Mabu Kitchen

This brunch spot was exactly what you’d expect from a solid brunch joint. They were really accommodating when we showed up a little late, which we appreciated. We got the chicken and waffles and the Dutch baby, and both were great. No complaints at all. We ended up adding some fries to round things out and that hit the spot too.

Phenomenal BYOB upscale restaurant. Small menu which helped me decide on the burger with fries (absolutely stunning!). Would definitely love to come back! Also they were very good with gluten free restrictions We also got burrata to start us off and the chocolate pudding type thing for dessert. Everything was very very good and our server was awesome. To quote him “this is the best burger in Philly” and I haven’t had any other burgers in Philly yet but I wouldn’t be surprised, it might have been the best burger I’ve ever had

Mabu Kitchen is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot of charming spots in Philly. My spouse and I went there for a date night, and let me tell you, it was a perfect combo of amazing food and good vibes. The restaurant is so cozy and quaint—it’s like the kind of place you’d want to accidentally stumble into but then never leave (except they’d probably notice). The atmosphere is super approachable, like your chill friend who’s got style but doesn’t make a big deal about it. It’s great whether you’re hanging out with old friends or testing the waters with new ones—no awkward vibes here, just great food and good times. The service? Impeccable. Seriously, these folks know how to make you feel like royalty without making it weird. And the food… wow. Every dish was like a little party for my taste buds. You know it’s good when halfway through, you’re already planning your next visit just so you can eat it all over again. Mabu Kitchen totally nails it when it comes to being charming, delicious, and effortlessly fun. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out on some serious culinary joy.

While visiting the city that I grew up in there has always been an abundance of restaurants to eat, look no further than Mabu Kitchen. The atmosphere of this cozy cornerstone in washing square will have you taste buds going wild. The burgers are a cooked exceptionally well with a fluffy pillow of a seeded bun…..it’s mouth watering. Then on the side, of course they have fries but the salads they provided were also a timeless palate refresher between burger bites. Highly recommend, the staff are very attentive, kind, and welcoming. It all ties in with the atmosphere of the place. They take attention to detail seriously and it shows in the way their food is cooked, plated, and served. Well done Mabu Kitchen, I’ll be seeing you for brunch as well.

I went here for brunch over the weekend, and the service was amazing (thanks, Julia)! The restaurant is small but super cute. I ordered the chicken & waffles, and it was delicious! Plus, it’s BYOB, which is a nice touch. Definitely 10/10!

A cute little family owned restaurant, BYOB is definitely a plus. Limited menu but everything we ordered is absolutely delicious! Highly recommend the duck confit - the best I’ve ever had!

An intimate dining experience. The atmosphere here is great and Sean, our waiter, was knowledgeable and helpful. The food was fantastic. We had the brick chicken, flounder, banana pudding and the chocolate cake. Every dish was flavourful! We are definitely coming back! Thanks for a great experience

Delightful find on Pine Street in Center City. We arrived on a Monday night to this gem which was quiet when we were seated but other diners arrived shortly afterwards. Very attentive waiter who timed the app then meal perfectly. Food was hot and tasty, I look forward to trying other French influenced choices in the future. Cozy atmosphere. French onion soup and beet salad were great, I enjoyed the citrus and goat cheese in the salad. Soup was rich with melted cheese and bread.

We're so fortunate to have such a wonderful neighborhood BYOB, right around the corner from us, with great food, attentive service, and a sweet, intimate space. Bring a few bottles of wines and some good friends, and enjoy.

