After more than three decades of turning up and hoping for a table, wagamama is introducing same-day reservations for groups of any size. The communal benches are staying, but a familiar part of the restaurant experience is changing.
For 34 years, eating at wagamama came with one small uncertainty: you could decide exactly what you wanted for dinner, but you couldn’t be entirely sure when you’d get to sit down and eat it.
That is changing. Wagamama bookings are now available across its restaurants, allowing customers to reserve a table in advance or on the same day, ending a walk-in-only policy that has been part of the chain’s identity since 1992.
For anyone who has stood outside a busy branch contemplating whether their enthusiasm for katsu curry outweighs their enthusiasm for standing in a queue, this is a fairly welcome development.
More importantly, it makes organising meals considerably easier, particularly for families and larger groups who would rather not leave their evening arrangements to chance.
Wagamama bookings now available for any party size
The new reservation system allows guests to choose their preferred restaurant, date, time and party size before confirming an available table.
Bookings can be made through the wagamama website, OpenTable or the restaurant chain’s Soul Club app. Groups of 20 or more can also secure reservations, although these must be arranged directly with the chosen restaurant by telephone.
Crucially, the system includes same-day availability, rather than restricting reservations to those planning their meals several days in advance.
That flexibility should appeal to customers who enjoy the informality of wagamama but would prefer a little more certainty about where and when they will eat.
The change follows a trial period and feedback from customers, whose requests for reservations have helped persuade the company to reconsider one of its longest-standing policies.
There is, however, an important distinction between the introduction of bookings and the disappearance of queues altogether. Reservations remain subject to availability, and wagamama has not detailed how tables will be allocated between booked customers and those arriving without reservations.
A major departure from the original wagamama experience
When wagamama opened its first restaurant in London’s Bloomsbury in 1992, its approach to dining was distinctly informal.
Communal benches, freshly prepared food and a walk-in system became recognisable features of the business as it expanded across the UK.
The absence of reservations was part of that original formula. Customers arrived, joined the queue when necessary and took their seats when space became available.
The introduction of bookings represents a significant shift because it changes how people can plan a visit without requiring a fundamental alteration to the restaurant itself.
Wagamama says its distinctive communal seating, freshly cooked dishes and informal atmosphere will remain.
The food is familiar too. Katsu curry, yaki soba, ramen, firecracker and the established range of side dishes continue to feature on the menu.
In other words, customers are getting a different way to secure their seats rather than a different restaurant experience once they arrive.
Festive menu brings back cranberry katsu
The timing of the booking announcement is particularly relevant as wagamama prepares for the Christmas dining period.
Reservations are now open for its festive set menu, which includes the return of cranberry katsu alongside new seasonal dishes and established favourites.
Wagamama festive set menu prices
Two courses
£23
Three courses
£28
The regular menu will remain available, meaning customers can still order their usual favourites rather than choosing from the seasonal selection.
There is also a limited-time incentive attached to the new booking system.
Customers who make a qualifying reservation by 15 October for a visit between 18 November and 5 January can receive a complimentary glass of prosecco.
The promotion is available at participating restaurants in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, subject to terms and conditions.
Why wagamama is changing after 34 years
For a restaurant business built around an established way of doing things, introducing reservations is a notable decision.
Claire Farrant, wagamama’s chief marketing officer, acknowledges the significance of abandoning the walk-in-only rule.
“For 34 years, wagamama has been known for welcoming guests who simply turn up, take a seat and enjoy our food. It’s been part of who we are since we first opened in 1992, so introducing same day any party size bookings is a really significant moment for us.”
Farrant links the decision to kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of good change that has long informed the company’s approach to development.
The practical reasoning is straightforward. Customers increasingly want the flexibility to choose between an impromptu meal and something more carefully organised, particularly when dining with a larger group.
For wagamama, the challenge is to offer that convenience without losing the relaxed atmosphere that helped make the chain recognisable in the first place.
And for customers? A long-standing dining ritual now comes with an optional extra: a reservation.
The communal bench remains. The element of chance no longer has to.
