The best soul food in Richmond and one of the best in Virginia. Mama J's has been on 1st Street in Jackson Ward since 2009, and the weekend queues tell you everything you need to know about its standing. The fried chicken is the point — extraordinarily well-seasoned, with a crust that shatters properly — but the sides are equally serious: collard greens cooked low and slow, macaroni and cheese baked in individual portions, candied yams with restraint. Cash accepted; no reservations; arrive early or expect to wait.