Mama J's Kitchen in Richmond

Food never disappoints!

Really great food

When we were visiting Washington, D.C. and on our way to Savanah Georgia, I was told we could not continue around Richmond before stopping in for some fried chicken at mama j s and boy were they right. I have never had food this good in my entire life. The fried chicken was crispy, juicy and seasoned perfectly. We also had the Mac and cheese, and some catfish nuggets. Absolutely delicious! Now I will always say the same thing to others on their way down south. You have never had real fried chicken until you ve stopped at mama j s! Cannot wait to head back in the near future!!!

Good, I would go again

Great food. Great ambience. Seasoning says southern

This was my first and last time! I ordered bake chicken dark extra leg collards and Mac n cheese..... only to receive the smallest thighs ever. What chicken did it come from? The chicken didnt have any taste, they didnt give me collards they gave me yams instead werent good and the Mac n cheese was the only thing that I ate. Everything else went in the trash! $33 plus tip wasted.

The baked chicken (white meat) was okay, but for the price not worth it. Didnt give me back all my change and took forever waiting for food. Only enjoyed the corn bread, served nice and warm.

Delicious food, great atmosphere. Only downside is the nap you will need afterward ( not really a downside)!

BBQ Spare ribs were cooked to perfection. The cabbage and potato salad was delicious as well. Parking: Always a challenge to find free parking on the street.

1st time date with a new friend he met me here his suggestion. My 1st time there it was great food good served hot which is what means the most to me has the fried catfish yams and Mac and cheese all was very good he had the crab cakes and greens and Mac and cheese . Although he had to ask for some vinegar for the greens he loves this place ..I will return. Worth a visit. Place is small and a little cramped seating but good ... No long wait in a Saturday afternoon.

Best soul food I have ever gotten from a restaurant.

Food wasnt good at all. Trying to pass Whiting off as Trout. The greens had too much sugar in them. No matter how much hot sauce and salt you put on in the food, you couldnt mask the nasty taste of the food.

Menu prices are questionable. Just put everything together,why do I have to order piecemeal? Entree should come with sides,add $5 to the price and include the sides please. No inside waiting area and I cant sit at bar where I had to order the food unless I buy a drink? No parking anywhere around,Im supposed to sit on outside bench in the rain or when its cold. Food still good but the presentation is kinda awkward. Parking: Be prepared to walk,which isnt bad if they had somewhere to sit while waiting on your order. Spring/summer spot only.

The rib was very tender and delicious

The food smelled so good!

This is our 2nd visit here. The food is phenomenal, cute little place & great atmosphere. The only thing on this trip, the waiter failed to mention there was included gratuity on large parties, which was our 4 adults & 1 child. So we gave $12 tip on top of the $25, which is okay but would have still like to have known. Was initially shown an electronic receipt that the server held on a device in hand, paid in cash and told her to keep the change.

Our server Nique was awesome. She provided suggestions, being that it was our first time visiting. I cant say enough about the food, it meet all of my expectations.

Service and food are top notch.

Food was great! Had ribs, fried catfish, yams, and collard greens. Tasted like my childhood. Service was a little discombobulated. Everyone was polite but my first male server just kind of dipped out and we felt a bit forgotten. He brought us our appetizers but never had given us napkins or utensils. The female server who finished up with us was great. I could tell she gave a better experience overall.

Went here with my family while visiting for the Diana Ross concert. Great location not during a busy time so parking was easy. We decided to try the fried chicken, BBQ ribs and, fried catfish. We also got the collards, cabbage, mac&cheese and the sweet potatoes. Everything was delicious . Corn muffins are great. For desert we got the apple and sweet potatoes pies. Which were just ok. I didnt care for either of them. Seemed to much allspice in the sweet potatoe pie. Too much nutmeg in the apple pie. (Just guessing)But we bake in my family so maybe a little picky. The bartender that took our order was very pleasant and the atmosphere was really nice. We opted to take our food to go but my sister did have a lemon drop at the bar which was really good. Definitely planning to return for a dine- in experience.

My family love Mama Js!!

The atmosphere is Amazing, the staff was great. I ordered to go and wanted to change my mind and they where very accommodating!!! Thank you for the experience!!!! Naadir

Good food, small place, great service. I had the fried catfish which was delicious and hubby got the pork chops and reported they were good.

