doing their best to correct the situation.
(4)
Chance X.

wagamma is definitely over priced noodles. and I feel the only good dish there is the seafood stir fry udon noddle. However, i still love it because it is a big chain store in London and I lived in London and I MISS London. If wagammama is not for me emotionally related to a place I love, i will not ever go there. So here you get it.
(3)
La Lilly B.

My b-friend and I love this place. It's great if you want fast, but good food. So far we have not had a bad experience and I like the fact that you can people watch. The portions are just the right size and they also have vegetarian options.
(4)
Jordan G.

I like this place. used to eat here all the time when I lived in London. The cool part is how they put the orders in on thier Symbol handheld PDAs and send it to the kitchen. I back that. In fact more restaurants should do that. The dumplings were steamed with veggies. Good. I got a noodle soup with beef broth. Cant go wrong. Not the best food in the world, but i like the seating area, the asian simplistic design and the fresh juices are not bad...Some of the curries looked great as well. It depends what you want to eat in harvard Sq, but this place is definetley an experience. Go here for the ambiance.
(2)
Ted S.

The interior is cool. The place is hoppin. Those are the things that propped my rating up to a 3. The food used to be great. But the last few times I've been there....well...they were lacking. The service has been getting slow, the prices are getting higher, and I'm not sure I'd recommend the place. But the interior is cool! And the take out containers are fun, too. I think this is a British chain - and so much is thought out about this restaurant. It seems something isn't right with the quality of food here. I have to agree with the other reviews - and add that the food should feel healthy, and fresh. But it just seemed overcooked and bloated...
(3)
Nicole P.

I went to the restaurant during the first week that it opened. We were seated at a table and our drink orders were taken. After waiting a good 15 mins, they came back to take our orders. The menu is interesting, with many good looking choices to order. We ended up talking to a couple next to us. Luckily they were really nice, cause they were RIGHT next to us! My meal finally came out, but not my roomates. Turns out they didn't put it in the computer!!! She had to wait for about 20 more mins till her food showed up. The actual food was delish, I got a spicy shrimp dish. The portions were very large, so I asked the server to put mine in a to go box. He took the plate and went over to the waiter's station. After paying our bill and still waiting for the leftovers, the server came back over saying that they accidentally threw out my meal! They said that they would make me a new plate to take home, but at this point, I said, "No thanks!" I am since gotten take out from there, but I am hesitant to eat-in any time soon. Food is good, service and speed awful. Wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that it was opening kinks, but after reading other reviews, it seems as though this is just how Wagamama runs!
(2)
Jen Y.

I went here with my boyfriend once and we were both very happy with what we ordered. He had some curry dish with chicken and rice and I had a chicken udon noodle dish. I have to admit, his was a lot more tasty than mine. The thick curry went very well with the chicken and rice. As for my noodles, they were good, tasted very fresh and not full of oil like the ones I've had in Chinatown. My boyfriend also ordered some kind of shake beverage that he thought was good. The prices were moderate, I actually thought it'd be a little higher. I also saw people having sake bombs, looked very fun. The overall atmosphere is pretty cool and modern, staff is nice and food came quick.
(4)
Emily C.

it tastes like fake asian food. the noodles and soups all taste like they were made from powdered mixes.... i hate the cafeteria style seating especially when it's crowded... you can hear every conversation on both sides of you... because of this, it's hard to go with a large crowd... they take your order and then write it down on your place mat, almost fast foody type service. the spoons they give you to drink the ramen soup bowls are so shallow they barely get any liquid. frustrating experience all around. wouldn't come back here unless the people i was dining with INSISTED on coming here.
(2)
Kusum C.

I might be British and hence have a bias, but Wagamama's is a gem, and completely under-rated. Service is quick, friendly and the dishes consistent and mainly pretty healthy. It's the perfect place to begin a night, when you're looking for a cheap, low-cal meal. I strongly recommend the seafood ramen, veggie ramen, and swordfish for healthy options, but nothing beats the yaki soba. I could eat for breakfast. Other favorites include the orange and apple juice, plus the coconut ice cream for deserts. If you're after something small and extremely cheap - have a look at the kids menu - brilliant, mini dishes for about $7. Perfect for students
(5)
Von S.

Curiously, this international food chain which focuses on ramen and other Japanese noodles does not have a location anywhere in Tokyo or Asia, for that matter. I should have taken that fact more seriously. The food is not bad per se. We got the ginger chicken udon--the udon itself was very tasty but the flavor of the overall dish was one-dimensional. And by one dimensional, I mean salty. I had the beef chili ramen and although the menu described the steak as being sliced, it came out more like chunks-- like the sort you see in fajitas. The ramen broth could have been tasty if only it wasn't one dimensionally sweet. But it is what it is. Prices are a bit higher than expected given that it's a chain. The place itself is spacious. There are benched as well as window seating. I also think their big wooden (bamboo?) spoons were the best ramen spoons I've come across. My only real gripe is the waiter warning us after we ordered that, because the food is made fresh per our order, dishes might not come at the same time. (True to her words, my friend finished eating before my ramen came out.) I just find it silly and disingenuous when people use the made to order/freshness excuse as the reason for the wait--- how come I'm never told this at a Chinese or Vietnamese restaurant? Perhaps their white clientele believe this bull because they probably don't know how to cook, but as someone who basically grew up in a kitchen, flash-frying or stirfrying should not take longer than ten minutes. But it is what it is. I'd only go again if I was feeling nostalgic for their bamboo ramen spoons. Also, big plus to the hairy waiter dude in shorts.
(1)
Jessie H.

I love the fresh squeezed juice and the coconut curry, tofu, noodle soup is delicious - with fresh, light, flavors. I will go back for this soup. I like the communal tables - nice interior. It would get 5 stars if they offered more menu variety and a few more veg options. Vegetarians will eat happily but you may only find one or two menu items that you like. This place puts noodles in everything.
(4)
patrick r.

Quick easy service for great food at a reasonable price... its great that we finally got one in boston.
(4)
Kixie C.

I've heard people rave about this place so I gave it a try. I don't think I'd go back again. The food is just okay and you're warned ahead of time that the dishes will all come out separately, whenever they're done. So I got my dish first, a few minutes later my husband got his dish, and several minutes after that we got our "appetizer." Seating is community style so if you don't want anything to do with strangers you'll need to go at an off-time (we went at about 3:00 on a weekday and it was fine).
(2)
Sarah C.

Wagamama is my bff's spot for ramen. Let's just put it this way: There are some places I go just b/c I'm taking one for the team. This is one of those places. Now, the ramen is aight. It's clean, organic and strips its broth of any fatty soul.....one of the reasons I crave ramen is for that. I will say the service here is quick, efficient and I'd come here if I need to eat and run.
(3)
Jennifer H.

I lived in Japan for two years and have only been back in the states for a little over a month. I was starting to really miss Japanese food so I thought I'd try Wagamama when I stumbled across it in Harvard Square. I ordered chicken katsu curry and miso soup, and I was VERY disappointed. I didn't expect it to be as good as the stuff I got used to eating in Japan, but I thought it would at least come close since it is a pretty expensive place. The curry tasted much worse than the curry I used to get in school lunch in Japan (I taught at elementary schools) and the rice was too hard. They also really skimped on the curry, giving me a massive amount of white rice and only a few teaspoons of curry. In Japan curry dishes are served with more than enough curry to cover all of the rice. The miso soup was also kind of bland, and had too much onion. For $15 I feel very ripped off and wish I had just kept walking when I passed this place.
(1)
Chris K.

Forgetting the fancy PDAs and the all glass windows and the fact that you normally don't see the same server twice. The food here is good. I have been here twice - the first time I went some people ordered things that they were not expecting and were utterly dissapointed (very watery tasteless broth on the chicken ramen) but the server was happy to replace it with the chicken chili men which was fantastic. Also I thought that the teriyaki steak soba was quite good as well that I had the second time although a little chewy but what can I expect for the low price? The coconut ice cream thing thats on the menu was recommended by our server was fantastic.Servers were really nice here and always willing to help you out when you order something that is not to your taste. Although I am not quite sure how authentic this cuisine is to any specific region I did enjoy it for what it is: a trendy noodle place with a lot of hype
(4)
Enday G.

I had a 1 + 1 coupon for the restaurant so I was very happy for what I paid.
(5)
C C.

I went to this place first time yesterday. Personally I think this is nothing close to authentic Japanese food. Service was great and the server was very polite and attentive. The restaurant is very clean. However, I do not like the food there. I ordered Seafood noodle for around $13. It is very very salty. I don't think this is good for anybody to eat as it is not healthy. We order fried chicken as appetitizer and it doesn't taste good either. With $13 I think you find a better restaurant. I will not come back again.
(1)
Jim C.

Chicken Ramen, Yaki Soba, Awesome...Wagamamas was good in England and its still good here in Cambridge.
(4)
Pete P.

average noodles, really pricey for what you get if you ask me. i would rather head up to porter sq. and get some ramen up there. its loud, busy and it doesnt meet the hype.
(2)
Kiki B.

eh. i mean the noodles and soups are okay, but it's so overpriced, and the whole writing orders on the tablecloth thing doesn't really work for me. the only time it really makes sense is for the 2-for-1 student lunch special on mondays.
(3)
Mark B.

Finally got to try the Wagamama. I missed it on my European vacation and i just haven't had the urge to head to Faneuil Hall as I'm not a big fan of the food mall. So finally time and circumstance collided to put me in front of the Wagamama on JFK Street in Harvard Sq. for lunch. I was seated at the end of a long bench of tables. The one thing I wasn't crazy about right off the bat was that my bench was permanently fixed to the floor so I couldn't move it closer to the table. While it was OK, I wasn't where i like to sit in relation to the table given my preference. My waitress shows up asks me for my drink order and after I give it she starts writing on my placemat. I realize later this is how they keep track of what you order. I begin to wonder how hard it is to crack the code and make them give you a cheaper check. Lucky for them I was more interested in cracking the menu. The menu does a nice job of describing all of the different dishes. I got the spicy chicken noodles and some asparagus sprinkled with sesame and coated in citrus soy sauce. Everything was good, I would've liked a little more spicy on my noodles but that's probably just me. There was nothing here that would make me just have to come back soon; hence the 3-star rating. I also wouldn't be against coming back either as there is enough here to warant a return visit. I would especially consider this place when dining out with vegetarian friends as there are many choices on the menu for them.
(3)
Maureen R.

I dont' post often, but I needed to get this off my chest. If you are looking for an oh so precious, pretentious environment, filled with waitstaff apparently hired more for their androgyny than their skills, then this is the place for you! The food was ok, but the whole corporate-designed fakeness of the place was really, really annoying. I won't be back.
(1)
Jason P.

wagasucka. . .
(1)
davy f.

Acoustics awful and food is worse. Go upstairs to Bombay Club, go up the street for Pho Pasteur. I'm delighted that some people like this, but we (6 of us) won't be back again anytime soon.
(1)
J L.

I saw Wagamama had opened on my way out of Boston Tea Stop a couple of weeks ago (stopped in for a delicious, refreshing Mango Boba tea on a sweltering hot day during my lunch break), and thought to myself, "Great! A new restaurant in Harvard Square I haven't tried!" I had put in a full day at work on Saturday, and I had an urge for a quick, light, spicy dinner. Well, my boyfriend (Matt) and I got what we went for at Wagamama. Upon arriving at the door of this establishment (I liked all the windows!), we realized the seating was cafeteria-like and were almost deterred, but then I figured it will still be quick and light food. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess who seated us in the fairly crowded room, and she was very good to find us a great seat with an empty space between us and the next couple as the seating is comprised of benches and long tables. Our waitress explained the whole process to us, that your food is cooked fresh and may come out at different times, and we were game. We even placed bets on whose food would come out first. =) We ordered the steamed vegetable dumplings and, though tiny, they were pretty good. I wanted something spicy, and Matt LOVES spicy food, so we ordered the yasai chilli men and the chicken chilli men respectively. The food came out pretty quickly, and I lost my bet that my dish would come out next after the appetizer. But, it didn't come out too long after Matt's, so that was great. The spiciness was the perfect intensity for me, and it satisfied Matt as well. I can't say there was much flavor outside of the chilli spice, but, the food was still good. Despite the dining room being extremely noisy, the seating arrangement being pretty intimate with your neighboring diners, and the food being good, not great, we still enjoyed the experience. The food was fresh, the dining room was clean, the service was fast and friendly, and, for dinner, it was really inexpensive. It was fun for us and we're definitely going back to try the ramen bowls. That will be a good Winter warmer!
(3)
Anita L.

I'll wag whatever I have to in order to get more of Wagamama's chicken katsu curry. Their curry sauce is the best complement to their breaded chicken. I always wish I could get more of it because I alwasy finish my curry and still have chicken and rice left over! Also the salad dressing they use on the side salad is so good, I would buy it by the bottle if I could. Granted, not everything on the menu is amazing. Some dishes are generic stir fry rice and noodle dishes. I've tried to branch out and try other things on the menu, but I keep on coming back to that chicken katsu curry. I have to go...it's calling me now...
(4)
Dave M.

everything is overpriced and doesn't taste any better than a cheaper place. i got a chicken teriyaki ($11) and it was literally the same taste, presentation, portion as a $7 place. may have even bought it from some place and put it on a fancy plate. you're just paying for the name.
(1)
Julia M.

As with many chain restaurants, the food at Wagamama is mediocre. I recently had dinner at Wagamama, & my meal was so-so. I ordered the chicken ramen, & it wasn't overly flavorful. The staff, however, was nice, & the food was inexpensive (I paid $14 for my ramen & a soda).
(3)
Michael L.

Easily the worst noodle place I have ever been to. And it obviously deserves my first and only 1 star for a restaurant. (to date) Noodles were WAY over cooked, I ordered the yasai chili men: stir-fried shiitake and button mushrooms, fried tofu, squash, red onion, peppers, snow peas and scallion. served with whole wheat noodles in a chili sauce made from chilies, ginger, garlic, onion, lemongrass, sweet red pepper and tomato. Sounds good right? WRONG the dish was like MUSH, and they gave so much sauce that it was virtually a soup dish with mush. The flavor of the sauce was way too sweet and not even spicy at all. The wife ordered the chicken kare lomen: a spicy soup made from lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste, red chilies, fresh ginger and galangal. served with ramen noodles and grilled chicken breast, bean sprouts, cucumber, cilantro and a wedge of lime. The sauce in this dish was decent, but again served with MUSH and not noodles. If the noodles just melt when you grab it, thats a clear sign the people cooking it have no idea. The staff was friendly, and when one of the people in my party did not receive his dish until everyone was finished, they comp'ed it. The staff was definitely a lot better then the food. Another plus is they have a ramp to the restaurant, so handicapped and people with strollers for their kids have an easy access to the restaurant. Another plus was the nice simple decor of the restaurant. Flat blocks of wood for tables that looked modern and clean. Will never come to any wagamama ever again.
(1)
Meka A.

Despite living blocks away from Wagamama, it's failed to place itself in my normal rotation. Every time I go, the food takes a bit longer than you expect and never quite meets your expectations. I tried several different dishes and each time it reminds me of why I don't come here more often. All-in-all, it's fine but don't expect to become a Wagamama regular.
(2)
Azalea K.

I love the yasai itame and it's been a reliable lunch or dinner item. Wagamama usually doesnt have much of a wait if at all and you can easily bring a group. The only reason im giving this place a 3 is this one time I pretty much choked on a big copper wire that had found it's way into my soup and noodles. I literally realized what was going on after i had started swallowing and had to yuck it up. gross, i know. I told the waiter who gladly brought me a replacement (while the rest of my group finished their meals) -- but there wasnt so much an apology or any additional overtures such as comping my meal. My throat still hurt days after. I think the customer service could be better (maybe an issue of policy?)
(3)
Michelle R.

Overpriced, mediocre Asian food. We had the duck gyoza, chicken ramen, and chili ramen. Duck gyoza was alright, but the shell was hard. The ramen broth was light and pretty good. However the noodles were clumped together and the chicken was dry.
(2)
Esther Y.

I got the yaki soba, which tasted like a microwaved lean cuisine meal, and nothing like real yaki soba. The noodles were dry, tasteless, starchy--basically inedible. And the food is overpriced for what you get. In my "chicken and shrimp" yakisoba, I got a couple of tiny shrimp that hadn't been deveined and only TWO small chunks of bone-dry chicken. Skip this place.
(1)
Eunice E.

I'd have to give this an "enthusiastic" three stars - but definitely not four. The location can't be beat, and the seating is fun and trendy, but the food isn't something to write home about. I will say, though, that their new seaweed salad is pretty delicious - tangy, a bit spicy, and definitely flavorful. Too bad that was the tastiest thing I had to eat there! I ordered the stir-fried ata-taka chicken salad, which was a little underwhelming--I felt like I was eating mostly spinach. I also tried a bit of my partner's chili beef ramen, which was overpowered by the lime in the soup. Overall, an okay culinary experience, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a meal out in the Square.
(3)
Yukun L.

As far as ramen goes, not too impressive. Portion size is very average. You can get better ramen in Porter Square. The Duck Gyoza appetizers were average as well. Good place to go if you live nearby, are hungover, and don't want to walk anywhere further.
(2)
May N.

Solid Westernized Asian food. It's a chain that started in the UK and supposedly some girl-fan wrote and asked them to open franchises in Boston and they took her seriously and a few years later here they are with outlets in Harvard Square and Faneuil Hall. The restaurant is clean, with lots of windows and long tables reminiscent of a pho restaurant where strangers can end up next to each other and sharing condiments. Service is American-style with prompt, very attentive wait staff and gizmos where they take your order and it gets sent to the kitchen electronically. My friends got the edamame, yasai dumplings, and miso soups in addition to their full meals. Another got the yasai cha han which was basically fried rice. I had the teriyaki salmon soba which had a nice serving of salmon, but I wish there'd been more snow peas and bok choy. It was solidly average. There's booze, too - bottled beers, some wines, and a couple of sakes. I think I'd only return if tourists were in town and they couldn't handle real Asian food. Or if you needed fast food/take away in the area. Not because it's bad, but just...meh
(3)
Emily W.

I've been to this Wagamama several times, and feel like it fits a unique void in the Harvard Square area. It can be a quick, fast lunch option with great fresh food. Or, it can be a slower-paced, relaxed place to get dinner and drinks with friends. I've done both, and I'm impressed that the wait staff can intuitively sense what type of experience I'm there for, and do their best to make it happen. The only thing keepint it from 5 stars is the price, which I think is a bit inflated for what you get, especially during lunch.
(4)
Kunal M.

One of my local hangouts when i'm in the Boston area. Wagamama is a rare find in most cities and serves up some of the best asian/asian fusion dishes you can find at any restaurant. I recommend trying their soup bowls, appetizers, and various "spicy dishes".- like the dynamite tofu....I would avoid some of their fried rice dishes-very average. Service is always good...but the atmosphere can be very touristy at times.
(4)
Hector K.

I went to Wagamama for dinner last night with a couple of my friends. We started with edamame and chili squid. The squid came with this dipping oil that looked a lot like water with spices floating around on top. The squid was pretty good, and it had the little kick that the waitress promised it would have. The dipping oil didn't add much to the flavor. The edamame was edamame. It was fun, but it's really just something to chew on while waiting for the real food to come. I ordered curry chicken, which they have a Japanese name for that I don't know. It's a little funny that no one that worked in the restaurant looked Japanese at all, but they're probably not really going for authenticity anyway. The chicken and the curry sauce were delicious. I really liked them a lot, although I wish the portion was a little larger. They covered about half of the plate with a salad, which was not very filling. Anyway, the food was great. I liked it a lot. My only problem was the service, and it's a problem that most people probably would find to be a good thing. I thought the waitresses were a little too in-your-face. They were at the table every five seconds to ask us how things were going. And they talked so much. Also, I don't like how they reach over you to write little notes and symbols on the paper placemat. At the end of the meal, we paid the bill. The waitress came back to us to tell us that we'd made a mistake, that we'd given her too much money. Has she never heard of a tip? Of course we gave her more than the price of the meal! I thought that was a little stupid, but the most important part, the food, was good. So, I'm happy with Wagamama.
(3)
Raphie B.

Paid a visit to Wagamama a couple of days ago and was nothing but impressed. Service was slightly frenetic, but I think that's likely due to the fact there was only one server on duty and well, lots of diners... I'm a vegetarian and there was a variety of options. I ordered the Yasai Itame, which is rice noodles with veggies and tofu in a rich, wonderful coconut broth. The broth was fantastic and the bowl, though smaller than some of what I saw around me, was more than enough for a couple of meals. And it was so good that I was happy to have leftovers to dig into later.
(4)
Mimi H.

It's very good for what it is; Japanese fusion. It's not authentic by any means but it is very yummy. The curry is my favorite here because it is a lot lighter than traditional Japanese curry. You're not running to the bathroom right after you eat it. I am a big fan of cold noodle dishes and I love the chili men. The service is untraditional but not bad.
(3)
Laura G.

I've been to Wagamama three times, and it was three times too many. The menu is ridiculous, the servers are rude, and the food is overpriced, overspiced, and overrated. Its interesting, but seriously, 'interesting' only goes so far. I just want something good to eat. There is really nothing good here.
(2)
Shradha A.

Maybe I like this place because I don't live in Boston, but when we found ourselves at Harvard Sq last weekend and while the bf picked up pizza from noch's I wanted something healthier, WagaMama didn't seem like a bad option at all! We had a new server who was being trained that day and the older server was doing a good job at supervising her. She was happy, cheerful and glad to be working there, which is so rare to find these days. Most servers are grumpy and obnoxious, as if they're doing you a favor by serving you. I liked the fact that they had marked all the vegetarian options (maybe this is done more in Boston, but I'm from Chicago and this was pleasantly new to me). The food is prepared fresh, and the spicy noodles were actually quite good. I wonder, though, what type of oil they use because if they call themselves healthy, and put that much oil in the food, it better be canola! We sat at the chairs by the window and had no problem with the size of them or the distance from the next one...!
(4)
Dan T.

