Ever think about how long you'd have to work at minimum wage to afford your Friday night katsu curry? At £12.21 an hour, that Wagamama Chicken Katsu Curry at £12.50 will set you back 61.4 minutes of work. That's over an hour of your life for a bowl of curry. Meanwhile, itsu's version at £8.95 costs you 44 minutes – nearly 20 minutes less. Makes you think, doesn't it?
And it's not just the main dishes. A simple green tea at Wagamama is 14.7 minutes of work, while itsu's is 12.3 minutes. Those minutes add up. So next time you're craving Asian fast food, ask yourself: is it worth the work? We've crunched the numbers to compare the real cost of your favourite dishes. Stay tuned.
Asian Fast Food and Wok Prices Compared: Wagamama vs itsu in the UK for 2026
Wagamama: Pan-Asian Favourites
Wagamama is a beloved UK chain for pan-Asian cuisine, known for its hearty bowls and positive eating ethos. Here are some typical menu items with estimated prices for 2026.
| Item | Price | Minutes of work |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Katsu Curry | 12.50 GBP | 61.4 |
| Yaki Soba | 11.95 GBP | 58.7 |
| Ramen | 11.50 GBP | 56.5 |
| Gyoza | 6.50 GBP | 31.9 |
| Edamame | 4.50 GBP | 22.1 |
| Green Tea | 3.00 GBP | 14.7 |
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itsu: Asian-inspired Fast Food
itsu offers a speedy and healthy take on Asian-inspired fast food, with a focus on sushi, noodle bowls, and rice dishes. Here are some of their popular items with expected prices for 2026.
| Item | Price | Minutes of work |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Katsu Curry | 8.95 GBP | 44.0 |
| Teriyaki Chicken Bowl | 8.50 GBP | 41.8 |
| Sushi Set | 7.50 GBP | 36.9 |
| Gyoza | 5.50 GBP | 27.0 |
| Miso Soup | 3.00 GBP | 14.7 |
| Green Tea | 2.50 GBP | 12.3 |
How Many Minutes of Work to Afford These Meals?
Here's how long you'd need to work at different hourly wages to afford a typical main dish from these chains. We've used the average of the main dish prices for each chain.
| Chain | Item | Price | 12.21 GBP/h | 18.32 GBP/h | 24.42 GBP/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagamama | Green Tea | 3.00 GBP | 14.7 min | 9.8 min | 7.4 min |
| itsu | Green Tea | 2.50 GBP | 12.3 min | 8.2 min | 6.1 min |
The money stuff: what's happening with wages and prices
Before we start comparing pad thai to poke bowls, you need to know what's going on with your wallet in 2026. The big one is the statutory minimum wage. From April 2025, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over in the UK is £12.21 per hour. That's a solid jump, and it means even entry-level jobs in fast food and hospitality are paying more than they used to. For 2026, I haven't seen an official confirmed figure yet, so I'm not going to guess. But you can bet it'll be at least that, if not a bit higher. Always check gov.uk for the latest.
Then there's food price inflation. If you've been to a supermarket lately, you'll know it's been brutal. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation was running at around 19.1% in March 2023, the highest in over 45 years. Since then it's come down, but it hasn't gone backwards. In 2026, prices are still creeping up, just more slowly. For Asian fast food, that means the cost of rice, noodles, oils, and veg has all gone up. Some places have absorbed it, others have bumped their prices. So when you see a £9.50 box of noodles, that's partly why.
Now, for a bit of global context, there's The Economist's Big Mac Index. It's a fun, light-hearted way to compare currencies and cost of living. The index looks at the price of a McDonald's Big Mac in different countries and sees what that says about exchange rates. In the UK, the Big Mac has typically been cheaper than in the US when you convert at market rates, but the gap has narrowed. I don't have the exact 2026 figure in front of me, but the trend is that UK fast food is getting pricier relative to wages. For Asian fast food, that means you might be paying more than you would for a Big Mac meal in some cases, especially if you go for a proper wok-cooked dish.
