Mama’s Kitchen

Had delicious Taro bubble tea and beef bulgogi. Came in for the first time and enjoyed every bite and sip. Would definitely order from here again.

If you want Korean food in Richmond, here’s where you can go to get food like an Korean mom makes it. If you’ve ever seen Mama at work, you know it’s true. My mother is Korean, so I know they know what they are doing! Get some bulgogi and bubble tea! You won’t go wrong!

I’m a regular at this place because the food is so great and service is friendly.
Cons:
–Restaurant space is not super appealing
–In my opinion, a little overpriced but worth it for me and that hast really stopped me from going.
Pro:
–Friendly service
–Love the sweet and sour tofu with rice
–Love bubble teas (Mango specially)

Korean food isn’t as popular in Richmond as it is in Annandale. So trying to find a korean place close by to campus is scarce to none. Luckily, there is this little place on the corner of Grace and Harrison St. It’s a small shop with a few tables and chairs scattered around the restaurant. When I didn’t have access to a car and my only mode of transportation was my own two feet, I would walk here to satisfy my craving for korean food. I would usually get the bulgogi with a side of kim chi. Even though the food is decent, it is inexpensive and will satisfy one’s craving for korean food.

Compared to the delicious Korean food in Northern VA and in NYC their food doesn’t meet with the standard of their prices; not to say their prices are bad but one is left wondering if one should have gone elsewhere. For sure not the place for bubble tea around campus. OK venue. Go if you must but it’s not a must go location.

Ordered the combo #4 for delivery today as I worked on a paper for one of my classes and avoided the rainy weather outside. It came with kimchi, 4 vegetable rolls, sweet and sour tofu, 4 fried dumplings, and miso soup. Not only was every thing delicious, but it was delivered to me in under 20 minutes, still very hot, and clearly made fresh. Their vegetarian and vegan menu’s are expansive, all for low prices. I can’t wait to go there again and try the bubble tea.

It smells. Like pee. Or something else incredibly vile. A meticulous cleaning would not be a bad idea. Be careful if you’re in a wheelchair or mobility impaired since the flooring is mostly held together by staples. Fresh spring rolls consist of mushy tofu, shredded carrots, and a chunk of cucumber — no lettuce, no herbs to speak of — for $ 4. Nasty. At least the lady at the counter was nice, but I’ll likely not return.

I honestly have enjoyed my visit whenever I walk into Mama’s Kitchen!
My friend and I once found it when we were walking down Grace for work. We needed a quick bite to eat and Mama’s came to the rescue! I greatly appreciated how I found a spot where they offer homie, Korean food that is a comfy environment yet fast service.
The hosts that have been there both times are always welcoming and greets us on arrival. They’re always willing to answer questions and patient as we make decisions.
I have ordered the combo both times going and they are filling!!! You get a main dish, rice, soup, bean sprouts, kimchi, and more for a good price!
I appreciate how they make their own kimchi and everything else is on point! When you’re done and return your trays, they always ask how it was. And when you’re leaving, they always say adieu!
I applaud them and recommend it to people… especially if you’re looking for a lot for your buck!

I love mama’s kitchen! I come here for lunch whenever I crave Korean food. You won’t get the full Korean food experience here, but I think of it more as Korean fast food. Quick in and out meal place for me.

There aren’t a ton of places to get Korean food, good or bad, in Richmond. Thankfully, this place is on the cheaper side, though it’s not a place you’d take your parents out to dinner to show off the city. I think it does the job if you want a quick bite and don’t want the fast food or American stuff around VCU. The atmosphere is comfortable and the family that runs the shop is nice.
Flavor can be lacking. I got the seafood bowl one time, which was great, but could have been a little more spiced. Reasonable portions and good rice.

The kimchi ramen can be made vegan and it is delicious! Reminds me of my grandmother’s cooking. The atmosphere inside is not super elegant but it is clean and well lit.
PROS — Reasonably priced, nice staff, delicious food
CONS — parking is typically an issue in this part of town — there is some street parking and a parking deck around the corner.

I got the seafood tofu soup and a combo of the beef bulgogi. The food was absolutely delicious and traditional. When I went there, it was only one guy working so it took probably 20 minutes to get our food. Overall, the guy was very nice and gave me free iced green tea ! :) ill recommend this place to anyone who loves Asian/​Korean food

WELL i would like to write a review about their food be it fantastic, mediocre or the worst but i am unable to because they NEVER answer the phone when i try to order. this is the second time i have made an attempt to place an order for delivey and yet again to no prevail. i called at least 4 times over the course of 30 minutes only to get a super weird not well thought out voicemail telling me their hours. i called between 6:00 and 6:30 on a regular wednesday night when they should have been open. i really can’t support a place that can’t even answer the phone when they are supposedly open. weird. super weird. and annoying. i just wanted some bulgogi but i took my business down the street to j kogi and was more than satisfied. if you’re going to make and post your business hours, maybe try to bide by them?

