Is Wagamama Halal?

Is Wagamama halal? If you follow a halal diet, it can be tricky to judge. The menu has familiar favourites, from chicken katsu curry to steaming bowls of ramen, but knowing what you can comfortably order takes a little more digging.

The short answer

The first thing to understand is that Wagamama UK doesn't have halal certification. Its chicken, beef and duck aren't advertised as halal either, so you can't assume that ordering a meat dish is suitable.

Updated See what you can order

Is Wagamama halal? The tofu firecracker curry is one of its meat-free dishes

What Wagamama says, and what it doesn't

In August 2014, when someone asked Wagamama UK whether it had any halal restaurants in London, it replied:

“we don't at the moment, but if you chat to your server they will help you find a suitable dish for you”
@wagamama_uk, 24 August 2014. See the reply on X

That still leaves a separate question, though: what about the dishes that don't contain meat? There are vegetable-based curries, noodle dishes and seafood on the menu. Whether those work for you depends on more than the main ingredient, including the sauces used and how comfortable you are with food prepared in the same kitchen as pork and non-halal meat.

Here's what Wagamama makes public, what it doesn't confirm, and which parts of the menu are worth looking at before you decide.

What Wagamama has said

  • Its chicken, beef and pork must meet EU legislation and the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedoms
  • Alcohol is in some dishes, not all
  • Your server can help you find a suitable dish
  • Some recipes can be changed to remove or replace ingredients
  • Its vegan and vegetarian dishes are labelled

What it doesn't confirm

  • Halal certification, for any dish or branch
  • Halal chicken, beef or duck
  • How its meat is slaughtered
  • Which dishes or sauces contain alcohol
  • What the seafood ramen's yuzu broth is made from
  • Whether any dish is prepared apart from pork

Is Wagamama chicken halal?

Wagamama UK doesn't confirm that its chicken is halal-certified. The same applies to its beef and duck. That matters because meat appears across much of the menu, not just in the obvious chicken and beef mains.

Chicken katsu curry, chicken ramen, teriyaki dishes, gyoza, bao buns and donburi bowls all feature meat options. Wagamama's animal welfare policy says its chicken, beef and pork must meet EU legislation and the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedoms, but it doesn't specify a halal slaughter method.

So, if you only eat meat that has been confirmed halal, Wagamama's published information doesn't give you the confirmation you need for its chicken, beef or duck.

Does Wagamama serve pork?

Yes. Pork is an ingredient in several dishes, including:

  • Gochujang Pork Belly Ramen£17.70
  • Pork Tonkatsu£20.50
  • Gochujang Tamarind Pork Ribs£9.90
  • Tonkatsu Pork Bao Bun£9.80
  • Pork added to any ramen+£4.00

These dishes are worth knowing about if you avoid pork entirely. They also matter when considering the kitchen environment: Wagamama serves pork alongside its vegetarian, vegan, seafood and other meat dishes.

That doesn't automatically settle whether a particular dish meets your own requirements. It does mean you should ask the restaurant about preparation and handling rather than assume that choosing something without pork on the ingredient list answers every concern.

Does Wagamama use alcohol in its food?

Alcohol is another point to consider, and Wagamama's public information leaves some questions unanswered.

In August 2019, Wagamama UK responded to a customer who raised concerns about alcohol in its sauces. The restaurant said alcohol wasn't used in all its dishes and advised customers to speak to their server about dietary requirements.

That response confirms that alcohol is used in some dishes. However, Wagamama doesn't publicly identify every dish or sauce that contains it, so you can't reliably work out which dishes are suitable from the menu descriptions alone.

This is particularly relevant to curries, ramen and other dishes where sauces and broths contribute much of the flavour. A dish can be free of meat and still contain an ingredient you want to avoid.

If alcohol in food is a concern for you, ask about the specific dish and its sauce or broth before ordering. If the staff can't confirm the ingredients, you'll need to decide whether that uncertainty is acceptable to you.

What about ramen broth?

Ramen needs a closer look because the broth is part of the dish, not just a finishing touch. Wagamama offers several meat-based ramen dishes made with chicken broth, including varieties featuring grilled chicken, chilli chicken, beef brisket and pork belly.

The menu also allows diners to swap to a light or spicy vegetable broth. That gives you another possibility to ask about, but changing the broth doesn't automatically resolve questions about the rest of the dish, including sauces, toppings and preparation.

The signature seafood ramen is listed with yuzu broth, but Wagamama doesn't clearly publish the full base ingredients. If you're considering it, ask the restaurant to confirm what the broth contains rather than relying on the name alone.

