Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mama Lu's

    4.4 (93 reviews)
    InexpensiveFilipino, Chinese
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Mama Lu's Photos

    Business Info

    MAMA LU'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Mama Lu's

    Recommended Reviews - Mama Lu's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Top: chicken fried rice Middle: bourbon chicken Bottom: pancit bihon (comes with shrimp & pork)
    Christina D.

    Pros: The price and amount of food can't be beat! Fried rice and lumpia are really good!! Their lumpia is the best thing on the menu, that I've tried. Cons: They're almost always out of lumpia! Not sure if you have to get there early or what? I've even tried calling ahead before 5pm so I think it jsut depnds on the day. The pancit bihon is good but almost all noodles with hardly any meat. I'd pass on bourbon chicken next time

    Chicken tinola soup
    LaShawn T.

    Mama Lu is friendly and her food is soul-satisfying...lumpia is crispy and fresh, soup felt like it had healing pproperties and the adoba was smooth. The quality and quantity are amazing for the price points. I was the first customer so I could avoid what I heard could be a parking nightmare.

    Lumpia
    Ebony H.

    I made it back and this time we ordered beef steak, chicken adobo and palabok. I didn't call ahead so it was about an hour wait since palabok is cooked to order. I ran a few errands while I waited.

    Aliyah S.

    Never disappointed when I come here!! When you come here expect to get your money worth, the portions are big! The pancit alone feels like it weighs 5 pounds of pure deliciousness!! The service is always great if you are in a rush I suggest calling your order in because the food here is made to order and super fresh. If you don't mind the wait then just pull up and order but either way it goes you will leave this place happy!!

    Rich H.

    I don't know why I don't go to Mama Lu's more often. Is it in a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" spot on St Johns Bluff? Yes. Is the parking a little tricky to get in and out of? Yes. Is it absolutely worth doing NASCAR-like evasive maneuvers to get some of the best Filipino food in the city? Again, yes. I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and made a hard left turn into Mama Lu's tiny parking lot for some lunch. I got some chicken adobo (left), dinuguan (right), and white rice. The chicken adobo was so good and reminded me of my grandma's. Dinuguan is a Filipino savory stew usually made with pork offal and simmered in a dark gravy made with pork blood, vinegar, garlic, chilies, and other spices. Mama Lu's forgoes the offal and goes with chucks of pork, and the pig blood gravy was rich, thick, a little sweet, and delicious. If you're looking for great Filipino food, go check out Mama Lu's. #filipino

    Pancit with shrimp chicken and pork
    Alex S.

    The sweetest workers!! And can you look at this box of food!!!! This weighed about 10 pounds I had 3 meals out of it!! Delish pancit and I also got lumpia but ate all those before I could take a pic. Take out only!!

    Chicken pancit
    Vanessa T.

    Excellent delicious food!! oh my this is food cooked with love! Don't let the exterior deter you, it looks like a small house but whats coming out of here is such yummy food! *Big Tip here is CALL ahead!!* The food is cooked at order so it takes about 30 minutes to make everything. We got: Chicken bbq sticks- served with white rice these were big nice chunks of marinated dark meat chicken, tasted great! Chicken pancit- my sis cant eat shrimp or I would have got the combo pansit, but the chicken version was great too, lots of veggies, delicious noodles, seasoned perfectly! Lumpia- always yummy!! The classic staple of Philippine food This is not the cheapest version of these foods but I felt the quality was there and really enjoyed everything we got! Will return and make sure I order ahead!

    Pork Adobo | Chicken Afritada
    JiMmy P.

    Mama Lu's is located on the other side of St. John's Bluff Road passed Atlantic Blvd. from The Town Center. It's a little Mom and Pop shop that serve delicious Filipino food. We just discovered this place a couple of months ago, but we were informed that they've been there for more than 7 years. Not too late for us that's for sure! We have been here several times already in that 2-month span and we've ordered quite a bit and they were all good. Wish they're close to our home though, but still worth the drive to have a home cooked meal. Yummy goodness we've had include: *Kaldereta - Filipino beef stew *Menudo - pork stew *Tortang Talong - eggplant omelette stuffed with ground beef *Papaitan - soup dish mostly composed of cow or goat innards *Chicken Adobo - chicken cooked in vinegar and soy sauce *Pork Adobo - pork cooked in vinegar and soy sauce *Lechon Paksiw - pork stewed in vinegar *Bistek - beef slices braised in citrus juice, soy sauce, onions, and garlic *Pinakbet - mixed veggies cooked in fish or shrimp sauce *Bopis - minced pork or beef lungs and heart *Tocilog - fried cured meat, fried rice, egg

    Rebecca N.