Food is pretty. I had the fried chicken legs, cabbage, Mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. I preferred their mashed potatoes over the Mac and cheese because though it is good it needs more seasoning imo. Cabbage needs more seasoning as well and should be cooked down more, it was a bit crunchy. The best thing on the plate was the fried chicken. It s seasoned very well! My husband said the best thing was the peach cobbler and it did look pretty and smell really good. They re so busy you really can t even expect your waiter to tend to you attentively and well. As a first timer who didn t know we needed to make a reservation, MAKE A RESERVATION or come on less busy days, cause we practically waited an hour, reasonably on a Sunday lol The atmosphere is nice, it s just a bit tight for space and you can smell the grease which is never a favorite thing of mine at any place.

First time here and it was great please try it

I love this place. It s a very nice place to go hang out and get some great food. The people was wonderful

A little pricey, but good quality food.

A staple of RVA!! Delicious!

Great vibe. Food is very good. Had the fried catfish which was cooked perfectly and had great taste. Mac and cheese, collards and green beans were very good. A variety of cakes and desserts. Had the strawberry lemon cake which was very good. Service was good also.

Couldnt taste the smoke on the ribs. Nothing mind blowing. Decent soul food spot.

Every time I go to Mama J s, the food is extremely delicious and all the servers are kind. An iconic Richmond, let alone Jackson Ward, eatery. Congrats on 15 years!

Nice people but the food could be better. I recognize this is a popular location. The food has lost its soulful appeal. I will not return.

Not all the hype. Chicken was under cooked. Mac and cheese dish was delicious. Collard greens had a sweet taste. Probably won t try again.

Authentic southern soul food. Everything is fresh and delicious. The sides, cornbread, pies....made with love.

Great soul food restaurant in downtown Richmond! Catfish, collard greens and cornbread muffin was delicious. We each ordered something different and everyone was happy. Our server gave wonderful recommendations and was very attentive. A great soul food restaurant!

We had the best fried chicken ever at Mama Js! And the brisket melted in my mouth! If I am ever in Richmond again, Mama Js is on the must do list!

Absolutely love this place very delicious, Catfish is awesome

The food was amazing! The restaurant had a great vibe and look. The people working were really nice, but the service was a bit slow. Would definitely recommend!!

Love this spot! Everything our table had was delicious:D We recommend the catfish nuggets, pieces, sandwiches, and ribs... Im positive that you will not be disappointed of anything you order :D Food

The food was amazing. I was really surprised about the potatoe salad because they did not use yellow mustard. The wings were amazing and they were served hot, like right out of the pan. The French fries were good as well and they were served hot. The fish was amazing as well. Our server was quick and he was attentive to make sure we were taken care of while there. The atmosphere was very nice and laid back. People getting their Togo orders were not loud and their food was given to them pretty quickly. I would recommend going and trying out the food.

I was in my was back home to Maryland after coming from out of town and decided to stop here based on the 4.4 good rating. I ordered fried chicken with string beans and mac and cheese and my daughter had a Cesar salad with a side of candied yams. We also had the sweet tea and lemonade. My total came to $55.10 and I added a tip. The service was very underwhelming. The young lady that took my order seemed like she was in some sort of pain because her face was constantly turned up. My food was wasnt worth the cost. The fried chicken was very salty and the skin was not crunchy like I prefer fried chicken to be. The string beans tasted like they had sugar in them. The candied yams werent candied at all. They were just baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon, sugar and way too much orange flavoring. Actually, the string beans were sweeter than the yams. The mac and cheese was actually quite delicious.My daughters salad was a bit soggy. Overall, I was disappointed and dont think Ill be going back.

OH MY GOOD-NESS!!! My baby sister recommended this quaint lil soul food spot called Mama Js in Richmond and let me tell you... Welcome Home is at their front door! Nique & Marquis definitely made us feel at home. Thank you ladies! So, heres the rundown: -The cabbage was perfectly cooked & in nice size pieces! -The greens tasted like Grannys!! -The catfish was light & fried perfectly! -The mash had a lil kick fm sour cream! -The corn muffin hit the spot! -Fried chicken was juicy, crunchy, flavorful batter! We will be back!!!

I ve door dashed 3 times from this restaurant and all three times they forgot my sweet iced tea!! And all their items are grossly overcharged on door dash. Will not be ordering from them again

Good food, good atmosphere, good service.

The food was the best I ve had in a while. I got the catfish deep fried and Mac and Cheese. I highly recommend to anyone who lives here or anyone from out of town like us.

Everything was great, however paying for each food items individual ridiculous. Too pricey for the portion size of food.

My fiancé went with his co workers for lunch and he brought me something back home.He ordered me baked chicken and Mac and cheese. The chicken was dry, no taste at all just dry. The Mac and cheese was cheesy but no seasoning just bland. I was highly disappointed because I had my mouth set for some soul food but that was not it.

