WADAYA

Amelia

2 months ago · ★ 5

Our first time here. Authentic experience with a Japanese chef. The fried chicken and squid were super fragrant and crispy. Delicious noodles, too—pro tip: pour the rice into the soup at the end, it’s amazing! Friendly service and a comfortable atmosphere.

Tejaswini Lele

5 months ago · ★ 4

We visited on a Friday evening. The place was busy, and there was about a 10-minute wait for a table for two. It is a small space, but it doesn’t feel too crowded. This was our first time here, and the staff were very helpful, explaining the menu and giving recommendations. We started with the Chicken Karaage and Vegan Nuggets (though we later realized we ordered too much; one starter, or even none, would have been enough for two!). For our mains, we got the Dry Ramen (Mazemen). My husband had the chicken and I chose the vegan option. The vegan bowl actually tasted better thanks to the smoky flavor of the Brussels sprouts, a dash of chili oil, and the creaminess of the miso. They even provide a small bowl of rice 🍚 as you’re finishing your ramen to mix with the remaining sauce. It was the highlight of the meal! Oi-meshi is Oishii! (Thanks to first few lessons of Duolingo heehee) A friend recommended this place to us, and I’ll definitely be listening to her suggestions going forward because this one was spot on!

Rosina Su

6 months ago · ★ 5

The restaurant is very bright and clean, with friendly staff and quick table turnover thanks to efficient clearing. We ordered their signature dry noodles and a bowl of California Tonkotsu Ramen. Dry Noodles: The noodles were pleasantly chewy with well-balanced seasoning. The chashu had a noticeable grilled aroma, which added great depth. At the end, a small portion of rice is provided so you can mix it with the remaining sauce—delicious and a thoughtful way to avoid wasting any of it. Ramen (with soup): The soft-boiled eggs in both bowls were perfectly cooked. The broth was well-balanced, smooth, and easy to drink without feeling too heavy. Dessert: We had the Hokkaido milk flavor, with the black part made from bamboo charcoal. The milk flavor was rich but not overly sweet—just the right finish to the meal. Overall, this is a solid restaurant with good food and service. Definitely worth checking out.

Volha Creative

a month ago · ★ 5

Such a great experience. The ramen and mazemen were packed with flavor, the chicken karaage was amazing, and the dessert was the perfect finish. Everything was fresh, delicious, and worth trying. Highly recommend

Rodolfo Peralta

2 months ago · ★ 3

Good Mazemen, But a Hygiene Miss – WADAYA in Fremont We visited WADAYA as a family of four (my wife, two kids, and myself) during lunch time. The restaurant has a clean, modern vibe that felt bright and welcoming for families. Service was mostly friendly and attentive, though we encountered one unfortunate issue. I ordered the Deluxe Mazemen, and it was easily the standout of the entire meal. The bowl came packed with tender slices of pork chashu, spicy minced pork, a perfectly poached uncut egg, scallions, chives, and seaweed. The creamy broth at the bottom was boldly spicy and rich, with a satisfying heavy mouthfeel. The noodles were average-thick — solid but not exceptional on their own. What made this dish truly special was the sweet vinegar sauce the server recommended trying on the side. About halfway through, when the richness was getting heavy, I added the sauce and it completely transformed the flavor profile — the bright acidity cut through the spice and creaminess in a refreshing way. It turned the second half of the bowl into a whole new experience. They even provided a small cup of rice to finish off the remaining sauce, which was a thoughtful and excellent touch. This is a fresh, elevated take on ramen I hadn’t tried before, and I’d give the Deluxe Mazemen a strong 4 out of 5. The rest of our orders were more standard. My wife got the Tonkotsu Ramen and our older kid had the Miso Ramen. Both were decent, classic ramens — nothing wrong with them, but nothing particularly memorable or elevated either. We also shared an order of karaage (Japanese fried chicken), which was crispy and tasty but not standout. Unfortunately, there was one noticeable slip-up. About halfway through the meal, I discovered a single piece of rice floating in my drinking water cup. I hadn’t noticed it until I was already drinking the water, and it was clearly leftover from a previous use of the cup. While I didn’t complain at the time, it was concerning — the thought that I could have gotten sick from it was unpleasant. On a positive note, one of the servers (who might have been the owner) gave our daughter a cute little Hello Kitty wooden toy. It was a small but kind gesture that added a nice family-friendly touch. Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 WADAYA shows real promise with the excellent Deluxe Mazemen — that dish alone is creative and definitely worth returning for. The thoughtful extras like the side sauce and rice cup demonstrate they have good ideas. However, the more average performance of the other ramens combined with the rice in my drinking water cup (which I only noticed halfway through drinking) brought the overall experience down significantly. This is a basic hygiene issue that shouldn’t happen, and it made me lose some trust in the attention to detail at the restaurant. Small oversights like this can really impact the dining experience. If we go back, we’ll definitely all order the mazemen next time, and I hope they tighten up on those fundamental service standards. The rating could improve significantly with more consistent attention to quality and cleanliness across the board.