First visit, ordered the beef bulgogi and sweet and spicy tofu combo platters to go.
The combo platters (9.99) come with rice, 4 small dumplings, miso soup, kimchi and California rolls.
Portion size is decent and it was packed up well. Except maybe for the soup bowls which are plastic and the heat seriously warped them. Ended up skipping the soup bc of the melted plastic.
The food itself was… ok. I can’t say it was bad but I wouldn’t recommend it, either. Generally lacking in flavor. I may go back and try something else but it won’t be a priority.

This toned down restaurant may not seem like much, but it’s the place to be when in search of some inexpensive Korean food. I was on the hunt for some jajamyun (noodles in black bean sauce) and found Mama’s Kitchen on Unilocal.To my dismay, they no longer sold jajamyun. Instead, they have a good variety of other Korean dishes to choose from, including my favorite: dokbokki (spicy rice cake). The food definitely quenched my hunger, and for RVA, the taste ain’t bad.
The picks:
1. Combo ~$ 9: dokbokki + kimbap (Korean-​style sushi) + fried mandu (Korean dumplings) — taste is a-​ok! The portion is appropriate. Nothing fancy.
2. Boba/​Bubble Tea: the next closest place to VCU to get your bubble fill. While the taste was pretty decent (matcha green tea), the pearls themselves were hard.
Don’t expect fancy service and parking is street-​only. Nonetheless, worth a stop!

Cozy, casual little Korean joint that’s perfect if you aren’t looking to put down too much money, but want quick authentic-​tasting Korean food. They have bubble tea and also Korean soda drinks. I spoke with the cutie that works there with his adorable parents and it sounds like he really stands behind his foods and have worked hard the ten-​ish years they’ve been opened.
Also,… that cheese ramen is AMAZE-​BALLS, especially on a cold winter day. It’s my new phở.
Their tonkatsu is pretty good as well.
If only they delivered…

This is my comfort food so much so I drive up from Virginia Beach, VA to get some yummy tofu ramen (and hangout with friends) I worked up in DC for a bit and I would also make a pit stop here no matter what for some ramen. It’s that worth it! Support a cute local place, it’s Mamas Kitchen, C’mom.
this is hands down the best ramen I’ve ever had, definitely go!!! Get it spicy!

This place is the bee’s knees! I’m not kidding. I’ve never left Mama’s unsatisfied. The food is delicious and well priced. The portions are perfect. It’s owned by an older (adorable) Korean couple. It’s family run. It’s local. It’s healthy (–ish). It’s right next to the VCU campus.
I chatted with their son. He apparently makes everything (EVEN their kimchi and hot sauce) from scratch.
So good!

Having never visited Richmond before, the bf and I were wandering around hungrily and aimlessly. We were in the mood for something local, something relatively healthy (read: not fried), and cheap. We were down to Subway and Mama’s Kitchen. Neither of us had had Korean before so we decided to check it out.
I decided on a side order of mandoo (chicken dumplings) and my sig-​o got a combo meal with seasoned chicken as the main portion. The combo came with the chicken, more mandoo, a sushi kind of thing (I don’t remember what it’s called :/​), miso soup, kimchi, rice, and a veggie. It was huge and its price tag wasn’t! $ 10.99 for the combo and about $ 3.50 for the side order. We were both filled up at the end of the meal.
Everything was delicious. Had we not been stuffed, we definitely would have had to restrain ourselves not to order more. The one con would be that a drink isn’t included with a combo meal. Other than that, it was a great meal.

I know I know, Korean food in Richmond is seriously lacking the flavor and the variety. BUT, for RVA, Mama’s isn’t actually all that bad. It’s A-​ok in my book! You really can’t compare it to places in DC, California or New York, you just can’t. But for a solid Korean food place I would probably hit up Mama’s again.
This place is really small and the owners are usually just watching korean dramas in their downtime (I would too). They aren’t too social or offer the best customer service either, just don’t expect that coming in. I really wanted some short ribs and of course they’re «sold out» but on a Friday night? Come on! I decided to get the Bulgogi Bibimbap. It didnt indicate it was spicy so i assume it wouldn’t be. bad assumption on my part I guess.
Traditional Bibimbap is served HOT in a heavy ceramic bowl with the rice still cooking/​sizzling and sticking to the edges to form a nice crust of rice which is good, if done right. Here, it’s served in a plastic bowl with warm rice and the beef/​veggies were not sizzling, just room temperature. However the flavor and the cook of the rice was really good and the bulgogi wasn’t bad either! Kinda wished there was more protein though b/​c they skimped on that. The sweet/​sour sauce was really spicy but tasty and it was already drizzled over everything so I couldn’t really avoid that.
Overall, not a bad experience and the prices are pretty reasonable hovering around 10 bucks. I would probably try their short ribs next If they have some.