The new cookbook, Soul Kitchen, by wagamama is inspired by ‘food heroes’ across Asia and features 70 recipes, complete with photography and storytelling. Global executive chef Steve Mangleshot expressed excitement about sharing experiences and recipes, hoping to inspire guests in their own kitchens, which he describes as the “soul of the house.”
The wagamama team traveled from their open kitchens to iconic locations such as Tokyo, Seoul, and Ho Chi Minh City, exploring street food stalls, canteens, and fine dining establishments. They conducted interviews with talented cooks they encountered along the way. Na Beom-Jun, owner of a chicken pub in Seoul, revealed his secrets for unique chicken flavors, while Ngô Thanh Hòa from a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant shared innovative uses for traditional ingredients.
These culinary stories and more are collected in Soul Kitchen, alongside recipes inspired by the cooks’ signature dishes. The cookbook features contributions from the restaurant’s food team and storytelling by senior copy manager Charlotte Ellis, organized by mealtime. Recipes include kimchi hash browns, a creative twist on Vietnamese soup (break-phost), fresh glass noodle salads, crunchy banh mi, hearty curries, stews, cocktails, and smaller snacks.
Notable recipes include hot shichimi fried chicken inspired by South Korea’s famous fried chicken and spicy gochujang pork jjigae. A dedicated chapter on reducing kitchen waste demonstrates how to transform scraps into delicious dishes like leftover veggie ramen and Korean rarebit.
Past wagamama cookbooks include The wagamama Cookbook (2005), wagamama Ways with Noodles (2006), wagamama Feed Your Soul (2019), and wagamama Your Way (2021). Soul Kitchen is available at various retailers, all wagamama restaurants, and online for an RRP of £22.
