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I’m always trying to expose my children to different foods. We aim to live by the “you just have to try it” rule, which I think is quite popular among other families as well. We’ve been pretty lucky so far and my two sons, ages six and 10, are usually happy to venture into various food terrains. One cuisine they both agree on is Chinese. After they discovered honey garlic spareribs and pot stickers, I don’t even need to ask what kind of takeout they think we should pick up on a Friday night.
It seemed fitting to take my two boys along to Mama Jean Kitchen in Cambridge, a Chinese restaurant which recently reopened its dining room after a long period of offering exclusively takeout due to the pandemic.
Located in downtown Galt, Mama Jean Kitchen opened in October 2018 and is named after Jean Cheung, the matriarch of the family who owns the restaurant, said her son Brian Cheung. It offers a contemporary, tastefully decorated space, filled with light and plenty of comfortable seating.
Our server was friendly and helpful, especially as I asked about a few dishes that I outright ogled as they made their way to other tables. The boys took their role very seriously, each choosing an item, and I added a few of the restaurant’s most popular picks and fried rice to round out our meal.
The spring rolls ($2.80 each), always an appetizer favourite, arrived hot and crispy, filled with a mixture including glass noodles, carrots and celery. Dipped in plum sauce from the ubiquitous packets, these were a nice start.
Our server had mentioned that portions were large, but we were still in awe of the abundance of food laid out in front of us. That dish that I had seen another table enjoying? It was the house sauce chicken wings ($15.95), a pile of crunchy chicken wings bathed in a glossy, sweet and spicy sauce, flecked with chili flakes. In short, immediately yes. We loved the wings (as do many others apparently, as they are highly sought after) and would come back just for those. Luckily for us, that wasn’t the only thing we loved.
Sweet and sour shrimp ($17.95) was the pick of the six-year-old, the seafood lover in our family. He devoured the shrimp, which came in a light, flaky, crispy coating, different than the heavier, doughy breading we’re accustomed to. He declared that “the shrimp made my tastebuds explode” (we watch a lot of “Iron Chef” together). Sweet and sour sauce on the side allowed everyone to indulge in as much, or as little, as they wished.
The 10-year-old opted for chicken with vegetables and almonds ($15.50), served piping hot with crisp, fresh morsels of onion, broccoli, carrot, celery, water chestnuts and peppers, topped with buttery almonds and flavourful bites of chicken throughout, in a light savoury sauce. My oldest happily heaped spoonfuls onto his plate. Having tried this dish in many Chinese restaurants, Mama Jean Kitchen’s version emerged as exceptional, with the various textures coming together beautifully.
The chicken fried rice ($11.95) was an excellent accompaniment, served steaming and imbued with soy and garlic flavours without being overpowering. I also snagged a serving of homemade chili oil ($2.50), which was a tasty addition with a subtle amount of heat. (Side note: If you like a little heat, ask for chili oil at Chinese, Thai or other Asian restaurants — chances are they’ll have a delicious, tongue-tingling batch made in-house).
Our final dish was one of Mama Jean Kitchen’s most requested: the Cantonese chow mein ($18.50). A bed of egg noodles in a dark, umami sauce, loaded with slices of chicken, beef, BBQ pork and shrimp nestled in a mixture of broccoli, peppers, onions, bok choy and mushrooms. These were a hit with the boys too, who admittedly focused on the proteins and noodles, leaving more of the vegetables for Mom.
Our meal ended with plenty of leftovers, the standard fortune cookies and the decision that this was some of the best Chinese food the boys have had. I agree with them. As their tastes grow and evolve, so will our family’s menu choices at Mama Jean Kitchen. We’ll certainly be back for more.
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, closed; Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Accessibility: There is parking available in front of the restaurant, but no spots are designated accessible. The restaurant is accessible, including the spacious washrooms, but does not have automatic door openers at the entrance or restrooms.
The bill: $103.90 (including tax but not tip). Two soft drinks, one appetizer, four gourmet dishes and one rice dish. Lots of leftovers which were descended upon the next day for lunch and dinner.
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