We live nearby and one day just decided to give this place a try. I had gyro sandwich which was phenomenal!!! Made our top 3 for sandwiches and pizza!
(5)
Josh A.
Family of 4 traveling through an unfamiliar place and picked Mama K's, great choice. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I was skeptical about ordering the Italian Beef, server convinced me to order it and it was a home run! Wife had grilled chicken salad that was cooked perfectly and the kids had pizza - thin crust, was excellent. Oh, the Baklava is worth the $2.50! Hopefully we'll be the area again....
(5)
Stu H.
We stopped here after Gurnee Mills. We found it on Yelp and decided to stop because of the good reviews. My kids had pizza by the slice and all liked it. My wife and daughter LOVED the lemon rice soup. I had the Greek salad. The salad had the best Feta I've ever tasted! The staff was very friendly (Mama K waited on us). We will definitely be back when we are in the area!
(5)
Adam K.
Bison burger, I was very impressed she could tell me about it, I did not expect that. Mama K was behind the counter slangin foodstuffs. And I liked how she came out and asked me how everything tasted and made sure to wipe everything down and took my tray away. What a nice lady. But the food is super good also. I love the bun. Price is really good also. Place is super clean, which is great. Got the bison burger medium rare, cheddar, onion, mustard and fries. Man, I want another right now. I wish this was my momma, we have the same last initial. I will return to get the pizza.
(5)
Alan M.
My Father and I came by this pizza destination before heading into Six Flags Great America. I stopped in on account of the Yelp rating! The reviews are accurate. Friendly staff and great eats all around. We had the feta fries that the front line worker suggested and a pepperoni pizza. The nice lady checked up to see how we liked the food. She also was kind enough to store our pizza in the cooler while we went into the park so it wouldn't go bad. We grabbed it on our way out and had some more on our way home! I highly recommend Mama K's!
(5)
Karma K.
Since we loved it so much the 1st time, we came back. And this time the owner gave us a sample of his olive oil. Have to say, I'm impressed. Being from a small island (Zakinthos) and having our own family olive orchard, I have to say...pretty amazing olive oil!
(5)
Michelle S.
This was my 1st time here, me and my son ordered a pepperoni sausage pizza! My tastebuds are dancing! DELICIOUS! Staff was super friendly too! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EATING HERE!
(5)
Phil P.
This little family-owned joint is the best there is in all of grand ol' Gurnee. Having driven past it everyday for the past 2 months, I finally had a chance to stop in last Wednesday for a late lunch. Glad I beat the lunch rush, I found myself in an empty restaurant... no worries since it was during off-peak hours. Mama K herself was at the counter, and she sold me on the gyro quesadilla. The quesadilla came out in about 7 minutes. It was a huge tomato tortilla with feta, onions, tomatoes, and of course spit-roasted top notch gyro meat. The potions were very generous. There was gyro in every bite, and the homemade tzatziki is phenomenal. Although the food was awesome, it was the passion I saw in Mama K's eyes that really makes me love this place. She was so proud of the quality of her food, and she pours so much love into cooking it all. I loved it so much, I came back the very next day, and got a bangin' chicken pesto wrap. Keep it up, Mama K's. Just found my new Gurnee lunch favorite!
(5)
Rachelle D.
Great food and it comes out pretty fast. If you're low on cash, hungry and in the area try their soup of the day! They're all great and less than 3$ for a bowl.
(5)
Ben H.
Fantastic service and quality food. I've been a few times and had pizza...tasty recipe and tasty crust. Would recommend it!
(5)
Brandee B.
We were staying nearby Six Flags. After a long day at the park, we were all hungry and tired. We called for delivery, and the guy that took out order was very friendly, and gave us good suggestions since it was our first time eating there. Pizza was delivered on time and piping hot! We had the sausage and pepperoni pizza which was great, but the wings were even better!
(5)
sat s.
What a wonderful experience. We were here after a long morning at Six Flags and from the first step into this establishment, we felt so welcome. Almost like family! The food was delicious, we ordered beer nuggets and 2 large pizzas! Everything was a great value and I can't say enough about the service. You've got to try this place!!
(5)
Beth A.
Went on a mini vacation one weekend this summer to Illinois Beach State Park and stopped here for lunch. Excellent clam chowder and the personal pan pizza was so good not too mention it was only $6.99!! Great prices and excellent food. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, quality bite to eat.
(5)
Gianna S.
YOU HAVE TO COME HERE!!!! Everything I have tried here has been AMAZING. From their appetizers and pizza's to their salads and ice cream. This place really wants you coming back for more and they have such a wide variety of choices for everyone to choose from. This is a family owned business who really know how to make their customers feel welcomed and provide a great dine in, pick up or catering experience. Definitely give them a try if you haven't done so already!
(5)
Shelley L.
Great little place with very friendly folks. Love their home made soups chilli. Have yet to try their pizza, but it looks great.
(5)
Krista B.
The food is surprisingly good for a place with such a vast menu, and the woman (who I assume is an owner) is really sweet and you can tell she cares about her business. They are inexpensive and really close to Six Flags so you can leave and have some edible food that is affordable in a hurry. Most importantly, they actually put vegetables all over your side salad unlike any other restaurant in the world!!! Ice cream looked good too but didn't have any. Buffalo Chicken pita is ammmaazing if you don't mind the calories.
(5)
Charlie K.
Have been here multiple times and the food is always amazing and the service great!
(5)
Amy B.
My husband and I ordered pizza and appetizers from here. The pizza was great and so were the appetizers. For our family we ordered a Greeksa Pizza, Feta Fries, and Cheese Bread. The feta tasted fresh and the pizza was crunchy and delicious. The delivery took a little longer than they projected, but it was worth the wait. They have a large, appetizing menu. I look forward eating here more often.
(5)
Andy F.
Really pretty good food served here! Although just a bit high in price, it's not ridiculous to pay for what you'll get. Located within a chain of stores and other food places, this little spot is quite the surprise! I have to agree, the pizza was by far, really really good in quality! My only negative to this is that it's kind of small, and i've felt a little uncomfortable here with my wife's family, but hey i'll shake it off because of the good food! I give them props, they do their best with what they have!
(4)
Anthony M.
SWEET MAMA K It was the last day of Six Flags Great America, which is always a sad day in our family. We needed some lunch plus we never eat the crap in the park. Which lets us use to our Yelp App to search for amazing places. Today was one of those days where Yelp steered us to a great place. We were not looking for a huge meal but something simple. We walked in and decided to go with two bowls of the Lemon Rice Soup and one bowl of Chili. I had to be the one that had to be different. I did not get to try the soup but from the reaction of my family they really loved it. I must say that my chili was really good. In fact, I can not remember the last time I ordered chili in a restaurant. When I ordered my bowl they asked if I wanted cheddar and raw onions on top. I could not say no and was surprised to find out that it was no extra charge to add those on. Score! I also must mention that both were made fresh in house and not out of a can. What I really loved is that we sat down at our table and our food was delivered to us by two staff members at the same time. Honestly you never see that at a fast food place. This is something that is reserved for fine dinning. They could have just said, "Hey you pickup the soup and chili? Its ready!" and we would have probably found that acceptable. I loved this detail to customer service because it was a really nice touch. I must warn you that this place is small on the inside. I counted 7 tables and we were lucky to get the last empty table. I learned that they also have tables for the outside but with the cold weather they had already taken them down. Now I know there is outdoor seating for next season of Six Flags. As we were eating we kept talking to the lady who took our order, she kept coming by and we kept talking to her. Finally I asked, "Are you Mama K?" and she said, "Yes!" I love owners that care about there business. My wife also wanted to ask her what her favorite food on the menu was. That is always a hard question but I loved her answer. She told us the one item she did not like on the menu but the customers loved it, so she left it on. I found that an interesting response and then she went on to tell us that she loved everything else on her menu. We kept digging deeper and she revealed some of her favorites. I know on my next visit I want the marinated chicken because it sounds delicious. I also want to try the house made sausage. Yes they make there own sausage. You can get it on a sandwich or on there pizza. Mama K was very nice and we had a great time talking to her. She told us that she had owned the TCBY here for 23 years and the franchise was gone now. She was also very happy to be able to serve her own food and she was making the soft serve yogurt herself. I can see why she has had a successful business because she cares about serving good food and taking care of her customers. Those two points alone can make a successful business. I also found it special that they were selling bottles of there family olive oil at the front counter. For $15 you could take home a bottle for yourself. The bottles also had 4 different labels but my two favorites were of the grandparents from Greece working with the olives. What a great tribute to the family by having them on the label. Yes there are many things to love about this place. First the homemade food made with love from Mama K and second the hospitality & customer service you will receive when you eat here. I am a little sad that we did not eat here earlier in the roller coaster season. This place is a find and one of the closest non-chains near the front gate of Six Flags. So we will have to put our dinning adventures here on hold until the park opens again but I can hardly wait to eat here next season.
(5)
Norilynn B.
Mama K's has easily become one of my favorite restaurants. I've had a couple of different salads, pizza, a calzone, yogurt, chili, and all of them have been very good! Great service and the owner and family are very friendly! Definitely recommend it!
(5)
Kristen H.
This is a go to spot for my daughter and I. Some of our favorites are the bacon chicken ranch quesadilla. I get it with just a little ranch, but my daughter likes it as is. It's sooo good and she usually can't finish it all. Sometimes we're just in the mood for a good ole pizza puff and fries. I like the food and I like the fact that it's a family owned business and they want to make sure you're happy. They have some other really good specials too, I just can't remember them right now. Make sure you check the specials board before you order because that's where I usually order from.
(4)
Cathryn W.
Saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to give this place a shot. I went on the way home from work and it was packed! There were a bunch of little kids and a huge family in front of me ordering their meal. The young girl in the group was apologetic to me that her family was taking so long to order which was nice. The additional cashier came out from behind the counter and took my order which was also appreciated as I didn't have to wait for the family to finish. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is because I had to wait probably 20 minutes for my to go order. I ordered a salad and cup of soup. Also, the portion size of the salad was small for what I paid. I don't mind paying $9 for salad if it's big. This was not exceptionally large. The food quality was good but I'm not so sure I'll be making a special trip to go back.
(3)
Michael R.
I'll echo what other reviewers have said-this is a good quick service (not fast food) place for lunch away from all of the chain places in the area. The staff (mother and son owners) were very accommodating for our large group of 10 even though there isn't a lot of space in the storefront location for dine in customers. Good pizza slices, salads and burgers with choices from the basic, counter service type, plus a lot of Greek choices for sandwiches and salads. The fro-yo/ice cream part of the counter and menu area dwarfs the restaurant part. I don't know if they sell that much of it-they must-but the food is good and prices are o.k.
(4)
John A.
1st pizza here and went for the long shot. Ordered the Athenian pizza with gyros, onions, tomatoes and feta with tzatziki sauce on the side. Chose the hand rolled crust. My hopes were not hight as this to me was a reach in concept. Surprise! It was good. The place is small and in a strip mall. Service was good. Next time I will keep it more traditional and report back... Higher expectations now.
(4)
Stacey M.
AMAZING!!! We ordered take away and it was absolutely delicious. This IS the real deal. Small Greek owned family business with wonderful charm. We ordered a pepperoni and cheese pizza, a chicken & cheese calzone, spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken noodle soup to die for. The aroma was bursting through the boxes. The ingredients were fresh. We've visited both Greece and Italy and would rate their marinara so much better. This will be our new italian spot! Looking forward to meeting Mama K and trying the homemade olive oil.
(5)
A G.
Fantastic service! Fresh, great food! Great small business! They should be featured on Chicago's Best!
(5)
Sean H.
We just had a pizza and the beer nuggets from Mama K's. It was delicious! The pizza sauce was great, the crust was thin and crispy. The beer nuggets are rolled in garlic and Parmesan and are addicting.
(5)
Rick R.
Stopped in here for lunch on my way back from a funeral in Chicago. I wasn't hungry when I was in Chicago and I wanted to get the heck out of the loop as quickly as possible. I pulled up my Yelp app and saw this place had a high rating in Gurnee. I ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich and fries. The chicken was very well-seasoned, grilled and diced. It was served on delicious toasted, Italian garlic bread with plenty of butter. The cheese and marinara sauce added great flavors. I wasn't a fan of the fries and I'm very picky about my fries. I just didn't care for the texture and flavor. My friend ordered the Mediterranean Chicken sandwich and raved about it. The table next to us ordered a large pizza. It was thin crust and looked crispy and delicious. If I'm ever in the area again, I may go back and try the pizza.
(3)
Tom J.
This is a great pizza place located across the street from Great America. Prices are very fair for the food you get. The employees are very nice. The only drawback is there is very limited seating in this place as it is located in a strip mall. Otherwise great place to go to avoid Great America's pricey food.
(4)
Michelle Z.
The pizza wasn't very good, too dry, and the frozen yogurt choices were very limited.
(2)
Sara B.
Lovely Lovely LOVELY place. The owner was so friendly and nice. The food was delicious, fresh and so good! A must go to!!!
(5)
Notah K.
Love this place ! Awesome Food friendly family and lots of variety ! MY FAV. the beer nuggest so good and fresh! Love the ice cream lots of toppings to choose from! Pizza is amazing and the gyro is just what im looking for. check this place out and they also have a facebook that offers the soup of the day that im always ordering!
(5)
Christina F.
Everything is fresh and homemade. Renee gets many ingredients from her own garden. Come here and you will return often
(5)
Hannah G.
I've had several things off Mama K's menu - tuna melt, pizza, mozzarella sticks, lemon rice soup, salad, Italian beef sandwich... the list goes on. Every thing I've ever had here has been excellent, and it's all made from scratch. I especially recommend the lemon rice soup, it is simply amazing. Mama K is in the restaurant regularly and is a real sweetie. Everything is more expensive than what you'd pay at a fast food joint, but you get SO MUCH food, it's worth it. Word of advice, if you do get the pizza, I would stay away from the sausage. Though it is delicious, both my husband and I have experienced the sausage 'sticking with you' for days (meaning, burping up sausage breath for a loooong time.)
(5)
Debbie Z.
TUNA MELT!!!!! PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! And, Love how the owner cooks and personally thanks you for your business!!!!!!! We tried the new place down the street tonight next to Baskin Robbins, and left feeling sad and mad that we just didn't fly over to MAMA K's for our usual.
(5)
Michael B.
Came here for lunch today, and was surprised how many people were coming in! There were only a few, dirty, tables, but people would share small tables with other patrons to eat. I ordered a gyro and fries, which was better than I expected! The meat was good, sauce and toppings all in perfect proportion. I would definitely recommend it for a quick bite to eat for lunch.
(4)
Andrew W.
What a gem in a place you wouldn't expect anything but fast food. All made from scratch, all delicious.
(5)
Michael L.
Excellent food and Renee (mama k) is very friendly. They also bottle their own olive oil. Soup has been wonderful every time. Rosa Marina and Lemon Rice are personal favorites.
(5)
Karina F.
We were there last Sunday on a snowy day. We wanted to check it out based on the good Yelp reviews and we were not disappointed. The lemon rice soup was just what the weather called for. It was hot and delicious. I orders one burger and a aide of fries for my daughters which I split in half and it more than sufficed. The hubby and I had sandwiches. He had a pork one and I had a chicken on (the names escape me now) and we found them to be tasty. We topped it all off with ice cream (kid sizes more than enough). Will definitely go back to try the pizza. It looked good!
(5)
Dawn J.
Awesome!!! awesome!!! awesome pizza and service!!!! Had pepperoni and sausage w extra cheese. Not a crum left! Magnificent is all I can say!
(5)
Cheyenne J.
This is a great mom and pop local place to eat! I live 45 minutes away so I not able to eat here as often as I'd like, but whenever I'm in town visiting a girlfriend, we eat here. They have the best grilled chicken Greek salad! I think the olive oil they use makes it magical. If u have a special request, just ask, they'll make it your way. Save room for dessert... The low carb fro yo is delicious too!!
(5)
Joleen C.
Awesome service with excellent food. Great place to grab some great Greek food and some fro yo for dessert. Mama K is very excited about her menu and provides great suggestions. Many items come fresh from the garden. Great place to hit up after a day riding the roller coasters at 6 flags.
(5)
Maria S.
Great fries, great place, great atmosphere. Workers are friendly and the atmosphere is inviting. Great place to stop at after six flags for an inexpensive meal, unlike the hefty prices offered at the park. Highly recommended.
(5)
Caleb B.
Always interested in quality gyro and beef places, I visited this one with a friend who knows his Greek food; he had said the owners were Greeks and excellent cooks (they also own highly rated Captain Porky's in Wadsworth). I tried the Souvlaki with pita instead of a gyro and was delighted. The chunks of pork were savory, the vegetables were fresh, and the portion size was large. The frozen yogurt was rich, you must try it if you visit. Mama K's is my Go-To place for gyros and greek now.
