Mama J's Kitchen

Gordon Lawrence

Located in the historic Jackson Ward district of Richmond, VA, Mama J's Kitchen is this modest restaurant that packs a huge punch with the food it serves. The menu is small, but everything on it is delicious, according to the customers we chatted with during our visit. My wife had the fried pork chops (2 pieces) with candied yams and cabbage, my daughter had the fried chicken (2 pieces) with mac & cheese and collard greens, and I had the fried catfish (2 pieces) with coleslaw and fries. Everything was seasoned just right, served hot, and tasted delicious. We also tried the pineapple coconut cake and apple cobbler; I'm so happy I don't live close to Mama J's because I would be visiting this spot weekly. The staff was friendly and courteous.

Sarah Hartman

Good food but with a ridiculously long wait to be seated for dine in, at least an hour. Once seated, food was served in a reasonable time and the server was friendly. The beef brisket and peach cobbler were the real highlights, they tasted fresh and were cooked perfectly.

Zac Cassel

This quiet southern eatery was a gem hidden in the city. I was pleased to be seated quickly, the menu is simple and the food was delectable. Our server was very thoughtful as we inquired about food options. My partner ordered the brisket, I ordered the fried chicken with Mac, greens, and peach cobbler for dessert. I was pleased by the crispness of the chicken, well seasoned and perfectly fried. They know what they're doing back there! The Mac was perfectly cheesy and didn't contain any oil, meanwhile the greens were tender and full of flavor. The brisket was slightly dry, however the sauce that provided was a welcome addition that added moisture to the meat. The cobbler arrived, piping hot and stunning as expected. The peaches glistened in the syrup, intermingled with crust. Rather splendid! Definitely will come back, I heard those catfish nuggets are worth trying.

The Shameless Foodie

I’m sorry y’all it just wasn’t that good - maybe it was a bad day when I went but I was disappointed. I had high hopes because it had really good reviews - so I was ready. I tried the fried chicken with Mac & cheese and sweet potatoes, and the catfish sandwich. The sweet potatoes tasted the best, followed closely by the fried chicken, which was a bit salty, but decent overall. The Mac & cheese was dry and salty, and the catfish sandwich had barely any flavor. Even after I added hot sauce. The lettuce and tomato on the sandwich were wilted. Also, their tartar sauce is pretty much just mayonnaise - not really tartar sauce. So, the fish sandwich and Mac& cheese were disappointing, but the fried chicken and sweet potatoes were the saving grace. If you do go, I recommend ordering ahead, cuz it takes a long time for the food to be prepared/ready.