Mabu Kitchen is a favorite of friends who live in Society Hill. No denying our meals were delicious. The experience however, was somewhat below five stars. Though not a fan of kale, my friend insisted I'd love the chicory kale salad. She was right! (I regretted getting one portion to share with T.) Frisee, radicchio, honeycrisp apple, pepitas, poppyseed vinaigrette ..... it worked beautifully. Apparently, one can order the salad as an entree, topped with shrimp. The fish of the night was hake. Our server described it as milder than cod, moist and flavorful. Looooved it! (See my photo.) It was a toss-up between hake or the roasted brick chicken. Based on a taste my friend offered, that too is an excellent choice. The brick keeps the skin crisp and the flesh of the bird moist. Prepared with broccolini and smashed potatoes in pan jus, it's on my list for next time. While certainly good, my husband's confit fried chicken wasn't as "exciting" as the other entrees. Several desserts are listed on the menu, all sounding delish. My friends shared something apple-y. They loved it. T and I went with banana pudding, which may be the best banana pudding I've ever had. So where did the restaurant fall short? It's BYOB without a corkage fee. That's great! But the restaurant is small with some tables one-on-top of the other. During peak hour, it was hard to carry on conversation. Plus the dining room was hot! Did the air conditioner work? Our fish was brought out way before the chicken. (Do we eat, or politely let our meals go cold as we wait?!) There are a few tables outside. Al fresco would be my preference, but my friend said the chairs are uncomfortable, which hurt their backs. When all is said and done, would I return? Yes, in a heartbeat!

This is a wonderful, quaint, byob brunch spot in the city. It's definitely more of an intimate/cozy setting as the space is really small. Nonetheless it's still such a cute spot! We brought our own champagne for mimosas and the orange juice the restaurant provided tasted really fresh. For breakfast I ordered the fried chicken and waffle Benedict which was delicious! It came with a side salad and normally I'm not a huge salad person but the light and refreshing flavors from the salad complimented the heartiness of the chicken and waffle perfectly. I also thought the portion size was perfect--enough to fill you up but not way too much food. For dessert we ordered the churro waffle per our server's recommendation which was sooo good. The staff was extremely nice and attentive and I had a wonderful experience here! Would definitely come back!

Mabu Kitchen is a great brunch spot. The space is small and cozy. Our waitress was very accommodating during our dining experience. The food came out quickly after our coffees and tasted good. My Pork Katsu breakfast sandwich was good-- the egg and crunchy Katsu has a good texture combination in my opinion along with the bread. However, I think there's an opportunity to make this dish a bit more flavorful. My fiancee raved about the Croque Madame. I had a bite and loved the runny egg and cheese-- the accompanying salad complimented the dish well. The highlight item was the churro waffle that the waitress recommended as a dessert. We all said we would take "a few bites" but it was so delicious that we ended up devouring it. The waffle had the perfect crunchy texture with a good combination of sweetness, cinnamon, and chocolate. Above all the ambience and vibes are wonderful especially if you are looking to catch up with friends in a cozy environment. Mabu Kitchen is a great location for brunch with friends.

Loved the fried chicken and waffles! Very delicious. Very cute spot and a great byob dinner. It's pretty close quarters so I'd recommend going with a smaller group. The staff was great and super attentive. Loved the overall ambiance.

Mabu is a charming, cozy, family-owned restaurant located around the ever popular and touristy Center City area of Philadelphia, PA. They serve delicious Southern/New Age American food at fair prices. They also honor BYOB! How awesome! Such a lovely ambiance for a Sunday afternoon. However, Mabu is a victim of being located around Center City because parking over there is absolutely horrendous. So bad to the point where I sat at the table for at least 30 minutes while my friend struggled badly to find parking. Our server was very kind, patient and understanding. Overall, although our time here was short, we had a fantastic BYOB brunch dining experience. We were sad that we didn't get a chance to order something else from the menu before the kitchen closed. We did get two plates of their outstanding Texas style chili poutine ($16), which is what we planned to order before trying anything else. It consists of beef gravy, cheese curds and hand cut fries. We are both poutine snobs so we didn't know what to expect. We were surprisingly impressed from the presentation and also the first bite. Our main issue with establishments that make poutine is when they don't provide enough gravy to cover all of the fries. Mabu surpassed the mark! We also loved the chunks of super tender beef mixed in as well. Highly recommended! We look forward to going back for this dish and to also try some others.

Small, cozy, sometimes with live acoustic music. Recommend getting a reservation if you're bringing people. One of the few BYOBs in center city! Forgot to bring one? There is a foodery right down the block. Parking is not free and generally pretty hard to find, if you happen to go down further towards south Philly it becomes 2 hr neighborhood parking so it should cover your dinner. Highly recommend the chicken and waffles, portions are huge! We shared a steak and that, with leftovers to take home. Service is okay, they don't really come by to check on you. I had to ask for ice and glasses when I brought a wine... weren't very knowledgeable with that, otherwise everything else was okay!