I've been a few times and never had a bad experience. The food is tasty. Here's a roundup of what I got tonight. Summer rolls (veggie): -These were actually very good -Rice paper wrapping was weird but a nice texture and different than what I've tried in the past -The sauce was kinda intense for me and the waiter didn't know what it was made of (but described it to me) Miso Beef Ramen: -The noodles were excellent and a perfect texture (and there were lots of them) -The soup was salty but also very good. Probably could've had less salt. -The veggies were good though it was a little overcomplicated. Didn't need leeks and all the exotic stuff in there, but whatever. -The beef was pretty good, well cooked, but surprisingly low in flavor of its own--it just kind of tasted like unspiced beef dipped in the broth, which I guess is what it was. I would like to see a little more thought put into the beef aspect of the recipe. Also, there was not a lot of beef in my ramen, maybe five small chunks. That was a little disappointing. Firecracker chicken (tasted my girlfriend's): -Spicy, tasty, could've ued more chicken on the dish Service: the food came quickly (the chicken before the beef), the waiter was very nice though didn't know what the summer roll sauce was or what some of the japanese-named spices on the menu were. It's not, perhaps, "authentic" japanese food, but it doesn't really claim to be either. It's from London, not japan. Enjoy it for what it is which, at the pricepoint, is pretty nice.
(4)
Michael M.

Zesty blackened chicken
(3)
Cindy Y.

No offense. But this place serves what is essentially a white version of japanese food. It was like Republic in NY (with the benches), except that the food at Republic is actually better than it was here. The ramen was completely bland and the chicken was un-marinated, boiled chicken breast. How is it possible that this place is an international chain with locations all over Europe. Oh wait. No chains whatever in Asia - no surprise.
(1)
Lydia B.

I went to the one in Harvard Sq. a few days ago, and was very pleasantly surprised by both the food and the service. The waiters were cheerful, and my dish (a chicken-soba noodle stir-fry) was very tasty. The food seemed fresh, as well. The sleek decor is an added bonus.
(4)
Diego S.

I'm giving this place 3 stars (not less) for only one reason, and it is probably an obscure one... CHEESECAKE!! I went to wagamama for the first time last weekend and, to be honest, I wasn't that surprised cause I wasn't expecting much. The food was kind of OK, nothing especial really, I had the Japanese grilled steak and it had a weird taste which I didn't like; the ambient was... OK not too crowded, not too empty, not too loud, not to quiet; and the service was... again... OK, not great but not bad, just OK. Now what really struck me was HOW GOOD THE CHEESECAKE WAS!! I know..., who orders cheesecake at an Asian/noodle restaurant? well, apparently my dad hahaha, surprisingly it was amazing. Now, be aware that the cheesecake they have on the menu has some sort of white chocolate sauce but that day they were out of it so I can't guarantee it will be good with it just order it plain!! :)
(3)
Dessa R.

Asian fusion-type place with communal sitting and tons of natural window light. The food has been consistently pretty decent with so-so service. I believe the best way to enjoy this place is probably for your lunch break, if you work or study in the area. Not super-cheap, but reasonable enough, and you're likely to walk away with some leftovers for later.
(3)
B y.

Food is very average, beef in the miso soup is tough. The thing I really don't like is the plastic bow being used for hot soup.
(2)
Jaime v.

If salt and oil were the only seasoning you used, this would be a great place. The rice dishes were just bland and a bowl of the noodles was sent back because it was so dreadfully salty. If you are used to eating Ramen in the dorm, this is a slight step up. I'd easily rather trek the extra 20 minutes to Porter Exchange and go for Ittyo or Cafe Mami where we could actually enjoy the food. The veggies were not seared, they were just burnt by someone who didn't know how to use a Wok and had the heat way too high. Horrible, really dreadful experience and expensive for the cheapy ingredients. Frozen pre fried tofu for the price they are charging, are you kidding me? Lame. High on the stylized element and low on substance.
(1)
Karen L.

I was here on a recent weeknight with a friend. We were seated quickly in the huge dining area by a friendly host, attended to quickly by a friendly server, and served our food rapidly, as it was ready. I had a ginger beef cilantro salad full of fresh and delicious veggies, lots of ginger and cilantro, and tender but weirdly unflavored beef--a better dressing would've improved things, but alas! Also kind of bland. The side of udon had a great texture. The price was right, so I'd definitely try it again.
(3)
Kristina D.

Sat down at 4:17 to get soup before a 5pm appt nearby. Restaurant was almost empty. Didn't get to order until 4:30 and not served until 4:52. So annoyed that I had to then lug ramen around afterward. Why did I forgo pho for this?
(1)
Maria V.

Wow, I really got a seat here? For real? OMGOMGOMG! This spot is pretty popular so, despite the iffy reviews on Yelp, they're doing pretty well! I was hoping for some awesome Japanese-style ramen with a cold Asahi beer on the side. So, I got the Asahi beer but the ramen was a bit...hmm...heavy with the oil and with tons of leek and bean sprouts in the broth. I guess I was hoping for something kind of izakaya-like. Mmmm, nah, it's not that. It's kind of like eating a friend's best attempt at a new cuisine that they're trying out of a for-dummies cookbook -- doesn't quite taste authentic (nor does it claim to be) and the vibe is definitely different. It's pretty close but not the same. So, oh Gods of Boston Restaurants, WE NEED AN IZAKAYA!! Wagamama dun' cut it :(
(3)
Matt F.

I'm not going to lie, I was a bit skeptical of this place before I tried it. I've never been a huge fan of "noodle meals." But my girlfriend got a $9 for $20-worth voucher from BuyWithMe.com . She'd been dying to go, and it was going to be cheap, so I was all out of excuses. I got the Chili Chicken Ramen and I was absolutely blown away. Chicken was tender, the veggies were fresh, crispy and delicious, and the dish had the perfect level of spice. I can't wait to come back again in the middle of winter. It's a perfect cold-fighting meal. To finish, we had the coconut ice cream. Also amazing. Wagamama won me over, and I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Joe B.

Last Saturday night was only my second time ever eating at Wagamama, but I think I'll be back in the future! Good food in a fun atmosphere with excellent service. The place seemed busy when we walked in, but the hostess offered us a pick of a table or a window. We chose the latter. Our drink orders were taken promptly. I ended up having the salmon teriyaki with udon noodles, but we started with the sweet potato fries. Now, these were some of the best sweet potato fries that I have ever had, and I'm something of a sweet potato fry connoisseur. You wouldn't think that a place that serves mostly Westernized Asian entrees would even serve them, let alone do them well, but they really shined here! The dipping sauce left something to be desired (ketchup? raspberry aioli like at Beer Works at the airport?) but the fries themselves were great. My entree was perfect for eating with chopsticks. Salmon can be dicey sometimes because it's easy to over- or undercook, but they cooked it just right. There wasn't too much teriyaki sauce, which was nice, and the noodles were a very good compliment to the protein. Wagamama isn't for everyone. It certainly isn't for people who want to enjoy a quiet, semi-romantic dining experience (unless schmoozing with your lover amongst a couple dozen strangers is romantic to you). But it's good for a small group and a casual, fun dinner out!
(4)
Kristen R.

I hated the cafeteria atmosphere. I hated the bland, BLAND food. I hated the annoying, rotating waitstaff. "Yes, we've ordered. No, we don't want to chat with you." x5 Go upstairs to Shabu-Ya.
(1)
Kwan H.

I used to have a theory that if I was so hungry, everything I eat would taste good even if it didn't taste good in real life. This theory held true until proven wrong today by Wagamama. I hadn't eaten anything all day, and the food at Wagamama still managed to taste like rubber to me. I had No.36, some kind of a spicy chicken ramen in coconut-based soup. I would pick Nissin instant chicken ramen over this "ramen" in a second, and you will too. The soup was swallow-able, I give you that. But the rest... looked like your leftovers from lastnight's Chinese dumped together in a bowl. It tasted just how you'd expect it. My friend had the chicken katsu curry dish, which didn't look anything like katsu. They give you so so much rice and so little of the oily greasy fried chicken. I like to pick food off of other people's plate.... not today... not that greasy chicken katsu with that green sauce over it. The line here is deceiving and there seems to always be one. Seriously, expect no more than an Americanized fast-food quality version of Japanese food with zero attempt from the chef to make it near edible. The service was tardy and lacking. But I mean, there were about 3 or 4 servers running around serving about 100 people. It just wasn't going to happen. The people next to us asked them to turn down the A/C that was blowing in their face and they flat out said no. The people were shocked. All in all, you're going to try this place anyway 'cause it looks different and cute and all that... but don't come back and complain. I told you so.
(1)
Calli C.

Wagamama's is that clean, upstanding stalwart co-worker that can always be counted on. A little robotic and impersonal, perhaps, but you can always be assured that it will deliver. Wagamama's does just that - provides you with a decent sized portion of a relatively healthy, almost always satisfying meal. And if say, your meal comes with some surprises (metal twist-ties among my yaki soba, in my case), you can also be assured that the manager will apologize, take your meal away and provide you with a new one, free of charge. Nothing tastes better than free food. I do like the fact that they have a variety of equally yummy gluten-free items, which is good for my poor gluten-intolerant friends. But as I, with my mouth open to all food, gluten-laden and not, welcome Wagamama's... as long as there are no more twist-ties.
(3)
Rebecca S.

I first encountered Wagamama in London a few years ago, and as far as I can tell, all of their locations feature the same menu and decor. I actually like the sleek cafeteria style. Their menu is a bit spotty, some things are quite good, while others ... more on that in a bit. What the menu is not is authentically Japanese. Since they don't claim otherwise, this is fine with me. Their yasai katsu curry is addictive, and their beef miso ramen really hits the spot when it's cold outside. Having lived in northern Japan and eaten many a warming bowl of miso ramen, I can attest that Wagamama's ramen is unlike what the Japanese would recognize as miso ramen. This dissimilarity was confirmed by one of my Japanese friends, who makes a mean ramen soup himself and who found Wagamama's to be unusual, but tasty. Not his favorite, and "not Japanese style" but acceptable. Trust me, he has high standards. OK, so the curry dish and noodle soups get the thumbs up. Some of their other dishes do not: the duck gyoza were hard, dry, and tasteless. Their tori kara age were similarly shriveled and unsatisfying. To sum up: some of their stuff is great, some not so. And it's a European take on Japanese dishes, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
(3)
Hyppolite F.

We ate Chicken Ramen and Duck Dumplings. - The dumplings were not bad but ridiculously small. - The Chicken Ramen was digusting: it was watery, the meat was tasteless, the vegetables were too few, the noodles tasted like low-grade instant noodle. The waitress told us that the dishes are all cooked to order, so they may arrive at different times. I believe it is a cheap trick to avoid planning. Do not eat there if you like Japanese food. Let me rephrase this: do not go there if you like food.
(1)
Trish F.

Hello.. I'd like to start off with some bland, with an entree of bland, and OOH I'd take the blandest dessert you got. With some green tea please. My friend Kat convinced me to give Wagamama a 2nd chance (see my Faneuil Hall Wagamama review from last year.. I think it may have been my first 1 star review). She had loved it when she lived in England, so she was sad that the FH Wags experience was so disappointing. I agreed because she had that pleading look in her eyes.. and I'm obviously a good friend. HAH! And as any good friend would do.. I sat through the meal.. not really complaining.. until you know.. after we left the restaurant. We started off with the meat gyoza. If "meh" (the feeling, not the person) were steamed dough stuffed with meat, it would be this gyoza. The standard sauce was more exciting than this dish. For my entree, I got the yaki soba. Whoa, if it weren't for the pickled red ginger, I could swear that all I was eating was noodles in a very bland sauce. Kat got the ebi kare lomen, supposedly the "hottest" thing on the menu.. although she definitely didn't feel that way.. she enjoyed her dish for the most part. Our waitress was a sweet girl. She mentioned that because everything is cooked to order.. the dishes might come back in a wacky order.. which I think is a crock of sh*t because other restaurants cook fresh stuff all the time but they manage to make the meal succession of appetizer, entree, and dessert work. But the food was fast and she checked in with us enough. And she didn't yell at me for putting my messenger bag on the bench next to me (see again FH Wags review). Sigh.. Wagamama.. oh Wagamama.. I may come back and try one more dish.. the yasai katsu curry rice dish sounds gooood.. with sweet potato and eggplant.. but if I do venture back, it'll defintiely be for take out. I just can't bare to be in this place.
(2)
Erin C.

The food here is almost inedible. Everything is either way too salty or really bland. The noodles are completely soggy. It tastes like the cafeteria lunch ladies from my elementary school tried to make Asian food by reheating frozen dinners. Everything about this place is about marketing...no consideration has been put into making the food taste good.
(1)
Retro G.

It's not a quiet intimate place but fun for the fam and groups -- love the salmon ramen. My carnivore family members loves the ribs and steak satay. Great for people with allergies and the lactose intolerant. Fresh urban edgy decor.
(4)
Ed M.

Grabbed lunch here and the cafeteria style seating is unique and an interesting experience. The waitress seemed to be in a big rush to get us the hell out of there, especially when this exchange happened: Waitress - And would you like to try some dessert? Ed - Yes, we will split the Chocolate Cake Waitress - *walks away* here you go *puts the check between us* Chances are she heard "check" when I said "chocolate", so no big deal really, but if she was not in such a rush to get us out of there, we would have enjoyed some chocolate cake. What we had: The Green Tea was free but the leaves are loose at the bottom. The Duck Gyoza was fantastic. The Seafood Ramen was great. The Chicken Kare Lomen was awesome. I wish I could report what the chocolate cake tasted like. Our food was real tasty and for that alone, we would go back, but there are certainly a few downsides to it.
(3)
Shaina S.

I like the fact that you sit with other people and that the windows are all glass so you're eating right there in the world surrounded by strangers, but I don't get why the servers, who seem perfectly capable, are forced to dumb it down by scrawling numbers all over your placemat and excuse the chefs for their inability to understand timing. I'm guessing it's probably just an international way of doing things. But I agree with Aaron C.- there is nothing leisurely about a meal here. The food was good and there was a pretty large selection with plenty of vegetarian options (for my vegetarian best friend who I went with) and since I've heard rumors of Kotobukiya and possibly the accompanying food court closing down, Wagamama will be seeing a lot more of me to fulfill my ramen (fusion?) needs.
(3)
Melanie P.

I am sitting at home feening for their chili chicken ramen & cursing the fact that you have to place a minimum order of $25 to get delivery. Booooooo! Anyway, I love the chili chicken ramen & am totally convinced that it has healing properties. However, I only give it 3 stars b/c thats the ONLY thing I like. Everything else I've tried, including the basic yaki soba has been totally underwhelming, bland, and sometimes cold! I am addicted to potstickers also, but I think these might have been the worst potstickers i've had from a restaurant. They weren't very full of filling, and they were rather expensive. I have definitely had better from a bag that I pulled out of my freezer. I am not even sure that I would say that the chili chicken ramen tastes particularly Asian--but i just think this dish is good--well flavored, perfect amounts of noodles, chicken, broth, flavor, and bean sprouts......just don't have authentic in your mind when you come in. Also, I don't find it particularly spicy, but it is possible that the spice is what helped it actually have some flavor, since most of the other stuff i've tried is, like I said, pretty bland. I also do think its overpriced, and this is about the only thing I would bother paying their prices for.
(3)
Lindsey P.

I intended to eat at Shabu-Ya tonight, which is upstairs in the same building as Wagamama. But the gorgeous smells wafting from Wagamama were too great to walk away from. I recommend the beef ramen and edamame. My fiance ordered the chicken curry. Also good, though the salad left much to be desired. I wasn't so happy with the noise level and shared service (no individual server - just catch someone's attention). But it's Friday night in Harvard Square, so no major complaints.
(3)
Matt K.

Looking for a reasonably priced lunch joint thats a bit more than the ordinary? Wagamama is the place. Today I went there with a friend of mine from Harvard. We each got a full meal and the entire bill including tip was under $25! My only complaints are that the seating is not all that private- just long benches. You will likely be stuck next to another couple having lunch, which is fine as long as you are not trying to have a private convo.
(4)
Peter B.

This is a revised review. I took off a star because the service has gone down hill over the past couple of years at this location. The food is yummy, fresh, and fast. They keep the place very clean and the lighting and seating arrangements are excellent. There is an open kitchen which is a plus. The location is great; easy to get to, wheel chair accessible, and close to a lot of great things to do in this awesome neighborhood. The menu has grown and evolved. They are very creative and the consistent high quality ingredients and attention to every detail in the food experience make it a good value. Things that should be crunchy are always crunchy. Flavors that should be featured are always featured and flavors that shouldn't steal the show never do. Foods that have their own interesting flavor are allowed to shine. One of the best items on the menu us also one of the cheapest : chicken ramen. It will totally fill you up with yummy noodles, chicken, miso broth, greens and more. I always order a side order of Japanese pickles with whatever I get. Delicious little starter. Funky but addictive, the crunch of these pickles. It's too loud for me in here. It's the space and nothing can be done about it but it would be helpful if the servers made an effort to speak clearly. The turn-over of servers here proves to be a problem. I've spent more time here than most of the servers and they're increasingly confused about the menu and service. It is strange to be more informed about what to expect than the person serving you.
(3)
Denise P.

This is a fun restaurant. We loved the foods, they are with unique taste. And, spicy. The fruit drinks are fresh. I love the ginger and carrot cocktails. Yummy. If you are looking for comfortable seating do not choose this dining site, the chairs are hard type-benches and picnic- styled tables. D patnod acupuncture D
(4)
Bethany B.

#36 and #49 elicited nothing but slurping and smiles from the 2 of us on an effing cold 1.1.09. It saved our day.
(5)
Mar O.

Ah, I'm bummed. This chain came recommended to me by a friend, and I was excited to try it on a fly-by trip through Boston. It might not be fair to write a review based on one try, but any noodle joint worth its salt must be able to do one thing. It must be able to cook noodles correctly, and unfortunately, my spicy beef miso ramen came with noodles that were just shy of mush. So it didn't matter that the broth had no depth, and the food was expensive for what you were getting. I guess it's going to have be new york or nothing if I want my ramen fix. Too bad I live in D.C.
(2)
Jeremy K.

was just there over the frozen Saturday, and let me tell you yelpers out there, no much has changed. they still have their wacky 'mysterious writing on your table" secret language and they still bring stuff out when they want too, but all in all its fine. i was looking forward to a roasted pork/ramen dish, but alas, no pork, so stand by chicken came into effect. i got the chili one this time, it was nice. mer got two orders of edamame, the salt ones were pretty salty, the chili ones were good too. once in a while i guess is nice. wish their seating didnt hurt to use.
(3)
Taylor M.

So glad to have a Wagamama's State side! This is one of my favorite restaurants in London, and I miss it! You can't go wrong with whatever you get here. Soon, one meal will become your favorite, and then you will crave it. I wish that they had Elderflower to drink like they do in London. Oh well, still great.
(5)
Kelly G.

If Ikea and a Chinese food restaurant had an illicit love child, it would be Wagamama-- which for the record, means naughty (but clever) child-- I asked the server. It's got the look and feel of Swedish Ingenuity goes Asian-- the little wooden benches, the big semi-abstract wall paintings, the total lack of music or other background noise. It even sort of feels like a little warehouse full of cheap things that you need to assemble. That said-- some thoughts. It is High School Cafeteria LOUD in there. The acoustics are terrible and there's no music so all you hear is the blah blah blah of everyone around you. If it's crowded you're rubbing elbows with the people next to you-- not in a communal hibachi-steakhouse sort of way....more of the city-bus sort of way. The food is pretty good-- the servers know their stuff-- especially Justin who helped me pick out something not too spicy. I ordered the melon fruit juice which looked and tasted like frothy pink orange juice...eh...I told myself it was good for me and used the straw like a champ. GF ordered the duck gyoza which were a little too fried for me-- I like my gyoza pan fried, not carnival food fried. My entre came (the Chicken Udon) - I guess I'd never had Udon noodles before because I didn't really like them-- which wasn't really their fault. The pickled ginger sprinkled on top was a little off-putting. But the meat : fried egg : veggie ratio was pretty right on. I'm sure if I'd liked the noodles, it would have helped. GF got the steak teriyaki....which had a few too many sesame seeds on it for my taste and the sauce was really salty. Desert, however, was the real winner-- the highlight of my meal. I got the coconut ice cream with the mango sauce and toasted coconut topping. I liked it so much, I seriously considered taking it in a to-go cup....but I resisted.
(2)
M R.

I haven't been to back to Wagamama. Why am I writing a review then? Because the second-hand reviews I've heard from friends are scathing! They're angry! They feel betrayed because the place looked so damned cool! They wish they would have gone to a food truck! So I guess this place hasn't improved.
(1)
nick d.

According to Wagamama's website, their name means 'naughty/wilful child' in Japanese. I was pretty excited to see Wagamama open in Cambridge because it reminded me of going to their first restaurants when I was living in England 8 years ago or so. The atmosphere is cool and laid back and and the food is fresh and tasty. I wouldn't say the menu really takes any chances, but it's a slightly different angle on Japanese cuisine in a package that Anglophiles like me will enjoy.
(3)
Rebecca D.

While this place feels slightly like a factory, rather than a restaurant, i have had numerous good experiences here. They have long, communal tables, think production line. When you order, all they want to know is the number of the dish you want, which they then write on your paper placemat and key into their electronic touchpad. It's a unique approach. However, this keeps the service fast, prices down, and the mistakes minimal. I enjoy their eggplant and vegetable salad, as well as their many great noodle-y vegetarian options. In sum, Wagamama is a great place to grab a quick bite in Harvard square, however I wouldn't bring a date here.
(4)
Cy K.

