One of the best kept secrets in Bloomington! Literally you have to go down into a basement area of a strip mall to get there, but aside from the lack of atmosphere, it is all about the food. Meals cost about $10-12 for dinner and include an assortment of appetizer-y dishes to accompany your meal. My favorite dinner is the hot stone kettle bibimbap. It comes with an egg on top and everything keeps cooking on the kettle as you eat. The flavors are so delicious and the thinly sliced beef is amazing. This is the type of place where the portion is so huge that you should have leftovers, but it tastes so good that you can't stop eating! The food is very authentic- this is where Korean people go to eat Korean food, which is a good sign. :-) It is also worth noting that they have always been gracious and accommodating of children, and it is somewhere that I feel comfortable bringing our daughter. I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!
(5)
Nicole J.
Food is okay. Very expensive!!! I had the BBQ- totally not worth what I paid. The side fish soup was not tasty. Small portions. Meat was poor quality. Try Sobon!! Better prices and quantities.
(1)
Matthew N.
My gosh. Food, presentation, authenticity and atmosphere = Above and beyond any other Korean restaurant in Bloomington. The first time I went with my Korean friend, and they spoke to him in Korean and then they turned to me to ask me my order, "And what would you like?" They spared me the embarassment I suppose. Everytime I go, I get the barbecue. The beef and pork, which you cook yourself at your table, were delicious. It reminded me of my mom's bulgogi and kimchi. Speaking of kimchi, you get unlimited side dishes with the barbecue.
(5)
Jessica T.
Only good for BBQ. Everything else sucks. Understaffed and overpriced.
Ugh. First had to wait for 40 minutes to be seated at one of their BBQ tables, which would not really have bothered the two of us if it weren't for the disappointing experience to follow. After finally being seated the waitress rudely snapped we must order at least two expensive meats or a full combo platter to be seated at the BBQ tables - I eat Korean food a lot and have never heard this requirement before and it was nowhere written on the menu. It ended up being way too much meat for the two of us (in large part because the meat quality was kind of sketch), and in general the entire staff seemed pleased to share their employment misery with us the whole evening. The two kinds of meat we ordered - spicy pork and ribeye - were brought out before the kimchi platters or the coals; how appetizing to stare at raw meat! The quality was low and the marinade was very strange - in both our opinions the flavor was overly sweet and bitter. The metal grill was burned to a crisp after just one round and we ended up having to request for the grill to be changed out 5 times. The atmosphere overall was a little depressing with no music, a smokey odor and slightly overall "yellow" hue due to lack of proper ventilation. After our long wait we were the last table and had the chance to enjoy several waitresses watching us a few tables over as we grilled meat in rapid succession. Equal parts frustration, low quality and expensive. Won't be returning.
(1)
Jialu T.
Big fan of Mama's! Soybean soup is sooooo good! Traditional Korean full dinner is my favorite! You can both enjoy a delicious soup and a lot of grilled beef!
(5)
Nic N.
Let me just say, I don't know how Mama's compares to authentic Korean cuisine or even other Korean cuisine available in Bloomington, but the food is so delicious it doesn't matter! The Korean-style barbecue is fun and easy to use, and the meat is so fresh and so tender. The side dishes are numerous and delicious and you can get them refilled as often and as many times as you want. Totally worth the price and I don't know which one of the staff members was Mama but I hope someday she'll marry me and cook that way for me always.
(5)
Rachel S.
I brought a big group here for my birthday and it was one chow fest. The service was very friendly and helpful, and some of us did the BBQ which was outstanding. One person who had lived in Chicago for many years said the food at Mama's was better than all the Korean places in there. I had a wonderful soup--tofu and beef--but everyone was happy with their dishes. This is the best Korean I have had in town, and really it's on top of the heap of restaurants I've been to in town, period. Highly recommend.
(5)
Matt F.
I thought that I didn't like Korean food until I tried Mama's. This is one now one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington. Great food, great service, good family atmosphere. Dinner prices might be a little high, but lunch is a great value. Very authentic, very delicious. The pork saute w/ kimchee is perfect.
(5)
Josh R.
Mama's provides an excellent and, as far as I know, authentic Korean dining experience. Despite being located in a strip mall, the inside is slightly more welcoming than that would typically indicate. You can choose between normal and barbecue tables, but because I go to a restaurant specifically for the purpose of having a better cook than I am prepare my food, I've always gone with the regular option. The fare is a solid selection of fiendishly spicy and delicious soups, served with 8 to 12 small side dishes including cabbage and cucumber kimchee, coleslaw, potato salad, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, fish cakes, mushrooms, and other tasty little squishy, squelchy, and squooshy delights. I've frequently been pleased with the bulgogee and short ribs, and I've never been disappointed with the rich meaty stews and soups, but some of the more unusual offerings can be the best. The broiled mackerel is an unbelievably good experience. It's smoky, salty, perfectly oily, and cooked on the bone. Even those moderately skilled with chopsticks will find it challenging to winnow the spine and bones from the flesh, but it is worth it. The cold buckwheat noodles are delicious, but also confounding to anyone with limited chopstick skills; they're served with shears if that tells you anything about how challenging they are to consume. Perhaps my favorite is the Korean home-y favorite, bebimbap: pickled vegetables, meat, and a fried egg top rice with a piquant spicy sauce. The menu offers a standard variant and a version with kimchee, but the best option is the one served in a stone pot that crisps the bottom of the rice into a crunchy, delicious wafer. The staff is friendly and helpful and will always make sure that you understand what you're ordering if you seem unsure. As forewarning, there is a giant television in a corner, but I've never actually witnessed anyone use it for karaoke; it's typically showing world cup game reruns.
(4)
David F.
I moved to Bloomington from New York City where I had an office around the corner from Koreatown. I was afraid I would desperately miss the amazing Korean food, but.... There is Mama's in Bloomington. A phenomenal Korean restaurant. Many love the BBQ tables, but I really prefer to let them cook my food in the kitchen. They do a wonderful job and have a really wide ranging menu. Excellent cooking in a very traditional Korean style. The only ethnic restaurant in town where the clientele is frequently mostly Korean. Oh, and the spicy soups are the best way to clear your sinuses when you have a winter cold..
(5)
Michelle H.
My husband took me to try Korean BBQ for the first time, and I was not disappointed! I am usually moderatly hesitant to try new foods, but this place was a tasty delight. I had the beef BBQ and he had the pork, and both were accompanied by a variety of little side dishes, rice, and lettuce leaf wraps. We had some Hite and Sapporo to compliment the meal, and left feeling extremely satisfied!
(5)
Tim C.
The BBQ is delicious and fun! You have your own grill to cook your meats, so it's made the way you want it and brought to you fresh. :) All the meat I tried was tasty, but I especially liked the Bar-B-Q Spicy Pork Belly. It's fattier, but tastier. The sides are also pretty good - nothing that blew me away, but pretty standard stuff. I just really enjoyed cooking my own food, and the portions they give are plenty. The service was very nice as well. The pricing was just a tad expensive. It's a great experience, though, so it's definitely a place worth checking out.
(4)
Evelyn Z.
A good place for a casual meal or friends gathering. Good quality food and service.
(5)
Yan D.
good Korean restaurant. I like their food but it is kind of expensive.anyway a good place to enjoy Korean food.
(4)
Stanley W.
Got seated fast. On the other hand, the meat is really low quality even for KBBQ, the selection is poor, and the prices are totally unreasonable. The vegetables they give you to pair with the meat is pretty poor quality, and its the first KBBQ place I've been that didn't give you at least two external sauces to flavour your meat with. Not to mention that everything overly pre-marinated (to hide the crappy quality) giving you next to no control over how you want your meat to taste. What's with the crappy banchan and inattentiveness of servers on refilling them? Refill empty side dishes, replace too-dirty grills, and check on your customers every once in a while. That's not really that hard to do if you have the time to be standing around just staring off. You can get a substandard samgyubsal at Mama's at the same price as a 36-selection AYCE at Gen in SoCal that includes shrimp, Calamari, fondue, and the standard fare that actually tastes good beyond just being marinated, to the point of serving American Wagyu until at least last summer. It might be unfair to compare KBBQ in Indiana to that in the West Coast, but if you're going to serve something that's less than half the quality and 200%-300% the price (depending on how much you eat) while offering limited variety, I don't think you deserve the business just for being the only KBBQ place in town.
(1)
A P M.
Never been here for dinner, but the lunch specials are KILLER!! Definitely recommend. Service is efficient (as it should be for lunch time). Excellent kimchi (in addition to the traditional cabbage we had one that appeared to be zucchini that I really enjoyed). Spicy pork and bulgogi were very good.
(4)
Jen F.
Big fan of Mama's in Indy and had been excited to try to Bloomington location. While still pretty good, it isn't NEAR as good as the Indy location. The restaurant was nearly empty on a Saturday evening, but we were still rushed to order. While perusing the menu, three servers stood and glared at us. FIND SOMETHING TO DO, LADIES! Combination appetizer was good, but the tempura at the other location is lighter. Entrees arrived and food was a little bland (I know, how is that possible?) I think if we had come here and had NOT been to the other location, we would have enjoyed it a lot more.
(3)
Stella W.
i didn't expect much of the ethnic food in bloomington, but surprisingly this is a very decent korean restaurant, i think it's even better than some of the popular ones in chicago! the yuk gae jang and dolsot bimbimbap were not salty, seasoned just about right. The kalbi came in the LA cut which i love coz it's a lot easier to manage than those come in with a whole log of bone attached. the spicy pork belly were wonderfully seasoned, and not as fatty as i was expecting! The service was really good too! The first time i had korean bbq food and didn't leave with a full stomach of grease. :)
(4)
Jenna C.
Love eating Korean here. The bebeembop, chop chae and bulgogee are delicious. I come on a weekly basis, but lately the food hasn't tasted the same. Brought my friends here and they loved it too, but we were charged for gratuity for 4 people. Won't be coming back for awhile.
(3)
Franklin D.