Fabulous, intimate setting, amazing food and the staff are so attentive. BYOB in Center City. Great menu!

I got the hot brown and a decaf americano. The service was amazing. It is a small restaurant so definitely think about making a reservation, especially if you are thinking about going at a popular time. Would go again!

we had an excellent dinner this evening at Mabu Kitchen. I had the beet/citrus salad and the ratatouille as my entre. my spouse had the scallops as an appetizer and the fried chicken entre. we split the lemon tart. everything was delicious! the outdoor table was perfect. great weather, great breezes, terrific service. and it's a BYOB! lovely dinner. highly recommended.

Mabu Kitchen is a cozy lil BYOB restaurant on Pine Street that serves brunch and dinner. The space is super cute and intimate -- perfect for a date or a get together w friends! My friends and I went for brunch, and I got the pork katsu breakfast sandwich. It had super fluffy eggs, crispy fried pork katsu, arugula, and this super delicious aioli. The bun itself was also so good! I also choose to get it w/ the side of herb salad, which had a super refreshing and delicious vinegary dressing. Of note, the service was quite slow if you are dining in, so definitely go when you have the time!

Almost don't want to write this because this place is so good and I don't want it to get "discovered"! It's a warm, neighborhood place, and you can see, smell and taste from every dish that the folks in the kitchen really care about freshness, flavor and originality. We've had dinner a couple of times already, so here are my picks for "must have" menu choices. For starters, the Cauliflower Steak, Brussels Sprouts, Beet Salad and Burrata are our go-to's. For mains, the Smash Double Cheeseburger, Cod Frites and Fried Chicken gotta have 'em. For dessert - the apple gateau is a must! Really super casual vibe, the owners are the chefs and really lovely people. Go!

Beautiful food, outdoor seating available. GF options are clearly labeled. Excellent breakfast options.

Very cute restaurant in the neighborhood. I love how intimate it feels when you're there for dinner. Our waitress was also awesome considering it was her first day. Food was decent. My only complaint was that Brussel sprouts was too acidic tasting? Maybe needs to be balanced out with more salt? I have no idea as I'm not a chef. The ratatouille tasted very fresh and was presented very nicely. In general I would return and can't wait to check out the brunch menu.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday morning around peak brunch hour, and the restaurant got progressively busier while we were there. The atmosphere was nice and cozy, and the service was great. The food didn't impress me though. I got the poutine dish, and the meat was way too dry. I also tried some of the pork katsu sandwich. It was fine but nothing to write home about. I don't think the crunchiness of the katsu pairs particularly well with the soft egg, but it's a cool idea nonetheless. A fried or sturdier egg would probably fare better from a texture perspective. Overall, a very solid experience! I would recommend checking it out if you're in the area.

LOVED the chicken and waffles Benedict that was recommended by the waitstaff (see pictured). I know the pork katsu is the viral meal (and it was also very good), but there's a lot of awesome options on the menu. The balance of the light salad with the Benedict was really phenomenal!

A small, beautiful spot with excellent food. Got the smash burger and it was 10/10. We ended up coming back for brunch over the weekend which was as delicious as dinner was. The place is BYOB and they are happy to bring out glassware. Highly recommend for a date night or small group of friends. Make reservations!

We came here on a Saturday morning at 11:30 and it was only about half full. I really enjoyed our brunch - we split the shrimp and grits and yogurt and granola. The portions were a little on the small side but prices were reasonable for the size ($10 for the yogurt and $19 for the grits). I also got fresh OJ which felt a little pricy at $5 but was absolutely delicious. I would suggest making a reservation on Yelp since it is a tiny space, but it's also likely they'll have room for walk ins since it seems pretty undiscovered so far. Food was yummy, I especially loved the shrimp and grits. I wouldn't describe the fruit in the yogurt as "macerated," and the dish was too sweet for me once you mix in the honey drizzle, but it was still very good. Several tables were taking advantage of the BYOB situation with some mimosas.