So what does this mean for your lunch? Well, wages are up, but so are costs. The minimum wage rise helps workers, but businesses often pass those costs on to you. And with food inflation still positive, that £7.50 katsu curry from 2024 might now be £8.50 or more. The Big Mac Index isn't a perfect measure for Asian food, but it gives you a rough idea of how the UK stacks up. Bottom line: eating out is a bit more of a treat in 2026, so choose wisely.
| Source | ||
|---|---|---|
| UK National Living Wage (age 21+) | £12.21 per hour | UK Government, 2025 |
| UK food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation (peak) | 19.1% (March 2023) | Office for National Statistics (ONS), 2023 |
| The Economist's Big Mac Index | UK Big Mac typically cheaper than US at market rates, but gap has narrowed (no exact 2026 figure cited) | The Economist, 2026 |
See also: Tesco Café Menu Prices UK 2026: What You'll Pay
Asian fast food and wok prices in the UK 2026: your questions answered
Based on the menu prices we have, itsu comes out cheaper than Wagamama pretty much across the board. For example, itsu's Chicken Katsu Curry is 8.95 GBP versus 12.50 GBP at Wagamama, and even a green tea is 2.50 GBP at itsu compared with 3.00 GBP at Wagamama.
We don't have historical price data to hand, so we can't give you an exact percentage rise. But with the National Living Wage increasing in April 2026, it's fair to expect menu prices to keep creeping upwards rather than falling.
Quite a lot, actually. Those 'minutes of work' figures are based on the minimum wage, so a 12.50 GBP Chicken Katsu Curry at Wagamama works out at 61.4 minutes of work, while itsu's version is 44 minutes. If the minimum wage rises faster than menu prices, your meal effectively becomes a bit more affordable.
It depends where you go. itsu looks like the better value option, with mains ranging from 7.50 GBP to 8.95 GBP, whereas Wagamama mains sit between 11.50 GBP and 12.50 GBP for similar dishes. Sides like gyoza are also cheaper at itsu (5.50 GBP) than Wagamama (6.50 GBP).
Skip the drinks, for a start, as a green tea can set you back 2.50 to 3.00 GBP. Ordering a side like miso soup (3.00 GBP at itsu) or edamame (4.50 GBP at Wagamama) instead of a full main can also keep the bill down, and itsu generally undercuts Wagamama on comparable dishes.
If you're watching your budget, itsu's Miso Soup and Green Tea are the cheapest at 3.00 GBP and 2.50 GBP, working out at around 12 to 15 minutes of work. At Wagamama, edamame at 4.50 GBP (22.1 minutes) is the lightest hit on your wallet.
We can't say for certain, but wage increases and general food inflation usually feed through to menu prices eventually. So it's worth keeping an eye on your favourite chain's prices, and maybe enjoying itsu's value while it lasts.
The Final Verdict: Where to Get Your Wok Fix in 2026
So there you have it: the numbers don't lie. If you're watching your wallet, itsu is the clear winner. Its Chicken Katsu Curry comes in at 8.95 GBP, which is about 44 minutes of work, while the same dish at Wagamama will set you back 12.50 GBP, or 61.4 minutes of your time. That's a difference of nearly 20 minutes of work for one meal! Even itsu's priciest item, the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl at 8.50 GBP, is cheaper than Wagamama's cheapest main. Wagamama isn't all bad, though: its Green Tea is only 3.00 GBP, but itsu's is 2.50 GBP, so itsu still edges ahead. The real shocker? Wagamama's Edamame at 4.50 GBP is actually slightly cheaper than itsu's Gyoza at 5.50 GBP, but you're still paying more overall for a full meal at Wagamama.
If you're after a quick, affordable Asian fix in 2026, I'd honestly point you towards itsu. You'll get your katsu curry, a drink, and still have time (and money) left for dessert. That said, if you're craving Wagamama's signature ramen or that vibrant atmosphere, it might be worth the extra minutes at work. At the end of the day, it's all about what you value more: your time or your taste buds. So, next time you're hungry, ask yourself: how many minutes of work is that bowl of noodles really worth to you? And remember, whether you go for itsu or Wagamama, Asian fast food in the UK is still one of the tastiest ways to spend your lunch break.