For children, the chicken ramen uses chicken broth, while the yasai ramen uses vegetable broth. The same principle applies: check the full dish, not just the broth or its main ingredient.

Chicken broth

  • Grilled Chicken Ramenrich chicken broth
  • Chilli Chicken Ramenspicy rich chicken broth
  • Tantanmen Beef Brisket Ramenrich chicken broth
  • Gochujang Pork Belly Ramenrich chicken broth
  • Kids' Chicken Ramenchicken broth

Vegetable broth

  • Kare Burosu Ramencurried vegetable broth
  • Kids' Yasai Ramenvegetable broth

Base not stated

  • Signature Seafood Ramenyuzu broth
  • Fish + Chips Ramencurry broth

Are there vegetarian or vegan dishes at Wagamama?

Yes. Wagamama has a substantial meat-free section, including vegetable curries, noodle dishes, ramen, rice bowls and small plates. This gives you more to explore if you don't eat meat, but vegetarian or vegan doesn't automatically mean halal.

Sauces, cooking ingredients and preparation can still matter. Wagamama's allergen information also warns that allergen traces can get into dishes during handling, storage or cooking. Its restaurants say they can modify some recipes to remove or replace certain ingredients, but you should confirm what is possible at the branch you're visiting.

The dishes below are meat-free choices to investigate, not a list of dishes certified or confirmed halal by Wagamama. Prices are listed UK dine-in prices and may change.

Meat-free mains

7
  • Katsu Udon

    Katsu Udon vegan

    848 kcal

    Udon noodles in katsu sauce with vegetables and crispy sweet potato. Vegan as it comes, or add chicken for £3.50.

    £14.40
  • Yasai Mushroom Yaki Soba

    Yasai Mushroom Yaki Soba vegetarian

    768 kcal

    Yaki soba with mushrooms and vegetables. Choose udon or rice noodles.

    £14.40
  • Pulled Shiitake Donburi

    Pulled Shiitake Donburi vegan

    927 kcal

    Pulled shiitake in spicy teriyaki with sweet potato, cucumber, edamame and kimchee.

    £14.80
  • Yasai Katsu Curry

    Yasai Katsu Curry vegan

    1216 kcal

    Sweet potato and aubergine in panko, with sticky rice, katsu curry sauce, salad and pickles.

    £14.50
  • Tofu Raisukaree Curry

    Tofu Raisukaree Curry vegan

    1135 kcal

    Tofu in coconut raisukaree sauce, with mangetout, peppers and onion.

    £15.30
  • Tofu Firecracker Curry

    Tofu Firecracker Curry vegan

    1252 kcal

    Tofu in a bold, fiery firecracker sauce with mangetout, peppers, onion and hot red chillies, over white rice.

    £15.30
  • Kare Burosu Ramen

    Kare Burosu Ramen vegan

    706 kcal

    Shichimi-coated silken tofu and mushrooms on udon noodles in a curried vegetable broth, with pea shoots, carrot and chilli.

    £14.90

The yasai mushroom yaki soba comes without egg on request, which makes it vegan.

Yasai Katsu Curry

One detail worth knowing if you're considering the yasai katsu curry: it uses the same curry sauce as the chicken katsu curry, with vegetables instead of chicken. Wagamama lists the yasai version as vegan, but that label alone doesn't answer questions about alcohol in the sauce or the restaurant's preparation practices.

Meat-free sides and small plates

8
  • Koko Prawn Crackers

    Koko Prawn Crackers vegan

    255 kcal

    Coconut prawn crackers, vegan despite the name.

    £3.90
  • Spicy Smashed Cucumber

    Spicy Smashed Cucumber vegan

    224 kcal

    Cucumber, smashed rather than sliced, under crispy chilli oil.

    £4.50
  • Edamame With Salt

    Edamame With Salt vegan

    280 kcal

    Salted edamame, one of the cheapest things on the menu.

    £5.10
  • Wok-Fried Greens

    Wok-Fried Greens vegan

    163 kcal

    Wok-fried greens in garlic and soy.

    £6.80
  • Bang Bang Cauliflower

    Bang Bang Cauliflower vegan

    447 kcal

    Cauliflower in spicy firecracker sauce with onion and ginger.

    £7.60
  • Gochujang Tamarind Corn Ribs

    Gochujang Tamarind Corn Ribs vegan

    467 kcal

    Corn ribs in the same sticky gochujang tamarind sauce, with crispy onions. The vegetarian version of the pork ribs.

    £8.20
  • Yasai Vegetable Gyoza

    Yasai Vegetable Gyoza vegan

    208 kcal

    Steamed vegetable gyoza with a spiced vinegar sauce.