(5)
Lauren N.
Had lunch here with my brother today, and it was great! I took the advice of other reviews and had the Mediterranean sandwich which was excellent! It came with fries which were also very good. My brother had the chicken Parmesan sandwich with soup, both looked and smelled awesome. We both loved the food! Mama K was very nice and was running the front by herself, which she did perfectly even as busy as it was. Great good, service, nice little dining area. Overall a nice locally owned business that I will be coming back to frequently!
(5)
Amanda J.
My fiancee and I went to Mama K's because they had such good Yelp reviews. We were slightly disappointed and expected better. We got a large sausage and green pepper pizza and cheese sticks. When we went in to pick it up we were informed that they had ran out of the cheese sticks and offered us the beer nuggets instead. The staff was very nice and patient as we ended up deciding to get shakes as well. We took our food home and the pizza was just okay. I think the sauce could be better. The beer nuggets were pretty good and you get a large portion. All in all, they are okay but not great. Better than Domino's or Pizza Hut.
(3)
Everett W.
Thank you Mama K's Pizza! You were fantastic in coordinating everything for our daughter's birthday. Pizza was great. The ice cream cake was excellent! And your attention to detail and service was impeccable. (Renee Kallianis and James, owners, even saved the left over cake in their freezer while we partied at Key Lime Cove for the weekend, and picked it up on our way back home. You both rock!)
(5)
Bernardo S.
Always great service, at times the food can be hit or miss but typically pretty darn good! Just shows that treating customers like customers goes a long way. If they had so so service I may never go back but pretty good food and always friendly.. Well that just don't happen often!
(4)
Beth M.
This was a refreshing find. Not only did my picky daughter love the chicken tenders, they made calzones just the way I love them. I have tried since I left New England to find a calzone with the sauce on the inside, with just mozzarella. The staff here was amazingly friendly, and very helpful. My family and I will definitely be back.
(5)
T G.
The owners (Mother and son) are so friendly and outgoing....this place really is a Gurnee "home town diner"....with lots of locals coming in and out. I've been coming to Mama Ks for 13 years plus---most of that time when they were just TCBY. The pizza is good---not quite as good as Kaisers but a good alternative especially with their home made Italian sausage. I like their gyros and the chili is very good as well. Top it off with some frozen yogurt for desert and you have a good meal for a very reasonable price. I bet with more time under their belt, Mama K's will get even better and better.
(4)
Smitty J.
Excellent food and pizza. The service is top notch and fast. Recently when the wife and I were there the place was swamped. People still got there food fast and the owner, who by the way was the person taking orders, still found time to ask the customers how the food was and if they were doing ok. If you are there for pizza by the slice you might consider their personal pizza. The 2 topping thin crust is just $6.99. It is made HOTTT, fresh, with a crispy crust and is very tasty.
(5)
Derek S.
GREAT MOM AND POP eatery. I've been going here for years. Before it was just ice cream, now it's burgers, hot dogs, an pizza. I recently ordered a cheeseburger and fries and it was really good. Fries can usually make or break a place but there fries taste fresh and great. Good job to Mama Ks I will defiantly be returning.
(5)
Ed F.
Great little neighborhood joint Wife and I each ordered a meal. Food was tasty, service was VERY attentive, good portions, and competitive prices. Everything I saw at other tables, looked just as good, with large portions. Definitely heading back - maybe for a pizza or a sandwich.
(5)
Jason Z.
A smaller joint that has a very laid-back feel. I have never ordered anything here that I haven't loved. The calzone is very large, and the mozzarella sticks are fantastic. Friends raved about their pizza, too (I didn't have it myself). If near six flags, and looking for quick food, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Joe K.
Awesome friendly service. The owners treat you like they just opened their business and you are their most important customer. Food is delicious and menu extensive.
(5)
Vincenzo C.
Pizza is one of my all-time favorite foods and I am a bit of a pizza snob :(. I have had pizza all over the US and in Italy, some very good and some very bad. This pizza I got today was one of the best ever - no exaggeration! The ingredients are top notch, the employees are very nice and the place is very clean (always a good thing). Be back soon Mama K!
(5)
Brian G.
Wonderful family place. Small seating area adds too the ambiance. Has the Porsticho with Greek salad. There was a military gentleman who came in with a large family. They gave him an appetizer and free dessert to celebrate his graduation from Great Lakes. While we did not partake, there was quite a bit of action on the frozen yogurt bar.
(5)
Mad I.
We were dying for a local spot to go to in Gurnee and this place was first on the list. I love Hayashi for sushi, but what I am craving is a place with a lot of american go-to food. I am still distressed about my all time fav (and I worked there in High school!) closing down in McHenry...shout to Don! Fountain Pepsi products!! My heart is already won :) So, how can you go wrong when the owner is so sweet and working the counter herself?! We tried the gyro and the beef sammie (see my pics) Beef sammie def delivered with melted mozz and some yummie aus jus. Gyro sammie was good, needed more tzatziki and a more generous amount of meat. Competing with Fodracks in Liberty thrill is not easy! Fries were awesome, they were the crispy kind, coated basically, and Mamma K brought me out some ranch and also came to see how everything was...nice touch!
(4)
Kate B.
When you've got a whole group of tired Rennies who need a feedin' after a long weekend, it's tough to find a good place that's open late enough, has good food, and that's welcoming. This place is all three. They were even kind enough to let us finish off our food while they closed up, which was awfully kind of them. My Italian Beef was FANTASTIC, and the cheese stick I filched from my friend was also delicious. Because of a little bitty goof on my friend's pizza, they treated us to dessert (which they didn't have to do!), and the white chocolate mousse soft serve was AWESOME. We WILL be back, and we promise not to keep you guys late!
(5)
Anna C.
Visiting from arkansas, saw reviews on trip advisor. Pizza was excellent! Sauce not too rich. My dad had the ribs...meh, overcooked then reheated not very good. Service was friendly. Customers were friendly as well. Pizza is excruciatingly hot wen brought out, heads up. If u want a good chicago style pizza here's the place! W/in walking distance of hotel.
(4)
Jenn M.
We took our two little goobers to Great America the other day, and having extensive Amusement Park knowledge we knew we wanted to have lunch outside the park ($9.00 corn dogs and $5.00 fountain drinks is insane, like Amanda Bynes insane...get help, girl!) I consulted my old friend Yelp and Mama K's looked promising. The place is small but welcoming, with a few tables outside as well. I think Mama K herself was the kind woman that took our order at the counter...that's always a nice touch. We ordered the old standby of chicken fingers and fries for the little goobers to share, my husband ordered the chicken gyro and I got the vegetarian gyro. The gyros came with a side of our choosing; fries, soup or salad. We each opted for the salad which was quite good. I had mine with their house Greek dressing which was delicious. The boys seemed to enjoy their food and my husband and I really enjoyed our gyros. We capped our lunch with some frozen yogurt which Mama K's also serves, that too was very tasty. It was evident how much the owner and staff truly cared and the restaurant truly embodies that great local place you want to succeed not only because the food and service are excellent but because you understand how vital locally owned businesses are to a community. We will certainly be back the next time we are headed to Great America. If you are in the area please check it out...I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
(4)
Amanda K.
After living in Gurnee for a year, we were sooo tired of what the chain resturants had to offer for food quality and service. We tried Mama Ks on a whim after checking their menu online and noticing they did gyros. There is not one decent place to order a delish gyro from in the Gurnee area! The gyro sammie here is fabulous! Meat is flavorful and sauce is just right (not chunky or void of flavor). Hubby tried the pizza...another quest in the area and it was a thumbs up. A fantastic thin crust with just enough zest in the sauce, not too sweet or overly herbified, and crisp flaky crust. We tried the chicken tenders for our little one and I have to say that I enjoyed some snack bites from them, as well. Service is spectacular - very attentive and inviting. Do not miss this place if you are in the area!
(4)
Rebecca H.
Friendly, quick and surprisingly decent prices! I love their gyros and gyro salads. I try and order from here once a week.
(5)
Kurt G.
INTRODUCTION Back in early 2009 or so, I was visiting TCBY Yogurt on my lunch break from work. This was a common stop, since the yogurt was incredibly delicious and healthy, and Renee (Mama K) was such a wonderful person talk to. I was fortunate to be one of the few to know about plans to create Mama K's, which was originally thought of as a panini and sandwich shop. I suggested to Renee that they should have pizza by the slice, since that was something that was absent in the Gurnee area. She mentioned they had a great homemade pizza recipe, and that it was a good idea. This mention also created a plethora of ideas and plans, which Mama K would tell me about every time I would visit. Calzones, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches were all being considered as well, with the decision to keep the delicious yogurt Gurnee has been enjoying for over 20 years (using Mama K's even tastier recipes). It took over a year to open, but finally in the Summer of 2010, Mama K's opened for business. FIRST EXPERIENCE (Pizza) The restaurant has been totally renovated since TCBY. The porcelain tile is beautiful, the walls are a very soothing color, and the atmosphere is cozy. Not to mention, Renee, James, and George always make you feel at home! I consider myself a pizza addict. It is very rare that I find a pizza that hits my taste-buds in a life-changing way. I was skeptical, especially at the mention of a homemade recipe that was considered "unique". I entered Mama K's, and Renee ordered up a sausage pizza. The pizza came to my table, and I was very impressed visually. Now, the big moment, the taste! As Renee sat, waiting for my initial reaction, I took a gigantic bite of the corner pizza. The crust was a perfect consistency...not too crispy, not too soft, PERFECT. There was just the right amount of cheese. The tomato sauce was slightly sweet, which enhanced the taste of the whole pizza. Finally, the sausage was TO DIE FOR! This is, by far, some of the best sausage I have ever tasted!!! After bringing in others to test the pizza, I have not had one friend leave without thinking this was one of the most unique and wonderfully flavored pizzas they have ever tasted! Two people I brought in even thought that it rivaled one of the best chain pizzas in town, and even one of the finest local establishments in town (I won't say who these are, because I still love their pizzas too...but I choose Mama K's for the price and quality of ingredients!!!)! Pizza by the slice with a drink runs less than $4.00, and the most expensive large specialty pizza (there are several!!!) is $20.50. A large, one topping pizza is only $15.00! THE REST OF THE FOOD AND EXPERIENCE I have tried so many things on the menu. Everything I have tried has been of A+ quality! Everything that is ordered is made from scratch, and the quality of the food certainly shows!!! So far I have tried the beer nuggets, pizza sausage bomber, chicken parmesan sandwich, gyro meat, cheeseburger, and the blackened chicken wrap. There is not one thing that I have been displeased with, and everything has been of superior quality and taste! However, NOTHING BEATS THE CALZONES AND MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN SANDWICH! The Mediterranean is, by a LONGSHOT, the BEST SANDWICH I have ever had! The yogurt Renee makes can be mistaken for ice cream, and is so much healthier! FINAL THOUGHT There are few restaurants that I rave about. I will visit some every few weeks because they are good, but there are few that make me want to visit several times a week. The cafe atmosphere, personable owners and staff, incredibly unique quality of the food that makes taste-buds dance, the healthy delicious desert, and VERY REASONABLE PRICES, makes this a place I visit at least three times a week. I cannot give a higher recommendation for a lunch or dinner stop than Mama K's. As Mama K would say about anything on the menu, and I think she is being rather humble, "Oh ya! It's very good!!!"
(5)
Morgan H.
Yum, Yum, Yum!! Everything I have had at Mama K's is delicious and worth having again and again. The pizza is so good, and the ingredients are really high quality. The Chicken Mediterranean Pita - Can I please eat this everyday? I love that they kept the frozen yogurt when converting the store to Mama K's! It is the perfect way to end a great meal! Bravo, Mama K's! Bravo!
(5)
alyssa n.
We had amazing thin crust pizza after a long day at Great America with 3 kids. I was ready for some real food before the drive home and found Mama K's on Yelp. We arrived 3 minutes before closing time and were told very nicely that we could get a "made to order" pizza "to go" and that we were welcome to eat outside on their table and chairs. The kids were allowed to refill drinks as needed and the adults enjoyed nice cold beer as we waited. The hot pizza was ready in 15 minutes and we devoured it. Highly recommend this place for the excellent service and pizza.
(5)
T P.
Best staff, so friendly and awesome. Great prices, and imo best gyro in Gurnee. Highly recommend this family business!
(5)
Patrick S.
I have been here a few times and everytime the food is great!!
(5)
T L.
The suburban cesspool known as Gurnee doesn't exactly inspire thoughts of pizza greatness, especially near ground zero of cultural/culinary bankruptcy - dead smack between Great America and Gurnee Mills. But in actuality there is a surprising glut of more-than-legit Chicago pizza chains within just a few mile radius: Jimano's and Rosati's pace the far-north suburb vanguard, with Giordano's serving adequately in a pinch (or, more than that for the misguided Ditka-loving sect who think Chicago-style pie should be served in quiche form). Amid such heavy hitters, an independent doe-tosser, with it's roots in Ames, Iowa no less, in a former frozen yogurt spot in a strip mall on Grand Ave would seem to be up against it... After all, this is still the land where Chili's passes for high-dining. Just how much top notch 'za is really being consumed?... Nothing from this preamble matters. Mama K stands on her own two feet, and would regardless of town or city. I'm not the kind of yelper to tout his pizza pedigree, nor will I lambast anyone else's personal favorites, but I have been around, tried some legendary pies, and yes, ok, I'll scoff at the Papa John's guy pulling up to your door. Most importantly though, I feel it deeply: Chicago thin crust is the best America has to offer. And this little outpost is proof that the Windy City paradigm bleeds and flows out into the nether regions of metropolitan land... The thin crust, perfect in it's ability to hold everything up but not too much to infiltrate taste zones with any excess doughiness, is prototypical of Chicago's so-called bar style, and hits the sweet spot of the sag/crisp compendium; the sauce is spiced, tangy and consistent; and with the just-starting-to-burn cheese lovingly bedding whichever your choice of topping (go pepperoni!) the overall construction is near-perfect. Then, of course, there's the Italian Beef - that indelible Chicago institution that might require a review of it's own.... Suffice it to say, Mama K's take would hold it's own against any of the dime-a-dozen corner hot dog joints that populate Chi's urban areas and serve the best... Overall: Mama K's is an inspired little outpost, battling both the big boys and the nadir of fine taste. This is far more than a pleasant, soulful, affordable pizza sanctuary after a day of food courts or 'Giant Drops', it's well worth a trip up (or down) I-94...
(5)
C B.
1st time here, I ordered a medium sausage & pepperoni pizza...my taste buds are in shocked its that damn good. I'm definitely coming back!
(4)
Val A.
I wasn't as blown away as all these other reviewers. I thought the pizza was fine but nothing special. The beer nuggets were also fine but nothing special. If you want a good pizza I recommend trying Galati's in lake villa. Also, if you want some good gyros try Nino's in Lindenhurst. I actually think Ninos is better than fodraks in libertyville too.
(2)
Simon P.
This really is a gem of place. The food is not fancy, but is wonderfully tasty. Their specialty pizzas are the best I've had. The owners are fantastic and go out of their way to make you welcome. Loads of healthy options on the menu, I eat here as often as I can.
(5)
Michelle M.
My family wanted to try a new pizza place this past weekend and had a coupon for Mama K's so we decided to give it a try. First we wanted delivery but for some reason on a Saturday night they stop delivering at 8. We thought that was weird but opted for pick up to give them a try. We had leftovers so we ended up eating their pizza two nights in a row. The day after first trying it we all had stomach aches but just figured greasy pizza would do that to ya. After the second time my husband and kids (ages 3&6) and I got violently ill for 12 plus hours. Something on those pizzas gave us the worst case of double duty (if you know what I mean) food poisoning we have ever had! We definitely won't be coming back here again!
(1)
Abby A.
This is a gem! The pizza is great and you can buy it by the slice. The calzones are huge and stuffed. The wraps are the best in Gurnee. The sandwiches are delicious and filling. I highly recommend trying it out. It is a small family owned business and has the charm of one too. You can tell the food is great because the place gets busier and busier time I go.
(5)
Ry G.
I've gone to Mama K's for both lunch and dinner; both times I enjoyed the food and friendly service. A large group of us split a couple of the specialty pizzas and enjoyed each one we tried. Definitely a good spot for a casual lunch or dinner any day of the week!
(5)
Laura K.
This continues to be the best pizza ever. We live a half mile from Mama K's and the food never disappoints. We order from there at least twice a week. The pizza is the winner hands down, but try the Mediteranean chicken sandwich with three kinds of cheese on a fresh pita. The burgers are great and the Italian beef. These local folks have it figured out and they pour on the hospitality.