So so good it s amazing atmosphere and food

Excellent home cooked food in downtown Richmond.

Visiting richmond from charlotte and was missing southern food. saw this place and decided to give it a try. honestly best southern food i ve had in a while. cornbread is soft and delicious. mac and cheese is amazing. could not recommend this place enough

Great soul food place near Downtown Richmond. I had 3 sides: mashed potatos, Mac & cheese, and yams. Everything was great, including the cornbread muffin that came with it. The side portions are large, so they are definitely shareable. Friendly service, too. Highly recommended!

One of the best places to eat in Richmond.. Catfish is to DIE for.. Desserts are fantastic!! Food

The southern food was amazing! We ordered the fried chicken meal and spare ribs meal. The chicken was tender and the favor was delicious. Spare ribs were tender & juicy and they fell off the bone. We ordered three sides which were all delicious but I especially loved the flavor of the collard greens. Our waitress was friendly & greeted us promptly. The music was amazing. All the greatest Motown songs played in the background. We had the bread pudding for dessert with a side of vanilla ice cream. It was enormous, so definitely enough to share. Prices were awesome for the value and experience. We have added this restaurant to our favorites. We are from Pennsylvania & were just passing through but we are so happy we found this restaurant.

It has been 50 years since I attended Homecoming at VSU. Consequently, I decided to stay in Richmond, Friday and Saturday nights. Before I left home (Thursday evening), I decided to check out the Soul Food restaurants in Richmond. Immediately, Mama Js popped up ! On Friday evening, in the midst of the heavy traffic, I called Mama Js to place a take-out order. Brooklyn, the very friendly and efficient waitress, took my order. Was I in for a culinary adventure ! I ordered fried chicken, candied sweets, greens and Mac and cheese, with a peach cobbler for dessert. While I was waiting for my food, I met a regular customer, Stephon, who suggested that I get a pork chop sandwich or fish, whenever I returned. Thanks Stephon ! When I finally got to my hotel room I could not believe we how good the food was ! The fried chicken was so tender and flavorful. The candied yams were delicious with a hint of a spice. The peach cobbler was too good ! On Saturday, immediately after the Homecoming Game, I high- tailed it back to Mama Js. I ordered fried chicken (again) candied yams (again), peach cobbler (again), a pork sandwich (Oh my goodness, soon tender and tasty) and some cabbage (out of this world) ! Ma Js has some of the best Soul Food I have ever tasted. The friendly atmosphere, the kind and respectful and conscientious waiters and waitresses and the superb chefs...all of them ! Im wishing the entire establishment continued success in your outstanding culinary adventures. I Shall Return...SOON ! Parking: I parked directly in front of Mama Js. There seem to be plenty of street parking.

Little disappointed that we spent $15 for 6 fried shrimp as an appetizer. Coming all the way from the peninsula.

first time here amazing place amazing food good pricing you have to come try this

Its a nice family atmosphere but I think I came on the wrong day. Someone suggested this place to me and I am not impressed, I would have much rathered Croaker Spot. The mac and cheese was watery and had no taste just a lot of cheese. the catfish and greens were ok and the cabbage was subpar. The fried chicken was ridiculous the amount of grease that poured onto my hand when I tried to break the wing was out of control. All I tasted was salt and it was rubbery. Also the peach cobbler was blah, it was missing so much, cinnamon sugar, nutmeg and needed a less soggy crust. I feel like I wasted $62.43. Im not sure if Im willing to risk coming on another day to see if the food is better.

I gave this place a try while in Richmond. The atmosphere was so welcoming! I had the fish and potato salad. It was some of the best food I ve ever eaten! I wish I could have tried more. I will definitely be back if I m ever in Richmond again!

Hadn t eaten here in years for was amazing when I did. Ordered $60 worth of food for my spouse and I dinner to receive overcooked chicken, soggy muffins, undercooked green peppers/ onions and small potions on sides. I am unhappy about this and will definitely take my hard earned money elsewhere. #disappointed!

Authentic soul food

Excellent! I recommend it! Its a must! Youll love it! I recommend everything on the menu! Food

Went down Richmond for a convention and mama j s is walking distance. Was seated immediately and the food came out fast! Got the fried cat dish and 2 of their delicious sides. Definitely a gem of downtown RVA.

The food was awesome a must try

I took my son for lunch and heard a lot of talk about it and wanted to try it. Out. Parking: You can take the GRTC. If you dont want to drive. Its a five minute walk.

