Mama's Kitchen serves soul-satisfying southern comfort food from a nondescript storefront with hole-in-the-wall ambiance near NRG Stadium. I made sure not to waste a single drop of the gravy that was provided with my chicken fried chicken plate. My only caution: Don't be in a hurry if you go to Mama's Oven. I arrived around 1:30, and there were only a few people there, and it took a long time for the food to come out of the kitchen. I can only imagine when it's crowded, the wait must be insane. So manage your expectations - it's a good place to eat if you have time to sit and visit with someone without being in a rush. read more

Mama's Oven - chicken fried chicken with yams and mac & cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

WOOW! The oxtail plate was SO good! It was so flavorful and paired with gravy and rice. Every bite was phenomenal. I got Mac and cheese & mashed potatoes as sides and they tasted amazing! I know everyone complained about the wait but we called in and got our food within 15 minutes. It was super hot and steamy by the time we got home after picking it up still! read more

Mama's Oven - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

All the way From SAN ANTONIO I make sure to come here before I leave. Little old restraint but those be the best . Smothered pork chops are off the bone ! It is a little slow pace but it's 2 lady's doing the damn thing! Great place! read more

The food was still good but the service was slow. Why, I don't know because there was not at all a crowd like it use to be on Sundays!? The ambiance was rather humdrum; the greeter sadly expressed saltiness about people not catering to establishment anymore. I get it, the old clientele have moved out and or moved on plus Coved19 hit everyone. read more

The overall experience started off good. A good southern ambiance filled the place as you walk in. I ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes. It then became very obvious that we werent welcome after a few people walked in and ordered food and got their food before us. Not a huge deal at first but it became apparent that it was racist after the 3rd person walked in and ordered food, paid and walked out before us. Not only that, but the menu price for this was supposed to be 14.99. Please explain to me why I was charged 18.39. If this is some reparation payment, I will happily advise everyone I work with to never come to this establishment. If you include tip into this payment, take it out and earn your tip. You dont get money by giving people a racist and bad experience. read more

not the best. a fight broke out my first time here between two workers and two customers. the customers were rude and in the wrong. i should've just left after that happened because it took forever to get my food. and when i did, it was bland and unseasoned read more

Do not let the area or building stop you . Fresh and amazing . Great food nice and hot . Taste amazing . We had oxtails , fried pork chops . And chicken fried chicken. All the sides were amazing !!!! Cornbread was good . You missing out if you don't try it . read more

Mama's Oven - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Food was delicious. 10 out of 10. I can't wait to come back and taste other items on the menu

Great food! Best ox tails I've ever had. Would definitely recommend this place. I stop every time I'm in the area.

Much like the restaurant's name states.... the food here tastes just like someone's mom made it. It's made with care and love and just hugs your heart like YOUR mom made it JUST for YOU. They have my FAVORITE oxtails in the city! The prices haven't inflated over time and the food portions will fill you up and give you enough leftovers for later. I try to go at least once a month and make sure to tip properly because it's a small and humble establishment but it has stood the test of time and I appreciate them. read more

My husband had been craving spaghetti but I didn't feel like cooking it. He had received a few recommendations to come here and they did not disappoint. When we walked in and asked about the spaghetti they initially said they were out of spaghetti. I could see the disappointment on his face. Then the lady said she could get the spaghetti for us but there would be a wait. It was well worth the wait and there was even enough for me. Y'all, this spaghetti was so good! I've lived in Houston all my life and have never eaten at this place and when I tell you, I can't wait to try their other food. read more