    Can I say: DELICIOUS FOOD?! Wowza. They only have food to-go right now. I ordered two pansit meals, two veggie egg rolls(no pictures-we forgot to snap a shot), four lumpia's. We hurried home to enjoy what we were about to consume. Only if there was a "Smellavision" app. The car had a wonderful aroma. One pansit would of been enough for two people. I have left over for lunch tomorrow. Everything was very delicious, just as we anticipated. I can't wait to return.

    Afritada, Pork Adobo and Rice
    Lea P.

    My husband and I can't believe we only discovered Mama Lu's early this year! We were truly missing out! Thank goodness our good friends and fellow Yelpers Redner S. and his wife Vanessa S. informed us about this place! Once we tried their food, oh man we are hooked! So far EVERYTHING we have tried was absolutely delicious! They all tasted like home cooked meals! We had kaldereta, Tortang Talong, Bistec, Lechon Paksiw, Afritada, Adobo, Tapsilog, etc. Our favorite is their Bopis! Perfectly cooked and so good with rice! Their combo meal is reasonably priced except if you purchase them individually. I would suggest getting the combo meal so you get to taste 2 different types of Filipino dishes! We have been wanting to try their Pancit palabok, unfortunately every time we visit, it's not part of their hot menu. Oh well, we wouldn't mind coming back again..and again lol!

    Business Hours
    Jay P.

    #ThankfulThursday My shout out goes to Mama Lu's and her amazing food. FABU-LU'S !!! Mama Lu's foods reminds me of my late mom's cooking, almost similar in taste. So each time I get the chance to visit this place and per each bite I take, flashbacks of my mom and her cooking comes to play. I miss her dearly. And one thing I feel that will bring my mom out of her grave is through my honest confession that Mama Lu's Shrimp Palabok taste more delicious than hers. Sorry mom. I speaka a truth. And what separates Mama Lu's from all other Filipino Cuisine shops in Jax is that they also serve Breakfast items, which you can get any time of the day. All in all, great food. Even though the drive to Mama Lu's is far...it is definitely worth the trek. MARVE-LU'S !!!

    Palabok with chopped eggs, thin noodles and shrimp. Seasoned extremely very well!
    Gail C.

    Ahhh-may-zingly delicious! This is my "all time/go to" favorite Filipino small business establishment. Definitely LOVE coming here at least every 2 weeks and sometimes weekly with my husband for pick up. I have many favorites here and all of them are just simply delicious just like my dear mom and dad's and in-laws cooking in Charleston, SC, our hometown. Mama Lu's is far from our house in Bartram Springs, roughly a 25-30 minute drive but well worth it as I know it's going to be delicious! We are one of her many regular customers over the years as you can see. She has us spoiled as I am sometimes very picky too. Lol. She is so nice as she makes many of our dishes and desserts via text/phone call request 24-48 hrs in advance like our fresh veggies lumpia with fantastic home style peanut sauce, pancit bihon with shrimp, seasonal upo ginisang (squash) desserts, and lumpia with perfection all just to name a few. Definitely recommend if you are looking for something specific to call in advance as sometimes she doesn't have the ingredients on hand that same day. As of latest, they are just take out and closed on Tuesday. Thank you Mama Lu! LOVE it all. Rey and I will see you real soon! :)

    BBQ chicken and rice

    See all

    2 months ago

    Excellent variety and flavor of Filipino comfort food. Great value for the cost of the food.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    My new go-to for Filipino food. Portions are big and food is delicious. I can't wait to try everything.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex S.
    79
    16
    25

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 27
    Thanks 0
    Love this 32
    Oh no 1
    Photo of JiMmy P.
    161
    488
    14239

