Exploring Athens: Big Mamma's Burritos

Students at Ohio University love their local burrito joint, Big Mamma’s. Located in the heart of Ohio University, both students and residents of Athens enjoy eating at this small, thriving business. Big Mamma's Burritos is a Mexican restaurant on Court Street. 


Big Mamma's  is well known in the Ohio University community, and has has been referred to as Athens's better version of the national franchise Chipotle. This restaurant speaks to the culture of Athens because it takes something that has already been done, but finds its own way to make it better. By offering a much wider variety of choices to make their signature burritos, Big Mamma's has expanded what people have expected from the average mexican fast food dish, and this has drawn a crowd. A crowd that makes a huge showing very late at night since Big Mamma's stays open until 3AM which is much later than some of the other places on campus. 


The atmosphere of the restaurant really shows what makes it different from the other more commercial places to eat on campus like a Wendy's or Subway. There are chalk writings on boards all over the walls, instructions on how to order their specialty food, and signs that say things like "Safe Place" plastered around the establishment. It is small which gives it a very home-like quality and music ranging from Beyonce to MGMT is always upbeat and blasting. Big Mamma's injected the very close knit feeling that the community of Athens has into the place where they serve their food. 


When you walk into Big Mamma's Burritos, you expect to walk out with a full stomach. This local burrito shop is a better alternative than other chains like Chipotle which is coincidentally located not a minutes walk south on Court Street. Service is extremely quick and easy if its not a busy Friday or Saturday night but even then hardcore burrito appreciators will wait in line to get favorites like the Philly Mamma or the Buffalo Mamma. 


Burritos are fairly priced at six dollars for a full sized burrito or half that for a mini burrito for the customer who only wants a snack. In my opinion, as a poor college student, Big Mamma's is the way to go to fulfill your hunger because it is cheaper and quicker than Chipotle. My personal favorite order is the Chipotle Ranch Mamma with a soft drink. Other than burritos, Big Mamma's offers an array of tastes from south of the boarder such as nachos, guacamole, churritos, and tamales. 

Big Mamma’s is a wonderful addition to Court Street because nothing else is like it, similar to Ohio University.


-Adrienne Green, Jarrod Dowalter, and Maggie Valerio