Review of Wagamama
Posted on July 15, 2007, by Conor O'Neill, under Bandon.
Wagamama,
4-5 South Main Street,
Cork,
Ireland
Our eldest was badgering us yesterday that we never eat in “proper restaurants” so we scooted into town with the plan to either go to Captain America’s (a first for all of us) or Wagamama nxt door (which I’d eaten in last year).
We arrived up and made the snap decision to go for Wagamama. It was before 5pm on a Saturday and was almost empty. We got a full bench to ourselves and sorted out the kids seating arrangements. There was a baby seat for baba.
Crayons and play sheets were provided immediately and the waiter gave us the kids menus and stayed until we picked the kids food. Chicken and Noodles all round. The food arrived in less than five minutes. These are people who know how to deal with kids!
I was thrilled that the three eldest and dug into food which they would not normally touch. They loved the soy based sauce and the only bit they really didn’t like was the salad leaves.
The highlight for them was the kid’s chopsticks.
Only tiny drawback on the kid-front was that the baby seats are too low and babba whacked her head off the edge of the table twice.
The kids all got an apple-orange juice mix which was clearly freshly squeezed. I had a similar one with addition of passion fruit and it was gorgeous.
Catherine went for Chilli Chicken Men and liked it overall apart from the huge chunks of courgette and the undercooked peppers.
I had classic Yaki Soba which is very like Singapore Chow Mein which I’ve always loved. Nice and spicy, lots of chicken and shrimp. My kind of chinese food.
Catherine had a Japanese Iki beer which she loved. I tasted it and thought it was fab too. Later that night I was in Boqueria and drank nothing else. Try it out.
Ice-cream for the kiddies rounded it off nicely
Loos were all separate lockable cubicles which is pefect for multiple bringing kids too.
I really can’t say anything seriously negative about this place. The food is not incredible by any means but it is simple, tasty and is much more preferable to filling yourself to the gills with stodge before drinks. I can see why Wagamama is a global phenomenon.
€83 for two adults and four kids is pretty good value too.
8 Replies to "Review of Wagamama"
conor on July 16, 2007
I only found out you were the importers from Damien later that night after 6 or 7 of them! It really is a super beer with lots of nice aromatics.
I did a mini-review of it on my phone to LouderVoice on the bus home.
Julian on July 16, 2007
Well all right then! Great to get the impartial compliment first. I usually burble on about being a bitter drinker - drinker of bitter, I mean! - but I do agree it’s very good drinking.
aquaasho on July 23, 2007
Those kids chopsticks look like a great idea, I’ll definitely go back and give it a try! When they first opened I don’t think they did desserts, that used to put me off! You’ve made me want to go back though….
JD on July 24, 2007
Always a favourite before heading into the Raven with ‘the lads’ when allowed out. I’m afraid I like Asahi beer. Usually just have one main plate and compensate with beers!
BTW, what’s your opinion on the Boqueria?
conor on July 25, 2007
I reviewed them way back here:
http://conoroneill.com/2006/03/27/boqueria-tapas-cork-2/
and we have a few mini-reviews of it here:
Calvin Jones on July 25, 2007
Great review Conor.
We love Wagamama, and often take the kids there for lunch when we’re in the city. It’s fantastic for them, and the food makes a healthy and welcome change from the usual “nuggets and chips, sausage and chips, fish fingers and chips” that passes for the children’s menu in most other Irish eateries.
It’s also one of the few places you can take the family to eat out and feel that you’ve a) eaten something worthwhile and b)haven’t been ripped off.
My gang (six year old twins and a four year old) rave about the place — and much prefer it to McD’s, BK and the like.
conor on July 25, 2007
The first time I was there it was around 9pm and it was jammed with families and young kids. I loved seeing that. Utterly un-Irish and better for it!
Julian on July 16, 2007
Right so Conor, that’s twenty I owe you as arranged… But seriously, did you know that Bubble Brothers are Iki’s importers? It’s our only beer thus far, and we’re very proud of it. It gets a plug in the new edition of Intermezzo magazine, which I’d be interested to read a review of if anyone’s good on food journalism.