(5)
Andy F.
Really pretty good food served here! Although just a bit high in price, it's not ridiculous to pay for what you'll get. Located within a chain of stores and other food places, this little spot is quite the surprise! I have to agree, the pizza was by far, really really good in quality! My only negative to this is that it's kind of small, and i've felt a little uncomfortable here with my wife's family, but hey i'll shake it off because of the good food! I give them props, they do their best with what they have!
(4)
Lily L.
We live nearby and one day just decided to give this place a try. I had gyro sandwich which was phenomenal!!! Made our top 3 for sandwiches and pizza!
(5)
Josh A.
Family of 4 traveling through an unfamiliar place and picked Mama K's, great choice. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I was skeptical about ordering the Italian Beef, server convinced me to order it and it was a home run! Wife had grilled chicken salad that was cooked perfectly and the kids had pizza - thin crust, was excellent. Oh, the Baklava is worth the $2.50! Hopefully we'll be the area again....
(5)
Norilynn B.
Mama K's has easily become one of my favorite restaurants. I've had a couple of different salads, pizza, a calzone, yogurt, chili, and all of them have been very good! Great service and the owner and family are very friendly! Definitely recommend it!
(5)
Joe K.
Awesome friendly service. The owners treat you like they just opened their business and you are their most important customer. Food is delicious and menu extensive.
(5)
Vincenzo C.
Pizza is one of my all-time favorite foods and I am a bit of a pizza snob :(. I have had pizza all over the US and in Italy, some very good and some very bad. This pizza I got today was one of the best ever - no exaggeration! The ingredients are top notch, the employees are very nice and the place is very clean (always a good thing). Be back soon Mama K!
(5)
Mad I.
We were dying for a local spot to go to in Gurnee and this place was first on the list. I love Hayashi for sushi, but what I am craving is a place with a lot of american go-to food. I am still distressed about my all time fav (and I worked there in High school!) closing down in McHenry...shout to Don! Fountain Pepsi products!! My heart is already won :) So, how can you go wrong when the owner is so sweet and working the counter herself?! We tried the gyro and the beef sammie (see my pics) Beef sammie def delivered with melted mozz and some yummie aus jus. Gyro sammie was good, needed more tzatziki and a more generous amount of meat. Competing with Fodracks in Liberty thrill is not easy! Fries were awesome, they were the crispy kind, coated basically, and Mamma K brought me out some ranch and also came to see how everything was...nice touch!
(4)
Kate B.
When you've got a whole group of tired Rennies who need a feedin' after a long weekend, it's tough to find a good place that's open late enough, has good food, and that's welcoming. This place is all three. They were even kind enough to let us finish off our food while they closed up, which was awfully kind of them. My Italian Beef was FANTASTIC, and the cheese stick I filched from my friend was also delicious. Because of a little bitty goof on my friend's pizza, they treated us to dessert (which they didn't have to do!), and the white chocolate mousse soft serve was AWESOME. We WILL be back, and we promise not to keep you guys late!
(5)
Anna C.
Visiting from arkansas, saw reviews on trip advisor. Pizza was excellent! Sauce not too rich. My dad had the ribs...meh, overcooked then reheated not very good. Service was friendly. Customers were friendly as well. Pizza is excruciatingly hot wen brought out, heads up. If u want a good chicago style pizza here's the place! W/in walking distance of hotel.
(4)
Cathryn W.
Saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to give this place a shot. I went on the way home from work and it was packed! There were a bunch of little kids and a huge family in front of me ordering their meal. The young girl in the group was apologetic to me that her family was taking so long to order which was nice. The additional cashier came out from behind the counter and took my order which was also appreciated as I didn't have to wait for the family to finish. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is because I had to wait probably 20 minutes for my to go order. I ordered a salad and cup of soup. Also, the portion size of the salad was small for what I paid. I don't mind paying $9 for salad if it's big. This was not exceptionally large. The food quality was good but I'm not so sure I'll be making a special trip to go back.
(3)
Anthony M.
SWEET MAMA K It was the last day of Six Flags Great America, which is always a sad day in our family. We needed some lunch plus we never eat the crap in the park. Which lets us use to our Yelp App to search for amazing places. Today was one of those days where Yelp steered us to a great place. We were not looking for a huge meal but something simple. We walked in and decided to go with two bowls of the Lemon Rice Soup and one bowl of Chili. I had to be the one that had to be different. I did not get to try the soup but from the reaction of my family they really loved it. I must say that my chili was really good. In fact, I can not remember the last time I ordered chili in a restaurant. When I ordered my bowl they asked if I wanted cheddar and raw onions on top. I could not say no and was surprised to find out that it was no extra charge to add those on. Score! I also must mention that both were made fresh in house and not out of a can. What I really loved is that we sat down at our table and our food was delivered to us by two staff members at the same time. Honestly you never see that at a fast food place. This is something that is reserved for fine dinning. They could have just said, "Hey you pickup the soup and chili? Its ready!" and we would have probably found that acceptable. I loved this detail to customer service because it was a really nice touch. I must warn you that this place is small on the inside. I counted 7 tables and we were lucky to get the last empty table. I learned that they also have tables for the outside but with the cold weather they had already taken them down. Now I know there is outdoor seating for next season of Six Flags. As we were eating we kept talking to the lady who took our order, she kept coming by and we kept talking to her. Finally I asked, "Are you Mama K?" and she said, "Yes!" I love owners that care about there business. My wife also wanted to ask her what her favorite food on the menu was. That is always a hard question but I loved her answer. She told us the one item she did not like on the menu but the customers loved it, so she left it on. I found that an interesting response and then she went on to tell us that she loved everything else on her menu. We kept digging deeper and she revealed some of her favorites. I know on my next visit I want the marinated chicken because it sounds delicious. I also want to try the house made sausage. Yes they make there own sausage. You can get it on a sandwich or on there pizza. Mama K was very nice and we had a great time talking to her. She told us that she had owned the TCBY here for 23 years and the franchise was gone now. She was also very happy to be able to serve her own food and she was making the soft serve yogurt herself. I can see why she has had a successful business because she cares about serving good food and taking care of her customers. Those two points alone can make a successful business. I also found it special that they were selling bottles of there family olive oil at the front counter. For $15 you could take home a bottle for yourself. The bottles also had 4 different labels but my two favorites were of the grandparents from Greece working with the olives. What a great tribute to the family by having them on the label. Yes there are many things to love about this place. First the homemade food made with love from Mama K and second the hospitality & customer service you will receive when you eat here. I am a little sad that we did not eat here earlier in the roller coaster season. This place is a find and one of the closest non-chains near the front gate of Six Flags. So we will have to put our dinning adventures here on hold until the park opens again but I can hardly wait to eat here next season.
(5)
Michael R.
I'll echo what other reviewers have said-this is a good quick service (not fast food) place for lunch away from all of the chain places in the area. The staff (mother and son owners) were very accommodating for our large group of 10 even though there isn't a lot of space in the storefront location for dine in customers. Good pizza slices, salads and burgers with choices from the basic, counter service type, plus a lot of Greek choices for sandwiches and salads. The fro-yo/ice cream part of the counter and menu area dwarfs the restaurant part. I don't know if they sell that much of it-they must-but the food is good and prices are o.k.
(4)
Brian G.
Wonderful family place. Small seating area adds too the ambiance. Has the Porsticho with Greek salad. There was a military gentleman who came in with a large family. They gave him an appetizer and free dessert to celebrate his graduation from Great Lakes. While we did not partake, there was quite a bit of action on the frozen yogurt bar.
(5)
John A.
1st pizza here and went for the long shot. Ordered the Athenian pizza with gyros, onions, tomatoes and feta with tzatziki sauce on the side. Chose the hand rolled crust. My hopes were not hight as this to me was a reach in concept. Surprise! It was good. The place is small and in a strip mall. Service was good. Next time I will keep it more traditional and report back... Higher expectations now.
(4)
Stacey M.
AMAZING!!! We ordered take away and it was absolutely delicious. This IS the real deal. Small Greek owned family business with wonderful charm. We ordered a pepperoni and cheese pizza, a chicken & cheese calzone, spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken noodle soup to die for. The aroma was bursting through the boxes. The ingredients were fresh. We've visited both Greece and Italy and would rate their marinara so much better. This will be our new italian spot! Looking forward to meeting Mama K and trying the homemade olive oil.
(5)
A G.
Fantastic service! Fresh, great food! Great small business! They should be featured on Chicago's Best!
(5)
Sean H.
We just had a pizza and the beer nuggets from Mama K's. It was delicious! The pizza sauce was great, the crust was thin and crispy. The beer nuggets are rolled in garlic and Parmesan and are addicting.
(5)
Kristen H.
This is a go to spot for my daughter and I. Some of our favorites are the bacon chicken ranch quesadilla. I get it with just a little ranch, but my daughter likes it as is. It's sooo good and she usually can't finish it all. Sometimes we're just in the mood for a good ole pizza puff and fries. I like the food and I like the fact that it's a family owned business and they want to make sure you're happy. They have some other really good specials too, I just can't remember them right now. Make sure you check the specials board before you order because that's where I usually order from.
(4)
Rick R.
Stopped in here for lunch on my way back from a funeral in Chicago. I wasn't hungry when I was in Chicago and I wanted to get the heck out of the loop as quickly as possible. I pulled up my Yelp app and saw this place had a high rating in Gurnee. I ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich and fries. The chicken was very well-seasoned, grilled and diced. It was served on delicious toasted, Italian garlic bread with plenty of butter. The cheese and marinara sauce added great flavors. I wasn't a fan of the fries and I'm very picky about my fries. I just didn't care for the texture and flavor. My friend ordered the Mediterranean Chicken sandwich and raved about it. The table next to us ordered a large pizza. It was thin crust and looked crispy and delicious. If I'm ever in the area again, I may go back and try the pizza.
(3)
Tom J.
This is a great pizza place located across the street from Great America. Prices are very fair for the food you get. The employees are very nice. The only drawback is there is very limited seating in this place as it is located in a strip mall. Otherwise great place to go to avoid Great America's pricey food.
(4)
Michelle Z.
The pizza wasn't very good, too dry, and the frozen yogurt choices were very limited.
(2)
Sara B.
Lovely Lovely LOVELY place. The owner was so friendly and nice. The food was delicious, fresh and so good! A must go to!!!
(5)
Christina F.
Everything is fresh and homemade. Renee gets many ingredients from her own garden. Come here and you will return often
(5)
Notah K.
Love this place ! Awesome Food friendly family and lots of variety ! MY FAV. the beer nuggest so good and fresh! Love the ice cream lots of toppings to choose from! Pizza is amazing and the gyro is just what im looking for. check this place out and they also have a facebook that offers the soup of the day that im always ordering!
(5)
Hannah G.
I've had several things off Mama K's menu - tuna melt, pizza, mozzarella sticks, lemon rice soup, salad, Italian beef sandwich... the list goes on. Every thing I've ever had here has been excellent, and it's all made from scratch. I especially recommend the lemon rice soup, it is simply amazing. Mama K is in the restaurant regularly and is a real sweetie. Everything is more expensive than what you'd pay at a fast food joint, but you get SO MUCH food, it's worth it. Word of advice, if you do get the pizza, I would stay away from the sausage. Though it is delicious, both my husband and I have experienced the sausage 'sticking with you' for days (meaning, burping up sausage breath for a loooong time.)
(5)
Debbie Z.
TUNA MELT!!!!! PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! And, Love how the owner cooks and personally thanks you for your business!!!!!!! We tried the new place down the street tonight next to Baskin Robbins, and left feeling sad and mad that we just didn't fly over to MAMA K's for our usual.
(5)
Michael B.
Came here for lunch today, and was surprised how many people were coming in! There were only a few, dirty, tables, but people would share small tables with other patrons to eat. I ordered a gyro and fries, which was better than I expected! The meat was good, sauce and toppings all in perfect proportion. I would definitely recommend it for a quick bite to eat for lunch.
(4)
Andrew W.
What a gem in a place you wouldn't expect anything but fast food. All made from scratch, all delicious.
(5)
Michael L.
Excellent food and Renee (mama k) is very friendly. They also bottle their own olive oil. Soup has been wonderful every time. Rosa Marina and Lemon Rice are personal favorites.
(5)
Karina F.
We were there last Sunday on a snowy day. We wanted to check it out based on the good Yelp reviews and we were not disappointed. The lemon rice soup was just what the weather called for. It was hot and delicious. I orders one burger and a aide of fries for my daughters which I split in half and it more than sufficed. The hubby and I had sandwiches. He had a pork one and I had a chicken on (the names escape me now) and we found them to be tasty. We topped it all off with ice cream (kid sizes more than enough). Will definitely go back to try the pizza. It looked good!
(5)
Dawn J.
Awesome!!! awesome!!! awesome pizza and service!!!! Had pepperoni and sausage w extra cheese. Not a crum left! Magnificent is all I can say!
(5)
Cheyenne J.
This is a great mom and pop local place to eat! I live 45 minutes away so I not able to eat here as often as I'd like, but whenever I'm in town visiting a girlfriend, we eat here. They have the best grilled chicken Greek salad! I think the olive oil they use makes it magical. If u have a special request, just ask, they'll make it your way. Save room for dessert... The low carb fro yo is delicious too!!
(5)
Joleen C.
Awesome service with excellent food. Great place to grab some great Greek food and some fro yo for dessert. Mama K is very excited about her menu and provides great suggestions. Many items come fresh from the garden. Great place to hit up after a day riding the roller coasters at 6 flags.
(5)
Maria S.
Great fries, great place, great atmosphere. Workers are friendly and the atmosphere is inviting. Great place to stop at after six flags for an inexpensive meal, unlike the hefty prices offered at the park. Highly recommended.
(5)
Caleb B.
Always interested in quality gyro and beef places, I visited this one with a friend who knows his Greek food; he had said the owners were Greeks and excellent cooks (they also own highly rated Captain Porky's in Wadsworth). I tried the Souvlaki with pita instead of a gyro and was delighted. The chunks of pork were savory, the vegetables were fresh, and the portion size was large. The frozen yogurt was rich, you must try it if you visit. Mama K's is my Go-To place for gyros and greek now.
(5)
Lauren N.
Had lunch here with my brother today, and it was great! I took the advice of other reviews and had the Mediterranean sandwich which was excellent! It came with fries which were also very good. My brother had the chicken Parmesan sandwich with soup, both looked and smelled awesome. We both loved the food! Mama K was very nice and was running the front by herself, which she did perfectly even as busy as it was. Great good, service, nice little dining area. Overall a nice locally owned business that I will be coming back to frequently!
(5)
Amanda J.
My fiancee and I went to Mama K's because they had such good Yelp reviews. We were slightly disappointed and expected better. We got a large sausage and green pepper pizza and cheese sticks. When we went in to pick it up we were informed that they had ran out of the cheese sticks and offered us the beer nuggets instead. The staff was very nice and patient as we ended up deciding to get shakes as well. We took our food home and the pizza was just okay. I think the sauce could be better. The beer nuggets were pretty good and you get a large portion. All in all, they are okay but not great. Better than Domino's or Pizza Hut.
(3)
Everett W.
Thank you Mama K's Pizza! You were fantastic in coordinating everything for our daughter's birthday. Pizza was great. The ice cream cake was excellent! And your attention to detail and service was impeccable. (Renee Kallianis and James, owners, even saved the left over cake in their freezer while we partied at Key Lime Cove for the weekend, and picked it up on our way back home. You both rock!)
(5)
Bernardo S.
Always great service, at times the food can be hit or miss but typically pretty darn good! Just shows that treating customers like customers goes a long way. If they had so so service I may never go back but pretty good food and always friendly.. Well that just don't happen often!
(4)
Beth M.
This was a refreshing find. Not only did my picky daughter love the chicken tenders, they made calzones just the way I love them. I have tried since I left New England to find a calzone with the sauce on the inside, with just mozzarella. The staff here was amazingly friendly, and very helpful. My family and I will definitely be back.
(5)
T G.
The owners (Mother and son) are so friendly and outgoing....this place really is a Gurnee "home town diner"....with lots of locals coming in and out. I've been coming to Mama Ks for 13 years plus---most of that time when they were just TCBY. The pizza is good---not quite as good as Kaisers but a good alternative especially with their home made Italian sausage. I like their gyros and the chili is very good as well. Top it off with some frozen yogurt for desert and you have a good meal for a very reasonable price. I bet with more time under their belt, Mama K's will get even better and better.
(4)
Smitty J.