Finally got a chance to try the "cooking table" here. Usual selection of bulgogi, kalbi, pork belly with the salty oily dip, and some spicy chicken. Have to say, nothing beats meats on the grill. yum. The banchan here are pretty good too. The tuna & macaroni salad is one of my faves. Heard a rumor that IU is going to knock this strip mall down to install more parking spots.
(4)
Dalia M.
If you do the BBQ, you will smell afterwards. I showered after my meal! Started with the fried beef dumplings - yum. Then we got the short ribs and pork belly. Short ribs marinade was spectacular. Pork belly good but not to die for. Sides are typical but about half were... Not preferred but that may just be that my friend and I have not acquired a taste for them. Few things - it's a bit pricey. They don't tell you how long to cook the meat. They didn't offer to switch out our grill top until the end when it was thoroughly covered. We needed more rice!
(3)
Rachel Z.
You can never, ever, everrr go wrong w Korean barbecue. Go w the bugolgi and squid combo!
(5)
Kate J.
Great food great service. I had Korean BBQ and fish soup there. BBQ meat is processed well and are juicy and tasty.
(5)
Willie T.
Came to celebrate my 1 year anniversary with of course... the Korean BBQ. Pricey sure, but Mama's sure does have some of the best bulgogi in town! We ended up sharing the Bulgogi and spicy squid. amazing. drooling just thinking about it
(5)
Xiao Z.
Meat is too expensive and does not taste good at all, rice is bad compared to other Asian restaurants. And really? There is just one waitress in the whole restaurant, made me wait forever. It's a bad place to go if u are looking for good Korean BBQ, Although it's the only Korean BBQ restaurant here, I will never go again don't waist your money there
(1)
Amy E.
A very authentic Korean restaurant. I think almost everyone in the restaurant was Korean. I had a heavy lunch so I stuck with the spicy tofu soup, and it had just the right amount of spice. I wish there had been more meat in my soup. Service was quick, the place is clean, and I'd go again.
(4)
Jeremy P.
I'm going to give Mama's five stars. Maybe 4.5 would be better, or even just 4 would do just fine. However you slice it, this is the best Korean food in town. The servers and owner are incredibly kind and hospitable, the panchang keep coming, the tea is free, and the grill tables are a lot of fun. I lived in Chicago for a while and had the good luck of going to several great Korean joints there, but Mama's tops even those. It's great for parties, but it suits small groups as well. GO! NOW!
(5)
Julie S.
We went to Mama's Restaurant on October 25 for a birthday celebration. We were a large party of ten people so we needed to put an extra table at the end of one of the grill tables to accommodate everyone at one table. It worked out well because three people were vegetarians so they sat at the end without the grill, but if all of us wanted barbecue we would have needed to break up into two separate tables. Those of us who had barbecue shared the rib eye, short ribs, spicy pork, spicy pork belly, and spicy squid. They were all delicious, but the "spicy" pork, pork belly, and squid were not what I would call "hot." I would have liked for them to have more heat, but they were delicious nonetheless. Everyone was served a bowl of rice and the table had all of the traditional sides; including kimchi, cole slaw, and cucumber salad.. The barbecue was out of this world, so I would love to give five stars, however the service was very slow and the timing of the meal was off. They would bring two or three dishes at a time and not be back for another five to ten minutes with the next two or three. We'd had all of our meat for about twenty minutes before we received our rice. Everyone who ordered entrees from the kitchen received their meals far after we received the meat for the grill, which was unfortunate as well. Bottom line: The food is incredible, the service is mediocre. Don't go in expecting a quick meal. Expect to spend an hour and a half for dinner, at least. It's a nice experience sitting down with friends enjoying the meal. A quick dinner is not on the menu.
(4)
Sean C.
I like this place, but my Korean students told me there is no real korean food in B-town. Given their verdict, I think my taste could be skewed towards "non-koreans". Most of the korean restaurants in the US are very expensive, Mama's is no exception. I would say, if you could make the dishes yourself, don't go; otherwise, this is probably one of the best places to have korean food in B-town.
(4)
Christy S.
Four stars to Mama's!! After reading reviews on Yelp, I decided to visit this gem. I found the menu a little overwhelming since I do not know much about Korean food. The waiter immediately greeted us but told us that he did not have any BBQ tables available. He directed us to sit on the non BBQ side and wait. Another customer came in and was greeted by a waitress. The waitress was scrambling to find that party a BBQ table. Finally the waiter communicated to the waitress that we had been waiting longer. The waiter was friendly and the service was fine but not exceptional. The waiter had a hard time answering our questions or giving us suggestions. Decor is plain and simple. If you are wanting fancy decor than this is not you restaurant. Seating for the BBQ tables are limited and if you have a large party, I would recommend calling ahead. I wish they had more BBQ tables and the smells are wonderful!! We ordered the BBQ for two (ribeye and squid). Our BBQ came with 8 sides and ind. bowls of rice. All were good but I was confused with having macaroni salad as a side. After my first bit of the BBQ, I was hooked. I would not recommend this dish, if you do not like spicy food. Overall, I rate Mama's 4 stars. The only reason it was not 5 stars was the seating confusion and the waiter having difficulty communicating. We will be returning to Mama's again!!!
(4)
Nadeem P.
I've been to a few differen Korean restaurants in my time, mama's being one of them. Mama's offers items from single dishes on to tabletop BBQ. The one unique aspect of mama's is that they use coal and wood fired grills, so your BBQ comes out very flavorful. The quality of food is among the best, however the prices are sky high compared to other spots, which is why they get docked one star from me...
(4)
ryan f.
great bibimbap, friendly staff. a little slow on drink refills but otherwise sublime.
(4)
chel j.
The only reason why I gave 2 stars instead of one is because they actually have the most decent side dishes compared to other Korean restaurants in Btown.. I love korean soft tofu soup, I could eat them twice a week, if there is a restaurant that make them. Unfortunately, there is none in Bloomington. I was excited to try the korean soft tofu soup from Mama's because it was expensive. for some reason my brain thought that expensive means decent. I was wrong!!! It was by far the worst Korean soft tofu soup I've ever had. I have never eat tofu soup in Korea, but I grew up in california where the Asian food was heavenly. I've tried MANY tofu soup (by many, I mean I almost always order tofu soup when I go to Korean Restaurant).. I've tried okay and below average soup.. and Mama's was the worst one.. I was surprised that beef was the only meat option (I usually go for seafood) when it came, the soup was clear, and does not look spicy or appetizing AT ALL.. I knew when I saw it, it was going to be bad. It was tasteless and not spicy.. and the beef... I only found LITERALLY 4 small pieces of beef in there.. and I paid for 12 for it..!! I was upset and felt robbed.. (In Sobon, the soup was less than 10 dollar and taste much better.. mucchhhhh better..) I didnt finish it because it was very bad.. My BF ordered Kalbi/bbq short rib.. It was.. too sweet for my taste, they they gave you a huge chunk of meat and they give you scissors, basically you have to cut up the meat by yourself.. Their BBQ is overpriced and the portion is very small.. Won't recommend them unless you wanna pay for overpriced tasteless food.. :(
(2)
Kathryn W.
Please note that they are closed Mondays. Their website doesn't say that. Photo of their door sign in the photos section.
(3)
Kristie Q.
The only place in Bloomington to get Korean barbecue also happens to be the best Korean restaurant in Bloomington! The restaurant is located in a shopping center that is currently being renovated but Mama's is still open. While the decor of the restaurant isn't flashy or fancy, but don't let that fool you because the food is delicious. We ordered kalbi, pork belly and soondobu soup which was more than enough food. We also got 8 side dishes of which my favorite were the kimchi, fish cakes, and scallion pancakes. The kalbi was perfectly marinated and our waiter cut the meat off the bones for us at the table. The pork belly was sliced thin and didn't taste greasy or overly fatty like it does at some kbbq places. What was really different about this place is that they use coals to heat the bbq tables instead or gas or electricity like some places and I think it really added to the flavor of the meat. The soondobu soup came still boiling in a hot stone bowl and was filled with tofu, veggies, egg and some beef which was a great way to counterbalance all the meat from the bbq. Being from Dallas, Texas I have had my fair share of Korean barbecue and I would definitely put this place in my top 3. I don't think it's fair to compare the prices here to the prices in places like Dallas and LA, I mean this is Bloomington. I think the prices are fair and definitely worth the fun experience. Would definitely come back with more people so I can try more things on the menu!
(5)
Charcy L.
Their soup and barbecue is ok, but the meat there isn't the best I had,a little hard to chew, and the price other than lunch hours is a little bit high, I usually order the miso tofu soup with shrewd pork inside and I really like the small plates they put before meal, so yummy^^
(3)
Betsy L.
The food here was above the average compared to other Korean restaurants in town, but the service was bad. Due to the fact that they have only 2-3 servers, you need to wait a long time to order the food and pay for the check.
(3)
Deb M.
Wow - nice find for Korean barbecue near the IU campus. I give it 5 stars alone just for having charcoal BBQ. The beef bulgogi and spicy pork bulgogi were fairly decent portions and tasted great. Side dishes were plentiful and the service was good.
(5)
Lisa Z.
A worm inside their cod. Found a couple more after this. A waitress first said she's going to ask someone to look at this. Then she came back saying it's a part of the fish (without anyone looking into this problem). Then another waitress came and I told her our problem. Again, she did nothing but bringing back our check. Can't be worse...
(1)
Soon K.
Lunch prices are very good (7 bucks!) lunch portion is very good for most people. Chicken teriyaki was kind of dry. Bulgogi was delicious.
(4)
Josh R.
