Better Than Mama’s

Disappointing. Went for lunch last week thinking they would at least have sandwiches– nope! I see pics on this site of such, but there were only 4 appetizers, 3 salads and a couple misc high priced items on the menu I saw. Sorry, but my mama’s menu offered more variety. Ended up having a lettuce filled salad with tiny bits of chicken for almost $ 7. Won’t be going back. They should really grow their variety as there’s not many cooked items on the menu as their business name would suggest. Deceiving, to say the least.

I have tried this place a couple times hoping that I would like it more, but that didn’t happen. I like the idea of this restaurant and the dips they have for their chips are good. I also appreciated that they make their own tortillas. But that is where the good ends. They are expensive, very slow, their food is no better than I could get at home, and every time I have gone in, they have been out of a few things so I had to order the third or fourth option. They even advertised a clam chowder on a special chalkboard and when I ordered it I was told they were out. I understand they are a small business, but there is a lot they could be doing better and I won’t be wasting my time or money here anymore.

My sandwich was delicious! My only complaint was that they were out of a lot of their menu items when I came to eat about 2:30 p.m.

Great place for a to go order or quick lunch, with ample space to sit down and enjoy your lunch. The chipotle chicken sandwich/​wrap was delicious! Although, due to the small portion and lack of drink or side for 7.99, the price is a little steep.

Great for a midday snack or a hearty lunch. The BLT is awesome with choice of spreads. Chips and dip, sooooo many dips to choose from. The totchos are amazing and go so fast! Great service and great food.

Menu is super small and they don’t have half the things on their menu in stock. Portions for what you pay are small. You would think with a sandwich they would give you chips or something, but that’s extra. Won’t be back and don’t get how it has such great reviews

Excellent!
They catered a SHRMA meeting I attended and I was blown away. I had the BLT wrap and the wrap itself was not some crappy Mission brand flour tortilla. I don’t know what it was – but it mostly reminded me of a fresh made tortilla. The deep fried pita chips were excellent, as well as the dip they provided.
I can’t wait to go in person!

The Seoul Cheese Steak was one of the most unique, best tasting sandwiches I’ve had in a long while. I ordered one for lunch with my boss and we both really enjoyed it. I would recommend this place if you’re passing through Salem for lunch but the meal doesn’t come out fast.

Found this place on a bike trip. Had the BLAT with the cinnamon sugar pita chips and salted caramel toffee dip. The best sandwich I’ve EVER had. So good. Wish this place was where I lived. The dips are fantastic as well.

The Bahn Mi was different but very good. The green salsa and chips was very tasty as well. Now if they can just clean at least one table for the customers to sit down. Completely empty but every table was dirty. Good thing the food made up for it. And the cashier was very nice. I would come back and I would suggest that you try it as well.

Are you kidding me people? This place is terrible. Three of us each got different things, all were disgusting. This is why Salem is a joke. Go to Eugene or Portland for food unless it’s Marcos or maybe Burgerville.

This place is so unique. The menu has so much to offer! So far, everything I’ve tried was delicious.
The Banh Mi sandwich was definitely my favorite. It was so fresh and delicious. I had a taste of the Southwest Mac & Cheese and it was very flavorful. The Totchos were super crispy and the fried egg was a perfect addition.
Their chips and salsa/​dip are also great! My favorite is the Chipotle Ranch Cheese Dip.
You should definitely check this place out. There is so much to choose from and the staff are so welcoming and friendly.

The thing that sets this restaurant apart is how unique and diverse the menu is! I had a hard time choosing from the array of sandwiches and wraps, I felt the need to try them all. I pretty much devoured an entire bowl of Totchos alone (You will too. You won’t want to share). The Banh Mi was tasty and fresh. Their dips and salsas were so amazing, we took a few to go. Their chips were fresh and cruchy. Yummm.
Friendly staff, fresh food! I highly recommend this place!
I hear they cater, too!

Friendly people, fresh food!
Korean taco = excellent! Tender BBQ Korean beef, topped with kimchi, onions, cilantro and queso fresco. Yum! A Korean taco with a kick!
Balsamic Caramelized Onion Dip with some homemade herb puffy ‘chips’ = delicious! (Sorry, I’m not sure what the ‘chips’ were actually called, but they were tasty!)

My Korean BBQ wrap was AWESOME! Homemade chips, excellent.
Boyfriend’s 7-​layer sandwich/​wrap was gooey.
‘Sorry, we are out of that’ or ‘oh, we serve that different than on the menu’ are two of the things I really don’t like hearing. I heard both!

I really like this little place!
The employees are the nicest I’ve ever met, and always have lots of good recommendations. The dips and salsas are obviously incredible and reasonably priced (if you’ve tried their samples at the Saturday Market, you know!). Their food offerings are interesting, not the same old stuff you see in every sandwich place.
I had the B.O.S.S.: marinated flank steak, caramelized onions, roasted red pepper, arugula and onion dip. The combination of flavors was for the most part delicious, but I had a problem with the texture of the beef because I got too many fatty/​gristly pieces. Still, it’s flank steak so I was just unlucky in the amount of gristle I got. I’m looking forward to trying out the rest of their fare.

Very pleased! Fast, friendly, delicious!
Good was fresh, and tasty. Very interesting menu, lots of fun choices. Lemonade float was probably my favorite thing, so so good.

Very happy to have such a great and reasonably priced place close by.
Went for a second time yesterday and got their Farmhouse veggie wrap with goat cheese. One of the best veggie sandwiches I’ve had with perfectly grilled veggies and great flavor. The wrap itself was amazing. The whole sandwich was big enough that I could have saved the second half for dinner .
My partner had the banh mi which I tried a bite of. Also very tasty!
Their chips and salsa are devine too. Excited to go back and try their other menu items.

Yes!!!
Finally food in the Broadway coffee building. Oh and it’s not just «food» it’s really great food! I had their steak tacos and loved them. I would always go to Marcos place down the street for tacos. Not only is the location choice, but the tacos are so much better than Marcos place! The steak is actual steak, not fatty pieces of cheap over cooked beef like most taco stands. Their ingredients are choice and high quality. So excited for this place!

Okay, so if any of you have followed me, you know I don’t give 5 stars much, but this little café’ wins 5 PLUS stars in my book.
So Better Than Mama’s has been a staple at the Salem Saturday Market for a few years. When my partner and I moved to Salem, we discovered them at that market. Their home made dips and chips were something we HAD to get every Saturday. If they weren’t at the Market, our weekend wasn’t complete.
This summer they informed us that they were opening their own little restaurant in the former location of the Froyo in Broadway Commons. We waited with heady anticipation until today when they opened their doors to the public for their Grand Opening. We arrived within minutes of their opening the doors and we were NOT the first ones in line. We were second, but still, it would have been awesome to be the first customer. But I digress… being fans of their chips and dips it was great to see them using those same dips as spreads on their sandwiches and wraps. I had their B.L.A.T (Bacon, Arugula, Avocado, and Tomato) Sandwich. For a $ 1.50 extra I added fresh pita chips and a side of the Bacon and Caramelized Onion Dip. My partner opted for the Korean Steak in a wrap. Both our lunches were delectable. I spent the first five minutes devouring their newest chips: White Truffle potato chips!
They are open 7 days a week opening at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and close at 3 p.m. on Sundays.
The menu will satisfy just about everyone and the prices, well it would be a bargain at twice what they charge!
And if you are needing that fix of BTM salsas and dips, they have them available for purchase.
Go to Better Than Mama’s. It may be better than everyone’s Mama’s…and you don’t have to wash the dishes after!