Wagamama has faced criticism from vegan diners after several popular plant-based dishes were quietly removed from its menu — a move many see as a step back from the brand’s once-bold sustainability ambitions.
Among the items no longer available are the Vegatsu (the vegan twist on Wagamama’s signature katsu curry), vegan K-dogs, and vegan chicken options. The changes come despite Wagamama’s 2021 pledge to make half of its menu plant-based, a commitment that helped position the pan-Asian restaurant as a market leader in vegan-friendly dining.
The chain has since confirmed it “made a number of updates” to its menu, removing a “small number of dishes, both vegan and non-vegan,” while stressing that its best-selling vegan meals remain.
However, the removal of its “Plant Pledge” webpage, which now redirects to a 404 error, has raised questions about whether the brand has quietly moved away from its original sustainability goals.
The updates sparked debate across social media after TikTok creator @vegansoph posted a video highlighting the changes, describing the reduced options as “incredibly disappointing”.
She wrote: “Considering Wagamama was the first UK chain to offer equal parts plant-based and meat dishes, this feels like a big step backwards. When large brands reduce vegan options, they take away opportunities for non-vegans to choose plant-based meals too.”
The post quickly went viral, attracting hundreds of comments from disappointed customers. Many expressed frustration at the loss of the Vegatsu, which several described as their “go-to order” and one of the brand’s strongest sellers.
In response, a Wagamama spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News that the brand remains “fully committed” to offering plant-based choices and innovating in the category.
They said: “We made a number of updates to our menu in October, launching several new items, both vegan and non-vegan, to keep our offering fresh and exciting. These include our new vegan katsu udon, a new bao bun range, and bento boxes for kids.
All of our most popular vegan dishes remain on the menu, our top five account for 78% of all vegan sales, and we’ll continue to develop new and exciting plant-based dishes as part of future menu updates.”