The food was pretty basic, and the food was okay but didnt taste southern to me. The peach cobbler wasnt good to me; it tasted like it wasnt well done and tasted like crap. The restaurant Around the Table food is really great.

I ve been coming to mama js for a few years now and this is by far the worst and felt like a complete waste of money. I don t know why they changed their Mac and cheese recipe but they need to change it back because the new recipe is gross. Complete waste of $10. The cabbage was not cooked all the way and the greens were not fully seasoned. The only recommended item is the seafood salad. Highly disappointed with no desire to return.

Food very tasty and you get your moneys worth

Love the fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. Excellent service!

I am not from the south but love the food. Sometimes they are out of some things, sometimes the kitchen is a bit in the weeds, but the catfish and greens I will use as a benchmark to judge all others. Cobbler will also cure sadness, unless they are out and then just gotta push through.

Food is great, including the desserts. Service can be a little slow at times, but worth the wait.

First time trying Soul Food, ribs, fried chicken, collard greens, green beans, cornbread muffin, candied yams all tasty. The one unfortunate item was the macaroni cheese which had a bitter taste, I since looked it up & its a thing that can happen with that dish apparently. My only gripe is the feedback didnt seem to be taken onboard, I would have taste tested it myself if I were serving it & was told that. I would definitely give them a second try as a lot was good.

I enjoyed. The service was ok. But food was good.

Delicious Delicious Delicious no other words needed to describe this restaurant.

For all the talk about it wasnt what I thought it would be, best thing was the collard greens

Ate here today decided to take a break from the Croaker Spot. What a big mistake. The catfish and pork chop barely seasoned. The cabbage was not fully cooked the green beens tasted straight out of the can. The yams were still hard and too much nutmeg or cinnamon. After an $85.00 bill left hungry and had to go to another restaurant. Was not pleased at all and would not return.

I saw Mama Js on CBS morning the week, I was heading to Richmond, VA. The food looked good, and I tell you if that wasnt enough... the gentleman I sat next to on the plane lived in Richmond and used to work with the owner before he opened Mama Js and eats there regularly. Im a child of God and dont believe it was a coincidence that I was being guided to this particular restaurant. It was only 8 miles from where I stayed. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere & service were superb... as if I were a local. Ill be back again and definitely will recommend: Mama Js in Richmond, VA., located at 415 N. 1st.

The food is good but the service is really bad. Really bad customer service. Rude unprofessional workers

Reasonable priced soul food. All the sides are a la carte and huge portions! The fried shrimp was a lil tough and I wish the catfish nuggets came with a dipping sauce. Other than that, everything was seasoned perfectly and tasted delicious.

Mama J s did NOT disappoint!!! Usually soul food restaurants don t really have favor because of public dietary issues etc. but as soon as the soul food touch my mouth I was instantly smiling. I ll definitely be back. I also had the sweet potato pie and lemon cake ..My Lord . AND the price was great for all the food I ordered Kid-friendliness: It was definitely a kid friendly family dinner vibe. Reminded me of Sunday dinner at grandma s after church

Awesome food!!! Great service. The portions are great and it is priced wayyy better than croaker spot. I would choose this place over croaker spot, although both are good! Mama j s does not charge to split a plate unlike croaker spot, which is awesome!!! I feel like the sides here are just fantastic and the fish is yummy, so are the pork chops. Highly recommended!

Portions. They may have lost a step

Really enjoyed my last visit to the restaurant, but ordered cake only to get home with food and cake wasn t in the bag , called restaurant and I haven t received a response yet I travelled about 45 minutes to get food so it s not that easy to go back down there. Food is great .

It was great but not the best food I have ever had, either way I am satisfied. Catfish sandwich was good, sides were better (yams and mac/cheese).

This was my first time here and I m sorry I waited so long. Our service was PERFECT! Then we got the food it was soooo delicious and the portions far exceeded what I expected. Let me not forget the dessert. Typically I don t have dessert at lunch but I couldn t resist. Top tier place I m glad I work close by I will be here often!

The catfish WOW every time I go up North passing through VA and going back South I have to stop by Mama J for the Catfish and mac n cheese is good as well.

The customer service was phenomenal, especially with Jonei who took my to go order.

Chicken is very good. The sides, which are a la carte and kind of expensive are holding this back from 5 stars. I also want to choose my parts. I only eat thighs and wings, but the combination isn t available.

We stopped in Richmond for this place and it was worth it. Great food, wonderful service, great location. We enjoyed mashed potatoes, yams, catfish, ribs, sweet tea, corn bread, French fries. Wonderful. Food

The food was very excellent. I highly recommend the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. The service was good always coming around and checking on us.

