Brandon Jew's Mamahuhu offers a stylish twist on beloved Chinese-American comfort food, serving crispy sweet-and-sour chicken and spicy mapo tofu in a bright, casual setting.
"This fast-casual outfit from Mister Jiu’s chef Brandon Jew is a full-on delight, ranging from the vegan boba tea-inspired soft-serve sundaes to the sweet and sour cauliflower entrees. Relying on pineapple’s sweetness and a bit of pepper to balance — though a smart diner adds chili oil to really level things out — this veggie dish, alongside six other hearty and cheap options, makes a compelling case for quick vegetarian options in the Richmond and Noe Valley." - Paolo Bicchieri, Eater Staff
"Mamahuhu features Michelin-starred chef Brandon Jew’s take on classic Chinese-American dishes like sweet and sour chicken — and it’s available for delivery, too. Marvel, then, at how crispy that chicken stays, even after traveling all the way to your home, and how difficult it is to stop eating the fiery mushroom-based mapo tofu. Get a couple of orders of jade fried rice to soak up the delicious sauces." - Lauren Saria, Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff
"Mamahuhu, chef Brandon Jew’s casual mini-chain of Chinese American restaurants in the Bay Area, recently launched Mahjong Mondays, during which pros and novices can show up and play every other week at various Mamahuhu locations." - Dianne de Guzman
"When chef Brandon Jew opens a new restaurant, you know the design is going to be as stylish as the food is delicious. Open rafters, pale pink and bright teal tiles serve as visual appetizers to the feast ahead. Jew’s sweet and sour chicken is a house specialty, and for good reason: you can’t go wrong with crispy rice-battered free range chicken, pineapple, honey, and hawthorn. The only way it could be better? Stuffing it into a homemade pineapple bun as a crispy chicken sandwich. Other highlights include the mushroom mapo tofu with shiitake and fermented chili, and the black sesame banana cake with white sesame cream for dessert." - Kimberley Lovato, Jenna Scatena
"The city is no stranger to fancy restaurants opening casual spinoffs. Mamahuhu is one of them—it’s a solid counter-service spot in the Richmond. The minimalist restaurant from the team focuses on classic Chinese American dishes like kung pao chicken, broccoli beef, and sweet and sour cauliflower that maintains a nice crunch. Not every dish is a runaway hit (the fried chicken sandwich had good flavor, but the meat was overcooked). Still, it's easy to have a great meal, especially since the portions are generous and everything on the menu costs less than $17. Plus, the bright space, with its modern horse and tiger prints and colorful tiles everywhere, is a nice place to spend a weeknight. " - Julia Chen
