The Story of Mama J's begins during the childhood of Velma Johnson (affectionately known as Mama J), who was born one of fourteen children to Willard and Alease Roland. In their cozy home on the West End of Richmond, Velma and her siblings took part in all of the household chores, including helping their mother and grandmother in the kitchen as they prepared large family meals. This is where she learned the magic of the recipes that are now served at Mama J’s.

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Food so good doesn’t come without its accolades. Most recently Thrillist.com listed Mama J’s as one of “50 Restaurants to Try Before You Die”. Richmond Magazine praises it as one of “25 Best Restaurants in Richmond”, and Style Weekly has ranked Mama J’s as Richmond’s “Best Soul Food Restaurant” three consecutive years in a row. Velma Johnson — a local celebrity in her own right —  has been recognized as an award-winning chef and often makes appearances on WTVR’s (Channel 6) cooking segments.  Mama J’s has been featured by ESPN, National Geographic, Southern Living and a host of local networks.

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Today, Mama J’s attracts a varied clientele, including its loyal regular patrons, renown food critics and tourists alike. The restaurant has also become “the” place for celebrity-spotting, from pro-athletes to grammy-award winning artists and elected officials. Patrons enjoy the restaurant’s extensive menu of a la carte traditional dishes, like mouthwatering fried chicken, succulent fried catfish, savory blue crab cakes and a host of complementary sides dishes like macaroni & cheese, candied yams, and collard greens.

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Whether you live in Richmond or just stopping through on your travels, you’ll always find freshly prepared food at Mama J’s and the warmest atmosphere to fellowship with friends and family. Come experience it for yourself and be sure to let Mama J know how her food tastes.