Generally ok food - filling, but nothing to write home about. The killer for this place as a server sticking his ass (literally touching) in the face of a friend while taking an order. When asked to move the waiter refused and said - "I wont me here long - take it easy". Completely unacceptable on any level.
(1)
Ryan V.

Yucko!! This is probably the worst place to have ramen. The only people who come here are the Harvard college kids who don't know how to make a bowl of ramen for themselves. Calling this place an asian restaurant would be insulting to all other asian restaurants. The ramen broth and the ramen itself was bland. The chopsticks they provide you was too short. Other than the fake soy sauce, there was no additional condiments to add to the bland tasting broth. The server was unattentive and rude due to volume of people they serve everyday. You would have a better experience by buying a .89 cent bag of ramen at 7-Eleven which is right down the street and making it yourself. You'd save yourself the wait time, money and your taste buds!
(1)
Jennifer N.

Wagamama gets the job done. Sure, it feels a bit like eating in a cafeteria. Yes, weird things are incessantly scribbled onto your placemat. And yes, the food does come out at random times (you could finish your entire meal before your companions have received theirs). But if you want decent relatively quick food (I get #40, the ginger chicken noodles), Wagamama isn't a bad option. Oh, and please, don't compare this one to the London locations-- you are bound to be disappointed.
(3)
Due H.

It was ok. I ordered yaki soba twice in attempt to reclaim an amazing yaki soba I had in korea near yonsei university. My expectations were too high. My friends ordered various meat dishes. I think the portions were pretty small and none of them raved about the taste of the food so I assumed it was palatable but not awesome. Prices are a little bit high. My yaki soba was 10 dollars and many of the meat dishes are 11-15 dollars. A little high for my taste if it isn't excellent. For seating you can either face each other or face the window. A friend of mine interpreted as "do you want to be social or antisocial"... I hope that helps in your decision making
(3)
Cate K.

I did go back again, just to be sure. I still found it bland, but the service was better and it wasn't packed to the gills. I think I would have liked this place if I had gone 6 or 7 years ago, before I was introduced to the glorious, much-maligned, endorphin-producing hot chili pepper. But once you get to know the world of hot, luscious capsaicin... it's like Neo taking the red pill and staying in Wonderland. You can't go back to bland!
(2)
Tom E.

Let me tell you all the story... 15 years ago, a few months after it opened, I ate with my sister at the original Wagamama by the British Museum in London. It was a revolution and a revelation. Udon, Ramen, Soba, Gyoza? What were these exotic strange foods? Sitting on communal tables! Oh my, how cosmopolitan and edgy. I would've given it 5 stars without a thought. Wagamama was an instant hit and long ago left the safe clutches of Alan Yau's control and became this 100+ international chain. He at least bestowed upon it a sense of cool attitude, rule-breaking methods and great modern decor. If you're in London soon make sure to check out his other ventures - Hakkasan for Chinese, Yauatcha for cocktails and dim sum (both winners of Michelin stars), Busaba Eathai for Thai, Ping Pong for dim sum and tea, Sake No Hana for Japanese and Cha Cha Moon for Chinese fast food. The effort that goes into designing his places is phenomenal - it's like eating in modern art and often it can be the cheapest place in town. But, the sad fact is that Wagamama was his first and his baby and it was famously unhappily taken from him by investors to become this chain. Now.... I'm back at Wagamama 15 years later for my second ever time and now in the USA too. How does it compare? Lackluster. Very. It doesn't take a genius though to work out that this is more about where UK dining was 15 years ago and how far it and me have come since. Look around you in Boston.... are udon and ramen really that exotic these days that you need the menu to explain them to you and then you have no issue paying twice the going rate? Is Asian-Fusion food something new and exciting? No, it's everywhere. So yeah, Wagamama was a great thing in 1993 in the UK when the alternative option was Pizza Hut. Now, go just for the decor - everything else is a letdown. We've moved on. Still no flying car, though.
(2)
Daniel D.

"Food may not come out same time" (sic). The food is fine. Portions are good - you'll feel full after a noodle dish and some pot stickers. Their apple/lime juice or whatever the combination is, is really really good. It's energizing and sweet and pulpy.... delicious. Service is fine, but food will come out at different times, which makes the restaurant bad for groups.
(3)
Waltham G.

Miso Beef Ramen!!!! I've been going to Wagamama since it's opened in Boston and i always order miso beef ramen - I love it. It's irreplaceable on a cold day and is great on a hot day as well.
(4)
Tim B.

If I could I'd give Wagamama's 2.5 stars. I went in here with high hopes, and was immediately let down as soon as I saw the place. Their slogan is "Positive eating. Positive Living" But there's nothing positive about the atmosphere. You're in a glass fish tank, with beautiful views of.... the hallway. The table was clean, the floor was sticky. You're seated at benches with a paper place mat. The waiter/waitress has to lean over you to write your order number on your mat so the server knows who got what. It' has more of a bar than a restaurant feel (maybe on purpose). I found it kind of annoying that you didn't have a dedicated server. You had somebody take your order, somebody bring it out, somebody refill your drink. You never knew who to ask for what. On the other hand the staff was SUPER knowledgeable about the meals, knew everything that was in every dish and answered every question I had (I'm curious). I found the meals expense (9-15 for an entree), but you left feeling full. I think I agree with the other reviewers, if I was in the mood for noodles I would go there but other than that I don't think I'll come back.
(2)
Aaron C.

I finally gave Wagamama a visit after passing by so many times and hearing the hype that it's very good. But I was sadly disappointed after my first visit. I give Wagamama props for its simplistic approach to its setting and menu, that's what attracted me the most. It's supposed to be a sit down, but it feels more like a fast food where I should leave right away after finishing my meal. Everything is so mechanical like a factory, from the writing down of a number after being seated, to the writing down of a number after ordering, to a X off after receiving your order. I don't remember what I ordered exactly because it was nothing special, but it had to do with ramen. The portions are very small and not worth the price paid. The taste was very weird too, in an unappetizing way. I wasn't even close to full after dinner! For dessert we ordered the mango ice cream. That's probably the best experience I've had at Wagamama. Other than that there's nothing else to it. The cooks aren't even of the nationality that I expected at a asian fusion restaurant... They were mexicans. But nonetheless I wouldn't really recommend this restaurant to anyone. My cafeteria stir fry wouldve tasted better
(2)
Nikki G.

Decided to go to Harvard Square and stopped in to grab a bite to eat. Walked up and saw that there was a line. My fiance and I weren't dying of hunger so we decided to wait. A hostess came up to us and told us that the wait was only about 5 minutes ( a bunch of people were paying and would be leaving soon). Were seated shortly after that. Waitress was nice. Now, I understand the whole thing of preparing food fresh and having it come out at different times, but i received my food a good 20 minutes before my fiance. I didn't want to eat without him (i would have gone to wagamama alone if I didn't). So we talked while my food got cold. I've never had any timing issues before this trip to this location. That's why it's only getting 3 stars. He got the yaki soba and I think that's the one that takes the longest. A couple next to us also got yaki soba and they were still waiting for theirs as we left. Anything with rice or any noodle bowls come out quick, so if you're looking for something fast, stick with those. The food was good and our waitress was nice but getting our food so far apart was the deal breaker for me.
(3)
Daniel C.

I had the Salmon Soba and I was not disappointed. 'Good portion size at a reasonable price. The vegetables were clearly fresh and the salmon was well cooked, with one side fried nice and crispy. I also love the communal seating--it's somehow so modern and clean and you can chat with your neighbors without feeling like you're intruding. I have a couple complaints though: The service was clearly so calculated and regimented that it felt almost robotic. When you sit down, the server writes a number on your placemat so that other servers can find where to deliver your order. Your entree number is also written down so that they know which items go where. Then after everyone's food is delivered, a server comes by to ask how your food is, and writes a checkmark on your placemat so the other servers will know that you've been visited. It's all very disingenuous, in a way. Also, the menu declares that absolutely no substitutions are allowed, which is a bit frustrating with this kind of place. I feel like most ramen or noodle shops will allow you to swap tofu instead of chicken, or shrimp instead of pork. That would be unacceptable here. Picky eaters be warned--there may not be anything on this menu that you want.
(4)
Jen H.

This receives the same review as the Faneuil Hall location. That's the thing about chains... you know what you're going to get in terms of quality, regardless of location (on average). The thing that I liked a little more about this location than the F.H. one... less tourists! -- 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)
Pat C.

If you been to the one in London...it's the exact same fare. When you first walk in and look at the menu...it's a pretty exciting experience. Clean, contemporary, lots of seating, open area...very cool. Then you look at the menu...and still very exciting. They use so many authentic food terms, they even have a little glossary telling you what all the ingredients mean. You start thinking this may be the real deal. But then the food comes out. Yikes. The best way I can describe it is they've got all the familiar asian ingredients...but thrown together haphazardly. The flavor somewhat resembles what you think you ordered...but kinda just vaguely. I ordered the Miso Ramen...but couldn't really find the miso part. Anyways...I still give this 2 stars versus 1 cause...sometimes, I'm just in the mood for some euro-asian cuisine...aren't you? I mean, what else you gonna eat around here?
(2)
Liz B.

I like this place for its consistancy. I always order the kare lomen, japanese pickles, raw salad, and the specialty desert. The consistancy of the food is also true for take-out. I just warn that when it says spicey... it is. When I've gone with friends they have tried the rice dishes such as the chicken katsu curry which they always say is dry. A safe bet is to get the soup. As for atmosphere, I like the people watching and the close quarters with strangers next to you- However, it gets a little creepy when people who are on a no-so-happening date or an old married couple sit next to you and just listen in on your conversation all night. Eww. Get water and a salad or small appetizer to avoid splurging. The meals are pretty good size for me- a girl but not for my bf- big man.
(4)
Hannie L.

So, I definitely get why not everyone likes Wagamama. The bench seating, informal service, and food that comes out as it is ready leads to a more 'downscale' experience. HOWEVER, I'm a huge fan of the Chicken Itame. It is a super flavorful and yummy soup with chicken, veggies and rice noodles in a spicy thai broth. It just makes me happy. Additionally, any restaurant that serves edemame gets extra points in my book. I have also tried other dishes, namely a couple of the fried rice dishes. I would have to say these have much less flavor and punch and I'd be much less of a Wagamama fan if I'd only ever tried these. My suggestion: Try Wagamama one more time and get the Chicken Itame! Then make your final decision. =)
(4)
Nick P.

Good food, especially if you are a big fan of cilantro and bean sprouts. If you are expecting this to be authentic ramen like what you would find in Japan you are going to be disappointed. First, none of the ramen dishes are pork based, as is standard in Tokyo. Second, the flavors are a little off as cilantro has been added very heavy handidly. With that said, the food was still pretty good and very hearty and filling. While I give the food a 3, the service, however, I would only give a 2. It took a long time to order our food, and then when it came we got apps first, my drink second, my meal third, my wife's drink fourth, and then my wife's meal last after everything else was finished (we shared my meal, I'm not selfish!).
(2)
Lauren R.

I actually like Wagamama. I was a little surprised to see how negative a lot of the reviews were. I've eaten at both the Harvard Square and Government Center locations, and although it's never been an overwhelmingly amazing experience, I don't really have a whole lot to complain about. I had dinner here on a Friday night not too long ago with a friend. We split a bottle of red wine, some gyoza (dumplings), and ramen dishes. I had the miso beef ramen, which I enjoyed. The beef was well-cooked and the broth was spicy without being overwhelmingly so, even if it was a little oily. To be sure, none of it seemed to be particularly authentic in the context of a specific country's cuisine, but if you view it as more of an Asian fusion experience the food stops being offensively inaccurate and becomes satisfactory. Maybe it was the half a bottle of wine I had, but I had a great time.
(3)
Bootz B.

how do you screw up sticky rice? why is a bowl of ramen noodles that retails for .59 cents at your local grocery store priced at $13.00 bucks here? why is our waitress a crackhead? what is that stuff thats stuck to the side of my bowl and why is my bowl dirty? why am i sitting so close to somebody that i don't know? why did i just drop $30 for food that was cold and disgusting? why am i still hungry? i left here with a lot of questions. wagamama sucks.
(1)
Erica S.

I heard a lot about this place before I finally made it, for better or for worse. I'd heard that it was amazing over in London, but not so great here. Sadly, I have never been to London so I guess I have to *sigh* base my Wagamama's experience solely on their Harvard Square location. The food was good but not great. I had a vegetarian spicy noodle stir fry that was mostly yummy, but too heavy on the sauce. My dining buddy had fried sweet potato and eggplant patties topped with a yummy green sauce and served with rice. Damn they were good, though I could feel my arteries clogging with every deep fried bite... If I go back, I think I will try one of their noodle soups-- I was eyeing the person's next to me throughout dinner. Service was weird. As I placed my order, the waitress kept reaching over my shoulder to write codes (for what I was ordering, I presume?) on my placemat. It was a little awkward, her arm in my face, me confused and not sure what I was getting myself into. It felt like "hip gone wrong," and was too chaotic for my taste. I did, though, really like being seated with others at a long table. It's almost cafeteria style in feel, but also makes it more likely to swap food recommendations with a neighbor or interact with those around you. Plus, it's good for eavesdropping/ people watching. It would be great for a casual date, and not so great for a romantic night out with your honey. 3 stars for okay food and weird service.
(3)
John W.

Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe it was too expensive. Maybe i would have appreciated the soup if i had gone on a colder day. Maybe the hype surrounding the latest addition to Harvard Sq was exaggerated. Maybe my waitress was just in a bad mood. Maybe ... You see, I wanted to love this place. I wanted to vow that I'd come here several times a week to try the many different noodle soups. I wanted this to be my new favorite spot. I give it three stars.
(3)
Zhiling T.

Great place for ramen. I had the Wagamam seafood ramen which was delicious, bits of salman, squid, shrimp, whitefish, with very tasty broth. My husband had the pad thai which he didn't think was sweet enough but had a nice texture to it. I liked the chili sauce they provided at the table.
(4)
Jasmine C.

I get what fusion might be and I did try giving it a second and even third chance but it was just not doing it for me. firstly i dont mind paying $10 for a bowl of noodles, hey, i'll even pay $20 if it's a good bowl. but the noodle soup i had barely had taste and it was just a strange kind of fusion that didn't really whet my appetite. The gyoza was ok, nothing special and again overpriced. Had to say i was REALLY excited when Wagamama came to Boston, but terribly disappointed with what I got. the second star is given since they had a good selection of japanese beer there. that's it.
(1)
Laureli K.

I was really surprised when I went to Wagamama. I've heard about Wagamama for ages (since the chain is expanding to more and more locations on the East coast) and when I went I was expecting to get a reasonable bowl of noodles, because... how hard is it to make a good bowl of noodles? But the noodles I had were greasy - so greasy that the flavor of the oil competed with the (barely) spicy Chili Man sauce. There was a pretty large pile of noodles on the plate, but there was no presentation - it was just a pile of noodles. The Yasai Itame also suffered from excessive oil, this time floating on top of the most generic vegetable broth that I have paid $10+ for. Neither of the sauces had strong flavors - the salt and sweetness balance was NOT right. Each dish tasted like a muddled combination of flavors, rather than a thought out menu item. The melon juice (which is actually apple, orange, and melon juice) was the highlight of the meal, and I would have been more excited if it hadn't cost $3.95. The service was okay - kind of fun to watch the waitstaff run around typing. Though being asked multiple times if we had received all of the food was a little off-putting. I'm glad that I went - because now I can happily schlep across the city to some real noodle restaurants and enjoy delicious Asian style noodles without any lingering doubts about Wagamama. (Its important to know that real noodle shops make really good noodles - some actually have legitimate ramen in the ramen noodle soup - but not here.) If I can't get to a good noodle spot, I'm staying home to make some ramen on the stove, because then I'll get noodles that have flavor.
(2)
Bret R.

The atmosphere is that of a school cafeteria. I ordered the spicy beef ramen with a side of rice and fresh watermelon juice. The juice was good, ramen OK, and sticky rice terrible. I would've given this place 3 stars except that meal cost $30. Ridiculous.
(2)
wolf t.

Workmanlike noodle dishes in a clean, hip atmosphere. I'd like to give this place 3 stars, but the service drags it down. Every time I have visited, the staff has been indifferent, abusive, unhelpful, inconsiderate, and just plain rude. If it happened once, I could write it off as a fluke. Now I'm starting to suspect that they go out of their way to hire jerks.
(2)
l. a.

i am surprised that this place has three stars. i first fell in love with wagamama during a trip to London and the was stoked when i learned they had locations here in Boston. i LOVE the Japanese curry at this place and find the service at this location to be excellent. its never too crowded and if you sit at the window, its great for people watching. while its not gourmet, fine dining, its definitely consistently good. i would check it out if you havent!
(4)
G S.

Went to Wagamama the Monday they opened for lunch. It was okay. I got the chicken katsu curry rice dish. Aside from the yummy fried panko chicken cutlet, I could have made the rest of the dish at home. The curry tasted like any old curry you would get anywhere. Fine. Edible. Not my most favorite. I think in winter when it's cold out I'll try one of their noodle soups but until then, I have no strong urge to go back.
(3)
Matt K.

Meh. Way too pricey. Bland ramen, barely any flavor whatsoever. Dumpling sauce is too soyey.
(2)
Patrick B.

I've never seen a menu with so many disclaimers. "Our side dishes are not appetizers!" it barks, and "some dishes may arrive later than others, but don't wait to eat!" Just slurp up your soup and leave your friends behind with the bill, I guess. Actually, that's not a bad plan. With so many negative reviews, Wagamama did not inspire a visit, but when my boss revealed two buy 1 get 1 free meal coupons, I decided to chance it. Normally I'd order a bowl of miso ramen, but I'm doing the carb-conscious thing these days, so I decided on one of three salad choices, the Ata-taka Chicken Salad ($9) with ginger chicken strips on bean sprouts, red onion, and baby spinach. Our eager server gave us a run down on the disclaimers, took our tap water order, and scampered off. In very small print it says that green tea is free of charge with a meal order, so we got teas as well. Then, as we ordered our meals, the weird stuff happened. Without warning, our waiter reached in front of us and wrote some kind of hieroglyphics on our paper place mats. As efficient as this system may be, I'm always a bit distracted when a waiter invades my space, especially when the whole order is done on a big hand held computer thing anyway. What's the point of writing stuff? It's like asking a robotic toaster to make you toast and the toaster hands you a form to fill out first. While my companions' various soups came out all at once, I was the lucky guy who had to wait. My salad looked pretty good, maybe not as substantial as I would have liked, but warm and fresh. The dressing was actually delicious, and I added some spicy oil to it to give it a kick. The chicken was fresh, not really in strips, but in bits. There were only a few sprigs of cilantro, so if lots of fresh herbs and spices are your thing you may be disappointed. I cleaned my plate and felt pretty satisfied, but I must say that most of that satisfaction was due to the coupon. If I were to pay $16 instead of $8, I probably would have felt cheated. And that's probably the biggest complaint here--it's just too damned overpriced, especially when you're at long communal tables with waiters reaching in front of you to doodle on your place mat.
(3)
Chris H.

This is my go-to noodle place in Cambridge. It's a bit on the expensive side for what you get, in my opinion, but it's still tasty, and the portions are satisfyingly large. I prefer the pan fried noodles over the ramen, because I think the former has more flavor, but both are good depending on your mood. Green tea is free. Service is pretty fast, and the place is huge, so even during busy times, I've never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table.
(4)
Dan S.

Man, I wish I loved this place. There is a serious lack of noodle houses in Cambridge. Unfortunately, Wagamama is expensive and serves up a super greasy bowl of noodles and broth. On a good note, the service is friendly, but unfortunately cannot make up for the poor quality of the food.
(2)
Iska B.

I was pretty excited to try this place having heard good things about its international branches...plus I love love Japanese cuisine. So the space is cool. Really modern. You kinda share tables like it's a cafeteria but when we went there weren't so many people there so we weren't near anyone. I like the space under the table to put your coat and/or purse: useful The staff are nice and are servers were cheery enough. It was of course annoying to get all our food at different times, but they do explain why they do that so I can't really bitch it. What I am going to bitch about was the fact that when I ordered tea, I only got it one weeny little cup at a time and then it took forever to get another one. Why just a cup? Why not a whole pot? Doesn't that make more sense?? I drank that weeny little cup down in one gulp practically. Annoying as hell. The way they write on your place mat is kinda annoying too. The food was pretty good though. I had the yakisoba and my companions both had ramen bowls. Nothing spectacular but I thought it was pretty tasty and not too overpriced. The portions are decent as well. I did like the little side dishes the most. Pickled things! YUM. Overall I'm up in the air about whether I'd come back here again or not. I feel like I can get the same food elsewhere for cheaper and also get a damn pot of green tea to go with it.
(3)
Julie C.

I came here a second time cuz the first time i really loved it. this place was busy! i think more so cuz oktoberfrest was going on and there were just tons of ppl all round. i ordered the same thing i ordered last time..number 35. and my bf got 36. the waitress told us, our meals will come out at different time since its made fresh..wow, what a statement, she wasn't lying!! my bf meals came out like 5 mins after he ordered..and i sat there watching him finish his bowl before i even got mine..i kept looking over at the kitchen and noticed there was a bowl there. but no one was picking it up. i prayed and hope it want mine. cuz it was getting cold and it was there for like 15 mins!!! my bf kept wanting me to share his bowl but i refused. not once did our server come over and say anything. i couldnt even find her to ask where my food was. my bf was facing the kitchen, so he kept an eye for my meal. then our server came over and said they still havent brought out your meal..umm NO! do you see it in front of me?!?!?! (HUFF) she walks over to kitchen counter and lo and behold, the bowl that had been sitting there for now 20 mins was MINE!!!!! it better not come out cold was all i was thinking. she took it out back and im sure they heated it up in the microwave or something. it was warm not hot. to comp us, we got free dessert..a nice incentive but i wish it was something more ....since i had to sit thru my bf eating his meal sans me!!. we ordered the coconut ice cream and it was heaven. the mango sauce was soo good and the toasted coconuts were a treat. overall, this place is good and i really like it but with an unattentive service, its very annoying!!
(3)
David J.

