Wagamama Crawley
If you ever find yourself craving bold, fresh Asian flavours in West Sussex, Wagamama Crawley might just become your go-to spot. Located at Unit 9, Crawley Leisure Park, RH10 8LR, this modern Japanese-inspired restaurant is an easy pick for a casual lunch or a lively dinner-whether you’re solo, with friends, or even out with family.
As soon as you step in, you're met with the familiar Wagamama vibe-clean lines, communal seating, and an open kitchen buzzing with energy. The accessibility features are a plus: there’s wheelchair-accessible parking, entrances, seating, and restrooms. So, no matter who you’re dining with, the experience remains smooth and inclusive.
Let’s talk food, because that’s where Wagamama really delivers. The chicken katsu curry is arguably the hero dish-crispy on the outside, tender inside, with just the right hit of curry warmth. If you’re after something lighter, the chicken ramen hits a perfect balance with a comforting broth and springy noodles.
Not a meat eater? No worries-vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes are abundant. The vegetable gyoza is a favourite, served steamed or fried, depending on your mood. Pair it with edamame beans tossed in chilli and salt-simple, but addictive. And if you're in the mood for something spicy, the tantanmen beef brisket ramen and Korean beef ramen deliver serious heat with deep umami undertones.
Those looking to try something different should check out the bang bang yaki-imo-a warming dish of roasted sweet potato tossed in a spiced, nutty sauce. And for sushi lovers, while the menu leans more towards bowls and noodles, the ebi katsu (crispy prawns) is a crowd-pleaser, served with a tangy dipping sauce.
Wagamama Crawley isn’t just about the main plates. Their steamed buns, especially the chicken yakitori version, are fluffy, satisfying bites perfect for sharing. Pair that with a refreshing jasmine green tea or go bold with one of their Asian-inspired cocktails. If you’re staying in, they offer both takeaway and delivery, making it easy to enjoy your favourites from the comfort of home.
The drinks menu is surprisingly robust. From Japanese beers to a curated selection of wines and spirits, there’s something for every taste. And yes, they do a solid cup of coffee for that post-meal wind down. If you're there for dessert (and really, why wouldn't you be?), expect indulgent options that round off your meal perfectly-this spot is known for serving great desserts, after all.
Ask any local or visitor, and you'll likely hear the same thing: Wagamama Crawley is consistent, quick, and flavour-packed. It's popular for lunch, especially for those looking for a satisfying but quick bite. At dinner, it’s lively, especially during weekends, making it a go-to spot before or after a movie or bowling session at the Crawley Leisure Park.
The dine-in atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly, but it doesn’t lose its modern edge. There’s also outdoor seating for those warmer months, giving diners the option to enjoy their ramen under the sun.
If it’s your first visit, try a mix of small plates to sample the variety-pork gyoza, deep-fried vegetables, and tempura fish are solid bets. For mains, if you love rice-based dishes, go for the chicken bibimbap or chicken raisukaree-both loaded with flavour and textures.
The staff here are generally quick, friendly, and well-versed in the menu, making recommendations easy if you're unsure. And since they’re usually happy to tweak dishes for dietary needs, it’s a solid pick for those with specific preferences.
Reviews
I had a lovely time here! Manni provided amazing service for us and captured our hearts and minds with his hospitality and uplifting spirit. He made great food recommendations and consistently checked in on us to ensure we were enjoying our food. A great spot!
A bit disappointed, but a good place overall. This might be commonsense for everyone else, however my partner and I were expecting authentic asian cusine and a proper restaurant, but what we got was bordering fast-food style dining. This not a con, it is just not what we expected, and so we were a bit disppointed. Picture paper place mats, lots of noise, and shared long tables. The chairs were uncomfortable because they had no backrest, we were there for 2 hours and I had to hold my coat in my lap the whole time. The bathroom was clean and the stalls were quite spacious. Although the service was very quick-paced, it was great, Ahmed (I hope I spelled that right) has taken good care of us. The food was blander than what one would expect from an asian place. Starter: vegan K-dogs - not bad, wish there was a non vegan version avilable too, and wish it weren't only the sauces that gave it flavour. Main 1: teriyaki chicken donburi - the teriyaki sauce felt a bit watered down, although still very tasty with an added dash of soy sauce Main 2: chicken curry rice - not at all like the traditional japanese dish, it had a lot of veg that felt out of place, and not a lot of chicken. It was also rather lemony and barely tasted like a curry. (We know it's supposed to be a mild curry, but it didn't pass for that either.) Dessert: black honey chouxnut - fairly decent, not too sweet which is good. It is essentially a single giant profiterole with exotic filling options, and we did not complain. Drinks: "large" peach iced tee - tasted eaxctly like Lipton, and probably was. We don't reckon the large was a pint, max 400ml. Free green tea - well it wasn't bad, and from what we could tell it was made fron loose leaf tea, but we are just not the type of people who drink tea without adding anything to it. I have to mention that the open kitchen was quite interesting and entertaining. The chefs were working very hard, and so did the axtractor fans, because steam did not escape into the dining area once, and the restaurant did not smell heavily of food. It was obvious that the ingredients were fresh, and compared to the fact that it was busy, the food came out at a reasonable time. It was a bit awkward though when they served the starter at the same time as one of the mains, and then we had to wait for the 2nd main for about another 7-10 minutes at least. I understand why this place is popular, it is well suited for the British palette, but it will not be the place where we go for aisian cusine in the future, there are cheaper places with more authentic and tastier dishes. We have nothing against the restaurant, as you see I've given 5 stars because nothing was bad enough for it to deserve 4, but I couldn't help but notice these small things, because we went in with high expectations. I hope this review helped you get an idea of the place~ I recommend it if you don't mind spending a bit of ££ and are looking for a more special, but casual asian place to eat. (The above cost us £59 +tip, no service charge is added to the bill automatically.)
Staff were brilliant, extremely accommodating to our family and peanut allergy was handled perfectly by manager and kitchen staff. Really tasty food, will definitely be back soon, thank you!
This restaurant was the best choice to drop in before we went to cinema.It has a relaxing atmosphere. When we arrived it was not too busy.The staff was efficient and friendly. The food was tasty and nicely presented as always. Kids got activity pack to keep them occupied.
Visited Wagamama with my family after a long time, and it was such a great experience! The recent change in management has really made a difference. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the food was delicious, and the drinks were fantastic. The staff were all friendly and attentive—especially Bianca, who was so sweet, approachable, and a truly wonderful host. My daughters were so happy and absolutely loved the experience, which made it even more special for us. The manager was also excellent, clearly leading a great team. We’ll definitely be coming back!