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Name: Big Mama’s Kitchen
Address: Turning Point Campus,3223 N 45th St, Bldg A, Omaha, NE, 68104
Telephone: (402) 455-6262
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.87

Big Mama’s Kitchen

Turning Point Campus,3223 N 45th St, Bldg A, Omaha, NE, 68104

(402) 455-6262
Store is closed

Big Mama’s Kitchen Menu

Soups and Starters

Fried Green Tomatoes

Bowl of Beans and Cornbread

Bowl of Greens and Cornbread

Big Mama's Side Salad

Smoked Feather Bones

Fried Okra

Smoked Wings

Fried Green Tomatoes

Bowl of Beans and Cornbread

Bowl of Greens and Cornbread

Big Mama's Side Salad

Smoked Feather Bones

Fried Okra

Smoked Wings
Sandwiches

Afro Burger

Big Redd Burger

Big Mama's Cheeseburger

Fried Catfish Sandwich

Pig Ear Sandwich

Afro Burger

Big Redd Burger

Big Mama's Cheeseburger

Fried Catfish Sandwich

Pig Ear Sandwich
Meals

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (3 Pieces)

Fried Catfish Fillet

Meatloaf and Gravy

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (2 Pieces)

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (2 Pieces)

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (3 Pieces)

Smothered Pork Chops

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (3 Pieces)

Fried Catfish Fillet

Meatloaf and Gravy

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (2 Pieces)

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (2 Pieces)

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (3 Pieces)

Smothered Pork Chops
Home Cooked Side Dishes

Greens and Cornbread

Gluten-Free Greens

Beans and Cornbread

Gluten-Free Beans

Macaroni and Cheese

Stir Fry Cabbage

Sweet Potato Pudding

Creamy Coleslaw

Fried Okra Side

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Greens and Cornbread

Gluten-Free Greens

Beans and Cornbread

Gluten-Free Beans

Macaroni and Cheese

Stir Fry Cabbage

Sweet Potato Pudding

Creamy Coleslaw

Fried Okra Side

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Dessert

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Sweet Potato Pie

Healthy Meal suggestions for Big Mama’s Kitchen

Soups and Starters

Fried Green Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl of Beans and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl of Greens and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Side Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Feather Bones [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Okra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Green Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl of Beans and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl of Greens and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Side Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Feather Bones [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Okra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Afro Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Redd Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Cheeseburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Catfish Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pig Ear Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Afro Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Redd Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Cheeseburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Catfish Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pig Ear Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meals

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (3 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Catfish Fillet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatloaf and Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (2 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (2 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (3 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smothered Pork Chops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (3 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Catfish Fillet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatloaf and Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken (2 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (2 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Mama's Smothered Chicken (3 Pieces) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smothered Pork Chops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Home Cooked Side Dishes

Greens and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gluten-Free Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beans and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gluten-Free Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macaroni and Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fry Cabbage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creamy Coleslaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Okra Side [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greens and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gluten-Free Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beans and Cornbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gluten-Free Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macaroni and Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fry Cabbage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creamy Coleslaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Okra Side [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Sweet Potato Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 3202 S 143rd Plz )

Arby’s ( 8429 W Center Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Omaha for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 3202 S 143rd Plz )

Arby’s ( 8429 W Center Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Jack B.

Amazing restaurant with great chicken and desserts. Not even from Omaha but I would come here a lot if I lived here
(5)
Kari R.

Such friendly staff and the food is delicious!
(4)
RosienCrizz P.

Big Mamas has BEST SWEET POTATO ICE CREAM!! I went earlier in year to Omaha,NE and had to pay a visit after seeing place in TV. Big Mama was so nice to take time and chat with me. FYi..The place is pretty hidden looks like old college
(4)
Oscar A.

It's a great experience to even sit down in this place and look at some history of this family owned business. The setting is unique as it's located in a school cafeteria. I had the Mother Dear's breakfast casserole which was delicious. The food took a little long to get to my table but it's understandable as its prepared fresh and made to order. I also had the sweet potato pudding which was the best thing my mouth has ever tried. Overall great service, food was awesome and did not disappoint especially the sweet potato pudding. Definitely a place I recommend and will continue to go to every time I'm around the area.
(5)
Mark C.

Stopped by Big Mama's Kitchen for lunch this week. First time. Big Mama's is located on the "Turning Point Campus" which is where Nebraska's School for the Deaf used to be. Once you enter the campus, park in the lot and the restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the Administration Building (Building A). There are several signs so you should not have any problem finding it. The restaurant area is fairly large with 20-30 tables of varying sizes. Lots of family photos and community interest material on the walls. There is also an area for Big Mama's General Store that sells sauces, rubs, and mixes. I was greeted quickly and seated. I enjoyed talking to the servers before the lunch crowd arrived. The daily specials are written on a big whiteboard on the wall. Drinks are served in mason jars. I went with the daily special which was Big Mama's Jumbo Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes, Country Gravy & Skillet Cornbread. The portion that came out was pretty large. The meal was good. I also got a side of greens and they were delicious. Big Mama's prepares everything from scratch so it does take a bit longer to get to the table from the kitchen. Be patient. I actually got in before the lunch rush at 1130 so I was able to see how things run. There were also a variety of home made desserts available when I was there. These included caramel pecan pie ice cream, green tomato and raisin pie ice cream (yes, really), sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato cheesecake, fried apricot pie, etc. The price for the lunch special was $10.69. Once you added in the drink, side of greens, and dessert, I was over $20.00. A bit more than what I generally like to pay for lunch, but it was pretty good and I will definitely come back again.
(4)
Suite R.

How does this place warrant anything more than two stars? I just had catered food from Big Mama's Kitchen. I ordered it to be ready at 1 pm. I arrived promptly at 1 pm, and I was told it was not ready yet. I am OK with that, as it would be fresh and hot. I waited a half hour to receive what turned out to be, at best, moderately warm food. The food itself was average at best. The chicken was small and dry. The Oven Fried Chicken was lacking any flavor. Macaroni and Cheese was processed. The Coleslaw was OK, but nothing much different than KFC. And the beans were lacking seasoning as well. For dessert I ordered a half pan of the Peach Cobbler. Did that look good! Sadly, the taste was far short of the looks. Everyone commented on the crust. It was not quite breadish and not quite pieish. In addition, It had an odd flavor. While we discussed what was in it to give it that flavor, we could never put our finger on what it was. The way I know it was a slightly less than average Cobbler? Not a single one of us finished our helping (and trust me, if it had only tasted as good as it looked, I would have had seconds. Ok, maybe thirds...). Now, for the value. There are value points for everything. The worst meal of the day could be a 4 star meal if the value is there. Again, that is a place that Big Mama falls down. This meal was for the two piece chicken meal for 6 people and a half pan of peach cobbler. 3 Breasts, 5 Legs, 4 Wings, 1 pint of Coleslaw, 2 pints of Green Beans, 2 pints of Mac & Cheese, and 1/2 pan of Cobbler later I am $146 poorer. I find that overly pricey for that meal. (bye the way Mama, if these were served in the restaurant would people have been served a leg and wing and this would have been considered a 2 piece meal?). Finally, while I did not eat there, I will say the people who worked there were nice when speaking with me. And I see that noted in many of the reviews. In the end, I had high hopes for this place, but in the end was sadly disappointed. Next time, I will either try another place to find the great fried chicken that needs to exist in Omaha, or I will just go the KFC route. While not KFC fan, it is no worse than Big Mama's, and is significantly cheaper.
(1)
Tam R.

Hard to find yes but I would say worth it. Service was excellent and food was delicious.
(4)
Colleen L.

Update: Big Mama's is the only joint in town where you can order a deep fried turkey for the holidays. I placed an order for my bird less than a week ahead, and it was piping hot and ready to go at the time I requested. That thing was the most delicious extravagance ever! My friends were thrilled with my choice! The skin had so much flavor and crisp, and the meat was of course tender beyond anticipation. Certainly increased my 3-star review of a dine-in experience! Dine-in review: Eh, it doesn't really live up to the hype, and if anything the fame was a distraction. Videos of Big Mama are constantly looped on a big screen TV, and the waitresses comment constantly on the clips, or mention their own stories. The chicken WAS delicious, but the 3-piece plates we order arrived with 2-pieces, and the sides were tragically tiny (1/4 c of mac & cheese doesn't really do it for me). The sweet potato pudding was good, as was the sweet potato pie ice cream. Sadly the sweet tea had turned, and the service was turtle-paced. I may return to try the breakfast, but the atmosphere, speed and distractions may send me elsewhere instead.
(4)
Matthew O.

Smoked chicken wings? Spicy smokey collard greens? Skillet corn bread? Sweet potato pudding? Are you kidding me? Wow. This is the real deal, ya'll when it comes to soul food. Granted I'm just a goofy white kid from suburban Chicago, so what the heck do I know about soul food? Not all that much, but I do know great food when I try it. The collard greens and sweet potato pudding were simply outstanding. No bitterness whatsoever to the greens - just smokey and spicy and salty and perfect. I usually don't finish my greens when I try them elsewhere but these are devour-able. Sweet potato pudding - can't say enough good thing a about it. Sweet and crunchy brown sugar crust on top and light, fluffy sweet potato deliciousness below. Best soul food I've ever had. Can't wait to try the rest of Big Mama's offerings.
(5)
Samantha D.

Huge portions for lunch. The food was pretty good. The cornbread and mac & cheese were wonderful. But at $20 for just myself (with tip) I probably wouldn't rush back over there - as it was pretty hard to find and not in the greatest neighborhood.
(3)
Brady S.

So delicious. The service can occasionally be a little slow but thankfully the food makes it worth it! Their fried chicken is something special. They use some kind of curry seasoning in the mix and it makes it really unique and tasty. Whenever I crave fried chicken, this is where I head!
(5)
Pat C.

Ate there today...must have missed the lunch crowd as we were the only ones there. Seated right away. The featherbones and fried okra appetizers were great, as well as the cranberry sun tea. I had the chicken fried steak special and missed having a side of veggies to eat with it. Husband tried the pork ear sandwich. The fried catfish filets were probably the best dish in our party of 5. The sweet potato ice cream is really good. Had to try this restaurant on my final visit to Omaha. You'd think the owner would have come out to greet the guests and inquired about our meal.
(3)
Sarina P.

Bland food. Have no idea how it ever got an award or made it to a national tv show. Service is great but that isn't what I'm paying for. I'm paying for some "grandma cooking" and this was so far from that. :(
(1)
Laura W.

My husband and I came here for lunch on a week day after I'd had this place bookmarked to visit for quite a while. We had the oven fried chicken with Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with a side of fried okra. We felt the appetizer dish was a bit overpriced for the serving size, and I am not one to eat large quantities of food. I was happy with the food, it was all quite tasty, but there was SO much hype I was expecting a little more in terms of flavor. I would recommend eating here. The service was excellent!
(3)
Stephen F.

Pretty unique experience as the restaurant is located in an old school lunch room. The food speaks for itself. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. I would recommend this place to anyone especially if you are looking for some nostalgic southern cooking.
(4)
Jessica H.