I got here at 1:04 pm. Placed my order. Waited an hour. Saw people walk in, order pay and leave all while myself a few others waited. I ordered a meat plate with 3 sides. Price $15.50 Idk what happened in that back but the lady had THE WORST ATTITUDE I COULD EVER IMAGINE called out the wrong price to be rung up. I realized I didn't get one of my sides and went back to the front to ask because it was sitting on the counter prepped already. Apparently, asking for your sides is "trying to cheat" the restaurant. I had no problem paying the extra dollar but when you're yelling from the back to GIVE ME MY $1.80... that's very rude and HIGHLY unprofessional.... I'd rather leave. This place used to be packed on Sundays... it was empty and I now see why . The way she talked to the employee working the register was so disgusting and disrespectful he even stated that he felt as if he couldn't do anything right. I let her know that and she said I wasn't minding my business... I mean we are right here, we can all hear you! I discreetly asked the worker for a refund because of the lady's attitude and mouth she snatched my food back and argued me DOWN. Even made comments like she wanted to fight. I couldn't do anything but laugh and ask if she wanted to step outside she changed that tone a lil bit. I'd be mad too if I wore a crunchy synthetic thin pony tail with a "denim" hat a Jean overall dress with some bootcut jeans also. This lady threw my receipt down. A man and his family had come in after me, as soon as she started going off he stopped them at the door and they left. This place was started in the 90s and guess what... it's still looks like the 90s NO updates to NOTHING. I highly suggest going elsewhere unless you like oxtails with attitude in them. The crazy part about all this is she still tried to blame me and the other employee when as she made my plate she called out everything I asked for and prepped it herself all while looking at the ticket...SOOO WHOSE fault is it that I wasn't charged the right price? MAAM DO BETTER ... this will be posted to ALL social media outlets as well!! read more

I'm in town for treatment and wanted some real food and when I had a friend that lived here a few years ago, we would get their food all the time. Never had a problem. I remembered how good it was and was so excited after placing my order. There was a couple of folks sitting at the tables waiting for their food, so I knew it would be a little while. I sat down and was just waiting. A gentleman came in behind me and all he wanted was sides--which are already cooked and in the pan. He sat down and was waiting patiently too. A very nice lady then walked in and was talking to all of us and asking what was good cause she had never been there. After talking to her for a few minutes (I had been in there about 20 minutes at this point, but I had nothing to do so I didn't mind waiting). I stood up and was just standing there talking to her. The woman in back yells at me through her window "you ordered the two fried pork chops?" Yes ma'am. "Well you can just sit down right there (motioning to the table I had already been sitting at for 10 minutes), your food will be ready after while." She was so nasty! The lady I was talking to and I both told her I was just standing there talking to her. The man that wanted the sides got up and walked out and the nice lady turned around and looked at me a couple of times with a "what the hell was that attitude for" look on her face. She saw the man leave and said "oh well he's leaving, guess he didn't like that nasty attitude!" I walked out right behind him. My guess is the lady who was there for the first time walked out too because she recognized how uncalled for it was and she hadn't even placed her order. I seriously doubt this is the same mama that originally had the place when we used to eat there all the time. I really hope that nasty woman in the back cooking was not the owner. I know she lost two sales and very likely a third today with that bullshit motioning and telling me to have a seat. I will have a seat.....I will take my ass to one of the million other restaurants in the area who appreciate a customer and have a seat there. I will never set foot in that place again. Maybe that's what she wanted---I'm white. I wouldn't think that's the case, but who knows anymore. She didn't just lose those 2 sales; she lost everything I would have spent in there in the coming years due to having to make regular trips to Houston. I was actually telling the lady how good the food was when the cook started her crap. I have one star because I HAD to select one. The food--no idea how it tastes now. The atmosphere--the place is a dump. Service--well you read what just happened to me. I really hope that wasn't the owner. If it was, she will be closed within a year. NObody is going to tolerate being talked to like that without taking their business elsewhere. Too many other choices of places to spend my money. I like to support small business whenever I can. That one has been scratched off the list permanently!! And WHO puts crab in chicken and sausage gumbo???? Nope. No thank you. They were also out of several of the side dishes. I figured that was because it was after lunch when I got there. read more

If you are looking for tasty soul food in H-Town be sure to sample the items available at Mama's Oven. Mama's Oven brings back pleasant memories of home cooking by Mama and Granny whose love for us was visible in the time spent preparing delicious and nutritious meals for their families. Conveniently located at 9295 S. Main Street Mama's Oven cooks food you haven't tasted in years. Tasting is believing! read more