DO NOT GO HERE ALONE. Chances are you will be seated at the bench along the window overlooking JFK. Which is all fine and good, until the servers start invading your space, reaching over your shoulder to scribble things on your place mat. They also have an uncanny ability to approach from behind -- and I mean directly behind -- and bark at you as soon as you've taken a big bite of noodles. Is it that hard to take a line of approach at, say, 45 degrees? What's a courteous diner to do? I've actually responded to abrupt queries of "How's your food?" by tossing a thumbs-up into the air toward the disembodied voice floating somewhere behind my head. Almost wish I'd opted for a different finger. It's just not worth it for mediocre, pricey noodles. Come to think of it, don't go here at all. Porter Exchange is just one T stop away, after all.
(1)
Tracy K.

This place tries so hard to be super innovative, breaking the conventions of restaurants and all that. To a certain extent, I think that's cool. Then it just gets annoying, like the kid at school who tries too hard to be "unique" and "self-expressive." They have these long tables and they'll combine different groups of patrons, and they serve food in the order that it's prepared (so plates don't arrive at the same time). They write all over your paper placemat in secretive code (okay, so it's not secretive), and the waiters take your order with a hand-held machine. It gets you all hyped up, like the food you're going to have will taste good in some equally innovative and pioneering way. Instead, everything tastes like it was cooked by someone who's never tasted Asian food before. I understand that it's not supposed to taste like traditional Japanese food or anything, but I don't think it's supposed to taste bland. If you just focus on the food, it's very forgettable, but you remember this place because it's overpriced, and again, because it reminds you of that kid who tried too hard to be someone he's not.
(2)
Ryan G.

I decided to try out Wagamama on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised. It has a good location and is in a generally nice area. The building is clean inside and out. I dig the modern/minimalist feel, they really keep the place spotless. The seating and tables were comfortable despite their appearance, not to mention rock solid; I can't stand wobbly tables. When I went it wasn't that busy so I didn't mind the communal style seating as nobody was seated directly near my party. It wasn't noisy at all either. The menu is fairly diverse with a nice mixture of rather authentic Japanese offerings with a twist, not your typical deep fried American basics. I ordered the steamed chicken gyoza for a starter. The gyoza were flavorful and cooked nicely, plus they came with a yummy dipping sauce. For an entree I ordered the yakisoba, which consisted of a nice mix of various veggies, chicken, shrimp, and noodles. I found it somewhat odd that they topped the dish with shreds of gari. My only complaint is that the food was very salty even for Japanese cuisine, but tasty and flavorful nevertheless. All the food is fresh using quality ingredients, cooked to order, and they serve it up very quickly. The service was friendly and efficient. I was pleased that they offer free green tea and everything on the menu is relatively cheap, especially for the Cambridge area. I would say most of the food runs from $9 to $15 with most dishes hovering around $11. The food is fresh and tasty, the atmosphere is nice, and the service is good--definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Dana L.

I think that if you crossed Futurama with an Asian restaurant, you would probably get this place. You would probably get Bender as your waiter, which might not be entirely a bad thing. So we came here in the midst of a snowstorm, and were seated almost immediately (six of us). The waitress took our drink order, and scribbled something on our placemats as she put it into a handheld computer. I asked her if it was Japanese, but she said that it was actually a number (108 corresponds to water), and her handwriting is bad. All of the wait staff had to learn the numbers when the restaurant opened - apparently they are consistent across all Wagamamas. The drinks came out a few minutes after we ordered. When she came back, she took our food order. I ordered a fried rice with chicken, which came with a side of miso (77). Apparently the food comes out as its ready, and not all at once. This led to some of us waiting for a while while the others were served. If we were robots and had no manners, that might be fine. In our case, none of the food got too cold. My fried rice was a bit dry, but overall fairly tasty. My meal came to about $12 or so for food and a split appetizer. Overall, the food was ok, the service was pretty good, and the concept was interesting. Maybe the world won't be so bad when robots take over.
(3)
Mia D.

Oh, this just made me sad! I wanted to like this place, really I did. There's a place in SF that is like this but a hundred times better... I got the chili zen veggie noodles and it was lukewarm and the sauce was just weird, very bland and not spicy at all! blah!
(2)
Kat C.

After hearing that the Wagamama chain had opened a few restaurants in the Boston area, I thought I'd try the Cambridge location. Upon entering the building, there was already a line for a wait. At first, I thought, ok I expect this on a Friday night but then I looked inside and there were sooo many empty tables. Why in the world would you make people wait if you have empty seats to fill??? It's like waiting in line at a club/bar only to find that the place is totally empty when you get in. Once we sat down, I quickly looked over the menu. I was dying to try the ramen noodles, granted it's a bit pricey for a bowl of ramen but I thought by choosing the 'spicy miso beef noodles' it would be different. I will say it was different....and not in a good way. The beef served on top of the noodles was supposed to be marinated, however it was very bland. The broth was yes spicy but it was overly salty. It tasted like someone poured a whole jar of salt into my bowl. The only thing good was the ramen. The consistency was good but everything else that was supposed to complement it did not fare so well. To me, this place is overly hyped and over-priced for what you're really getting. I agree with one of the reviewers that you find the same thing that is served at Wagamama over at Porter Exchange for half the price and will be so much more satisfying in the end.
(1)
Vanilla P.

I love the concept of this place, but the execution sucks. After waiting for about 15 minutes for me and hubby to be placed at a community table, we had the lucky experience of waiting for an additional 15 minutes for our server to recognize that she had more people she was FORCED to talk to. Oh, drama llama, take me away....*Sigh* We ordered an appetizer, which was some little vegetarian dumpling. Yum. Hubby's meal came out first, and was flavorful and delicious. I had ordered some kind of noodle pan thing, and out came a bowl of coconut milk soup. That would be fine and dandy, but it wasn't what I ordered, and I just can't stomach the TANG-y flavor of coconut milk soup (did you see that, Ligaya?) I mentioned to my waitress that this wasn't the dish I had ordered, and I would like the other one, pretty please. Nicer than peach pie ala mode, I might add. OH, how I should have just eaten the milk soup. Here comes drama manager, followed by drama server, to take back the offending dish. After a very unpleasant additional 15 minute wait, I finally received my noodle dish. I felt obligated to eat every bite, since I felt like they felt I over reacted or something. Left full and feeling ashamed for asking for the dish I wanted. :(
(2)
Andra Z.

Honestly I expected to be impressed and unfortunately, I was not. I agree with most reviews that the ambiance is interesting and different, but that's where I would stop with good things to say. I should preface this with saying that perhaps I am not a noodle bar kinda girl. However, I was not impressed with anything I saw come out of the kitchen at Wagamama. I had rice noodles in a curried coconut milk, which was good on its own. The chicken was dry and the ingredients that were added to the soup had not been cooked previous to being deposited in the broth. The onions were not the sweet taste I expected because they had been sliced and plopped in the broth. My boyfriend had the fried rice, which I was contemplating ordering but I am glad I didn't. It was incredibly dry--I have a problem with that because when I order fried rice I expect a big bowl of greasy goodness. He and I both commented on how flavorless it was. Furthermore, the presentation of the curry chicken my friend had was incredibly unappetizing. I believe you eat first with your eyes, and I was unwilling to think of eating her dish simply because it looked bad. That and it was pretty expensive for my boyfriend and I to have a meal and alcohol. Sorry that was so long-winded. I would recommend going here if you're a big fan of noodle bars, but I would not for a nice dinner out.
(2)
Juli W.

I found this place to be pretty horrible - overpriced, with poorly flavored dishes. I've come here twice with friends and that is two times too many for me. Most lunch spots in Harvard Square average around $10 for a lunch box and are pretty decent. Their noodles are pricey and pretty much just flavored with soy sauce. The dumplings are nothing to write home about either. And the waitstaff try to be cool, but in reality provide slow service.
(1)
Tristan B.

Sigh.... Oh Wagamama.... You've let me down. I had a 50 dollar gift certificate with ye olde missus to split, and I was looking forward to eating there, despite the mediocre reviews. Pish posh, it'll be great, I thought to myself, locking up outside to a parking meter. The place still had a lot of people in it!! First off, I kinda dug the setting. It's nothing complex, but it's functional and looks like it fell out of some designer's interior design portfolio and got jammed into the back (while the menu itself with VAG Rounded continuing the poor portfolio piece). I can accept it. It was clean, bright and modern. Acceptable. We sat down and the waitress took our orders, and some other waitress brought us water. Okaay? Weird point #1. You get these nice white menus and then the waitresses just start writing all over them. It's rather unnerving to see these big ball point pen numbers on your menu. I wouldn't call myself a pro at Japanese food. I'm not a chef. I have, however, eaten a lot of it. It's my one true love and lust food. I have eaten it in Boston, Toronto, New York, Machida, Shinjuku, etc etc... Suffice to say, I have enough experience. I am also not an elitist in thinking that only Japanese can cook Japanese food, which is just plain not true. But let's not dwell on that. And the first mark off was the miso was off. It's hard to describe what was off by it, but most miso soup has a nice slightly salty flavor. This was almost approaching milky tasting for some reason. This kind of set the tone for the rest of the evening. Since the card didn't cover booze, we had to eat, and eat a lot. Four entries were ordered and as per usual "Since our items are cooked to order, they'll be coming out one at a time." First up was the Ebi (shrimp) Chili Men for 10 bucks. For something that was supposed to be chili, it wasn't very spicy. The veggies were muddled together, completely indistinguishable, and the wheat noodles were too thick. The shrimp was edible, but forgettable in flavoring. They brought out the Teriyaki Steak Soba. This was pretty expensive and I had higher hopes for it. I took a piece of steak, and immediately was put off by the texture. It was completely over done, no delicacy, and the sauce wasn't very teriyaki-like. The noodles weren't so much soba noodles as they were like, how can I say it, like they used spaghetti noodles instead. The flavor of the noodles actually was pretty palatable and edible, but not using actual soba noodles is a downer. Next up was the Asian style Fish Salad. I can't put it any other way, this was flat out terrible. The fish had absolutely no flavor, and the coconut overpowered every other flavor of the salad. I kept trying the fish, and I kept getting no flavor in return. Bad. Finally, the Chicken Katsu Curry came out, and it was just disappointing. The curry felt "dumbed down" and not very curry like, if you have ever had Japanese curry before, you know that taste. I've had better curry out of microwave bowls from Kotobukiya. The chicken was pretty tasty, but if you screw up fried chicken, you should be fired. The rice was too dry and crumbled everywhere, felt like it had been sitting for a while. The curry was also this weird green color instead of a normal brown, which made it rather unappetizing. I think Wagamama will have their hardcore fanbase (or those who have no clue what real Japanese food is). I'll go to Takemura down the street next time. As is, they might have a potential as a late night food joint, but otherwise, I'm going to say no.
(2)
Chris W.

Overpriced, fake Japanese food. I mean, I guess it's trying to be fake, but it was a little too much. I felt like I was in a cafeteria while in there. Sharing long tables with other random people. Assembly-line produced food. Noisy, large, brightly lit open space. $3.50 for edamame? Those soybeans cost $0.50 at the most. How much does it cost to steam and salt them? I got the chicken katsu curry. I guess there wasn't too much wrong you could have done with it. Very American friendly white meat chicken in standard curry sauce. I felt like I should've paid $8 at the most though, not the $11 they charged me. My friend got the yakisoba. It was so bad that he stopped eating it at a quarter of the way in. It tasted nothing like what yakisoba should taste like. Yakisoba is supposed to be slightly sweet and tangy. This yakisoba tasted like noodles stir fried with salt and pepper. It felt completely westernized, having no Asian identity at all. It wasn't even good. It got too salty and overpowering fast. Won't be returning here anytime soon. Especially since Porter Exchange Mall is less than a mile away.
(2)
Garret N.

The dishes were inventive, tasty and relatively affordable. Service wasn't the best but not terrible either. I'd come back again to sample some of the more unusual dishes.
(4)
Sara K.

Ramen isn't so good, but I do like the chicken teriyaki. However, it's very plain and reminds me of something I'd get at a food court except maybe healthier and of course, way more expensive.
(3)
Ariel A.

I went in December with a friend of mine and had a really good experience. It was a bit crowded, but not too bad - there is "cafeteria" style seating so you may end up next to someone you don't know. That didn't happen to us until we were about ready to leave anyway. The prices were pretty reasonable and the food was really good. We got two dishes and shared and I really liked both. I also noticed the very attractive and "edgy" wait staff mentioned here. ;) Overall a lot of fun and yummy food too. I keep meaning to go back but I haven't made it yet.
(4)
Sarah C.

Wagamama is what everyone told me it would be - totally fine. It's moderately priced, so don't go if you want "down n' dirty" cheap, but I think the prices are right given that the food is good and they're pretty big portions. I had the Chili Chicken Ramen and my friend had the Ginger Chicken Udon noodles. Both were yummy and satisfying. The service is a little weird - they seem kind of rushed and cold, and they reach over you to scribble things you can't read on your placemat. If there wasn't anything else in the area I wanted to try or that I loved, I'd probably go back here randomly, but I wouldn't plan it.
(3)
Ted D.

If you do not want to read the whole thing.....relax atmosphere, fast service, decent food. Craving some Asian inspired dishes but looking for more then Chinese take out? Check em out. So I was in Boston this past weekend and requested a vegetarian friend take me to something interesting for dinner. When she said Wagamama I said wag your who? And she explained we were going to some Asian noodle place down the road. Our group of six was sat down immediately. Once I was settled in it was hard not to notice the numerous servers carrying around large steaming bowls of noodles all over the place. We all started with Sapporo's which were brought to us just as quickly as we were seated. And may I add icy cold! Looking at the menu was a chore. At least twenty different noodle and many other items with Asian flare such as ribs. My meat eating friend and I decided to split an order of the duck dumplings and I played nice with the non meat eaters and ordered an appetizer of sweet potato fries. Both items came quickly but could of used one more minute in the fryer. Overall both solid but nothing more then a 3.5 rating. After looking over the 30 + noodles options and other items with Asian flair i decided on # 42, yaki udon. This bowl came out piping hot and full of noodley goodness. The amount of noodles and other goodies were large in quantity and pretty good. Not anything I am gonna scream from the rooftops about but for the price and quantity of the dish were good enough to give it a 3-3.5. Now for most people the meal would of been complete. But for a portly eater I needed to take a gander at the dessert menu and gander I did! I know it might be a sin for some to order a piece of cheesecake at a place like Wagamama's but the words Crem Brulee in front of it hooked me. Cheesecake is one of those desserts that I want to love but most of the time find it to be just OK. Being Italian I have had my share of it over the years and most of them I find to rich and "cheesy" for my likings. Well this one was different! I loved it, prob the highlight of my meal. It was light, airy and had a great crust...a solid 4 stars for sure. Overall Wagamama was a good experience. On the cheaper side, fast service and decent food. If I lived in the area and was craving some Asian noodle bowl I would hit this place up.
(3)
Marlana Y.

Yesterday was my first time here.We got here when it just opened at 1130am so we were able to get seated right away. The service was very efficient marking out place-mats to figure out what we ordered and what we wanted to drink. For lunch got Yasai yaka soba, whole wheat noodles. I think this meal would def be good for non-meat eatters! It was served in a big bowl of soup and I wasn't able to finish it. Def worth the price. I got this Ginger Peach Ice Tea and it is not artificially sweetened which gives to its popularity but I actually wished there was some more SUGARRR.. I need it to taste like something. It gives a faint taste of peach but if it was handed it to me blindfolded, I would have no idea.
(3)
Donna D.

I was so excited when I finally got to taste Wagamama in Boston but was sorely disappointed with the food! It wasn't the same when I frequent Wagamama in London back in early 2003. Yaki Soba was so dry. I went again and ordered Firecracker. I asked if they can make it less spicy but they said they couldn't accommodate it. I ordered it anyways and it was way too spicy! You can read more of the review on my blog: Dang, That's Delicious. I penned a letter to Wagamama about my experience. Lol.
(3)
Sherry J.

First time I walked in to this place I caught such a bad smell that I walked right out again and didn't go back for a year, but after hearing so many rave reviews I tried it and was pleasantly surprised. They have fresh juice that you can customize and pretty tasty grub. Most of the food is like high class ramen; it's a noodle joint for the most part but they have other good stuff like edamame, miso soup, summer rolls, and rice dishes. And they are really good about cratering to your dietary needs, weather your diabetic, gluten intolerant, or vegan, you can find something here to fill you up.
(2)
Brett R.

A Japanese restaurant with a modern, international flare. Fine service, great atmosphere, delicious food. You'll definitely find more authentic asian food elsewhere, but I love the lively, non-traditional atmosphere. Graphic designers will love the attention to detail on placemats and menus. Everyone else will love the friendly service and good food. Food options are all over the place so everyone should find something they like. I had the grilled swordfish and it was almost as good as what you get at Legal Sea Food, but no where near the price.
(5)
Ernie F.

RATING: 2 stars (1 for food, +1 for service) FOOD: Chicken Chili Ramen QUICK SUMMARY: Chicken = overcooked, dry, and lacked seasoning Chili = simply chili oil in a salted soup, little flavor and depth. Ramen = nothing special, at least it didn't taste like instant ramen. Price = For $11, definitely not worth it. SENTENCE SUMMARY: "If only the food was as good as the service..."
(2)
Julia N.

CHILI CHICKEN RAMEN, OR NOTHING. For this I will give a 5 star now. Everything else is seriously lacking. But the chili chicken ramen has changed my life. They really really perfected its flavors, its absolutely gorgeous and soothes and tantalized the senses on a cold boston day. I add some soy sauce and its one of the best tasting things ive ever ever had. Ordered take out for the first time. I have eaten here several times. The Mongolian beef (one of the most expensive thing on the menu, sigh) and ramen dishes are my favorites. I should stick to them because the other dishes I've had have been all noodles or rice and barely any meat in them. I got halo udon and its supposed to have shrimp and chicken. It didn't have much flavor and I was very dissatisfied. There were 2 shrimp tales and 5 small pieces of chicken but a fair amount of perfectly circular chewy things.... Were they supposed to be shrimp? Wtf! Creeped out! The juice is too expensive but its good. Overall, on a cold day stop in for a big bowl of ramen, otherwise skip it!!
(5)
Grains P.

The times I've been here, this place is usually pretty busy and the staff are running around trying to keep up with orders. For the hectic feel of this place, the service is still friendly and pretty prompt. The seating is interesting, in a group table/bench form with little cubbies under the table to store your purse and other belongings. The food is decent but there are a lot of other places that serve much better asian food at a better price. We ordered the seafood ramen and duck gyozas which were pretty good, but nothing compared to authentic asian. Nice atmosphere though!
(3)
Steph C.

This was the second Wagamama I've been to, the first being in Heathrow, so while it was decent, I'll admit I might have a slight bias against it as a legit restaurant since I tried it first at an airport. I tried the chili chicken ramen and the yakisoba. Both were good and I could see myself ending up eating at Wagamama quite a bit if there were one near me. I would probably also find myself wondering why I ate there so often. It's one of those passable default type places that really hits the spot once in a while, but that you mostly just go to because it's there. I'm a big ramen enthusiast and have been hard pressed to find places that serve up real good bowls of ramen. Wagamama ramen has a bit of an out-of-the-package warmed-up-from-a-convenience-store feel to it. It's not that it isn't tasty, because it really is. Snotty as this sounds, it just doesn't feel like real ramen.
(3)
Lola T.

overpriced and the food fails so bad.
(2)
Jimmy H.

All foods in the Wagamama menu, I would call them Japanese Soul food(Sushi can be too fancy for some of us). All items are something middle class and below Japanese eat pretty frequently. Wagamama sell those item with pretty sassy decor and novelty of "Sassy British Japanese chain". Flavor is mediocre good. But that's the nature of Japanese soul food. Most of base ingredients are profoundly good, so it's hard to f**k them up unless you pour arsenic in it. Like Japanese curry for example, all you need is the Japanese curry roux. You can make something just as good as Wagamama yourself. So, don't order curry from Wagamama. Just Haul yourself to one stop north, Porter sq to get a box of curry roux and make it yourself. But for ramen, it's a different business. Making the good broth is quite painstaking thing to do. It's always to better to have home made broth, that's been simmered with pork rib for half a day(That's common practice at any ramen joint in Japan). You wouldn't do that unless you have great ambition and determination. I am not sure if Wagamama makes the broth that way. Miso ramen didn't have that "good kick" in the broth. And camouflaged with loads of salt, my head vein was throbbing that I thought I was going to explode like the dude from "The Scanner"(80's horror movie, anyone?). But I am not saying that it tasted bad. It was mediocre good. For ramen, I would definitely prefer Ken's. And again, haul your ass out to Allston via #66 bus if you are craving for ramen. So... this prompts me a question of "Is there a place for Wagamama in Boston?". I would say "no". I am not sure about the environment in UK, but as far as Japanese food goes, Boston/Cambridge is more than sufficient with this type of Japanese food. You can get exactly same thing with cheaper price at Porter Exchange which is just one stop north from Harvard sq. You may find this place pricey if you aren't appreciating its atmosphere or decor. The service is adequate and polite but it's standard level. Again - mediocre. I have a feeling that this location won't last. Although Fenueil Hall location has better chance as they have more tourists to deal with.
(3)
Anurag M.