Dana was a perfect gentleman. His attention to detail was excellent. Food was delicious. Fried chicken and catfish were perfect. Yams, greens, string beans and mac n cheese I can vouch for. Great 1st impression!

The sides were pretty good, esp the sweet potatoes. Service was fast and the waiter was always taking care of our drinks, which was nice. But, I didn t think the fried chicken was very good/bland. Also had a weird aftertaste to me. The apps were very skimpy for the price (can see the catfish nuggets were just a few). Didn t like the crab sandwich either. The sandwiches and all the entrees come with no sides, so it can be pricey overall since each side is like over $5, and for us not that worth it.

Tasty soul food

Okay so first there s a sign that says wait to be seated as if someone will walk up and seat you like normal instead the bartender is yelling from behind the bar where you should sit the macaroni and cheese is not homemade my yams were ice cold and the cornbread muffins were overcooked only thing I enjoyed was the greens my chicken was also good but definitely not something to right home about this is not the same mama js that first came to Richmond

Day trip on a Thursday vibes! Obviously, TikTok put us on to this place and I was NOT disappointed. Space: this place is tiny with a lovely tribute corner for the owners. Location: have no clue where we were but there was ample parking on a Thursday for lunch. Crowd: there were people of all ages (and ethnicities!) and walks of life inside! FOOD: Baybeeeeeeeeeeeee. Fried wings were LOVE! Fire pork chop worth writing a love letter to. Mac n cheese like ya mama made it. Green beans had a little sweetness to them that I loved! Will return. Probably annually because I will always need those pork chops. Oh! The sweet tea was PERFECTION

Awesome atmosphere and food! Worth the wait.

Love their corn muffins! Next time I m down here I m getting a full meal!

I love this restaurant we had a very sweet waitress! And as always the food was delicious!

My recent visit to Mama J s soul food restaurant was a delightful experience! I ordered the catfish with yams and mac and cheese, and my boyfriend had the fried chicken with the same sides. The chicken pieces were initially small, but the staff generously fried a couple more without us even asking, which was a thoughtful gesture. The food was delicious, especially the peach cobbler, which was fantastic. The sweet tea and lemonade were also refreshing and perfectly sweetened. Our waiter, Dana, provided excellent service, being both attentive and friendly throughout our meal. Overall, a wonderful dining experience with great food and even better service. Highly recommend!

The food and service were great. The problem is the restaurant itself. The a/c wasnt on or fans to circulate air. The place was hot and OMG, the flies were all over the place. You started to perspire as soon as you walked in the place. I thought initially the customers were eating spicy food when I walked in, but it was the lack of air as they were wipping their faces. We drove 90 minutes to be seated and fight flies while waiting on our order just to eat in the car. I wasnt going to fight flies and try to eat in a hot restaurant. We will try it again as the food and service were great. If we walk in and its hot again, we will walk right back out. We might come back in the winter. If you get food to go, youre good. If you want to dine in, be careful.

Wrong menu on website

Mama Js was pretty good! Customer service was very pleasant! My only issue was each item on the menu was basically al a carte and I wouldve loved to have a plate meal with a choice of sides! Overall, very good though!

We arrived from Connecticut and were told that we had to try Mama Js and Im so glad we did. The food was phenomenal, the staff was pleasant, the atmosphere was calm,and the restaurant was exceptionally clean. I cant find nothing I didnt like about this place.

Food was not what I expected from reviews greens and green beans had a sweet taste to them not appetizing. Mac and cheese and corn muffins were good. Fried fish was a basic fish breader nothing special but was cooked well needed salt and I used plenty of hot sauce also we waited 45 min for a seat which was ok it was a friends bday but once seated our server literally didn t come to the table til about 15-20 min later got our drink order dropped them off took our food order at that time because obviously were hungry by now it s about 2pm or so maybe 20-30 min we finally got our food and didn t see our server til she was ready to bring out check. I literally had to eat my ice because my WATER was empty b4 my food even arrived yes I could have spoke up and asked for more but as a server u should be vigilant about that little l detail. Sorry not sorry for this review but no one from my party was happy and even with such poor service I still tipped 10% because I once was a server myself but for this place to be so small you would think the servers could handle the few tables that are in the building . High hopes for a major let down .

I will be back everytime I am in town. Great food great dessert best service in town.

