Big Mama’s Kitchen Feeds the Soul

Big Mama’s Kitchen

• 3223 North 45th Street, Building A Omaha NE 68104
• (402) 455-6262
• Website
• Facebook page
• Cuisine: Soul Food, Diner
• Price: $$

Why did the chicken cross the road? Who cares, if Big Mama is cooking it!

Big Mama’s Kitchen serves up homemade, comforting soul food. They have been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in October 2008 and listed as the 56th best place to chow down in America by the Travel Channel in January 2010.

On Tuesday, March 19th, FoodMeOmaha and friends had lunch at Big Mama’s Kitchen. I was excited to try Big Mama’s Kitchen for the first time!

Big Mama’s Kitchen is located at the Turning Point Campus, formerly the Nebraska School for the Deaf. It literally has old school charm.

Come inside to a down-to-earth, quaint, cafeteria-like space and friendly service. On arrival, we were welcomed and seated immediately.

Bring on Big Mama’s food!

Cranberry Sun Tea

• Description: Cranberry Sun Tea
• Price: $2.79
• FoodMe YUM Rating: 7 out of 10
• FoodMe Value Rating: 7 out of 10

Sun tea meets cranberry. I am typically not a sun tea fan but I liked this combination. Nice and refreshing.

Big Mama’s Oven Fried Chicken (2 Pc)

• Description: Chicken seasoned with Big Mama’s own rub, marinated, dusted with flour, and oven fried with choice of side.
• Price: $8.49 (one side), $10.49 (two sides)
• FoodMe YUM Rating: 9 out of 10
• FoodMe Value Rating: 9 out of 10

Big Mama’s oven fried chicken is super tasty! After one bite, I was hooked. I enjoyed the seasoned breading with crispy edges, flavorful skin, and tender juicy meat. It doesn’t have the full crispiness of a pure fried chicken but that is no loss. The hybrid oven-fried chicken is damn good.

The macaroni and cheese was a nice, simple complement but was out-shined by the chicken.

Big Mama’s Smothered Chicken (3 Pc)

• Description: Big Mama’s oven fried chicken simmered in a skillet with home-cooked chicken gravy.
• Price: $9.39 (one side), $11.39 (two sides)
• FoodMe YUM Rating: 9.25 out of 10
• FoodMe Value Rating: 9.25 out of 10

Big Mama’s oven fried chicken already rocks on its own. When it is smothered in homemade chicken-based gravy it adds another layer of comfort goodness to enjoy! Sooo goood!

Oxtail Stew

• Description: Oxtail stew with vegetables
• Price: $4.59 (cup)
• FoodMe YUM Rating: 7.5 out of 10
• FoodMe Value Rating: 7.5 out of 10

This tastes like a traditional vegetable beef soup except with tender, fatty oxtail pieces.

Fried Catfish Filet

• Description: Catfish filets dusted with cornmeal and flour, fried in peanut oil
• Price: $12.99 (lunch size)
• FoodMe YUM Rating: 9.25 out of 10
• FoodMe Value Rating: 9.25 out of 10

The seasoned, fried, flaky catfish is another super tasty dish! I tasted a slight sweet touch of cinnamon-like spice which was a delightful surprise.

Overall, Big Mama’s Kitchen has “real” soul food. Specifically, the oven fried chicken and fried catfish rocked my taste buds. I left full, satisfied, comforted, and happy. Big Mama’s Kitchen feeds the soul.

Big Mama’s Kitchen

• FoodMe YUM Rating: 9 out of 10
• FoodMe Service Rating: 8.5 out of 10
• FoodMe Value Rating: 9 out of 10
• FoodMe Atmosphere Rating: 8 out of 10
• FoodMe Overall Rating: 8.75 out of 10

(Note: Big Mama has recently opened a spin-off restaurant, Big Mama’s Sandwich Shop. Another place I want to try!)