Wagamama: The New Noodle in Town

Wagamama, the wildly popular UK-based noodle chain that opened restaurants in Faneuil Hall last April and Harvard Square last month, reminds us of IKEA: slick, modern, not terrible quality for the prices, and definitely designed to appeal to the masses.

Like the London Wagamamas we’ve visited, the Harvard Square restaurant has a spare, modern aesthetic—diners sit cafeteria-style at long wooden tables set with paper placemats, which also serve as dessert menus and as a place for waiters to jot down orders. Bostonist happily slurped up our chili chicken ramen, a soup featuring well-cooked ramen noodles, flavorful grilled chicken breast, and fresh chilies, scallions, and sprouts. However, it wasn’t quite spicy enough for us, and we had to spike it with some chili oil.

We also enjoyed the yasai katsu curry—slices of sweet potato, eggplant, and butternut squash coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried, served with a mild curry sauce and rice. In fact, we enjoyed the vegetables so much that we wished that there were more of them, and we fought bitterly with our dining companion over the one slice of eggplant. At $11 and $9.50 respectively, the entrees were a little more pricey than we remembered from trips to the London locations. Then again, we weren’t always the savviest currency converters.

Wagamama serves wine (including sake and plum wine) and beer (both Japanese and Sam Adams), but we took a chance on the $3.95 “raw juice”—a blend of carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, oranges, and apples. It sounded like it had the potential to be a vegetal sludge, but we were thrilled when it turned out to be refreshing and light. We also ordered a side of gyoza, which was tasty and prettily presented on a long rectangular dish. But at $6.25 for five, we really didn’t think they were worth $1.25 a pop.

While a little on the expensive side, the food was satisfying, and we did enjoy the fun atmosphere. But, if you’re looking for a more authentic (and affordable) ramen experience, this bowl’s not for you. Instead, head on over to Ken’s Noodle House in the Super 88 Market in Brighton. It’s definitely not as stylish as Wagamama (its décor includes fake wood paneling and vinyl and metal chairs), but for the serious noodle enthusiast, it’s not to be missed—and it’s possible to get a bowl of steaming, comforting ramen for less than $7.

Post contributed by Lisa Scanlon.