Wagamama

My experience here was pretty much as expected when dining inside a shopping centre. Bad, over priced food. I remember when wagamama was better than this! Years along, long forgotten I guess. Having said that, it’s still probably the best option for dinner before seeing a movie if you MUST have dinner at Chadstone Shopping Centre.

We had lunch at Wagamama in Chaddy on a Sunday and it was quite alright — not bad. There was a bit of a mess up with my order actually.
I’d ordered the tama rice — Braised Pork Belly (alternatively, you can choose the marinated grilled chicken breast) stir fried with zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, red and spring onions in a thickened oyster sauce infused with fresh ginger, garlic and wine. served on japanese style rice but they brought me someone else’s order.
A few mouthful in and one of the guys came other to break me the news. He apologised and said that I could finish the dish, that it was on the house and that my order would be a few more minutes. That was very nice of them as other restaurants would just take the plate back which is fair enough however I sent it back anyway — It was too spicy for my liking and I wouldn’t have been able to eat 2 meals anyway (Old Kev would have!)
The other person was not happy gents, which is totally understandable and he was even more frustrated given that my correct order arrived before his did… hmmm… I wonder what his review would be like if he was a Unilocal member!
Anyway, my tama rice was quite nice actually and I gotta say (notwithstanding getting 2 meals for the price of one!) I like Wagamama. It’s got long tables and benches in middle of the floor so you have a 360 view of the shops around.
Their food is nice and they have a good choice of drinks on the menu as well. They’re definitely more pricey as compared to eating at one of the outlets in the food court but, based on the quality of their dishes, it’s worth it.

I just love it! Kids eat free (with adults) EVERYDAY!!!

Nice food, just a bit too eager to turn the tables over. I had food in my mouth and had only just put down my fork when my plate was taken.
I get that Friday is busy but this is a bit much!

I was introduced to the Wagamama chain 10 years ago when I lived in London — so it holds sentimental value for me …
I love the fact that the menu numbers are the same as they were previously and that the staff still take your orders electronically and write your dish number on your place mat and you are served when your particular dish is ready at the communal tables.
That being said I thought the meals were of average standard — still tasty but not wow enough to go back again for a while.
They do offer a childrens menu which is nice to see. I am slightly put off for the fact that you are eating in a shaopping mall and can be seen from shoppers at every angle … !
I also think the pricing is significantly more than the many other Asian inspired eateries you can frequent in Melbourne so not good value in comparison.
But Wagamamas is an eating experience so you got to try it once!

Over priced and very small meals flavors are ok still very «mall» food.

Wagamama seems to be aiming towards a market who want a really laidback, no frills dining experience, combined with excellent food. Well, more power to them I say because mostly they succeed in being just that.
Long communal tables and bench seats mean sharing your space with other diners when it is busy. Wagamama doesn’t abide by traditional rules of service and instead brings dishes as they are cooked, no matter what order they are supposed to arrive in. This is good in theory (fresh, hot food) but annoying if the other person has to wait 20 minutes and you are already halfway through your meal.
The food is very good, albeit pricey, particularly in light of the fact that Melbourne has so many authentic, well priced Asian restaurants to choose from. The gyoza is one of my favourite dishes here as is the yaki soba. The fresh juices are amazeballs– I always have the apple, lime and orange.