Wasabi launches in Cambridge

Last week I threw my glad rags on and with an empty stomach headed into Cambridge with Chris to try out the new Wasabi restaurant. We were very fortunate to be invited to the pre-opening and were very excited to sample the sushi and bento dishes.

I must admit I hadn’t heard of Wasabi before, but the chain has been around since 2003, first opening a branch in Embankment, London. The owner Kim wanted to steer Londoners away from their sandwiches and produce individually wrapped pieces of sushi and other delicious Japanese cuisine.  Since then 39+ restaurants have sprouted up in ten years, providing affordable, flavoursome convenience food for their customers.

Now I don't know why but I had expected the restaurant to be dimly lit however I was very wrong! Instead I was pleasantly surprised at how airy, bright and spacious the interior was. Funky long hanging ceiling lights, bright walls and minimalist seating filled the space, giving a really relaxed and modern feel. The seating is laid out similarly to Wagamamas with its communal tables, making your dining experience a social one too. Now onto that all important food...

There’s a diverse choice to pick from on the menu. From sushi to soups, hot food to salads- there’s a great range to choose from without breaking the bank. Chris and I gave our best attempts to try all the foods. The sushi was so good, being freshly prepared and with a large range to choose from. Chris admittedly was a bit dubious of the sushi initially, (having only tried it once before), however he was definitely converted and particularly enjoyed the surimi crabmeat and cucumber.  It also came individually wrapped, so you can pick and mix whilst making it convenient to stuff in your bag on a hectic lunch break. I really enjoyed the bento which admittedly I wouldn't normally go for but the chicken curry yakisoba bento was so delicious, warm and filling- a real comfort food. As the name suggests there is Wasabi with the dishes as well as pickled ginger and soy sauce. I loved the soy sauce and the pickled ginger but too much of the wasabi can really blow your socks off! There was the option of chopstix with your meal- something I toy with each time I eat Japanese food but thankfully they also provided spoons and forks which I'm sure my white t-shirt thanked me for!

Both Chris and I were really impressed with the food and how healthy, filling and convenient it is without being expensive. It's definitely somewhere we will head for during shopping trips for a quick bite as opposed to a greasy burger joint in the future! The pre-launch was a fantastic evening and it was lovely to catch up with some blogging pals too!

I also filmed a teeny tiny vlog of the evening so check that out below:

Have you tried Wasabi yet?