JJ's Mama's Soulfood & More

Another review I hate to write because I want to keep this gem to myself. 5s across the board. Bae said he wanted soul food that tastes like it was cooked in somebody's house. This place understood the assignment! JJs Mama Soulfood & More is where you want to go for that country cooking you miss from back in the day. The chicken will be seasoned and crispy. Oh, you will hear the crunch when you see the photo. We went crazy with the sides so we could try lots of things. They did not disappoint. Every morsel is seasoned. No bland food around here. Don't let the size of the bowls fool you. The portion is just enough. The protein portion is ample. You get your money's worth. Shout out to our server Sherie. She greeted us when we walked in. She was patient as we made up our minds. Offered us complimentary chips & salsa while we waited for our food. Oh, the wait wasn't long and the food came out hot. Fish, hush puppies and chicken were fresh out the grease hot! Considering we had dine-in on a rainy Saturday there ambiance was what it was. We arrived about 1:45pm. JJs closes at 3pm for an hour to allow staff a proper lunch. It's written on the menu. Much respect! We had just enough time to place our food order and eat. Next time we'll go earlier. FYI, the fryer shuts down 30 minutes before closing. They do stick to the rule. We overheard a gentleman being told he'd just missed the cut off for his to-go order. Red Koolaid is a drink option. Now for the unindoctrinated, red is a flavor. This is NOT your back of the pack instructions sweet. This is old school pour sugar in the pitcher until your ancestors tell you to stop sweet. Nostalgia at its finest! For those who want to know what red koolaid tastes like please get you a glass here. Do you prefer a beer or cocktail with your meal? They have options for you as well. Yes, mimosas are available. Sherie told us that every 2nd Sunday is a brunch buffet. Hopefully Bae & I will make it too one soon. I'll report back. Fish dinner - two large pieces of fish. Bae only ate one piece though. I had the fried chicken as it came: two legs and a thigh. You can get all white meat for an upcharge. I ate a leg. Chicken was hot and the crispy skin gave that satisfying crunch. The meat was delish! However, I was too busy eating the sides. Rice and gravy didn't stand a chance. Deep dark gravy with onions just how I like it. I enjoyed the collards . Bae said they were a touch too vinegary for him. The collards are cooked with turkey products. For me, a bit too much meat. However, I didn't grow up with meaty collards. Not a deal breaker because I tore them collards up! The baked spaghetti? Chef's kiss! Cheesy sketti goodness. Next time I may need to get a pan to go. Potato salad - mixed reviews from us. Again, it tastes great. However, we all have our favorite potato salad recipe that aunt, grandma, mama, uncle etc makes. I prefer potato salad that is heavier on the mustard and more yellow. Doesn't mean what we are was not good eating. I didn't see any salt & pepper shakers out. How many times have I told ya'll the food is well seasoned? And it is. To be fair we didn't ask for anything extra. Sherie offered to bring us hot sauce. And there is a cup of various packets on the table. Pepper may have been in there. We didn't look. I love extra pepper in my gravy, sketti and mac & cheese. Yes. The mac & cheese was seasoned too! Triad yelpers, stop drooling at my pics and get yourself down to JJs Mama's Soulfood & more. I cannot write this review without noting that JJs gives back. They offer "No questions asked" bag lunches and other pantry items.

JJ's Mama Soul Food is one of those hidden gems that feels like stumbling upon a best-kept secret. This spot may be a small, unassuming hole-in-the-wall, but it serves up some of the most heartfelt, delicious food I've had in a long time. The owner is one of the kindest people you'll meet, welcoming each guest with warmth and a genuine desire to share her passion for soulful cooking. Her dedication to the community is evident in every aspect of this place, from the food to the friendly service.We ordered the Soul Bowl with a side of candied sweet potatoes, and every bite was a reminder of why comfort food exists. The Soul Bowl is a masterpiece, layered with love. At the very bottom, there's a hidden cornbread layer--a surprise of sweetness and texture that adds something truly special. On top of that, you've got perfectly seasoned collard greens, creamy mac and cheese, and your choice of protein, creating an ideal mix of flavors and textures. Each bite feels like pure comfort, with the richness of the mac and cheese balancing the slight bitterness of the greens, while the cornbread and candied yams provide a subtle sweetness. It's everything you want from soul food, done right.The atmosphere here is casual and relaxed, with a chilled vibe that makes you feel at home. This isn't a place for frills or pretense--it's about good food, good people, and a warm environment. There's ample parking available, making it easy to drop by whenever the craving for true soul food strikes.The service at JJ's Mama Soul Food is as genuine as the food. The owner clearly pours her heart into every dish, making sure each guest feels taken care of. Her kindness and passion shine through, and it's obvious she's committed to serving her community with food that warms the soul.If you're looking for a spot that serves authentic, delicious food with a whole lot of heart, JJ's Mama Soul Food is a must-visit. It's the kind of place that leaves you with a full belly and a warm feeling long after you've left.