On a quick trip to Omaha, I decided to finally try Big Mama's Kitchen. There are more good than bad with this place so I'm going to build my way up. First, I agree with other yelpers. They need better signage. My co-worker and I looped that school over and over until we saw the tiny sign by the walkway. "It's in a school?" we thought, can't be! But yes, it is. So since it's in an old school, it's in an old cafeteria. The decor is nothing fancy (I do like the cheetah print tablecloths). It's a bit awkward and cluttered because the shape of the room is just big and open. IF they could make it more intimate, less cafeteria, I might like it a little more but I didn't go there for the looks of the place. I went for the FOOD! And I was pleased. I wasn't sure what to order. Something I haven't had or the classic (and famed) fried chicken. I opted for the fried chicken and my waitress recommend mac-n-cheese and sweet potato pudding. If you're trying to diet, don't even bother. There is nothing on the menu to even attempt it! When my food arrived I didn't know where to start. First of all, portions are HUGE. I got two big pieces of chicken and they had a sort of mustard flavor under the breading. It was a little bit drier than I prefer but the flavor was unique. Not overly greasy, not over breaded. Now the mac-n-cheese. OMG the mac-n-cheese. It was like little elbow noodles swimming in a sea of golden heaven. Thick, creamy, hot and delicious. This is some GOOD mac-n-cheese. The biggest hit, at least for me, was that sweet potato pudding. I've never had such a thing and it was delectable. The sweet potato mixture was smooth and sweet and it was topped with a crusty, cinnamon, sugary deliciousness. It was hot and fresh and just so so so good. Meals are also served with cornbread and it too was delicious. I ended up having to take half of it home. As I waited for my food, I felt comfortable walking around, checking out pictures, taking pictures. And I had a nice conversation with Big Mama's granddaughter who was obviously very proud of her family and the business. The service was excellent. We didn't know the hours, showed up at 1:30, they were closing at 2 p.m., but didn't act like it bothered them one bit. Her granddaughter loved sharing stories, told me about the other sandwich shop location. The wait staff (granted there was just our table and another) were tentative and just so friendly.
(4)
Jessica J.

The food was delicious but what was even better was the service. Our waitress was the nicest lady and "big mama" herself came out to not only greet, but sat and had great conversation with us (regarding the start of the company). The fried fish, homemade ice cream and sweet pot pudding was AMAZING! You would be crazy not to visit! P.s. .... The location is a little different but the history behind there location of choice says a lot about the heart in the kitchen.... ENJOY!
(5)
Eric W.

Not good, not sure why the good reviews. $17 for 2 pieces of chicken 2 side and instant tea. Mashed potatoes were not edible.
(1)
Nick G.

Terrible food and terrible services. Our food was warm at best. It took 1 hour and 15 minutes to get one scoop Mac n cheese, one scoop of mashed potatoes and gravy and the smallest thigh and wing you can image. Not to mention, the corn bread was dry. All for $14.24 USD
(1)
Moira R.

I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and I am so glad I did. It is a little hard to find because it is situated in the middle of an administration building. The restaurant is set in an old cafeteria, which gives it a lot of charm. The service was fast and very friendly. My friend and I both tried the fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and sweet potato pudding. I ordered the two piece which was more than enough (one huge piece and one small piece of chicken). The chicken was incredibly flavorful and was juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The macaroni was also very good. It had a traditional flavor but was clearly homemade. I also enjoyed the sweet potato pudding. The meal came with corn bread and this was the only disappointing part of the meal - it was dry and did not have much flavor. I highly suggest you try the sweet potato pie ice cream for dessert. It is served in a coffee mug and contains chunks of sweet potato pie and is served with a crumbly brown sugar topping. I am still fantasizing about this ice cream and when I can go back and get more!
(4)
Alyssa M.

I recently gave her a one. The story behind that was-- My family and I use to come to this establishment at least twice a month but the food slowly started to decline. After her recent TV reality show premier I decide to give her another try. I try not to hold a grudge with restaurants in hopes that they will improve. Long story short-- yes, Big Mama improved BUT not enough for my standards! Kind of a weird set up-- they need to have more signage so people can find the entrance. The people who came with me seemed to have a difficult time finding the actual door to the restaurant as it is in an old school. I suggested to the dinning room manager that Big Mama's staff put "walking feet" on the concrete from the parking lot to the correct door so folks can follow the feet to Big Mama's! It is in an old school. Not a cozy environment. Dishes weren't in the best of shape. They need to trash their dishes and purchase nicer dishes. Their kid cups are cheap plastic cups that they purchased from a dollar store. CUPS DID NOT HAVE LIDS! This is such a CHEAP fix and such a thoughtless decision that this restaurant has made. Parents want to relax when they come to a restaurant. They don't want their stress level at a high because they are nervous that their child may spill their drink... which mine did TWICE! You would think that they would make smart financial decisions-- and realize that spilled milk is more wasteful than purchases cups with lids... which wal-mart has for $2 for three! SHE IS EXPENSIVE FOR NO REASON! I have no problem paying for quality! I don't know if she marked her prices up because she feels that she can get that amount since she was on TV. But-- The fact is... people will come for a while BUT when she stops being on TV. Drinks and meals $$$$ Service-- Well every employee that we spoke to was EXTREMELY NICE. They lady even remembered us from when we use to come to Big Mama's. But the waitress was forgetful. We asked for refills--- never came by... had to flag different people down to get a refill. The check didn't come until about 30 minutes after we requested it. Also- everyone at the table had cranberry juice except for one person who had a soft drink. When it was refill time- they indicated that the soft drink did not get refills but the teas do... This is backwards from the norm AND SHOULD have been explained at the time of ordering! We all bought different foods and shared... here's my review. For the food: Mac & Cheese- Boxed or Velveeta Cheese-- whichever it is... it is not made with pure "real" cheese. It was very bland. I ONLY eat this kind of cheese if I am in a rush to fix food before my children's extracurricular activity. I get highly irritated when I pay for such food (esp for the prices). Chicken fried Steak-- Ugh. Kind of bland. Wasn't horrible but wouldn't order this. My husband loves CFS but he ate it very slowly so I know that was an indicator that the food was not up to his standard. My husband is a trained chef and tries to at least fine good things to say about a meal... When I asked his opinion... he gave me the verbal statement "It was alright, wouldn't break my neck to come back." Afro Burger-- Hot and pretty good! But not good enough for me to make a special trip JUST for this burger! Fried Chicken- It was pretty good -- well the first couple bites... Then it just started to taste average. I don't go go restaurants for average tasting food. I want to taste a culinary fusion of spices that I can't or wouldn't feel like making at home. This was just a simple spiced chicken with added CURRY to the spices. I PAID EXTRA for all WHITE MEAT ($1.87). But when the food was brought to my table... It had a breast and a tiny baby sized wing AND A DRUMSTICK! So I flagged down my waitress... well, she was busy with other things.... So i flagged down the dinning room manger... she said "Oh, they may have been out of white meat." Uugghh... what restaurant in their right minds feels that it is ok to charge more and not deliver what you paid more from. Then decide to just give you dark meat without telling or asking their customer. Anyways... they ended up finding a white chicken wing... They brought it out. It was a microscopic wing.... Tiny! I uploaded a pic on yelp! Go take a look. Cranberry Tea. $2.99. Tasted pretty good. Fried Catfish--- BLAND! Sweet Potato Pudding- Good. I make the same thing at home so I wouldn't come back here just for that. But it was the basic sweet potato with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar etc. with a pecan and brown sugar topping. It was creamy as well-- so they either used a lot of butter or cream. Sweet Potato Ice Cream-- I love sweet potatoes so I was excited to try this. But I was disappointed. It tasted like the restaurant purchased vanilla ice cream (cheap quality at that) and put in artificial sweet potato flavor and added some actual sweet potatoes in there just to give it the illusion that it was homemade instead of just docto
(3)
Aziz M.

Walking into Big Mama's Kitchen is like taking a step back into grade school. I mean that in the most literal sense bc this place is in an old, school cafeteria. Aside the interestingly tattered setting, the food here was quite memorable. I ordered the best of what they have according to fellow Yelpers as well as the waitress I had who happened to be from San Antonio too. Small world. I got the fried chicken which is among the best I've ever had. Crispy on the outside with a great flavor and better texture than I'm accustomed to. I decided to get the sweet potato pudding which was OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD! Whipped to perfection, with crumbled brown sugar atop, I could not have asked for a better sweet potato side dish. Along with my dose of perfection came my other sidekick known as mac n cheese. The flavor was there most definitely but the consistency was much too watery for my taste. I had to listen to others and get the Cranberry Sun Tea and it was rightfully boasted about. I really enjoyed how it had such familiar elements yet combined together, it was a unique and sweet concoction all on its own. With everything thus far being so delicious, how could I possibly pass up my chance at dessert heaven? They had a few things which sounded right up my alley but my waitress talked me into getting the peanut butter pie which was divine! This is ONE place I will not soon forget. If I lived in Omaha, I'd have a season pass to this foody back alley crack spot. Just go once like I did and you're sure to be hooked!
(5)
Matthew J.

If you've heard of this place via word-of-mouth, as I had, one note before you drop on by: the "restaurant" is located in the second-floor cafeteria of the now-closed Nebraska School for the Deaf. From the outside, it looks more like a small college campus than anything close to a restaurant, and I spent a good ten minutes circling the facility wondering if Google Maps had sent me somewhere completely wrong. I had the oven-roasted chicken with greens and sweet potato pudding, all of which was fantastic. This is definitely a family affair, and I believe we were waited on by three generations of ladies, including Big Mama herself. I came by on a Tuesday for lunch and the place was almost empty, which was fine by me. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Precise J.

Was featured on Food Network. The service was excellent the staff goes out of their way to make sure you are comfortable. The portions are great and the food was tasty as well.
(4)
Clinton G.

Wife and I were in town for Creighton graduation and thought we would stop in and try this place having seen it on DDD. The neighborhood it is in is pretty sketchy looking. We got inside and ordered the waitstaff was very friendly the place itself has alot of character. We both got the oven fried chicken with mac n cheese and okra with cranberry sun tea. The okra was great, the mac n cheese was ok as for the chicken it was cold. For as long as we waited for our food it should have been piping hot. The chicken itself was interesting it had either curry or tumeric in the recipe never seen or had chicken like it. That said I was a bit disapointed with the meal. Sure we probably just caught them on a bad day that said I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there again.
(2)
Ravan C.

First tried at the Buy the Big O show a couple years ago. There was this gosh awful casserole that kept me from going to the restaurant for years. My boyfriend was craving some good southern so I took him there a couple weeks ago. We were both disgusted. I had the oven baked chicken, it tasted like something from a TV dinner with little flavor. I wasn't going to write a review but I went to Lonnell's Southern Delight with a friend today and couldn't let Big Mama's have a pass. The food was flavorful and the portions were plentiful. Skip Big Mama's and go straight down to Lonnell's. You won't regret it.
(2)
Chris L.

Can't get enough of Big Mamma's cooking. So so good. Today, I had the special. Jumbo Chicken fried stake. OMG!
(5)
Fly_Gu Y.

I tried Big Mama's Kitchen for lunch with a few co-workers and I was impressed. The building is a lil tricky to find but if you follow the Big Mama banners that's strategically placed within close proximity of the building, you'll be fine. I ordered the cat fish, greens, and mac & cheese. The sides were meh but the cat fish was on point! I give Big Mama's Kitchen a solid B for the food (because nothing beats MY mom's kitchen creations) and an A+ for customer service. All in all a great experience!
(4)
Betsy G.

Very awful service. Food is average and expensive!! If you go expect to be there a very long time.
(1)
Cyrus S.

For the area is good food. As far as real deep South Soul food, is average. Had the chicken, mac and cheese, fish, cornbread and sweet potato pudding. It wasn't worth the price to me though.
(4)
Christopher F.

