Forget going all the way to L1 to get your Wagamama fix because everyone’s favourite Japanese delight has just opened on the New Mersey retail park, and the new Wagamana Speke is just as good as you’d expect!
Home to the notorious Katsu Curry (if you haven’t had one then you need to. Right now.), Wagamama hit the UK by storm waaay back in the good old days of 2005, serving Asian inspired food, based on Japanese cuisine and so when they opened their newest one in Speke, Liverpool, we wasted no time in getting down there, grabbing a pair of chopsticks (or spoon if you’re common like me) and tucking into their top notch menu, which showcased their much loved classics as well as few new treats that sent our diet straight back out the door.
The new Wagamana Speke was as expected, minimalist with bare brick and long wooden benches (you get used to sitting next to a stranger as you’re scoffing like there’s no tomorrow, don’t worry) which are all keeping in line with Wagamama character. Sitting down, we were given some info about the Haiku, a traditional super short Japanese poem and then asked to create our own. William Wordsworth eat your heart out. After expressing our creativity we got down to the real fun. Food. Being a school night, with the holiday diet in full swing and also just being super basic bitches, we started off by ordering two fresh juices, the Tropical – a mixture of apple, mango and orange and the Positive juice; pineapple, lime, spinach, cucumber and apple. Delish. With a side of edamame beans covered in chilli and garlic salt, the evening was already getting off to a great start.
Not being able to decide on any particular sides (classic) we asked our amazing server to just bring us whatever he thought we’d enjoy. The results were the Vegan Gyoza, super crispy chilli and garlic squid, the spicy Bang Bang cauliflower and the star of the show the Tama Squid which, in true completely bonkers Japanese street food style, MOVED on the plate. A total must order.
We chatted, sipped juice and scranned our sides dishes whilst also learning more and more about Wagamama Speke as a restaurant and just generally enjoying the completely fab atmosphere and chilled out vibe you can experience whilst eating here. Our main courses were the Yasai Katsu curry – a veggie version of the Chicken Katsu made with bread-crumbed sweet potato and aubergine (an age old classic but an absolute fruity winner all the same) and a pick from the Omakase section of the menu, the new Steak Bulgogi.
The steak was cooked to absolute perfection and drizzled with just the right amount of fruity sauce. Accompanied with aubergine, wok-fried Udon and half a tea stained egg, the flavour combinations were absolutely spot on. The chef behind the dishes came out to explain how our dishes were made and everything was so tasty I only wish I could hire him to make my tea everyday.
There was talk of dessert before the mains were even polished off and after telling myself ‘id only get a salad’ all day, I decided that after already scranning five side dishes, a massive steak and half a Yasai Katsu curry, I was in too deep and might as well balls to the wall. So that’s exactly what I did, ordering the fig and coconut cheesecake AND a big fat portion of salted caramel ice cream. Covered in caramelised sesame seeds with a super creamy centre, the cheesecake lasted all of ten seconds and every single bite was spot on.
After being fed like absolute kings at their fab blogger event, feasting at Wagamama has definitely been added to our list of fave things to do and we’re made up there’s now more than one in Liverpool. Head down to New Mersey retail to Wagamama Speke and get a Katsu Curry in your life ASAP.
Writing, instagramming and eating just about anything and everything food related from brunch and dinner in Liverpool and beyond. Fashionista and self-confessed exercise addict @lauragracenicholson