Mama's provides an excellent and, as far as I know, authentic Korean dining experience. Despite being located in a strip mall, the inside is slightly more welcoming than that would typically indicate. You can choose between normal and barbecue tables, but because I go to a restaurant specifically for the purpose of having a better cook than I am prepare my food, I've always gone with the regular option. The fare is a solid selection of fiendishly spicy and delicious soups, served with 8 to 12 small side dishes including cabbage and cucumber kimchee, coleslaw, potato salad, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, fish cakes, mushrooms, and other tasty little squishy, squelchy, and squooshy delights. I've frequently been pleased with the bulgogee and short ribs, and I've never been disappointed with the rich meaty stews and soups, but some of the more unusual offerings can be the best. The broiled mackerel is an unbelievably good experience. It's smoky, salty, perfectly oily, and cooked on the bone. Even those moderately skilled with chopsticks will find it challenging to winnow the spine and bones from the flesh, but it is worth it. The cold buckwheat noodles are delicious, but also confounding to anyone with limited chopstick skills; they're served with shears if that tells you anything about how challenging they are to consume. Perhaps my favorite is the Korean home-y favorite, bebimbap: pickled vegetables, meat, and a fried egg top rice with a piquant spicy sauce. The menu offers a standard variant and a version with kimchee, but the best option is the one served in a stone pot that crisps the bottom of the rice into a crunchy, delicious wafer. The staff is friendly and helpful and will always make sure that you understand what you're ordering if you seem unsure. As forewarning, there is a giant television in a corner, but I've never actually witnessed anyone use it for karaoke; it's typically showing world cup game reruns.
(4)
David F.
I moved to Bloomington from New York City where I had an office around the corner from Koreatown. I was afraid I would desperately miss the amazing Korean food, but.... There is Mama's in Bloomington. A phenomenal Korean restaurant. Many love the BBQ tables, but I really prefer to let them cook my food in the kitchen. They do a wonderful job and have a really wide ranging menu. Excellent cooking in a very traditional Korean style. The only ethnic restaurant in town where the clientele is frequently mostly Korean. Oh, and the spicy soups are the best way to clear your sinuses when you have a winter cold..
(5)
Michelle H.
My husband took me to try Korean BBQ for the first time, and I was not disappointed! I am usually moderatly hesitant to try new foods, but this place was a tasty delight. I had the beef BBQ and he had the pork, and both were accompanied by a variety of little side dishes, rice, and lettuce leaf wraps. We had some Hite and Sapporo to compliment the meal, and left feeling extremely satisfied!
(5)
Tim C.
The BBQ is delicious and fun! You have your own grill to cook your meats, so it's made the way you want it and brought to you fresh. :) All the meat I tried was tasty, but I especially liked the Bar-B-Q Spicy Pork Belly. It's fattier, but tastier. The sides are also pretty good - nothing that blew me away, but pretty standard stuff. I just really enjoyed cooking my own food, and the portions they give are plenty. The service was very nice as well. The pricing was just a tad expensive. It's a great experience, though, so it's definitely a place worth checking out.
(4)
Evelyn Z.
A good place for a casual meal or friends gathering. Good quality food and service.
(5)
Kristie Q.
The only place in Bloomington to get Korean barbecue also happens to be the best Korean restaurant in Bloomington! The restaurant is located in a shopping center that is currently being renovated but Mama's is still open. While the decor of the restaurant isn't flashy or fancy, but don't let that fool you because the food is delicious. We ordered kalbi, pork belly and soondobu soup which was more than enough food. We also got 8 side dishes of which my favorite were the kimchi, fish cakes, and scallion pancakes. The kalbi was perfectly marinated and our waiter cut the meat off the bones for us at the table. The pork belly was sliced thin and didn't taste greasy or overly fatty like it does at some kbbq places. What was really different about this place is that they use coals to heat the bbq tables instead or gas or electricity like some places and I think it really added to the flavor of the meat. The soondobu soup came still boiling in a hot stone bowl and was filled with tofu, veggies, egg and some beef which was a great way to counterbalance all the meat from the bbq. Being from Dallas, Texas I have had my fair share of Korean barbecue and I would definitely put this place in my top 3. I don't think it's fair to compare the prices here to the prices in places like Dallas and LA, I mean this is Bloomington. I think the prices are fair and definitely worth the fun experience. Would definitely come back with more people so I can try more things on the menu!
(5)
Charcy L.
Their soup and barbecue is ok, but the meat there isn't the best I had,a little hard to chew, and the price other than lunch hours is a little bit high, I usually order the miso tofu soup with shrewd pork inside and I really like the small plates they put before meal, so yummy^^
(3)
Betsy L.
The food here was above the average compared to other Korean restaurants in town, but the service was bad. Due to the fact that they have only 2-3 servers, you need to wait a long time to order the food and pay for the check.
(3)
Deb M.
Wow - nice find for Korean barbecue near the IU campus. I give it 5 stars alone just for having charcoal BBQ. The beef bulgogi and spicy pork bulgogi were fairly decent portions and tasted great. Side dishes were plentiful and the service was good.
(5)
Lisa Z.
A worm inside their cod. Found a couple more after this. A waitress first said she's going to ask someone to look at this. Then she came back saying it's a part of the fish (without anyone looking into this problem). Then another waitress came and I told her our problem. Again, she did nothing but bringing back our check. Can't be worse...
(1)
Soon K.
Lunch prices are very good (7 bucks!) lunch portion is very good for most people. Chicken teriyaki was kind of dry. Bulgogi was delicious.
(4)
Stanley W.
Got seated fast. On the other hand, the meat is really low quality even for KBBQ, the selection is poor, and the prices are totally unreasonable. The vegetables they give you to pair with the meat is pretty poor quality, and its the first KBBQ place I've been that didn't give you at least two external sauces to flavour your meat with. Not to mention that everything overly pre-marinated (to hide the crappy quality) giving you next to no control over how you want your meat to taste. What's with the crappy banchan and inattentiveness of servers on refilling them? Refill empty side dishes, replace too-dirty grills, and check on your customers every once in a while. That's not really that hard to do if you have the time to be standing around just staring off. You can get a substandard samgyubsal at Mama's at the same price as a 36-selection AYCE at Gen in SoCal that includes shrimp, Calamari, fondue, and the standard fare that actually tastes good beyond just being marinated, to the point of serving American Wagyu until at least last summer. It might be unfair to compare KBBQ in Indiana to that in the West Coast, but if you're going to serve something that's less than half the quality and 200%-300% the price (depending on how much you eat) while offering limited variety, I don't think you deserve the business just for being the only KBBQ place in town.
(1)
A P M.
Never been here for dinner, but the lunch specials are KILLER!! Definitely recommend. Service is efficient (as it should be for lunch time). Excellent kimchi (in addition to the traditional cabbage we had one that appeared to be zucchini that I really enjoyed). Spicy pork and bulgogi were very good.
(4)
Jen F.
Big fan of Mama's in Indy and had been excited to try to Bloomington location. While still pretty good, it isn't NEAR as good as the Indy location. The restaurant was nearly empty on a Saturday evening, but we were still rushed to order. While perusing the menu, three servers stood and glared at us. FIND SOMETHING TO DO, LADIES! Combination appetizer was good, but the tempura at the other location is lighter. Entrees arrived and food was a little bland (I know, how is that possible?) I think if we had come here and had NOT been to the other location, we would have enjoyed it a lot more.
(3)
Jaynetop C.
Ugh. First had to wait for 40 minutes to be seated at one of their BBQ tables, which would not really have bothered the two of us if it weren't for the disappointing experience to follow. After finally being seated the waitress rudely snapped we must order at least two expensive meats or a full combo platter to be seated at the BBQ tables - I eat Korean food a lot and have never heard this requirement before and it was nowhere written on the menu. It ended up being way too much meat for the two of us (in large part because the meat quality was kind of sketch), and in general the entire staff seemed pleased to share their employment misery with us the whole evening. The two kinds of meat we ordered - spicy pork and ribeye - were brought out before the kimchi platters or the coals; how appetizing to stare at raw meat! The quality was low and the marinade was very strange - in both our opinions the flavor was overly sweet and bitter. The metal grill was burned to a crisp after just one round and we ended up having to request for the grill to be changed out 5 times. The atmosphere overall was a little depressing with no music, a smokey odor and slightly overall "yellow" hue due to lack of proper ventilation. After our long wait we were the last table and had the chance to enjoy several waitresses watching us a few tables over as we grilled meat in rapid succession. Equal parts frustration, low quality and expensive. Won't be returning.
(1)
Jialu T.
Big fan of Mama's! Soybean soup is sooooo good! Traditional Korean full dinner is my favorite! You can both enjoy a delicious soup and a lot of grilled beef!
(5)
Franklin D.
Finally got a chance to try the "cooking table" here. Usual selection of bulgogi, kalbi, pork belly with the salty oily dip, and some spicy chicken. Have to say, nothing beats meats on the grill. yum. The banchan here are pretty good too. The tuna & macaroni salad is one of my faves. Heard a rumor that IU is going to knock this strip mall down to install more parking spots.
(4)
Dalia M.
If you do the BBQ, you will smell afterwards. I showered after my meal! Started with the fried beef dumplings - yum. Then we got the short ribs and pork belly. Short ribs marinade was spectacular. Pork belly good but not to die for. Sides are typical but about half were... Not preferred but that may just be that my friend and I have not acquired a taste for them. Few things - it's a bit pricey. They don't tell you how long to cook the meat. They didn't offer to switch out our grill top until the end when it was thoroughly covered. We needed more rice!
(3)
Rachel Z.
You can never, ever, everrr go wrong w Korean barbecue. Go w the bugolgi and squid combo!
(5)
Kate J.
Great food great service. I had Korean BBQ and fish soup there. BBQ meat is processed well and are juicy and tasty.
(5)
Yan D.
good Korean restaurant. I like their food but it is kind of expensive.anyway a good place to enjoy Korean food.
(4)
Stella W.
i didn't expect much of the ethnic food in bloomington, but surprisingly this is a very decent korean restaurant, i think it's even better than some of the popular ones in chicago! the yuk gae jang and dolsot bimbimbap were not salty, seasoned just about right. The kalbi came in the LA cut which i love coz it's a lot easier to manage than those come in with a whole log of bone attached. the spicy pork belly were wonderfully seasoned, and not as fatty as i was expecting! The service was really good too! The first time i had korean bbq food and didn't leave with a full stomach of grease. :)
(4)
Nic N.
Let me just say, I don't know how Mama's compares to authentic Korean cuisine or even other Korean cuisine available in Bloomington, but the food is so delicious it doesn't matter! The Korean-style barbecue is fun and easy to use, and the meat is so fresh and so tender. The side dishes are numerous and delicious and you can get them refilled as often and as many times as you want. Totally worth the price and I don't know which one of the staff members was Mama but I hope someday she'll marry me and cook that way for me always.
