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We all have been craving fried fish and Mama J's is one of the best in town. It's a small restaurant with an attached market. We got wings for a starter, a catfish platter, and 2 whiting platters. The fish was really good, came with a piece of cornbread but the sides were à la cart. We got 2 orders of macaroni and cheese, and a side of mashed potatoes. The Mac and cheese was ok, a little cool in the middle, but the mashed potatoes were not good at all. No flavor whatsoever. The tartar sauce also needed a little something else. Our server, Iyana, was super nice and very accommodating. We'd be back to support, but the sides definitely needed a little love.
Part 2 is still a 5. The hostess and the service was outstanding as well as the food was pretty good. We went after the race16.19 we ordered almost everything. From catfish nuggets potato salad greens apple pie sweet potato pie and I ordered second rum cake. Unfortunately the were out of prosecco, but had the white wine. The restaurant was busy bustling with people the wait was minimal. The ambiance was like eating at home during family gathering. It was bright filled with light and photographs along the wall.
Mama J's is the definition of comfort food done right. The soul food was absolutely incredible, and let me talk about the sweet tea... because WOW. It was seriously to die for! This little gem in downtown Richmond completely surprised me. Finding a really good soul food spot can be rare, and Mama J's definitely delivered. The flavors, the vibes, and the overall experience made it a place I'd happily recommend. The server I had was so friendly and welcoming. Just a heads up--this place can get pretty packed during dinner time, so plan ahead and be prepared for a wait. If you're craving authentic soul food while in Richmond, definitely add Mama J's to your list.
Excellent hole-in-the wall gem atmosphere, service and food! I enjoyed every bite of everything I tasted! We shared sides and I got a to-go plate of chicken to try later! Catfish was fried perfectly and trout was blackened to perfection! Cabbage and yams were out of this world! We will be making the trip from Fredericksburg again real soon!
I ordered take out while attending a conference in richmond. The restaurant is intimate and has a bar. The service was great. The food was ready for pick up when I arrived. The fried chicken was cooked to perfection. Seasoned well. The yams were perfect, not too sweet or sugary. The collard greens were tasty. The chicken came with a corn muffin which was a little over baked. Overall, food was delicious and I ate most of it.
Arrived at Mama J's with a table for 6 (5 adults and a baby). It was packed so we had a little wait. Staff was welcoming and pleasant. Everyone but 1 ordered catfish, either yams, greens or mac and cheese. I'm not an expert on greens but I thought they were very good while my mom thought they were tough. The yams are cooked with cloves, a spice I've never had in yams. It was different but good. The mac and cheese was very good too. It had just the right amount of cheese, small macaroni and perfect texture. Thank God it was baked like my family's and not soupy and weird. Iykyk what I mean. I ordered the 2 piece catfish. They were large fillets. Fried nicely and had a nice light coating and seasoning. I could only finish 1 fillet. My eyes were bigger than my stomach bc I got 3 sides. It's not often I have access to good soul food. Our daughter and sil enjoyed the leftovers. My husband ordered the fried chicken which came with 2 pieces, a wing and breast. He finished half the breast. It looked like it was fried perfectly and he enjoyed it. The menu is categorized and the only issue I take with the menu is that it lists "entrees". Entrees as I understand them and have always had them are a meal (ie protein and at least 1 side). Their entrees are not meals with sides. It's a protein with a small muffin. Basically, everything is à la cart. For 2 people, our meal was $90 plus 20% gratuity already added due to the number in our party, understandably. They do ask if you want to add an addl gratuity of 7%. 20% is already more than enough! These are the times when I miss eating in Europe where tipping is not standard. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely eat here again.
Truly exactly how great the soul food is described to be. Yes the fish is the size of your full plate but more importantly is the flavor is impeccable yet still tastes homemade. It's giving' Mama's Sunday Dinner. And the sides do the same. The space is intimate and casual. Service was prompt and staff was friendly. I'm ready to try more of the menu!!
