<![CDATA[Greater London - Camden - Covent Garden - Eating, Drinking and Nightlife - Japanese Restaurants - Reviews]]> http://www.welovelocal.com Reviews from welovelocal.com en Yum http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/wagamama-wc2h7af.html#r30891 You can't beat Wagamamas for every reason. The food is absolutely fantastic, great variety on the menu, and something for everyone. It's also extremely healthy, check out the fruit juices! It is also a very chilled out atmosphere with great service, so you can be in and out in your 45 minute lunch hour no probs.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 20:46:28 UTC It's all about the Yasai Katsu curry! http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/wagamama-wc2h7af.html#r18022 If you've never been to a Wagamamas before, then you might find a visit to this branch a bit unusual given that a) it's underground, b) the seating mainly consists of long tables and benches which means you often end up sitting next to randoms and c) how when you order something they scribble your order number on your paper place mat.

If you can get to grips with all of the following, Wagamamas is a great place to go of a lunchtime. You can often find 2 for 1 offer vouchers on the internet, so it's pretty cheap and the food's not bad either - in particular I recommend the Yasai Katsu curry which is sweet potato, aubergine and butternut squash in breadcrumbs, with sticky rice and curry sauce - the only problem is it's a bit difficult to eat with chopsticks!

The service at this branch was quick and the staff were pretty friendly too!

]]> Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:13:01 UTC McWags http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/wagamama-wc2h7af.html#r17082 Waggy M's are becoming the new McDonalds. Theyre showing up all over the place with the same balnd menu. You know exactly what you'll get from the menu and you've probably already decided what you want before you sit down

if youre a wagamama virgni, check it out, but dont expect too much.

This particular branch is situated below ground. Queues get long at lunch time so get there early.

Staff are friendly and service is quick.

]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:29:10 UTC Favourite place to eat!! http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/abeno-too-wc2h7je.html#r3515 I love this place. the staff are knowledgable, authentic and friendly. Watching your food cooked in front of you makes your mouth water!!

The Okonomi Yaki are great and if you go here for the first time you should definitely try these!!

Also, try the Asahi Black beer.. a wonderful Japanese stout style beer!!

Highly recommended!!!!

]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:58:29 UTC My current favourite http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/abeno-too-wc2h7je.html#r2819 Abeno Too is a decidedly slow food restaurant. If you want fast food, don't come here, but the wait is worthwhile. On a hot day, the hibachi grills can be a bit overbearing, but the quality of the food even makes the heat bearable. There's an extensive menu, but as the other reviewer said, you come here for the Okonami yaki, a grilled Japanese egg and cabbage pancake, with a variety of fillings- from the daily specials to fish, meat or vegetables. The Japanese beer selection is good, as is the tea. It's quite small, gets busy, and averagely takes about 20 mnutes for one of the staff to rustle up a pancake. The waiting is good, and order up some miso or edamame to satiate your hunger while you watch the culinary magoc unfold before your eyes. The staff are sweet and friendly, but I think it's better to sit at the counter than a table......you can carry on a conversation better at the counter, whereas the cooking process seems more intrusive at a table. Not cheap, but not expensive either. A deluxe pancake will leave you bursting, and with a starter or salad and a few beers, you're looking at about 20 pounds a head.

]]> Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:45:58 UTC They cook in front of you! http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/abeno-too-wc2h7je.html#r2575 At this restaurant, they serve a type of Japanese food called Okonmi yaki as well as some other Japanese dishes, but really it's the Okonmi yaki that's the highlight of the visit. It's quite difficult to describe, but it's almost like an omelette packed with cabbage and whatever else you ask for. But the strange thing about it here is that they not only mix together what would normally be quite unusual mixes of food which end up tasting amazing but they also cook the dishes on a hot plate built into your table. Then to finish it off, they decorate the dish with various sauces and sprinkles, one of which are fish flakes which are so finely sliced that they waft with the heat of the dish. A startling sight. Also because they have cooked it on the in built hot place on your table, your food stays warm however long you take to eat it.

The seats double up as coat and bag storage space. and because you're sat on them, you can feel happy to be relaxed whilst you're eating and not have to keep looking out for your bag.

The grilled dumplings stuffed with avocado and tofu melt as you eat them, they are so good that I'm thinking about going back there now as I write!

]]> Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:37:52 UTC Fast food, Japanese style http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/tokyo-diner-wc2h7jp.html#r2518 I honestly don't know why anyone out for a night in Soho would go to McD's or BK or similar when for a little more money and time, they could sit down and enjoy a quick bite at the Tokyo Diner.

Handily located just off Shaftesbury Avenue, Tokyo Diner offers Japanese standards - noodles, sushi and curries with rice, plus sake and Japanese beer. Yes, it's small and service is a little haphazard, but it's cheap, quick and open late, and the servings are huge.

]]> Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:12:31 UTC 5-Craps. http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/tokyo-diner-wc2h7jp.html#r2243 Crap food, crap staffs, crap place, crap food, crap restaurant, ridiculous price.

Food were bad, staff was arrogant, very expensive, place = tiny... you could probably fit just four 8-people lifts in there and thats it.

Avoid.

]]> Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:08:24 UTC This is about as Japanese as a Lamb Bhuna http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/wagamama-se18xx.html#r1280 After you have sat down at your table with a bunch of randoms, do not expect even a glimmer of Japanese authenticity. This is strictly eastern fusion food, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. So, the quality of food varies from just about okay to quite good. In my opinion the curries are a waste of time 'cos they taste like they were microwaved in a carrier bag. However the noodle soups are wholesome, filling, flavourful and generally pretty satisfying. As far as starters go they aren't great value, though some of them are tasty (like the prawn dumplings). If the beaver in you takes over and you feel like eating little chunks of mahogany go for the spicy chicken nugget thing to start. But whatever you do, wash it all down with a Kirin Ichiban beer, Japan's best export after Takeshi's Castle. This chain of restaurants is just one of those, "we can't think of anything else" places to eat, but I know I will end up eating there again anyway. Oh well...

]]> Mon, 21 May 2007 17:01:08 UTC This is about as Japanese as a Lamb Bhuna http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/camden/covent-garden/japanese-restaurants/wagamama-se18xx.html#r1280 After you have sat down at your table with a bunch of randoms, do not expect even a glimmer of Japanese authenticity. This is strictly eastern fusion food, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. So, the quality of food varies from just about okay to quite good. In my opinion the curries are a waste of time 'cos they taste like they were microwaved in a carrier bag. However the noodle soups are wholesome, filling, flavourful and generally pretty satisfying. As far as starters go they aren't great value, though some of them are tasty (like the prawn dumplings). If the beaver in you takes over and you feel like eating little chunks of mahogany go for the spicy chicken nugget thing to start. But whatever you do, wash it all down with a Kirin Ichiban beer, Japan's best export after Takeshi's Castle. This chain of restaurants is just one of those, "we can't think of anything else" places to eat, but I know I will end up eating there again anyway. Oh well...

]]> Mon, 21 May 2007 17:01:08 UTC