Excellent food and pizza. The service is top notch and fast. Recently when the wife and I were there the place was swamped. People still got there food fast and the owner, who by the way was the person taking orders, still found time to ask the customers how the food was and if they were doing ok. If you are there for pizza by the slice you might consider their personal pizza. The 2 topping thin crust is just $6.99. It is made HOTTT, fresh, with a crispy crust and is very tasty.
(5)
Derek S.
GREAT MOM AND POP eatery. I've been going here for years. Before it was just ice cream, now it's burgers, hot dogs, an pizza. I recently ordered a cheeseburger and fries and it was really good. Fries can usually make or break a place but there fries taste fresh and great. Good job to Mama Ks I will defiantly be returning.
(5)
Ed F.
Great little neighborhood joint Wife and I each ordered a meal. Food was tasty, service was VERY attentive, good portions, and competitive prices. Everything I saw at other tables, looked just as good, with large portions. Definitely heading back - maybe for a pizza or a sandwich.
(5)
Jason Z.
A smaller joint that has a very laid-back feel. I have never ordered anything here that I haven't loved. The calzone is very large, and the mozzarella sticks are fantastic. Friends raved about their pizza, too (I didn't have it myself). If near six flags, and looking for quick food, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Morgan H.
Yum, Yum, Yum!! Everything I have had at Mama K's is delicious and worth having again and again. The pizza is so good, and the ingredients are really high quality. The Chicken Mediterranean Pita - Can I please eat this everyday? I love that they kept the frozen yogurt when converting the store to Mama K's! It is the perfect way to end a great meal! Bravo, Mama K's! Bravo!
(5)
alyssa n.
We had amazing thin crust pizza after a long day at Great America with 3 kids. I was ready for some real food before the drive home and found Mama K's on Yelp. We arrived 3 minutes before closing time and were told very nicely that we could get a "made to order" pizza "to go" and that we were welcome to eat outside on their table and chairs. The kids were allowed to refill drinks as needed and the adults enjoyed nice cold beer as we waited. The hot pizza was ready in 15 minutes and we devoured it. Highly recommend this place for the excellent service and pizza.
(5)
Jenn M.
We took our two little goobers to Great America the other day, and having extensive Amusement Park knowledge we knew we wanted to have lunch outside the park ($9.00 corn dogs and $5.00 fountain drinks is insane, like Amanda Bynes insane...get help, girl!) I consulted my old friend Yelp and Mama K's looked promising. The place is small but welcoming, with a few tables outside as well. I think Mama K herself was the kind woman that took our order at the counter...that's always a nice touch. We ordered the old standby of chicken fingers and fries for the little goobers to share, my husband ordered the chicken gyro and I got the vegetarian gyro. The gyros came with a side of our choosing; fries, soup or salad. We each opted for the salad which was quite good. I had mine with their house Greek dressing which was delicious. The boys seemed to enjoy their food and my husband and I really enjoyed our gyros. We capped our lunch with some frozen yogurt which Mama K's also serves, that too was very tasty. It was evident how much the owner and staff truly cared and the restaurant truly embodies that great local place you want to succeed not only because the food and service are excellent but because you understand how vital locally owned businesses are to a community. We will certainly be back the next time we are headed to Great America. If you are in the area please check it out...I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
(4)
Amanda K.
After living in Gurnee for a year, we were sooo tired of what the chain resturants had to offer for food quality and service. We tried Mama Ks on a whim after checking their menu online and noticing they did gyros. There is not one decent place to order a delish gyro from in the Gurnee area! The gyro sammie here is fabulous! Meat is flavorful and sauce is just right (not chunky or void of flavor). Hubby tried the pizza...another quest in the area and it was a thumbs up. A fantastic thin crust with just enough zest in the sauce, not too sweet or overly herbified, and crisp flaky crust. We tried the chicken tenders for our little one and I have to say that I enjoyed some snack bites from them, as well. Service is spectacular - very attentive and inviting. Do not miss this place if you are in the area!
(4)
Rebecca H.
Friendly, quick and surprisingly decent prices! I love their gyros and gyro salads. I try and order from here once a week.
(5)
Kurt G.
INTRODUCTION Back in early 2009 or so, I was visiting TCBY Yogurt on my lunch break from work. This was a common stop, since the yogurt was incredibly delicious and healthy, and Renee (Mama K) was such a wonderful person talk to. I was fortunate to be one of the few to know about plans to create Mama K's, which was originally thought of as a panini and sandwich shop. I suggested to Renee that they should have pizza by the slice, since that was something that was absent in the Gurnee area. She mentioned they had a great homemade pizza recipe, and that it was a good idea. This mention also created a plethora of ideas and plans, which Mama K would tell me about every time I would visit. Calzones, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches were all being considered as well, with the decision to keep the delicious yogurt Gurnee has been enjoying for over 20 years (using Mama K's even tastier recipes). It took over a year to open, but finally in the Summer of 2010, Mama K's opened for business. FIRST EXPERIENCE (Pizza) The restaurant has been totally renovated since TCBY. The porcelain tile is beautiful, the walls are a very soothing color, and the atmosphere is cozy. Not to mention, Renee, James, and George always make you feel at home! I consider myself a pizza addict. It is very rare that I find a pizza that hits my taste-buds in a life-changing way. I was skeptical, especially at the mention of a homemade recipe that was considered "unique". I entered Mama K's, and Renee ordered up a sausage pizza. The pizza came to my table, and I was very impressed visually. Now, the big moment, the taste! As Renee sat, waiting for my initial reaction, I took a gigantic bite of the corner pizza. The crust was a perfect consistency...not too crispy, not too soft, PERFECT. There was just the right amount of cheese. The tomato sauce was slightly sweet, which enhanced the taste of the whole pizza. Finally, the sausage was TO DIE FOR! This is, by far, some of the best sausage I have ever tasted!!! After bringing in others to test the pizza, I have not had one friend leave without thinking this was one of the most unique and wonderfully flavored pizzas they have ever tasted! Two people I brought in even thought that it rivaled one of the best chain pizzas in town, and even one of the finest local establishments in town (I won't say who these are, because I still love their pizzas too...but I choose Mama K's for the price and quality of ingredients!!!)! Pizza by the slice with a drink runs less than $4.00, and the most expensive large specialty pizza (there are several!!!) is $20.50. A large, one topping pizza is only $15.00! THE REST OF THE FOOD AND EXPERIENCE I have tried so many things on the menu. Everything I have tried has been of A+ quality! Everything that is ordered is made from scratch, and the quality of the food certainly shows!!! So far I have tried the beer nuggets, pizza sausage bomber, chicken parmesan sandwich, gyro meat, cheeseburger, and the blackened chicken wrap. There is not one thing that I have been displeased with, and everything has been of superior quality and taste! However, NOTHING BEATS THE CALZONES AND MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN SANDWICH! The Mediterranean is, by a LONGSHOT, the BEST SANDWICH I have ever had! The yogurt Renee makes can be mistaken for ice cream, and is so much healthier! FINAL THOUGHT There are few restaurants that I rave about. I will visit some every few weeks because they are good, but there are few that make me want to visit several times a week. The cafe atmosphere, personable owners and staff, incredibly unique quality of the food that makes taste-buds dance, the healthy delicious desert, and VERY REASONABLE PRICES, makes this a place I visit at least three times a week. I cannot give a higher recommendation for a lunch or dinner stop than Mama K's. As Mama K would say about anything on the menu, and I think she is being rather humble, "Oh ya! It's very good!!!"
(5)
T P.
Best staff, so friendly and awesome. Great prices, and imo best gyro in Gurnee. Highly recommend this family business!
(5)
Patrick S.
I have been here a few times and everytime the food is great!!
(5)
T L.
The suburban cesspool known as Gurnee doesn't exactly inspire thoughts of pizza greatness, especially near ground zero of cultural/culinary bankruptcy - dead smack between Great America and Gurnee Mills. But in actuality there is a surprising glut of more-than-legit Chicago pizza chains within just a few mile radius: Jimano's and Rosati's pace the far-north suburb vanguard, with Giordano's serving adequately in a pinch (or, more than that for the misguided Ditka-loving sect who think Chicago-style pie should be served in quiche form). Amid such heavy hitters, an independent doe-tosser, with it's roots in Ames, Iowa no less, in a former frozen yogurt spot in a strip mall on Grand Ave would seem to be up against it... After all, this is still the land where Chili's passes for high-dining. Just how much top notch 'za is really being consumed?... Nothing from this preamble matters. Mama K stands on her own two feet, and would regardless of town or city. I'm not the kind of yelper to tout his pizza pedigree, nor will I lambast anyone else's personal favorites, but I have been around, tried some legendary pies, and yes, ok, I'll scoff at the Papa John's guy pulling up to your door. Most importantly though, I feel it deeply: Chicago thin crust is the best America has to offer. And this little outpost is proof that the Windy City paradigm bleeds and flows out into the nether regions of metropolitan land... The thin crust, perfect in it's ability to hold everything up but not too much to infiltrate taste zones with any excess doughiness, is prototypical of Chicago's so-called bar style, and hits the sweet spot of the sag/crisp compendium; the sauce is spiced, tangy and consistent; and with the just-starting-to-burn cheese lovingly bedding whichever your choice of topping (go pepperoni!) the overall construction is near-perfect. Then, of course, there's the Italian Beef - that indelible Chicago institution that might require a review of it's own.... Suffice it to say, Mama K's take would hold it's own against any of the dime-a-dozen corner hot dog joints that populate Chi's urban areas and serve the best... Overall: Mama K's is an inspired little outpost, battling both the big boys and the nadir of fine taste. This is far more than a pleasant, soulful, affordable pizza sanctuary after a day of food courts or 'Giant Drops', it's well worth a trip up (or down) I-94...
(5)
C B.
1st time here, I ordered a medium sausage & pepperoni pizza...my taste buds are in shocked its that damn good. I'm definitely coming back!
(4)
Val A.
I wasn't as blown away as all these other reviewers. I thought the pizza was fine but nothing special. The beer nuggets were also fine but nothing special. If you want a good pizza I recommend trying Galati's in lake villa. Also, if you want some good gyros try Nino's in Lindenhurst. I actually think Ninos is better than fodraks in libertyville too.
(2)
Simon P.
This really is a gem of place. The food is not fancy, but is wonderfully tasty. Their specialty pizzas are the best I've had. The owners are fantastic and go out of their way to make you welcome. Loads of healthy options on the menu, I eat here as often as I can.
(5)
Krista B.
The food is surprisingly good for a place with such a vast menu, and the woman (who I assume is an owner) is really sweet and you can tell she cares about her business. They are inexpensive and really close to Six Flags so you can leave and have some edible food that is affordable in a hurry. Most importantly, they actually put vegetables all over your side salad unlike any other restaurant in the world!!! Ice cream looked good too but didn't have any. Buffalo Chicken pita is ammmaazing if you don't mind the calories.
(5)
Charlie K.
Have been here multiple times and the food is always amazing and the service great!
(5)
Amy B.
My husband and I ordered pizza and appetizers from here. The pizza was great and so were the appetizers. For our family we ordered a Greeksa Pizza, Feta Fries, and Cheese Bread. The feta tasted fresh and the pizza was crunchy and delicious. The delivery took a little longer than they projected, but it was worth the wait. They have a large, appetizing menu. I look forward eating here more often.
(5)
Phil P.
This little family-owned joint is the best there is in all of grand ol' Gurnee. Having driven past it everyday for the past 2 months, I finally had a chance to stop in last Wednesday for a late lunch. Glad I beat the lunch rush, I found myself in an empty restaurant... no worries since it was during off-peak hours. Mama K herself was at the counter, and she sold me on the gyro quesadilla. The quesadilla came out in about 7 minutes. It was a huge tomato tortilla with feta, onions, tomatoes, and of course spit-roasted top notch gyro meat. The potions were very generous. There was gyro in every bite, and the homemade tzatziki is phenomenal. Although the food was awesome, it was the passion I saw in Mama K's eyes that really makes me love this place. She was so proud of the quality of her food, and she pours so much love into cooking it all. I loved it so much, I came back the very next day, and got a bangin' chicken pesto wrap. Keep it up, Mama K's. Just found my new Gurnee lunch favorite!
(5)
Stu H.
We stopped here after Gurnee Mills. We found it on Yelp and decided to stop because of the good reviews. My kids had pizza by the slice and all liked it. My wife and daughter LOVED the lemon rice soup. I had the Greek salad. The salad had the best Feta I've ever tasted! The staff was very friendly (Mama K waited on us). We will definitely be back when we are in the area!
(5)
Adam K.
Bison burger, I was very impressed she could tell me about it, I did not expect that. Mama K was behind the counter slangin foodstuffs. And I liked how she came out and asked me how everything tasted and made sure to wipe everything down and took my tray away. What a nice lady. But the food is super good also. I love the bun. Price is really good also. Place is super clean, which is great. Got the bison burger medium rare, cheddar, onion, mustard and fries. Man, I want another right now. I wish this was my momma, we have the same last initial. I will return to get the pizza.
(5)
Michelle M.
My family wanted to try a new pizza place this past weekend and had a coupon for Mama K's so we decided to give it a try. First we wanted delivery but for some reason on a Saturday night they stop delivering at 8. We thought that was weird but opted for pick up to give them a try. We had leftovers so we ended up eating their pizza two nights in a row. The day after first trying it we all had stomach aches but just figured greasy pizza would do that to ya. After the second time my husband and kids (ages 3&6) and I got violently ill for 12 plus hours. Something on those pizzas gave us the worst case of double duty (if you know what I mean) food poisoning we have ever had! We definitely won't be coming back here again!
(1)
Abby A.
This is a gem! The pizza is great and you can buy it by the slice. The calzones are huge and stuffed. The wraps are the best in Gurnee. The sandwiches are delicious and filling. I highly recommend trying it out. It is a small family owned business and has the charm of one too. You can tell the food is great because the place gets busier and busier time I go.
(5)
Ry G.
I've gone to Mama K's for both lunch and dinner; both times I enjoyed the food and friendly service. A large group of us split a couple of the specialty pizzas and enjoyed each one we tried. Definitely a good spot for a casual lunch or dinner any day of the week!
(5)
Laura K.
This continues to be the best pizza ever. We live a half mile from Mama K's and the food never disappoints. We order from there at least twice a week. The pizza is the winner hands down, but try the Mediteranean chicken sandwich with three kinds of cheese on a fresh pita. The burgers are great and the Italian beef. These local folks have it figured out and they pour on the hospitality.
(5)
Karma K.
Since we loved it so much the 1st time, we came back. And this time the owner gave us a sample of his olive oil. Have to say, I'm impressed. Being from a small island (Zakinthos) and having our own family olive orchard, I have to say...pretty amazing olive oil!
(5)
Michelle S.
This was my 1st time here, me and my son ordered a pepperoni sausage pizza! My tastebuds are dancing! DELICIOUS! Staff was super friendly too! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EATING HERE!
(5)
Alan M.
My Father and I came by this pizza destination before heading into Six Flags Great America. I stopped in on account of the Yelp rating! The reviews are accurate. Friendly staff and great eats all around. We had the feta fries that the front line worker suggested and a pepperoni pizza. The nice lady checked up to see how we liked the food. She also was kind enough to store our pizza in the cooler while we went into the park so it wouldn't go bad. We grabbed it on our way out and had some more on our way home! I highly recommend Mama K's!
(5)
Rachelle D.
Great food and it comes out pretty fast. If you're low on cash, hungry and in the area try their soup of the day! They're all great and less than 3$ for a bowl.
(5)
Ben H.
Fantastic service and quality food. I've been a few times and had pizza...tasty recipe and tasty crust. Would recommend it!
(5)
Brandee B.
We were staying nearby Six Flags. After a long day at the park, we were all hungry and tired. We called for delivery, and the guy that took out order was very friendly, and gave us good suggestions since it was our first time eating there. Pizza was delivered on time and piping hot! We had the sausage and pepperoni pizza which was great, but the wings were even better!
(5)
sat s.
What a wonderful experience. We were here after a long morning at Six Flags and from the first step into this establishment, we felt so welcome. Almost like family! The food was delicious, we ordered beer nuggets and 2 large pizzas! Everything was a great value and I can't say enough about the service. You've got to try this place!!
(5)
Beth A.
Went on a mini vacation one weekend this summer to Illinois Beach State Park and stopped here for lunch. Excellent clam chowder and the personal pan pizza was so good not too mention it was only $6.99!! Great prices and excellent food. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, quality bite to eat.
(5)
Gianna S.
YOU HAVE TO COME HERE!!!! Everything I have tried here has been AMAZING. From their appetizers and pizza's to their salads and ice cream. This place really wants you coming back for more and they have such a wide variety of choices for everyone to choose from. This is a family owned business who really know how to make their customers feel welcomed and provide a great dine in, pick up or catering experience. Definitely give them a try if you haven't done so already!
