How To Be Vegan @ Wagamama

This is the next article in a series of articles where we help you understand the vegan options available to you at various well know establishments in the UK. 

We will give you a brief overview of what on the menu is vegan and our opinion on how good it tastes (if we have tried it). We will also give each establishment a score based on number of options available and overall taste quality of the offerings.

We saved the best till last on our Veganuary series. This establishment has, over the last 2 years really pushed hard with their vegan offering, regularly adding new items and creating a full vegan menu separate from the normal menu. It is none other than Wagamama!

Vegan Items on the menu:

• Edamame with salt
• Edamame with chili garlic salt
• Bang bang cauliflower 
• Yasai steamed gyoza
• Wok-fried greens
• Vegetable tempura
• Mixed mushroom + panko aubergine hirtata steamed buns
• Kare burosu ramen
• Yasai yaki soba with rice noodles
• Yasai yaki soba with udon noodles
• Yasai pad thai
• Tofu raisukaree
• Tofu firecracker
• Yasai katsu curry
• Hot yasai katsu curry
• Vegatsu
• Hot vegatsu
• Chillies
• Miso soup + japanese style pickles
• Japanese pickles
• Chocolate orange cake
• Banana katsu
• Coconut reika ice cream
• Miso caramel ice cream
• Chocolate + orange blossom ice cream
• Pink guava + passion fruit sorbet
• Strawberry + yuzu ice cream

Review:

• Bang bang cauliflower 
  • Crispy cauliflower with spicy sauce, spring onion, ginger and coriander. This is a real winner of a starter. Spicy and tasty, you really need to try this. 5/5.
• Yasai steamed gyoza
  • Steamed vegetable dumplings, simple but effective. 4/5.
• Vegetable tempura
  • Crispy fried tenderstem broccoli, red pepper, sweet potato and asparagus. Crispy fried goodness. 4/5.
• Mixed mushroom + panko aubergine hirtata steamed buns
  • Now this is another smashing starter that you have to try. Two fluffy buns with mushrooms, coriander and vegan mayonnaise. 5/5.
• Kare burosu ramen
  • Shichimi-coated silken tofu, grilled mushrooms, pea shoots, carrot, chili, coriander and udon noodles in a spicy curry broth. Very tasty but a little too salty. 4/5.
• Yasai yaki soba with udon noodles
  • A classic Wagamama dish but made vegan. Chunky udon noodles fried with peppers, beansprouts, spring onion, shallots, pickled ginger and sesame seeds. 4/5.
• Yasai pad thai
  • A classic Thai dish but made without the fish sauce to make it vegan. Rice noodles, amai sauce, beansprouts, chili, spring onion, shallots, mint and fresh lime. 4/5.
• Yasai katsu curry
  • A classic katsu curry with vegetables in breadcrumbs rather than chicken. Served with sticky rice, pickles and salad. 4.5/5.
• Vegatsu
  • An interesting twist on the yasai katsu curry where you get crispy seitan instead of vegetables. Perfect if you want something a bit meatier compared to the vegetable version. 4.5/5.
• Miso soup + japanese style pickles
  • If you like miso soup then you’ll like this, if not then you won’t. 4/5.
• Japanese pickles
  • Not much to explain here but I do love some pickles on the side at Wagamama. 4/5.

Number of options available

Score: 5/5

Taste quality of available options

Score: 4.5/5

Overall the Wagamama offering is fantastic, lots and lots of options that taste great. I can’t wait till my next visit to try something new as it will take me a while to go through the whole menu. My only issue with this menu is the high salt content in all the dishes.