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! From the moment we walked in we were greeted and welcomed like family. We ordered and waited a few minutes for our order to be ready. The atmosphere was great and the prices were affordable. We received our food and it was a magical! I had the meatloaf with Mac and Dirty rice. My sister had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and Mac. The food was glorious! It was so tasty! I would def recommend! I will be coming back! read more

Mama's Oven - Chicken fried steak - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

I gave them a try, I only wanted sides @3.75, Mashed potatoes , Yams , Corn , Green beans , Macaroni and Cheese Cabbage , Pinto beans , @ 23$. My thought was, places like this usually give large portions of sides, here I was wrong . Appears to be 8oz or less. The real issue was since getting only sides it would only take a few minutes to pack and go, since premade. No chance, closer to 30 minutes, I felt the wait was too long. All of the Sides were tasty tho, and almost did what I planned in my head, share with a family of 5. May have worked better if gone to a Chicken spot and ordered family size sides, live and learn. read more

Great soul food. Place not big but had customers. Friendly staff. Food was delicious had the fried ribs and oxtails. Would go back for more. Sides were perfects. read more

Best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. I'm from New York and we surely do not have food like this in New York Got the Sunday special baked chicken, fell right off the bone so tender . Baked beans w sausage- delicious. Mustard greens and Mac . The service was excellent . The ladies working there are so sweet. I highly recommend this establishment read more

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I'm in two minds about this place. Why? Because the wait time is excessive meanwhile the food is decent. I've gotten into the habit of calling ahead my order and then picking up. Both times they've responded with a "pass by in 20 minutes/give me 20 minutes" and the first time I arrived after 30 minutes and still had a 15 minute wait. The second time, I showed up after forty minutes later and still had a long wait. It becomes frustrating when you call head an order and don't get to eat until an hour and a half later. With that being said, the food that I've ordered have all tasted good; the fried pork chops are the bomb dot com as are the candied yams. I recommend checking this place out. However, if you are working with a time restraint you may want to skip this spot. read more

In Town & decide to check this place out. The wait took long but when Food arrive everything was really good Order the Ox Tails & Pork Chops/Sides were good, recommendation get the Mac & Cheese. read more

Mama's Oven - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had lunch there today. When I drove up I realized that I had eaten here several years ago. I can remember that the food was ok and there were a couple of flies that bothered me during the meal. I was wanting some soul food today so I decided to give them another try. I ordered the smothered pork chops, corn, green beans and cornbread dressing. With tea and tax it came to $12.07. The food was good kind of like I remembered several years ago. Two chops were large. Flavor was ok on all the food. Not the best but certainly not the worst. The sweet tea was not very good. Too sweet and it tasted like instant tea. The meal also came with cornbread which was good. Counter service was very good and professional. I give the meal a 3 overall. Would I eat here again? Maybe. I am not sure. I have trouble finding good soul food restaurants in Houston. The tea really needs improvement. Oh by the way, a fly just loved hanging around inside my tea glass which hurt my dining experience. They really need to do something about their flies here!!! read more

Mama's Oven - Smothered pork chips, corn, green beans, cornbread dressing and tea. With tax $12.07. - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

Southern style comfort food! Got in and ordered up: Baked Chicken: taste similar to Rotisserie Chicken you get at a grocery store but meat a little more tender. Just fine but nothing to write home about. Oxtail: Yummy, meaty and the sauce not too salty. I like this item and would order it again. A bit messy to eat off the bone but nevertheless finger licking good! Mac and cheese: creamy cheese and soft mac shells. I normally don't eat M&C often however I would have it again here. Cornbread: Nice, fresh and brought out hot as a great compliment! Dressing: Quite savory and a bit on the salty side. I wish they had greens that day thus tried this side item instead. Service: The young man who served us was very polite and checked on us a few times. I am guessing that with Mama there, it is hard not to behave! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I am sure it would be a 4 star if I ordered specific items I favored the second time around. read more

