Wagamama is a sleek chain of ‘Asian-inspired noodle’ restaurants which first opened in London in 1992 and has since expanded all over the world. The Canberra restaurant joined the global family after the redevelopment of the Canberra Centre in 2007.
I’ve long been curious about the concept behind the ‘Wagamama’ chain. As a wide-eyed high school student studying Japanese when Wagamama first came to Australia, I knew that wagamama meant selfish or arrogant. In a language known for its politeness, such a strong adjective stuck out in my mind. Moreover, of all the lovely sounding Japanese words, why call an eatery Wagamama?
It was a lazy Summer afternoon when I decided to find out what the fuss was about. Perusing the menu, I’m struck by the level of detail that goes into describing the ingredients of each dish. I also notice the extensive range of drinks, including freshly squeezed juices. The menu has a handy glossary which translates some Japanese words, and also details the types of noodles which are gluten-free.
The first dish my dining partner and I sampled was the Spicy Chicken Itame ($18.80), served on a bowl of rice. The succulent strips of chicken had been marinated in ginger, garlic and lemongrass and stir-fried with a range of crispy vegetables, giving a wonderfully fresh and spicy dish full of flavour.
We then tried a variation on the Japanese favourite Yaki Soba ($18.10). The teppan-fried soba noodles are cooked on a hot, flat griddle and are served with chicken, shrimp, eggs, vegetables and garnished with fried shallots, bright pink pickled ginger and mixed sesame seeds.
The Ebi and Mango Salad ($19.90) is from the sub menu of Asian inspired salads. Consisting of tempura prawns and fresh mango with a spicy citrus dressing tossed with vegetables, it was fresh and zesty and tasted like Summer.
The declared philosophy of Wagamama is to ‘combine great, fresh and nutritious food in a sleek but simple setting with helpful, friendly service and value for money’. The concept behind the restaurants are traditional ramen noodle bars popular in Japan where food is fast, fresh, cheap and delicious. The fit-out, dominated by long tables with benches are designed to accommodate several small groups or some larger groups.
But why ‘Wagamama’ of all names? I haven’t been able to discover a straight answer but I have a few ideas. While ‘selfish’ has negative connotations, in our hectic modern world, it may not be a bad idea to be selfish and look after ourselves above the limitless distractions once in a while. We all need to stop, indulge, and enjoy. And one of my favourite ways to do this is by enjoying delicious food in good company.
While it is a chain, the food is far more thoughtful than what so many chains offer. Among the staple dishes such as ramen, there are some special flavour combinations that cannot be ignored for their ingenuity and quality. It’s fresh, inexpensive and above all pleasing food.
Photos by Chris Whitfield.