On my way to Omaha to visit my grandparents, I decided to stop at Big Mama's to check it out as, I saw this place many times on the food network. First of all getting to this place is darn near impossible. We GPS the address and ended up on 45st near 680. Luckily the girl on the phone was real nice and stayed with us long enough on the phone until we arrived. The place is an old school and you do not see any signs until you reach the fence at the school. We arrived at around 10:30am, I was a little disappointed at how many items they do not offer during breakfast, basically your choice was eggs, biscuits and gravy, or pork and eggs. They would not even offer the chicken fried steak, which was listed as the special of the day. WTH why list as the special and since when was chicken fried steak not considered a breakfast item. That being said big Mama eventually came out to greet us and sat down to talk with us for a few minutes. We had already placed our orders, but she allowed us to order the Afro burger, since that was one of the items I wanted to try. The afro burger is interesting to say the least, it is ground beef shaped like a hot dog with all kinds of spices, flash fried, than cooked to well and eaten on a hotdog bun with their sauce. It was pretty good, but did not blow me away. I ordered the biscuits and gravy, which was one of the better biscuits and gravy, I have ever tried, reminds me of what I had in Charelston, SC. Nice big chunks of sausage, great buttery biscuit. My wife ordered the pork chops and eggs. The pork chops were tender and flavorful. For drink we tried there cranberry ice tea, which was very good. If I ever get back to this place, I am definitely going to try their fried baked chicken.
(3)
Lina B.

If there's a better Soul Food place in Omaha or even Lincoln, please let me know! For my money, it doesn't get much better than Big Mama's Kitchen. I'll even go as far as to say that I love their food even more than the iconic Sylvia's in Harlem (sorry, NYC friends!). Big Mama's dishes taste much more authentic/home-cooked to me. I've tried almost every dish they offer, but my hands-down, go-to favorite is the 2-pc Smothered Chicken. I get a side of mac & cheese (not the best; tastes like the boxed kind) or their mashed potatoes, collard greens with cornbread (a must!), and a glass of their famous sun-brewed cranberry iced tea. The smothered chicken is always divine--tender, falling off the bone, completed drowning in chicken gravy. The collard greens are cooked in bacon fat. Dip your cornbread in the greens' broth; you won't be sorry. Last time we dined there, I ordered two more servings of greens--they're THAT good. You cannot leave this place without ordering their sweet potato ice cream. It's their specialty! It's sweet and yammy. It tastes like baked sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving. It doesn't hurt that the owner is there frequently, and she's incredibly friendly and welcoming and willing to answer any questions you have about her cuisine. My only tongue-in-cheek complaint is that it's a 30-minute drive from me...but it's worth it every time.
(5)
Caitlin Y.

I'm a soul food girl at heart so whenever I am told there is a place with amazing soul food I've got to try it. Back home in DC my go to place is Ohhs and Ahhs (also featured on Triple D) and I am in LOVE with everything they cook. So when I ended up in Omaha for a wedding this was on my short list of must dos. I was NOT disappointed, even after getting lost trying to find the place. My GPS kept saying I was there but I couldn't see it. For others looking for it, its in the fenced in complex where you GPS says it it. Drive through the gate, park in front and just follow the signs. I guess its in the cafeteria area of an old (or current) school of some sort. I had to stop and ask for directions at the car wash. The guy was hilarious as soon as I told him I was looking for Big Momma's he laughed and said "are you sure you're not looking for a Big Daddy." Then pointed me in the right direction still laughing. Some of the staff could have been a little nicer once I got inside but honestly I don't really care I was here for the food. I got the special of the day, some fried chicken, an Afro burger, mac and cheese, greens, pinto beans, sweet potato pudding and cornbread to go. (Don't worry it wasn't all for me!) The chicken fried steak (special) was good the real winner in that combo was the white gravy that came with it. The fried chicken though was just as good if not better than my go to place in DC. The Afro burger was a little weird but once I tried a piece I really appreciated how spicy it was, I like spicy and this was well done. The mac and cheese was just ok (I've been spoiled by Ohhs and Ahhs) as were the pinto beans. However, the collard greens are hands down the best collard greens I have ever had. I don't even like collard greens and I couldn't get enough of them. In fact I wish I could have some right now. Holy cow! The cornbread was moist with just the right touch of sweetness. Then I tried the sweet potato pudding...I don't think I can do it justice. Lets just say if you go here and don't get the sweet potato pudding you're nuts. Last but not least...I had some time while waiting on my food to check out the inside and read a lot of articles about "Big Momma" and their mission. I was honestly touched. I think her food must be so fantastic because she truly has a big heart. The food is worth 5 stars on its own but I wish I could give them a 6th just because what Big Momma is trying to do in her community is awe inspiring. I wish her the best of luck and all the success in the world.
(5)
Tutti S.

The food was mediocre, at best. Although we did enjoy the cranberry tea, our server was not attentive to our refills etc. Did I mention they were out of catfish again. In spite of the above disappointments I would still give it another chance...again (what can I say, I'm an optimist). I keep hoping they'll improve and get it right.
(3)
Cathy L.

If you want good down home, mom's Sunday dinner food with some soul thrown in, this is the place. Everything made from scratch from the fried chicken to the lemonade. And be sure to try the red velvet ice cream! Great to the last morsel!
(5)
Tanya P.

After hearing all the rave about having to try this place, we finally did. I think I hyped myself up for this too much and had some high expectations set and that's why I was left a little disappointed. The waitstaff was awesome and very welcoming. They made us feel as though we came over to their home for dinner. That's probably the best thing about this place. The food on the other hand was just okay. I didn't leave with a feeling like I wanted to have more. The chicken is baked which makes it, well, not crispy. If you are expecting crispy chicken you have the wrong expectation and will be disappointed. The flavor of the meat was great and had a smokey flavor. Due to my personal preference for liking my chicken skin crispy I didn't enjoy the overall experience of the chicken. My husband really liked it and liked the flavor/texture of both the chicken and skin. They do make items from scratch and the mashed potatoes and gravy were awesome. The mac and cheese was also supposedly made from scratch but tasted no better than what I've had at Panera Bread or similar places, i.e. soup in a bag, reheated in a crock kind of stuff. The place itself is in an odd location but it wasn't very difficult to find and they had signs to direct you where to go. Parking is in a lot and there was plenty available. We were there on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and the place was pretty dead. Only one to two other tables were occupied. The space is very large and open, it's an old school cafeteria. They have a lot of promotional and history stuff displayed and encourage guests to check it out while they wait for food. They do have a TV but it looked like it played promotional stuff about the place. I hear they are also possibly in the running for a reality TV show on food network. Their staff would probably make the show enjoyable to watch as they were the best part of my experience:)
(2)
Christine B.

If you're not looking for it, you will not accidentally stumble upon this place. A hidden gem in an old school building, it's worth the search effort. Friday is chicken fried steak day. Holy moly. We are talkin' chicken fried steak bigger than your face served with a side of mashed potatoes and a chunk of cornbread. The gravy smothering the meat and potatoes is tasty - not that pale bland stuff you get at other establishments. Ordered an extra side of greens with just a hint of spice. Nine hours later and I'm still full. Saw the dessert menu with thoughts of finishing up with one of those sweet potato concoctions. Alas, that family sized chicken fried steak got the best of me (even though I was nowhere close to finishing it) and there was no room left for dessert. Two orders of chicken fried steak big enough to feed a village, an order of greens and two iced teas for $30ish before tip. Service was prompt and super friendly, like you could be a friend or adopted into the family. Can't wait to try the fried chicken next...or maybe the ham n' bean soup...or perhaps start with dessert...
(4)
Teri C.

Let me tell you what a gem this place is. Be persistent to find it as it's in a campus area, however once you do you won't forget how to come back. The food is fresh and the place is warm and inviting. Best greens -flavorful with a nice kick. Fried okra very good too. Apple pie was just the right amount of sweetness. Omaha is lucky to have Big Mama.
(4)
Edward L.

Oh snap. You know the food is good when Guy Fieri rates the friend chicken as in the Top 5 in the US of A. I came in here with expectations, and was not disappointed at all. The restaurant is located in the cafeteria of a formerly-abandoned school. You really have to go out of the way, then wonder if you took a wrong turn up the hill into the parking lot. Word on the street has it that the Big Mama's daughters help run the place. I couldn't confirm it, but all of the staff were definitely of African-American descent. If i were to describe the place in 2 words, it would be "Soul Food". Service is definitely on the slow side, but that's the way they roll in the Southern States. Word on the street is that they make everything from scratch after you order, which explains the freshness. While I was eating I did see the Big Mama (Patricia Barron) herself for a few minutes while she took a break, but she looked too busy for me to snap a pic with her. Based on some tips from my colleagues, I had some of Big Mama's Oven Fried Chicken, with the deep-fried okra, and sweet potato pudding. The chicken has to be among the best I have ever had. Period. It was not greasy at all, and the batter is thick but not oily. The mix of spices simply cannot be described. The deep-fried okra had the consistency of snot on the inside, but that's more of the vegetable. Overall it was quite tasty. The sweet potato pudding is amazing. Even though it's technically a side dish, it was more like dessert. It even comes with one side crusted and covered with sugar. Tastes just like a slice of pie. For drinks, I had the Cranberry Sun Tea. It's like iced tea with a cranberry kick. They serve it in jars (old school) with a straw. We actually drank their entire supply. They told us they couldn't sell any more until the next day. I felt special after hearing that. Although I haven't been in Omaha long, this place definitely makes the cut. Recommended.
(4)
Stef S.

LOVE Big Mama's. Food is absolutely delicious and service is great. The chicken fried steak was the size of a plate and the chicken is nicely seasoned...including the meat. I can't get enough of the fried cabbage. My boys, who are very snobbish on Mac and Cheese absolutely love hers. My youngest took a piece of pound cake to go...because he was stuffed but wanted to try it...it was gone before we got back to the car. We've had my sons confirmation lunch there and the service was exceptional. Having lived in the south for most of my career...it like returning home for a visit.
(5)
Claudia N.

One of the best fried chicken dinners I've had in my life. Big Mammas kitchen food is all they rave about and much much more. There were 7 of us in our party and we ordered the chicken and fell in love with it. If you ever find yourself in Omaha you just HAVE to stop by and try it for yourself. Guy Fiery was spot on with this place! Big Mamma stopped by our table asked if she could join us and we had a very nice conversation with her- even got to take a picture! Can't wait to visit my cousin again so I can go back there again. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star review was bc our first waitress lacked customer service skills but other than that we loved the place.
(4)
Gabriella J.

Get the cranberry sun tea!! :) It is super sweet and delicious. Service here is great. The staff are very attentive and very friendly. I've never tried soul food before but it is DELICIOUS. My friend and I ordered fried okra, catfish, and steak. It was worth the price. I couldn't finish my whole meal. Tables are draped in cheetah pattern tablecloth and the walls with awards and memorabilia. If you're lucky, you can even talk to Big Mama (since she is there on most days talking to customers and seeing how they like her food). Don't forget to try their sandwich shop! :)
(4)
Al R.

Good food. Great service! The service was absolutely second to none. My family of 4 (kids ages 3 and 6) thought the food was pretty darn good, but not great. The server was knowledgeable, friendly and very attentive. Big Mama came to our table for a short talk and seemed like a very sweet lady. My wife and I ordered chicken. Mine was luke warm. Hers was hot. Was mine reheated from the lunch rush (we were there around 4 in the afternoon)? The chicken was good, but the pieces seemed small. The cornbread was great. My wife did not like for the chicken gravy but that's probably just her taste preference. My kids and I did not like the mac and cheese. The kids probably didn't prefer it because it was not Kraft. I can't pinpoint why I didn't like it. I said maybe it's too creamy although that seems like it should be a good thing. I don't know; I just thought it was OK. I ordered french fries which was just plain stupid. They were great crinkle cut fries. But why go here and not order some of their down home southern side dishes. That was my mistake. The kids did not eat all their chicken strips so I ate some of those. Wow! I thought they were great. All in all, a good meal, a memorable excursion. I would definitely go there again. Next time I will try something little more "southern."
(4)
R C.

