AIBU to just not get why Wagamama

[helloclitty]

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?

My Japanese friends say that Wagamama is good and fairly authentic. For a sit-down restaurant it's also relatively cheap and relatively fast. The food is tasty and there's always something for everyone in the group. You can see the food being cooked, which generally means high standards of hygiene. They are extremely tolerant of children, and the toilets are clean. The food (except for desserts) is dairy-free, and much is gluten-free. All of which means that I can take my fussy-eating, wriggly, distractible family there, and that there is somewhere where all of us (my group of friends, which includes dairy-allergics, coeliacs, and vegetarians) can have a girlie night out.

Only complaint is that theyve done away with the booster cushions.

I like Wagamama, as does DH and DD. I think the children's menu there is really good. It's nice food, tastes good, and it comes quick which is sometimes handy if we are having a quick meal in town.

I don't like Nandos. But not sure I'd have put Wagamamas in the same category as Nandos anyway. Nandos is more like a McDonalds in most respects - order at counter, etc.

If you don't eat out often, then you go to a chain restaurant because you know what you'll get and you won't 'waste' money on a bad meal...don#t forget there are many many places where chain restaurants are the only place to eat out. (In my hometown growing up, it was McDs or the local pizza takeaway. They now have Frankie and Benny's.)

I don't get Nandos though.

Tatty

I don't go there but I wondered why people think it's so great, hence the question.
It's just the passion people have for some brands like Wagamama. Just on this post someone has called it awesome! Also, people seem to think it's reasonable.....really?.... a bowl of noodles fried in a wok with some veg/meat for £13.50!

I eat out a lot and spend really variable amounts on meals but the value at Wagamama's to me seems terrible. I bet their food margins are huge!

Reliable, quick, informal, reasonably healthy, child friendly and relatively affordable.
Nandos is best seen as a healthier, tastier alternative to KFC rather than a low rent restaurant. And Wagamama normally has deals/vouchers on which bring the price down to normality.

The one I really don't get the point of is Giraffe -always queuing out the door.

I don't get Nandos so I never go there now. Everytime I've been, it's been awful.

Now Wagamama I do get and I adore it. The food has always been the same good quality and fantastically tasty in every Wagamama's resturant I've been to.
I've been craving their food lately and wish there was one nearby :(

I am not so sure Wagamamas food is healthy is it? Fried noodles?

My dc love the food in Wagamamas. I'm not so keen but seeing them tuck into Japenese food with enthusiam makes me feel smug

I love nandos, I just think it tastes nice & as someone said when you go to unknown restaurants sometimes its not all that so if you are not in the mood to take a chance you can stick with trusty nandos! Also i think its quite family friendly to take kids or babies. I have never tried wagamama but few of my friends have told me its nice so am meaning to go.

Yes I do think its awesome what of it? Some people think fricking Dancing On Ice is awesome...the world is made up of different people with different tastes and thoughts you know!!

Why is Wagamama popular? Three words

Chicken Katsu Curry

(or maybe that's just me )

Wagamama's main thing is ramen, which are boiled noodles in broth and it's very veg heavy, so I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a healthier menu.

I don't eat the chicken in Nandos but they do a nice cous cous salad!

Well I like that Giraffe do breakfast and brunch and are child friendly. Prices similar to Wagamama for mains BUT ingredients much more expensive. So IMO better value.

However, you don't get the frenzied I in the looovvvee, adore Giraffe camp like you do with Nandos and Wagamama

LifeIsButtercream I agree about the Chicken Katsu Curry!

Love Wagamamas, good quality, tasty and quick service. Possibly slightly overpriced, but like the fact that the food is consistent.

Can only go alone though, DS's sesame allergy makes me too nervous to take him in there!

I prefer Wagamamas to most other chain restaurants as the food is good, they're child-friendly and the service is quick. It's not as cheap as eg Harvesters or Pizza Hut but then it's a hell of a lot nicer than either.

I've never been in a Nandos.

I can understand people liking Wagamama I just don't get the over the top loving the place. If it is just a good, healthy fast food place then why do people get so passionate about it?

Oh I agree it's nicer than Harvester or Pizza Hut but hey those two are fairly repulsive aren't they?

Wagamamas is great for allergies - every branch has a large book with page for every major allergen and that lists which dishes on the menu are suitable for people with which allergy, and which can be adapted to be made safe. I'm gluten-intolerant and also have several anaphylactic allergies, so can just flick between the various lists to find something to suit.

When visiting a strange town, knowing that there is potentially this large chain of restaurants that can guarantee me safe food is quite a welcome find!

Has to be an Amai Udon with a lime and apple juice.

Heavenly.

Giraffe where I live is quite slow service whereas Wagamamas is fast. You probably don't get an 'I love Giraffe' camp as there isn't much to love about them!