(5)
Shelley L.
Great little place with very friendly folks. Love their home made soups chilli. Have yet to try their pizza, but it looks great.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
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Lily L.
We live nearby and one day just decided to give this place a try. I had gyro sandwich which was phenomenal!!! Made our top 3 for sandwiches and pizza!
(5)Josh A.
Family of 4 traveling through an unfamiliar place and picked Mama K's, great choice. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I was skeptical about ordering the Italian Beef, server convinced me to order it and it was a home run! Wife had grilled chicken salad that was cooked perfectly and the kids had pizza - thin crust, was excellent. Oh, the Baklava is worth the $2.50! Hopefully we'll be the area again....
(5)Stu H.
We stopped here after Gurnee Mills. We found it on Yelp and decided to stop because of the good reviews. My kids had pizza by the slice and all liked it. My wife and daughter LOVED the lemon rice soup. I had the Greek salad. The salad had the best Feta I've ever tasted! The staff was very friendly (Mama K waited on us). We will definitely be back when we are in the area!
(5)Adam K.
Bison burger, I was very impressed she could tell me about it, I did not expect that. Mama K was behind the counter slangin foodstuffs. And I liked how she came out and asked me how everything tasted and made sure to wipe everything down and took my tray away. What a nice lady. But the food is super good also. I love the bun. Price is really good also. Place is super clean, which is great. Got the bison burger medium rare, cheddar, onion, mustard and fries. Man, I want another right now. I wish this was my momma, we have the same last initial. I will return to get the pizza.
(5)Alan M.
My Father and I came by this pizza destination before heading into Six Flags Great America. I stopped in on account of the Yelp rating! The reviews are accurate. Friendly staff and great eats all around. We had the feta fries that the front line worker suggested and a pepperoni pizza. The nice lady checked up to see how we liked the food. She also was kind enough to store our pizza in the cooler while we went into the park so it wouldn't go bad. We grabbed it on our way out and had some more on our way home! I highly recommend Mama K's!
(5)Karma K.
Since we loved it so much the 1st time, we came back. And this time the owner gave us a sample of his olive oil. Have to say, I'm impressed. Being from a small island (Zakinthos) and having our own family olive orchard, I have to say...pretty amazing olive oil!
(5)Michelle S.
This was my 1st time here, me and my son ordered a pepperoni sausage pizza! My tastebuds are dancing! DELICIOUS! Staff was super friendly too! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EATING HERE!
(5)Phil P.
This little family-owned joint is the best there is in all of grand ol' Gurnee. Having driven past it everyday for the past 2 months, I finally had a chance to stop in last Wednesday for a late lunch. Glad I beat the lunch rush, I found myself in an empty restaurant... no worries since it was during off-peak hours. Mama K herself was at the counter, and she sold me on the gyro quesadilla. The quesadilla came out in about 7 minutes. It was a huge tomato tortilla with feta, onions, tomatoes, and of course spit-roasted top notch gyro meat. The potions were very generous. There was gyro in every bite, and the homemade tzatziki is phenomenal. Although the food was awesome, it was the passion I saw in Mama K's eyes that really makes me love this place. She was so proud of the quality of her food, and she pours so much love into cooking it all. I loved it so much, I came back the very next day, and got a bangin' chicken pesto wrap. Keep it up, Mama K's. Just found my new Gurnee lunch favorite!
(5)Rachelle D.
Great food and it comes out pretty fast. If you're low on cash, hungry and in the area try their soup of the day! They're all great and less than 3$ for a bowl.
(5)Ben H.
Fantastic service and quality food. I've been a few times and had pizza...tasty recipe and tasty crust. Would recommend it!
(5)Brandee B.
We were staying nearby Six Flags. After a long day at the park, we were all hungry and tired. We called for delivery, and the guy that took out order was very friendly, and gave us good suggestions since it was our first time eating there. Pizza was delivered on time and piping hot! We had the sausage and pepperoni pizza which was great, but the wings were even better!
(5)sat s.
What a wonderful experience. We were here after a long morning at Six Flags and from the first step into this establishment, we felt so welcome. Almost like family! The food was delicious, we ordered beer nuggets and 2 large pizzas! Everything was a great value and I can't say enough about the service. You've got to try this place!!
(5)Beth A.
Went on a mini vacation one weekend this summer to Illinois Beach State Park and stopped here for lunch. Excellent clam chowder and the personal pan pizza was so good not too mention it was only $6.99!! Great prices and excellent food. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, quality bite to eat.
(5)Gianna S.
YOU HAVE TO COME HERE!!!! Everything I have tried here has been AMAZING. From their appetizers and pizza's to their salads and ice cream. This place really wants you coming back for more and they have such a wide variety of choices for everyone to choose from. This is a family owned business who really know how to make their customers feel welcomed and provide a great dine in, pick up or catering experience. Definitely give them a try if you haven't done so already!
(5)Shelley L.
Great little place with very friendly folks. Love their home made soups chilli. Have yet to try their pizza, but it looks great.
(5)Krista B.
The food is surprisingly good for a place with such a vast menu, and the woman (who I assume is an owner) is really sweet and you can tell she cares about her business. They are inexpensive and really close to Six Flags so you can leave and have some edible food that is affordable in a hurry. Most importantly, they actually put vegetables all over your side salad unlike any other restaurant in the world!!! Ice cream looked good too but didn't have any. Buffalo Chicken pita is ammmaazing if you don't mind the calories.
(5)Charlie K.
Have been here multiple times and the food is always amazing and the service great!
(5)Amy B.
My husband and I ordered pizza and appetizers from here. The pizza was great and so were the appetizers. For our family we ordered a Greeksa Pizza, Feta Fries, and Cheese Bread. The feta tasted fresh and the pizza was crunchy and delicious. The delivery took a little longer than they projected, but it was worth the wait. They have a large, appetizing menu. I look forward eating here more often.
(5)Andy F.
Really pretty good food served here! Although just a bit high in price, it's not ridiculous to pay for what you'll get. Located within a chain of stores and other food places, this little spot is quite the surprise! I have to agree, the pizza was by far, really really good in quality! My only negative to this is that it's kind of small, and i've felt a little uncomfortable here with my wife's family, but hey i'll shake it off because of the good food! I give them props, they do their best with what they have!
(4)Anthony M.
SWEET MAMA K It was the last day of Six Flags Great America, which is always a sad day in our family. We needed some lunch plus we never eat the crap in the park. Which lets us use to our Yelp App to search for amazing places. Today was one of those days where Yelp steered us to a great place. We were not looking for a huge meal but something simple. We walked in and decided to go with two bowls of the Lemon Rice Soup and one bowl of Chili. I had to be the one that had to be different. I did not get to try the soup but from the reaction of my family they really loved it. I must say that my chili was really good. In fact, I can not remember the last time I ordered chili in a restaurant. When I ordered my bowl they asked if I wanted cheddar and raw onions on top. I could not say no and was surprised to find out that it was no extra charge to add those on. Score! I also must mention that both were made fresh in house and not out of a can. What I really loved is that we sat down at our table and our food was delivered to us by two staff members at the same time. Honestly you never see that at a fast food place. This is something that is reserved for fine dinning. They could have just said, "Hey you pickup the soup and chili? Its ready!" and we would have probably found that acceptable. I loved this detail to customer service because it was a really nice touch. I must warn you that this place is small on the inside. I counted 7 tables and we were lucky to get the last empty table. I learned that they also have tables for the outside but with the cold weather they had already taken them down. Now I know there is outdoor seating for next season of Six Flags. As we were eating we kept talking to the lady who took our order, she kept coming by and we kept talking to her. Finally I asked, "Are you Mama K?" and she said, "Yes!" I love owners that care about there business. My wife also wanted to ask her what her favorite food on the menu was. That is always a hard question but I loved her answer. She told us the one item she did not like on the menu but the customers loved it, so she left it on. I found that an interesting response and then she went on to tell us that she loved everything else on her menu. We kept digging deeper and she revealed some of her favorites. I know on my next visit I want the marinated chicken because it sounds delicious. I also want to try the house made sausage. Yes they make there own sausage. You can get it on a sandwich or on there pizza. Mama K was very nice and we had a great time talking to her. She told us that she had owned the TCBY here for 23 years and the franchise was gone now. She was also very happy to be able to serve her own food and she was making the soft serve yogurt herself. I can see why she has had a successful business because she cares about serving good food and taking care of her customers. Those two points alone can make a successful business. I also found it special that they were selling bottles of there family olive oil at the front counter. For $15 you could take home a bottle for yourself. The bottles also had 4 different labels but my two favorites were of the grandparents from Greece working with the olives. What a great tribute to the family by having them on the label. Yes there are many things to love about this place. First the homemade food made with love from Mama K and second the hospitality & customer service you will receive when you eat here. I am a little sad that we did not eat here earlier in the roller coaster season. This place is a find and one of the closest non-chains near the front gate of Six Flags. So we will have to put our dinning adventures here on hold until the park opens again but I can hardly wait to eat here next season.
(5)Norilynn B.
Mama K's has easily become one of my favorite restaurants. I've had a couple of different salads, pizza, a calzone, yogurt, chili, and all of them have been very good! Great service and the owner and family are very friendly! Definitely recommend it!
(5)Kristen H.
This is a go to spot for my daughter and I. Some of our favorites are the bacon chicken ranch quesadilla. I get it with just a little ranch, but my daughter likes it as is. It's sooo good and she usually can't finish it all. Sometimes we're just in the mood for a good ole pizza puff and fries. I like the food and I like the fact that it's a family owned business and they want to make sure you're happy. They have some other really good specials too, I just can't remember them right now. Make sure you check the specials board before you order because that's where I usually order from.
(4)Cathryn W.
Saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to give this place a shot. I went on the way home from work and it was packed! There were a bunch of little kids and a huge family in front of me ordering their meal. The young girl in the group was apologetic to me that her family was taking so long to order which was nice. The additional cashier came out from behind the counter and took my order which was also appreciated as I didn't have to wait for the family to finish. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is because I had to wait probably 20 minutes for my to go order. I ordered a salad and cup of soup. Also, the portion size of the salad was small for what I paid. I don't mind paying $9 for salad if it's big. This was not exceptionally large. The food quality was good but I'm not so sure I'll be making a special trip to go back.
(3)Michael R.
I'll echo what other reviewers have said-this is a good quick service (not fast food) place for lunch away from all of the chain places in the area. The staff (mother and son owners) were very accommodating for our large group of 10 even though there isn't a lot of space in the storefront location for dine in customers. Good pizza slices, salads and burgers with choices from the basic, counter service type, plus a lot of Greek choices for sandwiches and salads. The fro-yo/ice cream part of the counter and menu area dwarfs the restaurant part. I don't know if they sell that much of it-they must-but the food is good and prices are o.k.
(4)John A.
1st pizza here and went for the long shot. Ordered the Athenian pizza with gyros, onions, tomatoes and feta with tzatziki sauce on the side. Chose the hand rolled crust. My hopes were not hight as this to me was a reach in concept. Surprise! It was good. The place is small and in a strip mall. Service was good. Next time I will keep it more traditional and report back... Higher expectations now.
(4)Stacey M.
AMAZING!!! We ordered take away and it was absolutely delicious. This IS the real deal. Small Greek owned family business with wonderful charm. We ordered a pepperoni and cheese pizza, a chicken & cheese calzone, spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken noodle soup to die for. The aroma was bursting through the boxes. The ingredients were fresh. We've visited both Greece and Italy and would rate their marinara so much better. This will be our new italian spot! Looking forward to meeting Mama K and trying the homemade olive oil.
(5)A G.
Fantastic service! Fresh, great food! Great small business! They should be featured on Chicago's Best!
(5)Sean H.
We just had a pizza and the beer nuggets from Mama K's. It was delicious! The pizza sauce was great, the crust was thin and crispy. The beer nuggets are rolled in garlic and Parmesan and are addicting.
(5)Rick R.
Stopped in here for lunch on my way back from a funeral in Chicago. I wasn't hungry when I was in Chicago and I wanted to get the heck out of the loop as quickly as possible. I pulled up my Yelp app and saw this place had a high rating in Gurnee. I ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich and fries. The chicken was very well-seasoned, grilled and diced. It was served on delicious toasted, Italian garlic bread with plenty of butter. The cheese and marinara sauce added great flavors. I wasn't a fan of the fries and I'm very picky about my fries. I just didn't care for the texture and flavor. My friend ordered the Mediterranean Chicken sandwich and raved about it. The table next to us ordered a large pizza. It was thin crust and looked crispy and delicious. If I'm ever in the area again, I may go back and try the pizza.
(3)Tom J.
This is a great pizza place located across the street from Great America. Prices are very fair for the food you get. The employees are very nice. The only drawback is there is very limited seating in this place as it is located in a strip mall. Otherwise great place to go to avoid Great America's pricey food.
(4)Michelle Z.
The pizza wasn't very good, too dry, and the frozen yogurt choices were very limited.
(2)Sara B.
Lovely Lovely LOVELY place. The owner was so friendly and nice. The food was delicious, fresh and so good! A must go to!!!
(5)Notah K.
Love this place ! Awesome Food friendly family and lots of variety ! MY FAV. the beer nuggest so good and fresh! Love the ice cream lots of toppings to choose from! Pizza is amazing and the gyro is just what im looking for. check this place out and they also have a facebook that offers the soup of the day that im always ordering!
(5)Christina F.
Everything is fresh and homemade. Renee gets many ingredients from her own garden. Come here and you will return often
(5)Hannah G.
I've had several things off Mama K's menu - tuna melt, pizza, mozzarella sticks, lemon rice soup, salad, Italian beef sandwich... the list goes on. Every thing I've ever had here has been excellent, and it's all made from scratch. I especially recommend the lemon rice soup, it is simply amazing. Mama K is in the restaurant regularly and is a real sweetie. Everything is more expensive than what you'd pay at a fast food joint, but you get SO MUCH food, it's worth it. Word of advice, if you do get the pizza, I would stay away from the sausage. Though it is delicious, both my husband and I have experienced the sausage 'sticking with you' for days (meaning, burping up sausage breath for a loooong time.)
(5)Debbie Z.
TUNA MELT!!!!! PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! And, Love how the owner cooks and personally thanks you for your business!!!!!!! We tried the new place down the street tonight next to Baskin Robbins, and left feeling sad and mad that we just didn't fly over to MAMA K's for our usual.
(5)Michael B.
Came here for lunch today, and was surprised how many people were coming in! There were only a few, dirty, tables, but people would share small tables with other patrons to eat. I ordered a gyro and fries, which was better than I expected! The meat was good, sauce and toppings all in perfect proportion. I would definitely recommend it for a quick bite to eat for lunch.
(4)Andrew W.
What a gem in a place you wouldn't expect anything but fast food. All made from scratch, all delicious.
(5)Michael L.
Excellent food and Renee (mama k) is very friendly. They also bottle their own olive oil. Soup has been wonderful every time. Rosa Marina and Lemon Rice are personal favorites.
(5)Karina F.
We were there last Sunday on a snowy day. We wanted to check it out based on the good Yelp reviews and we were not disappointed. The lemon rice soup was just what the weather called for. It was hot and delicious. I orders one burger and a aide of fries for my daughters which I split in half and it more than sufficed. The hubby and I had sandwiches. He had a pork one and I had a chicken on (the names escape me now) and we found them to be tasty. We topped it all off with ice cream (kid sizes more than enough). Will definitely go back to try the pizza. It looked good!
(5)Dawn J.
Awesome!!! awesome!!! awesome pizza and service!!!! Had pepperoni and sausage w extra cheese. Not a crum left! Magnificent is all I can say!
(5)Cheyenne J.
This is a great mom and pop local place to eat! I live 45 minutes away so I not able to eat here as often as I'd like, but whenever I'm in town visiting a girlfriend, we eat here. They have the best grilled chicken Greek salad! I think the olive oil they use makes it magical. If u have a special request, just ask, they'll make it your way. Save room for dessert... The low carb fro yo is delicious too!!
(5)Joleen C.
Awesome service with excellent food. Great place to grab some great Greek food and some fro yo for dessert. Mama K is very excited about her menu and provides great suggestions. Many items come fresh from the garden. Great place to hit up after a day riding the roller coasters at 6 flags.
(5)Maria S.
Great fries, great place, great atmosphere. Workers are friendly and the atmosphere is inviting. Great place to stop at after six flags for an inexpensive meal, unlike the hefty prices offered at the park. Highly recommended.
(5)Caleb B.
Always interested in quality gyro and beef places, I visited this one with a friend who knows his Greek food; he had said the owners were Greeks and excellent cooks (they also own highly rated Captain Porky's in Wadsworth). I tried the Souvlaki with pita instead of a gyro and was delighted. The chunks of pork were savory, the vegetables were fresh, and the portion size was large. The frozen yogurt was rich, you must try it if you visit. Mama K's is my Go-To place for gyros and greek now.