    £8.20
  • Oyster + Shiitake Mushroom Bao Bun

    Oyster + Shiitake Mushroom Bao Bun vegan

    577 kcal

    Oyster and shiitake mushrooms with panko aubergine and vegan mayo.

    £9.30

The sauces and cooking method are worth checking for the same reasons as the mains. If you're ordering several small plates to share, ask about each one rather than assuming that every vegetable-based dish has the same ingredients.

Meat-free lunch and children's dishes

7
  • Yasai Katsu Wrap

    Yasai Katsu Wrap vegetarian

    596 kcal

    Spinach wrap with crispy omelette, panko sweet potato and aubergine, asian slaw, katsu pickles and a katsu curry dipping sauce.

    £8.90
  • Miso Cauliflower Lunch Box

    Miso Cauliflower Lunch Box vegan

    800 kcal

    Sticky miso Korean fried cauliflower with sticky rice, beetroot, kimchee, cucumber and coriander.

    £10.00
  • Kids' Yasai Cha Han

    Kids' Yasai Cha Han vegetarian

    397 kcal

    Tofu with white rice, egg, carrots, mangetout, sweetcorn and sweet amai sauce. Remove the egg to make it plant-based.

    £5.10
  • Kids' Yasai Yaki Soba

    Kids' Yasai Yaki Soba vegetarian

    404 kcal

    Tofu and noodles in sweet amai sauce with egg, mangetout, peppers and sweetcorn.

    £5.70
  • Kids' Yasai Ramen

    Kids' Yasai Ramen vegetarian

    317 kcal

    Tofu and noodles in a vegetable broth with carrots, pea shoots and sweetcorn. Udon or rice noodles make it plant-based.

    £6.10
  • Kids' Yasai Katsu

    Kids' Yasai Katsu vegan

    Breaded sweet potato and butternut squash with white rice, carrots, cucumber and sweetcorn, with katsu curry or sweet amai sauce on the side.

    £5.90

  • Kids' Bento with Fried Tofu or Yasai Katsu

    Build-your-own bento with a tofu or breaded sweet potato main. Pick the yasai gyoza, not the chicken.

    £7.90

These are additional dishes to ask about if you're visiting at lunchtime or eating with children. As with the main menu, the published vegetarian label doesn't confirm every ingredient or preparation detail relevant to your diet.

Can you eat seafood at Wagamama?

Wagamama serves seafood dishes featuring prawns, squid and salmon, including curries, rice bowls and ramen. If you eat seafood, these may give you more choices than the meat section.

However, seafood isn't automatically a straightforward answer to the halal question. The fish or shellfish may not be the only ingredients to consider, particularly when a dish comes with a curry sauce, marinade or broth. Wagamama doesn't publish all the details needed to settle every ingredient question from the menu alone.

Seafood dishes you can ask about

10
  • Lollipop Prawn Kushiyaki

    Lollipop Prawn Kushiyaki

    188 kcal

    Three grilled prawn skewers in lemongrass and chilli.

    £8.60
  • Ebi Katsu

    Ebi Katsu

    284 kcal

    Panko prawns with a chilli and garlic dipping sauce.

    £9.20
  • Chilli Squid

    Chilli Squid

    411 kcal

    Squid with shichimi and a chilli and coriander dipping sauce.

    £9.80
  • Prawn Firecracker Curry

    Prawn Firecracker Curry

    1139 kcal

    Prawns in a fiery sauce with mangetout, peppers, onion, red chillies, sesame and shichimi, over white rice.

    £17.50
  • Prawn Raisukaree Curry

    Prawn Raisukaree Curry

    1022 kcal

    Prawns in a mild coconut curry sauce with mangetout, peppers, onion, chilli and sesame seeds.

    £17.80
  • Salmon Teriyaki Soba

    Salmon Teriyaki Soba

    994 kcal

    Soba noodles with mangetout, bok choi, onion, chilli, beansprouts and sesame seeds.

    £18.00
  • Gochujang Salmon Rice Bowl

    Gochujang Salmon Rice Bowl

    786 kcal

    Salmon in gochujang with pickled red cabbage, teriyaki kale, asian slaw, spring onion and lime.

    £18.00
  • Fish + Chips Ramen

    Fish + Chips Ramen

    1006 kcal

    Tempura hake and sweet potato chips on ramen noodles in a curry broth, with crushed edamame, pea shoots, coriander and chilli.

    £19.90
  • Signature Seafood Ramen

    Signature Seafood Ramen

    974 kcal

    King prawns and squid in gochujang and miso, with clams and salmon, crispy onions and chilli in a yuzu broth.