OMG !!!! If you want the cool trendy downtown RVA experience, with excellent food and service pleeeeeeease go to Mama J's Kitchen. We were first greeted by the most personable, young man that truly made us feel welcome. That's there motto "Welcome Home" His name is EJ. You will know it's him. This restaurant is a cute neighborhood landmark. It's a little small but not tight or uncomfortable with a full bar for additional seating. Because it has that old school I know this food is going to be FIRE, it's Perfect. Soooooo, the music certainly fits this cool old school vibe. The menu was under a very clean glass table topper to view and order. Very big Plus, Sanitary !!!!! I ordered the Fried Chicken (2pcs white), corn muffin comes with the meal, candied yams and cabbage. My plate was BEAUTIFUL, pictures will confirm. The chicken was golden brown, crispy on outside, flavorful and moist on the inside. YES, like my mom's use to be. The yams were perfectly sweet and the caaaabage was delicious. Go early to avoid the crowds, because everyone wants this good food and hospitality. Ooooh Lord, I forgot our extremely attentive server Dana. He checked in while being super busy with other customers, making sure the glasses were refilled in a timely manner. He also offered to go drinks, and very nice to go containers. This review is long because it's accurate and I need to share my experience. Last but not least, the owner came by and asked how was everything with her warm, down home hospitality. She also ask that we visit next door, Mama J's Market, so we did. It was sooo cool. I felt like I was in Greenwich Village NYC. If the restaurant is too busy for you, there in the market you can order from the kiosk and a staff member will bring it to you. There are refrigerated food and meal options to grab and go. Snacks, drinks, a little fresh produce, household and personal items. The Perfect Neighborhood Market. If you want the Old Historic Jackson Ward feeling of community, come to Mama J's Kitchen and Market. Thank you !!!!!!!
Went here with my family and I will say the food is good. We both had the catfish and were a little underwhelmed to be honest. It wasn't as seasoned as I expected it to be for a soul food restaurant. The Mac and cheese was about a 6 and the greens weren't very flavorful so we have them a 5. The candied yams were really good. Very tender and not too sweet. Our server wasn't the most personable, but he got the job done. The music was great! Parking was easy on a Sunday evening. I do recommend this place, but just be prepared to use the tartar sauce for your fish if you want a little razzle dazzle.
This restaurant came up in a search of things to do/places to visit in Richmond, VA. I'm totally into soul food, so challenge accepted. Mama J's is an unassuming place, but was packed when I arrived. I opted to sit at the bar because I was near starvation and didn't have time to wait for a table. I was super impressed with the bartender. Half the time it didn't seem like she heard me, but she always did, and always handled whatever it was that needed handling. I placed an order for catfish nuggets with fries and requested a cornbread muffin. The food arrived and looked amazing! And it all was very good, though I have had better catfish nuggets before. I crushed everything. No complaints.
We were greeted and seated quickly. Service was pleasant and our waitress gave great recommendations as far as drinks and food. It was a cute and homey atmosphere. We started off with the chicken rings and they were so good, starting off strong! Pork chop and crabcake meals were super satisfying. No complaints about any of the sides. The cornbread was a nice little sweet treat. I would have loved to try dessert but they were out of a few due to the time we were at the restaurant. I will definitely be back to try them out!
Greeted with the friendliest service. The most homecooked meal not cooked at your home that you probably couldn't even cook yourself. The catfish had the flakiest breading to it, I could have even eaten it without any tartar sauce which was also delicious. That paired with the perfect Candied Yams that weren't overly sweet but still golden roasted; Yum. Loved this place. Absolutely loved.
My 1st time in Richmond and ii I can say is Mama J's is EVERYTHING! Chyna was our server and she was so attentive. It felt like Sunday dinner at your favorite Aunt's house The coffee was awesome (im a critic of coffee) I had catfish nuggets, mac & cheese and Collards . Alll gooood!
Cute little restaurant and bar. Limited seating. A group of us were attending a Cheer competition that ended at 6 pm on a Sunday night. A friend that was with us used to work downtown and remembered this place. He used to dine here for lunch, but we walked 2 blocks at night in the dark from the convention center with a 7 yr old. We didn't realize that there was going to be graffiti and the whiff of Marijuana in the air on the way to the restaurant. My chicken seemed overcooked on the outside. My husband said it's because the oil might have been too hot. They were out of brisket. I thought the collard greens tasted okay, but my husband didn't like them. read more
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Yolanda J.