Greeted by the owner. Asked for recommendations since it's my first time here. Fried chicken, Mac and cheese and collards and cabbage.So wish my hubby could have joined me, we so wanted to try this together. Unfortunately, he passed a week ago, so I'm here for both of us.It was delicious! Lots of food, I've got dinner for another two nights. I will definitely be back.Thank you!

My old traveling partner and I heard about this place from a former waiter at our weekly Mayberry meet up. He gave us all the highlights, so we had to go! First thing...don't make the mistake we made and not check the hours before you go. This place is only open Thursday-Sundays and we went on a Tuesday! Ugh!Soooo. That next Thursday we went and it was worth the wait! Traditional home cooked southern soul food! We both got the pigfeet, Mac and cheese and collards and NONE of it disappointed! Plus...they had the best sweet tea on this side of heaven! Gotta check this place out if you haven't. Feels like going to your grandma's house on Sunday. We are going back next week!

Yesterday I ordered the oxtails disgusting frozen cook, oxtails put in the microwave. The gravy was dark and disgusting and too salty. They put it on top of rice that was smash.!!!!! flies flying all over the place all over your food!! It really needs the health department to go in and check this restaurant out. Do not order the fountain soda get bottled water seem like the fountain soda lines. Haven't been clean in a year filthy tasting Pepsi soda, Pepsi, they selling their product.!!! NJ NEWARK

I'm pulling up to a soul food restaurant at 1:30 on Good Friday and there's only one other vehicle in the parking lot. I automatically begin to think red flags. I entered the restaurant and a young lady greeted me. She told me where I can sit and asked for my drink order. I chose to sit in the back of the restaurant to observe to see if any more customers would arrive, only a take out order came in during my visit.Being raised by a southern grandmother, I tend to love neck bones! The fact this restaurant served neckbones is what prompted my visit. I received a complimentary chips and jarred salsa. I was kind of disappointed by this. It's a nice gesture but why offer if it's nothing special. The sweet tea was delicious. There was a family of 4 dining. TV's around the restaurant were playing 80's Family Feud and old school R&B coming through the speakers. My order of neckbones, pinto beans, and collard greens. These were the meatiest neckbones I've had in a while. They were tender! The gravy was very thick. This made the rice an afterthought because I was searching for the rice and just gave up. The greens were salty. You have to be careful with seasonings when cooking with smoked meat. My pintos tasted old. The cornbread muffin was sweet and crumbly yet good. My entire lunch felt like I was visiting grandma's house the Monday after a family Sunday dinner. I felt as though I was eating good leftovers at grandma's house. I ordered oxtails, mac and cheese, and cabbage to go. The oxtails are tender yet the gravy is too thick because of this, the rice underneath was lost. I like my mac and cheese creamy but it all comes to personal preference. I will visit again. Perhaps the second time around will be better. They have buffet style dining on the second Sunday of each month. This will be my next visit so I can try more than the items I did on this visit. I also enjoyed the service, very nice people.

The food was delicious and the service was friendly and fast. They were out of quite a few items but other than that I have no complaints and will be returning with my family soon!

If you like being treated like family and feeling like every meal is Sunday dinner, JJ's is the place to eat. THIS IS soul food. I'm very picky over potato salad and I promise you'll never find a restaurant whose is better than this. The collards and macaroni scream COMFORT!! It was pretty quiet for a Thursday. The owner also feeds the homeless. She makes meals fresh daily to serve this community. How luck are we to have her here! She's awesome, and the staff was so helpful too! My husband and I love it. It's just down home atmosphere that you cannot find anywhere else.

2.5 stars....Was craving Soul-food and this was the only spot between Lexington and Salisbury. There were two people ahead of me in the line to place the order and it moved quickly. I ordered several dishes which were 2nd and 3rd choice dishes. I arrived at 2pm they were out of turkey wings , oxtails and desserts: To get my order was a 25 minute wait. Was it worth it... only the cabbage and rice. The baked chicken was dry, collards were salty, the potato salad was a thumbs down. The turkey necks could have been cooked longer. The fried chicken was only fair... it seem liked it was cooked on a temperature to high and too fast. The ambiance was dated but was family style. Lots of customer and the customer service was good.

Yum yum yummy. Food is as good as the pictures. Money well spent. Keep up the good work.