Oven fried Chicken. Large. Gravy. Cornbread. Choose two sides. Repeat. Conclude with sweet potato ice cream.
(5)
Keven K.

I went to this place for lunch on a Sunday while in town on business. I found it on Guy Fieri's "DDD" and thought it worth a try. First and foremost, it is in a bad neighborhood. So, prepare for that. It is located inside a series of buildings that I thought (or think) are Section 8 housing. Though, it may be some sort of school. Not sure--anyways, kinda shady. The restaurant was nearly impossible to find in the series of buildings, the only way I found it was by catching a flashing "OPEN" sign in a random window. Now, once inside, it's a different story. The food was great. The service was sharp and attentive. Very friendly and outgoing. Big Mama herself was there. Lots of knicknacks , newsclippings, Fieri photos decorate the place. I had the oven roasted chicken with mashed potatoes which were great--chicken was very moist. I wish I had room for dessert but I couldn't do it...the lunch was filling. Really I give this a 3.5 out of 5. I take a full point off for the shady neighborhood and tough to find status. If back in Omaha I plan on getting back here.
(3)
Calvin Y.

I would move to Omaha in a second if it meant I could eat here everyday. If Big Mama's Kitchen was in all school cafeterias (as it currently is housed inside the Omaha Street School), then I would have been a even bigger fat kid growing up. Their oven fried chicken contain all the elements of quality fried chicken: crispy skin, moist white meat (and dark meat), and seasoned dredging. Paired with their refreshing (and refillable) Cranberry Sun Tea, the meal doesn't seem as heavy with the tartness of the cranberry cutting through the grease. I can highly recommend ordering the Stewed Cranberries and Sweet Potato Pudding -- crunchy caramelized top (I'm stealing this idea next Thanksgiving!).
(5)
Bob A.

Solid choice. Little hard to find but worth it. Fried chicken is good Afro burger is tasty but seems incomplete. Sweet potato pudding is excellent but more of a dessert than a side. Cranberry tea is awesome but you have to like sweet tea. Service was solid. Only issue, burnt ends tasted like they had been around then overheated with microwave.
(4)
Julian S.

Probably the best Southern food in Omaha (though I can't say that I ventured to look for other similar establishments). Corn bread was moist and flavorful, the greens were nice and tender, and the fried pork chop I had was nice and crispy and nicely seasoned. The macaroni and cheese had a nice cheesy flavor but the sauce was a bit thin for my taste. If you come here with folks, prepare to spend a nice afternoon enjoying each other's company. The service, although attentive, is extremely slow.
(4)
Jack C.

Growing-up and living in North Dakota, I've never had many opportunities to try soul food, but Big Mama's Kitchen is doing it right! DO NOT go here unless you have at least two hours to spend from start to finish! In the grandest of Southern traditions, everything is done slowly here; consider yourself warned! My wife spent seven years of her childhood in North Carolina, so she was really eager to try the food here; I just wanted to knockout #48 on our 'DDD' list, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eager to try their Chicken and Waffles special (Sundays only). I had said special, and my wife had their Oven-Fried Chicken w/ two sides (greens and sweet potato pudding). It was all amazing! I even got to try their Strawberry Mint Lemonade, even though it's not listed on the menu (I checked-out their website before we went there). It's seasonal, so if you go here in the summertime you should be able to get it. Try it; thank me later. Our outstanding meal was rounded-out by their amazing Sweet Potato Pie. Think pumpkin pie, but without the nutmeg; that's what it reminded me of the most. Excellent end to an excellent meal! We will definitely be back, but next time, I'll be sure to leave ourselves enough time to truly enjoy the place.
(4)
Krissy H.

mixed review. I loved the environment and the people. If you go get the green tomato and raisin ice cream. I am not one to try that kind of thing but it was so good! I wish I could have it everyday! Also I LOVED the raspberry tea. So amazing! But, I found almost all of the rest of the food, ( we had 3 different plates and tried each of them) the pork chops, the chicken, the gravy and mash potatoes, it just all tasted cheap and not home made, and out of a box. I really wanted to like this place but I didn't.
(3)
Shaunita J.

Let me start out by saying that I don't like soul food that much. A co-worker raved about it here and took me here. It was okay. I wouldn't go on my own again. Everything seemed meaty and greasy. Soul food can be done healthier and better than this. The owner was great; she stopped by and chatted with our table. And people were talking across tables; so the vibe was pretty good. But, that doesn't make up for the food. Won't go again.
(2)
Craig J.

Went twice. Once for lunch, and once for breakfast. Lunch: Home-brewed ice tea, coleslaw, sweet potato pudding, and the "afro burger". Sweet potato pie ice cream for dessert. Awesome all around. Breakfast: Biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and cranberry sun tea. The tea was amazing, and the food was okay. I think if I went back I'd do a different entree. Overall, go for lunch, and enjoy. Highly recommended.
(4)
Matthis H.

I also found out about this spot because of DDD, I was in town for a wedding, and well.. I had to make a trip out. (Keven K) mentioned in his review that Big Mama's was in a shady bad neighborhood. WTF? It's located in an African American neighborhood, not a shady dangerous area, there were people of color doing things like, mowing the lawn, walking children to school, and saying hello. Whatever. The food was amazing. I rocked the Smothered oven fried chicken, greens, cabbage, cornbread, catfish, and Mac n cheese. Yep, all that. I mean, I'm not often in Omaha. Sweet tea was a perfect match. Price was fair and the service was on point (there was a little bit of a spiel goin on, simi cheesy) I take one full star off for having a television on, with a loop of the Big Mama's DDD and local news show appearances. We are there, we are ordering food, why put us through a gaudy self congratulating experience? I went for the food, the food and service were awesome! Keven K, also said the spot looked like it was in a public housing looking building, geez dude... Stop trying to white fright folks from going to big mamas. Sorry, I just found all that too much. Go, Eat, Be merry.
(4)
Sarah B.

My coworkers and I order food through a local delivery service and had high expectations based on comments we all had heard. While everything was just ok tasting (except the sweet potato pudding!) we were all disappointed in what we got for the price we paid (outside of any delivery charge/tip for the driver). I ordered the dinner portion of meatloaf - $15.28. A lot for meatloaf but I thought this would be a huge helping of amazing meatloaf. What I got was 2 small pieces (1 and end piece) - each slightly less than 1 inch in thickness. While it was good tasting, I think I make a tastier version at home. It came with 2 sides (I picked the mac & cheese--maybe got 1/3 cup of blandness--& the sweet potato pudding which was delicious and I got maybe 1/2 cup) and a hunk of cornbread (dry and no butter provided despite my request.) I also ordered the 1/2 lemonade//1/2 cranberry tea but they were out of lemonade and asked if all tea was ok. The tea was very tasty although $2.75 for the size cup I got was a rip-off. Overall not food I would seek out especially for the price I paid. My coworkers ordered Big Redd Burgers (concensus was good flavor but not worth going out of their way for) and the 3 Piece Oven Fried Chicken - just ok to her. Sides included coleslaw (1 liked it a lot, the other thought tasted too mustardy) and fries (average). Again everybody disapointed with value. If prices weren't ridiculous I would be willing to try again, but probably never will given distance from where I live and price. Very disappointed as I was looking forward to ordering all week. I know getting it delivered changes things a bit but not my overwhelming factor in my opinion.
(2)
RONALD W.

Went for a second helping before flying home. Only disappointment was that they ran out of the liver and onions special. Had the chicken and dumplings with cabbage au gratin. I might pick a bone over the size of the chicken (small quarter), but then I would have skipped the excellent dessert of apple crisp with Big Mama's sweet potato ice cream. I went back to the hotel barely able to walk... Big Mama stopped by for a chat this time and told me the story of how she loves cooking and the struggle of opening up this place 16 months ago at the site of a church purchased former school for the hearing impaired. Three of her daughters pitched in and work here at least part-time as well, so a true family affair.
(5)
Sarah G.

Ironically enough, I also recently stopped in and couldn't believe the lack of reviews. Too bad you beat me to the first review. :) It's totally Delicious. I also couldn't decide so had the 2 entree, 4 side sampler platter with Catfish, Afro burger, Cheesy bacon grits, Stir fry cabbage, Mac and cheese, & fried okra. Their signature drink, cranberry sun tea, was a nice surprise as well. Service was very friendly and really lived up to the restaurant's motto of "Where Every Meal is Like Sunday Dinner!" Oh, and the sweet potato cheesecake is everything I'd hoped and dreamed it would be. I can't wait until I can pick up some of the ice cream!
(5)
Carol K.

My hubby did some searches, coming into town to visit relatives, so we wanted to experience the places that were noted as worth a visit, and well this place came highly recommended. That goodness we put the address in the GPS, it was hard to find, in a school and tucked away on campus. Not knowing this we probably would have never came. We parked and followed the signs, since we had a few older folks with us, we were disappointed that there were stairs, but after snooping around a bit, found an elevated, so it worked out. We arrived just as it was opened, and we were probably the third table or so, we got our order taken quickly and started off with some fried green tomatoes! What a treat that was, served with some homemade cranberry sauce for dipping? What ever it was, it was delicious. I got the smothered pork chop with fried okra and mac and cheese, it came with corn bread too. This was also delicious. For desert we got sweet potato ice cream and sweet potato cheese cake. Both were excellent choices. But of all the things the entire table got, my husbands choice of sweet potted pudding was the best, tasted like a desert! Might have a hard time finding this place, but it's worth finding, so do stop in!
(4)
Chris S.

So amazing. Love the oven fried chicken, the cornbread was phenomenal, the fried okra and mac and cheese were awesome. If you're taking it to go and in a hurry, definitely call ahead, as they make everything fresh. This is a VERY good thing, but can result in a bit of a wait. The waitress was a sweetheart, though, she threw in some extra cornbread and brought me a sweet tea for while I waited. I am definitely going to try to stop in one more time before my time in Omaha is through. Oh, and the sweet potato cheesecake? Get it. You won't regret it!
(5)
Andrea T.

We were in Omaha for the weekend and found this high-rated restaurant on here. Reading the reviews and browsing the menu made up our minds to go here on a Friday night. This is not an easy to find place. If we didn't have navigation on our phones we would have never found it without asking lots of people how to get there. Even once we were on the property, we still weren't sure where we were going. We circled the place twice and finally figured out to follow the yellow signs. Once you reach the outside door, you'll still need to climb some stairs to the entrance door. We were promptly greeted by a nice, smiling lady, who sat us right away. She mentioned that there was a 20 min wait for chicken right then. That was nice to know right away. She also took our drink order quickly. We chatted with a man who was waiting for his carry-out order and got some of his recommendations on the sides. We ordered the Oven Fried Chicken with Mac n Cheese and Sweet Potato Pudding and the Smothered Chicken with Fried Okra and Greens. Both came with cornbread. I honestly expected the chicken breading to be crispy/crunchy since when I hear "fried chicken," I instantly think crispy. This breading was not crispy/crunchy at all but it was tender and had good flavor. My husband said that the gravy on his chicken took away from the flavor and wasn't his favorite gravy. He wished he didn't get it smothered. The Mac n Cheese was rich and creamy and good! Our daughter ate so much of it that we had to get another side of it! The Sweet Potato Pudding was good but I wouldn't call it pudding, it was Sweet Potato Casserole. My husband said the fried okra was ok and that the greens were not the best he's had. To summarize, I enjoyed my meal more than he did. I will say that I lived in the South for over two years and I know Southern food. Was this the best Southern Food (or influenced Southern Food) I've ever had, no, but it was still good. The hospitality was very good as everyone was so friendly!
(4)
Shamia H.