Highly recommend -- my new fave brunch spot (if only this spot was in my neighborhood) -- small, quaint with a solid, hearty range of elevated brunch dishes. You won't get a bad dish here! Highlights: - shrimp & grits: my fave version of this in the city. Not too heavy and well balanced - Dutch baby pancake: light and delish - croque madame: substantial and delish, one of my fave versions in the city - pork katsu breakfast sandwich: perfectly fried pork cutlet with a yummy sauce, get the salad on the side, the vinaigrette is good! - banana pudding dessert: just yum and presentation is in a cute jar It's a small place but they easily accommodated a group of 8 of us for a bday party. And BYOB so bring your own bubbly to make mimosas -- they even supplied fresh squeeze OJ!

The cutest little hidden gem. And they're BYOB! I've been for both dinner and brunch and both menus do not disappoint. The service is friendly and knowledgeable, and the ambiance is cute and cozy.

Had a late brunch here on a Thursday. Intimate table, outside in the warm sun. Inside looks classy, cozy, and inviting. Absolutely delicious Croque Madame Mediterranee, shrimp and grits, lattes, and banana pudding dessert - all highly recommended. Feels authentic, with fresh and quality ingredients. French and southern flavors, atmosphere Philly neighborhood-y but could be Brooklyn. I want to go back tomorrow! I want to try dinner! Owner chefs were so helpful, personable, and welcoming. Our new favorite, under appreciated, must return spot!

I had good coffee and such an amazing waffle! Enjoyed it very much. Service was very slow but it was a Saturday morning brunch time and they had a few larger parties.

Came here for dinner a week ago, overall it was decent but nothing special. Server was super nice and friendly with a big ole smile. Brief menu but hit all the highlights. We had the bread and duck for appetizers. Bread was great as was the herbed butter. Duck was fine - the pickled onions and pickles really added flavor but the duck itself actually didn't taste like much. I had the baked sea bass on top of zoodles and split the ratatouille. The ratatouille was fine, standard veggies with tomato sauce but not overly flavorful. Same mostly to be said of the bass - the celeriac puree was quite tasty but the fish itself was relatively bland as were the veggies. Prices were reasonable all things considered at this moment in history. We had ordered the scallops but were told they were "funky" and no longer being offered, but they stilled charged us for it. Also forgot to bring water for a while and forgot someone's drink order. Overall was really hoping this was a go to new neighborhood addition, but we were super impressed unfortunately. They're still new it seems so hopefully it'll get better.

Mabu Kitchen is a solid new southern BYOB restaurant with a cute atmosphere and inviting menu --- but while the food was good, there was nothing particularly great. We had made a reservation for an earlier dinner prior to a Saturday night show and arrived to find we were the only patrons in the restaurant. By the time we left, there were only 2-3 other parties in the space, so for now, it may be a reasonable choice for a last minute dinner. Our server was very friendly, offering suggestions about the menu and remaining chatty and attentive without being annoying. Food-wise, we opted to split a number of options between three of us: - Roasted Brussels Sprouts --- sounded good on the menu, but were a bit oversalted and undercooked - Burrata with Marinated Tomatoes --- probably our favorite bite of the night, served on a multigrain "Philly muffin," with good flavor and varied textures - Slow Baked Cauliflower Wedge --- our waiter had talked this up quite a bit, but we wound up being kind of underwhelmed. The sauces were good, but I found myself wishing there was more of them. - Southern Mac and Cheese --- standard, creamy mac and cheese. It was fine --- nothing exciting. - Ratatouille --- again, standard sliced vegetables with tomato sauce, seemed a bit lacking in flavor - Shrimp and Grits --- probably my second favorite dish, served with lemony grits and well cooked shrimp. Dessert was a better course; we tried the Mud Pie and the Banana Pudding, both of which were delicious (and went well together!). Hard to say whether this was a bad night or a new restaurant still working out the kinks. The other reviews seem to suggest I should give it a try again for brunch, so eventually, we'll see!

