Wagamama

This wildly successful noodle bar produces mainly the Chinese ramen-style noodles that appear in little shops on every street corner in Japan. For those of you who have never seen the wonderful movie Tampopo, go and see it, for those who have – that style of food is what you get. The cavernous basement has rows of communal benches, with waiters taking the orders on hand-held devices. 

The queues that form every lunchtime testify to the consistency and good value that is to be found here. The noodles themselves are usually in a generous dish of broth, but for variety there are other dishes to be had too e.g. grilled chicken. For drinks stick to Japanese beer such as Kirin. The formula has proved so successful there are now several other branches, but this is the original and best. There is a Covent Garden branch that is handy for the Opera House.