Wakara Karaage Foodtruck

In the heart of Aarau, a small but mighty food truck is redefining Japanese street food. Wakara Karaage Foodtruck serves authentic, crispy chicken karaage prepared from a cherished original Japanese recipe, using fresh Swiss poultry. Parked at Graben, this spot has quickly become a go-to for locals and visitors seeking a quick, delicious, and satisfying meal. With a perfect 5.0 rating from over 100 reviews, it’s clear that this isn't just another takeaway—it’s a destination for flavor. Whether you grab a bento box or a hearty donburi bowl, every bite reflects the care and passion of owners Manuela and Yuji Nakamura.

The concept is simple: high-quality ingredients, precise techniques, and friendly service. From the first crunch of the batter to the last grain of perfectly seasoned rice, Wakara delivers a consistently excellent experience. The truck’s limited lunch hours create a buzz, and regulars know to arrive early to secure their favorite dishes. It’s the kind of place where the owner greets you with a smile, and the food tastes like a home-cooked meal from a Kyoto kitchen.

Beyond the truck, the Wakara brand includes a dedicated shop for Japanese groceries and beverages in Aarau, as well as a Saturday Onigiri Imbiss in Unterentfelden. This expansion allows fans to enjoy Wakara’s quality beyond the truck’s schedule, purchasing authentic ingredients to try their hand at home or grabbing a fresh onigiri for a quick snack.

What We Offer

Wakara Karaage Foodtruck focuses on a curated menu centered around one star item: Japanese fried chicken. This isn't heavy, greasy fast food. It’s light, juicy, and impossibly crunchy karaage, marinated in a blend of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic before being coated in potato starch and fried to golden perfection. The result is a distinctive texture and flavor that has won over even the most discerning palates.

Every dish is built to highlight this signature chicken. The menu is streamlined for quality, ensuring each order is prepared with attention to detail. You won't find a sprawling list of options here; instead, you’ll find mastery of a few beloved classics.

• Karaage Don: A satisfying rice bowl topped with a generous helping of crispy karaage, drizzled with savory sauce and often accompanied by fresh salad or pickles. It’s a complete meal in a container.
• Obento Karaage: A beautifully presented bento box that includes karaage alongside a selection of traditional sides—think rice, salad, and perhaps a small portion of another Japanese-inspired delicacy. It’s the perfect lunchbox.
• Onigiri Imbiss (at shop location): On Saturdays, the Wakara Laden in Unterentfelden offers freshly made onigiri—stuffed rice balls wrapped in nori seaweed. These are portable, delicious, and showcase another facet of Japanese comfort food.

Freshness & Quality You Can Taste

The foundation of Wakara’s success is its commitment to quality. The team uses exclusively fresh Swiss chicken, sourced locally to guarantee tenderness and flavor. By combining this superior protein with an original Japanese recipe, they create a product that is both authentic to its roots and expressive of its new home in Aargau.

Each batch of karaage is fried to order during the short lunch window. This means you’re never served chicken that has been sitting under a heat lamp. It arrives piping hot, with a shatteringly crisp coating giving way to succulent, well-seasoned meat. The sides, from the fluffy rice to the crisp salad, are prepared with equal care, making every meal feel thoughtfully composed.

Why Customers Choose Wakara

Regulars don’t just come for the food; they come for the experience. The friendly service is frequently highlighted in reviews, with many noting that the warm welcome is matched only by the food’s quality. The owner’s genuine passion for Japanese cuisine is evident in every interaction, creating a loyal following. Vegetarian options are also available, ensuring that groups with different dietary preferences can all enjoy a meal together.

The value for money is another strong draw. Fresh, high-quality food made with care, priced between 10-20 CHF, makes this an accessible luxury. The portions are generous, leaving diners full and satisfied without breaking the bank. For a quick, high-quality lunch in Aarau, Wakara consistently outshines more conventional fast-food options.

Serving Aarau & Surrounding Areas

While the food truck calls Graben in downtown Aarau home, the Wakara brand has planted roots throughout the region. The flagship shop at Rain 47 offers a wide range of Japanese groceries and drinks, bridging the gap between restaurant-quality meals and home cooking. Here, you can find the sauces, seasonings, and snacks needed to recreate the Wakara experience in your own kitchen.

The secondary location at Hauptstrasse 41 in Unterentfelden extends the brand’s reach with its Saturday Onigiri Imbiss and regular shop hours. This multi-location presence allows Wakara to serve a broader community, from office workers in Aarau’s center to families in the neighboring towns. It’s a small empire built on the back of one extremely good chicken recipe.

Visit the Food Truck and Shop

Planning your visit is straightforward. The food truck operates at Graben during select weekday lunch hours, typically from 11:30 to 13:30. Because schedules can vary, it’s always wise to check the official website or social media for the current week’s posted times. The shop at Rain 47 is open Wednesday through Friday from 10:15 to 11:45 and 13:30 to 18:00, and on Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00. The Unterentfelden location is open Monday through Saturday with extended evening hours.

Hours, Location & Contact

Wakara Karaage Foodtruck
Graben
5000 Aarau, Switzerland
Operates weekdays for lunch; check website for weekly schedule.

Wakara Laden
Rain 47
5000 Aarau
Phone: 062 557 75 67

Onigiri Imbiss / Shop
Hauptstrasse 41
5035 Unterentfelden

General contact: info@wakara.ch or 076 405 95 91

Frequently Asked Visitor Questions

First-time visitors often have a few questions. Here’s what you need to know before you go: The truck is cash-friendly but also accepts common digital payments. Seating is limited to the public space around Graben, so it’s primarily a takeaway experience. If you’re in a hurry, the Obento is a perfect grab-and-go option, while the Karaage Don is best enjoyed right away when the contrast between hot chicken and cool salad is at its peak.

Don’t forget to ask about the vegetarian options of the day, and if you fall in love with the flavors, visit the shop on Rain to pick up the ingredients to experiment at home. Whether you’re a Japanese food enthusiast or a curious foodie, Wakara Karaage Foodtruck offers a compact but unforgettable door into the world of Japanese comfort food.