    6 years ago

    Helpful 72
    Thanks 0
    Love this 77
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 27
    Thanks 0
    Love this 30
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lea P.
    411
    448
    17248

    6 years ago

    Helpful 16
    Thanks 0
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay P.
    286
    570
    11213

    6 years ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 0
    Love this 34
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gail C.
    22
    160
    15828

    6 years ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 0
    Love this 24
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Michael K.
    63
    110
    171

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joy T.
    0
    104
    121

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara G.
    114
    268
    2336

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    So freaking good! If you're nearby definitely try this place! Service was great! Food was hot and yummy!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Pork adobo was tender and so flavorful. If I'm ever in Jackson's again this will be a must stop.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jasmine S.
    117
    29
    24

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mama Lu's

    Do they have dine in seating?

    No. They closed the dining area during COVID since they also watch their daughter's toddlers and configured into an area for them to play. Strictly "pick up" and check out at the window.

    Is there a current menu to order from?

    Menu is posted on the store Windows and nothing else available on-line, refer to most recent Menu pics in the current calendar year. Glare is generally bad due to where they are located in relation to the sun so Menu pics not the greatest.… Read more

    Do they have any vegetarian-friendly dishes on the menu? (Just meatless items in general, do not have to be vegan.)

    They have Veggie Eggrolls/Lumpia. They are very accommodating and can modify items like their Pancit "meatless" and if you do eat seafood more Shrimp for a slight upcharge.

    Price for dinner? And is it a buffet

    No buffet, food is served Cafeteria Style and small menu for cooked to order.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Filipino 1,567 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Marianas Grinds

    Marianas Grinds

    4.6
    (551 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $

    Update 6/22/2026:…read more Met up with a colleague for lunch and this place never fails me! The owner and staff are wonderful people working hard to bring the Hawaiian-Filipino taste to the Jax Community! Reminds me of when I visited Hawaii in the past and I just miss the islands! It was during early lunch so it was quiet at first but later saw folks coming through for lunch. My colleague never had Hawaiian food so the owner and I recommended a few dishes -- he chose the Loco Moco, Hawaiian-comfort food. I missed the garlic shrimp back then, and so luckily they had it in the menu -- Hawaiian Fried Garlic Shrimp!!! It was fantastic! The savory and super garlicky taste of those fried shrimps (yes, they had the shells still on, but that's the best part). The shells were crispy/fried enough and covered in the garlicky sauce that you can just eat it. Some folks may have other opinions, but I'm used to eating it this way in my culture as well. The fiesta rice was seasoned well and the Hawaiian Mac Salad was wonderfully semisweet and seasoned well too. Always great vibes by the decor and the owners!

    Coming in the late morning to mid afternoon, you will find that the restaurant is quiet with a few…read morefamilies sharing a meal. The staff and owners greet you to then make sure you are taken care of. Most items on the menu ranged between $10 to $20 dollars. As of the moment, what I was truly hoping to try was outside of my price range. I ordered to go and purchased a Spam Masubi ($3.50 without tax). I will state that this appetizer may not be the best representative of this restaurant's cuisine. I would personally rate it 5.8/10 and would truly hope to try something different. I also believe the cost to meal gained ratio left me feeling this was a bit overpriced. Nevertheless, I want to return to try a different menu item as others have stated the food was enjoyable.

    Photos
    At the check in/out counter. Note that Marianas Grinds caters!
    At the check in/out counter. Note that Marianas Grinds caters!
    The chicken ginasan, pork adobo, and awesome empanadas! Great meal on this day!
    The chicken ginasan, pork adobo, and awesome empanadas! Great meal on this day!
    3 pcs Beef Lumpia

    See all

    3 pcs Beef Lumpia
    Lola's Filipino Cafe & Mini Store

    Lola's Filipino Cafe & Mini Store

    4.6
    (62 reviews)
    21.7 mi

    What a wonderful little Filipino restaurant! The dishes are served cafeteria style where you choose…read morea side (rice vs pancit) and 1 or 2 main dishes. I usually shy away from this especially since Covid due to sanitary concerns, but all my worries went out the door when I put the food in my mouth!!! Pancit - 8/10 - great flavors, the noodles were a little dry but that may be because it was sitting out too long. Shrimp obud - 10/10- absolutely delicious! it had bamboo shoots in it and the curry was so flavorful I could drink it. Dinuguan - 7/10- it was tasty but couldn't get over that it was pork blood.... Pork Adobo and Chicken curry-8/10- both had great flavors. Really friendly guy behind the counter that recommended the best dishes.