(5)
Jenna C.
Love eating Korean here. The bebeembop, chop chae and bulgogee are delicious. I come on a weekly basis, but lately the food hasn't tasted the same. Brought my friends here and they loved it too, but we were charged for gratuity for 4 people. Won't be coming back for awhile.
(3)
Willie T.
Came to celebrate my 1 year anniversary with of course... the Korean BBQ. Pricey sure, but Mama's sure does have some of the best bulgogi in town! We ended up sharing the Bulgogi and spicy squid. amazing. drooling just thinking about it
(5)
Xiao Z.
Meat is too expensive and does not taste good at all, rice is bad compared to other Asian restaurants. And really? There is just one waitress in the whole restaurant, made me wait forever. It's a bad place to go if u are looking for good Korean BBQ, Although it's the only Korean BBQ restaurant here, I will never go again don't waist your money there
(1)
Amy E.
A very authentic Korean restaurant. I think almost everyone in the restaurant was Korean. I had a heavy lunch so I stuck with the spicy tofu soup, and it had just the right amount of spice. I wish there had been more meat in my soup. Service was quick, the place is clean, and I'd go again.
(4)
chel j.
The only reason why I gave 2 stars instead of one is because they actually have the most decent side dishes compared to other Korean restaurants in Btown.. I love korean soft tofu soup, I could eat them twice a week, if there is a restaurant that make them. Unfortunately, there is none in Bloomington. I was excited to try the korean soft tofu soup from Mama's because it was expensive. for some reason my brain thought that expensive means decent. I was wrong!!! It was by far the worst Korean soft tofu soup I've ever had. I have never eat tofu soup in Korea, but I grew up in california where the Asian food was heavenly. I've tried MANY tofu soup (by many, I mean I almost always order tofu soup when I go to Korean Restaurant).. I've tried okay and below average soup.. and Mama's was the worst one.. I was surprised that beef was the only meat option (I usually go for seafood) when it came, the soup was clear, and does not look spicy or appetizing AT ALL.. I knew when I saw it, it was going to be bad. It was tasteless and not spicy.. and the beef... I only found LITERALLY 4 small pieces of beef in there.. and I paid for 12 for it..!! I was upset and felt robbed.. (In Sobon, the soup was less than 10 dollar and taste much better.. mucchhhhh better..) I didnt finish it because it was very bad.. My BF ordered Kalbi/bbq short rib.. It was.. too sweet for my taste, they they gave you a huge chunk of meat and they give you scissors, basically you have to cut up the meat by yourself.. Their BBQ is overpriced and the portion is very small.. Won't recommend them unless you wanna pay for overpriced tasteless food.. :(
(2)
Kathryn W.
Please note that they are closed Mondays. Their website doesn't say that. Photo of their door sign in the photos section.
I'm going to give Mama's five stars. Maybe 4.5 would be better, or even just 4 would do just fine. However you slice it, this is the best Korean food in town. The servers and owner are incredibly kind and hospitable, the panchang keep coming, the tea is free, and the grill tables are a lot of fun. I lived in Chicago for a while and had the good luck of going to several great Korean joints there, but Mama's tops even those. It's great for parties, but it suits small groups as well. GO! NOW!
(5)
Sarah W.
One of the best kept secrets in Bloomington! Literally you have to go down into a basement area of a strip mall to get there, but aside from the lack of atmosphere, it is all about the food. Meals cost about $10-12 for dinner and include an assortment of appetizer-y dishes to accompany your meal. My favorite dinner is the hot stone kettle bibimbap. It comes with an egg on top and everything keeps cooking on the kettle as you eat. The flavors are so delicious and the thinly sliced beef is amazing. This is the type of place where the portion is so huge that you should have leftovers, but it tastes so good that you can't stop eating! The food is very authentic- this is where Korean people go to eat Korean food, which is a good sign. :-) It is also worth noting that they have always been gracious and accommodating of children, and it is somewhere that I feel comfortable bringing our daughter. I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!
(5)
Matthew N.
My gosh. Food, presentation, authenticity and atmosphere = Above and beyond any other Korean restaurant in Bloomington. The first time I went with my Korean friend, and they spoke to him in Korean and then they turned to me to ask me my order, "And what would you like?" They spared me the embarassment I suppose. Everytime I go, I get the barbecue. The beef and pork, which you cook yourself at your table, were delicious. It reminded me of my mom's bulgogi and kimchi. Speaking of kimchi, you get unlimited side dishes with the barbecue.
(5)
Jessica T.
Only good for BBQ. Everything else sucks. Understaffed and overpriced.
Food is okay. Very expensive!!! I had the BBQ- totally not worth what I paid. The side fish soup was not tasty. Small portions. Meat was poor quality. Try Sobon!! Better prices and quantities.
(1)
Julie S.
We went to Mama's Restaurant on October 25 for a birthday celebration. We were a large party of ten people so we needed to put an extra table at the end of one of the grill tables to accommodate everyone at one table. It worked out well because three people were vegetarians so they sat at the end without the grill, but if all of us wanted barbecue we would have needed to break up into two separate tables. Those of us who had barbecue shared the rib eye, short ribs, spicy pork, spicy pork belly, and spicy squid. They were all delicious, but the "spicy" pork, pork belly, and squid were not what I would call "hot." I would have liked for them to have more heat, but they were delicious nonetheless. Everyone was served a bowl of rice and the table had all of the traditional sides; including kimchi, cole slaw, and cucumber salad.. The barbecue was out of this world, so I would love to give five stars, however the service was very slow and the timing of the meal was off. They would bring two or three dishes at a time and not be back for another five to ten minutes with the next two or three. We'd had all of our meat for about twenty minutes before we received our rice. Everyone who ordered entrees from the kitchen received their meals far after we received the meat for the grill, which was unfortunate as well. Bottom line: The food is incredible, the service is mediocre. Don't go in expecting a quick meal. Expect to spend an hour and a half for dinner, at least. It's a nice experience sitting down with friends enjoying the meal. A quick dinner is not on the menu.
(4)
Sean C.
I like this place, but my Korean students told me there is no real korean food in B-town. Given their verdict, I think my taste could be skewed towards "non-koreans". Most of the korean restaurants in the US are very expensive, Mama's is no exception. I would say, if you could make the dishes yourself, don't go; otherwise, this is probably one of the best places to have korean food in B-town.
(4)
Christy S.
Four stars to Mama's!! After reading reviews on Yelp, I decided to visit this gem. I found the menu a little overwhelming since I do not know much about Korean food. The waiter immediately greeted us but told us that he did not have any BBQ tables available. He directed us to sit on the non BBQ side and wait. Another customer came in and was greeted by a waitress. The waitress was scrambling to find that party a BBQ table. Finally the waiter communicated to the waitress that we had been waiting longer. The waiter was friendly and the service was fine but not exceptional. The waiter had a hard time answering our questions or giving us suggestions. Decor is plain and simple. If you are wanting fancy decor than this is not you restaurant. Seating for the BBQ tables are limited and if you have a large party, I would recommend calling ahead. I wish they had more BBQ tables and the smells are wonderful!! We ordered the BBQ for two (ribeye and squid). Our BBQ came with 8 sides and ind. bowls of rice. All were good but I was confused with having macaroni salad as a side. After my first bit of the BBQ, I was hooked. I would not recommend this dish, if you do not like spicy food. Overall, I rate Mama's 4 stars. The only reason it was not 5 stars was the seating confusion and the waiter having difficulty communicating. We will be returning to Mama's again!!!
(4)
Rachel S.
I brought a big group here for my birthday and it was one chow fest. The service was very friendly and helpful, and some of us did the BBQ which was outstanding. One person who had lived in Chicago for many years said the food at Mama's was better than all the Korean places in there. I had a wonderful soup--tofu and beef--but everyone was happy with their dishes. This is the best Korean I have had in town, and really it's on top of the heap of restaurants I've been to in town, period. Highly recommend.
(5)
Matt F.
I thought that I didn't like Korean food until I tried Mama's. This is one now one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington. Great food, great service, good family atmosphere. Dinner prices might be a little high, but lunch is a great value. Very authentic, very delicious. The pork saute w/ kimchee is perfect.
(5)
Nadeem P.
I've been to a few differen Korean restaurants in my time, mama's being one of them. Mama's offers items from single dishes on to tabletop BBQ. The one unique aspect of mama's is that they use coal and wood fired grills, so your BBQ comes out very flavorful. The quality of food is among the best, however the prices are sky high compared to other spots, which is why they get docked one star from me...
(4)
ryan f.
great bibimbap, friendly staff. a little slow on drink refills but otherwise sublime.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Tony B.
The regret I have for overlooking this binge-tacular paradise for four years of undergrad will haunt me forever. Mama's truly is a diamond in the pubic rough of Bloomington's east side. If you have never experienced Korean BBQ, you are in danger of dying without having ever lived. I would advise you to gain carnal knowledge of a woman, then get a driver's license, and then try Korean BBQ. Doing these in the wrong order may cause a black hole or some shit, but do them you must! They are the requisites of life. Mama's provides the most excellent service of any Bloomington restaurant. There was a beaming smile on every worker's face. And I got bowed to 32 times. With this I was especially pleased. The girlfriend was skeptical. If you eat at one of the BBQ tables, there is a 2- entrée minimum. Entrées range from $14-20. Each entrée comes with a bowl of miso soup, rice, a plate of marinated meat or fish and unlimited Korean side dishes. You cook the meat on a perforated stainless steel plate over a pot of burning charcoal. If the plate gets too charred from the meat juices, they'll swap it out with a clean one. At Mama's you may be given a pair of chef's scissors to cut the cooked meat. Tongs are used to place the meat on the grill. You control how long the meal will last by how often you put a new piece of meat on the grill. For me, this makes the Korean BBQ experience uniquely relaxing. Before you die, check out my photos and TRY KOREAN BBQ!
(4)Sarah W.
