North Terminal’s Wagamama is one of the few airside sit-down spots people actually plan for instead of tolerate. It sits post-security in Gatwick North, in the main departures area used heavily by British Airways, with mains mostly in the £13–£18 range, so think standard airport markup on the usual chain pricing.
Menu is the classic Wagas line‑up: chicken katsu curry, firecracker chicken, ramens, donburi, a few teppan noodles, plus sides like edamame and gyoza. Regulars on Reddit keep calling the katsu curry and firecracker chicken the “safe orders” compared with the sad burgers and fries elsewhere in North Terminal. Portions run big enough that one main usually carries you through a short‑haul flight.
Service rhythm depends heavily on bank times: FlyerTalk reports it slows badly in the morning rush (around 06:30–09:00) and again in the evening (roughly 17:00–20:00). More than one BA flyer mentions waiting 20–30 minutes just to be seated and then another 20 minutes for food, with a couple of people missing early boarding groups for flights to Spain and Greece.
Price complaints are consistent: “overpriced even for Wagas” comes up in several Reddit threads, with folks noting bowls coming in a few pounds higher than their local high‑street branches. With a mid‑pack rating around 3/5, this is less about value and more about getting a reasonably fresh hot meal in a terminal that leans hard on generic pubs and grab‑and‑go sandwiches.
What regulars do: BA flyers without lounge access say they walk past, check the queue from the concourse, and only commit if it looks under 10–15 people. Solo travelers often head straight for the counter facing the open kitchen, where Redditors say staff tend to take orders a few minutes faster. Tip: if your departure is inside 60 minutes, ask the host outright how long mains are running before you sit.