Loved the food I had teriyaki Donburi. I came with family and they all had a good time! I recommend this place
(4)
Laura C.

I've been to Wagamama many times, but yesterday just proved so dismal I felt compelled to share. I always get the same things: the duck dumplings, chicken chili ramen, and the cheesecake. I shouldn't have changed the plan. I got chicken dumplings, the chili men, and the new cheesecake they were offering. The chicken dumplings we all right. They didn't taste *bad* but they didn't taste good either. I also can't imagine that the soy sauce they use is even available on the market legally because it is mostly sodium, possibly with added sodium. The chili men (I got chicken) was almost as flavorless. It's supposed to be spicy, and it wasn't. It was full of vegetables, which I have no complaints about, but there were like 3 small chicken pieces. It was mostly vegetables. If I'm spending $11.95 (appallingly expensive btw) for a chicken and noodle dish that costs maybe $1.50 to make, I'd like some protein in there. Preferably tasty protein. Which it wouldn't have been, because we're at Wagamama, remember. The cheesecake, which had morphed from a delicious ginger variety of the past into creme brulee flavor gave me hope. I adore creme brulee. I wanted to wash down that horribly mediocre dinner with something that tasted like something. I received my piece complete with a hair atop it. UGH. After that problem was resolved, I ate the cake. It was dense. It was really sweet but not in the right way. It almost tasted sour. The creme brulee top part was reminiscent of what I can imagine Ralph Wiggum describing as "tastes like burning". Such a disappointment! I should have gotten the soup. For $30, I got a full stomach of bland food. Groan.
(2)
Jacquelyn M.

This location is very different than the Faneuil Hall or Prudential location. I order the Chilli Chicken Ramen repeatedly at those locations, but her it tasted completely different. It was okay, but not as good. I do like the set-up a lot though I have to admit. It's nice to sit in the benches byt the window and people watch.
(3)
Tony S.

I remember loving this place in London in the mid-90's, so when I drove by and saw they had opened one in NEW England, I just had to grab a bench with the whole family in tow. LOVE the salads. Ordered every one. My personal favs are the chicken atakaakaka (sp?) and the fish salads (5 stars). We also had the grilled asparagas side dish (ok... probably a little to froo-froo with the sauce: 3 stars), the chicken cutlet curry (4 stars, not the best I've had, but still good), this fried shrimp gyoza (terrible: 1 star), and the chicken ramen, but with udon noodles (too salty for mom, so anyone on a low-sodium diet, stay away: 3 stars). The MUST haves? The raw juice (OMG..... in LOVE with it.... ordered 3.... and spent the rest of the day..... in the bathroom with the runs... limit yourself to just 2), and the ginger-cheesecake (NEVER had anything like this... OMG good... yum... yum.... good..... ok.. I'll stop touching myself). Maybe because I'm older now, I don't find the food perfect enough to warrant 5 stars, but 4 stars in my book is still pretty good. Still has the same clean, fun atmosphere in London, service is great, and the prices are decent. I guess I can look at it like having sex with a blast from the past that was an awesome memory, but then after hooking up many years later, you're sorta like, "hmm... well maybe she wasn't THAT good....." but you still smile about it.
(4)
Ann S.

This is my second time at a Wagamama chain and my feelings still haven't changed: you overpay for bland food. The servers are really nice and I really liked the structural design of the place, but good service can only go so far. The food is supposed to be fresh, but if I had to choose between fresh or frozen and tasty, please go ahead and give me some frozen food! The food was just too bland and left me wanting nothing more of Wagamama.
(1)
Jess L.

I think the menu is very diverse, not bland at all. It was so hard to decide what to get! Lots of drink options. It's a little strange at first, though; the waiter scribbles a number down on your paper placemat and then adds to it when you order. They use a little device to put in your order right away, which is handy but somewhat impersonal. Also the food comes out when it's done - they warn you - but it often means someone has their warm food in front of them while someone else is waiting... The seating is in benches, which is kind of weird, too. Mmm... okay, the more I write, the more I'm not sure if I like the ambiance so much or the service. However, the food is worth going back for.
(4)
Masood Q.

I thought the food was tasty. I frequently enjoy the seafood ramen soup. The place is very clean and, although it is busy, there is not a long wait to get a seat. Based on the reliable quality of the meal, I would have given four stars except for the fact that the price is about $5 too high for the cafeteria style setting and limited service from the waiting staff. Don't get me wrong; the waiting staff was very polite and efficient, but the service is sparse (i.e. if you want to ask them for a bottle of hot sauce you might have to wait 10 minutes until you can finally catch your waiter). Given these additional considerations, I think the cost of the dining experience is overpriced, but I will still come to this restaurant once in a while.
(3)
Ronald S.

This Wagamama is as good as any other Wagamama I have been to (a few in london, dublin, cork, etc..) this location is convenient - next to a big parking garage in cambridge, not far from harvard square. pretty well located. for a chain of asian noodle shops, it is good and predictable. it seems a tad cheaper in the USA than it was elsewhere, which is good. I like the noodles, and think everyone should stop in and check this place out. some people may not like the less-than intimate seating, especially if its busy and people are next to you. try to go off-peak and it wont be too bad. they always have vegetarian things on the menu, so its not too difficult for me to find something to eat. hopefully more of these will open in the usa. i think we had some tea with our lunch and it looked like someone took some leaves from the park next door and put them in a cup of warm water.
(3)
Nancy G.

Went with a group - Very friendly staff and food was served quickly. I ordered coconut fried shrimp and then the Raisukaree chicken. It was sweet, with a little spicy kick at the end. I tried another dish (don't remember what it was) and it was just so-so. Overall, though, the atmosphere was fun, service was great, and I would go back to try some more of the food --
(4)
Meg R.

I love this place. It's kinda like Republic in Union Square in NYC, but better. I could eat here every day and the only consequence would be that I would get fat. I got the yasai yaki soba twice in one weekend. The combination of tangy ginger, sweet soy, and a good combination of sauteed veggies was too good to pass up. The whole wheat noodles weren't too wheaty tasting and didn't get mushy. I tried my fiance's yasai katsu curry, which I've been curious about for a long time. Usually, Japanese curry is made with pork, but since this is vegetarian, I finally got to try it. Crazy! The ginger peach iced tea is great, too (free refills). For dessert, we got the coconut ice cream with mango sauce. Normally I'm not a fan of mango sauce (too sweet), but this was just pure mango pulp, and so it was a welcome addition to the toasted coconut atop the ice cream. My only suggestion would be the addition of hot sauce as a condiment. There is chili oil, but a bottle of sriracha would be better.
(4)
Brian N.

I've always dreamed of the modernization of my asian favorites, moving away from the dingy storefronts with cheap, mismatching tables and chairs and towards a more hip, thought-out theme. But NEVER did I expect it to be THIS expensive? $14 for a plate of stir-fried noodles? That's absurd. Even at the best Chinese restaurants you can get some really good Chow Mein for $14 tops and it serves 3-4 people, as opposed to 1. I shake my head at the price tag on pretense. It's not as if this is fine dining either, it's just hip and trendy for the college kids whose well-to-do parents' have funded laissez faire expenses on the Harvard campus. I'll admit that I like the decor and the menu provided is well organized and readable. No bad English translation. But still...5$ for a tiny plate of sweet potato fries that weren't even that crispy is waaaaay too much. I had the new Lemongrass Shrimp Soba. The shrimp were actually cooked perfectly. They were large enough, succulent, and cooked just enough that they remained crisp. The noodles were well seasoned; definitely tasted the lemongrass and cilantro...but the problem was that's all there was. It was one serving and it didn't last long. And for $14 the plate didn't come with any vegetables. It was just noodles and shrimp. Noodles cost them $0.50 and the shrimp maybe cost them $1. So they were trying to charge me $13 for the innovation and labor? That's a steep market for NO vegetables. My friend had the ginger chicken udon, which was standard fare. Yes maybe the ingredients are fresh and it's cooked to order but if that's what you want, just go to a more upscale Mongolian barbecue where you can pay $8 as opposed to the $11 we paid here. The ginger they added was some of the red pickled ginger slices over the top. Great for color, but really? C'mon.
(2)
Olga A.

I feel bad posting this because the place is cool and the service is really friendly, but the food is just okay. My Pad Thai was dry and bland, the duck dumplings were pretty stale, and I tried a bowl of vegetarian noodles which tasted like oily Ramen. Overall, I'd say the food is eatable but the quality doesn't nearly justify the price.
(2)
David L.

Slow service. Restaurant isn't full and service is very slow. Takes them 4 minutes to get a glass of water. Curry is pretty good but tastes like if it were to be pre-packaged. Maybe it was just mine because the server gave me a nasty stare when I asked for my water a second time. Didn't try anything else. Sorry, but can't really explain anything more in depth.
(2)
Alex H.

Before I get too far into this review, let me admit that I used to live in Asia where many of the dishes that Wagamama serve are KING. Did a sort of restaurant crawl through Boston last week; was there for a conference. I was curious more than anything about the menu at Wagamama. Went in, had a seat, and it was all downhill from there. As I viewed the kitchen, our waitress, and the menu, I knew something just wasn't right. This place was pressed with heavy starch; it was a premanufactured home - a quality item, but not of the craftsman's variety. Even before my first bite, I knew this place, its food, had no soul. As I read the descriptions in the menu, I didn't really want to order anything. The ramen screamed, "Don't pick me; you'll be disappointed." The dumplings seemed interesting, but I somehow didn't expect that 'pan-fried goodness' that I'm used to. Asked my waitress about a standard Japanese items that all restaurant of this genre should have; she had no clue of what it was. Oh, oh....we are in big trouble. After much deliberation, settled on the Sweet Potato Fries and the Chili Squid. The Sweet Potatoes were far from 'fries'; they were pinkie-fingered lengths of undercooked roasted sweet potatoes. The doneness was OK to eat, but there was no crunch in site and doesn't the word 'fries' have an inherit definition of crunch? Disappointing.... The Chili Squid was even worst. Crib sheets of rubbery squid, battered, and fried. Scoring them before frying would have helped the texture and the doneness. Moreover, it wasn't spicy at all; had no flavor unless they were dipped in the vinegar-chili sauce. The sauce was an ill fit, in my opinion, so I used the sauce from my other choice - a spicy remoulade. Still, lacking... I was lucky that I foresaw the bad experience at this restaurant before I dropped too much hard earned cash. I guess that makes me the Nostradamus of food or, at least, the one of Wagamama. It was my first time in Boston, but I would suggest heading up to Porter for some real Asian goodness.
(1)
Melinda N.

hmmmm. i liked the seats right at the window. i was confused as to why the waiter had to write on my place mat. he was kind of abrupt with the service. the noodle soup i got came out luke warm but the stuff in it was plentiful and good. the noodles were good. i hate soggy noodles and these were not. my friend got a huge noodle salad with this yummy sauce. i wish i got that instead. my first time in wagamama and i am neither impressed nor disappointed. it has a fun-to-say name.
(3)
Tara M.

When I first tasted Wagamama in London 10 years ago, it was a revelation. Healthy asian fusion food! Community tables! Fresh juices! I guess it's a sign of how far we've come that I wasn't quite as wowed by it this time around. I still like the community tables. I like the vibe. It's still healthy without being boring. The people were friendly. And yet, the food didn't bowl me over. I had a bowl of whole wheat noodles with curry sauce, and sides of fried tofu and miso soup. A cup of fresh juice. All a little bit better than ok. But not wow. I would still jump for joy if Wagamama came to Indiana, but Indiana 2010 is far behind London 2000 when it comes to interesting food options.
(3)
Gabby N.

I was visting boston and we only went here because the thai place near here was closed. The food was decent, not great. Overpriced! However, the reason I give 3 stars is not for the food, or the pricing, but for the service. The guy we had was awesome and really fun to talk to. And helped us find something that we couldn't find in boston *I won't say what...but we were extreeemely happy to finally find it* Fun story: We all walked in and when my boyfriend saw crayons he grabbed some. The waiters looked at him funny and said those are for the kids. We all of course laughed our heads off while he put them back. When the waiter gave us our water he brought a cup of crayons for him. We all ended up drawing :P
(3)
RM S.

They have a lot of novel soup combos and toppings for their noodles, and the decor is a lot of fun. Very Asian fusion style. I do find the price of the soups higher than average compared to pho and other ramen eateries.
(3)
s c.

I work in Harvard Sq where there are so many restaurants, most of them quite good. I've walked by Wagamama many times but looking in, was never tempted to try it. Today we went to try the new Bon Chon place but the line was long, so decided to finally try Wagamama. Never again. I ordered the Chili Men: "stir-fried chicken, zucchini, red onions, peppers, mushrooms and snow peas in a spicy tomato chili men sauce, served over noodles." This looked like a plate of mediocre spaghetti, except with some overcooked tough dry chicken and vegies thrown in. Noodles tasted like spaghetti, not Asian noodles. You won't find any Asians working there - that's because this isn't a real Asian restaurant. You won't find authentic dishes of any kind here. They just throw things together and call it "fusion." Keep walking...
(1)
G S.

My boyfriend loves this place so I decided to give it a try. First, their selection of beer is minimal (some Japanese beers, Sam Adams, and Budweister). Then again, I might be too picky (where's the weissbier?!) If you're not in the mood for alcohol though, you're in luck. Their fresh juices are amazing! I tried the melon fruit juice. So delicious! The staff is overly friendly which at times can be a bit annoying. What can I say--I kind of got used to the rude service in Europe. I'm never quite sure how to react when this enthusiastic wait staff continues to tell us things like "All right! Great to see you! Have an awesome night!" But seriously...the food is good and cheap and if the lack of beer selection and strange waiters are my only complaint then I should just shut it. I can ignore the staff and go across the street to Shay's for a Paulaner after filling my belly with yummies from Wagamama.
(3)
EricaLynn J.

Quirky and tasty. I like the communal tables, food arriving as it's ready (instead of all at once or in order of appetizer, meal, etc.), and the lack of a singular server for your particular visit. The food is hit-or-miss, and more towards the 'hit' side. I love the beverage choices (great juices) and I like what they have available for desserts. Pretty cool that you can get a cherry chocolate cake slice after eating a healthy veggie ramen soup.
(3)
Mo J.

Worst noodles I've paid money for. I can't believe this place stays in business!
(1)
Chris B.

Ok, I'm really sorry, but this didn't satisfy that ramen craving I have as a transplant from Silicon Valley -- back in CA we had all sorts of great ramen shops all over the place, and I haven't found one here in Boston. That said, the food is definitely ... food... and I wouldn't mind going back with friends. It's kind of like a grown up McDonalds -- fine for all intents and purposes, quality is adequate, but look -- we're not really doing as well as we could right now. So, I'll probably be back, but somewhat begrudgingly.
(3)
Alli C.

I really enjoyed eating here. Honestly it was just expensive ramen, but I really like ramen. They function differently in that they bring you your food when it's ready, not everyone in your party at the same time, which was a bit awkward. Either way, the food was delicious, it wasn't terribly priced, and we had a coupon!
(4)
Dee S.

Really surprised the avg rating for these guys is only 3 stars! Ask for Eric- he'll treat you right. And my buddy Meghan used to work there and is a rock star, so sad for all of us (or is it?) that she's off in NYC making it as an actress. Try the duck dumplings with the cherry hoisin sauce. They are to die for! Boyfriend's Katsu curry is great for fried chicken lovers/people who don't like spicy food. Huge portions for the money and quality, if you ask this NYC transplant. COME TO NEW YORK, WAGAMAMA!
(5)
Kim K.

I love Wagamama's whole philsophy of "positive eating, positive living." I think it's really inspired and logical, more restaurants should develop a simple clean living approach, but that's just my humble opinion. The decor here is kind of barebones - stripped down cafeteria style room with wooden tables and wood plank seating. If you like fancy schmancy interior design this is not the place for you. The food was really great though, totally rewarding and lived up to every expectation I had of it. The gyoza was a bit small but very tasty. For dinner Yasai Katsu Curry which is slices of sweet potato, aubergine and butternut squash deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs served with a light curry sauce. It was exquisite. The veggies were tender and sweet. It was only lightly fried, enough to produce flavor and a crunch. The curry sauce was bold and savory. I would highly recommend Wagamama!
(4)
Joanna F.

I like Wagamama. After hearing mixed reviews, I didn't really know what to expect. We went for my friend's bday. She has apparently told them a large party was coming in, but they didn't save any seats, which caused a bit of a commotion. It worked out in the end though. I ordered the Ginger Chicken Udon. I thought it was really tasty besides the insanely hot chili pepper mixed in that I didn't notice until I had already swallowed it. The food was pretty typical miscellaneous Asian food, but I like that. Not sure how I felt about the cafeteria seating, but I didn't hate it. I would come back.
(4)
Vanessa K.

So Asian Fusion like. They pride themselves on making everything fresh, right when you order it. Food's not authentic, but totally doable. The ramen is good, but not like true ramen. The broth however was nice and clean. Not too oily, nice flavor. It's a good bowl to eat when it's freezing in cambridge. Oh yea, the reason why we went was because we had a coupon for buy 1 get one free (bogo) so that was great!
(3)
Justin N.

You have got to be kidding. Calling Wagamama "Japanese" is like calling McDonald's "American Cuisine." Worst. Ramen. Ever. Like previous reviews imply, the noodles are awful. I had with my "ramen" some chicken gyoza (and who in their right mind would even make chicken gyoza in the first place?) and that was equally bad. The place isn't even cheap. $13-14 for a bowl of ramen that isn't in NYC? Bah. With food this crappy, they should be *giving* it away. Bottom Line: Terrible food. Cafeteria ambiance can't add any more stars. 1 star (my first single-star review! Bravo Wagamama!)
(1)
Christina A.

MEH. Best word to describe Wagamama I've ever heard. I mean yeah, they didn't spit in my food. And I didn't have digestive complications from eating here. And I guess I could finish it. But I'm pretty sure buying a bag of baby carrots from Stop n Shop could have had the same result. First thing to note is the cafeteria style seating. A la 5th grade, you are seated at long tables with benches. A little awkward. Then your order is scrawled on your placemat. Ok I guess this means they won't mess it up. Which is something you can never tell, because your food comes out approximately 15 minutes after everyone else's does. Was it a mistake? Who knows! It's par for the course here. And then there's the food. I don't know that I've tasted blander noodles. They have such great descriptions I get excited every time (when dragged here by my friends) and every time I am just so sad. I've tried things from each of their menu categories in the hopes that I would find something enjoyable--it would make my life so much easier. Alas, it is not to be.
(2)
Chronic C.

Good for when you feel the need for something fairly basic and healthy. Chicken kare lomen is the only dish I order and is generally consistent and satisfying. It looks like they renovated and added items to the menu. I tried the new chicken lettuce wraps on the appetizer menu. It was tasty and fun. Too bad they had to add TVs.
(3)
Yiyi G.

really hate this store's manager. So rude guy, never go to this one again. And the foods there are also not good enough
(1)
Noopur S.

The food is awesome, I am yet to be disappointed. I like the dinning hall like interior, it can get noisy when crowded, but what the heck! Dont go here expecting an experience, go for the tasty and flavorful food.
(4)
John A.

Wagamama has an interesting setup and extensive menu of interesting noodle dishes but the truth is that the food is just ok. I've been here a few times and tried a variety of dishes and each time I've been a bit disappointed. Wagamama just doesn't compare to other local places like Dok Bua or Grasshopper. Two big pluses for Wagamama is that the waitstaff is super nice and attentive and there are many vegetarian options on the menu.
(3)
Maya S.

I first had Wagamama in London - hated it. Then I had it in Back Bay - didn't like it. Last attempt was Harvard - wasn't impressed (but didn't hate it). I dunno? Something's just not working, and it's not the waitstaff, they're actually quite good! I just feel like I desperately want something better... because I know it's out there.
(2)
Mike D.

One mark of a successful chain is consistency: customers want the same dish in Cambridge as they had in London, and in this regard Wagamama has hit a home run. My meal here was every bit as bland as the one I had in in the UK several years ago. They sell noodle dishes based on dishes served in various Asian countries. Oddly none of these dishes includes pork. I've been puzzling over this all afternoon. Is it a Kosher menu? No they serve shrimp and squid. Is it an anti-red meat bias? Well, no--they serve beef. Is it an anti-[other] white meat thing? Obviously not because there's chicken breast all over the place (which lends additional blandness to the menu). Strange. I wonder if it was a strategic decision: we want to export consistently bland food, so let's leave the most flavorful meat that people commonly eat out of all of our dishes. But based on our meal I doubt that the inclusion of pig would make Wagamama any better. I got the seafood ramen, which was nearly devoid of flavor (and by this I don't mean subtle); it required massive infusions of soy sauce and chili powder, plus the noodles were mushy and seemed to be low quality (compared with the noodles I've eaten at Ken's and Sapporo Ramen). Veggie gyoza: dull and mushy. Veggie yaki soba: dull and overly oily. Staff? Nice. Decor? Kind of neat. Return visit? What's the point?
(2)
S.a. S.

Not bad, but everything needs spice and a little more flavor. It ends up tasting a little generic / mediocre.
(3)
Heather B.

Consistently good. Never exceptional, but certainly satisfying. The service may seem a bit strange if you haven't been here before, but you're not here to be waited on, you're here to eat a giant bowl/plate of tasty noodles.
(4)
Victoria J.