Excellent Food especially the fried chicken and collard greens and cornbread. They could have had another waitress or waiter. It takes a long time to get your food. I would call before I came. There was a home feel for sure. From Brooklyn Girl

This was my first time going to Mama J s. My cousin recommended this location because I flew in to take my father somewhere special for his 77th birthday. And it did not disappoint. The best thing is that we walked in about 10 minutes before their Saturday rush of people. The staff made me feel welcome when I opened the door. My server, Bri, did a fantastic job reviewing the menu and offering us the best options and excellent service. All the food was good, but I have a sweet tooth, and the cakes and sweet potato pie were my favorites, but my father devoured the mac and cheese, chicken, and cabbage. I had to order some food and desserts to share with my people. I highly recommend that you stop by to eat if you are in the Richmond area. All the servicers are amazing, but if you get a chance, ask Bri.

This was amazing food! You can tell it was made with a lot of love! The people all super respectful even regular customers! So nice and I can t even tell you what was my favorite dish because the whole plate was my favorite!

We loved the fried chicken

We were looking for a place that served southern cooking. Mama J s was one of places that came up. Read the reviews and took a look at the menu which offered grilled or fried pork chops, fried catfish, fried chicken along with many other options. We tried both the smothered pork chops and the fried pork chops and the fried catfish, our sides were the macaroni & cheese and the green beans. All the food was excellent. The service was quick and very responsive. We highly recommend and would visit again when we are in the Richmond area.

Me and my partner came around dinner time after a recommendation from a friend. There seemed to be some sort of interview being filmed at the time, so it was understandable that it might take a while for us to be seated, but from the time we arrived no one but the bartender took any notice of us waiting to be greeted. After about 20 minutes of waiting, and the interview concluding, the hostess ignored us and attempted to seat a group that had came in about 15 minutes after us. Only after approaching the hostess, and telling her that we had been waiting did she reluctantly attempt to seat us. At this point we were quite frustrated, so we left. I am more than willing to give this place another chance, as it is very highly rated, but the way this situation was handled was less than ideal and very worthy of a 1 star rating.

Great fried chicken

The food was great. Ill be returning for sure.

Great soul food! I dine in!

Gave it 5 stars because the food is just out of this world good!. If you are visiting Richmond, you absolutely have to come here. However, the atmosphere needs attention. The kitchen extractor was not working or was too small and the restaurant was fogged with oil.

Great visit. Great food. Great drinks. The catfish is superb. ALL SIDES are delicious.

Our 31st Anniversary doing day trips we found Mama Js Kitchen, we found a Jewel!!

Very disappointed. Drove to this restaurant for lunch today straight from NJ before checking into our hotel, after reading good reviews. We were seated at the same time as another table, but they received their food quickly and finished their meal before ours arrived. We did take a few minutes longer to order but our food arrived 20 minutes after that table left. We were asked if we would like our bread toasted but it wasn t. The green left lettuce had brown edges and stems. My pork chop was small, thin and overcooked and smaller than the bread it was served on. The collards were cold. We were never offered a refill on our drinks. I would have to say we made a bad choice.

Great food. Tight eating area

I love this place but went there to eat and the door was locked, no sign saying why. There were people in there, then someone came to the door and closed the curtain in our face. If you arent going by the time you list on your web site then at least post a sign on the door. I understand special events but please post a sign next time.

The food was delicious but I think the side dishes are way too small. It s not even a spoonful of food. I really think they should include side dishes as a meal with whatever you choose fish/meat you choose.That is my only complaint. You don t get a lot of food for what you pay for. That should definitely be improved but otherwise food is great!

REAL HOME COOKING! Its been 10 years since I have had the privilege of eating at MAMA JS. I must say it is better. I had the barbecued short ribs. My companion had two pieces of catfish. We both had the collards; I added the candied yams. The catfish is lightly so that you taste the fish rather than the breading. The short ribs meat fell off the bone, tender, sweet. In other words, the food is better than what your grandmother made. If you want REAL southern home cooked food, GO TO MAMAS!!!!!

Bought take out catfish. Was great fish yet on plain white bread, no sauce. Great crinkle fries.

My husband and I just finished renovating and restoring a beautiful and historic home in Jackson Ward, and Mamas quickly became a neighborhood favorite. We love the catfish, collards and mac and cheese. Ask for Chrystal. Youll be happy you went.

Great atmosphere. But food was not really good at all. Was very disappointed. Everything was too salty. Next time Im in town will choose another restaurant.

