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Stepping into Waku Waku feels a little like falling through the pages of a manga. The walls, furniture, and even the crockery are rendered in striking black-and-white line art, so it feels like you’re not eating in a restaurant, you’re dining inside a comic book.
Chris from Waku Waku
It’s the first 2D café of its kind in the UK, and owner Chris has poured four months of painstaking hand-painting into every inch. “I was working in a bank in Hong Kong before this,” he laughed. “I’d never drawn on a wall before – I made so many mistakes I had to paint over and start again. But now I’m much better. And I’m proud of it.”
Waku Waku, Manchester
Waku Waku’s wacky interior
Chris moved to Manchester in 2021 with his wife and daughter, seeking a calmer, happier life away from the pressures of Hong Kong. The city’s love affair with Japanese and Chinese food and manga culture made it the perfect setting for his dream concept: a restaurant that blends authentic Japanese flavours with a playful, highly photogenic environment.
The food? Well, it’s every bit as Instagrammable as the surroundings.
Mixed Sashimi Platter
We started with the Mixed Sashimi Platter, a daily selection of sashimi-grade seafood so fresh it could have leapt onto the plate – served with a theatrical flame-filled flourish and a little fire show for good measure.
Takoyaki
Next came Osaka’s street-food sweetheart: Takoyaki, golden octopus balls drizzled with creamy sauce and topped with bonito flakes that danced in the heat. Then there was Chris’s personal favourite: Omurice, a Japanese classic of fried rice wrapped in a silky omelette. Slice it open and the egg spills into a soft scramble, melding with the rich demi-glace sauce in one glorious bite.
Omurice
Their menu is impressively extensive, and honestly, we barely scratched the surface. It’s worth heading down yourself to explore the full spread. Beyond what we tried, you’ll find a tempting selection of California rolls, soft shell crab, Sansyoku don, crispy karaage, hearty katsu curry bowls, and an outstanding range of sushi, sashimi, and sashimi don.
Dessert is a family affair here. Chris’s wife, a passionate home baker, makes their signature Basque cheesecake. It’s so popular that customers often order whole cakes for birthdays. “She should feel proud of it,” Chris said. “People love it.”
Waffle eggs and cute coffees at Waku Waku
Waku Waku’s menu changes regularly, with quirky seasonal specials – think pumpkin treats at Halloween, rainbow drinks in spring, and a now-famous “Cloud Drink” topped with a puff of cotton candy that slowly melts into your glass.
What to drink at Waku Waku?
The drink menu is a celebration of colour and pure Instagram-worthy indulgence. The signature drinks are as much works of art as they are refreshments, each with its own playful personality. The 3D Cappuccino (£7.5, limited) is an adorable showstopper, transforming your morning caffeine into a foam-topped character you’ll be reluctant to sip. For something whimsical and pastel-perfect, the Unicorn (£6.8) combines taro frappe, whipped cream, and a rainbow lollipop.
The Sakura Tree (£7.5) takes things up a notch with banana, chocolate, milk, and a fluffy cloud of cotton candy, while the ethereal Cloudlover (£7.5) blends white chocolate and butterfly pea flower beneath a sweet cotton candy crown. For a tropical twist, the Mount Fuji Float (£6.8) layers lychee soda with creamy vanilla ice cream, and Summer Paradise (£7.5) delivers mango juice, coconut milk, and popping candy for a playful crunch.
The mocktails are no less flamboyant, with vibrant layers and jewel-like garnishes that make every sip an experience. The Rose & Lychee Mojito (£6.5) and Wild Berries Mojito (£6.5) combine delicate florals and fresh fruit for refreshment that’s both fragrant and eye-catching, while the Yuzu Soda (£6.5) offers a bright, citrusy sparkle.
Those seeking exotic flavours will be drawn to the Tropical Mojito (£6.5), a sunny mix of passion fruit, pineapple, orange, and mint leaves, or the Magic Elixir (£6.8), a mesmerising rainbow concoction featuring grenadine, blue curacao, grapes, butterfly pea, and lemon juice.
Every drink is served with an attention to detail that makes them as photogenic as they are delicious. They’re part of the restaurant’s immersive, joyfully over-the-top aesthetic. Waku Waku’s flamboyant drink creations guarantee you’ll leave with both happy taste buds and a gallery of envy-inducing photos.
What’s the story behind the interiors?
Cats are a recurring theme in the décor too, a nod to Chris’s daughter’s love for them, with illustrated felines peeking from every corner.
Waku Waku
Two years on, Waku Waku has become a Manchester favourite: not just for the food, but for the experience. “We’re the first black-and-white comic-style restaurant in the UK,” said Chris. “I want this to be a landmark, a place people travel to Manchester, especially to visit.” Judging by the smiles – and the phones snapping away at every table, it’s safe to say he’s onto something.
“Marketing is important,” Chris said. “People take photos here, share them online, and their friends want to come. That’s how it grows. But more than that, people are happy here. They come in, they smile, and they leave with a good memory.”
The Waku Waku team, Lego, Chris and James
For Chris, the ultimate dream is to make the restaurant a place people travel for: not just in Manchester, but from across the country. “I want it to be a destination,” he said. “A reason to come here.”
It’s a long way from the banking world in Hong Kong, but Chris wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s built a little pocket of joy, a place where his daughter’s love of cats, his wife’s talent for baking, and his own hand-drawn artistry all come together over plates of beautifully made food.
The gorgeous interior of Waku Waku
And as the plates are cleared and another table of customers laugh over their cotton candy clouds, you get the sense that Waku Waku isn’t only feeding people, it’s giving them a great instagram story to take home.
You can check out Waku Waku on Instagram here
Address: 54 Portland St, Manchester M1 4QU
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