As other reviewers mentioned this place is like on the 2nf floor on a campus of a school building...so be forewarned when trying to find this place... I entered by myself and these motorcycle club guys from out of town invited me to sit with them. That was really nice. We all ordered drinks and did not get any until about 20 minutes later. I ordered the cranberry sun tea and personally wasn't impressed, especially for a price of $3.50, free refills though. We finally, after quite a wait got our meals and in two separate batches, which, when eating in a group is sotaboo because everyone should be eating together. I won't comment on the experience for everyone except to say one person was particularly not pleased with the food. Big Mama came out herself and I think offered his meal for free... Let's just say I wish I hadn't spent $18 on a meal like this. I got two pieces of the signature chicken, which apparently if you ask for a breast piece it's an extra $1.75!!! And boy was it dry! The cornbread was also very dry and not as sweet as I would have liked. The mac n cheese side and collard greens sides were okay. The best part of this experience was meeting this motorcycle club, but that's where it ends.
(2)
Kellon H.

Upon arrival, Big Mama's seemed like a place I would enjoy. It carries a reputation of having a great mix of BBQ and soul food, and was tucked away amidst an odd school complex. However, after poor service (long wait time), lukewarm food, and two days of sick children, I realize it was not a wise decision to make the trek to Big Mama's. I went for the special, which was the chicken, and it arrived lukewarm and not very tasty. The fixings with it were unremarkable as well, with the possible exception of the coleslaw. The fried chicken made two of my children vomit for two hellish days, which means I'd certainly never go back.
(1)
Kurt S.

My wife and I , and another couple with a baby, went to Big Mama's Kitchen last Friday. It's in an odd location, on the second floor of, what it looks like it used to be, an old school administration building or something. But honestly, I think it just adds to the charm of the place. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the waitress, don't remember her name but she is in a couple of the community yelp photos for Big Mama's. We sat down and she took our drink orders. I got the Cranberry Sun Tea which was phenomenal! Then we all ordered. I ordered the three piece oven fried chicken meal with mac n cheese and collard greens. it didn't take long to get our food. Two of the three pieces of chicken that I got were pretty small and the size of the sides weren't what i was expecting for $14, (I posted a pic of it). Overall, the chicken was definitely unique, which is good. It had a good taste and a unique texture. The Mac n Cheese was dynamite and the collard greens were delicious. For dessert, I got a cup of their homemade pecan pie ice cream, which was fantastic as well. My friend got the three piece catfish? meal though. He got three decent sized pieces and a side or two. It was about $18 though. Very high. Overall, the food was good and the service was great. I still can't get over paying $14 for my meal though. I don't think the value was that great. I do want to come back and try their jumbo chicken fried steak.
(3)
Justin D.

We had a late lunch at Big Momma's today. I had the special which was the jumbo chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. My fiancÃ© ordered the catfish with macaroni and sweet potato pudding. Our waitress was one of the nicest and most helpful people I've ever experienced. The decor and location are a little different, it is in the old cafeteria area in what used to be the Nebraska School for the Deaf. My food was excellent, very tasty 'comfort food'. My fiancÃ© said her catfish was the best she'd ever had (I tried it and would agree). The things that kept this place from getting a 5 star review? The macaroni and cheese was terrible (way overcooked and mushy) and the prices were slightly high. Would we go back? For sure and hopefully will soon!!!
(4)
Craig Y.

Loved this place!! Felt like I was sitting in someone's kitchen. This soul food and made to order so don't be in no hurry now! I got the smothered chicken with a side of collards. &mashed taters. This meal was awesome. Great place!!
(4)
Jessica S.

Loved this place! And coming back soon! We've been wanting to try this place since the Yelp at Carter's Bank (my first event) event was catered by Big Mama's. It's kind of in a different location. It seems like an old school and could get confusing if you're not sure where to go. They do have good signs up to get you there. Big Mama's is family run and operated. Soul food is sinfully good. I was torn on what to get, but opted for the smothered meatloaf drenched in made-from-scratch beef gravy, massed potatoes and their famous sweet potato pudding. It didn't disappoint. They seem to have weekly/daily specials and can't wait to try something different next time!
(4)
Katelyn E.

I came here with the group of friends for breakfast. it was a bit hard to find at first ... it's located on a campus and tucked away into a building. Look for signs and you'll find it. The food is awesome, but the service is the best. Our waitress was super friendly, funny, and was more than accommodating with our random requests. Big points to her. I got the Chicken and Buttermilk Waffles and it was fantastic. Not the VERY best, but probably the most true to the "chicken and waffles" standard meal. Like a legitimate chicken breast on top of a waffle. If you wanted, you could get a thigh or wing instead. To each their own. The breast was crunchy on the outside and super tender on the inside....exactly how you'd want it to taste. It has unique seasoning that makes it taste special. My friend got the Banana Bread French Toast, and another got waffles and a side order of sausage gravy. Also super yummy. The dÃ©cor makes you feel like you're in a church's reception hall, but it's what makes this place feel so charming. Definitely a place you can come hungover.. they're not pretentious here. :) Will definitely be back!
(4)
Chris R.

Great food, friendly service, interesting location. I defiantly recommend it, try the sweet potato pudding!
(4)
Joshua W.

Delicious food! So good, wish breakfast lasted a little longer on the weekends is the only down side.
(4)
Amanda H.

I want to like this local place, but I just can't. We stopped in here on vacation based upon the reviews looking for some "good home cookin'" - it was not what I expected at all. The food was small portions, bland and overall not great. The best thing I can say about the place was that the coleslaw was good. The place had friendly staff, but that can't make up for what really sucked! What really sucked, was two of my kids had the chicken and waffles and got extremely sick after eating it. We spent a good 12 hours in a hotel room with ice buckets. It was as bad as it sounds. I'd like to think it was something else, but my other son ate everything they ate that day, but the chicken and he never got sick. Overall, I can't recommend a place that wrecked havoc on my kids' tummies and our vacation.
(1)
Karan J.

The service was very friendly and helpful, atmosphere is cheerful, bright and clean. Teresa, our waitress was wonderful and explained menu items with enthusiasm. Now, the food! The fried chicken is a must!!! The cabbage and sweet potato pudding make great sides and don't even think about not having the sweet potato ice cream! The menu offers many many great items! Casual dress, will be back for sure!
(4)
Ramon B.

I had the privilege to meet Gladys at one of the newfangled Elite events, last week. I was able to sample a few bites from this place, that I sadly have known about for some years and (criminally) haven't made it to. After meeting Gladys and rocking out the nibbles, I swore that D'Brickashaw, the Food-loving T-Rex, and I would right this wayward ship! I wasn't even seating by the time I realized my tardiness to this place was a life mistake...I need this place in my world. I waltz up to the school cafeteria, that this place once was, and really didn't know what to expect. Sure, I've seen pictures, but I've seen pictures of the Loch Ness Monster and would still freak the H out if I saw it for really real. So in I went. I beat the dinner rush. The entire place was all to myself and my imaginary dinosaur. Of course that wouldn't last long. I stood for a few seconds, because...I become a lost puppy in new places. I looked towards an office and there was Gladys and in a flash she was up and welcoming me "home". No really, that was the feeling I got from a warm welcome. She and her Minions brought me to a table and we chatted it up for a bit before I got knee deep in the menu. I was served some raspberry sweet tea, that I intend to bathe in from now on, as I went over a page of "I'll take it all, please."but that ended up not being the case. The server sweetheart told me the special...another weak spot for me. Chicken fried steak...oh sweet lawd...done. Ordered. I was then invited to take in the surrounding room and take in the nostalgia as I waited. It's actually quite incredible. The decor serves a dual purpose of not only displaying the history of Big Mama and her restaurant, but also a history of their culture and soul that she pours into her food. Love it. Pour some in a jar, I'll take it home. In quick time, as people were showing up, my feast arrived. This monster of a plate of so much happiness was bigger than my feeble brain could imagine. Photo op!!! Done. Food! Face! Now! A delectable piece, with a fine breading, drippin with white gravy. Oh Glob...it almost got inappropriate. Coupled with fresh mashed tater, and a melt in your mouth cornbread( I added butter and honey to mine (good tip, Gladys)) and I felt ashamed I waited this long to get here. So I clobbered that plate...like a total babe. And eyed the desserts. I tried the fabled sweet potato pie at the event and I wanted more but I was, thankfully, clued in on PIE ICE CREAM!!! It's their pies...in ice cream. "Witchcraft!" I declared. "Which would you recommend??" Like Food Saint, bathed in light, Gladys said she'd treat me to a sample of them all and let me pick. C'mon!!! Stahp!! You already got the 5 stars...but yea sure. Gimme!!!! All were winners...so much win. But the Grand Poobah for me was the Green tomato and raisin ice cream. That is alchemy at it's best. It tastes like fresh apple pie and it baffles me. How?? Wait a sec...I don't care!! It doesn't need explained, just inhaled!!! I did! I breathed it into my head! Truth!!! So yea...damn me for waiting so long to come "home". But I know I'll be back. And back again...er. Mmmyep. That's a word. I made it. I recommend all the everyone, near and far, try this place. It has soul, love and heritage...All the most beautiful things to make the best feel good food. Put this in your facehole! Eat up, Minions!!!
(5)
Karina C.

Really good southern home-style food! Their chicken is incredible as well as their slaw and beans. For dessert they have a green tomato ice cream. Just trust me on that one. The place itself is not pretty by any means and it is inside a school but the food is well worth the scavenger hunt!
(4)
Jim G.

Big Mama Has Got It goin' on. I'm from California and love trying new places whenever I am out of town. Had bookmarked Big Mama's for over a year knowing I would be spending a little time in the Midwest. Location is a little hard to find. You are cruising through a residential neighborhood, you see this school campus up on a little hill , yep your in the right spot. Head to the middle of the complex and in one of the front buildings you will see a few doors leading to what you are assuming was the old Cafeteria and inside lies Big Mama and her wonderful staff. They are awesome, arrived on a Sunday not knowing lunch/dinner are not served until noon. It was only 11 am and we received the breakfast menu. Now dont' get me wrong, the items on that menu looked and sounded awesome, but, em, I'm at Big Mama's for some of that fried chicken. We are told not till noon. Soo, the table next to us we overhear say's "can we just sit her and have drinks for 45 mins till the lunch menu is available?" Server says sure, "whatcha wanna drink"? She comes over and we say "Us Tooooo".... she was increcibly nice and kept our glasses full. Then about 20 mins before noon, she comes to our tables and says OK, we are close enough, let's get those orders. Did not disappoint. The Fried Chicken (which isn't really fried but oven baked) is Loaded with flavor and a great crunchy skin (although not quite as crunchy as fried, but darn good). The white meat was incredibly moist and wonderful. Pops had the Meatloaf and it was darn good as well. Side Dishes ----- mac n cheese was not great, but those mashed potatoes with the Chicken Gravy are the bomb. Head that way. Service was a little slow - but it was more because as we sat there waiting for lunch the room exploded and was jammed packed with folks, so she was running around that room. But she remained extremely friendly and helpful and a joy !!! Overall, Big Mama's is definitely worth the adventure to find it and once you do, you are definitely going back.... I know I am !
(4)
Elaine P.

It was scary coming up to a school but once inside, it was quaint. Once you walk in you see a friendly face. Describes everything good here. Special of the day was chicken & waffles.. OMG that was so good. The 3 & 2 year old had lil ms carters and was wonderful!! My lil man ate for both of them . French toast was perfect.
(5)
Manuel H.