One of the best kept secrets in Bloomington! Literally you have to go down into a basement area of a strip mall to get there, but aside from the lack of atmosphere, it is all about the food. Meals cost about $10-12 for dinner and include an assortment of appetizer-y dishes to accompany your meal. My favorite dinner is the hot stone kettle bibimbap. It comes with an egg on top and everything keeps cooking on the kettle as you eat. The flavors are so delicious and the thinly sliced beef is amazing. This is the type of place where the portion is so huge that you should have leftovers, but it tastes so good that you can't stop eating! The food is very authentic- this is where Korean people go to eat Korean food, which is a good sign. :-) It is also worth noting that they have always been gracious and accommodating of children, and it is somewhere that I feel comfortable bringing our daughter. I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!
(5)Nicole J.
Food is okay. Very expensive!!! I had the BBQ- totally not worth what I paid. The side fish soup was not tasty. Small portions. Meat was poor quality. Try Sobon!! Better prices and quantities.
(1)Matthew N.
My gosh. Food, presentation, authenticity and atmosphere = Above and beyond any other Korean restaurant in Bloomington. The first time I went with my Korean friend, and they spoke to him in Korean and then they turned to me to ask me my order, "And what would you like?" They spared me the embarassment I suppose. Everytime I go, I get the barbecue. The beef and pork, which you cook yourself at your table, were delicious. It reminded me of my mom's bulgogi and kimchi. Speaking of kimchi, you get unlimited side dishes with the barbecue.
(5)Jessica T.
Only good for BBQ. Everything else sucks. Understaffed and overpriced.
(2)M R.
Everything was so delicious! Got the bulgogi, pork sauté, bibimbop, and tofu soup. Authentic Korean indeed.
(5)Jaynetop C.
Ugh. First had to wait for 40 minutes to be seated at one of their BBQ tables, which would not really have bothered the two of us if it weren't for the disappointing experience to follow. After finally being seated the waitress rudely snapped we must order at least two expensive meats or a full combo platter to be seated at the BBQ tables - I eat Korean food a lot and have never heard this requirement before and it was nowhere written on the menu. It ended up being way too much meat for the two of us (in large part because the meat quality was kind of sketch), and in general the entire staff seemed pleased to share their employment misery with us the whole evening. The two kinds of meat we ordered - spicy pork and ribeye - were brought out before the kimchi platters or the coals; how appetizing to stare at raw meat! The quality was low and the marinade was very strange - in both our opinions the flavor was overly sweet and bitter. The metal grill was burned to a crisp after just one round and we ended up having to request for the grill to be changed out 5 times. The atmosphere overall was a little depressing with no music, a smokey odor and slightly overall "yellow" hue due to lack of proper ventilation. After our long wait we were the last table and had the chance to enjoy several waitresses watching us a few tables over as we grilled meat in rapid succession. Equal parts frustration, low quality and expensive. Won't be returning.
(1)Jialu T.
Big fan of Mama's! Soybean soup is sooooo good! Traditional Korean full dinner is my favorite! You can both enjoy a delicious soup and a lot of grilled beef!
(5)Nic N.
Let me just say, I don't know how Mama's compares to authentic Korean cuisine or even other Korean cuisine available in Bloomington, but the food is so delicious it doesn't matter! The Korean-style barbecue is fun and easy to use, and the meat is so fresh and so tender. The side dishes are numerous and delicious and you can get them refilled as often and as many times as you want. Totally worth the price and I don't know which one of the staff members was Mama but I hope someday she'll marry me and cook that way for me always.
(5)Rachel S.
I brought a big group here for my birthday and it was one chow fest. The service was very friendly and helpful, and some of us did the BBQ which was outstanding. One person who had lived in Chicago for many years said the food at Mama's was better than all the Korean places in there. I had a wonderful soup--tofu and beef--but everyone was happy with their dishes. This is the best Korean I have had in town, and really it's on top of the heap of restaurants I've been to in town, period. Highly recommend.
(5)Matt F.
I thought that I didn't like Korean food until I tried Mama's. This is one now one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington. Great food, great service, good family atmosphere. Dinner prices might be a little high, but lunch is a great value. Very authentic, very delicious. The pork saute w/ kimchee is perfect.
(5)Josh R.
Mama's provides an excellent and, as far as I know, authentic Korean dining experience. Despite being located in a strip mall, the inside is slightly more welcoming than that would typically indicate. You can choose between normal and barbecue tables, but because I go to a restaurant specifically for the purpose of having a better cook than I am prepare my food, I've always gone with the regular option. The fare is a solid selection of fiendishly spicy and delicious soups, served with 8 to 12 small side dishes including cabbage and cucumber kimchee, coleslaw, potato salad, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, fish cakes, mushrooms, and other tasty little squishy, squelchy, and squooshy delights. I've frequently been pleased with the bulgogee and short ribs, and I've never been disappointed with the rich meaty stews and soups, but some of the more unusual offerings can be the best. The broiled mackerel is an unbelievably good experience. It's smoky, salty, perfectly oily, and cooked on the bone. Even those moderately skilled with chopsticks will find it challenging to winnow the spine and bones from the flesh, but it is worth it. The cold buckwheat noodles are delicious, but also confounding to anyone with limited chopstick skills; they're served with shears if that tells you anything about how challenging they are to consume. Perhaps my favorite is the Korean home-y favorite, bebimbap: pickled vegetables, meat, and a fried egg top rice with a piquant spicy sauce. The menu offers a standard variant and a version with kimchee, but the best option is the one served in a stone pot that crisps the bottom of the rice into a crunchy, delicious wafer. The staff is friendly and helpful and will always make sure that you understand what you're ordering if you seem unsure. As forewarning, there is a giant television in a corner, but I've never actually witnessed anyone use it for karaoke; it's typically showing world cup game reruns.
(4)David F.
I moved to Bloomington from New York City where I had an office around the corner from Koreatown. I was afraid I would desperately miss the amazing Korean food, but.... There is Mama's in Bloomington. A phenomenal Korean restaurant. Many love the BBQ tables, but I really prefer to let them cook my food in the kitchen. They do a wonderful job and have a really wide ranging menu. Excellent cooking in a very traditional Korean style. The only ethnic restaurant in town where the clientele is frequently mostly Korean. Oh, and the spicy soups are the best way to clear your sinuses when you have a winter cold..
(5)Michelle H.
My husband took me to try Korean BBQ for the first time, and I was not disappointed! I am usually moderatly hesitant to try new foods, but this place was a tasty delight. I had the beef BBQ and he had the pork, and both were accompanied by a variety of little side dishes, rice, and lettuce leaf wraps. We had some Hite and Sapporo to compliment the meal, and left feeling extremely satisfied!
(5)Tim C.
The BBQ is delicious and fun! You have your own grill to cook your meats, so it's made the way you want it and brought to you fresh. :) All the meat I tried was tasty, but I especially liked the Bar-B-Q Spicy Pork Belly. It's fattier, but tastier. The sides are also pretty good - nothing that blew me away, but pretty standard stuff. I just really enjoyed cooking my own food, and the portions they give are plenty. The service was very nice as well. The pricing was just a tad expensive. It's a great experience, though, so it's definitely a place worth checking out.
(4)Evelyn Z.
A good place for a casual meal or friends gathering. Good quality food and service.
(5)Yan D.
good Korean restaurant. I like their food but it is kind of expensive.anyway a good place to enjoy Korean food.
(4)Stanley W.
Got seated fast. On the other hand, the meat is really low quality even for KBBQ, the selection is poor, and the prices are totally unreasonable. The vegetables they give you to pair with the meat is pretty poor quality, and its the first KBBQ place I've been that didn't give you at least two external sauces to flavour your meat with. Not to mention that everything overly pre-marinated (to hide the crappy quality) giving you next to no control over how you want your meat to taste. What's with the crappy banchan and inattentiveness of servers on refilling them? Refill empty side dishes, replace too-dirty grills, and check on your customers every once in a while. That's not really that hard to do if you have the time to be standing around just staring off. You can get a substandard samgyubsal at Mama's at the same price as a 36-selection AYCE at Gen in SoCal that includes shrimp, Calamari, fondue, and the standard fare that actually tastes good beyond just being marinated, to the point of serving American Wagyu until at least last summer. It might be unfair to compare KBBQ in Indiana to that in the West Coast, but if you're going to serve something that's less than half the quality and 200%-300% the price (depending on how much you eat) while offering limited variety, I don't think you deserve the business just for being the only KBBQ place in town.
(1)A P M.
Never been here for dinner, but the lunch specials are KILLER!! Definitely recommend. Service is efficient (as it should be for lunch time). Excellent kimchi (in addition to the traditional cabbage we had one that appeared to be zucchini that I really enjoyed). Spicy pork and bulgogi were very good.
(4)Jen F.
Big fan of Mama's in Indy and had been excited to try to Bloomington location. While still pretty good, it isn't NEAR as good as the Indy location. The restaurant was nearly empty on a Saturday evening, but we were still rushed to order. While perusing the menu, three servers stood and glared at us. FIND SOMETHING TO DO, LADIES! Combination appetizer was good, but the tempura at the other location is lighter. Entrees arrived and food was a little bland (I know, how is that possible?) I think if we had come here and had NOT been to the other location, we would have enjoyed it a lot more.
(3)Stella W.
i didn't expect much of the ethnic food in bloomington, but surprisingly this is a very decent korean restaurant, i think it's even better than some of the popular ones in chicago! the yuk gae jang and dolsot bimbimbap were not salty, seasoned just about right. The kalbi came in the LA cut which i love coz it's a lot easier to manage than those come in with a whole log of bone attached. the spicy pork belly were wonderfully seasoned, and not as fatty as i was expecting! The service was really good too! The first time i had korean bbq food and didn't leave with a full stomach of grease. :)
(4)Jenna C.
Love eating Korean here. The bebeembop, chop chae and bulgogee are delicious. I come on a weekly basis, but lately the food hasn't tasted the same. Brought my friends here and they loved it too, but we were charged for gratuity for 4 people. Won't be coming back for awhile.
(3)Franklin D.