Thank you for visiting us Ellen C, in the Historic Jackson Ward.…
4 months ago
8 months ago
Great service, everyone was friendly and the food was seasoned to perfection, not salty. Will come visit again. read more
8 months ago
My very first time. Ordered online the same day as another Monica. Who would have guessed. The orders got mixed up, but the staff more than made up for the mix up. The food was excellent!! I will definitely visit again! Great customer service. read more
2 years ago
Great food and portions. A pleasant and not too loud ambiance. Service with a smile! Get here early! People wait patiently for a seat without complaining. read more
Wow! This amazing southern gem is just a stroll from the Richmond Convention Center... There is seating... but it's never enough because it's so popular... there are always people waiting for tables to turn over... but it's worth waiting 5-10min... The fried chicken is amazing! Make sure you get the 3 pieces for the $2 extra. I loved the sweet potato mash for my side! The catfish sandwich is well fried and delicious! My friend got the catfish nuggets... but I definitely prefer the sandwich... I think I would definitely ask for the bread to be toasted more so you get a nice crispy outer crust... If you are at a convention or just in the area... come grab a bite! read more
We stopped in almost at close and they were gracious enough to let us dine in after a show at the Dominion Energy Center. It has a small footprint but it has big back energy. We had two entrees which come with cornbread and added two sides. I had the catfish. Husband had the brisket. And he took a peach cobbler to go! The food was fresh and tasted like it was right out of Big Momma's kitchen! Do yourself a favor and go!! And get the catfish and cabbage! You will NOT regret it! read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
Absolutely love Mama J's. Visited here when she was brand new many years ago and got the opportunity to visit again recently. Parking is Crappy but it's downtown so what do you expect. When we walked in and stood by podium it several minutes to be acknowledged. Then it took nearly 10 minutes to be seated, there were several open seats but they were super busy and appeared to be understaffed. We brushed that off though and didn't allow it to damper our experience. Our waitress was good but in the middle of our meal she left work for the day and we got a new waitress. Weird, but new waitress was on point. Food was spot on amazing. I left with a full belly and smile on my face. Will be returning next time in Richmond! read more
6 months ago
8 months ago
Great experience here. Came on a Wednesday night and there wasn't much of a crowd. A simple entree and a side will make you full. Dessert can be shared between two people. Really friendly service. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. The desserts, are…
Friday 3/22/2024 I had this spot on my list for nearly year as I was highly anticipating it but did it meet my expectations? I made an online order for takeout and got: the bbq ribs $14, side mac n cheese $5, side candied yams $5, fried chicken (white) $14, and the 2 pc catfish $15. All of the meals come with a side of their cornbread muffins. It wasn't available online but I also got the bread pudding $6 when I went to pick up the food. - bread pudding * it comes with a lemon sauce that isn't really needed but overall the bread pudding was decent. - bbq ribs * these were tender, came off the bone easily, and pretty good. This was probably my favorite item I had. * also the cornbread muffin was decent as well. - side mac n cheese * this was AWFUL and definitely something that you should avoid. The mac n cheese had zero seasoning and zero flavor, just ended up tasting extremely bland. - side candied yams * these were decent - fried chicken (white) * it comes with 1 breast & 1 whole wing for the price tag of $14 which is bogus and ridiculous. * I can understand a 14$ price tag for 2 breasts but for 1 and a whole wing is overpriced to say the least. - 2pc catfish * I'm not a huge catfish type of guy but I saw that it was one of their popular items so I had to try it and it was alright, nothing special or impressive. Overall, my high expectations for mama js did not deliver in the slightest. They definitely got some improving to do ESPECIALLY on that terrible Mac n cheese. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
The food was Devine. We ordered a variety of dishes consisting of catfish, meatloaf, and beef brisket. My sides were Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The gravy was my favorite. We also tried the desserts fresh out of the oven ( sweet potato pie and rum cake). Chyna was our server for the afternoon; she was extremely attentive and gave great recommendations. The vibe of the restaurant was very relaxed it's very cute. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5star review! Welcome Home!