We liked it and it was a nice experience but I wouldn't pick it over an easier to find place with a nicer setting. Pros: the cranberry sun tea was to die for, the mustard greens were the best I've had, the fried catfish was light and buttery and barely resembled the over seasoned and heavy cornmeal fried catfish that I'm used to and my wife said his smothered chicken fried pork chops were very good. They have some menu items that many soul food and southern cooking restaurants don't serve like pig ears and ox tails. Cons: It really is in a school building and it's like eating in school cafeteria but with vinyl table clothes and wait staff. The mac and cheese and desserts were just ok.
(4)
Lorie M.

This place is a little hard to find. It's in an old school building. Once you find it though you are in for some good homemade food. The Biscuits are made from scratch and are delicious. I had Biscuits and Gravy with two eggs on the side. I only ordered one biscuit a half order and I'm glad I did because two would have been to much for me. I will definitely be going back to try some of their other items.
(5)
Shannon K.

Worst chicken I've ever had in my life. Was expecting better because they were on TV.
(1)
Royal B.

Cleanliness 4 Service 4 Food 4 Likelihood 5 1-5 (5 Best!) 4.3 What a great locally owned, made from scratch, good people place to eat! Thank you Big Mama! Patricia and her staff ALWAYS have some great food to share with us, and always do it with great smiles, and wonderful hospitality. We enjoyed a great lunch today, with fresh, hot, flavorful food, and supported a local hometown person (instead of prepackaged food and supporting a chain.) Lunch cost less and we did SO much more! Great job!
(4)
Joan P.

This place is very unique. It's on a former school campus, and you can definitely tell that your eating in a former cafeteria- but oh boy, it's worth it. The service is friendly and knowledgeable. It's not a quick meal, but when the food is this good, it shouldn't be. My sister and I have been on a 20-ish year quest for the best chicken fried steak, and we found it here. I mean it; we're done looking. I believe they only serve it in Fridays, so if that's what your into, call ahead. If that's not what you're into, and they're serving it- get it anyway! The feather bones are splendid, and I'll add a side of sweet potato pie no matter what because I love having a decadent desert right there on the plate to eat first; you know, because I'm an adult and can make those sorts of decisions.
(5)
Patricia S.

If you like good southern home cooked food this is the place. We tried the fried chicken and waffles with some great sides.sweet potatoe pudding, fried okra, stir fry cabbage. Takes a little while to get your food but worth the wait. It was delicious.
(5)
Leelee P.

So out of town playing on Yelp, found this place.a little hard to find but worth the search. I love the know elegy that our sever Mayisha showed telling us about the property's history and menu. I was there for breakfast had the Breakfast Casserole with a yummy biscuit and had to bring home a piece of Pumpkin Cheesecake. I will be back one day for lunch.
(4)
Jeff B.

went to Big Mama's Kitchen for the first time. First thing I have to say is the place is hard to find, you really have to be on the look out for it. But I tried the fried chicken, mac & cheese, and stir fry cabage w/ corn bread and green tomato and rasin ice cream. First off the fired chicken is good, it's sweet abd curry flavored, pretty tasty. nac & cheese didn't like too much, it was pretty much processed cheese would of prefered cheddar baked. stir fry cabage was ok, it was sweet tasting also. Corn bread was iron skillet corn bread, had a very catfish taste to it, I would suppect it's the same batter they use on the catfish nothing exiciting. And finally green tomato and rasin ice cream. It was not what I was expecting, I had hoped it would of tasted a little tart and sweet, but it was nothing like that all, you only tasted nutmeg, disappointing. Nice experence don't think I'd try it again.
(2)
Josh C.

Maybe I had a different experience, or maybe I just don't know real "soul food." But after hearing so much about Big Mama's for so long, I was pretty disappointed. The service and kitchen are both incredibly unhurried (though very friendly), which I expected; that just goes with the territory of this kind of small, family restaurant. (I'd previously been told by other patrons not to go if I had less than two hours to spare.) But the chicken, to the opposite of my expectations, was a let-down. Mine came out lukewarm, slightly soggy, and not nearly as delicious as everybody who had been before had promised. I was the only one at my table who ordered a three piece meal rather than a two piece, but for some reason, I received roughly the same amount of chicken as everybody else; my fellow diners were each treated to two huge pieces, while I received one large piece and two very small ones. I actually felt ripped off. (Not that I needed more, but I still wondered what I was supposed to be paying for.) I was also the only diner at my table who didn't get my chicken smothered in gravy. I theorize that is part of the reason for the disparity in the reactions of myself and of my fellow diners (who all loved the food); they all had extra flavor while I simply had chicken. I ordered this way because I'd never experienced fried chicken which wasn't so tasty on its own that it needed extra help. Guess I can't say that anymore. Chicken aside, the sides I sampled were all fine. I tasted cornbread, mashed potatoes and fried okra and although I wouldn't say I was particularly impressed by any, I was not disappointed either. (I was told the greens were amazing but sadly didn't sample.) Like I said, I don't know if I had a bad experience or if I just don't understand what good soul food is, but to my taste, this is the worst fried chicken I've ever had from a restaurant.
(3)
Jerrell C.

Thank you Big Mama! Your food is truly amazing!!!! I loved the sweet potato pudding! The food is easily amongst the best tasting vittles I've ever eaten! But the most amazing thing to me about Big Mammas kitchen, was the SERVICE i received! At Big Mammas, they just get it! Big Mamma and the staff stayed open 30 mins past closing to seat us and there was no other customers in the restaurant when we arrived. We never felt rushed as Big Mamma sat with us and shared her incredible story. My group genuinely felt that the staff at Big Mammas Kitchen had something special to share (food) and they were only too happy and more than proud to share it. My experience at big Mammas was truly amazing and i will never forget it. Easily my new standard for how customers should be treated! Thank you again Big Mamma and staff!
(5)
Phoebe R.

Just close your eyes and put it in your mouth! Pig's ear sandwich tastes great but looks too "natural". As a tongue and brain (and offel in general) lover I'm not against animal bits but somehow seeing the pores on the pig ear made me squeemish. The fried catfish is some of the best I've ever had, light crispy coating on big, tender fillets. I got the sandwich meal which is a better deal than the catfish dinner even if you don't want the bread. Sweet potato soufle is dreamy. The hours are not good for daytime workers unless you work nearby but even then it is slow, as others have mentioned, so it's best to make a long lunch of it.
(3)
Rosie A.

I loved Big Mama's. I had their porkchop with their sweet potato pudding a few weeks ago and since then I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I don't get to that side of town very often but I've been tempted to drive there just for the pudding. Best cranberry sweet tea ever! I had a conversation with Big Mama herself and she's super sweet. My kids were impressed as well.
(5)
Demetra B.

This place was hard to find, but the staff was helpful in helping us locate where they were. My husband and I took our kids out here, for some soul food and since we are from the South, we recognize quality soul food. My husband ordered the oven fried chicken. I ordered the smoked, BBQ chicken with the sweet potato pudding and it was pretty good. We both agreed the greens tasted like Glory greens straight out of the can, and the cornbread and chicken was cold. My kids ordered the hamburgers and Afro burgers.They were a bit confused when the order came out because it looked like a sausage in a bun, but it did specify that on the menu. The Afro burger was tooooo hot for my nine year old son. The waitress warned him beforehand but he ordered it anyway. It was comical watching the genius pour 40 cups of cold water while trying to finish the burger. My other kids laughed at him while he struggled. -Lesson learned. The owner came out and talked to us. She was friendly and told us about how she got started. Overall, the service was great but the food was just OK. I have been to a number of soul food places in Atlanta, Chicago, California, and Texas. Of my experiences, I would not call Big Momma's one of the best. I would still go back to support her business because her and her staff were so nice and personable!
(3)
Tim H.

Saw this on DDD and decided to stop by. Most food was good, but several dishes left me disappointed. Service was very friendly. Food takes a while to come out. I heard the server mention to a table next to us this is because everything is prepared from scratch once you order it. The location is a little tough to find as others have mentioned. Your GPS will probably take you right next to the turning point campus which is a fenced off subdivision. Once you drive into the campus, it is easy to find building A. It was definitely worth trying the food at Big Mama's. I found some good dishes, but some not so good as well which is why I can't give it more than 3 stars. I found the portions are small to medium, not large. Service was friendly. Good: -Afro Burger - spicy and juicy, unique sandwich worth trying -oven fried chicken - very tender and juicy. The corn bread was fantastic and the collard greens were good. -Sweet potato ice cream - unique and recommended...especially if you like sweet potatoes as much as I do. OK: -Pig ear sandwich - I saw this on DDD and I had to try it. I liked the combo of ear with yellow mustard and red onion. Others might find the ear too odd and mushy to like though. -I grabbed a piece of sweet potato cheesecake to go for eating later - it was light which is surprising for cheesecake, but lacked enough sweet potato flavor for me to really call it a sweet potato cheesecake. Bad: -Fried shrimp appetizer - pretty expensive at $8 for 6 medium sized shrimp. I was expecting huge jumbo shrimp from the menu description. They tasted ok...lots of breading that had portions crunchy and portions soft. I prefer everything crispy in a good fry. -Peach cobbler - this was one of the most disappointing desserts I have ever eaten in a restaurant. The dish was 10% golden brown crust, 70% mushy crust, and 20% yummy peaches. In my opinion, a cobbler should be more than 70% fruit.
(3)
C.J. M.

Food was OK. Could tell the chicken was not cooked fresh it was warmed up.;( The cold smoked feather bones was not a good way to start the meal even though they were taste. All in all a OK experience if it was all cooked fresh i could have been a 5 star review.
(3)
D C.

Delicious! Came here for breakfast with the Fam. Had some awesome chicken fried steak. The wife had some french toast that she also loved. The waitress was very friendly and we cant wait to come back for dinner and try some of the fried chicken!
(4)
Brian P.

Fried chicken - Yum. Good corn bread and spicy greens. I was skeptical about the sweet potato ice cream at first but it is really good. The location is strange, it is in what appears to be an old high school.
(4)
Suttie S.

Watched Big Momma make Guy eat a pig ear sandwich and I had to go see the woman that is the boss of her kitchen. Great location with alot of history in it and I cannot remember the last time I had that type of service and it was from everyone that worked there. The specials are the way to go there and the food was out of this world. Fried chicken like grandma use to make and everything that went with it. Big momma talked to us for about 20 minutes and before we left we had bought 3 pies and now it is a tradition at our home on the holiday we get our pies from her. Big momma thank you for the food and the hug totally made my day and you have made a regular out of me.
(5)
Friedrich N.

Even Getzloff liked it!
(5)
Katie Y.

4.5 stars, really. Big Mama's is where it's at! Hospitality, freshly made tasty food, and an incredibly unassuming location that makes you feel like either you've stumbled onto some gold mine, or that you've simply returned to something familiar and comfortable. We got there as the first patrons for lunch, but by the time we left the place was packed with a diverse crowd, all there to enjoy a fresh homemade affordable meal. I got the oven-baked fried chicken that was, hands down, the BEST fried chicken I have ever put in my mouth - crazy succulent, juicy and tasty. The fried okra was perfect and a large portion to boot. The mac and cheese, while tempting in theory, was not up to standards - it tasted like run-of-the-mill boxed mac n cheese when everything else tasted so fresh and homemade. My companion went for the two entrees and four sides: catfish (so-so), afro burger (spicy yum! looks like a sausage), okra, mac n cheese, sauteed greens (perfectly done) and stir-fry cabbage (my favorite of her sides). Our server was as sweet at the tea, which is to say super-sweet! I would recommend a half sweet and half unsweetened tea unless you REALLY need that sugar push. Refills are free! Woohoo! We also took a whole sweet potato pie to go and it was pretty good - different than pumpkin and lacking the allspice. If you're not from the area, the directions can be a bit confusing, but once you get near the right building you will see some signs to guide you.
(4)
S A.

