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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to just not get why Wagamama

109 replies

helloclitty · 21/02/2012 16:57

and some other chains like Nandos are so bloody popular. What is all the fuss about? I am willing to listen to why IABU and change my mind so why do people love them so much?

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TattyDevine · 21/02/2012 16:59

Presumably its because the food and ambience/general vibe of the place suits their personal taste.

sharenicely · 21/02/2012 16:59

Cos they are both damn tasty, better than mcd's and not too expensive.

LaurieFairyCake · 21/02/2012 16:59

bleurgh to Nando's - nasty non-free range chicken

but yum to Wagamama's - spicy, simple Asian street food (at just a tad more expensiveHmm)

featherbag · 21/02/2012 16:59

Wagamama food is bloody lovely and reasonably priced, and I know that my favourite Yaki Soba will taste exactly the same in Manchester Wagamama as it does in Newcastle Wagamama! That's why I love it!

LemonTurd · 21/02/2012 16:59

YABU. It's not authentic cuisine but good quality, imo, and very speedy. Customer service excellent too, ime.

Those long tables remind me of school dinners though...

EauDeLaPoisson · 21/02/2012 17:01

Ive never got Nandos- Wagamama is awesome though!

LaFilleSurLePont · 21/02/2012 17:01

I don't mind chains,but I really don't get the popularity of Wagamama. Their food is either too bland or has too many flavours in it fighting for attention. I've had far better food in just about any other Japanese restaurant I've tried. The only thing I like is their fruit juice.
I'd only ever dine there if I had no other options.

helloclitty · 21/02/2012 17:01

But if I remember rightly it wasn't that cheap, Wagamama that is. I mean it's just noodles and stuff right?

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chandellina · 21/02/2012 17:01

Wagamama is fast and tasty, albeit a bit pricey. Nandos on the other hand is overrated and bad value.

Haberdashery · 21/02/2012 17:02

I really like Wagamama's, too. Nando's is tasty but I don't like the battery chicken thing. Wagamama's is reasonably priced, has fast and good service, decent and generously-sized children's menu and a brilliant variety of different things.

catgirl1976 · 21/02/2012 17:02

I love Nandos Blush - it's nicer than McDonalds / KFC or any other fast food outlet. I have an extra hot chicken buger with cheddar, haloumi, perinaisse and cover it in extra hot sauce.

I do feel bad that they are not free range chickens though.

I have not been to a Wagamamas as we don't have one near me. I would try one though.....Is it like a Ping Pong in London?

LaFilleSurLePont · 21/02/2012 17:02

It's anything but tasty imho.

I haven't tried Nandos so can't comment on that.

Haberdashery · 21/02/2012 17:03

Wagamama is more noodles and rice dishes rather than dumplings like Ping Pong.

helloclitty · 21/02/2012 17:03

Notreallycheap

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helloclitty · 21/02/2012 17:05

So up £7.50 to £13.50 for some noodles with strips of meat?

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catgirl1976 · 21/02/2012 17:05

Thanks haberdashery - have just goolged their menu and now I am hungry and want noodles :)

LemonTurd · 21/02/2012 17:05

Free green tea :)

yellowraincoat · 21/02/2012 17:05

I don't get Nandos at all, there are queues to get in at my local one. I've never been so maybe I'm missing some delightful battery chicken experience though.

Wagamamas is delicious and the only restaurant near the National Theatre that I KNOW will be open after a show. It doesn't taste like it's full of shite.

Wagamamas isn't like Ping Pong, it's more noodly than that and they have them everywhere not just London.

catgirl1976 · 21/02/2012 17:06

I would just like to point out I have a chicken burger at Nandos, not a chicken buger. Which just sounds wrong Blush

MistyMountainHop · 21/02/2012 17:06

mmm i love nandos

AnaisB · 21/02/2012 17:07

DH loves Nandos and the vegi stuff they do is tasty. Both Wagamama and Nandos are pretty family friendly.

helloclitty · 21/02/2012 17:07

Catgirl
No it's nothing like Ping Pong.

It's just basically noodles with 'stuff' served in a sterile environment on canteen style tables at higher prices

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halcyondays · 21/02/2012 17:12

I like Wagamamas, their food is lovely. Dh raves about Nando's, I think their food is quite nice but very overpriced, and you even have to go up and order.

TattyDevine · 21/02/2012 17:12

Okay so you don't like it - other's do - don't go there!

YABU!

marshmallowpies · 21/02/2012 17:14

Loooooove Wagamama's although I will concede it IS expensive...and I like Ping Pong even more. Never been in a Nando's, though, although most of my male friends (with exception, fortunately, of DH) love it. Must be the peri peri sauce or whatever it is that they get hooked on...(peri peri always makes me think of beri beri which is some nasty disease I remember seeing in my biology text book!)