Wagamama... It took me a couple of times to sound the name out correctly. It's good, and it's definitely not bad. I would rate it as satisfying. The portions are on the large side and the ingredients are fresh. The atmosphere is alright. I get the sleek lines, bareness, and few infusions of bright color, but it feels a bit emotionless for me. I do like the window seating, and I like that it's bright. I ordered the seaweed salad to start and the seafood ramen, which I asked if they could make it spicy and the server happily obliged. My friend ordered the chicken ramen. What really impressed me is that when my friend told the server that she had a nut allergy, a few moments later the manager on duty came by to ask specifically to ensure that none of her food was contaminated. I thought that was a nice touch. Not to mention that all the workers were smiling. Don't get the menu scribbles though. The seaweed salad was a little different from what I am accustomed, but I did like this variation. It had chopped up cucumber, sliced carrots, scallions, and some chili flakes. It was different, but I prefer the Japanese style better. My ramen was good. The swordfish and salmon had a nice flavor, the broth just the right amount of spicy. My friend enjoyed her chicken. All in all, I enjoyed my lunch here. Hearty food for decent prices, not too shabby. I would definitely return for the welcoming service and the decent food.
(3)
Sara Q.

Everything we tasted in the menu was delicious. The coconut curry noodle soup and ginger chicken udon stir fry were phenomenal, as were the steamed vegetable dumplings and fresh summer roll. Will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Jody N.

Had heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and had wanted to go for a long time. The food is very bland. My husband and I each got a different noodle dish and they were both lacking in flavor (his was spicy but not flavorful). They were both vegetarian, but had hardly any veggies. Mine just had a few uncooked pieces of green pepper and overcooked onions. I don't remember the name of the dish. But I can't imagine anything there is good. The people who give this place 5 stars probably have never been to an "authentic" noodle restaurant. And the person who said "good view of Harvard Square"? Well it's not really relevant - I don't care if it has a good view of Harvard Square - but it doesn't so I wonder if that person actually went to the restaurant.
(1)
Sarah K.

Yesterday will probably be the last time I go to the Wagamama at Harvard Square. I was really disappointed in a restaurant that I had considered one of my favorites. Our waiter almost gave us other people's food twice, once before we even ordered. When we did get our food, my friend's meal was fine, but the dish I had ordered, the ginger pan-fried chicken udon, was pretty bad. From above, all looked okay, but underneath a layer of cooked noodles were noodles that looked like they had just come out of the colander. I can make pathetic plain noodles at home for cheap, I don't need to pay Wagamama to do it for me. I've never sent back a plate before, but I was just too frustrated to keep eating it. When the manager came over to our table to address the problem, she tried to explain that sometimes the noodles don't all touch the grill when they are pan-fried. I don't think she knew what she was talking about. When she asked how I would like the noodles done, I said, "I would like them done the way the menu says they are done," to which she replied, "okay, we'll use less oil and we'll make sure that they are extra crispy for you." The way she said it made me uncomfortable; it was almost demeaning. The noodles were fine after that, but the visit didn't sit right with me. I would say go to the other Wagamama locations, if you go at all.
(1)
John B.

If you are looking for a Japanese style dorm food hall, sharing bench tables with strangers, this is the place. If you want to chill out with a cool view of Harvard Sq, JFK st. again good spot. If you are looking for Ramen in a restaurant, this also works. That being said..... $13.00 for Chicken Chili Ramen is pushing it, it's 17 cents a pack at Foodmaster, and Chicken is always on sale. I know its not exactly the same... but Pho is 6 bucks a bowl, if you're going to go out for noodles and aren't dead set on Ramen i would say hit up a pho place..
(2)
Naoyuki T.

Other than the saladas that noone can make it bad, no noodle dishes is good. Stir fries, soups, etc. whichever the form, it is just bad, or priced extremely high for the quality you get. Nothing is authentic, nor taste great. The problem is either the texture of noodle is bad/wrong (as in stir fired noodle too wet), or the soup/flavoring just does not taste good. Some of appetizers (like most of dumplings) but, as long as noodle is that bad, I will stay away. If you want a good pho, go visit Le's in the Garage.
(1)
Minah L.

service was great! the servers seemed like trendy&hipster&young friendly people. they seemed unique and personable. hhahahaha. the food was also really yummy. CHA HAN. CHICKEN KATSU CURRY. both were really good and portions were more than enough. i had to take my cha han leftovers to go and they put it in a really cute take out box! (look at my pictures) the cha han had a shrimp and chicken and mushrooms and snow pas. and they weren't frugal with their meat and vegetables!! but it didn't overpower the rice dish either. i especially enjoyed it with sriracha!! aka rooster sauce. HEHEHE. i thought the katsu curry idea was a very good one. who thought of chicken cutlet and curry together in one meal? haha the curry was a little different from what im used to (the korean kind) but it was still good-- even though i prefer the korean kind still. :)) i wish they had wagamama in LA and NYC.
(4)
Shawn L.

My first impression was, meh, a chain Japanese restaurant. But my girlfriend had heard it was a good place for tasty, cheap food. But as we were seated I was struck by the lack of Japanese people working there (even in the kitchen). But then the menu was very encouraging, and I was quickly sold on a spicy coconut milk ramen (three things I love). But then it came, and it was really underwhelming. My girlfriend got a more standard seafood ramen and was also unimpressed. Perhaps they just don't use MSG, but the noodle dishes were not very flavorful or filling and totally lacked that distinctively delicious taste I've always equated with Asian broths. It's also more expensive than the great little ramen shops in LA's Little Tokyo, so I hate to even give it that, but, sadly, it is pretty hard to find a meal for under $10 in Boston.
(3)
Lynn P.

The inside environment's very nice, clean and modern. The service is good. The food....too ordinary...I can't think of other words to describe their food. A mistake that I made was ordering their coconut based spicy noodle (perhaps Japanese style ramen)...definitely not for me..never again I would try coconut based soups...
(2)
Carolyn L.

I honestly cannot for the life of me figure out how and why this restaurant is an international chain. I first tried it out thinking that BECAUSE it was an international chain that it would be good. Wrong. The food is terrible, bland and overpriced. I ordered udon that didn't taste like anything at all. The servers are trained only to press buttons on a machine and scribble on your placemat because they can't be bothered to talk to you or ask whose food is whose when bringing it to your table. Speaking of tables, the format of the restaurant is cafeteria style. This means if you want to be closer to or further away from the table, you'll have to coordinate with the other 2-3 people on your bench. I've been there twice with different groups of people. I thought maybe I was just experiencing an off day the first time but the second time my food was flavorless all the same. Overall, not a good experience with the food and unimpressed by the design and service.
(2)
Erin C.

Overrated, overrated, overrated. I first tried Wagamama in Oxford and even though I had tried it after being deprived of East Asian food for months, I hadn't been impressed. Sure, a bowl of noodles here is healthier than a package of instant ramen, but when you compare the prices ($9+ versus $0.95+), there's no contest. Also, the soup was bland and reminds me of weak shabu-shabu or hot pot broth. You can't beat Shin ramen for the flavor. Even the gyoza here can't compete with frozen dumplings from H-mart or Trader Joe's.
(2)
Erica Z.

I came here twice for a quick lunch with my boyfriend and had enjoyable experiences both times. The place was pretty dead, and service was fast. I felt that everything was fresh with healthy options. I also liked how open the place is with all of the windows. A good place to come if you're alone
(4)
MJ L.

Wagamama seems to be either a love it or hate it place. I'm on the love it side. It's in a convenient location, there is always space available, and I love the food. The food tastes like a fresher, healthier Chinese so you feel less guilty while eating there. However, I was not a fan of the ramen. Healthy ramen is just not as good (there was no pork or chasu, as its often called!) I also like the atmosphere of Wagamama. It's a bright, open space and has a more casual feel.
(3)
Simon L.

Americans have at last come up with the ultimate revenge plan on the attack on Pearl Harbor: Let's insult their food! I hear those veterans who participated the Pacific War had better meal at Guadalcanal. + those who want to find out what cucumber juice would taste like..try their $5 apple lime juice. It tastes like.."uhm..Japanese government should sue this place".
(1)
Ariana Z.

I've gone on multiple occasions both because I am in Harvard square often and because I hope it gets better. The first time around, a group of friends and I went to try it out. Everything from the time we set foot in the restaurant to when we placed our order went smoothly. However, all but one person in our group received their order in a timely fashion. It's one thing to get it 5mins later. Or maybe even 10 minutes later. BUT, we noticed that ALL of us had completely finished our meals, and she STILL had not been served. The waiter had passed several times assuring her it was almost ready. At this point it was just ridiculous so we asked if she could at least be given a complimentary drink for her ridiculous wait. They fortunately agreed. The food is not impressive, especially for the price. It does seem like watered down version of authentic Japanese cuisine and that has been apparent every time I have gone thereafter. While we did not experience any more long waits, the food has been consistently anti-climactic.
(2)
Erin M.

Going in, I knew wagamama was an informal, chain restaurant so I've rated it as such. All of our food was good - not the best asian noodles ever, but good, especially considering the wide selection. We had the edamame with garlic salt and chili, #36(?) coconut soup with chicken, #44 or 47 - the ginger chicken noodles, and ended with coconut ice cream and coffee for dessert. Also tried the fresh squeezed juice and a glass of wine. Overall, the atmosphere (casual, super clean) and the selection will bring us back!
(4)
Justin H.

There are slim pickings for Asian food in Harvard Square. That being said, Wagamama stands out as the primary Japanese option prominently located next to the Staples on JFK St. I have been here twice and the main things that got in the way of my enjoyment were that my tofu veg noodle soup was way too salty and that the price was too high. Also my friend didn't get his meal until maybe 10 minutes after I received mine. Better order management would be appreciated. I felt like I was stuck in a tourist trap or some place that preys on vulnerable students who are deprived of Japanese food and so resort to eating here to somehow recapture the magic. I like the decor, and the cubby holes in the seats are innovative. Also the bathroom is spacious and clean. I wouldnt come back for the food though.
(2)
Britt E.

So, I have to give Wagamama a solid 3 stars. The first 25 times that I ate there, I would mostly eat the Ginger Udon Chicken which is definately worth 5 stars. But the more I tried the other dishes, the food started to taste off. For example, the Miso beef can be very good at times, but sometimes it's watery and has a weird oily taste. Tonight I had the Beef Cha Han and it was great on the first two bites and it got worse the more I ate it.My beef tasted like it was made days ago and they re-heated it in the pan. Now my stomach hurts. Things to stay away from: Chili Ramen w/beef - not seasoned, just way too salty Calamari - don't even waste your money Beef Cha Han - hopefully it works out better for you Things that are good to eat: Melon juice - 5 stars Ginger Udon Chicken - 5 stars Chicken dumplings - good, but not great Glazed ribs Yaki Udon Japanese syle pickles
(3)
Christina K.

Meh for reals. I think I'd actually give it a 2.5 since 3 seems kinda generous. It was my first time going last night and I had some curry/coconut based broth with tofu and rice noodles. The broth was WAAAY too sweet which was such a big turn off. I guess I was expecting it to be more authentic, but then again my expectations are honestly unrealistic for a place called Wagamama in the middle of Harvard Square. My friend had the spicy ramen with chicken, which he said was not spicy at all and wouldn't pay the extra $1.50 for the cut up chili peppers. I thought the broth and noodles were better than what I had and seemed more authentic except for the fact that his bowl came with a lime wedge. Not right. The descriptions sound delicious and I did have a hard time picking between the veggie katsu curry and the noodle salad. I miiiight give it another try, but not high on my priority list at all.
(3)
Ika M.

Would I come here every day? No, your wallet would be mad at you and your tummy wouldn't be very satisfied. But it's good for a change in taste. If you're into this whole fusion stuff, think asian ingredients paired with lots of sugar and toned down spices, then it's a good option for you. The prices are ridiculous for what you get but it's a convenient location. I would definitely recommend their fresh juices though! It'll help justify that unhealthy plate of whatever you're served afterwards...
(3)
Kate E.

Relaxed atmosphere, quick service and good food.
(3)
Kendra M.

I like Wagamama. I haven't been there in a few months, but I went a few times when they first opened, and I was satisfied by the food, even enjoyed it! I ordered a few noodle dishes, and a fresh juice, and was delighted. I had a nice sunny spot by the window where I could read my book and eat my noodles and what more do I really want? The flavors were a little unexpected, but good. I would've liked more veggies in my vegetarian dishes, but, maybe next time, I will ask for just that! I'll be visiting again this week, so my thoughts may change...
(4)
Mary R.

This location feels and looks a lot more like the London ones I so fondly remember, but the food is not top notch. One of the appeals of Wagamama in London is that there aren't a lot of great places to eat, (imho) whereas here in Boston there are tons, so it's just not my top choice. I had the fried veggies over rice dish and it just didn't hit the spot last night. My leftovers at lunch today were much better though - maybe it needed that second heating from an old microwave? I'll always love Wagamama's, if only for the memories...
(3)
Matt W.

I base this review off a Wagamama preview event I attended at their new Harvard Square location. If your name was on the list (the things I had to do to get on there....wow), you got a free entree, side dish, and drink. Who says, "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch?" As a preview event, there were many more than the usual number of servers and nobody really knew the menu very well, requesting you to order by number rather than item name. I certainly won't fault the servers or staff for anything because they were trying very hard to learn their job and keep us happy at the same time. In fact, I thought they did an excellent job for having been on the job for just a few days. What I like: I already mentioned that the service was exceptional considering most of the staff had only recently started at wagamama. As for the food, I really appreciate a quick, but freshly prepared lunch. Wagamama doesn't serve up pre-made dishes cafeteria style. They make each dish when you order it and still manage to deliver the dish to you in a matter of minutes. An outcome of this is that you will receive the food in a random order, meaning your entree might come before the side dish, but that is a small price to pay for quick and fresh food. I also really like the ambiance of wagamama, which is well lit with plenty of windows for natural light and a tastefully decorated decor. What I don't like: I'm not a huge fan of Wagamama's flavor....or lack there of. I've been to two Wagamamas now and both dishes I've had lacked flavor. I don't mean they are bad, but they don't really have you jumping in your seat, yelling "Garcon" to order seconds (yeah I know it means boy). I do appreciate Asian food more than the average American, but in my mind the food needs a bit more spice and seasonings. I did enjoy a fried shrimp side dish I had, but could pass on the seafood ramen, beef ramen, yaki soba, and duck pot stickers (none of these names are exactly as listed in the menu). I give the food a solid average rating. If you don't mind dropping $15-$20 for average (but quick and fresh) food, and sharing tables with fellow patrons (think picnic tables) give Wagamama a try.
(3)
Benjamin B.

For what it is Wagamama does a fair job. Here's what it is - a cheap, quick place to get some noodles. The noodles are good, a bit greasy, but good. They really do a good job with the vegetables, far too many places in their realm overcook them, Wagamama does not. The seating is a bit haphazard which to some degree adds to the appeal. You have an equal shot at being sat next to some hipster extolling DJ AM or a Harvard co-ed discussing positives and negatives of various types of birth control or a family with a screaming infant. All of whom are sat in shockingly close quarters. All in all as long as your aren't expecting some sort of culinary revelation and have yet to fulfill your daily grease requirement, go to Wagamama's.
(3)
Jennifer G.

Meh. Great menu, cool decor. Underwhelmed by the noodle dish. Had great potential, but just missed the mark on seasoning. Great raw juice drink! But the spotty service and pricey food will keep me from trying this place again.
(2)
Serena L.

I've been here a couple of times. While I was not disappointed with the food, I wasn't super impressed. I'd rather spend the money at an authentic ramen noodle place.
(3)
Maiya S.

I signed up for Yelp just so that I could write this review. Wagamama is CRAP. I haven't had a meal this bad in months! The service was super friendly, the decor was fine - but, really, why do we go to restaurants? - it's for the food. The food was garbage. First, we were informed that since our food is cooked fresh to order it would arrive at separate times. Um, hello, that sounds like an excuse for a process problem - not a result of your quest for freshness. Restaurants have been serving food timed to arrive at the same time for ages. Next, my coconut curry was SO bad. It's texture was curdled. How do you curdle coconut milk, really? I had to add a ton of soy sauce and lime to make it palateable. The dish my date had was just plain, flavorless and boring. And the chicken. I could bitch for hours about just how bad the chicken was. How the hell do you make it so dry, tasteless, and textureless? Seriously... never going back. Not worth wasting another meal on this.
(1)
Naomi U.

Service 4 stars Interior 5 to1 stars Super hip cafeteria interior was compromised by the same acoustics one might find in the deep end of an empty swimming pool. Note to Wagamama Interior Stylists: a few well placed, open-ended vertical cylinders glued to the ceiling would work wonders. Menu A bit disappointed in that there were no cold noodles when I went on a hot night in August....cold noodles is somewhat of a standard in Asian cuisine.... Nicely flavored, but much too weakly flavored for my taste Perhaps they'll add a one to five chili system so the customer can choose the intensity level of spice or heat they want to have. Very disappointed by the paltry amount of noodles in the bowl; perhaps 25% of what one would normally get in many Asian restaurants' bowls of hot noodles. Overall it seemed too expensive for what you get. On the other hand, maybe that's the lucre you can get if you're one of two places to eat after 10pm in Harvard Square!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)
Ellen W.

I've been there so many times since it first opened, that I'm pretty sure they think I'm crazy. However the food is great. I usually order the Japanese rice, pickles, sauteed asparagus, and miso soup. I haven't tried much else there yet mostly because I've been hooked on what I'm eaten so far. I like it very much, and feel better after consuming the food. You get the nice kind of full that's not like, "why the fuck did I eat all that crap?" However, the service is kind of blah. I've ordered, come back after 15-20 minutes like they suggested, and I'm standing there watching my bag of take-up just sitting there on the counter. And I know it's mine, because everytime I'm there I tell them I'm back to pick my food up, and they run around looking for the bag that is inevitably sitting in front of me. Real smooth. Even when the place isn't busy, or legit empty, it stills takes awhile for your food. 10 minutes is more than ample time for four + chefs to get an order together - even a big one. Not so much a complaint, but more something I noticed. Hands down they're pretty nifty...let's hope it stays that way?
(4)
Francesca R.

I really like the food here, especially the teppanyaki. It tastes nothing like actual teppanyaki, but as it's own thing it's delicious. If I were able to teleport, I'd choose the Quincy Market location over this one because the service is much better, and I'd maybe give them 1/2 a star more. But there are problems with this chain, starting with the ridiculous prices. $10 - $15 for noodles? Seriously? I can deal with the communal seating, but the service is extremely variable at the Harvard Sq location. Sometimes you get a peppy and friendly server, other times surly and hateful. Food can sometimes take forever, regardless of how busy it is. I also don't like how pushy the servers are about getting more courses. I really can't stuff myself after my huge plate of noodles just so you can up your check average. I really like the food there, though, so I'll get take out every so often to avoid the bad service.
(3)
Heather H.

Good enough for a quick meal if you're in between things, but not really a destination. My friends and I came here as a respite from our usual place for weekly dinner. The communal dining was fine but not preferred. The food was good and hot. The waitstaff were pretty but not necessarily swift (in speed or in their brains, sadly). The food was overpriced. Honestly, I'd rather keep going back to our regular place where we get similar food for half the price and with faster and friendlier service.
(3)
Keith K.

The katsu curry was solid. Chicken karaage not up to par. But friendly quick service and reasonable prices.
(4)
Christopher R.

I love Wagamama. I have gone to the one in Faneuil Hall a few times. I just learned about the new location in Cambridge so I stopped by. Freindly service, GREAT food. I love thier curry sauces. Pricey though...one meal (no sides or appetizers) and a glass of wine and tip was almost $30 for one person. But as its convienant for an after work bite, I'll defintely be going back again. *As a side note. They have a ton of veggie options on the menu that are marked with a red "V". I love the Curry Katsu with breaded sweet potato and rice.
(4)
Melissa M.

So Wagamama just opened and it is clean, the host/servers were attentive, friendly, and helpful. I got the ginger chicken. The chicken was good, no gummy, poorly cooked pieces. The dish was kind of mezza mezz (not a ton of flavor) and for $10.50 I wish they could have thrown some extra veggies in. But, overall not too shabby. Don't go for a first date, you sit cafeteria style on benches and it is very very loud!
(3)
Bryan H.

Food is of great quality. Noodle soups, and meat dishes. Great soups, very filling, and good food for great quality, for the money.
(5)
Foodie K.

I first tried Wagamama in London and fell in love with its miso salmon ramen and with the restaurant's concept -- a hip, westernized Japanese cafeteria food. Yeah! Cambridge is no London. I wanted to love this Wagamama so bad, but the broth to both my salmon ramen and my sister's seafood ramen was bland-o. I thought they were having an off night, so I tried a yaki udon dish another time, and found it suffered from more blandness. Don't go here. Really.
(1)
Tom P.

I have eaten at this Wagamama twice in the last 24 hours. The best I can say is that they have phenomenal sorbet, a stellar coconut ice cream, and servicable main dishes. It wasn't bad, really, it was just super bland and not at all complex. I tried one of each type of meal because I was sent here to check it out to see if a big party would be fun. The service was terrible, I counted 7 mistakes including sending our whole order to the wrong table. Our starter came out WITH OUR DESSERT!! The waiter openly admitted that the handheld pcs are impossible to use and order with. And overall the prices are just way too high for the quality of food. And throughout the meal there were drink problems- beer came for sake, sodas werent refilled, green tea was cold the second time. Great atmosphere, great presentation of every dish, but totally bland food and lousy service. It was a really strange experience.
(2)
Marisol H.

I went to Wagamama on Saturday night with a group of 8, so it was a little crowded and loud--but somehow I liked the atmosphere. You sit on long benches lining long metal tables, and the wait-persons come around and take your order on this high tech palm-pilot type device that zaps the order to the kitchen. The food was ready right away, and it was pretty good. I love Japanese food as a general rule, but I don't know much about the finer points-- I ordered Chicken Ramen to compare it to the chicken-flavored stuff I buy at Stop & Shop for a quarter a pack-- so I must say I was pretty impressed. The Chicken Ramen was HUGE, with real yummy chicken breast slices, and wonderful baby spinach and scallions. I ordered a side of rice because I wasn't sure about the portions, but the bowl of ramen was more than enough for dinner. After that and the rice I didn't really have enough room for dessert--but the people I was with ordered the coconut ice cream with the mango sauce and it was pretty tasty. Pricing is a problem--my meal came out to $15 before tip and w/o dessert. Which isn't bad I guess, but doesn't compare to the 25 cents I pay for making it myself at home. =)
(4)
Alexander H.