(5)Lauren N.
Had lunch here with my brother today, and it was great! I took the advice of other reviews and had the Mediterranean sandwich which was excellent! It came with fries which were also very good. My brother had the chicken Parmesan sandwich with soup, both looked and smelled awesome. We both loved the food! Mama K was very nice and was running the front by herself, which she did perfectly even as busy as it was. Great good, service, nice little dining area. Overall a nice locally owned business that I will be coming back to frequently!
(5)Amanda J.
My fiancee and I went to Mama K's because they had such good Yelp reviews. We were slightly disappointed and expected better. We got a large sausage and green pepper pizza and cheese sticks. When we went in to pick it up we were informed that they had ran out of the cheese sticks and offered us the beer nuggets instead. The staff was very nice and patient as we ended up deciding to get shakes as well. We took our food home and the pizza was just okay. I think the sauce could be better. The beer nuggets were pretty good and you get a large portion. All in all, they are okay but not great. Better than Domino's or Pizza Hut.
(3)Everett W.
Thank you Mama K's Pizza! You were fantastic in coordinating everything for our daughter's birthday. Pizza was great. The ice cream cake was excellent! And your attention to detail and service was impeccable. (Renee Kallianis and James, owners, even saved the left over cake in their freezer while we partied at Key Lime Cove for the weekend, and picked it up on our way back home. You both rock!)
(5)Bernardo S.
Always great service, at times the food can be hit or miss but typically pretty darn good! Just shows that treating customers like customers goes a long way. If they had so so service I may never go back but pretty good food and always friendly.. Well that just don't happen often!
(4)Beth M.
This was a refreshing find. Not only did my picky daughter love the chicken tenders, they made calzones just the way I love them. I have tried since I left New England to find a calzone with the sauce on the inside, with just mozzarella. The staff here was amazingly friendly, and very helpful. My family and I will definitely be back.
(5)T G.
The owners (Mother and son) are so friendly and outgoing....this place really is a Gurnee "home town diner"....with lots of locals coming in and out. I've been coming to Mama Ks for 13 years plus---most of that time when they were just TCBY. The pizza is good---not quite as good as Kaisers but a good alternative especially with their home made Italian sausage. I like their gyros and the chili is very good as well. Top it off with some frozen yogurt for desert and you have a good meal for a very reasonable price. I bet with more time under their belt, Mama K's will get even better and better.
(4)Smitty J.
Excellent food and pizza. The service is top notch and fast. Recently when the wife and I were there the place was swamped. People still got there food fast and the owner, who by the way was the person taking orders, still found time to ask the customers how the food was and if they were doing ok. If you are there for pizza by the slice you might consider their personal pizza. The 2 topping thin crust is just $6.99. It is made HOTTT, fresh, with a crispy crust and is very tasty.
(5)Derek S.
GREAT MOM AND POP eatery. I've been going here for years. Before it was just ice cream, now it's burgers, hot dogs, an pizza. I recently ordered a cheeseburger and fries and it was really good. Fries can usually make or break a place but there fries taste fresh and great. Good job to Mama Ks I will defiantly be returning.
(5)Ed F.
Great little neighborhood joint Wife and I each ordered a meal. Food was tasty, service was VERY attentive, good portions, and competitive prices. Everything I saw at other tables, looked just as good, with large portions. Definitely heading back - maybe for a pizza or a sandwich.
(5)Jason Z.
A smaller joint that has a very laid-back feel. I have never ordered anything here that I haven't loved. The calzone is very large, and the mozzarella sticks are fantastic. Friends raved about their pizza, too (I didn't have it myself). If near six flags, and looking for quick food, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Joe K.
Awesome friendly service. The owners treat you like they just opened their business and you are their most important customer. Food is delicious and menu extensive.
(5)Vincenzo C.
Pizza is one of my all-time favorite foods and I am a bit of a pizza snob :(. I have had pizza all over the US and in Italy, some very good and some very bad. This pizza I got today was one of the best ever - no exaggeration! The ingredients are top notch, the employees are very nice and the place is very clean (always a good thing). Be back soon Mama K!
(5)Brian G.
Wonderful family place. Small seating area adds too the ambiance. Has the Porsticho with Greek salad. There was a military gentleman who came in with a large family. They gave him an appetizer and free dessert to celebrate his graduation from Great Lakes. While we did not partake, there was quite a bit of action on the frozen yogurt bar.
(5)Mad I.
We were dying for a local spot to go to in Gurnee and this place was first on the list. I love Hayashi for sushi, but what I am craving is a place with a lot of american go-to food. I am still distressed about my all time fav (and I worked there in High school!) closing down in McHenry...shout to Don! Fountain Pepsi products!! My heart is already won :) So, how can you go wrong when the owner is so sweet and working the counter herself?! We tried the gyro and the beef sammie (see my pics) Beef sammie def delivered with melted mozz and some yummie aus jus. Gyro sammie was good, needed more tzatziki and a more generous amount of meat. Competing with Fodracks in Liberty thrill is not easy! Fries were awesome, they were the crispy kind, coated basically, and Mamma K brought me out some ranch and also came to see how everything was...nice touch!
(4)Kate B.
When you've got a whole group of tired Rennies who need a feedin' after a long weekend, it's tough to find a good place that's open late enough, has good food, and that's welcoming. This place is all three. They were even kind enough to let us finish off our food while they closed up, which was awfully kind of them. My Italian Beef was FANTASTIC, and the cheese stick I filched from my friend was also delicious. Because of a little bitty goof on my friend's pizza, they treated us to dessert (which they didn't have to do!), and the white chocolate mousse soft serve was AWESOME. We WILL be back, and we promise not to keep you guys late!
(5)Anna C.
Visiting from arkansas, saw reviews on trip advisor. Pizza was excellent! Sauce not too rich. My dad had the ribs...meh, overcooked then reheated not very good. Service was friendly. Customers were friendly as well. Pizza is excruciatingly hot wen brought out, heads up. If u want a good chicago style pizza here's the place! W/in walking distance of hotel.
(4)Jenn M.
We took our two little goobers to Great America the other day, and having extensive Amusement Park knowledge we knew we wanted to have lunch outside the park ($9.00 corn dogs and $5.00 fountain drinks is insane, like Amanda Bynes insane...get help, girl!) I consulted my old friend Yelp and Mama K's looked promising. The place is small but welcoming, with a few tables outside as well. I think Mama K herself was the kind woman that took our order at the counter...that's always a nice touch. We ordered the old standby of chicken fingers and fries for the little goobers to share, my husband ordered the chicken gyro and I got the vegetarian gyro. The gyros came with a side of our choosing; fries, soup or salad. We each opted for the salad which was quite good. I had mine with their house Greek dressing which was delicious. The boys seemed to enjoy their food and my husband and I really enjoyed our gyros. We capped our lunch with some frozen yogurt which Mama K's also serves, that too was very tasty. It was evident how much the owner and staff truly cared and the restaurant truly embodies that great local place you want to succeed not only because the food and service are excellent but because you understand how vital locally owned businesses are to a community. We will certainly be back the next time we are headed to Great America. If you are in the area please check it out...I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
(4)Amanda K.
After living in Gurnee for a year, we were sooo tired of what the chain resturants had to offer for food quality and service. We tried Mama Ks on a whim after checking their menu online and noticing they did gyros. There is not one decent place to order a delish gyro from in the Gurnee area! The gyro sammie here is fabulous! Meat is flavorful and sauce is just right (not chunky or void of flavor). Hubby tried the pizza...another quest in the area and it was a thumbs up. A fantastic thin crust with just enough zest in the sauce, not too sweet or overly herbified, and crisp flaky crust. We tried the chicken tenders for our little one and I have to say that I enjoyed some snack bites from them, as well. Service is spectacular - very attentive and inviting. Do not miss this place if you are in the area!
(4)Rebecca H.
Friendly, quick and surprisingly decent prices! I love their gyros and gyro salads. I try and order from here once a week.
(5)Kurt G.
INTRODUCTION Back in early 2009 or so, I was visiting TCBY Yogurt on my lunch break from work. This was a common stop, since the yogurt was incredibly delicious and healthy, and Renee (Mama K) was such a wonderful person talk to. I was fortunate to be one of the few to know about plans to create Mama K's, which was originally thought of as a panini and sandwich shop. I suggested to Renee that they should have pizza by the slice, since that was something that was absent in the Gurnee area. She mentioned they had a great homemade pizza recipe, and that it was a good idea. This mention also created a plethora of ideas and plans, which Mama K would tell me about every time I would visit. Calzones, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches were all being considered as well, with the decision to keep the delicious yogurt Gurnee has been enjoying for over 20 years (using Mama K's even tastier recipes). It took over a year to open, but finally in the Summer of 2010, Mama K's opened for business. FIRST EXPERIENCE (Pizza) The restaurant has been totally renovated since TCBY. The porcelain tile is beautiful, the walls are a very soothing color, and the atmosphere is cozy. Not to mention, Renee, James, and George always make you feel at home! I consider myself a pizza addict. It is very rare that I find a pizza that hits my taste-buds in a life-changing way. I was skeptical, especially at the mention of a homemade recipe that was considered "unique". I entered Mama K's, and Renee ordered up a sausage pizza. The pizza came to my table, and I was very impressed visually. Now, the big moment, the taste! As Renee sat, waiting for my initial reaction, I took a gigantic bite of the corner pizza. The crust was a perfect consistency...not too crispy, not too soft, PERFECT. There was just the right amount of cheese. The tomato sauce was slightly sweet, which enhanced the taste of the whole pizza. Finally, the sausage was TO DIE FOR! This is, by far, some of the best sausage I have ever tasted!!! After bringing in others to test the pizza, I have not had one friend leave without thinking this was one of the most unique and wonderfully flavored pizzas they have ever tasted! Two people I brought in even thought that it rivaled one of the best chain pizzas in town, and even one of the finest local establishments in town (I won't say who these are, because I still love their pizzas too...but I choose Mama K's for the price and quality of ingredients!!!)! Pizza by the slice with a drink runs less than $4.00, and the most expensive large specialty pizza (there are several!!!) is $20.50. A large, one topping pizza is only $15.00! THE REST OF THE FOOD AND EXPERIENCE I have tried so many things on the menu. Everything I have tried has been of A+ quality! Everything that is ordered is made from scratch, and the quality of the food certainly shows!!! So far I have tried the beer nuggets, pizza sausage bomber, chicken parmesan sandwich, gyro meat, cheeseburger, and the blackened chicken wrap. There is not one thing that I have been displeased with, and everything has been of superior quality and taste! However, NOTHING BEATS THE CALZONES AND MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN SANDWICH! The Mediterranean is, by a LONGSHOT, the BEST SANDWICH I have ever had! The yogurt Renee makes can be mistaken for ice cream, and is so much healthier! FINAL THOUGHT There are few restaurants that I rave about. I will visit some every few weeks because they are good, but there are few that make me want to visit several times a week. The cafe atmosphere, personable owners and staff, incredibly unique quality of the food that makes taste-buds dance, the healthy delicious desert, and VERY REASONABLE PRICES, makes this a place I visit at least three times a week. I cannot give a higher recommendation for a lunch or dinner stop than Mama K's. As Mama K would say about anything on the menu, and I think she is being rather humble, "Oh ya! It's very good!!!"
(5)Morgan H.
Yum, Yum, Yum!! Everything I have had at Mama K's is delicious and worth having again and again. The pizza is so good, and the ingredients are really high quality. The Chicken Mediterranean Pita - Can I please eat this everyday? I love that they kept the frozen yogurt when converting the store to Mama K's! It is the perfect way to end a great meal! Bravo, Mama K's! Bravo!
(5)alyssa n.
We had amazing thin crust pizza after a long day at Great America with 3 kids. I was ready for some real food before the drive home and found Mama K's on Yelp. We arrived 3 minutes before closing time and were told very nicely that we could get a "made to order" pizza "to go" and that we were welcome to eat outside on their table and chairs. The kids were allowed to refill drinks as needed and the adults enjoyed nice cold beer as we waited. The hot pizza was ready in 15 minutes and we devoured it. Highly recommend this place for the excellent service and pizza.
(5)T P.
Best staff, so friendly and awesome. Great prices, and imo best gyro in Gurnee. Highly recommend this family business!
(5)Patrick S.
I have been here a few times and everytime the food is great!!
(5)T L.
The suburban cesspool known as Gurnee doesn't exactly inspire thoughts of pizza greatness, especially near ground zero of cultural/culinary bankruptcy - dead smack between Great America and Gurnee Mills. But in actuality there is a surprising glut of more-than-legit Chicago pizza chains within just a few mile radius: Jimano's and Rosati's pace the far-north suburb vanguard, with Giordano's serving adequately in a pinch (or, more than that for the misguided Ditka-loving sect who think Chicago-style pie should be served in quiche form). Amid such heavy hitters, an independent doe-tosser, with it's roots in Ames, Iowa no less, in a former frozen yogurt spot in a strip mall on Grand Ave would seem to be up against it... After all, this is still the land where Chili's passes for high-dining. Just how much top notch 'za is really being consumed?... Nothing from this preamble matters. Mama K stands on her own two feet, and would regardless of town or city. I'm not the kind of yelper to tout his pizza pedigree, nor will I lambast anyone else's personal favorites, but I have been around, tried some legendary pies, and yes, ok, I'll scoff at the Papa John's guy pulling up to your door. Most importantly though, I feel it deeply: Chicago thin crust is the best America has to offer. And this little outpost is proof that the Windy City paradigm bleeds and flows out into the nether regions of metropolitan land... The thin crust, perfect in it's ability to hold everything up but not too much to infiltrate taste zones with any excess doughiness, is prototypical of Chicago's so-called bar style, and hits the sweet spot of the sag/crisp compendium; the sauce is spiced, tangy and consistent; and with the just-starting-to-burn cheese lovingly bedding whichever your choice of topping (go pepperoni!) the overall construction is near-perfect. Then, of course, there's the Italian Beef - that indelible Chicago institution that might require a review of it's own.... Suffice it to say, Mama K's take would hold it's own against any of the dime-a-dozen corner hot dog joints that populate Chi's urban areas and serve the best... Overall: Mama K's is an inspired little outpost, battling both the big boys and the nadir of fine taste. This is far more than a pleasant, soulful, affordable pizza sanctuary after a day of food courts or 'Giant Drops', it's well worth a trip up (or down) I-94...
(5)C B.
1st time here, I ordered a medium sausage & pepperoni pizza...my taste buds are in shocked its that damn good. I'm definitely coming back!
(4)Val A.
I wasn't as blown away as all these other reviewers. I thought the pizza was fine but nothing special. The beer nuggets were also fine but nothing special. If you want a good pizza I recommend trying Galati's in lake villa. Also, if you want some good gyros try Nino's in Lindenhurst. I actually think Ninos is better than fodraks in libertyville too.
(2)Simon P.
This really is a gem of place. The food is not fancy, but is wonderfully tasty. Their specialty pizzas are the best I've had. The owners are fantastic and go out of their way to make you welcome. Loads of healthy options on the menu, I eat here as often as I can.
(5)Michelle M.
My family wanted to try a new pizza place this past weekend and had a coupon for Mama K's so we decided to give it a try. First we wanted delivery but for some reason on a Saturday night they stop delivering at 8. We thought that was weird but opted for pick up to give them a try. We had leftovers so we ended up eating their pizza two nights in a row. The day after first trying it we all had stomach aches but just figured greasy pizza would do that to ya. After the second time my husband and kids (ages 3&6) and I got violently ill for 12 plus hours. Something on those pizzas gave us the worst case of double duty (if you know what I mean) food poisoning we have ever had! We definitely won't be coming back here again!
(1)Abby A.
This is a gem! The pizza is great and you can buy it by the slice. The calzones are huge and stuffed. The wraps are the best in Gurnee. The sandwiches are delicious and filling. I highly recommend trying it out. It is a small family owned business and has the charm of one too. You can tell the food is great because the place gets busier and busier time I go.
(5)Ry G.
I've gone to Mama K's for both lunch and dinner; both times I enjoyed the food and friendly service. A large group of us split a couple of the specialty pizzas and enjoyed each one we tried. Definitely a good spot for a casual lunch or dinner any day of the week!
(5)Laura K.
This continues to be the best pizza ever. We live a half mile from Mama K's and the food never disappoints. We order from there at least twice a week. The pizza is the winner hands down, but try the Mediteranean chicken sandwich with three kinds of cheese on a fresh pita. The burgers are great and the Italian beef. These local folks have it figured out and they pour on the hospitality.