The weather may be wintry, but warmth, comfort and friendly service radiate dependably from this intimate, romantic BYOB. I think I just had my 18th visit there. I have eaten every single dish on the menu. They keep getting better. Speaking as someone who was born in the south, a New York expat, a lifelong Francophile and a snobbish foodie who is not easily impressed, I say EAT HERE ASAP. This place will charm you. I'll probably bemoaning with pleasure in the back corner

I have only gotten take out so I can't really speak on the dine-in experience. I have tried the smash burger, salmon, macaroni and cheese, cod frites. All were tasty dishes. Only thing my partner and I didn't like was the sauce base for the salmon dish. Every time I went to pick up the food, the service was friendly and attentive. Glad to have different varieties in the neighborhood.

Food was good, but portions are small. Very limited menu. Make sure there is something on the menu you would want to eat before you try the restaurant. Service was too rushed.

The Instagram photos of Mabu were compelling, bringing us in for a visit. And I am happy to report that the visit was well worth the 25 minute walk! The space is quaint and cozy, nice and dim and relaxing. The ambiance is spectacular in my opinion. It's a perfect place for a date, or a small group even where you actually want to have a conversation and hear one another. Onto the food - it was spectacular. Everything we had was quite tasty. The crispy brussels, the chicory salad, confit chicken with a delicious scallion waffle, burger, shrimp and grits, and saltine crust lemon tart - all delicious and worthy of another visit which will be happening soon. The menu has so many items that we wanted to have, but knew it would be overkill as there was just two of us. I think that next visit will be happening sooner rather than later! The staff was great, very attentive and friendly. And we certainly love the fact that it's BYOB as well. We really can't wait to come back and continue to add this into our rotation of places to frequent.

We have been to the recently opened Mabu Kitchen several times now and it's a great BYOB French/American place. Inside the restaurant is really nice and the food is fantastic. We've tried the duck rillette, chicken and dumplings, beef Bourguignon, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and the desserts are super good. Great food and the prices are super reasonable. Open for brunch and dinner. Highly recommend!!

Went for brunch; overall solid american BYO brunch spot that won't have a big wait as its relatively new. Coffee comes in a french press (!!), and their sweet menu is good overall. Chicken and waffles benedict is imo their best menu. ~15-20 a person with slightly smaller portions. Brunch is only on weekends.

I was really excited to get a reservation here with some out-of-town guests but ended up pretty disappointed. This place is small & BYOB, there was a party of 20 twenty-somethings having their boozy brunch, so we could hardly have a reasonable conversation at our own table. Service was EXTREMELY slow because the kitchen & wait staff were not prepared to accommodate this large group as well as their normal clientele. I know, it's not fair to judge a restaurant by their guests but frankly the restaurant should've turned down the large group because they are clearly NOT able to accommodate that sort of group along with their other patrons. Food was decent but not as impressive as I expected based on the reviews.

The food was mediocre. Not bad and not great. My fish wasn't totally fileted properly and there was a big, tough chewy spot down the middle of it. My friend ordered fish too and they came back with chicken. He took a bite out of it not realizing it was chicken and decided he wasn't going to be happy with it and asked them to please give him what he asked for. They came back and said since he took two bites from the chicken he was going to be charged for both dishes. That kind of a put a pall over the rest of the evening for us. There were three other people in the restaurant on a Sunday night so I guess it's a gutsy move to dick over your customers when business isn't exactly booming. I think it's a pretty safe bet that Mabu won't be here by next year.

Pretty place but with some issues. The service was generally slow both times we went. The male server didn't take our large appetizer plates off the table and expected us to take the entree plates and put them down ourselves, on top of the dirty plates I guess? We had to ask him to remove our other plates first. Thrn he forgot silverware. The temperature was very warm (supposedly the ac was as good as it gets). There was only one other couple there when we mentioned it and they were hot too. At brunch, the baguette we ordered was warmed up in microwave, making it spongey and hard to chew. The Caesar salad was delicious put very small for the price. The best feature is the adorable atmosphere. The male server really needs to be trained.

This place is great, I've been coming here since they opened. Owners are amazing people, place is set up great, and food is solid for all meals, not just brunch. Definitely a great addition to amazing washington square.

We dined at Mabu kitchen on January 7. The food was absolutely delicious, the atmosphere in the restaurant very cosy and warm, the server, a young student, was delightful, and Grace and AJ, the owners, were extremely nice and welcoming. And since it is BYOB, the final price is very reasonable. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, one I would recommend warmly to anyone visiting Philadelphia.

