This Dublin restaurants a branch of the popular London-based noodle bar and has been here a few years now, but it has retained its cool status - both for the food and the interior, which is a huge basement canteen, simple and functional, but strikingly designed with high ceilings.
The generous portions of noodles consist of ramen (thread noodles), udon (fat noodles) or soba (a round buckwheat noodle) served in soups or pan-fried, well seasoned and colourfully decorated with South Asian ingredients.
The large menu gives plenty of information about ingredients and dishes - and also explains how orders are taken (kids love the electronic notepads used by servers); it includes a few Japanese dishes such as teriyaki (little kebabs) and edamame (freshly steamed green soya beans, served sprinkled with salt), also a selection of fruit and vegetable juices, some rice dishes and plenty of vegetarian options.
All food served in Wagamama noodle bars is GMO free (and you can even make it at home now, following their lovely cookbook), and Sake and interesting soft drinks such as kombucha take their place on the drinks menu alongside wines and coffees.
Service is friendly and efficient. It's noisy, and not a place for those who value comfort - or privacy (not an intimate venue at all) - but kids love it.
No reservations, but queues move quickly.
Also at: South Main Street, Cork.
Seats 136. Open Sun-Wed noon- 10pm, Thur-Sat noon-11pm . A la carte. SC discretionary. Children welcome; air conditioning, free broadband wifi. Multi-storey carpark nearby. Closed 25-26 Dec. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