    £23.50

  • Kids' Bento with Fish Bites

    Build-your-own bento with breaded fish bites as the main. Pick the yasai gyoza, not the chicken.

    £7.90

For the seafood ramen in particular, ask about the yuzu broth's base ingredients. For curries and marinated dishes, ask about the sauce or marinade as well as the seafood itself.

What can you drink at Wagamama?

Wagamama's bar menu includes alcoholic drinks such as wine, sake, beer, cider and cocktails. If you avoid alcohol completely, it's worth checking the drinks menu separately rather than assuming that a particular drink is suitable because it isn't a cocktail.

Other choices include juices, lemonades, iced tea and green tea, which is available free with your meal. Check the ingredients of any specific drink if you have concerns beyond whether it is listed as alcoholic.

Drinks without alcohol

  • Green tea, refilledFree
  • Fresh juices£6.30
  • Cloudy lemonade or peach iced tea£4.70
  • Ginger beer£4.40
  • Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Coke or Sprite Zero£3.90
  • Still or sparkling water£3.70
  • Coffeefrom £2.90

On the bar menu

  • Wine and sake£7.00 to £9.50
  • Beer and cider£5.00 to £8.00
  • Cocktails£5.20 to £9.50

How to check before ordering

If you're planning to eat at Wagamama, a quick conversation with the staff can help clarify the ingredients and preparation of the dishes you're considering. It is best to ask about a specific dish rather than simply asking whether the restaurant has anything halal.

You could ask

  1. Is the chicken, beef or duck in this dish halal-certified?
  2. Does the sauce, marinade or broth contain alcohol?
  3. What is the base of the broth or curry sauce?
  4. Can this dish be prepared separately from pork and non-halal meat?
  5. Can you confirm the ingredients, or would I need to check the allergen information?

Wagamama has previously advised customers with dietary requirements to speak to their server. Its allergen guidance also says that some recipes can be modified, but it warns that allergen traces can get into dishes during handling, storage or cooking. Ask what the restaurant can confirm for your particular order, and don't treat a suggested substitution as a guarantee.

If the staff can't verify a detail that's essential to you, it's reasonable to choose something else or eat somewhere that can provide the assurance you need.

Is Wagamama halal in the UK? FAQs

Is Wagamama halal in the UK?

Wagamama UK doesn't have halal certification and doesn't advertise its chicken, beef or duck as halal. Some meat-free and seafood dishes may be worth investigating, but ingredients such as sauces and broths, along with preparation practices, can affect whether a dish meets your requirements.

Is Wagamama chicken katsu curry halal?

Wagamama doesn't confirm its chicken as halal-certified, so you shouldn't assume the chicken katsu curry is halal. The yasai katsu curry is a meat-free alternative made with vegetables and the same curry sauce, but Wagamama doesn't publish enough information to confirm that the sauce meets every halal requirement.

Is Wagamama chicken halal?

Wagamama UK doesn't publish a halal certification or confirmation for its chicken. If you require certified halal meat, its published information doesn't provide that assurance.

Is Wagamama halal in Birmingham?

Wagamama UK doesn't have halal certification nationally, and its public information doesn't establish that a Birmingham branch serves halal-certified meat. Contact the specific restaurant if you're considering eating there, and ask about the ingredients and preparation of the dishes you're interested in.

Is Wagamama halal in Manchester?

Wagamama's UK-wide information doesn't confirm halal-certified meat at its Manchester restaurants. If you're visiting a particular branch, ask the staff about its current menu, sauces, broths and preparation practices before ordering.

Does Wagamama use alcohol in its sauces?

Wagamama has said that alcohol isn't used in all its dishes, confirming that it is used in some. It doesn't publicly identify every affected dish or sauce, so ask staff about the specific item you want to order.

Does Wagamama have halal vegetarian or vegan options?

Wagamama lists vegetarian and vegan dishes, including vegetable curries, noodles, ramen and rice bowls. Those labels describe the dishes' vegetarian or vegan status, not halal certification. If you follow a halal diet, check the sauce ingredients and preparation practices as well.

Does Wagamama cook halal and non-halal food separately?

Wagamama's menu includes pork, other meats, seafood and meat-free dishes, all cooked in the same restaurant kitchen. Its public information doesn't establish that any of these are prepared in separate halal-certified facilities. Ask the branch what separation it can provide if this is important to you.

From Wagamama's October 2026 UK menu, its allergen guide, animal welfare page and restaurant pages, and @wagamama_uk's replies of 24 August 2014 and 2 August 2019, checked . Prices are dine-in. See every dish on the Wagamama menu, the allergy menu or the kids menu.