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I'm from Los Angeles and I came out here for the weekend one of my friends who lives out here told me to visit this spot the food was amazing!! I ask the owner what should I order and she Responded with "everything is good "and I kind of chuckled it off like OK ...so me and my friends we all order some thing different and yes everything was great!!!!! I will definitely be back when I visit Houston again read more

This place is extraordinary if you are wanting soul food from ya mama kitchen. The spaghetti, meat loaf, fried fish, baked chicken & turkey wings, & oh my the oxtails WOW! Go especially if you're hungry! You'll be glad you did! read more

Great customer service! A-1 to be exact ! .. the food was warm .. had to warm it up and I literally stay across the street .. their lemonade is delicious but their food is okay .. I had better .. read more

Love me some mamas! Got the same stuff as last time. Great people, seems family owned. Foods always on point, it was so good that I finished my to-go food while waiting on my Mac and cheese . Oxtail - (5/5) Tender smothered oxtails! Mac and Cheese - (4/5) Creamy, cheesy Mac! Corn is corn, can't complain Mashed Potatoes - (5/5) Real potatoes topped with the yummy gravy that they cook the oxtails with. My favorite soul food spot! read more

Mama's Oven - Oxtail and sides on point! - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

I needed a hug in the form of food and so I came here. I found this restaurant via my trusty Yelp App. Located in a small strip mall, I will admit, its interior isn't the most aesthetically pleasing. The menu is typical for soul food, although fried chicken is not on the daily menu. No worries... I ordered the oxtail, mac n cheese, green beans & cornbread dressing w/ gravy. The oxtail was delicious. Understand its southern style, so don't go in expect it to be Caribbean. The mac n cheese was decent. The green beans were previously canned and the cornbread dressing rather dry. I honestly hoped soul food would be universal. It's not Southern Soul is different than Texan Soul. If I did come back, it would be for the oxtails. read more

Mama's Oven - cornbread dressing - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I came in today for the 1st time to try the food. I ordered and while waiting for my food I stood up. The cook was upset because we stood up to walk over to get our food - and began cursing and being confrontational and vulgar ... why are we standing. Cursing like she lost her mind ... immediately when we walked in you can immediately feel she had a chip on her shoulder. We asked for a refund and she kept saying get the d out ... I do not recommend this restaurant. read more

Let me start by saying that they have the best fried pork chops that I have ever had in my life. Yes, the wait may be a little long, but I brought a beer in and enjoyed relaxing for a bit. The place is not fancy...more like my Mama's kitchen. Of course, they assume that you want brown gravy on your rice... but, it was good. And, the green beans are my favorite. I ordered a large mac & cheese to go. They didn't realize that they only had a small portion until I was ready to leave. They asked me what else I wanted instead. So, it's a little unconventional...but, part of the experience. read more

My first time here. I ordered country fried steak with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and cornbread. My dad ordered oxtails, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and cornbread. The food was pretty good. The mac and cheese was very salty but it could've been the cheese they used. read more

A Houston staple. If you have lived in Houston especially on the South side then you had or have to try this place. Good down home southern clog your arteries cooking. The food is fresh and the atmosphere feels like you walking into your aunt's house. The place does need some renovations but I think it adds to the atmosphere. I had the smothered pork chops with the cabbage and sweet potatoes. All of it was delicious, so go try it. You won't be disappointed. read more

This place has really gone downhill lately. I know that the wait time is always long so I did what any sane person would do and I called it in. I was told 15-20 minutes which made me very happy . I knew that the oxtails would hit the spot and I added yams and Mac and cheese to complete my order. When I arrived I walked in to find that the a/c was out and the devil dancing inside. That aside I decided to suck it up and just wait for my food. After about 45 minutes a woman who walked in and ordered 10 minutes ago got her food. Now I'm furious just to find out that my ticket was placed under the Togo boxes. Once I got out my seat to ask where my food was the one lady who was the cook, the greeter, and the waitress said she was working on it. I got my food 5 minutes later. I was not offered anything for my inconvenience which is sad. My oxtail portion was decent and tasted good, but I probably won't go back ever again. Plus the prices went up. read more

