{"id":346226,"date":"2025-08-15T09:54:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T09:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/346226\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T09:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T09:54:27","slug":"why-waku-waku-might-be-the-most-unique-restaurant-in-the-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/346226\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Waku Waku might be the most unique restaurant in the country"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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\u2019re not eating in a restaurant, you\u2019re dining inside a comic book.<\/p>\n

\"\"Chris from Waku Waku <\/p>\n

It\u2019s the first 2D caf\u00e9 of its kind in the UK, and owner Chris has poured four months of painstaking hand-painting into every inch. \u201cI was working in a bank in Hong Kong before this,\u201d he laughed. \u201cI\u2019d never drawn on a wall before \u2013 I made so many mistakes I had to paint over and start again. But now I\u2019m much better. And I\u2019m proud of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waku Waku, Manchester<\/p>\n

\"WakuWaku Waku\u2019s wacky interior<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The food? Well, it\u2019s every bit as Instagrammable as the surroundings.<\/p>\n

\"WakuMixed Sashimi Platter<\/p>\n

We started with the Mixed Sashimi Platter, a daily selection of sashimi-grade seafood so fresh it could have leapt onto the plate \u2013 served with a theatrical flame-filled flourish and a little fire show for good measure.<\/p>\n

\"\"Takoyaki<\/p>\n

Next came Osaka\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"WakuOmurice<\/p>\n

Their menu is impressively extensive, and honestly, we barely scratched the surface. It\u2019s worth heading down yourself to explore the full spread. Beyond what we tried, you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

Dessert is a family affair here. Chris\u2019s wife, a passionate home baker, makes their signature Basque cheesecake. It\u2019s so popular that customers often order whole cakes for birthdays. \u201cShe should feel proud of it,\u201d Chris said. \u201cPeople love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"WakuWaffle eggs and cute coffees at Waku Waku<\/p>\n

Waku Waku\u2019s menu changes regularly, with quirky seasonal specials \u2013 think pumpkin treats at Halloween, rainbow drinks in spring, and a now-famous \u201cCloud Drink\u201d topped with a puff of cotton candy that slowly melts into your glass. <\/p>\n

What to drink at Waku Waku?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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 (\u00a37.5, limited) is an adorable showstopper, transforming your morning caffeine into a foam-topped character you\u2019ll be reluctant to sip. For something whimsical and pastel-perfect, the Unicorn (\u00a36.8) combines taro frappe, whipped cream, and a rainbow lollipop. <\/p>\n

The Sakura Tree (\u00a37.5) takes things up a notch with banana, chocolate, milk, and a fluffy cloud of cotton candy, while the ethereal Cloudlover (\u00a37.5) blends white chocolate and butterfly pea flower beneath a sweet cotton candy crown. For a tropical twist, the Mount Fuji Float (\u00a36.8) layers lychee soda with creamy vanilla ice cream, and Summer Paradise (\u00a37.5) delivers mango juice, coconut milk, and popping candy for a playful crunch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The mocktails are no less flamboyant, with vibrant layers and jewel-like garnishes that make every sip an experience. The Rose & Lychee Mojito (\u00a36.5) and Wild Berries Mojito (\u00a36.5) combine delicate florals and fresh fruit for refreshment that\u2019s both fragrant and eye-catching, while the Yuzu Soda (\u00a36.5) offers a bright, citrusy sparkle. <\/p>\n

Those seeking exotic flavours will be drawn to the Tropical Mojito (\u00a36.5), a sunny mix of passion fruit, pineapple, orange, and mint leaves, or the Magic Elixir (\u00a36.8), a mesmerising rainbow concoction featuring grenadine, blue curacao, grapes, butterfly pea, and lemon juice.<\/p>\n

Every drink is served with an attention to detail that makes them as photogenic as they are delicious. They\u2019re part of the restaurant\u2019s immersive, joyfully over-the-top aesthetic. Waku Waku\u2019s flamboyant drink creations guarantee you\u2019ll leave with both happy taste buds and a gallery of envy-inducing photos.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the story behind the interiors?<\/p>\n

Cats are a recurring theme in the d\u00e9cor too, a nod to Chris\u2019s daughter\u2019s love for them, with illustrated felines peeking from every corner.<\/p>\n

\"WakuWaku Waku <\/p>\n

Two years on, Waku Waku has become a Manchester favourite: not just for the food, but for the experience. \u201cWe\u2019re the first black-and-white comic-style restaurant in the UK,\u201d said Chris. \u201cI want this to be a landmark, a place people travel to Manchester, especially to visit.\u201d Judging by the smiles \u2013 and the phones snapping away at every table, it\u2019s safe to say he\u2019s onto something.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarketing is important,\u201d Chris said. \u201cPeople take photos here, share them online, and their friends want to come. That\u2019s how it grows. But more than that, people are happy here. They come in, they smile, and they leave with a good memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The Waku Waku team, Lego, Chris and James<\/p>\n

For Chris, the ultimate dream is to make the restaurant a place people travel for: not just in Manchester, but from across the country. \u201cI want it to be a destination,\u201d he said. \u201cA reason to come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a long way from the banking world in Hong Kong, but Chris wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. He\u2019s built a little pocket of joy, a place where his daughter\u2019s love of cats, his wife\u2019s talent for baking, and his own hand-drawn artistry all come together over plates of beautifully made food.<\/p>\n

\"WakuThe gorgeous interior of Waku Waku<\/p>\n

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\u2019t only feeding people, it\u2019s giving them a great instagram story to take home.<\/p>\n

You can check out Waku Waku on Instagram here<\/a><\/p>\n

Address: 54 Portland St<\/a>, Manchester M1 4QU<\/p>\n

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