Finally got a chance to try the "cooking table" here. Usual selection of bulgogi, kalbi, pork belly with the salty oily dip, and some spicy chicken. Have to say, nothing beats meats on the grill. yum. The banchan here are pretty good too. The tuna & macaroni salad is one of my faves. Heard a rumor that IU is going to knock this strip mall down to install more parking spots.
(4)Dalia M.
If you do the BBQ, you will smell afterwards. I showered after my meal! Started with the fried beef dumplings - yum. Then we got the short ribs and pork belly. Short ribs marinade was spectacular. Pork belly good but not to die for. Sides are typical but about half were... Not preferred but that may just be that my friend and I have not acquired a taste for them. Few things - it's a bit pricey. They don't tell you how long to cook the meat. They didn't offer to switch out our grill top until the end when it was thoroughly covered. We needed more rice!
(3)Rachel Z.
You can never, ever, everrr go wrong w Korean barbecue. Go w the bugolgi and squid combo!
(5)Kate J.
Great food great service. I had Korean BBQ and fish soup there. BBQ meat is processed well and are juicy and tasty.
(5)Willie T.
Came to celebrate my 1 year anniversary with of course... the Korean BBQ. Pricey sure, but Mama's sure does have some of the best bulgogi in town! We ended up sharing the Bulgogi and spicy squid. amazing. drooling just thinking about it
(5)Xiao Z.
Meat is too expensive and does not taste good at all, rice is bad compared to other Asian restaurants. And really? There is just one waitress in the whole restaurant, made me wait forever. It's a bad place to go if u are looking for good Korean BBQ, Although it's the only Korean BBQ restaurant here, I will never go again don't waist your money there
(1)Amy E.
A very authentic Korean restaurant. I think almost everyone in the restaurant was Korean. I had a heavy lunch so I stuck with the spicy tofu soup, and it had just the right amount of spice. I wish there had been more meat in my soup. Service was quick, the place is clean, and I'd go again.
(4)Jeremy P.
I'm going to give Mama's five stars. Maybe 4.5 would be better, or even just 4 would do just fine. However you slice it, this is the best Korean food in town. The servers and owner are incredibly kind and hospitable, the panchang keep coming, the tea is free, and the grill tables are a lot of fun. I lived in Chicago for a while and had the good luck of going to several great Korean joints there, but Mama's tops even those. It's great for parties, but it suits small groups as well. GO! NOW!
(5)Julie S.
We went to Mama's Restaurant on October 25 for a birthday celebration. We were a large party of ten people so we needed to put an extra table at the end of one of the grill tables to accommodate everyone at one table. It worked out well because three people were vegetarians so they sat at the end without the grill, but if all of us wanted barbecue we would have needed to break up into two separate tables. Those of us who had barbecue shared the rib eye, short ribs, spicy pork, spicy pork belly, and spicy squid. They were all delicious, but the "spicy" pork, pork belly, and squid were not what I would call "hot." I would have liked for them to have more heat, but they were delicious nonetheless. Everyone was served a bowl of rice and the table had all of the traditional sides; including kimchi, cole slaw, and cucumber salad.. The barbecue was out of this world, so I would love to give five stars, however the service was very slow and the timing of the meal was off. They would bring two or three dishes at a time and not be back for another five to ten minutes with the next two or three. We'd had all of our meat for about twenty minutes before we received our rice. Everyone who ordered entrees from the kitchen received their meals far after we received the meat for the grill, which was unfortunate as well. Bottom line: The food is incredible, the service is mediocre. Don't go in expecting a quick meal. Expect to spend an hour and a half for dinner, at least. It's a nice experience sitting down with friends enjoying the meal. A quick dinner is not on the menu.
(4)Sean C.
I like this place, but my Korean students told me there is no real korean food in B-town. Given their verdict, I think my taste could be skewed towards "non-koreans". Most of the korean restaurants in the US are very expensive, Mama's is no exception. I would say, if you could make the dishes yourself, don't go; otherwise, this is probably one of the best places to have korean food in B-town.
(4)Christy S.
Four stars to Mama's!! After reading reviews on Yelp, I decided to visit this gem. I found the menu a little overwhelming since I do not know much about Korean food. The waiter immediately greeted us but told us that he did not have any BBQ tables available. He directed us to sit on the non BBQ side and wait. Another customer came in and was greeted by a waitress. The waitress was scrambling to find that party a BBQ table. Finally the waiter communicated to the waitress that we had been waiting longer. The waiter was friendly and the service was fine but not exceptional. The waiter had a hard time answering our questions or giving us suggestions. Decor is plain and simple. If you are wanting fancy decor than this is not you restaurant. Seating for the BBQ tables are limited and if you have a large party, I would recommend calling ahead. I wish they had more BBQ tables and the smells are wonderful!! We ordered the BBQ for two (ribeye and squid). Our BBQ came with 8 sides and ind. bowls of rice. All were good but I was confused with having macaroni salad as a side. After my first bit of the BBQ, I was hooked. I would not recommend this dish, if you do not like spicy food. Overall, I rate Mama's 4 stars. The only reason it was not 5 stars was the seating confusion and the waiter having difficulty communicating. We will be returning to Mama's again!!!
(4)Nadeem P.
I've been to a few differen Korean restaurants in my time, mama's being one of them. Mama's offers items from single dishes on to tabletop BBQ. The one unique aspect of mama's is that they use coal and wood fired grills, so your BBQ comes out very flavorful. The quality of food is among the best, however the prices are sky high compared to other spots, which is why they get docked one star from me...
(4)ryan f.
great bibimbap, friendly staff. a little slow on drink refills but otherwise sublime.
(4)chel j.
The only reason why I gave 2 stars instead of one is because they actually have the most decent side dishes compared to other Korean restaurants in Btown.. I love korean soft tofu soup, I could eat them twice a week, if there is a restaurant that make them. Unfortunately, there is none in Bloomington. I was excited to try the korean soft tofu soup from Mama's because it was expensive. for some reason my brain thought that expensive means decent. I was wrong!!! It was by far the worst Korean soft tofu soup I've ever had. I have never eat tofu soup in Korea, but I grew up in california where the Asian food was heavenly. I've tried MANY tofu soup (by many, I mean I almost always order tofu soup when I go to Korean Restaurant).. I've tried okay and below average soup.. and Mama's was the worst one.. I was surprised that beef was the only meat option (I usually go for seafood) when it came, the soup was clear, and does not look spicy or appetizing AT ALL.. I knew when I saw it, it was going to be bad. It was tasteless and not spicy.. and the beef... I only found LITERALLY 4 small pieces of beef in there.. and I paid for 12 for it..!! I was upset and felt robbed.. (In Sobon, the soup was less than 10 dollar and taste much better.. mucchhhhh better..) I didnt finish it because it was very bad.. My BF ordered Kalbi/bbq short rib.. It was.. too sweet for my taste, they they gave you a huge chunk of meat and they give you scissors, basically you have to cut up the meat by yourself.. Their BBQ is overpriced and the portion is very small.. Won't recommend them unless you wanna pay for overpriced tasteless food.. :(
(2)Kathryn W.
Please note that they are closed Mondays. Their website doesn't say that. Photo of their door sign in the photos section.
(3)Kristie Q.
The only place in Bloomington to get Korean barbecue also happens to be the best Korean restaurant in Bloomington! The restaurant is located in a shopping center that is currently being renovated but Mama's is still open. While the decor of the restaurant isn't flashy or fancy, but don't let that fool you because the food is delicious. We ordered kalbi, pork belly and soondobu soup which was more than enough food. We also got 8 side dishes of which my favorite were the kimchi, fish cakes, and scallion pancakes. The kalbi was perfectly marinated and our waiter cut the meat off the bones for us at the table. The pork belly was sliced thin and didn't taste greasy or overly fatty like it does at some kbbq places. What was really different about this place is that they use coals to heat the bbq tables instead or gas or electricity like some places and I think it really added to the flavor of the meat. The soondobu soup came still boiling in a hot stone bowl and was filled with tofu, veggies, egg and some beef which was a great way to counterbalance all the meat from the bbq. Being from Dallas, Texas I have had my fair share of Korean barbecue and I would definitely put this place in my top 3. I don't think it's fair to compare the prices here to the prices in places like Dallas and LA, I mean this is Bloomington. I think the prices are fair and definitely worth the fun experience. Would definitely come back with more people so I can try more things on the menu!
(5)Charcy L.
Their soup and barbecue is ok, but the meat there isn't the best I had,a little hard to chew, and the price other than lunch hours is a little bit high, I usually order the miso tofu soup with shrewd pork inside and I really like the small plates they put before meal, so yummy^^
(3)Betsy L.
The food here was above the average compared to other Korean restaurants in town, but the service was bad. Due to the fact that they have only 2-3 servers, you need to wait a long time to order the food and pay for the check.
(3)Deb M.
Wow - nice find for Korean barbecue near the IU campus. I give it 5 stars alone just for having charcoal BBQ. The beef bulgogi and spicy pork bulgogi were fairly decent portions and tasted great. Side dishes were plentiful and the service was good.
(5)Lisa Z.
A worm inside their cod. Found a couple more after this. A waitress first said she's going to ask someone to look at this. Then she came back saying it's a part of the fish (without anyone looking into this problem). Then another waitress came and I told her our problem. Again, she did nothing but bringing back our check. Can't be worse...
(1)Soon K.
Lunch prices are very good (7 bucks!) lunch portion is very good for most people. Chicken teriyaki was kind of dry. Bulgogi was delicious.
(4)Josh R.
