We went to Mama's Restaurant on October 25 for a birthday celebration. We were a large party of ten people so we needed to put an extra table at the end of one of the grill tables to accommodate everyone at one table. It worked out well because three people were vegetarians so they sat at the end without the grill, but if all of us wanted barbecue we would have needed to break up into two separate tables.
Those of us who had barbecue shared the rib eye, short ribs, spicy pork, spicy pork belly, and spicy squid. They were all delicious, but the "spicy" pork, pork belly, and squid were not what I would call "hot." I would have liked for them to have more heat, but they were delicious nonetheless. Everyone was served a bowl of rice and the table had all of the traditional sides; including kimchi, cole slaw, and cucumber salad.. The barbecue was out of this world, so I would love to give five stars, however the service was very slow and the timing of the meal was off. They would bring two or three dishes at a time and not be back for another five to ten minutes with the next two or three. We'd had all of our meat for about twenty minutes before we received our rice. Everyone who ordered entrees from the kitchen received their meals far after we received the meat for the grill, which was unfortunate as well.
Bottom line: The food is incredible, the service is mediocre. Don't go in expecting a quick meal. Expect to spend an hour and a half for dinner, at least. It's a nice experience sitting down with friends enjoying the meal. A quick dinner is not on the menu.
I like this place, but my Korean students told me there is no real korean food in B-town. Given their verdict, I think my taste could be skewed towards "non-koreans". Most of the korean restaurants in the US are very expensive, Mama's is no exception. I would say, if you could make the dishes yourself, don't go; otherwise, this is probably one of the best places to have korean food in B-town.
Review Source:The BBQ is delicious and fun! Â You have your own grill to cook your meats, so it's made the way you want it and brought to you fresh. Â :)
All the meat I tried was tasty, but I especially liked the Bar-B-Q Spicy Pork Belly. Â It's fattier, but tastier.
The sides are also pretty good - nothing that blew me away, but pretty standard stuff. Â I just really enjoyed cooking my own food, and the portions they give are plenty.
The service was very nice as well. Â The pricing was just a tad expensive. Â It's a great experience, though, so it's definitely a place worth checking out.
My gosh. Â Food, presentation, authenticity and atmosphere = Above and beyond any other Korean restaurant in Bloomington. Â The first time I went with my Korean friend, and they spoke to him in Korean and then they turned to me to ask me my order, "And what would you like?" Â They spared me the embarassment I suppose. Â
Everytime I go, I get the barbecue. Â The beef and pork, which you cook yourself at your table, were delicious. Â It reminded me of my mom's bulgogi and kimchi. Â Speaking of kimchi, you get unlimited side dishes with the barbecue.
One of the best kept secrets in Bloomington! Literally you have to go down into a basement area of a strip mall to get there, but aside from the lack of atmosphere, it is all about the food.
Meals cost about $10-12 for dinner and include an assortment of appetizer-y dishes to accompany your meal. My favorite dinner is the hot stone kettle bibimbap. It comes with an egg on top and everything keeps cooking on the kettle as you eat. The flavors are so delicious and the thinly sliced beef is amazing.
This is the type of place where the portion is so huge that you should have leftovers, but it tastes so good that you can't stop eating! The food is very authentic- this is where Korean people go to eat Korean food, which is a good sign. :-)
It is also worth noting that they have always been gracious and accommodating of children, and it is somewhere that I feel comfortable bringing our daughter.
I'm sure we'll be back for more soon!
I thought that I didn't like Korean food until I tried Mama's. This is one now one of my favorite restaurants in Bloomington. Great food, great service, good family atmosphere. Dinner prices might be a little high, but lunch is a great value. Very authentic, very delicious. The pork saute w/ kimchee is perfect.
Review Source:I'm going to give Mama's five stars. Maybe 4.5 would be better, or even just 4 would do just fine. However you slice it, this is the best Korean food in town. The servers and owner are incredibly kind and hospitable, the panchang keep coming, the tea is free, and the grill tables are a lot of fun.
I lived in Chicago for a while and had the good luck of going to several great Korean joints there, but Mama's tops even those. It's great for parties, but it suits small groups as well. GO! NOW!
Mama's has delicious, inexpensive meals. Don't know how authentic, but similar to Korean I've had other places. The array of side dishes varies slightly, but in my experience always has a few spicy, such as Kimchi, a few not, such as tuna macaroni salad. Entree soups, mackerel, and a few sauteed dishes in the $12 - $15 range, BBQ (I've never gotten) in the $30 range.
Plenty of free parking.
I've been to a few differen Korean restaurants in my time, mama's being one of them. Mama's offers items from single dishes on to tabletop BBQ. The one unique aspect of mama's is that they use coal and wood fired grills, so your BBQ comes out very flavorful. The quality of food is among the best, however the prices are sky high compared to other spots, which is why they get docked one star from me...
Review Source:Four stars to Mama's!!
After reading reviews on Yelp, I decided to visit this gem. I found the menu a little overwhelming since I do not know much about Korean food.
The waiter immediately greeted us but told us that he did not have any BBQ tables available. He directed us to sit on the non BBQ side and wait. Another customer came in and was greeted by a waitress. The waitress was scrambling to find that party a BBQ table. Finally the waiter communicated to the waitress that we had been waiting longer.
