Eating Out: chopsticks at the ready for winter warmers

I’m no stranger to their huge bowls of noodle soup — so a preview of new autumn/winter dishes was too good to resist.

I took along a friend and fellow Wagamama fan, and settled down to the first of a bumper taster session; root juice. It’s fair to say that I’m not the target audience for this concoction of beetroot, carrot and orange juice. It tasted oh so good for you — a gym bunny’s dream — but if it’s a choice of that or wine, I know what I’ll be reaching for.

Then again, there’s always new addition Iki — a refreshing cloudy beer infused with citrus fruit yuzu, and perfectly paired with spicy food.

On then to the new dishes...

Pulled pork gyoza — dumplings with a black vinegar and ginger sauce — were delicious, with all the slow-cooked flavour of the pork shining through.

Wok-fried greens were also very good — a simple stir-fry of broccoli and bok choi, and a classic for a reason.

Two varieties of ramen broth — grilled duck and mushroom and asparagus — were tasty, and prompted debate at the table on which was better (I stick by the mushroom).

An exotic-sounding mahi mahi curry was excellent; grilled white fish in a masaman curry sauce with veg and rice — perhaps my new go-to dish.

But the standout plate was kare lomen — an old favourite making a return to the menu. The coconut and lemongrass soup was just the right side of spicy, with beansprouts providing crunch and a choice of prawn or chicken on top (always the prawn, as far as I’m concerned).

We finished with pancakes stuffed with date puree and cinnamon ice cream — ‘a taste of Christmas’ was the verdict from across the table, and I couldn’t put it better myself.

Wagamama’s food is consistently good, feels relatively healthy, and lends itself to a catch-up with friends — and there are a few new dishes that I’ll be returning for when October 22 rolls around.

Rating: 9/10

Wagamama

97-103 West George St

Glasgow

G2 1PB

Tel: 0141 229 1468