This is the type of spot i wanted to eat at visiting the south, born i SC lives in Boston this place gave me that SC feel and the food and service was great

Ok yall, we need to talk about this place! If you are looking for some good soul food, stop reading the reviews, get in the car, and go here! Oh my goodness! If I lived closer I would be at least 20lbs heavier! Everything we ordered was perfection. The fish, the chicken, collards, mac and cheese, everything was great. I will be honest to say that I about lost my mind when I saw a slice of cake was $5, but boy it is worth it. You get enough to eat and it is worth the cost. There are more expensive places in the area who cant cook fish or chicken properly and those places are so sad they would make you and your wallet cry. Go here and order anything, and I literally mean ANY THING and you will be happy. But dont go at lunch and think you are going to instantly get a seat. The locals know all about this place and it fills up fast!

Cool, laid back restaurant in the heart of Richmond. Food was really good, especially if youre missing some homegrown soul food. It hits the spot.

Always a welcoming experience with delicious food! Cant wait to come back.

Take out for fried chicken. Well seasoned with the perfect crisp! Sides Mac and cheese, smothered cabbage and greens were good as well. All very good if you want Southern comfort staples and you arent cooking.

Wonderful portions, fresh food, very flavorful and well seasoned. We had the fried catfish, yams and collards. Highly recommend the sweet potato pie!!

My husband purchased fried and bake chicken with 2 Mac and cheese a cabbage and sweet potatoes. The side were ok but both baked and fried were horrible fried was dry bake was plain and we got seafood salad wh9ch was the best thing we brought. Not happy especially for the money spent almost 60 bucks

Great food and potions.

The food was amazing! I just randomly chose a place to stop for food on my way back to Pittsburgh and Im glad I found it. I ate a piece of catfish, Mac n cheese, and green beans. Also great service so overall the experience was great.

The food here is great! Ordered the fried chicken with mac & cheese and greens. Took a good while for the food to come out, but when it did the food came out HOT!! Not to sure why the sides don t automatically come with the main dish so that s all separate pricing. Walked in and was seated immediately, but took about 30 minutes for someone to take my order. It frustrated me to see staff lingering around talking amongst each other Instead of taking my order The restaurant is a bit small and smokey inside.

This is the best soul food in this part of Virginia! My goodness!

I went to Mama Js over the weekend. I went into the restaurant to place my to go order. They were packed! I placed my order with Tee and was told it would be like 20 minutes. So during this time I sat in the waiting area abs just watched. Several people cane in to pick up orders. One person in particular had an issue with not receiving something in there order. Tee handled that situation with ease and was still able to handle all other things that came her way with such a pleasant attitude. The restaurant ran very smooth even though they were busy and customer were still coming in to dine in. Ill be back soon. Also, the seafood salad and yams were amazing.

Wow!!!! This place was amazing I have never given a review and said amazing things this place is truly a GEM!!!! They need more locations pork chops seasoned perfectly!!!!! Yams they definitely yamming!!!! Mac and cheese should be a national treasure!!!! And the bread pudding taste like my grandma was back there cooking it .. great job guys

The best restaurant in the city. The food was so good. I ordered the catfish and yams. You can order 1 or 2 pieces of catfish and a side. It came with cornbread. The service was great from the hostess to the waitress. The atmosphere was great. A lot of people came in for takeout, so you know the food is good. I also ordered a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. It was amazing. They have several cake options to choose from. Parking: I believe street parking is available on the weekends for free.

It was my first time at this restaurant and I got a to go order. Not only did I wait over an hour for my but when I got around the corner to the hospital to eat my food it was cold!!! I had a horrible experience today.

If I could give 10 stars I would. Every single time I come to Richmond and eat at Mama Js the experience is outstanding. I got to introduce several coworkers to her catfish, collard greens and Mac and Cheese tonight. It was incredible as always. The waitress (Nae) was super helpful, attentive and friendly. Just a great little place to feel like youre home. Oh and dont miss the Bread Pudding with Lemon Sauce, to die for.

I found Mama Js after needing last minute catering options 4 days prior to my event. Mama Js online catering order option made it easy to order my food. The food was on time and every single thing ordered was delicious. The caterers checked my order several times to make sure I had everything I ordered. Everyone was kind and professional. We ordered for 10 people and still had plenty leftover.

I knew of mama js for a while and now I m kicking myself for not coming here sooner. This is food made with love. Mama Js is about to be a weekly or monthly spot for us now. My husband who picked up the food, even mentioned to me how incredibly nice everyone there was. A Richmond staple easily and perhaps the best soul food I ve ever had in this city.

The food was incredible!! I had catfish nuggets as a starter and crab cakes, mac&cheese, cabbage, and yams. Plus a slice of lemon pound cake. When I tell you everything was sooo good whew um um the fish was crispy outside and moist inside. The crab cakes were made of real crab meat and tasted so good with all the perfectly made side items. The cake reminded me of my Grandmas authentic cakes made from scratch in that circular cake pan with the ridges and hole in the middle whew I cant wait to go back.