Mama's Oven - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

Mama and Papa's ambiance, cozy store. Food tastes overall good, slightly on the salty side (but this can be my personal preference to milder tastes), but can't say it's amazing. Service is ... bad. First they don't allow ordering entrees A La Carte, so have to order sides as well. Second, it took 32 minutes (half an hour) for my order to be ready, and the waitress showed no urgency or concern on such delay. The silver lining I guess, is you know they make food to order from scratch. lol. So If you are on a schedule, don't roll your dice there. read more

Food and service were great. Everything came out great was extremely fresh and hot. The pink lemonade is also really good.

So, sad. Slow, lacks customer service, food okay. Don't waste your time. It seems to be a trend that they don't understand good customer service. So, sad. read more

I came here once yeeeears ago and vaguely remember having a bad experience, but I recently moved down the street and wanted to give them another chance. I really wanted to like this place because it is so close to my house and I LOVE soul food, but everything about my experience was bad. The woman working the front was pretty unpleasant. Maybe she was having a bad day, but she did not make any attempt to be friendly or helpful at all. Anyone passing by can immediately tell that this is a hole in the wall establishment, but I was still shocked at how run down the inside was. The not so fancy places usually have the best food, but this place just felt dirty. I tried not too look to closely at any of the dust or grime or stains on the walls, floor or ceiling, but alas I was unsuccessful. By the time my food reached the table my appetite was pretty much gone. And last but not least the food. It looked good enough, but everything I ordered was bland. There's an oxymoron for you, bland soul food :( When I went to spice it up with some pepper from the table I realized too late that the spout was open and huge pieces of what I assume was pepper (the contents of that shaker definitely had something funky mixed in) blanketed my food. Now that was obviously partly my bad, but seriously when was the last time someone cleaned and changed those shakers? Wtf was in there? It looked almost like "cigarette" ashes. Gross. I boxed up my mostly uneaten food to go so as not to seem rude, but it did not even make it in my house. I tossed it in the trash before heading in to order a pizza. Shame. My soul was ready to be fed. In summary, Houston has some AMAZING soul food restaurants but this definitely is not one of them. read more

Mama's Oven - the inside of a restaurant - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

Always limited food, packaging terrible, service, dry and food is subpar. This place needs a makeover big time!

The food was outstanding! I got the oxtails which came with 3 sides. My 3 sides were: yams( sweet and moist) green beans( fresh). My oxtails was on a bed of rice with gravy. I also had cornbread! I will return for the peach cobbler and meat loaf. Lemonade was good and you get free refills. Gotta love that souuuul food! read more

Mama's Oven - Soul Food Near Me - Houston, Texas

Let me just start by saying that I'm from the actual south so I'm really hard on soul food. I recently moved and have been craving soul food that I don't have to cook myself. So far I haven't been impressed but anyway... Someone recommended Mama's Oven so I drove over and ordered. THAT WAS MISTAKE NUMBER 1! I waited almost 2 hours after ordering for my food. Even for soul food, that was a bit much in my opinion. And you can see them making trays so it's not like all of the food was currently being cooked super fresh. Most of it was ready. Idk what was going on. I tried the fried pork chop and oxtails. With rice, yams, Mac and cheese and dressing. The fried pork chop was great! Good seasoning and tender! The oxtails were good but nothing to go to crazy for. Definitely not worth a 2hour wait. Can't mess up white rice lol. I didn't like the dressing especially because it comes pre smothered in gravy. Not a fan of the Mac and cheese but other people seemed to love it. And the yams were ok. Overall, support a black business and the food isn't bad. Call in your order and then wait 30 minutes before you head there and you might lIke it. read more

I know I have not visited in a while and I need to get back to those smothered pork chops. Food was soo good when I last visited that it made my uncle start dancing (they don't have soul food restaurants in the city he lives in) so dancing was all he could do from not doing a cartwheel. Staff was wonderful for people who came in the last few minutes before closing and having that quiet peace before heading home. Thank you for all you do.. read more