(5)Andy F.
Really pretty good food served here! Although just a bit high in price, it's not ridiculous to pay for what you'll get. Located within a chain of stores and other food places, this little spot is quite the surprise! I have to agree, the pizza was by far, really really good in quality! My only negative to this is that it's kind of small, and i've felt a little uncomfortable here with my wife's family, but hey i'll shake it off because of the good food! I give them props, they do their best with what they have!
(4)Lily L.
We live nearby and one day just decided to give this place a try. I had gyro sandwich which was phenomenal!!! Made our top 3 for sandwiches and pizza!
(5)Josh A.
Family of 4 traveling through an unfamiliar place and picked Mama K's, great choice. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I was skeptical about ordering the Italian Beef, server convinced me to order it and it was a home run! Wife had grilled chicken salad that was cooked perfectly and the kids had pizza - thin crust, was excellent. Oh, the Baklava is worth the $2.50! Hopefully we'll be the area again....
(5)Norilynn B.
Mama K's has easily become one of my favorite restaurants. I've had a couple of different salads, pizza, a calzone, yogurt, chili, and all of them have been very good! Great service and the owner and family are very friendly! Definitely recommend it!
(5)Joe K.
Awesome friendly service. The owners treat you like they just opened their business and you are their most important customer. Food is delicious and menu extensive.
(5)Vincenzo C.
Pizza is one of my all-time favorite foods and I am a bit of a pizza snob :(. I have had pizza all over the US and in Italy, some very good and some very bad. This pizza I got today was one of the best ever - no exaggeration! The ingredients are top notch, the employees are very nice and the place is very clean (always a good thing). Be back soon Mama K!
(5)Mad I.
We were dying for a local spot to go to in Gurnee and this place was first on the list. I love Hayashi for sushi, but what I am craving is a place with a lot of american go-to food. I am still distressed about my all time fav (and I worked there in High school!) closing down in McHenry...shout to Don! Fountain Pepsi products!! My heart is already won :) So, how can you go wrong when the owner is so sweet and working the counter herself?! We tried the gyro and the beef sammie (see my pics) Beef sammie def delivered with melted mozz and some yummie aus jus. Gyro sammie was good, needed more tzatziki and a more generous amount of meat. Competing with Fodracks in Liberty thrill is not easy! Fries were awesome, they were the crispy kind, coated basically, and Mamma K brought me out some ranch and also came to see how everything was...nice touch!
(4)Kate B.
When you've got a whole group of tired Rennies who need a feedin' after a long weekend, it's tough to find a good place that's open late enough, has good food, and that's welcoming. This place is all three. They were even kind enough to let us finish off our food while they closed up, which was awfully kind of them. My Italian Beef was FANTASTIC, and the cheese stick I filched from my friend was also delicious. Because of a little bitty goof on my friend's pizza, they treated us to dessert (which they didn't have to do!), and the white chocolate mousse soft serve was AWESOME. We WILL be back, and we promise not to keep you guys late!
(5)Anna C.
Visiting from arkansas, saw reviews on trip advisor. Pizza was excellent! Sauce not too rich. My dad had the ribs...meh, overcooked then reheated not very good. Service was friendly. Customers were friendly as well. Pizza is excruciatingly hot wen brought out, heads up. If u want a good chicago style pizza here's the place! W/in walking distance of hotel.
(4)Cathryn W.
Saw the great reviews on Yelp and decided to give this place a shot. I went on the way home from work and it was packed! There were a bunch of little kids and a huge family in front of me ordering their meal. The young girl in the group was apologetic to me that her family was taking so long to order which was nice. The additional cashier came out from behind the counter and took my order which was also appreciated as I didn't have to wait for the family to finish. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is because I had to wait probably 20 minutes for my to go order. I ordered a salad and cup of soup. Also, the portion size of the salad was small for what I paid. I don't mind paying $9 for salad if it's big. This was not exceptionally large. The food quality was good but I'm not so sure I'll be making a special trip to go back.
(3)Anthony M.
SWEET MAMA K It was the last day of Six Flags Great America, which is always a sad day in our family. We needed some lunch plus we never eat the crap in the park. Which lets us use to our Yelp App to search for amazing places. Today was one of those days where Yelp steered us to a great place. We were not looking for a huge meal but something simple. We walked in and decided to go with two bowls of the Lemon Rice Soup and one bowl of Chili. I had to be the one that had to be different. I did not get to try the soup but from the reaction of my family they really loved it. I must say that my chili was really good. In fact, I can not remember the last time I ordered chili in a restaurant. When I ordered my bowl they asked if I wanted cheddar and raw onions on top. I could not say no and was surprised to find out that it was no extra charge to add those on. Score! I also must mention that both were made fresh in house and not out of a can. What I really loved is that we sat down at our table and our food was delivered to us by two staff members at the same time. Honestly you never see that at a fast food place. This is something that is reserved for fine dinning. They could have just said, "Hey you pickup the soup and chili? Its ready!" and we would have probably found that acceptable. I loved this detail to customer service because it was a really nice touch. I must warn you that this place is small on the inside. I counted 7 tables and we were lucky to get the last empty table. I learned that they also have tables for the outside but with the cold weather they had already taken them down. Now I know there is outdoor seating for next season of Six Flags. As we were eating we kept talking to the lady who took our order, she kept coming by and we kept talking to her. Finally I asked, "Are you Mama K?" and she said, "Yes!" I love owners that care about there business. My wife also wanted to ask her what her favorite food on the menu was. That is always a hard question but I loved her answer. She told us the one item she did not like on the menu but the customers loved it, so she left it on. I found that an interesting response and then she went on to tell us that she loved everything else on her menu. We kept digging deeper and she revealed some of her favorites. I know on my next visit I want the marinated chicken because it sounds delicious. I also want to try the house made sausage. Yes they make there own sausage. You can get it on a sandwich or on there pizza. Mama K was very nice and we had a great time talking to her. She told us that she had owned the TCBY here for 23 years and the franchise was gone now. She was also very happy to be able to serve her own food and she was making the soft serve yogurt herself. I can see why she has had a successful business because she cares about serving good food and taking care of her customers. Those two points alone can make a successful business. I also found it special that they were selling bottles of there family olive oil at the front counter. For $15 you could take home a bottle for yourself. The bottles also had 4 different labels but my two favorites were of the grandparents from Greece working with the olives. What a great tribute to the family by having them on the label. Yes there are many things to love about this place. First the homemade food made with love from Mama K and second the hospitality & customer service you will receive when you eat here. I am a little sad that we did not eat here earlier in the roller coaster season. This place is a find and one of the closest non-chains near the front gate of Six Flags. So we will have to put our dinning adventures here on hold until the park opens again but I can hardly wait to eat here next season.
(5)Michael R.
I'll echo what other reviewers have said-this is a good quick service (not fast food) place for lunch away from all of the chain places in the area. The staff (mother and son owners) were very accommodating for our large group of 10 even though there isn't a lot of space in the storefront location for dine in customers. Good pizza slices, salads and burgers with choices from the basic, counter service type, plus a lot of Greek choices for sandwiches and salads. The fro-yo/ice cream part of the counter and menu area dwarfs the restaurant part. I don't know if they sell that much of it-they must-but the food is good and prices are o.k.
(4)Brian G.
Wonderful family place. Small seating area adds too the ambiance. Has the Porsticho with Greek salad. There was a military gentleman who came in with a large family. They gave him an appetizer and free dessert to celebrate his graduation from Great Lakes. While we did not partake, there was quite a bit of action on the frozen yogurt bar.
(5)John A.
1st pizza here and went for the long shot. Ordered the Athenian pizza with gyros, onions, tomatoes and feta with tzatziki sauce on the side. Chose the hand rolled crust. My hopes were not hight as this to me was a reach in concept. Surprise! It was good. The place is small and in a strip mall. Service was good. Next time I will keep it more traditional and report back... Higher expectations now.
(4)Stacey M.
AMAZING!!! We ordered take away and it was absolutely delicious. This IS the real deal. Small Greek owned family business with wonderful charm. We ordered a pepperoni and cheese pizza, a chicken & cheese calzone, spaghetti with meat sauce and chicken noodle soup to die for. The aroma was bursting through the boxes. The ingredients were fresh. We've visited both Greece and Italy and would rate their marinara so much better. This will be our new italian spot! Looking forward to meeting Mama K and trying the homemade olive oil.
(5)A G.
Fantastic service! Fresh, great food! Great small business! They should be featured on Chicago's Best!
(5)Sean H.
We just had a pizza and the beer nuggets from Mama K's. It was delicious! The pizza sauce was great, the crust was thin and crispy. The beer nuggets are rolled in garlic and Parmesan and are addicting.
(5)Kristen H.
This is a go to spot for my daughter and I. Some of our favorites are the bacon chicken ranch quesadilla. I get it with just a little ranch, but my daughter likes it as is. It's sooo good and she usually can't finish it all. Sometimes we're just in the mood for a good ole pizza puff and fries. I like the food and I like the fact that it's a family owned business and they want to make sure you're happy. They have some other really good specials too, I just can't remember them right now. Make sure you check the specials board before you order because that's where I usually order from.
(4)Rick R.
Stopped in here for lunch on my way back from a funeral in Chicago. I wasn't hungry when I was in Chicago and I wanted to get the heck out of the loop as quickly as possible. I pulled up my Yelp app and saw this place had a high rating in Gurnee. I ordered the chicken parmesan sandwich and fries. The chicken was very well-seasoned, grilled and diced. It was served on delicious toasted, Italian garlic bread with plenty of butter. The cheese and marinara sauce added great flavors. I wasn't a fan of the fries and I'm very picky about my fries. I just didn't care for the texture and flavor. My friend ordered the Mediterranean Chicken sandwich and raved about it. The table next to us ordered a large pizza. It was thin crust and looked crispy and delicious. If I'm ever in the area again, I may go back and try the pizza.
(3)Tom J.
This is a great pizza place located across the street from Great America. Prices are very fair for the food you get. The employees are very nice. The only drawback is there is very limited seating in this place as it is located in a strip mall. Otherwise great place to go to avoid Great America's pricey food.
(4)Michelle Z.
The pizza wasn't very good, too dry, and the frozen yogurt choices were very limited.
(2)Sara B.
Lovely Lovely LOVELY place. The owner was so friendly and nice. The food was delicious, fresh and so good! A must go to!!!
(5)Christina F.
Everything is fresh and homemade. Renee gets many ingredients from her own garden. Come here and you will return often
(5)Notah K.
Love this place ! Awesome Food friendly family and lots of variety ! MY FAV. the beer nuggest so good and fresh! Love the ice cream lots of toppings to choose from! Pizza is amazing and the gyro is just what im looking for. check this place out and they also have a facebook that offers the soup of the day that im always ordering!
(5)Hannah G.
I've had several things off Mama K's menu - tuna melt, pizza, mozzarella sticks, lemon rice soup, salad, Italian beef sandwich... the list goes on. Every thing I've ever had here has been excellent, and it's all made from scratch. I especially recommend the lemon rice soup, it is simply amazing. Mama K is in the restaurant regularly and is a real sweetie. Everything is more expensive than what you'd pay at a fast food joint, but you get SO MUCH food, it's worth it. Word of advice, if you do get the pizza, I would stay away from the sausage. Though it is delicious, both my husband and I have experienced the sausage 'sticking with you' for days (meaning, burping up sausage breath for a loooong time.)
(5)Debbie Z.
TUNA MELT!!!!! PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! And, Love how the owner cooks and personally thanks you for your business!!!!!!! We tried the new place down the street tonight next to Baskin Robbins, and left feeling sad and mad that we just didn't fly over to MAMA K's for our usual.
(5)Michael B.
Came here for lunch today, and was surprised how many people were coming in! There were only a few, dirty, tables, but people would share small tables with other patrons to eat. I ordered a gyro and fries, which was better than I expected! The meat was good, sauce and toppings all in perfect proportion. I would definitely recommend it for a quick bite to eat for lunch.
(4)Andrew W.
What a gem in a place you wouldn't expect anything but fast food. All made from scratch, all delicious.
(5)Michael L.
Excellent food and Renee (mama k) is very friendly. They also bottle their own olive oil. Soup has been wonderful every time. Rosa Marina and Lemon Rice are personal favorites.
(5)Karina F.
We were there last Sunday on a snowy day. We wanted to check it out based on the good Yelp reviews and we were not disappointed. The lemon rice soup was just what the weather called for. It was hot and delicious. I orders one burger and a aide of fries for my daughters which I split in half and it more than sufficed. The hubby and I had sandwiches. He had a pork one and I had a chicken on (the names escape me now) and we found them to be tasty. We topped it all off with ice cream (kid sizes more than enough). Will definitely go back to try the pizza. It looked good!
(5)Dawn J.
Awesome!!! awesome!!! awesome pizza and service!!!! Had pepperoni and sausage w extra cheese. Not a crum left! Magnificent is all I can say!
(5)Cheyenne J.
This is a great mom and pop local place to eat! I live 45 minutes away so I not able to eat here as often as I'd like, but whenever I'm in town visiting a girlfriend, we eat here. They have the best grilled chicken Greek salad! I think the olive oil they use makes it magical. If u have a special request, just ask, they'll make it your way. Save room for dessert... The low carb fro yo is delicious too!!
(5)Joleen C.
Awesome service with excellent food. Great place to grab some great Greek food and some fro yo for dessert. Mama K is very excited about her menu and provides great suggestions. Many items come fresh from the garden. Great place to hit up after a day riding the roller coasters at 6 flags.
(5)Maria S.
Great fries, great place, great atmosphere. Workers are friendly and the atmosphere is inviting. Great place to stop at after six flags for an inexpensive meal, unlike the hefty prices offered at the park. Highly recommended.
(5)Caleb B.
Always interested in quality gyro and beef places, I visited this one with a friend who knows his Greek food; he had said the owners were Greeks and excellent cooks (they also own highly rated Captain Porky's in Wadsworth). I tried the Souvlaki with pita instead of a gyro and was delighted. The chunks of pork were savory, the vegetables were fresh, and the portion size was large. The frozen yogurt was rich, you must try it if you visit. Mama K's is my Go-To place for gyros and greek now.
(5)Lauren N.
Had lunch here with my brother today, and it was great! I took the advice of other reviews and had the Mediterranean sandwich which was excellent! It came with fries which were also very good. My brother had the chicken Parmesan sandwich with soup, both looked and smelled awesome. We both loved the food! Mama K was very nice and was running the front by herself, which she did perfectly even as busy as it was. Great good, service, nice little dining area. Overall a nice locally owned business that I will be coming back to frequently!
(5)Amanda J.
My fiancee and I went to Mama K's because they had such good Yelp reviews. We were slightly disappointed and expected better. We got a large sausage and green pepper pizza and cheese sticks. When we went in to pick it up we were informed that they had ran out of the cheese sticks and offered us the beer nuggets instead. The staff was very nice and patient as we ended up deciding to get shakes as well. We took our food home and the pizza was just okay. I think the sauce could be better. The beer nuggets were pretty good and you get a large portion. All in all, they are okay but not great. Better than Domino's or Pizza Hut.
(3)Everett W.
Thank you Mama K's Pizza! You were fantastic in coordinating everything for our daughter's birthday. Pizza was great. The ice cream cake was excellent! And your attention to detail and service was impeccable. (Renee Kallianis and James, owners, even saved the left over cake in their freezer while we partied at Key Lime Cove for the weekend, and picked it up on our way back home. You both rock!)
(5)Bernardo S.
Always great service, at times the food can be hit or miss but typically pretty darn good! Just shows that treating customers like customers goes a long way. If they had so so service I may never go back but pretty good food and always friendly.. Well that just don't happen often!
(4)Beth M.
This was a refreshing find. Not only did my picky daughter love the chicken tenders, they made calzones just the way I love them. I have tried since I left New England to find a calzone with the sauce on the inside, with just mozzarella. The staff here was amazingly friendly, and very helpful. My family and I will definitely be back.
(5)T G.
The owners (Mother and son) are so friendly and outgoing....this place really is a Gurnee "home town diner"....with lots of locals coming in and out. I've been coming to Mama Ks for 13 years plus---most of that time when they were just TCBY. The pizza is good---not quite as good as Kaisers but a good alternative especially with their home made Italian sausage. I like their gyros and the chili is very good as well. Top it off with some frozen yogurt for desert and you have a good meal for a very reasonable price. I bet with more time under their belt, Mama K's will get even better and better.
(4)Smitty J.
Excellent food and pizza. The service is top notch and fast. Recently when the wife and I were there the place was swamped. People still got there food fast and the owner, who by the way was the person taking orders, still found time to ask the customers how the food was and if they were doing ok. If you are there for pizza by the slice you might consider their personal pizza. The 2 topping thin crust is just $6.99. It is made HOTTT, fresh, with a crispy crust and is very tasty.