7 months ago
3 months ago
Love the interior vibe. Rich with history. Service was stellar. Very friendly and attentive. The food was dynamite! I am a sucker for fried pork chops and Momma J's delivered. They were delicious. I enjoyed the string beans as well. Everyone in our group was satisfied. We ended the meal with the bread pudding. It was just okay for me. I would try something different next time. Overall it was excellent. Check them out if you like the ole time cooking. We'll be back! read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for coming for a visit and leaving a review. So glad you…
3 years ago
Food was good for the most part. Greens needed more seasonings, corn muffin dry , Mac & cheese was amazing Staff was great & friendly read more
1 year ago
Best food I've had in a long time! Certainly the best pork chops, cabbage and collard greens. Second time eating here in two days (photo from yesterday and today) deserves a review. And the service is amazing! Special thanks to Ashley for exceptional service and making my daughter and I feel welcome!. This place truly makes you feel like you're home! read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for visiting with us two days in a row, and for leaving a…
I highly recommend visiting this place if you're in Richmond! The quality of the food is exceptional. My husband and I shared the blackened catfish, and it was delicious! The seasoning was great and the fish was tender. The sides were also great. We got the mac n cheese, green beans, potato salad, and mashed potatoes. They were all delicious! We also ordered the cobbler salad and was impressed with the generous toppings. Our kids enjoyed their chicken tenders, which was the one thing I didn't care for. It was too salty for me. The price was very reasonable for everything, but i also am used to northern VA prices. All in all, highly recommend this place! read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you Jackie B for visiting us while away from home. We…
Quiant, home feel, like at aunt/uncle's house. Wish I could give 3.7/3.8. Catfish Bites: HITTIN!!! Fresh, light, seasoned perfectly. Needed nothing but our teeth chomping down the deliciousness of the sea! Chicken Wings: very good Regular Fried Chicken: Seasoned well, juicy and we had white but theyre large like steroids birds. Collards: good. No smoked anything. A tad sweet but not overbearing. Cabbage: delish. Tasted similar to the Collards; chicken bouillon based. Mac & Cheese: surprisingly better than expected. Mild cheese flavor like Colby, Mild/Sharp Cheddar vs. Extra and Mozz. Peach Cobbler: decent. Cooked down canned Peaches with a cake-like/bisquick topping vs. the pie crusted version, which is more our preference. It was also a bit gummy in the middle, due to being not fully cooked through. Also, had heavy-handed warm spices, heavy on the nutmeg. Not overly sweet, which can be deceiving because it'll have you eating the entire serving in 1 sitting. Apple Pie is a personal size, enough for 2-3 to enjoy. It was cold so...did taste a smidgen and it had the same heavy handed warm spices but not as sweet. They forgot our paid for potato salad. Our fault for not catching it before we pulled off. The young lady Cashier named Marquee (sp?) was congenial, swift and helpful with honest suggestions. Full bar but limited in more Premium selections. They could stand a SERIOUS DEEP cleaning! The baby booster seats are filthy and bathrooms are usable. Overall, passed through on a road trip, after hearing so much about it but we're 1 and done. Maybe a quick return for those Catfish Bites! read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for stopping by on your road trip. Your review is very…
1 year ago
4 months ago
We stopped by Mama J's during our vacation in Virginia. As soon as we stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted and seated right away. It was a cute little restaurant with nice decor. It took a while to receive out, but it was delicious. I got catfish with greens and mashed potatoes. Mash potatoes were not my favorite but not bad. We also ordered yams and Mac n cheese which were both yummy also. I would definitely recommend stopping my Mama J's for some good food. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for dining with us, your review is very helpful. I’m not…
2 years ago
There's something magical about walking into a place where history seeps through the walls, where the food feels like a love letter to the soul, and where you're greeted like family. That's exactly what you get at Mama J's, a cozy spot tucked into the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond. The staff here redefine hospitality. It's not just service; it's the kind of genuine warmth that makes you feel like you've been coming here for years, even if it's your first visit (like it was mine). I started with the catfish nuggets which were perfectly fried, tender, and seasoned with just enough punch to keep you reaching for another bite. For my main, I went classic: fried chicken, with sides of mac and cheese and collard greens. Now fried chicken is a sacred thing, and Mama J's delivers it with the kind of reverence it deserves. The chicken arrived piping hot, the golden crust crisp yet impossibly light, encasing meat so juicy and flavorful it almost feels criminal to eat it. I don't know much about divine intervention, but if God is ordering fried chicken, you can bet it's coming from Mama J's. For sides, I went classic: the mac and cheese was gooey, rich, and indulgent, and the collard greens hit that perfect balance of sweet and savory. But let's not kid ourselves--the fried chicken was the star of this show. It's the kind of chicken that makes you rethink every other version you've ever had. Special shout out to Ashley for her infectious smile and impeccable service, with honorable mention to the kitchen crew who seem to turn out delicious dish after delicious dish with the greatest of ease. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for dining with us and taking the time to leave this…