I wish I would have found Mabu Kitchen sooner! Food is delicious! Desserts were soooo good.

The food was great, service was not. Nothing too bad, but I came in without a reservation right after they opened on a Saturday. I was the ONLY customer but you could sure tell they weren't happy I didn't have a reservation. Sat in the worst table, right in front of the door and I do mean right in front, with my back to the street. In front of the door. The first reservation group came in five min later and the next didn't come until I was leaving....so why the awful seat? Was also very hard to get anyone to come over. Took twenty mini to be able to give my order because the waitresses just sat in the kitchen chatting. You could hear them in the seating area. The hot brown is really good though

We highly recommend Mabu! We were in Philly for a few days before heading to Jersey for a wedding and had a lovely, late dinner at Mabu Kitchen. The food was delicious, including a shout out to the desserts! We had a nice chat with one of the owners and you could tell that the restaurant is a labor of love that shines thru the food. It's a BYOB - which is one of things that we find very special about small restaurants in Philly - with no corkage fee. We highly recommend - and we're particular!

Really good. Loved the chicken and waffle dish and shrimp and grits. The scallop app was awesome. Everything on the menu sounds great. Need to come back to try. Waiter was oddly pushy so lost a star for service.

Absolutely scrumptious food! I had the duck confit with Lima beans, mushrooms, and sweet potato purée. So delicious. I followed it up with banana pudding and a café con leche. Very tasty! Great mix of French and Southern food. I will be back!

Returned for a second visit . . . BEST burger I've had in ages!!!! And my dining companion said their chicken & waffles was great. Really nice place, excellent service. Super all around and great value also!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND this wonderful little restaurant! My boyfriend and I were drawn to the romantic ambiance at first, and were delighted that the food lived up to the atmosphere. We got the scallops, chilled asparagus soup, steak, ratatouille, and banana pudding. The chef really knows their way around vegetables-- everything was fresh and flavorful. The steak was tender. Banana pudding was delightful. You'd be remiss if you didn't try this neighborhood gem

We had the bread with jam and butter, French toast, breakfast katsu sandwich, and lattes. Everything we had was yummy. I even ordered a 2nd latte, which I rarely do. Service was friendly, and accommodating of our kids. We had a mistake with my order (supposed to be paired with a side salad, and was given fries -- which were quite yummy, but not what I ordered). The place is styled as a small French bistro -- didn't transport me to Paris, but was a nice enough place to spend a morning for brunch or a cup of coffee.

Small, cozy and great/personable service. Been for both brunch and dinner and the food was delicious at both!

So, I'm afraid my review diverges some from other Yelpers. I really want to find more "go to" restaurants in center city since I visit Philadelphia often. I only have a Thai restaurant at the current time. Unfortunately, this will not be another favorite. I'm sure getting a liquor license is difficult and expensive, but it does add to the meals enjoyment. And a BYOB situation doesn't help someone eating alone. Anyway, started with the beat salad. It was unremarkable but perfectly acceptable. A nice pile of beets, nothing unique. The duck confit cassoulet was where they lost points with me. Duck confit is an amazing thing, but when you bury it under the strong flavors of this cassoulet, it just because a protein source. Duck, chicken, turkey, who would know? And that's a big loss in itself. There was a hot dog shaped half a sausage (chorizo?) buried in with the beans. Actually, pretty spicy overall. Hate paying $60 for a meal (including tip) and leaving disappointed.

Great neighborhood spot for brunch. BYOB.. very small interior so reservations on weekends are a must.

Went for brunch! Cute ambience outside on alleyway in great part of center city. Love that it's BYOB and service was great.

Waited over an hour for food and it wasn't fully cooked so only ended up eating the fries. The restaurant was also pretty empty. The servers were apologetic, but not a great experience and wouldn't return.

Lovely atmosphere. Food amazing! Everything we ordered was great . Def going back!!!

Cozy, romantic neighborhood spot with AMAZING food. Almost don't want to rave about it because it's such a hidden gem. Will be coming back for dinner