wagamama water st, tampa

Reviews

• KL

  Kai Lee

  3 days ago
  5.0
  I've come across this restaurant in NYC many times but I've never actually tried it because of how many options there are for Asian food in New York. I finally tried this place when I moved to Tampa and I was extremely surprised by how good the food is. So far I've tried the ramen, the wagyumama slider and the bang bang cauliflower which are all excellent. The ramen has a nice chewy texture like it's supposed to, but the big surprise is how good the cauliflower is considering I only force myself to eat vegetables for the nutritional value. I've also tried the fire pork belly bao which is ok. It was a lot leaner than I expected but flavor is good. I've gone twice so far and had the same waiter both times. Service is excellent and the waiter is super friendly. The price is also surprisingly reasonable for the area, considering many of the other places in the area have prices similar to or even higher than comparable places in NYC (not comparing to the high end restaurants). I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. This will probably end up as one of my favorites in the downtown/channel district location.
• MC

  Matthew Clifford

  3 days ago
  3.0
  I came here for lunch and sat the the bar. I've lived in Tampa for 6 years and have seen Water Street develop over time. Wagamama, unfortunately, is just another restaurant that under-delivers for the cost of affording the space. Positives: - Matt, the bartender, was very friendly and sociable. I didn't get much time with him as it was around 2PM and he was prepping for dinner (I assume). - The entire dining room and bar were empty when I got there which allowed me to find a seat immediately at the bar. Negatives: - I was not serviced for about 5 minutes after sitting. Shortly after I was greeted, I was served my beer that I ordered and was left alone for about another 10 minutes before ordering food. - My first app (meatballs) was served before I had a place setting. I had to ask for utensils which, in most (if not every) restaurants, is given immediately after ordering food. - My second app (chicken pot stickers) were served pan seared and were nearly burnt on one side and a little too al dente for my preference on the other. - The barstool I sat at had a foot bar that was unhinged so I could not comfortably rest my feet on it. The bar does not have a foot rest. Overall, I feel that I was overlooked. Being that I came in when the team might have been transitioning from lunch to dinner, they might have not been operating at 100% of their standard. However, this is more acceptable in places where you aren't expecting to pay ~$50 per person with drinks.
• BB

  Brenda

  5 days ago
  5.0
  Had such a great experience at Wagamama on Water Street! The pork belly bao was incredibly flavorful, and the ahi tuna nachos were just as impressive, fresh, well-balanced, and packed with flavor. They also have a really fun cocktail selection that made the whole meal even better. If you're looking for a spot to dine in the Water Street area, I’d definitely recommend checking this place out.
• KH

  Kayrina Hager

  Apr 1, 2026
  5.0
  I come here for lunch a lot, it’s about time I wrote a review for Wagamama. 5 stars across the board. Always greeted by the staff and the bartender Matt is always a pleasure to talk to. He makes great menu suggestions and because of him, I can personally say I’ve tried a lot of wagas menu. The food is always freshly Prepared and delicious. The drinks fabulous, probably my number one reason I keep coming back, my personal fav is the Lychee martini. Overall the hospitality is what keeps me continuing to come back. Thank you Matt for always brightening up my lunch hour!
• DC

  Din Coo

  Mar 29, 2026
  4.0
  Went in for a quick bite. We were sat next to the kitchen service area so it was a very high traffic area no other seats were available due to reservations so whatever. Food was fantastic. Great flavor very fresh. Service was meh at best. Our server had a trainee and the trainee was better than the server. We received food, no utensils, had to ask for them. Had to ask for napkins also. Ordered a drink, I'm 98% positive she forgot to put it in. We asked about it and it came a few minutes after that. If I were local - it's a great place for takeout but the overall service wasnt good so I would avoid dining in.