Wagamama, Sydney

I still remember the first time I ever ate at Wagamama. It was in Dublin of all places, and after a relentless fortnight of fish and chips, seafood chowder, pub roasts and haggis around England, Scotland and Ireland we were dying for a re-acquaintance with Asian.

Chopsticks were pined after like a long lost lover, invoking dreams of graceful wooden limbs and the delicate transferral of tasty morsels to the mouth. Rice is nice, and stir-fried garlic and ginger were craved for with a feverish yearning I never thought possible.

So when we happened upon Wagamama on South King Street, we were--needless to say--utterly overjoyed. So much so that we ate there not only for lunch, but six hours later for dinner as well.

Later, when I was living in London, Wagamama was a relatively cheap easy option for a pre-movie or theatre feed. The communal tables were somewhat heartening in the busily indifferent city, and Japanese dining options were always somewhat limited anyway (to my continued dismay).

The first Wagamama in Australia opened in Sydney’s King Street Wharf in May 2002 and nine have since sprouted with more to follow. What struck me most was how the visual identity and branding of this global franchise has been remarkably consistent the world over. The menu designs are the same, the communal seating is standard and even the food presentation looks eerily similar.

Photos taken at Wagamama Bridge Street, Sydney:

Edamame steamed green soy beans stir-fried with
chilli and garlic $4.00


Chicken ramen topped with slices of grilled chicken,
seared greens, menma and spring onions $13.50


Steamed rice $3.00 with pickles $1.50


Chicken katsu curry $14.50
Chicken deep-fried in panko, served with a light curry sauce
and Japanese-style rice, garnished with miso leaves and red pickles


Banana katsu $8.00
Crispy breaded bananas with coconut ice cream
served with cinnamon syrup


I've eaten twice at the Bridge Street outlet and each time I am reminded how lucky we are in Sydney. We are blessed with a fantastic Chinatown, a diversity of gastronomic hotspots throughout the suburbs and more Japanese sushi trains and noodle bars than you could poke a chopstick at.

You'd think it'd be like selling coal to Newcastle but obviously there's a market for positive eating + positive living.

Personally I prefer the grime of a dodgy foodcourt, although admittedly dodgy eating + dodgy living doesn't have quite the same ring to it.



Wagamama
Bridge St, Sydney 38 Bridge St, Sydney
Tel: + 61 (02) 9252 8696

King Street Wharf, Sydney
49 Lime Street, King Street Wharf, Sydney
Tel: + 61 (02) 9299 6944

Crown St, Sydney
241 - 247 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney
Tel: + 61 (02) 9380 4820

The Galeries Victoria, Sydney
Level 1, 500 George Street, Sydney
Tel: + 61 (02) 9264 9155

Parramatta, Sydney
Brandsmart Riverside Centre, 330 Church Street, Parramatta, Sydney
Tel: + 61 (02) 9687 1600

Sydney International Airport
Terminal 1, Pier B, Airside Departures, Mascot, Sydney
Tel: + 61 (0) 2 9693 8525