Mama J's Kitchen, Soul food restaurant in Historic Jackson Ward, Richmond, Virginia.
Mama J's Kitchen is a soul food restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, serving Southern dishes like fried catfish, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and collard greens. The space is a welcoming, no-frills dining room where plates are generous and the food is cooked fresh daily from family recipes.
Mama J's Kitchen opened in 2009, founded by Lester and Velma Johnson after the passing of Lester's grandparents and a desire to keep their cooking traditions alive. Velma drew on recipes from her own upbringing in a large family, and those roots are what gave the restaurant its direction from day one.
Mama J's Kitchen holds a special place in Richmond as a gathering spot where African American home cooking is served just as it would be at a family table. The dishes, from collard greens to fried chicken, reflect a cooking tradition that is personal and deeply rooted in Southern Black family life.
The restaurant is very popular and wait times can be long, especially at lunch and on weekends, so arriving early is a good idea. Online ordering is available for those who prefer to pick up their food rather than wait for a table.
Velma Johnson calls herself a cook, not a chef, because she believes real soul food is a personal, family matter and not a professional craft. She trains every staff member herself to make sure each recipe is prepared exactly the way she learned it.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
