Did you know a lot of their food is pre-prepared in a factory? (I used to work for them many moons ago )

Almost all the starters, sauces and soups and more are simply reheated in the restaurants!

It's all very processed, and not as healthy as they imply...for example Chicken Katsu Curry contains about 1300 calories!

Never heard of it.

Really? That's bad.

I've only been once and I didn't like it at all... albeit, at the time, I put it down to the fact that I'm not really a fan of chinese cuisine. I was over-ruled when deciding where to go to eat.

Not really a fan of it to be honest. I am not that surprised.

I'm really surprised by that. The Negima Yakitori and the Yaki Soba are two of my faves.

That's a silly statement. Who cares where their food is chopped up then reheated. They don't advertise that their restaurants are staffed by chefs that walk to local groceries every morning. I knew their food must come from a central destination. It's the only way you can produce consistent recipies.

I think you're confusing the word 'processed' with pre-prepared. I mean, how much do you know about food? I ask because you are indicating that the chicken dish must be bad because it contains 1300 calories. Is it a curry for goodness sake, hardly known for low calories are they! lol If the calories are derived from HDL fat that it really isn't an issue is it. Chick peas or Avocado contains lots of calories too. Plus people are supposed to eat about 2000+ calories a day so 1300 for a treat meal (i.e. going out) isn't actually that high.

If you want to pick on rubbish processed food.. Wagamama is way down the list.

It's Japanese.

Their food is great, although apparently not very authentic according to a Japanese friend of mine. Who cares if it's processed?

If you're in the Birmingham area though there is a great alternative, Cafe Soya in the Arcadian, although strictly that is Vietnamese.

I know quite a bit about food, thanks. I worked at Wagamama for 18 months, and my flatmate is a manager there.

They do imply all their food is healthy with their slogan 'Positive eating + positive living'...

I don't want to 'pick on rubbish food', I was merely pointing out that a lot of their foods are made in a factory which of course puts some of the dishes on a par with ready meals you buy in a supermarket

It is? Oops. I'm afraid I just assumed... the menu struck me as more reminiscent to chinese cuisine than japanese for some reason.

In any case I reckon it's safe to say that I'm not a fan of japanese cuisine either. Processed or fresh I wouldn't have liked it much either way probably but that's just down to personal taste rather than there being anything wrong with the food per se.

You have picked on the Katsu Curry which is probably the unhealthiest thing they do by a mile. If you have a Noodle dish or a Ramen then you are talking much healthier.

I prefer yamamori - have you been there?

I've been there! In Dublin. And I have a video to prove it! Me and raw fish together for the first time.

You can't compare the two though. That's a proper Japanese restaurant. Wagamama is a chain that gives a taster of Japanese food but it's not a proper Japanese restaurant.

Comparing the two is like comparing a proper Italian restaurant with Pizzaland.

Wagamama's fine for what it is. And it's nice to have a westernised Japanese chain that breaks down the barriers somewhat that exist towards Japanese food.

The point i was making is that not all their food is healthy as they make out, which is why i mentioned Chicken Katsu Curry

I don't think they make out it's all healthy at all, that is your interpretation from their slogan.

What has your length of service or your flatmate's job title have to do with your knowledge of food then?

And again, why are you connecting 1300 calorie meal to being unhealthy if you know 'quite a bit' about food?

I'm sorry but you're totally contradicting yourself in everything you say. Like I said, a high calorie food really has nothing to do with 'health'. Calories are only relevant if you eat more of them than you use up resulting in being overweight. Olive oil, for example is riddled with calories but has 0% cholesterol. Using your 'high-calorie' threshold it is therefore, 'unhealthy', whereas it isn't.

Other than that it's the quality of the ingredients and type of fat that relates to health. None of which you have mentioned once. Like I said originally, curries generally are high in calories... so what? If the calories come from HDL fat it's actually good for you.

Obviously though I'm wrong because your mate is a 'manager' which is a little like saying 'my Dad is bigger than your Dad'.

I love the chicken Katsu curry.. I assume the chicken is cooked fresh and the rest is reheated? Salad on the side fresh too. mmmm one of my favorites to be honest. I dont care about the Cal's I am skinny anyway

Yes quite. But calories aren't the real enemy.

Yes I know but I really don't have it that often.. just on the odd occasion.

Well i've worked in other restaurants aswell, you tend to learn about ingredients and how things are made

The sauce contains a lot of fat and the chicken is deep fried, so that's why i was saying it's unhealthy

Ok, you believe preparing food in restaurants make you an expert on health and nutrition and I don't. No problem.

Again (for the 3rd time) you say the sauce contains fat but you haven't specified which fat. Is it coconut? Like I said, many oils are loaded with calories and HDL fat but are considered healthy.

Anyway, I'm happy to disagree with you. No point falling out over it. lol

Merry Christmas.

Few franchises make their food fresh on site, its nearly always bussed in from a central factory - examples include TGI Fridays, Wetherspoons, Bella Pasta etc. I try to avoid these places ad go to restaurants where the food is freshly made and prepared on site. If I wanta factory prepared dish I'll eat a microwaved meal.

I know about food and nutrition from other sources, not just what i picked up in restaurants.

Have a great Christmas

Shame you could not tell me what I needed to know then

Thought it was only for the twee middle class to be honest.

maybe though I'd not seen it that