Mom's Kitchen — Restaurant in Olathe

8/9/2025 Update: Mom's, I told you I wanted to love you, and would come back one more time to witness culinary redemption. Today was that day, and it was...a success! The biscuits and gravy were fluffy, fresh, and tasty, my partner's potatoes (a long standing Mom's issue) were CRISPY and seasoned, and the coffee and service were delightful as usual. There was lots of joy and good energy in the air, and the food is "good enough" if you pick the right thing.

Disclaimer: This review is not based on the staff here that I interacted with. All the servers I have interacted with at Mom's have been absolutely wonderful! I didn't catch his name, but the gentleman with the higher pitched voice we had last time was SO much fun, very prompt, and just an awesome person. I wish I could single him out on his own positive review. The lady I had on my first visit was nice too. The owners and/or people seating you aren't the most attentive, and kinda just give you weird looks when you walk in, but that's fine. I successfully got a table on both visits, so that's all I could expect. Some reviewers also noted the dated/gross decor. That doesn't matter to me. I love the long-standing, homey diner vibe, and this lives up to it.

Now for the bad...

I have lived in Olathe my whole life, and was beyond excited to learn there was a local diner 5 minutes from my house that I had not discovered before. I also love supporting local businesses. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place. In both of my two visits (within the last couple years), the food was underwhelming, erring on the side of inedible. On my first visit, I got a breakfast skillet. All the vegetables were bland, the potatoes overcooked, and that's all I remembered. I wish the Waffle House up the street I had tried to go to had not been so full...but then again, so was Mom's, so i figured I'd try it again someday.

Last week, that opportunity arrived. We were looking for a quick brunch closet to home, and the 2 options were literally Mom's and Waffle House. I figured I'd go local and give Mom's a second try. This attempt, I got the corned beef hash, and no joke...this is the first inedible food item I have tried to consume in YEARS. YEARS!!! I learned from my partner that this might have been a normal preparation of corned beef hash (not in a good way), but it appeared to be simply tinned corned beef mush combined with...minced...potatoes. I say simply, because I don't think there was anything else in there, including seasoning (this theme continued). I don't own cats, nor has morbid curiosity compelled me to try cat food, but now I don't need to, because that's exactly what this must have been, at a significant markup. The skillet potato slices were also disappointingly pale, mushy, and unseasoned, and the over medium eggs would have been considered undercooked for over easy (egg whites almost runny). Gross.

The only redeeming parts of my meal were the generic diner coffee (I do genuinely love objectively bad diner coffee), and the English Muffin. THE ENGLISH MUFFIN HAD MORE FLAVOR THAN ANY OTHER FOOD I HAVE HAD THERE. WHAT???

The most tragic part is that Mom's kitchen failed at what could have been its saving grace, the price point. I would not be as harsh on the food if it even pretended to be competitively priced, but every other hole in the wall diner I have been to in my life had drastically better food and/or cheaper. Waldo Cafe (Where is Waldo? In Waldo, i.e. near 75th and Wornall) is similarly priced if not a bit cheaper, but gives you free Cinnamon rolls and is incredible. Cozy's Cafe in OP is mediocre, but still better. I still haven't been to the Waffle House down the road, which probably still smells and tastes like smoke after decades, but I KNOW it's going to be better.

Do better Mom's. I want to love you, and will probably try again with something safe like a Pecan Waffle, but do better. I cannot comprehend how you have stayed in business so long or are so consistently crowded. Coffee and a fun server...

This place was amazing at one time. I can only guess it changed owners. But it has changed significantly. It is not terrible....it is still not bad. But it was one of my favorite places growing up...

I do not remember the hash browns being cooked in as much butter as they are now. They are saturated...and bot real butter either. The pancake batter has definitely changed. Not for the better. They use to rival Perkins pancakes which I always loved. Only due to being real ingredients...which are not now. There is no chance. Take it from world renowned The Pancake Master. I know pancakes....

A lot of the menu has taken a heavy makeover from the old days. 30 years ago we would go up and get pancakes when a couple of friends worked there. And wow were they good. Not undercooked in the middle. Not chewy. Just fluffy and amazing. This past weekend really showed me how much times change quality and integrity of what we give the customer for their money. Maybe I'm just an old guy....i dunno.

Oh...and the older gentleman accidentally bumped the customers plate on the warmer and some of the food was jostled off. And...yes. He put back on the plate. That is a no-no in my book sir. Please try harder. Your customers are watching you....

I believe in leaving an honest and fair review. As the restaurant is not a total disaster...it does need some work to become even a glimmer of what it once was. You must have passion, folks. Really care about what you are putting out there and your customers will notice. We really will. I could never be a restaurateur that gets my clientele because they are hungry and well...they are close and open. I want them to have to try to get a table.

Give it a better try folks...you can do it. I...

Don't judge the place by the outside like I did. Had another reviewer not commented on how good the biscuits and gravy were, we never would have tried it out. Inside it's very homey, and the family room in the back might remind Gen Xers of Grandma's house. Kind of got that '70s feel to it.

The biscuit and gravy plate was wonderful. I'm a bit of a B&G snob; I've had a lot of "dirty" looking yellowish Army gravy with that weird sawdusty taste, and biscuits so hard to cut, you just know your knife is going to snap the plate in half sooner or later! Honestly, if you need a knife to cut your biscuits and gravy, something's wrong. At Mom's kitchen, a fork is all you require. Mom's B&G plate is terrific. Pure white sausage gravy that didn't even need salt! Soft, flaky biscuits that melted under my effortless cut. Get the double order.

The hash browns were perfectly cooked, and I'm certain they could make a perfect "over medium well" egg if I had asked for it (which I will next time). The wait staff (there were only two when we went, and where they busy!) had a terrific sense of humor, and checked up on us a lot with offers to refresh coffee. Tip them well, they deserve it.

If I have complaints, they're small ones. Be sure to order a double orange juice in a big glass. The tiny glass they offer normally is just going to make you mad. Oh, and the outside of the restaurant could really use a homey and more inviting makeover to better...