2 years ago
Their service was good! The food was good!! We are 3adults and 1baby, but got seated right away. It was before Christmas, and the decor was nice, stuff were also dressed for the holidays. I ordered beef brisket, and it was so good, so soft!! Other ordered cat fish which I have never tried before, so I asked for a bite. OMG!! It was so good!! Crispy outside, juicy and fluffy inside. All the side were also good. It took a while to get our food since they're so busy (dine in and take out, delivery), but our waiter gave us updates on good timing, so that was huge help and plus for me. Good customer service!! I'll definitely go back there to try different menus. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for visiting with us during the Christmas holiday, and…
1 year ago
Service was pleasant. Menu easy to read. Atmosphere was relaxed. The food was hot when I got it (that's a plus for me)! read more
1 year ago
First time trying this restaurant and I am happy that we stumbled upon this place. I love the culture you observe on your way into the restaurant beautiful black art, beautiful and personable workers, and amazing food. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you for stopping by and giving us a try and for leaving us a…
5 months ago
I found this gem on the outskirts of downtown. You are greeted by a "Welcome Home" sign. There is street parking available in front of the restaurant and within a reasonable walking distance. They have a small dining room and a full bar with seating. There is a television above the bar that was playing sports while I was there and you will hear soul music being played throughout the dining room. You will see chairs without any tables on the front sidewalk. I was solo so I just decided to sit at the bar. It took a while for the staff to warm up, but they ended up being very friendly. The patrons were also very friendly there too. A couple of people drummed up a nice conversation with me. They serve some delectable soul food including friend chicken, catfish, crab cakes, trout, pork chops, and cobbler. I ordered the two piece catfish platter with a side of collard greens. I got one fried fillet and one blackened fillet. It took about 10 minutes for me to get my food and it was fresh, hot and delicious. The catfish was some of the best that I have had. Cooked and seasoned perfectly. The collards were huge and very flavorful too. The meal came with a corn bread muffin that was absolutely scrumptious. MMMMMM.....this meal was good. I really enjoyed my meal here. They have some good home cooked soul food. I highly recommend checking this restaurant out. read more
We met friends here for a late lunch. The restaurant was busy with customers eating in and a lot of take out as well. The restaurant is very quaint with glass over a white table cloth. I liked that the menus were under the glass so you could read them but didn't have to touch them. It felt like very clean alternative and I preferred it to a QR code. Our server was very attentive and helpful. We had the catfish nuggets to start and catfish entree with two sides for our meal. I chose green beans and mashed potatoes. My husband chose collards and mac and cheese. Everyone at the table was raving on the mac and cheese. Very good! We enjoyed the entire meal. They were out of all of the cakes and only had bread pudding and peach cobbler. We lucked out and found easy parking out front. A wonderful lunch! read more
Apparently i haven't had real soul food until now, because this meal just blew my mind. Outstanding flavors, everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection. My friend and I had the catfish (so crispy!) and brisket (juicy and tender)-- I can't decide which I liked more. Mashed potatoes were also excellent. Service was fast and friendly, And the vibe/ambiance just felt cozy. Next time I'm in Richmond, I'm coming back here for sure. read more
10 months ago
I took an hour and fifteen minute drive to try Mama Js. The restaurant was extremely small so we ordered to go. All food is ordered a la carte. So we spent a good amount of money ordering entrees and sides. After waiting quite some time during lunch time, the food finally arrived. When we got back to the car we were immediately disappointed. The chicken didn't look or taste fresh. The catfish was very bland. The corn muffins that they serve with everything was hard. The Mac and cheese was not appetizing. The candied yams was the best part of the meal and even those were overly sweet. read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m very…
2 years ago
Stopped here on a roadtrip to North Carolina! Great for a stop off I-95. What a great experience! Food was true soul food! Crystal was our waitress and made our experience amazing! Everyone and everything in the restaurant made me feel at home! The ambiance was chill! There were people dressed casual and some people dressed up. Definitely a place to go in Richmond Virginia! read more
Business owner information
Yolanda J.
Thank you so much for stopping by on your trip to North Carolina, and…
More info about Mama J's Kitchen
415 N 1st St
Richmond, VA 23219
Jackson Ward, Downtown
Directions
(804) 225-7449
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http://www.mamajskitchen.com/
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Are pets allow Ed?
I don't know the official answer but it is a small place. It didn't seem like there would be enough space for pets.
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