(5)Derek S.
GREAT MOM AND POP eatery. I've been going here for years. Before it was just ice cream, now it's burgers, hot dogs, an pizza. I recently ordered a cheeseburger and fries and it was really good. Fries can usually make or break a place but there fries taste fresh and great. Good job to Mama Ks I will defiantly be returning.
(5)Ed F.
Great little neighborhood joint Wife and I each ordered a meal. Food was tasty, service was VERY attentive, good portions, and competitive prices. Everything I saw at other tables, looked just as good, with large portions. Definitely heading back - maybe for a pizza or a sandwich.
(5)Jason Z.
A smaller joint that has a very laid-back feel. I have never ordered anything here that I haven't loved. The calzone is very large, and the mozzarella sticks are fantastic. Friends raved about their pizza, too (I didn't have it myself). If near six flags, and looking for quick food, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Morgan H.
Yum, Yum, Yum!! Everything I have had at Mama K's is delicious and worth having again and again. The pizza is so good, and the ingredients are really high quality. The Chicken Mediterranean Pita - Can I please eat this everyday? I love that they kept the frozen yogurt when converting the store to Mama K's! It is the perfect way to end a great meal! Bravo, Mama K's! Bravo!
(5)alyssa n.
We had amazing thin crust pizza after a long day at Great America with 3 kids. I was ready for some real food before the drive home and found Mama K's on Yelp. We arrived 3 minutes before closing time and were told very nicely that we could get a "made to order" pizza "to go" and that we were welcome to eat outside on their table and chairs. The kids were allowed to refill drinks as needed and the adults enjoyed nice cold beer as we waited. The hot pizza was ready in 15 minutes and we devoured it. Highly recommend this place for the excellent service and pizza.
(5)Jenn M.
We took our two little goobers to Great America the other day, and having extensive Amusement Park knowledge we knew we wanted to have lunch outside the park ($9.00 corn dogs and $5.00 fountain drinks is insane, like Amanda Bynes insane...get help, girl!) I consulted my old friend Yelp and Mama K's looked promising. The place is small but welcoming, with a few tables outside as well. I think Mama K herself was the kind woman that took our order at the counter...that's always a nice touch. We ordered the old standby of chicken fingers and fries for the little goobers to share, my husband ordered the chicken gyro and I got the vegetarian gyro. The gyros came with a side of our choosing; fries, soup or salad. We each opted for the salad which was quite good. I had mine with their house Greek dressing which was delicious. The boys seemed to enjoy their food and my husband and I really enjoyed our gyros. We capped our lunch with some frozen yogurt which Mama K's also serves, that too was very tasty. It was evident how much the owner and staff truly cared and the restaurant truly embodies that great local place you want to succeed not only because the food and service are excellent but because you understand how vital locally owned businesses are to a community. We will certainly be back the next time we are headed to Great America. If you are in the area please check it out...I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
(4)Amanda K.
After living in Gurnee for a year, we were sooo tired of what the chain resturants had to offer for food quality and service. We tried Mama Ks on a whim after checking their menu online and noticing they did gyros. There is not one decent place to order a delish gyro from in the Gurnee area! The gyro sammie here is fabulous! Meat is flavorful and sauce is just right (not chunky or void of flavor). Hubby tried the pizza...another quest in the area and it was a thumbs up. A fantastic thin crust with just enough zest in the sauce, not too sweet or overly herbified, and crisp flaky crust. We tried the chicken tenders for our little one and I have to say that I enjoyed some snack bites from them, as well. Service is spectacular - very attentive and inviting. Do not miss this place if you are in the area!
(4)Rebecca H.
Friendly, quick and surprisingly decent prices! I love their gyros and gyro salads. I try and order from here once a week.
(5)Kurt G.
INTRODUCTION Back in early 2009 or so, I was visiting TCBY Yogurt on my lunch break from work. This was a common stop, since the yogurt was incredibly delicious and healthy, and Renee (Mama K) was such a wonderful person talk to. I was fortunate to be one of the few to know about plans to create Mama K's, which was originally thought of as a panini and sandwich shop. I suggested to Renee that they should have pizza by the slice, since that was something that was absent in the Gurnee area. She mentioned they had a great homemade pizza recipe, and that it was a good idea. This mention also created a plethora of ideas and plans, which Mama K would tell me about every time I would visit. Calzones, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches were all being considered as well, with the decision to keep the delicious yogurt Gurnee has been enjoying for over 20 years (using Mama K's even tastier recipes). It took over a year to open, but finally in the Summer of 2010, Mama K's opened for business. FIRST EXPERIENCE (Pizza) The restaurant has been totally renovated since TCBY. The porcelain tile is beautiful, the walls are a very soothing color, and the atmosphere is cozy. Not to mention, Renee, James, and George always make you feel at home! I consider myself a pizza addict. It is very rare that I find a pizza that hits my taste-buds in a life-changing way. I was skeptical, especially at the mention of a homemade recipe that was considered "unique". I entered Mama K's, and Renee ordered up a sausage pizza. The pizza came to my table, and I was very impressed visually. Now, the big moment, the taste! As Renee sat, waiting for my initial reaction, I took a gigantic bite of the corner pizza. The crust was a perfect consistency...not too crispy, not too soft, PERFECT. There was just the right amount of cheese. The tomato sauce was slightly sweet, which enhanced the taste of the whole pizza. Finally, the sausage was TO DIE FOR! This is, by far, some of the best sausage I have ever tasted!!! After bringing in others to test the pizza, I have not had one friend leave without thinking this was one of the most unique and wonderfully flavored pizzas they have ever tasted! Two people I brought in even thought that it rivaled one of the best chain pizzas in town, and even one of the finest local establishments in town (I won't say who these are, because I still love their pizzas too...but I choose Mama K's for the price and quality of ingredients!!!)! Pizza by the slice with a drink runs less than $4.00, and the most expensive large specialty pizza (there are several!!!) is $20.50. A large, one topping pizza is only $15.00! THE REST OF THE FOOD AND EXPERIENCE I have tried so many things on the menu. Everything I have tried has been of A+ quality! Everything that is ordered is made from scratch, and the quality of the food certainly shows!!! So far I have tried the beer nuggets, pizza sausage bomber, chicken parmesan sandwich, gyro meat, cheeseburger, and the blackened chicken wrap. There is not one thing that I have been displeased with, and everything has been of superior quality and taste! However, NOTHING BEATS THE CALZONES AND MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN SANDWICH! The Mediterranean is, by a LONGSHOT, the BEST SANDWICH I have ever had! The yogurt Renee makes can be mistaken for ice cream, and is so much healthier! FINAL THOUGHT There are few restaurants that I rave about. I will visit some every few weeks because they are good, but there are few that make me want to visit several times a week. The cafe atmosphere, personable owners and staff, incredibly unique quality of the food that makes taste-buds dance, the healthy delicious desert, and VERY REASONABLE PRICES, makes this a place I visit at least three times a week. I cannot give a higher recommendation for a lunch or dinner stop than Mama K's. As Mama K would say about anything on the menu, and I think she is being rather humble, "Oh ya! It's very good!!!"
(5)T P.
Best staff, so friendly and awesome. Great prices, and imo best gyro in Gurnee. Highly recommend this family business!
(5)Patrick S.
I have been here a few times and everytime the food is great!!
(5)T L.
The suburban cesspool known as Gurnee doesn't exactly inspire thoughts of pizza greatness, especially near ground zero of cultural/culinary bankruptcy - dead smack between Great America and Gurnee Mills. But in actuality there is a surprising glut of more-than-legit Chicago pizza chains within just a few mile radius: Jimano's and Rosati's pace the far-north suburb vanguard, with Giordano's serving adequately in a pinch (or, more than that for the misguided Ditka-loving sect who think Chicago-style pie should be served in quiche form). Amid such heavy hitters, an independent doe-tosser, with it's roots in Ames, Iowa no less, in a former frozen yogurt spot in a strip mall on Grand Ave would seem to be up against it... After all, this is still the land where Chili's passes for high-dining. Just how much top notch 'za is really being consumed?... Nothing from this preamble matters. Mama K stands on her own two feet, and would regardless of town or city. I'm not the kind of yelper to tout his pizza pedigree, nor will I lambast anyone else's personal favorites, but I have been around, tried some legendary pies, and yes, ok, I'll scoff at the Papa John's guy pulling up to your door. Most importantly though, I feel it deeply: Chicago thin crust is the best America has to offer. And this little outpost is proof that the Windy City paradigm bleeds and flows out into the nether regions of metropolitan land... The thin crust, perfect in it's ability to hold everything up but not too much to infiltrate taste zones with any excess doughiness, is prototypical of Chicago's so-called bar style, and hits the sweet spot of the sag/crisp compendium; the sauce is spiced, tangy and consistent; and with the just-starting-to-burn cheese lovingly bedding whichever your choice of topping (go pepperoni!) the overall construction is near-perfect. Then, of course, there's the Italian Beef - that indelible Chicago institution that might require a review of it's own.... Suffice it to say, Mama K's take would hold it's own against any of the dime-a-dozen corner hot dog joints that populate Chi's urban areas and serve the best... Overall: Mama K's is an inspired little outpost, battling both the big boys and the nadir of fine taste. This is far more than a pleasant, soulful, affordable pizza sanctuary after a day of food courts or 'Giant Drops', it's well worth a trip up (or down) I-94...
(5)C B.
1st time here, I ordered a medium sausage & pepperoni pizza...my taste buds are in shocked its that damn good. I'm definitely coming back!
(4)Val A.
I wasn't as blown away as all these other reviewers. I thought the pizza was fine but nothing special. The beer nuggets were also fine but nothing special. If you want a good pizza I recommend trying Galati's in lake villa. Also, if you want some good gyros try Nino's in Lindenhurst. I actually think Ninos is better than fodraks in libertyville too.
(2)Simon P.
This really is a gem of place. The food is not fancy, but is wonderfully tasty. Their specialty pizzas are the best I've had. The owners are fantastic and go out of their way to make you welcome. Loads of healthy options on the menu, I eat here as often as I can.
(5)Krista B.
The food is surprisingly good for a place with such a vast menu, and the woman (who I assume is an owner) is really sweet and you can tell she cares about her business. They are inexpensive and really close to Six Flags so you can leave and have some edible food that is affordable in a hurry. Most importantly, they actually put vegetables all over your side salad unlike any other restaurant in the world!!! Ice cream looked good too but didn't have any. Buffalo Chicken pita is ammmaazing if you don't mind the calories.
(5)Charlie K.
Have been here multiple times and the food is always amazing and the service great!
(5)Amy B.
My husband and I ordered pizza and appetizers from here. The pizza was great and so were the appetizers. For our family we ordered a Greeksa Pizza, Feta Fries, and Cheese Bread. The feta tasted fresh and the pizza was crunchy and delicious. The delivery took a little longer than they projected, but it was worth the wait. They have a large, appetizing menu. I look forward eating here more often.
(5)Phil P.
This little family-owned joint is the best there is in all of grand ol' Gurnee. Having driven past it everyday for the past 2 months, I finally had a chance to stop in last Wednesday for a late lunch. Glad I beat the lunch rush, I found myself in an empty restaurant... no worries since it was during off-peak hours. Mama K herself was at the counter, and she sold me on the gyro quesadilla. The quesadilla came out in about 7 minutes. It was a huge tomato tortilla with feta, onions, tomatoes, and of course spit-roasted top notch gyro meat. The potions were very generous. There was gyro in every bite, and the homemade tzatziki is phenomenal. Although the food was awesome, it was the passion I saw in Mama K's eyes that really makes me love this place. She was so proud of the quality of her food, and she pours so much love into cooking it all. I loved it so much, I came back the very next day, and got a bangin' chicken pesto wrap. Keep it up, Mama K's. Just found my new Gurnee lunch favorite!
(5)Stu H.
We stopped here after Gurnee Mills. We found it on Yelp and decided to stop because of the good reviews. My kids had pizza by the slice and all liked it. My wife and daughter LOVED the lemon rice soup. I had the Greek salad. The salad had the best Feta I've ever tasted! The staff was very friendly (Mama K waited on us). We will definitely be back when we are in the area!
(5)Adam K.
Bison burger, I was very impressed she could tell me about it, I did not expect that. Mama K was behind the counter slangin foodstuffs. And I liked how she came out and asked me how everything tasted and made sure to wipe everything down and took my tray away. What a nice lady. But the food is super good also. I love the bun. Price is really good also. Place is super clean, which is great. Got the bison burger medium rare, cheddar, onion, mustard and fries. Man, I want another right now. I wish this was my momma, we have the same last initial. I will return to get the pizza.
(5)Michelle M.
My family wanted to try a new pizza place this past weekend and had a coupon for Mama K's so we decided to give it a try. First we wanted delivery but for some reason on a Saturday night they stop delivering at 8. We thought that was weird but opted for pick up to give them a try. We had leftovers so we ended up eating their pizza two nights in a row. The day after first trying it we all had stomach aches but just figured greasy pizza would do that to ya. After the second time my husband and kids (ages 3&6) and I got violently ill for 12 plus hours. Something on those pizzas gave us the worst case of double duty (if you know what I mean) food poisoning we have ever had! We definitely won't be coming back here again!
(1)Abby A.
This is a gem! The pizza is great and you can buy it by the slice. The calzones are huge and stuffed. The wraps are the best in Gurnee. The sandwiches are delicious and filling. I highly recommend trying it out. It is a small family owned business and has the charm of one too. You can tell the food is great because the place gets busier and busier time I go.
(5)Ry G.
I've gone to Mama K's for both lunch and dinner; both times I enjoyed the food and friendly service. A large group of us split a couple of the specialty pizzas and enjoyed each one we tried. Definitely a good spot for a casual lunch or dinner any day of the week!
(5)Laura K.
This continues to be the best pizza ever. We live a half mile from Mama K's and the food never disappoints. We order from there at least twice a week. The pizza is the winner hands down, but try the Mediteranean chicken sandwich with three kinds of cheese on a fresh pita. The burgers are great and the Italian beef. These local folks have it figured out and they pour on the hospitality.
(5)Karma K.
Since we loved it so much the 1st time, we came back. And this time the owner gave us a sample of his olive oil. Have to say, I'm impressed. Being from a small island (Zakinthos) and having our own family olive orchard, I have to say...pretty amazing olive oil!
(5)Michelle S.
This was my 1st time here, me and my son ordered a pepperoni sausage pizza! My tastebuds are dancing! DELICIOUS! Staff was super friendly too! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EATING HERE!
(5)Alan M.
My Father and I came by this pizza destination before heading into Six Flags Great America. I stopped in on account of the Yelp rating! The reviews are accurate. Friendly staff and great eats all around. We had the feta fries that the front line worker suggested and a pepperoni pizza. The nice lady checked up to see how we liked the food. She also was kind enough to store our pizza in the cooler while we went into the park so it wouldn't go bad. We grabbed it on our way out and had some more on our way home! I highly recommend Mama K's!
(5)Rachelle D.
Great food and it comes out pretty fast. If you're low on cash, hungry and in the area try their soup of the day! They're all great and less than 3$ for a bowl.
(5)Ben H.
Fantastic service and quality food. I've been a few times and had pizza...tasty recipe and tasty crust. Would recommend it!
(5)Brandee B.
We were staying nearby Six Flags. After a long day at the park, we were all hungry and tired. We called for delivery, and the guy that took out order was very friendly, and gave us good suggestions since it was our first time eating there. Pizza was delivered on time and piping hot! We had the sausage and pepperoni pizza which was great, but the wings were even better!
(5)sat s.
What a wonderful experience. We were here after a long morning at Six Flags and from the first step into this establishment, we felt so welcome. Almost like family! The food was delicious, we ordered beer nuggets and 2 large pizzas! Everything was a great value and I can't say enough about the service. You've got to try this place!!
(5)Beth A.
Went on a mini vacation one weekend this summer to Illinois Beach State Park and stopped here for lunch. Excellent clam chowder and the personal pan pizza was so good not too mention it was only $6.99!! Great prices and excellent food. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, quality bite to eat.
(5)Gianna S.
YOU HAVE TO COME HERE!!!! Everything I have tried here has been AMAZING. From their appetizers and pizza's to their salads and ice cream. This place really wants you coming back for more and they have such a wide variety of choices for everyone to choose from. This is a family owned business who really know how to make their customers feel welcomed and provide a great dine in, pick up or catering experience. Definitely give them a try if you haven't done so already!
(5)Shelley L.
Great little place with very friendly folks. Love their home made soups chilli. Have yet to try their pizza, but it looks great.
(5)