Burritos have been swapped for rice and noodle bowls as Wagamama opens in the former home of Chiquito at Norwich Riverside. 

The Pan-Asian chain has just launched its second restaurant in the city following the success of the long-running branch at Chantry Place.

There are 130 covers, with 118 inside and 12 outside, and the seats are set out in a canteen style with panels separating the tables and an open kitchen.

Eastern Daily Press: A new Wagamama restaurant has opened at Norwich Riverside. A new Wagamama restaurant has opened at Norwich Riverside. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

It is also the only Wagamama restaurant in the country to feature its new red Japanese screen print murals.

The opening has created 60 front-of-house and kitchen jobs and the general manager is Kelly Unsworth, who has worked her way up since starting as a team member at the Chantry Place branch seven years ago. 

Eastern Daily Press: The newly-opened Wagamama in Norwich. The newly-opened Wagamama in Norwich. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

She said: "As soon as I heard about this opening I jumped at the chance to run a brand new restaurant.

"Wagamama decided to open a second branch as the other one does really well and the Riverside area is getting revamped with lots of new openings."

Mr Mulligan's crazy golf is set to open later this month and other recent additions include Brazilian bar and grill Estabulo and Bella Italia relocated to the former Las Iguanas site.

Eastern Daily Press: Inside the new Wagamama restaurant in Norwich. Inside the new Wagamama restaurant in Norwich. (Image: Sonya Duncan)There are more than 150 Wagamama restaurants across the country and it first launched in 1992 in London’s Bloomsbury.

It is inspired by Japanese bars and the menu includes katsu curry, donburi and ramen, with 50pc of the menu vegan. 

Eastern Daily Press: Kelly Unsworth has worked her way up from a team member to general manager at Wagamama. Kelly Unsworth has worked her way up from a team member to general manager at Wagamama. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Miss Unsworth added: "The reaction has been amazing so far and we had an event with local influencers at the weekend which went really well.

"I expect we will be really busy in the evenings and at weekends." 

The Norwich Riverside opening hours are 11am-10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am-11pm Friday and Saturday.