It's reasonably priced, delicious, and quick. I can't think of much more you could ask for in a place where you can just walk into off the street without any problems. Plus, the bench seating is always fun for a larger group of people.
(4)
Clay P.

I had the amai noodle - food was good and service was great. Also had raw juice and really enjoyed it.
(4)
Anna W.

I first tried Wagamama when I was on vacation in London. I loved it and was psyched when I heard that they would be opening locations in the U.S. I work in Harvard Square and frequent the one there every few weeks. For the most part, I really like it. The food is good. It is freshly prepared and very flavorful. The Ramen noodle soups (let's face it -- that's all they are) are yummy. The broth is a little strong and heavy though. The only thing I don't like is the community, picnic-style seating. I know this is what they are known for, but it bothers me to be sitting elbow-to-elbow with a stranger and trying to have somewhat of a private conversation with my lunch date. It is annoying, to say the least. The staff is pretty friendly and nice. I like the little palm-pilot-like contraptions they use for orders.
(4)
Tanya S.

Well, ouch. I loved Wagamama when my friend and I were studying in France and went there during a visit to London. In fact, since it's been open here, I've drug my husband there a few times. I'm disappointed by the other reviews, but having read most of them pretty thoroughly, I can't disagree. Thus, the ouch. I have been loving Wagamama for so long that the lackluster experiences I've had there blinded me to reality. It's sad but true...the food isn't as amazing as it was in London and the service kind of sucks. This won't stop me from eating there - because I love noodles, but it's worth pointing out to all you Yelpers that if you're looking for the real deal - this is not it. Boo!
(3)
Alec Y.

i really really don't like wagamama. i don't understand the appeal of it. so many people love the set up and the atmosphere. but i really don't like it. if i want to eat at a cafeteria, i'll go to an actual cafeteria. why in the world do i want to be eating with people i don't know?? this probably makes me sound really stuck up, and i apologize. something about wagamama just rubs me the wrong way. the service there is strange. i don't like how they type it into those hand held things, that look like they have to scan something. it makes me feel like a commodity. i mean, they're attentive, sure. but i don't really like the set up, once again. the food isn't very good. i feel like its super fast food, that isn't prepared carefully. theres always so many people there. and its set up like a cafeteria, and it just makes me feel like the food reflects that. the ramen isn't all that great. the noodle soups are a little over salted. and the prices are ridiculous. how can they charge you that much for a bowl of noodle soup? noodles are one of the cheapest things. actually the cheapest. and the stock and veggies are also incredibly cheap. and they don't give you that much meat. so how in the world can they charge you that much? i just don't get it. and finally, my sister is in search for a job. so she got a job application there. and under the "experience" section, it says something like "we prefer our servers not have previous experience, because at wagamama's, it's a whole new type of service." i find that really pretentious and stuck up.
(1)
Danae B.

Boy was I disappointed with this place. We had a server who pretended to be our best friend, in the douchiest kind of way. Way too over-priced for bland broth and weak chicken. Absolutely no sake selection (there's only one option!). I sincerely do not recommend: please just patronize your local pho' place. UPDATE: found myself alone in Harvard Sq. recently, and jonesin' for some hot soupy goodness. Somehow, I completely forgot there's a Le's in the Square, so I deceided to give Wagamama another go. I tried their much lauded Raw Juice, which I must admit was delicious! I might go back there again just for that. I also had the Beef Ramen, which was much better than the watered down chicken soup thing I had on my previous visit. The service was also much improved (but, the place was completely empty). I've decided to up Wagamama to 3 stars based on this recent visit :)
(3)
Christian E.

Wagamama has a sort of cult following overseas, as best as I can tell. I've eaten one time each at two different locations (both in the US). When I first saw a petition for a liquor license for the Harvard location back in November of '06, the people signing the petition who had been in the UK, Australia, or elsewhere drooled a little at the prospect of a Wagamama in their home country. I don't get the cult.. Wagamama's philosophy on service, freshness, and casualness is refreshing, but not unique. Food is brought to the table as soon as it is ready, which would be a problem if all the food didn't always come out super-quickly...and it does. There are many food runners, who are separate from the people who take your orders, so there's more than enough people to ensure that the customer's needs are taken care of. 4/5 for service. Their interior design is clean, bright, and minimalist, and they pay attention to details (bag rests under the table, writing your order number on your place setting so there's no confusion about who gets what when no one remembers the foreign name of their dish). But there are other restaurants with good, clean taste in design. 3/5 for atmosphere. The food is good, but not great. Vegetarian selections are about 1/4 of the menu, which is decent, but not great. I'd be willing to sacrifice an extra minute or two of waiting for a bit more flexibility in food preparation. I had a the yasai chili men (stir-fried veggies, whole wheat noodles, chili sauce) and yasai gyoza (vegetarian steamed dumplings). Both were tasty, but they seemed to lack a little on the flavor side. 3/5 for food. Wagamama's a good addition to Harvard Square, which had been lacking in noodle restaurants. The food is good; the service is a bit better. I'd go back there, but I'm not ready to join the cult yet. This review is based on a preview (i.e., free) meal I went to today (August 8); it opens on the 13th. The restaurant was operating at close to full capacity when I ate at the Wagamama in Quincy Market back in May, and the Harvard Square one is very close to the same level: the servers are obviously fresh out of training and haven't developed the smoothness of a seasoned wait-staff, but they have the friendliness and attentiveness of a good restaurant already. I had the same dishes in both places, and both were equally good.
(3)
s s.

I've been to all the Wagamamas in Boston and this one is definitely the most kid-friendly, especially if you go at slightly off-peak times. They have many highchairs and a great kid's menu. You even get little chopstick "trainers" for little hands, so great! If they order apple juice, it's freshly made and yum! The staff were SO nice and friendly to my toddler, too. Highly recommended. Service was a bit slow but not too horrible.
(4)
Lisa R.

I had the most delicious ginger chicken noodles (huge portions!), but the service here totally sucks. I've come for lunch a few times and was always really disatisfied with the wait staff. Last time I went, the waitress took forever to ask us for our order and once we finally got our hot food she took forever to bring us utensils. By the time they came our food was cold! I do like the communal seating but it is really cramped so if you come with a coat and bag there is no where to put them. We even got yelled at by the waitress for having our bags next to us. Wagamama, you were so close to getting four stars....
(3)
Natasha M.

Food's great and I never feel overfull or heavy when I leave here. The service is wonderful as well. One time I did my math wrong in calculating the tip (wrote the correct tip, but added an extra $10 when I wrote the total at the bottom) and realized my mistake later. I was pleasantly surprised to find the correct total (not the one with $10 extra added) in my bank statement. What honest staff!
(4)
D H.

Worst meal I've had in Boston by far. I'd give it zero stars if I could. Their gyoza were weak, and their yakisoba was an insult to the real thing. The noodles were overcooked, the sauce was all wrong, and so were the toppings. Avoid at all costs, unless you really want cheap imitation Asian fare.
(1)
Kristen F.

I've been to this location and the Prudential Center one a few times. Both have awesome service and both have mediocre food. I've only ever tried the dumplings (good) yaki soba (better) and chicken ramen soup (super bland and not very hot for soup). There's better, cheaper places in Chinatown for sure.
(3)
Sam D.

Went to Wagamama opening night of the restaurant and was not disappointed, although not overly impressed. The restaurant is definitely a smooth operation--PDAs beam your order to the kitchen and food emerges faster than should be possible. The long tables are kind of fun, although it's very loud--don't expect an easy conversation across the table. The food is fairly good--I had a rice dish and tried part of a noodle dish and part of a soup dish. All were fairly good and reasonably priced. I can't say I'm dying to go back, but if I wanted a quick meal in Harvard Square, I'd have no problem eating there again. Plus, Wagamama is a great name!
(3)
Christine L.

Although I think the food is overpriced, I think the food itself is good. I've stuck with different ramens, because I love noodles and soup, and the seafood or chicken or salmon ramen has always tasted amazing and been really satisfying. The "fresh juice", which is made with veggies and fruits tastes really good but is also overpriced. I like that they serve the food immediately after it is cooked! I minus a star for the pricing and general quality of food--it is good, but it is a chain and people I've gone with have definitely had a just okay experience versus yum yum experience.
(4)
Katherine M.

I have never had a bad experience at any of the Wagamama locations. The food is fresh, delicious, reasonably priced and the portions are just right. I've gone through the menu and tried more items on the list than not, and I have settled on my favorite....yaki soba with extra pickled ginger, which I order just about everytime. They have added some new menu items, including some combos where you get dumplings, yaki soba and a beer or soda for I think $14.95, which is a great price! I recommend Wagamama to anyone looking for a great place to eat in the city.
(5)
David L.

It's good. It's consistent. It's affordable. I enjoy the variety of noodle and rice dishes, the hum of the customers at long tables, and the spicy choices they offer. Service is standard, and that's all I expect. I appreciate that I can have a long dinner conversation with a friend and not feel rushed.
(4)
John F.

I attended a Wagamama preview event, and this is a review thereof, so one should note that the staff wasn't as confident or knowledgeable regarding the menu as one might expect after the proper opening. That said, I was pretty impressed with my food. It tasted excellent, as I expected based on my experiences at the Faneiul Hall location. The only complaint I had was the huge time difference between me getting my food, and my girlfriend getting hers; I had finished my entree by the time hers came out. I know they say there might be some disparity there, but this was a little ridiculous. However, all the staff was extremely friendly, and did their best to be accommodating, despite the wait on her dish. I would come back again after the August 13th grand opening.
(4)
Eric Y.

One star for great service and one star the place. Minus one star for the food cuz it is horrible. I would rather have Maruchan instant ramen rather than Wagamama ramen. Actually, I shouldn't be insulting instant noodle by comparing it to Wagamama. Growing up in an Asian country, instant noodles are actually quite good. I guess I just want to say that the food is NOT good. If this is supposed to be a Japanese noodle house, then it has failed completely. I ordered a ramen since it was supposed to be one of the signature products. The soup tasted like water. The texture of the noodle was not tender nor chewy nor....If you had good ramen, you know what I am talking about. I don' t like to be harsh but I just can't help it............
(1)
Kristine M.

I actually really really liked my noodles, but I didn't care for the atmosphere. It felt a little too "I am so hip." I didn't like having to sit next to strangers and shout to converse with my friend. I also didn't like that my food came out way before my friend's food putting us in the position of: "Go ahead, start, don't wait for me." "No, it's okay, I'll wait." "No, please, eat, it's fine." "Really?" "Yes, go ahead!" "Are you SURE?" "Yes!" Our dumplings also came when we were almost done with our meal. I knew that they'd bring the food out as soon as it was ready, but I still prefer to eat at the same time. All in all, I'd probably go back, but I wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)
Eva W.

not bad. but not that great either. a friend of mine insisted on coming here because the food was amazing and he hadn't had it ever since he visited England a while back. I guess that raised my expectations to a level that was unattainable by the quality of the food. I had the spicy chicken ramen. The noodles were typical except I suspected that part of it were undercooked because some parts were stuck to each other and tasted harder than other parts. The chicken was, meh. Perhaps I've gotten spoiled by Japanese ramen (as in actually in Japan), but the meat in ramen is typically much more tender and they never grilled the meat that was to be placed into the ramen. Also the chicken was kind of overcooked. The dessert on the other hand was very good. I had the chocolate cake and it was AMAZING. Perhaps the best slice of heaven I have ever had. I would recommend people to go, but perhaps try a different entree than the one i had.
(3)
Julian M.

Since coming back from Hong Kong I've been more interested in finding ramen places to eat, especially given the temperatures this winter. I've not been to a Wagamama before, but when I went in for dinner on a very cold night it certainly pleased. My salmon ramen broth was anything but bland--it was somewhat spicy and I rather enjoyed it. My only problem is that the portions are much too large to eat alone, and a bit on the expensive side to eat alone. If I could have shared my ramen with someone it would be much more economical... or if they had smaller portions as an option.
(3)
Yan L.

Ordered the curry with chicken katsu. Expected a Japanese curry, but ended up being more of a Thai style curry. Still, it tasted pretty decent, and I liked the different, creative flavors. I also like the fact that there was side salad and pickled ginger, and also the free house green tea. Usually these Americanized Japanese places charge for the tea, but I was happy Wagamama didn't surcumb to that. I would definitely come back and try their more famous ramen. Nice decor and good service too.
(4)
Sarah J.

REALLY expensive for what it is, but the food is amazing. The service is incredible! The server we had last time knew what did and didn't have milk in it without needing to ask the chefs, and they have a policy on food allergies to always double-check orders with the manager on duty to "make sure that no one dies, because we want you to be happy and you can't be happy if you're dying of an allergic reaction," as our server put it. Decent beer selection. Definitely try the katsu, and the sweet potato fries are out of this world. The dynamite stirfry was pretty good, but the sauce was very dark and heavy and not at all what I expected. The server swore it was extremely spicy, but the chef must have thought that I, a little white girl, couldn't take the heat because it was about as spicy as an ice pop. Which is to say it wasn't spicy at all. The rice is always perfectly cooked, and the meat is awesome. I really want to try their ramen, I hear good things! Wagamama is definitely a must-try!
(5)
Josephine P.

I would have to say no thank you to another visit here. I had the Chili men and my boyfriend had the Yaki soba. Honestly they both would have been the exact same dish, but mine was drenched with a sweet chili sauce. I come to realize that when a restaurant claims to be 'Asian fusion', it usually mean dishes that use random noodles and basic sauces like hoisin sauce, oyster sauce and sweet chili sauce, maybe add in some ginger and other well-known asian veggies and Viola! Asian fusion. I used to make this kind of makeshift Asian-style food back in my college dorm with a microwave. All you have to do is add hot water to some pre-made noodles and add in the store bought sauce, you don't even have to cook it sometimes. The food was horrible, I mean seriously why is it so shiny? Freaks me out to imagine how much sesame oil they glaze all their dishes with. I was not impressed. There are so many smaller, authentic Asian spots that I could have spent my money....
(2)
Maria V.

Certain items on their menu are overpriced but I love a certain noodle dish that I forgot the name. It is yellow noodles with meat and vegetables. I highly recommend Wagamama.
(4)
Mike L.

Great addition to Harvard. So glad it is there. Wish i could go more often. Theres nothing wrong with a chain if its this good. Its always fun. group seating is always a good time, especially if there is a couple in an argument. The food is good. Not too out there for nonadventurous eaters too
(5)
Eric S.

OK, I'll be honest: the food is not quite as good as I remember the food at the Auckland, New Zealand Wagamama. That said, this place is always busy, always fast, and reasonably priced, compared to the outrageousness of Harvard Square. Absolutely the most student-friendly restaurant in Harvard. I recommend the fresh juice and the edamame; do not like the breaded cutlets :P
(4)
Justin M.

I want to say that I'm giving 4 stars to this place because I have never been there during peak hours! When they are not running around like idiots in the back and treating customers like factory parts this place is a nice chill location in Harvard square to have a meal experience that is outside of the norm. Avoid the crowds and enjoy. It is a bit on the pricey side but hey...its for a hot new brand (at least in Boston its new).
(4)
Los H.

oh, there're far better places to go for the manner of food served here. foremost, the pep of usual wagamama staff just isn't here. they're just a bit off, rather aloof - for the most part. the location is rife with soccer moms not imaginative enough to find a better place to set their ill-mannered Cantabrigian toddlers/would-be young "adults" free to annoy other diners and probably cause the staff the emotional distress that, in turn, makes them turn on the remaining diners. Been here 5 times... never again.
(2)
Elisabeth A.

I'm glad someone else noticed the IKEA vibe. I totally felt like I was in some weird asian/swedish hybrid cafeteria, and my friends agreed. Food was okay... I think I should have ordered something different. I'm not too keen on soupy noodle dishes, didn't have much taste. Fun place though, and I liked the communal tables. Good prices.
(3)
Emily G.

My husband billed this as a great place to try with really good food as we were walking past on a recent cold night. I was starving from the walk so we decided to hop in for a quick cheap dinner. He had gone to the location in faneuil hall...apparently they aren't the same. The food here was disappointing, to say the least. And after one soda, one appetizer and two main courses the bill wasn't so pleasing either. We were seated right beside the kitchen and could see the 'chefs' cooking. It's like McDonald's only a different menu. We didn't feel well afterwards. The food was bland and the ingredients were not fresh. Cute concept and quick meals but I'm not going here again.
(2)
_ _.

Scale of 1-10 (single visit): 6 Food 7 Service 8 Atmosphere 6 Value
(3)
molly f.

I remember being much more enamored with Wagamama when I visited the noodle bar in London many years ago. I was excited to relive the noodlemania when they opened some restaurants stateside, and nearby in Harvard Square. Either my memory fails me or their sister locations in the UK are just a lot more delicious, because I was underwhelmed. The noodles were fine and the flavor's ok, but it just didn't live up to the fond memories. Staff is friendly, portions generous, and I'd go back & give some other menu items a try...but I think i'll set my expectations down a notch or two.
(3)
Morgan M.

Relatively tasty with quick service, but quite overpriced (especially for the style of service). Flavors are generally bland, even the spicier dishes. You will pay at least $10 for you entree. If you must go, the best thing on the menu is the coconut ice cream.
(2)
Alvin T.

I dined here with my gf on a recent Friday night. I had heard lots about the place and was intrigued by their concept. If it started abroad and managed to make its way stateside, I figured it had to be that good. How disappointed I am. I'll structure my review with the same criteria Zagat uses. Food: A restaurant is ultimately judged on its food and sadly, the food isn't very good. I ordered the yaki udon since I'm a big fan of noodles, but I wasn't impressed. It was very average as far as taste and portion, but for a place that specializes in noodles, I demand more. Service: A little lackluster. The serving staff seemed a little sleepy that night. Understandable for a slower night midweek, but not for a Friday. This is prime time and your best foot has to be put forward. Our waiter didn't check in on us after the food was delivered and I had to wave down a different server in order to get our tea cups refilled. Our waiter had simply disappeared, so I was left with no choice. Decor: Ahh, the lone saving grace. The layout of the restaurant is pretty fresh with cafeteria style large tables for diners to share. We happened to be seated at a bar along the front window, which was great since I like people watching, especially at a prime spot as in Harvard Square. The restaurant was clean and well lit, but that's not what restaurants are remembered for, unfortunately.
(2)
Maryann-David M.

We came here for my bf Bday just wanted to try something new, we end up eating noodles I could have made at home out of a package, so would I go here again the answer is no, over price package noodles. my noodles at home taste better lol.
(2)
Stephanie T.

wagamama: if ikea served noodles instead of meatballs. tasty! efficient service! large portions that breed yummy (-ier?) leftovers! relatively cheap. i like this place.
(4)
Rahul R.

Wanted to try something different. Hence, on a friends suggestion planned for Wagamama. I am veggie, hence for me the options curtail to few. 1st impression was decent. Service was quick and handy. Tried "Dish #51", noodles with veggie, with Garlin, Chilli Sauce. Was different and interesting entree to have. Over all it was good. It was spicy, tasty and colorful. We also tried the chocolate cake with Vanilla Ice-cream. It was really yummy. I would definitely, recommend this place to new people. Discuss before with the service guys about the possible options available and mix & match. Def. its on a high end, where we landed up paying $20 per person. Thanks, Akash
(3)
Tez C.

The place is really modern and the space is really cool. The food, though, is okay; it's not spectacular but not horrid. It doesn't seem very traditional. The food seems more like fusion than true Japanese. I think I saw that the cooks were not Asian; I think that says something. And it is overpriced. Service is pretty good though; they're usually pretty young and fun. Whenever I walk by the place is usually packed and I wonder why. If you're got some cash to burn and want some pseudo Asian food than go for it.
(3)
Luke P.

I was excited to try the Wagamama in Harvard Sq after hearing so many great things about the London location, I walked away with not a bad experience but nothing really great. Had the veggies over rice with curry, my biggest complaint has to be the price, I just feel like the entrees are over priced by about 2 or 4 dollars a plate. Then again the restaurant was packed on a Tuesday night, so what do I know.
(3)
Burgundy G.

Yum yum yum....Never had to wait.. Servers are attentive... I love the picnic table style seating.. and a big bowl of steaming yummy.. Honestly!! I love this place.. Its just fun and different.. the food is fresh and hot and I've never had a bad meal... period..Even More fun when drinking is involved before during or after...
(4)
Dave F.

Wagamama is a small chain. I've been to Wagamama a bunch in Amsterdam. This was my first trip to one in the U.S. I've had a handful of their vegetarian dishes. All are excellent. I especially like their Japanese curry with eggplant, squash, and sweet potato. It's savory and extremely satisfying. Their salads are quite good as well. The portions are reasonable -- not too large and not too small. Entrees are around 10-12 dollars. (I tried to download a menu to check the prices since I'm not sure I remember right, but their online menus are 42MB, which is ridiculous. The download was going to take 15 minutes.) In any event, the food strikes me as not unreasonably priced, but not a bargain, either. The restaurant is somewhat loud, and it's not a fine-dining experience. Food comes out in a haphazard order, rather than all entrees being served at once. This is fine with me. Wagamama isn't trying to be fancy. If you want a quiet, fancy meal, don't go here. On the other hand, it's not a cheap place to get a huge pile of grub, either. But if you're looking for quick, reliable, and very tasty pan-asian food in a pleasant environment, this is a great option. Every time I've gone I've had an extremely satisfying meal.
(4)
Foodie Buddha F.