The waiter was friendly and the service was fine but not exceptional. The waiter had a hard time answering our questions or giving us suggestions.
Decor is plain and simple. If you are wanting fancy decor than this is not you restaurant. Seating for the BBQ tables are limited and if you have a large party, I would recommend calling ahead. Â I wish they had more BBQ tables and the smells are wonderful!!
We ordered the BBQ for two (ribeye and squid). Our BBQ came with 8 sides and ind. bowls of rice. All were good but I was confused with having macaroni salad as a side. After my first bit of the BBQ, I was hooked. I would not recommend this dish, if you do not like spicy food.
Overall, I rate Mama's 4 stars. The only reason it was not 5 stars was the seating confusion and the waiter having difficulty communicating. We will be returning to Mama's again!!!
I moved to Bloomington from New York City where I had an office around the corner from Koreatown. Â I was afraid I would desperately miss the amazing Korean food, but....
There is Mama's in Bloomington. Â A phenomenal Korean restaurant.
Many love the BBQ tables, but I really prefer to let them cook my food
in the kitchen. Â They do a wonderful job and have a really wide ranging
menu. Â Excellent cooking in a very traditional Korean style. Â The only
ethnic restaurant in town where the clientele is frequently mostly Korean.
Oh, and the spicy soups are the best way to clear your sinuses when you have a winter cold..
My husband took me to try Korean BBQ for the first time, and I was not disappointed! I am usually moderatly hesitant to try new foods, but this place was a tasty delight. I had the beef BBQ and he had the pork, and both were accompanied by a variety of little side dishes, rice, and lettuce leaf wraps. We had some Hite and Sapporo to compliment the meal, and left feeling extremely satisfied!
Review Source:I brought a big group here for my birthday and it was one chow fest. The service was very friendly and helpful, and some of us did the BBQ which was outstanding. One person who had lived in Chicago for many years said the food at Mama's was better than all the Korean places in there.
I had a wonderful soup--tofu and beef--but everyone was happy with their dishes. This is the best Korean I have had in town, and really it's on top of the heap of restaurants I've been to in town, period. Highly recommend.
The regret I have for overlooking this binge-tacular paradise for four Â
years of undergrad will haunt me forever. Mama's truly is a diamond in Â
the pubic rough of Bloomington's east side.
If you have never experienced Korean BBQ, you are in danger of dying
without having ever lived. I would advise you to gain carnal knowledge of a
woman, then get a driver's license, and then try Korean BBQ. Doing these
in the wrong order may cause a black hole or some shit, but do them you
must! They are the requisites of life.
Mama's provides the most excellent service of any Bloomington Â
restaurant. There was a beaming smile on every worker's face. And I Â
got bowed to 32 times. With this I was especially pleased. The Â
girlfriend was skeptical.
If you eat at one of the BBQ tables, there is a 2- entrée minimum. Â
Entrées range from $14-20. Each entrée comes with a bowl of miso Â
soup, rice, a plate of marinated meat or fish and unlimited Korean Â
side dishes.
You cook the meat on a perforated stainless steel plate over a pot of Â
burning charcoal. If the plate gets too charred from the meat juices, Â
they'll swap it out with a clean one.
At Mama's you may be given a pair of chef's scissors to cut the cooked
meat. Tongs are used to place the meat on the grill.
You control how long the meal will last by how often you put a Â
new piece of meat on the grill. For me, this makes the Korean BBQ
experience uniquely relaxing.
Before you die, check out my photos, lay with a woman,
and TRY KOREAN BBQ!
Mama's provides an excellent and, as far as I know, authentic Korean dining experience. Despite being located in a strip mall, the inside is slightly more welcoming than that would typically indicate. You can choose between normal and barbecue tables, but because I go to a restaurant specifically for the purpose of having a better cook than I am prepare my food, I've always gone with the regular option.
The fare is a solid selection of fiendishly spicy and delicious soups, served with 8 to 12 small side dishes including cabbage and cucumber kimchee, coleslaw, potato salad, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, fish cakes, mushrooms, and other tasty little squishy, squelchy, and squooshy delights. I've frequently been pleased with the bulgogee and short ribs, and I've never been disappointed with the rich meaty stews and soups, but some of the more unusual offerings can be the best. The broiled mackerel is an unbelievably good experience. It's smoky, salty, perfectly oily, and cooked on the bone. Even those moderately skilled with chopsticks will find it challenging to winnow the spine and bones from the flesh, but it is worth it. The cold buckwheat noodles are delicious, but also confounding to anyone with limited chopstick skills; they're served with shears if that tells you anything about how challenging they are to consume. Perhaps my favorite is the Korean home-y favorite, bebimbap: pickled vegetables, meat, and a fried egg top rice with a piquant spicy sauce. The menu offers a standard variant and a version with kimchee, but the best option is the one served in a stone pot that crisps the bottom of the rice into a crunchy, delicious wafer.
The staff is friendly and helpful and will always make sure that you understand what you're ordering if you seem unsure.
As forewarning, there is a giant television in a corner, but I've never actually witnessed anyone use it for karaoke; it's typically showing world cup game reruns.
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