Mama's provides an excellent and, as far as I know, authentic Korean dining experience. Despite being located in a strip mall, the inside is slightly more welcoming than that would typically indicate. You can choose between normal and barbecue tables, but because I go to a restaurant specifically for the purpose of having a better cook than I am prepare my food, I've always gone with the regular option. The fare is a solid selection of fiendishly spicy and delicious soups, served with 8 to 12 small side dishes including cabbage and cucumber kimchee, coleslaw, potato salad, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, fish cakes, mushrooms, and other tasty little squishy, squelchy, and squooshy delights. I've frequently been pleased with the bulgogee and short ribs, and I've never been disappointed with the rich meaty stews and soups, but some of the more unusual offerings can be the best. The broiled mackerel is an unbelievably good experience. It's smoky, salty, perfectly oily, and cooked on the bone. Even those moderately skilled with chopsticks will find it challenging to winnow the spine and bones from the flesh, but it is worth it. The cold buckwheat noodles are delicious, but also confounding to anyone with limited chopstick skills; they're served with shears if that tells you anything about how challenging they are to consume. Perhaps my favorite is the Korean home-y favorite, bebimbap: pickled vegetables, meat, and a fried egg top rice with a piquant spicy sauce. The menu offers a standard variant and a version with kimchee, but the best option is the one served in a stone pot that crisps the bottom of the rice into a crunchy, delicious wafer. The staff is friendly and helpful and will always make sure that you understand what you're ordering if you seem unsure. As forewarning, there is a giant television in a corner, but I've never actually witnessed anyone use it for karaoke; it's typically showing world cup game reruns.
(4)David F.
I moved to Bloomington from New York City where I had an office around the corner from Koreatown. I was afraid I would desperately miss the amazing Korean food, but.... There is Mama's in Bloomington. A phenomenal Korean restaurant. Many love the BBQ tables, but I really prefer to let them cook my food in the kitchen. They do a wonderful job and have a really wide ranging menu. Excellent cooking in a very traditional Korean style. The only ethnic restaurant in town where the clientele is frequently mostly Korean. Oh, and the spicy soups are the best way to clear your sinuses when you have a winter cold..
(5)Michelle H.
My husband took me to try Korean BBQ for the first time, and I was not disappointed! I am usually moderatly hesitant to try new foods, but this place was a tasty delight. I had the beef BBQ and he had the pork, and both were accompanied by a variety of little side dishes, rice, and lettuce leaf wraps. We had some Hite and Sapporo to compliment the meal, and left feeling extremely satisfied!
(5)Tim C.
The BBQ is delicious and fun! You have your own grill to cook your meats, so it's made the way you want it and brought to you fresh. :) All the meat I tried was tasty, but I especially liked the Bar-B-Q Spicy Pork Belly. It's fattier, but tastier. The sides are also pretty good - nothing that blew me away, but pretty standard stuff. I just really enjoyed cooking my own food, and the portions they give are plenty. The service was very nice as well. The pricing was just a tad expensive. It's a great experience, though, so it's definitely a place worth checking out.
(4)Evelyn Z.
A good place for a casual meal or friends gathering. Good quality food and service.
(5)Kristie Q.
The only place in Bloomington to get Korean barbecue also happens to be the best Korean restaurant in Bloomington! The restaurant is located in a shopping center that is currently being renovated but Mama's is still open. While the decor of the restaurant isn't flashy or fancy, but don't let that fool you because the food is delicious. We ordered kalbi, pork belly and soondobu soup which was more than enough food. We also got 8 side dishes of which my favorite were the kimchi, fish cakes, and scallion pancakes. The kalbi was perfectly marinated and our waiter cut the meat off the bones for us at the table. The pork belly was sliced thin and didn't taste greasy or overly fatty like it does at some kbbq places. What was really different about this place is that they use coals to heat the bbq tables instead or gas or electricity like some places and I think it really added to the flavor of the meat. The soondobu soup came still boiling in a hot stone bowl and was filled with tofu, veggies, egg and some beef which was a great way to counterbalance all the meat from the bbq. Being from Dallas, Texas I have had my fair share of Korean barbecue and I would definitely put this place in my top 3. I don't think it's fair to compare the prices here to the prices in places like Dallas and LA, I mean this is Bloomington. I think the prices are fair and definitely worth the fun experience. Would definitely come back with more people so I can try more things on the menu!
(5)Charcy L.
Their soup and barbecue is ok, but the meat there isn't the best I had,a little hard to chew, and the price other than lunch hours is a little bit high, I usually order the miso tofu soup with shrewd pork inside and I really like the small plates they put before meal, so yummy^^
(3)Betsy L.
The food here was above the average compared to other Korean restaurants in town, but the service was bad. Due to the fact that they have only 2-3 servers, you need to wait a long time to order the food and pay for the check.
(3)Deb M.
Wow - nice find for Korean barbecue near the IU campus. I give it 5 stars alone just for having charcoal BBQ. The beef bulgogi and spicy pork bulgogi were fairly decent portions and tasted great. Side dishes were plentiful and the service was good.
(5)Lisa Z.
A worm inside their cod. Found a couple more after this. A waitress first said she's going to ask someone to look at this. Then she came back saying it's a part of the fish (without anyone looking into this problem). Then another waitress came and I told her our problem. Again, she did nothing but bringing back our check. Can't be worse...
(1)Soon K.
Lunch prices are very good (7 bucks!) lunch portion is very good for most people. Chicken teriyaki was kind of dry. Bulgogi was delicious.
(4)Stanley W.
Got seated fast. On the other hand, the meat is really low quality even for KBBQ, the selection is poor, and the prices are totally unreasonable. The vegetables they give you to pair with the meat is pretty poor quality, and its the first KBBQ place I've been that didn't give you at least two external sauces to flavour your meat with. Not to mention that everything overly pre-marinated (to hide the crappy quality) giving you next to no control over how you want your meat to taste. What's with the crappy banchan and inattentiveness of servers on refilling them? Refill empty side dishes, replace too-dirty grills, and check on your customers every once in a while. That's not really that hard to do if you have the time to be standing around just staring off. You can get a substandard samgyubsal at Mama's at the same price as a 36-selection AYCE at Gen in SoCal that includes shrimp, Calamari, fondue, and the standard fare that actually tastes good beyond just being marinated, to the point of serving American Wagyu until at least last summer. It might be unfair to compare KBBQ in Indiana to that in the West Coast, but if you're going to serve something that's less than half the quality and 200%-300% the price (depending on how much you eat) while offering limited variety, I don't think you deserve the business just for being the only KBBQ place in town.
(1)A P M.
Never been here for dinner, but the lunch specials are KILLER!! Definitely recommend. Service is efficient (as it should be for lunch time). Excellent kimchi (in addition to the traditional cabbage we had one that appeared to be zucchini that I really enjoyed). Spicy pork and bulgogi were very good.
(4)Jen F.
Big fan of Mama's in Indy and had been excited to try to Bloomington location. While still pretty good, it isn't NEAR as good as the Indy location. The restaurant was nearly empty on a Saturday evening, but we were still rushed to order. While perusing the menu, three servers stood and glared at us. FIND SOMETHING TO DO, LADIES! Combination appetizer was good, but the tempura at the other location is lighter. Entrees arrived and food was a little bland (I know, how is that possible?) I think if we had come here and had NOT been to the other location, we would have enjoyed it a lot more.
(3)Jaynetop C.
Ugh. First had to wait for 40 minutes to be seated at one of their BBQ tables, which would not really have bothered the two of us if it weren't for the disappointing experience to follow. After finally being seated the waitress rudely snapped we must order at least two expensive meats or a full combo platter to be seated at the BBQ tables - I eat Korean food a lot and have never heard this requirement before and it was nowhere written on the menu. It ended up being way too much meat for the two of us (in large part because the meat quality was kind of sketch), and in general the entire staff seemed pleased to share their employment misery with us the whole evening. The two kinds of meat we ordered - spicy pork and ribeye - were brought out before the kimchi platters or the coals; how appetizing to stare at raw meat! The quality was low and the marinade was very strange - in both our opinions the flavor was overly sweet and bitter. The metal grill was burned to a crisp after just one round and we ended up having to request for the grill to be changed out 5 times. The atmosphere overall was a little depressing with no music, a smokey odor and slightly overall "yellow" hue due to lack of proper ventilation. After our long wait we were the last table and had the chance to enjoy several waitresses watching us a few tables over as we grilled meat in rapid succession. Equal parts frustration, low quality and expensive. Won't be returning.
(1)Jialu T.
Big fan of Mama's! Soybean soup is sooooo good! Traditional Korean full dinner is my favorite! You can both enjoy a delicious soup and a lot of grilled beef!
(5)Franklin D.
Finally got a chance to try the "cooking table" here. Usual selection of bulgogi, kalbi, pork belly with the salty oily dip, and some spicy chicken. Have to say, nothing beats meats on the grill. yum. The banchan here are pretty good too. The tuna & macaroni salad is one of my faves. Heard a rumor that IU is going to knock this strip mall down to install more parking spots.
(4)Dalia M.
If you do the BBQ, you will smell afterwards. I showered after my meal! Started with the fried beef dumplings - yum. Then we got the short ribs and pork belly. Short ribs marinade was spectacular. Pork belly good but not to die for. Sides are typical but about half were... Not preferred but that may just be that my friend and I have not acquired a taste for them. Few things - it's a bit pricey. They don't tell you how long to cook the meat. They didn't offer to switch out our grill top until the end when it was thoroughly covered. We needed more rice!
(3)Rachel Z.
You can never, ever, everrr go wrong w Korean barbecue. Go w the bugolgi and squid combo!
(5)Kate J.
Great food great service. I had Korean BBQ and fish soup there. BBQ meat is processed well and are juicy and tasty.
(5)Yan D.
good Korean restaurant. I like their food but it is kind of expensive.anyway a good place to enjoy Korean food.
(4)Stella W.
i didn't expect much of the ethnic food in bloomington, but surprisingly this is a very decent korean restaurant, i think it's even better than some of the popular ones in chicago! the yuk gae jang and dolsot bimbimbap were not salty, seasoned just about right. The kalbi came in the LA cut which i love coz it's a lot easier to manage than those come in with a whole log of bone attached. the spicy pork belly were wonderfully seasoned, and not as fatty as i was expecting! The service was really good too! The first time i had korean bbq food and didn't leave with a full stomach of grease. :)
(4)Nic N.
Let me just say, I don't know how Mama's compares to authentic Korean cuisine or even other Korean cuisine available in Bloomington, but the food is so delicious it doesn't matter! The Korean-style barbecue is fun and easy to use, and the meat is so fresh and so tender. The side dishes are numerous and delicious and you can get them refilled as often and as many times as you want. Totally worth the price and I don't know which one of the staff members was Mama but I hope someday she'll marry me and cook that way for me always.
