What once was an understaffed Panera, is now a bright and intriguing fast-casual Mediterranean joint in the Tysons mall’s food court.
Gagawa, whose green, purple and orange branding certainly draws the eye, particularly with their emphasis on customer choice throughout their menu, which offers 15 different styles of chicken paired with a variety of sides.
Another positive focus of this restaurant is their emphasis on balance with every plate, which gives customers the choice for a vegetable, grain and protein to promote a balanced and nutritious dining experience.
Though prices run slightly higher than the average McLean fast-casual establishment, the prompt and pleasant service as well as open and proximate seating promise a generally enjoyable dining experience.
Lauren’s Choice: 4/5 Stars
I was initially overwhelmed by the chicken options available on the menu, each appearing to be as delicious as the last, but since I was craving some spice, I finally settled on the Dragon marinade. As I ordered, the waiter looked me up and down and cautiously warned me about the dish, informing me that it was the spiciest choice on the menu. I hesitated, but ordered it anyway, trusting my spice tolerance to be high enough. It was, but barely.
By the end of the meal, I had drained three large glasses of water, but I had also finished every morsel of the chicken. I couldn’t name the exact herbs and spices in the sauce, but they combined together so perfectly that I ate every bite, even with the high spice level.
For my grain, I ordered the pesto pasta, which arrived in the form of long, thick spaghetti noodles. The greener herbs of the pasta did not pair well with the chicken, but eating them separately made for two equally delicious dishes. I also chose the broccoli slaw as my vegetable, and the chilled and crunchy tastes of the salad were a cool relief to my burning tongue after the chicken.
All together, the meal was incredibly flavorful and enjoyable, and the wide variety of 14 other chicken options on the menu will surely bring me back soon.
Addie’s Choice: 2.5/5 Stars
Out of the many options for chicken presented on this menu, I was initially intrigued by Gagawa’s familiar use of classic Mexican flavors. Though it’s hard to go wrong with jalapenos, black beans and bell peppers, I found this platter to be underwhelming. The flavor of the chicken lacked individuality and the incorporation of the peppers and beans was inconsistent with each bite.
The colorful presentation of this dish, saucy chicken paired with a bright broccoli slaw and neatly plated helping of rice topped with dry, crispy onions, unfortunately could not compensate for the lacking flavors. Not only was the chicken underwhelming, the options for sides were limited such that nothing felt appropriately paired with the Mexican-inspired protein choice.
Although they offered a pleasant contrast to the entree with a combination of warm rice and cold, refreshing broccoli slaw, the sides lacked an outstanding flavor palette, and left me wishing I had ordered something more memorable. While I found the flavors to be disappointing, the dish was quite filling and colorful, which certainly helped boost its rating.
For $15.95, however, I would recommend that more adventurous foodies look elsewhere, as I ultimately found this dish to be disappointing flavor-wise and easily replaced by more affordable classics like a Chipotle bowl.