Ok! The people here is what America has s all about! They treat everyone the same ! I love there catfish!

Incredible food, even better value

Excellent food.

I ve heard the catfish was the best catfish you would ever have and they weren t lying!!! Light, fluffy, perfectly fried!! A little sprinkle of hot sauce and it was absolutely perfect. Pair that with the candied yams and you have a killer southern cooked meal! Don t walk to Mama J s, RUN!!

Down home slap yo Momma Soul food ! 100% LEGIT ! Save room for dessert ! Great service too !

I cannot believe how incredible everything was. Nothing disappointed! I had catfish, greens, and mac n chz. Husband had fried dark meat chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Desserts had to be taken to-go because they here was zero room. The pineapple coconut cake was a tropical dream. Peach cobbler was one of the best I ve ever had. We re going back for a second round before returning home!

I enjoyed most of my food. The Mac and cheese wasn t my favorite nor was that wish but the service was amazing. I had the pleasure of being served by Dana! He was the best server I ever had! If you decide to eat here ask for him!

Had the crack cake sandwich it was very good definitely had leftovers. The seating is a tad tight but , all in all its a good place .

good

Mama Js Kitchen is an absolute treasure! From the soulful dishes that warm your heart to the incredibly moist cakes that satisfy your sweet tooth, this place has it all. But what truly sets it apart is the exceptional service. Dana, our bartender/server, was not only professional but also friendly and attentive. Its the kind of place where you feel like family from the moment you walk in. Five stars all the way!

Warm and friendly service. Absolutely delicious food. The flavors and vintage style make you feel like youre at home.

Always looking for a good crabcake...and it was. Had lemon cake and it was delicious.

Deliciousness

The food is good but $15 for 6 shrimp is outrageous..

Food was great!

Good food, nice vibe, and a super friendly and welcoming staff!! Kid-friendliness: My 10 year old brother loved it! Great portions even with the kids menu!! Food : 5/5 |

Excellent food and service best Iv had in a long time

Ate @ the Southern Food Festival. Warm, flavorful, and just well made. The sweet potato pie was the highlight. One of the most delicious pies Ive ever had. And I eat a lot of pie.

I live for the home style design in this restaurant! Never been there but that fish with the Mac and cheese was amazing! They give you plenty and the drinks were on point! Friendly staff and great service!

The staff was nice and friendly. The food was so so good

Oh just simply amazing . The food is REAL SOUL FOOD! The atmosphere was small and quaint. The servers were kind and professional. I plan on returning when in Richmond.

Went here with some coworkers. It was truly amazing. The lemonade, the cocktails, the catfish nuggets, and especially the cornbread muffins and mash potatoes and gravy. It was amazing. Service can be a bit lackluster especially if theyre busy so be patient and the decor is what youd expect from a place that is a local institution that focuses on the food being amazing.

Outstanding all around!

Customer service was terrible and bathroom was nasty

Food was amazing and hospitality

Located in the heart of Richmond, Mama J s Kitchen offers a warm and inviting atmosphere alongside delicious Southern comfort food. During our visit as a party of five, we were greeted by Briana, a delightful waitress who provided excellent service throughout our meal. I opted for the catfish dish paired with candied yams and string beans, and I found it to be a satisfying choice. The flavors were well-balanced, and the portion size was generous. However, I was disappointed to learn that they were out of sliced cheese, preventing me from ordering the grilled cheese for my child. Nevertheless, the baked chicken I ordered for them turned out to be a hit. Despite this minor hiccup, our overall experience at Mama J s Kitchen was a positive one. The friendly staff, cozy ambiance, and tasty food left us eager to return and explore more of the menu on our next visit to the Richmond area. If you re craving authentic Southern cuisine in a family-friendly setting, Mama J s Kitchen is definitely worth a visit. Parking: There s a parking lot behind the building.

Nice at home kitchen. Tiny but worth the visit. Just wish their restroom at the time was working.

Wish I lived closer but won t ever pass thru Richmond without stopping in. Great food great service!

Highly recommend. Great food, friendly service.

Everything was absolutely delicious our server was so sweet and amazing towards us! I ve never had such a great experience at a restaurant before, definitely makes sense why it was so busy !

Home cooked EXCELLENCE !!! No other way to put it, Service was perfect, like eating with family... JQ

i did a take out order and was under the impression my sandwich would have toppings and a side of chips i did not receive either :( the mac and cheese was perfect on the other hand but that sandwich was just less than mediocre just meat and bread