Mama La - Lethbridge

Been to MAMA LA's a few times with friends and tried the Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry and the Stir Fry Veggie Curry Noodles. I wasn't overly impressed with either: first, neither of these dishes contain a protein (e.g., tofu), the dishes are largely noodles with a good size of vegetables but for $17-18 I ought to get some protein. This is what I might order if I was trying to carb-load. Second, I didn't really like the flavour profile, I found the Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry to be bland and the Curry Noodles to taste like your standard curry powder seasoning. One of the Omni people I go with orders the Curry Shrimp and you can tell a lot more care goes into preparing that dish than the vegan Curry Noodles. Several of the vegan dishes (including the salad rolls) seem like the Omni version with just the meat removed. Although I'm not a fan of MAMA LA's, my friends (one Omni and one Vegan) enjoy this place, so perhaps it's worth checking out if you're in the city.

Secondly, I found the flavor profile lacking. The mixed vegetable stir-fry tasted quite bland, and the curry noodles were seasoned with a standard curry powder that didn't stand out. One of my friends ordered the curry shrimp, and it was clear that much more care went into preparing that dish compared to the vegan curry noodles. Some of the vegan offerings, like the salad rolls, seemed like the regular versions but without the meat. While I'm not a fan of MAMA LA, my friends (one omnivore and one vegan) enjoy it, so it might be worth a visit if you're in town.

I enjoyed the Veggie Curry Noodles, which were absolutely delicious. The staff is well-informed about what can be modified to accommodate vegan and gluten-free diets. The atmosphere is bright and charming.

I love the salad rolls and the delicious dipping sauce. There are various vegan dishes available as well. The staff is knowledgeable and attentive.

Additionally, I found the flavor profile lacking; the mixed vegetable stir-fry was pretty bland, and the curry noodles tasted more like standard curry powder than anything special. One of my friends, who eats meat, had the curry shrimp and mentioned that a lot more care goes into preparing that dish compared to the vegan curry noodles. Some of the vegan dishes, including the salad rolls, seemed like they were just the omnivorous versions with the meat taken out. While I personally am not a fan of Mama La's, my friends—one omnivore and one vegan—enjoy the place, so it might be worth a visit if you're in the area.