I checked this place out on a Sunday afternoon with a friend. Upsides: our server was super sweet and the food was delicious! Downsides: they were out of most of their drinks (I really wanted the strawberry basil lemonade) and specials. I had the sweet potato casserole, fried okra, and fried chicken (total, with water to drink, somewhere around $11.99). My friend had the mac n cheese and the fried chicken. Both came with cornbread. I think the fried okra was the winner for the meal, but everything was delicious! NOTE: This place can be tricky to find. It's on the campus of the former Omaha School for the Deaf and the signs pointing in the right direction are slightly small, but pull into the large campus and you'll figure it out.
(4)
Nicholas P.

Well I have eaten at four excellent restaraunts this week and Big Mama's place rates at number one for me. The steak at The Drover was phenomenal but I am a sucker for soul food. The oven fried chicken, Collard greens (not from a can and I have no ideanhow thenother reviewer got that from these perfect greens) and sweet potato pudding were perfection on a plate. If the experience were the food alone it would still be five stars but the service was excellent as well. My dining compatriot and I both ordered food to go to eat for dinner tonight as we pack to head back home. We may not love Nebraska but whenever we come back we will be happy we get to visit Big Mama's Kitchen for perfect food and even better service. Any place where the owner greets all their customers is doing things right let alone when she is a bit of a cable television celebrity these days. Hope to be back soon and I never thought I would say that about any place in Nebraska.
(5)
Howard P.

Sooooo disappointed, my junior high school cafeteria served much better food for much less money. They were out of Fried Chicken & Pork Chops, had the meat loaf instead. Nasty & incredibly expensive, meat mush with brown colored gravey?? How can you mess up meatloaf? Traveled 700 miles to try it out, had been so excited to give it a whirl. Never again... So Sad. Why one star rating, because they do not make a 1/2 star.
(1)
Jon G.

Crazy good soul food in Nebraska? Absolutely the best! Big Mama grew up in Georgia and she knows how it's done. The best collard greens I've ever eaten with ++ fried chicken, catfish, meatloaf, pork chops, etc. It can be a bit unorganized when they are slammed with guests but most times they deliver the goods in a reasonable amount of time. Must try the pig's ear sandwich just to say that you did! When the Razorbacks are headed to the College World Series, I know that I'm headed to Big Mama's
(5)
Vaughn N.

Of course we tried the oven fried chicken and it was moist, tender and tasty. Mac / Cheese, fried okra, sweet potato pudding, corn bread and cranberry sun tea topped off our meals. The food was great, the wait staff super friendly and very helpful in explaining and suggesting choices for us newbies. We also had the pleasure of visiting with Pat (Big Mama). She's the down to earth straight forward person you see on TV and my pleasure of working with many years ago. Oh yeah we will be back and try some more 'goodies' on the menu.
(4)
Celin T.

MMMM MMMM GOOD!!! The fam and I were in Omaha visting some friends. We step off the plane and we were so hungry. So we drive into town and I use YELP to find a place to have a late lunch. Big Mama's comes up and it was close by so we head over. The place is a bit hard to find at first. We had to make a couple U-turns since it's located in a cafeteria of some school. We get there and noticed that there were only a few diners in the place. We thought it was odd because the place was so highly rated. We thought it was going to be so busy. We were immediately greeted and shown our table. The kids got some crayons and coloring book to keep themselves busy. We look through the menu and read more reviews on YELP to get a sense on what to order. Then I notice that the place was featured on Diner, Drive-ins, and Dives. That made our choice to eat at Big Mama's even better. Then I read that it was featured in two other TV shows. SCORE!!!! So it was suggested to try to oven fried chicken and the mac n cheese. I ordered that for lunch, the kids got mac n cheese as well, and the hubby gets the meatloaf with mac n cheese. I guess our family loves mac n cheese! The chicken was the BEST that I have ever had. The combination of the different spices and the breading made it so mouth watering good. When you bite into the chicken it was so juicy and moist. I picked my chicken to the bone and licked my fingers clean as well. I had such a great meal and most memorable from our trip to Omaha. The kids loved their lunch and asked for my mac n cheese. The hubby's meat loaf was just ok. The reason the place was empty because we got there 10 minutes before there were to close. I felt so bad that I apologized to our server and she was so gracious. She said it was no problem and it was a pleasure to have us over to try their food. That's Southern hospitality for you!!! We were in Omaha for 4 days and there was no meal that could match it. I was craving it the entire time. So when we were getting ready to leave Omaha I wanted to have Big Mama's as my last meal. I got my wish and we left Omaha with awesome food memories!!!
(5)
Josh K.

Big Mama's Kitchen continues its reputation as a stand-out locale. Almost everything was good. I say "almost everything" because it can be hard to locate, like a needle in a haystack type of deal. But the wait was very short, partly because it's not busy at 3 pm. Part from almost getting lost, we ordered the featherbones as an appetiser. They were delicious, primarily because they smoke them. Because this is soul food, they'll put "fried" in almost all of their menu items. Even the vegetables can be fried. Well, I just ordered the 3-pc chicken dinner with macaroni and a salad. All meals come with cornbread. The macaroni is definitely something to try. It's not rubbery like Kraft can be. The salad is entirely fresh vegetables, as the tomatoes even taste like they were picked from this vine that morning. As for the chicken? Finger friggin good. If you want to take some of their product home with you, you can. They have jars of sauce and jams for sale. Or you can pick up their sweet potato ice cream at certain stores. I didn't eat the ice cream; I had the apple pie. I strongly recommend the pie and the restaurant whenever you feel like searching for hidden treasures.
(5)
Steven C.

Ya know, I wasn't expecting Big Mama's to be a school cafeteria out in the boonies... I was expected big mama to look, as big mama looked exactly as she asked how the food was. The mac and cheese was excellent. The greens and cornbread were great. The chicken was not fried, but breaded and oven baked! (but it was good, not out as good as fried at most soul food joints) Pork chop was juicy, flavorful and not dry. Waffles were not crispy, but somehow extremely tasty. If you'd like some soul food to heal the soul, look no further than BIG MAMA!
(4)
Maggie A.

I'd leave my nice life in Washington DC to live in Omaha and eat at Big Mama's every day. The oven fried chicken was the best I've ever had---perfectly crispy and seasoned on the outside, juicy on the inside. I only ordered the two-piece platter and immediately regretted not ordering three. I kindly asked the waitress if she could bring me two thighs, and in less than five minutes she had them ready for me, even though the place was packed with diners. Very good service. My favorite side was the sweet potato pudding---brown sugar caramelized on top with small nuts. My partner raved about the collard greens; he ate the whole large bowl himself and drank the juice. His main course was the Afro Burger---it's SPICY! Be warned. He loved it---the spicier, the better----and I enjoy hot and spicy food regularly, but even I required a few refills of my water glass. Don't leave without a taste of their sweet potato ice cream ... yummers.
(5)
Tom H.

Like others, I saw this place on the Food Network with Guy Fieri and decided to stop by since I was driving through Omaha. He wasn't kidding about the tender juicy oven fried chicken. Other reviews said to try the Mac n cheese so I did and it was pretty creamy and delicious. Service seems to be hit or miss; it was slow and our waitress seemed to hurry us.
(4)
John M.

What great people! They have hearts of gold. The help out the community by employing and training needing members of the community and train them for a new future. Plus the food kicks ass. All made from scratch. I took a jar of the home made apple butter to friends in Iowa and they said it's the best they've ever had. I enjoyed the breakfast casserole and a short stack. Yum! I have yet to open the green tomato and raspberry jam - I hid it in the back of the cupboard so my wife doesn't find it. Minus one star for being hard to find. It's worth the hunt!
(4)
April J.

I'm originally from the South and the only other time I've had food this good was when my Memaw cooked it! I'd heard about Big Mama's through the Omaha Night Out Guide and my boyfriend remembered seeing it on DDD. I just got back from visiting family in Georgia but didn't get a chance to get some good ol' fashioned Southern cooking so we went to Big Mama's instead. Appetizers - we had a bowl of greens with cornbread and some fried green tomatoes. The bowl of greens was BIG and soooo good, I couldn't stop eating it. By the time my dinner arrived, I was already full. The tomatoes were perfect. Dinner - he had the catfish, I had the chicken. We both had macaroni and cheese, I got fried okra and he got sweet potato fries. The sides were great but the catfish and the chicken were amazing! Drinks - I had 3 glasses of sweet tea! And our server even let me take one of those refills home in a to-go cup with me. Dessert - we brought home a pint of sweet potato ice cream (which you can also order online). The ice cream alone was worth the trip! If you like pumpkin pie, you'll LOVE the sweet potato ice cream. Location - If you're familiar with Omaha, it's not hard to find. It's about 3 blocks north of Maple on 45th. Just take North 75 to Lake Street, take Lake to 45th, turn right and go to the 3200 block. It's in an old school building, just follow the signs in the parking lot. Staff - very friendly staff, the whole place just has a "family" feeling to it. I can't say enough good things about Big Mama's Kitchen. This place is the reason I finally got around to signing up for a Yelp account!
(5)
Yvonne W.

We had a hard time locating the place but we certainly glad we found it once we tasted the delicious food! We ordered fried chicken (which was outstanding), fried okra, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, greens - it was all excellent! And they even know how to make good iced tea! We will be back and back and back for more! Don't miss it!
(4)
Lai-Nin W.

Not only are the prices incredibly reasonable, but the food itself is absolutely delicious. Big mama's kitchen has wonderful leopard print tablecloths (see picture) and big mama herself came out to tell us she pulled out fresh butter pound cake for dessert. I wish i could come here every day. I tried the afroburger, which has a delicious spicy bbq sauce and had the catfish filet sandwich for my meal. The catfish was some of the best I've ever had- the batter was crunchy and the catfish was very very tender. For dessert I had the sweet potato ice cream and the pecan tarts with a friend, and both were wonderful. It was great. Everyone should come here all the time!
(5)
Paul J.

Ok I've been here before but I did not yelp at that time. I then had the afro burger it is a perfect sandwich for the hot and spicy lover. I remember how pleased my tastebuds were. The menu is layed out well with alot of Midwestern favorites. Featherbones, fried catfish, and smothered chops and chicken. On this visit I ordered the pig ear sandwich, cole slaw, greens and cornbread. Yes, the pig ear sandwich! This piece of offal is served with it's best friends mustard and raw onions, served on a kaiser bun. The ear is very tender and perfectly seasoned, but it sometimes gets lost with the thickness of of the bun. The mustard greens are cooked a little too long for my liking. They do remind me of my mother's though. The plate is also accompanied by home made chow chow (a cabbage relish with bell peppers) very delishis. The mason jars the drinks are served in really gives you a down home feeling. The cole slaw was one of the best I've had in restaurant. Smooth sweet flavor, fresh and crisp. The reasonably priced menu and dining area are perfect for large groups and families. I think the greens and cornbread are a little small portioned for the price. Put Big Mamas on your Omaha bucket list if you visit. The Fork Thief
(4)
Shana M.

We found this place while in Omaha for the Olympic swimming trials. Incredible! Just like my grandmother in southern Alabama used to make. We enjoyed the chicken fried steak, pork, and fried catfish. The sides were all delish. It took us a bit to find the restaurant, but my 3 sons were thrilled and their insatiable tummies filled. The food is prepared to order, fresh and fabulous. When I told big mama how much I enjoyed it and thanked her for bringing back such wonderful childhood memories, she hugged my neck. I wish I lived in Omaha. This place would be a staple for our family.
(5)
Josh W.