Ate lunch here today (i was the goofy guy sitting with that stunning brunette), and it was decent. For anyone that knows me - expectations are a big thing. It's pretty clear you don't go to Wagamama expecting Momofuku quality. If you do - you're going to be disappointed. That said, it's a half-decent, reasonably priced noddle joint. We had two main dishes and an order of Edamame for less than $25. The food is a bit on the bland side, but add some hot pepper and you'll be fine. If i lived nearby, this would be one of those once in a while places. It also seems like a decent spot if you need to get in and out. Although, I probably wouldn't come here for dinner. Not the greatest, but you could do a lot worse. I do recommend dinning with a gorgeous woman (as i did), it really adds to the experience.
(3)
Morgan T.

I'm torn about Wagamama. Yes, the food is hit or miss. The ramen (at least the vegetarian version) was relatively bland (go to Ken's Ramen or Mentei instead for your ramen fix), but tonight I had some kind of soba wheat noodle thing (#41 I think) that was actually pretty good. The edamame with garlic spicy salt is pretty good. I think it's all a little overpriced, but at least a few of the items are decent. No, it's not authentic at all. And the whole "we make the food one at a time" so stuff won't come out together is just a cop out. It's an efficiency saver for them (although it shows how unorganized the kitchen is), but it makes it odd when your food comes out ahead of your companions. Any restaurant that can't deliver food at the right time immediately sends a red flag, but whatever. On the plus side, watching freaked out new englanders being forced to sit next to each other is hilarious. Get over your puritanical selves. Short version: mostly bland, a few good items, odd service, overpriced.
(3)
Amanda M.

I have never been a fan of ramen noodles, so when someone suggested the restaurant chain version, I wasn't excited. I was also wary since I'm allergic to MSG, and a lot of restaurants use it. However, I'm game for trying new things, so I said sure. I really like this restaurant! First of all, this home-made ramen isn't salt-laced. It's really quite good, and they obviously do not use any MSG in their food! Second, there are multiple protein-rich options for vegetarians that all taste great. I actually like the decor of wooden benches, and the view of JFK street is great. The servers are always friendly and prompt. The only bummer is the Japanese beer. It tastes like Miller Lite, so stay away from it. On the other hand, I've never had bad food here and have always had a pleasant dining experience.
(4)
Henry C.

Decidedly, well, mediocre. Have always really wanted to like this place, but the descriptions always sound better than the food tastes. Sigh. Great concept but somehow the cost just doesn't justify the results. As others note, occasionally you can hit a high point, but more often than not you come away thinking that everything kind of had that same soy-salty-noodle flavor. They're from London, and that makes it even more disappointing since usually I love good British imports, even when they are Asian-inspired! But it's a really lively spot with extremely friendly staff. Just don't expect to be wowed by the food itself.
(3)
jules t.

wagamama...you're proving to be muy unreliable for take-out. twice we've ordered to-go and twice our cravings have been foiled. first time, the taste was less than fab. second time, our soups (#37 and #38) came sans broth and once again, they cheated us on the flavor. don't make me slap you.
(3)
Oz L.

I did not even know they had a Wagamama around here in Cambridge. I first started going to them overseas and they are all same. Same deco, menu, etc... The food is good and price right! I know what to expect when I go to them!
(4)
Al A.

Chain-style American-view of noodles. Order sake to make the experience passable.
(1)
Paolo D.

This place is so f-ing blah....What is the big deal, so they take your order with handheld PDA's? WOW. There are so many better places to go to in the square, skip this place unless you are a student and are looking for 2 for 1 lunch specials Monday - Wednesday.
(3)
meg b.

Corporate Noodle House? for all the hype, I was not impressed. There is just no heart in the restaurant, the waitstaff seemed spacey, portions (for aps) were small and noodles were lots of broth and not a whole lot of noodle. Haven't been back since.
(2)
Austin R.

Pretty expensive but a fun meal with the hotpots. I came with a big group and everyone shared. Nice experience.
(3)
Rob P.

I have gone to this place a couple of times and I will go back but only at the low volume times. I am a noodle fan and these are quite good, but the kare noodle (curry noodle soup) is worth a repeat and a repeat visit. Certainly beats out our options for noodles in the square. Service is fine enough for a noodle house but I am still mixed on the food comes when it is ready model, although I do understand the issue that noodles do degrade. The place is clean and tidy. Stark decor, and the big glass windows provide great light but enhances the noise factor. If you stick to a single dish the price is quite reasonable, but the extras can add up. There are times when a bowl of chicken noodle soup helps solve (for a little bit at least) life's more complex problems-particularly on a cold day. I will back.
(3)
Ben R.

OK, apparently I wasn't done with you. Here's my 3rd review, and I am a fan of Wagama now. I'm sorry for bashing you before (aside from the service issue). Prices are high, but the food is good.
(4)
Jeff R.

For a quick dinner at Harvard Square I ended up here. The place was packed on a Tuesday night (usually a good sign!). I was seated quickly, and the food came fairly quickly. I had their popular yaki soba (teppan-fried soba noodles with egg, chicken, shrimp, red onion, scallion, bean sprouts, and peppers. garnished with black and white sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled red ginger). It was tasty, however I don't really care for the canned mini-shrimp. Would I go back, probably not, but if you want a quick and somewhat healthy meal (or are a veg), this place has good choices.
(3)
cricket c.

I really liked everything about this place. I wasn't expecting it to be a Japanese place or a ramen place (though I don't understand why I would ever go out to eat ramen...), so I can't say I disagree with the reviewers calling it wannabe Japanese etc. - but it's a great noodle bar with flavourful noodle dishes (at least the 5 or 6 we tried), interesting desserts, quick service and a hip decor. We got there around 7 on a Saturday night and they sat the 5 of us immediately - we were waiting for a friend to join us and they said they don't normally seat you until the entire party is there, but they did it anyway, so that was good. (I think they just did it because they just weren't busy enough on a Saturday night, though). I had the ebi chilli men - big shrimp, peppers and onions with thin soba (wheat?) noodles in a ginger-garlic-y, tomato-based spicy sauce. It wasn't out of this world, but it was flavourful and yummm. I definitely eat much spicier food, but this was a good-spicy. Everyone liked that one (and vowed to order the #50 next time). [EDIT: Every other time I've had this since, I've thought it could really be a bit spicier.] Another good one was the yasai itame - rice noodles, sprouts, tofu mushrooms and other fresh veggies in a spicy coconut and chilli soup. I usually like some shrimp or chicken in my Asian noodle dishes, and I didn't think this would be good but it was suprisingly fresh (lime and cilantro), light and tasty (I think the tofu/mushrooms and green chilli/spicy coconut curry combination did it). My friend also liked the chicken katsu curry, though she likes pretty much anything with chicken and rice. Everybody loved the ginger cheesecake - very unusual but delicious, you just have to try it. The coconut icecream with coconut flakes and mango sauce was also a hit at our table. The chocolate fudge cake was disappointing, though - and this from a group of six girls who absolutely love their chocolate. Oh, I also quite liked the apple and lime juice. And our orders came out pretty quickly. I liked the clean, modern decor but it was a little weird that the SIX of us had to share one of those big high tables with a family of four who were more interested in our plates than in talking to each other.
(3)
Crystal S.

I'm moving you up two stars. WHOA. big jump, right? It's because they have this ONE coconut lime soup dish that I adore. I have no ideal if there is MSG in it or something because I'm addicted to it, but I doubt it and I don't care, it just tastes so yummy and anyone who tries my dish agrees. So Wagamama, we're on four stars terms.
(4)
Logan C.

My girlfriend and I have gone on a bunch of great dates at Wagamama. The long bench seating can be a bit awkward, but I always request that we have one of the small window benches which are much more private and give an interesting view. We get one whenever they are available, probably 90% of the time. She always gets the Chicken Katsu Curry which is fantastic (I get some too), and I try lots of random things which are always quite good. A few of the dishes are a bit bland, but most of the dishes (I recall specifically the dynamite shrimp stirfry, and some steak thing) are excellent! Their dumplings are yummy too. The prices aren't too bad and we always have a great time!
(5)
Noelle F.

I love wagamama 1. because it reminds me of being in London 2. because its yummy! My favorites are the chilli chicken ramen (spicy) and the chicken kare lomen (which is kind of like coconut curry noodles with chicken cucumber and bean sprouts).
(4)
Sarah P.

I tried Wagamama for the first time last night with my Husband, and I was rather disapointed. In all fairness, I had somewhat unrealistic high hopes because I heard how popular it is in the UK and I have an affinity for noodles. However Wagamama did not deliver on a number of counts. The Food: I got the Ebi Kare Lomen, a coconut milk and coriander based soup with shrimp, bean sprouts, green pepper, egg noodles, and cilantro. It was just spicy enough and actually quite good. If this review was based solely on my dish, it would have gotten 3 stars. However... My husband got the chicken ramen, and it was really mediocre. The broth was too...chickeny or something. Just bland. And it didn't come with half the noodles mine did. Mine actually had too many noodles. With that said there were so many things on the menu that maybe we didn't pick the best things. Some of the appetizers sounded good, such as the japanese chicken dumplings and edamame which I always love. The desserts sounded pretty good too but we did not get one for reasons explained under service. Ambiance: seating is kind of odd in there and if you're not in the mood to get somewhat intimate with strangers...skip this place. They have you packed in like sardines. The people sitting on either side of us were nice and polite but if they hadn't been I can imagine how bad it could get. Also, you sit on hard wooden benches with no back...definatley gives you that eat and get the hell out feeling. Not that comfy, my butt kinda hurt after a while. The Service: The service sucked. Our waiter took FOREVER. Yes, the food came out quickly, as thier claim to fame is that it's served right as its prepared, fresh. However everything else, including taking our order, taking our food away, and giving us the check and our credit card back, took obscenely long. That's why we skipped desert. Pricing: The pricing was expensive for what it was. We spent about $30 w/ tip included and we had water and no desert. You can get way better meals with way better services elsewhere. In sum, Wagamama has mediocre food, slow service, awkward seating, and high prices for what you get. I MIGHT give this place a second try just because I don't want to believe it was as bad as it was, and maybe it was just an off night...but something tells me this place just doesn't live up to its reputation.
(2)
L L.

I'm going to give it two stars because overall, it's good food, but it's quite overpriced. I don't know. I don't want to hate it, but price is definitely a consideration when I'm eating out. One big turnoff is the efficient style of service: the benches don't allow for quiet dinners. The servers often seemed hurried, busily punching in orders on their handheld electronic devices. They informed us that, since every order was custom-made, the food would be coming out at different times. Okay. I don't know how restaurants ordinarily work, but I'm pretty sure that I've definitely been to some that also make their food for individual diners, at least to some degree, and none of them bothered to declare it to me as if I should thank them for it. In sum: if you handed me a bowl of their ramen for free, I'd eat it happily. If you made me pay their prices for it, and made me deal with their waitstaff for an extended period of time, that's another story...
(2)
kyle c.

again, another meh dining experience. the food is alright, nothing really notable, but it's not bad. the atmosphere is weird and the service is so so. and i REALLY hate restaurants that bring food out as it's ready, not together. there is no reason i should get my entree a full 15 minutes before my boyfriends food comes up, that's just awkward. they need to do some more kitchen work to sync up the meal times. the only saving grace was that they comp'd the meal for the bf because it took so long. OH - and the rose wine is great.
(3)
elizabeth s.

So after recalling a good bowl of noodles at a London Wagamama about 7 years ago, I decided to give it the Harvard Square location a try. I ordered a chili noodle dish, and the noodles were rubbery and overcooked. This is a NOODLE BAR, you'd think they could at least get the noodle part right. The sauce was a mediocre chili tomato sauce -- not really what I'd expect. The "steamed" gyoza were partly fried. Why say steamed if they're fried? The cafeteria-like atmosphere and wooden benches were reminiscent of the London branches, but it seems like something got lost across the Atlantic.
(2)
Bulba S.

When I first saw Wagamama in Harvard Square about 8 months ago my only reaction was to laugh at the name and then repeat it as often as possible, not necessarily in the context of discussing the restaurant. I finally actually ate here last night, and it was enjoyable. I got veggie ramen, which was delish, and my friend got these chicken and scallion skewers and red wine. Service was quick and friendly and attractive, even if the system of writing on our placemats was kind of weird. Everything was really clean and simple, which I liked. Also, I was really happy that many of the dishes were made with whole wheat noodles - score! For dessert we split the ginger cheesecake with white chocolate sauce and it was sooo good. I don't know if it's just because I love cheesecake, but dayumn. I also got a noodle dish here recently, and it was good. Long wait in the evening, though.
(4)
Wendy K.

We were first introduced to this chain when we lived in Amsterdam and have eaten in its restaurants in that city, London, Sydney and now Cambridge. My husband and I are both vegans and really like coming here when we travel with the kids because there are good options for everyone to eat. The food tastes great and the prices are pretty reasonable. This branch was clean and the wait staff was great.
(4)
Merri H.

Reasonably priced; better than average "fast food" chain stuff; very nice staff. I love complex foods from Thailiand, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia and I would have liked if my dish had a little more uummph...like a more complex blend of spices and flavors. Having said that, my noodle dish was spicy and tasty and came to the table fast! We were pressed for time (heading to a movie) and I appreciated the quick service. In a rush,looking for decent Harvard Square food, I would go back! (Also, it was fun to sit by the window on the benches and watch the street below)
(4)
Kathy M.

I normally like Wagamama for a fresh-tasting, inexpensive meal in Harvard Square. Tonight, my friend and I each ordered a salad --- the marinated veggie salad and miso beef salad. About 3/4 through the marinated veggie salad, I spit out what looked like a piece of cellophane (maybe from the veggies?). The manager came over, apologized, and offered us another salad. Since I was almost done, I said no thanks. She then offered to comp the one salad, which I thought was a nice gesture, and I accepted. The bill came, and nothing had been deducted(!). My friend and I didn't want to whine about what had been promised, and ended up paying the entire bill. I was disappointed, to say the least. It's the first time my friend tried Wagamama. Wonder if she will go back.
(2)
Catherine B.

The average Wagamama server rates a 9.5 on the Hotness Scale (scoring based on the traditional 1 -10 method). I'd eat there 8 days a week for the eye-candy alone. Unfortunately, this is impossible. The Beatles can be so misleading.
(5)
Damon I.

I suppose Bostonians/Cambrigans should be grateful that UK based Wagamama has chosen us as it's first US location. I find it very telling that nowhere in the Wagamama "literature" does it state that Japanese cuisine is served. So, is Wagamama a unique fusion identity, or a bastardization of my favorite traditional Japanese dishes? Let's get the positives out of the way. I like the open feel, the communal style long tables, and the instantaneous ordering from the friendly wait staff's tricorders. Food is made to order and served piping hot directly from the kitchen. There are some nice juices/smoothies on the menu and a few Japanese beers that perfectly accompany ramen bowls. That's unfortunately where I have to tell Wagamama, "It's not you, it's me." I'm on a strict authenticity diet when it comes to ramen and Wagamama's take on my favorite made me upset. Their's is a thick-ass chicken breast (or steak) plunged into what is supposed to be a spicy broth with noodles that might just be Cup O' Noodle. My recipe for great Ramen = miso broth, noodles, thinly sliced pork, wedge of artificially colored fish cake, scallions, and the all important whole boiled egg. What, I don't look Japanese to you? No matter, I think I know my ramen and the trip to Wagamama made me want to jet set for the real thing.
(2)
g-pap ..

i recall hitting up a wagamama when i was in london in 2000. relatively cheap, kinda minimalist-funky, and a streamlined ordering system. pan-asian noodle menu. a cafeteria with a barista/waitstaff system to make it feel less like a cafeteria. it was pretty ok and relatively cheap. harvard square, eight years later.....: same exact decor. same grab-bag of noodle dishes of SE asian-esque lineage. same concept whereby the waitstaff have mysterious subdivided functions and many of them handle you, and scribble runes on your placemat, that their successors sometimes can interpret, sometimes not. was the food different (ie. worse)? or have i become more critical of asian food? perhaps both. but the food was twice as expensive for half as much portions, and despite some exotic-sounding ingredients, the flavor was pan-bland. in boston, there is no reason to spend 12$ on a small bowl of gooey limp noodles with broth that doesn't contain an identifiable base. there is chinatown, and vietnamese pho joints all around. they will sell you a hearty meal for half that, that you can stick your face into and inhale. and numerous japanese places will sell you the same for a little more.
(2)
Michael G.

It's amazing the amount of press Wagamama got with their USA opening, it really set my expectations pretty high. That may have some influence on my rating, or it may be that I did take-out, but the experience was less than stellar (for the price). To be fair, the chilli beef ramen was a decent meal. Sitting in my cube, munching on a late-night snack it hit the spot. The broth was savory and a cut above "Oodles of Noodles". The problem was finding the beef. Fishing around with my chopsticks, I began to wonder if I had already wolfed it down without noticing (this remains a distinct possibility). With not much joy, I chalked this up as a quasi-vegetarian dish. Compared to the Viet noodle places readily accessible, I'd rank Wagamama was a distant second.
(2)
Lulu C.

We went to Wagamamas for dinner last night and were beyond impressed with the efficient service. It was great food and the service was fabulous!!!
(4)
Sue S.

I'm Asian and I found their food okay, especially the ginger chicken udon noodles and the edamame. It's true that the food is a little bland and lackluster, but the prices can't be beat (if you show your college ID, you can get a free entree with the purchase of an entree---PERFECT for going with a friend). Also, the place is exceptionally clean, efficient, and pleasant to be inside. It's a nice spot to grab lunch or dinner when you're just walking around Harvard Square with no particular destination.
(3)
Ken M.

Still not totally on board with this location, food is yummy but service at this location stinks, especially when compared with the Fanueil Hall location.
(3)
Ben H.

After having eaten at all of the Wagamama locations in Boston multiple times, and having a great experience at all of them, I've decided to settle on 4 stars. They have almost everything I could want from a quasi-Asian fusion restaurant. The atmosphere is school cafeteria meets Asian, somewhat thought out, but banal. But, I generally don't go out for the atmosphere, and while Wagamama doesn't have a bad atmosphere, it feels like they're trying to be a higher end restaurant than they really are. Taste is where they excel. I've read a number of the other reviews and see that the average review thinks the taste is rather insipid. I'll preface this, then, by saying that it was Wagamama where I really discovered soba, so I'll be the first to admit that I haven't had whatever really authentic soba is supposed to be. Wagamama's soba is delicious, though, and has beaten out every other soba dish I've had in Boston. I work in Chinatown and have tried at least 30 different attempts at soba in Chinatown, but all pale in comparison. Wagamama's soba is plump, not overcooked, well seasoned, not at all dry, and the steak/salmon/chicken is always well marinated and perfectly cooked. In contrast, the soba I get from more "authentic" restaurants is dry, bland, and both looks and tastes as though it has sat under a heat lamp for most of the day. If that's what "authentic" is supposed to be, I'll stick with Wagamama. There is a fair selection of alcohol and sides, as well. Additionally, the waitstaff has always been prompt and the food is also prepared quickly. I've eaten at the various Wagamama locations some 20-25 times thus far and have not yet had anything less than a good experience. All of that said, the reason I'm going with four stars instead of five is that they are a little pricey for what they offer. It feels as though they've used their Asian infused school cafeteria look to justify higher prices. I'd eat there more often, but I can't afford to.
(4)
jim b.

Gotta be kidding me. I received a 2 for 1 ticket and decided it couldn't hurt to try. But even at half price, our food was no bargain. Yeah, the food came quickly, but it was very salty and there wasn't really anything too it. You're basically paying $10 for a bowl of ramen with a few things thrown in. A total joke.
(1)
Alejandra R.

I have a couple of friends who are true fans of Wagamama, from the time they were living in the UK. They took me, my husband and daughter to the one in Faneuil Hall and although the service was OK, we were not impressed by the food. I ordered a veggie fried rice with miso soup and I think the rice could've used more spices, it was bland and the consistency a little too chewy. I was displeased when I found out there are no restrooms. We decided to give it another try, once the Cambridge location opened. This time, I ordered the teppan fried whole wheat noodles and they were much better than the rice, but they didn't wow me. The high chairs for the children are useless, since the tables are way too high, poor kids end up sitting at parent's laps. Next time I go to the UK I'll definitely eat at Wagamama, maybe I'll have better luck overseas.
(3)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 57 JFK St
Cambridge, MA, 02138
Phone (617) 499-0930
Website https://www.wagamama.us
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

wagamama

57 JFK St, Cambridge, MA, 02138

wagamama Menu

Starters

Salads

Rice Dishes

Positive Eating

Kare Noodle

Teppan

Grilled Dishes

Chili Men

Sides

Ramen

Healthy Meal suggestions for wagamama

Starters

Salads

Rice Dishes

Positive Eating

Kare Noodle

Teppan

Grilled Dishes

Chili Men

Sides

Ramen

Josh R.

Chris M.

Gab G.

Haley T.

Aaron M.

Shendi X.

Justina D.

Kassandra L.

Adam D.

Jo M.

Maria D.

Tuli S.

Priyanka M.

Chad C.

Kevin H.

Todd S.

Christina V.

Simon L.

Margarette N.

Lina F.

Carl W.

Bo F.

Meagan F.

Ken M.

Shannon K.

Jess Y.

Minh C.

Kaleigh H.

Shuang Y.

Anna J.

Kelsey G.

Janka L.

Rachel L.

sunny n.

Anthony B.

Sonia D.

San W.

Angie B.

Vivek S.

David T.

Pablo R.

viv S.

Fancypants X.

Harriet H.

Lizzy G.

Kelly K.

Nikki N.

Jes W.

Robert C.

Dina C.

Rich T.

Joss G.

Francis L.

Christine J.

Mark T.