(5)Jenna C.
Love eating Korean here. The bebeembop, chop chae and bulgogee are delicious. I come on a weekly basis, but lately the food hasn't tasted the same. Brought my friends here and they loved it too, but we were charged for gratuity for 4 people. Won't be coming back for awhile.
(3)Willie T.
Came to celebrate my 1 year anniversary with of course... the Korean BBQ. Pricey sure, but Mama's sure does have some of the best bulgogi in town! We ended up sharing the Bulgogi and spicy squid. amazing. drooling just thinking about it
(5)Xiao Z.
Meat is too expensive and does not taste good at all, rice is bad compared to other Asian restaurants. And really? There is just one waitress in the whole restaurant, made me wait forever. It's a bad place to go if u are looking for good Korean BBQ, Although it's the only Korean BBQ restaurant here, I will never go again don't waist your money there
(1)Amy E.
A very authentic Korean restaurant. I think almost everyone in the restaurant was Korean. I had a heavy lunch so I stuck with the spicy tofu soup, and it had just the right amount of spice. I wish there had been more meat in my soup. Service was quick, the place is clean, and I'd go again.
(4)chel j.
The only reason why I gave 2 stars instead of one is because they actually have the most decent side dishes compared to other Korean restaurants in Btown.. I love korean soft tofu soup, I could eat them twice a week, if there is a restaurant that make them. Unfortunately, there is none in Bloomington. I was excited to try the korean soft tofu soup from Mama's because it was expensive. for some reason my brain thought that expensive means decent. I was wrong!!! It was by far the worst Korean soft tofu soup I've ever had. I have never eat tofu soup in Korea, but I grew up in california where the Asian food was heavenly. I've tried MANY tofu soup (by many, I mean I almost always order tofu soup when I go to Korean Restaurant).. I've tried okay and below average soup.. and Mama's was the worst one.. I was surprised that beef was the only meat option (I usually go for seafood) when it came, the soup was clear, and does not look spicy or appetizing AT ALL.. I knew when I saw it, it was going to be bad. It was tasteless and not spicy.. and the beef... I only found LITERALLY 4 small pieces of beef in there.. and I paid for 12 for it..!! I was upset and felt robbed.. (In Sobon, the soup was less than 10 dollar and taste much better.. mucchhhhh better..) I didnt finish it because it was very bad.. My BF ordered Kalbi/bbq short rib.. It was.. too sweet for my taste, they they gave you a huge chunk of meat and they give you scissors, basically you have to cut up the meat by yourself.. Their BBQ is overpriced and the portion is very small.. Won't recommend them unless you wanna pay for overpriced tasteless food.. :(
(2)Kathryn W.
Please note that they are closed Mondays. Their website doesn't say that. Photo of their door sign in the photos section.
(3)Tony B.
The regret I have for overlooking this binge-tacular paradise for four years of undergrad will haunt me forever. Mama's truly is a diamond in the pubic rough of Bloomington's east side. If you have never experienced Korean BBQ, you are in danger of dying without having ever lived. I would advise you to gain carnal knowledge of a woman, then get a driver's license, and then try Korean BBQ. Doing these in the wrong order may cause a black hole or some shit, but do them you must! They are the requisites of life. Mama's provides the most excellent service of any Bloomington restaurant. There was a beaming smile on every worker's face. And I got bowed to 32 times. With this I was especially pleased. The girlfriend was skeptical. If you eat at one of the BBQ tables, there is a 2- entrée minimum. Entrées range from $14-20. Each entrée comes with a bowl of miso soup, rice, a plate of marinated meat or fish and unlimited Korean side dishes. You cook the meat on a perforated stainless steel plate over a pot of burning charcoal. If the plate gets too charred from the meat juices, they'll swap it out with a clean one. At Mama's you may be given a pair of chef's scissors to cut the cooked meat. Tongs are used to place the meat on the grill. You control how long the meal will last by how often you put a new piece of meat on the grill. For me, this makes the Korean BBQ experience uniquely relaxing. Before you die, check out my photos and TRY KOREAN BBQ!
(4)Jeremy P.
I'm going to give Mama's five stars. Maybe 4.5 would be better, or even just 4 would do just fine. However you slice it, this is the best Korean food in town. The servers and owner are incredibly kind and hospitable, the panchang keep coming, the tea is free, and the grill tables are a lot of fun. I lived in Chicago for a while and had the good luck of going to several great Korean joints there, but Mama's tops even those. It's great for parties, but it suits small groups as well. GO! NOW!
(5)Sarah W.
One of the best kept secrets in Bloomington! Literally you have to go down into a basement area of a strip mall to get there, but aside from the lack of atmosphere, it is all about the food. Meals cost about $10-12 for dinner and include an assortment of appetizer-y dishes to accompany your meal. My favorite dinner is the hot stone kettle bibimbap. It comes with an egg on top and everything keeps cooking on the kettle as you eat. The flavors are so delicious and the thinly sliced beef is amazing. This is the type of place where the portion is so huge that you should have leftovers, but it tastes so good that you can't stop eating! The food is very authentic- this is where Korean people go to eat Korean food, which is a good sign. :-) It is also worth noting that they have always been gracious and accommodating of children, and it is somewhere that I feel comfortable bringing our daughter. I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!
(5)Matthew N.
My gosh. Food, presentation, authenticity and atmosphere = Above and beyond any other Korean restaurant in Bloomington. The first time I went with my Korean friend, and they spoke to him in Korean and then they turned to me to ask me my order, "And what would you like?" They spared me the embarassment I suppose. Everytime I go, I get the barbecue. The beef and pork, which you cook yourself at your table, were delicious. It reminded me of my mom's bulgogi and kimchi. Speaking of kimchi, you get unlimited side dishes with the barbecue.
(5)Jessica T.
Only good for BBQ. Everything else sucks. Understaffed and overpriced.
(2)M R.
Everything was so delicious! Got the bulgogi, pork sauté, bibimbop, and tofu soup. Authentic Korean indeed.
(5)Nicole J.
Food is okay. Very expensive!!! I had the BBQ- totally not worth what I paid. The side fish soup was not tasty. Small portions. Meat was poor quality. Try Sobon!! Better prices and quantities.
(1)Julie S.
We went to Mama's Restaurant on October 25 for a birthday celebration. We were a large party of ten people so we needed to put an extra table at the end of one of the grill tables to accommodate everyone at one table. It worked out well because three people were vegetarians so they sat at the end without the grill, but if all of us wanted barbecue we would have needed to break up into two separate tables. Those of us who had barbecue shared the rib eye, short ribs, spicy pork, spicy pork belly, and spicy squid. They were all delicious, but the "spicy" pork, pork belly, and squid were not what I would call "hot." I would have liked for them to have more heat, but they were delicious nonetheless. Everyone was served a bowl of rice and the table had all of the traditional sides; including kimchi, cole slaw, and cucumber salad.. The barbecue was out of this world, so I would love to give five stars, however the service was very slow and the timing of the meal was off. They would bring two or three dishes at a time and not be back for another five to ten minutes with the next two or three. We'd had all of our meat for about twenty minutes before we received our rice. Everyone who ordered entrees from the kitchen received their meals far after we received the meat for the grill, which was unfortunate as well. Bottom line: The food is incredible, the service is mediocre. Don't go in expecting a quick meal. Expect to spend an hour and a half for dinner, at least. It's a nice experience sitting down with friends enjoying the meal. A quick dinner is not on the menu.
(4)Sean C.
I like this place, but my Korean students told me there is no real korean food in B-town. Given their verdict, I think my taste could be skewed towards "non-koreans". Most of the korean restaurants in the US are very expensive, Mama's is no exception. I would say, if you could make the dishes yourself, don't go; otherwise, this is probably one of the best places to have korean food in B-town.
(4)Christy S.
Four stars to Mama's!! After reading reviews on Yelp, I decided to visit this gem. I found the menu a little overwhelming since I do not know much about Korean food. The waiter immediately greeted us but told us that he did not have any BBQ tables available. He directed us to sit on the non BBQ side and wait. Another customer came in and was greeted by a waitress. The waitress was scrambling to find that party a BBQ table. Finally the waiter communicated to the waitress that we had been waiting longer. The waiter was friendly and the service was fine but not exceptional. The waiter had a hard time answering our questions or giving us suggestions. Decor is plain and simple. If you are wanting fancy decor than this is not you restaurant. Seating for the BBQ tables are limited and if you have a large party, I would recommend calling ahead. I wish they had more BBQ tables and the smells are wonderful!! We ordered the BBQ for two (ribeye and squid). Our BBQ came with 8 sides and ind. bowls of rice. All were good but I was confused with having macaroni salad as a side. After my first bit of the BBQ, I was hooked. I would not recommend this dish, if you do not like spicy food. Overall, I rate Mama's 4 stars. The only reason it was not 5 stars was the seating confusion and the waiter having difficulty communicating. We will be returning to Mama's again!!!
(4)Rachel S.
I brought a big group here for my birthday and it was one chow fest. The service was very friendly and helpful, and some of us did the BBQ which was outstanding. One person who had lived in Chicago for many years said the food at Mama's was better than all the Korean places in there. I had a wonderful soup--tofu and beef--but everyone was happy with their dishes. This is the best Korean I have had in town, and really it's on top of the heap of restaurants I've been to in town, period. Highly recommend.
(5)Matt F.
I thought that I didn't like Korean food until I tried Mama's. This is one now one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington. Great food, great service, good family atmosphere. Dinner prices might be a little high, but lunch is a great value. Very authentic, very delicious. The pork saute w/ kimchee is perfect.
(5)Nadeem P.
I've been to a few differen Korean restaurants in my time, mama's being one of them. Mama's offers items from single dishes on to tabletop BBQ. The one unique aspect of mama's is that they use coal and wood fired grills, so your BBQ comes out very flavorful. The quality of food is among the best, however the prices are sky high compared to other spots, which is why they get docked one star from me...
(4)ryan f.
great bibimbap, friendly staff. a little slow on drink refills but otherwise sublime.
(4)