    One of our favorite places for Filipino food! We occasionally come here when my husband misses his…read moregrandma's home cooking and this cafe never disappoints! The cafe is more on the smaller side but it's cozy and the customer service is always happy and friendly! When you walk inside, there's a hot bar with all the food items available that day. You can check their Facebook page for their menu each day! You can get combos like an entree and a side, two entrees and a side, etc. On the shelves near the windows, there are local Filipino desserts like crinkles, puto (rice cake), flan, etc for sale. They also sell mac salad in the fridge and some dried fish on the shelves. What I love about this cafe is that they have a small snacks/drinks/candy market next to the dining area. The dining area is a good size and faces the parking lot. On this particular Saturday, we had the following entrees and sides: Lechon (roasted pig), Kaldereta (Filipino beef stew), and some rice! The lechon pieces were big and the skin (my fav!) was crispy, salty, and golden! The meat was also juicy and not dry. What I like to do is dip the meat into some white vinegar to give it some acidity since the lechon is on the heavy side after a few bites. The Kaldereta was hearty, rich, flavorful and it reminded me of an elevated beef stew. The potatoes and carrots literally melted in my mouth! I gave my combo plate a 8.5/10! My husband had Humba (braised pork belly that is slow cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, fermented black beans, and sugar) and he thoroughly enjoyed it. He shared some pieces of it with me and it was smooth as butter. It was sweet and salty and his rice soaked up all the sauces. Definitely a must try! I would give it a 9/10 because the flavors were so rich and it made me want even more! The prices are reasonable for how much food you're getting! They also sell desserts like halo halo (shaved iced with fresh fruits, taro ice cream, toppings like flan, condensed milk, jellies, beans, etc.) I've personally had the halo halo and it's one of my favorites! Super refreshing on a hot summer day. They also sell mango and taro flavored cakes but you have to call in advance for whole cakes. Their cakes are light, delicious, and fluffy! I especially enjoy the mango cake because you get chunks of fresh, champagne mangoes on and inside the cake. We've been coming here for years and don't plan on stopping. My husband is a bit of a Filipino food snob at times, but Lola's definitely has a special place in his heart! They do military discounts too, FYI!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Bopis / Pinakbet/ Pancit
    Bopis / Pinakbet/ Pancit
    Halo Halo!

    See all

    Halo Halo!
    Maharlika Karaoke Bar and Grill

    Maharlika Karaoke Bar and Grill

    3.1
    (109 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    I've been to Maharlika Filipino Restaurant three times now. Once for a birthday, once for a…read moreretirement party, and once for a Christmas dinner, and every experience was great. The first two were large events, while the Christmas dinner was more intimate, and the space worked perfectly for all of them. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which really adds to the experience. As a Filipino, I loved that there was room for line dancing and, of course, karaoke! Always a must! The food was very good overall, but my favorite dish is the tofu sisig. It's bold and savory, I could not stop eating! I tried it for the first time here and haven't found another version I like as much anywhere else. The larger parties were served buffet style, otherwise we had the dishes family style. Perfect opportunity to try different entrees by sharing with the table. Whether you're looking for a large space for a party or a cozy spot for dinner, Maharlika is a great choice.

    Back in January 2026, we went in on a Thursday night thinking it was going to be karoke night but…read morewe got Ballroom Dancing. We decided to stay and paid for the ballroom dancing. It was a fun night of learning how to ballroom dance to alternative music. The instructor, David taught us we can ballroom dance to most music. We also had a pleasure of meeting Yu Mi. She's a tea connoisseur. It was such a wonderful and fun time. Definitely will go again when I get to FL again.

    Photos
    Maharlika Karaoke Bar and Grill
    Maharlika Karaoke Bar and Grill
    Maharlika Karaoke Bar and Grill

    See all

    Mama Lu's - filipino - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...