*Please read below for the good news. Just to solidify what two other posters said, I'm sure much of the food comes out of a can, and the dishes are hit-or-miss. For my girlfriend and I, we unfortunately had more miss... The gravy, greens, and cornbread were either ready for the microwave or just add water dishes. The habanero chicken was really just fried chicken covered in Frank's Red Hot Sauce and the meat loaf had no signs of being made in house. After the build up this place had, and knowing how much soul food is true to home cooking I was really disappointed. On the good side of the scale, the staff was very friendly that day, with Big Mama herself coming out to talk to us. The other patrons were very friendly, with one of the other tables even buying us some appetizers (friend green tomatoes and okra), which were decent. To backup what some other folks mentioned, I think this was due to us sitting so long waiting for our food. Either way, we were happy with those aspects, and the sweat potato pudding was delicious. If I go back it will be for appetizers and desert, but I don't know that I need to try any other entrees.
(2)
Gretchen D.

We stopped at Big Mama's on our cross country trip. After calling to find the place, we were very pleasently suprised. Our server brought out crayons and pictures for the little ones to keep busy while we waited for food. My kids split a french toast and loved it. My dad enjoyed a traditional eggs/toast/hashbrowns breakfast. My son had the fluffiest pancakes I have ever seen. He couldn't shovel them in fast enough. I had the bisquits and gravy. The gravy was flavorful with big chunks of sausage. The biscquits were fluffier than I like them, but were still delicious. The bacon was crispy...yum. Service was exceptional. Big Mama herself came out and sat a spell with us and talked story. The kids gave her a big hug and thanked her for such a yummy breakfast. Only down side...tricky location in the school campus.
(4)
Wil G.

We found Big Mama's two weeks ago while out looking for Soul food. Finding the location was a bit difficult but WELL worth the search. The key to getting there is realizing that it is located inside of the Turning Point Campus. When walking in the staff is super polite. For me the vibe was community center meets Abuela's (Grandma's) house. The food was really good and Big Mama sat down with us after introducing herself. What an amazing woman!!! You ROCK Big Mama not only for the awesome food you produce but for the many ways you give back to the community. Big Mama's Kitchen is most deffinately BEST in O! If you like good food at very reasonable prices and friendly people who care about their customers you WILL like it there!!!
(5)
Rani R.

Had the oven fried chicken today and it was great? The bigger piece was just as juicy as the drum stick. This is my second time here and it will not be my last. I'll have the smothered chicken the next time. Having gravy on the chicken should just make the whole meal better.
(5)
Marc H.

Living on the coasts you get used to certain things, like people mostly being dicks. Truth be told, I kinda gravitate more towards the "I'm too busy to really care about you or what you need" attitude exhibited on both coasts (at least in the major cities), simply because it lends to faster service, quicker drivers, and just overall a faster tempo. But then you get a dose of genuine hospitality and you're blown away. We read about Big Mama's on Yelp and I also remembered seeing it on DDD, so as we were driving through Omaha, I thought it would be the perfect place to stop for dinner. I didn't realize they closed at 7pm... and we were set to arrive at 7:15. We called ahead and explained to them our situation, that we were driving cross country, wanted to stop here to eat after hearing so many great things, and were wondering if they planned on being their later than 7pm. Guess what? Gladys, Big Mama's daughter, was the one that answered the phone and she said to come on by and they would wait for us. Now THAT's hospitality. When we got there, we ordered the fried chicken (delicious), the mac and cheese (gooey goodness), collard greens (best I've ever had.... seriously outta this world), and sweet potato pudding (decadent). We washed it all down with a glass of sweet tea (oh yea) and hit the road again. What an awesome experience. More businesses should take note of this kind of service.
(5)
Dave T.

A group of us had breakfast here this morning and were a very happy bunch when we left. The wait staff was very nice and attentive to our needs. The food was incredible and the portions were very generous. Our group had differnt items ranging from the Sausage Biscuits & Gravy, French Toast, Breakfast Casserole, Red Velvet Pancakes, Grits, etc.. and there wasn't a plate that had anything left on it! Then as were were finished Big Mama herself came over to our table and we all had a nice chat with her. We will definitely be back, there were so many other things we all wanted to try but we were all to full to order anything else!! One of our new favorites that we will visit often!!
(5)
kim p.

really great place. the staff is always so friendly and helpful. the cranberry sun tea is stellar as well as the oven fried chicken.
(4)
Bruce B.

WOW. Incredible food. Easily the best soul food I've ever had. An unassuming location though not in the best part of town it's a must eat if you love great food. Located in building 'A' of a gated campus I felt very safe here. For my lazy Sunday afternoon lunch I devoured oven fried chicken - super moist, greens - just try it you'll be surprised, thick and creamy mac n cheese and cornbread. Bottom line: So-so neighborhood or not - I'll be back. The excellent food and friendly staff make it worth the trip.
(5)
K M.

This place is a hidden gem. Tucked away in a cafeteria setting inside the Nebraska School for the Deaf, our meal here was one of the best on a cross country trip. Top it off with sweet potato ice cream, raisin bread pudding and our sweet and awesome waitress Denett, this place is a must for everyone traveling in or around or thru Omaha The oven fried chicken was moist and delicious. The collard greens had a little kick to it. Fried catfish on Rye was crispy and seasoned perfectly. Coleslaw was great and cornbread was fluffy, the right amount of sweet and definitely made with lots of love. Did we mention how great the service was? Thank you Denett for a wonderful lunch. Don't forget to order the cranberry and sweet teas.
(5)
Kate G.

Certain menu items are AMAZING, and others are okay, so if you order right, your dining experience will be fantastico. I recommend the fried chicken (sans gravy for me) and the fried green tomatoes, which, when in season, are ridiculously good. Their desserts are also incredible, lots of good stuff. I personally have not been impressed with the mac and cheese or the corn bread, but I don't go for the sides, I go for the main event.
(3)
Ambri W.

Omg! Awesome! Amazing! You cannot leave there without trying the sweet potato pudding. To die for! Oven fried chicken gets 10 sparkling stars! Corn bread is super and their cranberry ice tea is spectacular as well. The location is a bit odd but it has a very homey comfy feel about it. The service was friendly, attentive and made you feel right at home. Superb hospitality. I can't believe it took me so long to discover this place.
(5)
Albert C.

Don't know if it's because I had my order to go or not, but it wasn't all that. Mac and Cheese was okay. I think I should end my review here since I didn't actually dine-in and can't give you guys my full experience.
(2)
Stefanie N.

What a yummy soul food place in a real sketch part of town! The oven fried chicken was moist, well seasoned and delicious. My partner tried the afroburger and when it came out, I was confused... we were expecting a burger and got a hotdog instead. It was tasty nevertheless but not as crazy spicy as we thought it would be. Will come here again.
(3)
Slim S.

When our team goes to the College World Series, (fairly often) we ALWAYS make sure and go to Big Mama's. Best soul food I've had and I'm from the south! This would EASILY be 5 stars were it not for the fact that they were so overwhelmed with business the other day, it took us an hour to get our food after we sat down. Anyway, it's a must eat at. Oven fried chicken in GREAT as well as the cat fish. 4 stars.
(4)
Kat R.

We had Big Mama's cater a business lunch for 25 people. Their lunch boxes not only had amazing options, but the food was delicious! Though I have not been to the venue myself, I would highly recommend their food and service. Be sure to get there and enjoy!
(5)
Katie S.

I was so excited to finally try Big Mama's Kitchen, I had heard such great things about her AMAZING fried chicken but sadly I was very disappointed. My fried chicken was dry along with my corn bread. My sides (Mac and Cheese, Potatoes) were luke warm and bland. I wanted so badly to like this place because I love the story behind the business and I am all about supporting local small businesses since my own family runs one but sadly that wasn't the case. I hate to say it but I've had better fried chicken and mac and cheese from the deli at a grocery store. Not sure if it was just an off day with the kitchen but I won't be coming here again.
(1)
Rozen C.

Amazing oven baked chicken! Collard greens were really good as well. Don't miss the sweet potato pudding.
(5)
david c.

Absolutely incredible food and service! Try the tomato ice cream and sweet tea!
(5)
Michaela O.

You know that feeling you have after Thanksgiving dinner? The one where you are a little lethargic, silly in the head, and in desperate need of a nap? Yeah, that's called a food coma. And a food coma is what you'll most likely have if you do Big Mamma's right. From the Afro Burger (or Big Red), to the Fried Chicken, Big Mamma's serves it up with style. And just like Thanksgiving, you'll keep coming back because the food coma is always worth it!
(4)
Dolly E.

This place was delicious!!!! I had the smothered chicken with mac n cheese and collard greens. They even brought me a side of chow chow for my greens which added just the right amount of kick. The Mac n cheeese was only ok but I would get the sweet potato pudding next time. Had a taste and it was fabulous! I highly recomend this place!!!
(5)
Rosalina R.

MMMMMM!!! I stuffed myself fatter than a Thanksgiving turkey here this past Saturday. Fried green tomatoes highlghted with a homemade plum sauce, MEATloaf ( I never orer meat at restaurants) that was nice n moist drenched (but not too drenched) in a homemade brown gravy, sweet potato pudding (mashed sweet pots with a crunchy topping), the BEST greens in Shmo (and I know my greens), and some binge-worthy sweet potatot icecream and butter pound cake --This was my Saturday lunch!!! Now I need to go confess my sins of gluttony.
(5)
Dylan G.

If you read not another word of this review, this is all you really need to know: BIG MAMA MAKES THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN IN THE CITY. I'd recommend a few other things on the menu, but after having the fried chicken, I don't know that I can ever order anything else. What would be the point, if I knew that I was missing out on that golden fried godhood? Seriously, I don't think I even need to say anything else. You're not going to find better soul food in the city. You're not going to find a better batch of greens on the side. Their mac & cheese is delicious. Their desserts are phenomenal (I'm a big fan of the sweet potato cheesecake). I've had breakfast there, and enjoyed it a lot (biscuits were yummy, and the casserole looked amazing), but once I had the chicken, my mind was completely blown and I was in love. I must also mention that the staff are SO incredibly friendly, and the setting, basically a converted school kitchen/cafeteria, is pretty damn cute. This place is a Must Do.
(5)
Michelle E.

Super friendly waitress, she gave us the run down of the menu. Make sure to have the cranberry iced tea, oven fried chicken, greens, & corn bread. Great portions & seasoned well. For dessert, order the sweet potato ice cream.
(4)
Kevin J.

My first try at Big Mama's. What really stood out was the friendly atmosphere. The food was ok, nothing special, just ok. I decided to have the two piece oven fried chicken dinner with cornbread and a side of fried okra. The highly rated chicken was moist, the skin was pretty tasty but overall not much flavor. A big disappointment for me. Cornbread was standard fare, taste was not bad but a bit dry to my liking. Reminded me too much of school cafeteria cornbread. Fried okra again was cooked well, but little if any flavor :-(. The waitress was truly fun to have wait on you, and the other waitress there that day for the lunch crowd seemed very enthusiastic, also. It was fun to try, but truth be told, KFC has better flavor!
(3)
Jennifer K.

My favorites: old fashioned greens, fried chicken, sweet potato ice cream. Soul food with a smile. Restraint is in an old cafeteria at the former School of the Deaf. Big portions and lots of choices!
(4)

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Address : Turning Point Campus,3223 N 45th St, Bldg A
Omaha, NE, 68104
Phone (402) 455-6262
Website https://www.bigmamaskitchen.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Big Mama’s Kitchen

Turning Point Campus,3223 N 45th St, Bldg A, Omaha, NE, 68104

Big Mama’s Kitchen Menu

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Home Cooked Side Dishes

Dessert

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