When most people think of African food, their minds usually jump to Nigerian jollof rice, egusi soup, or Ethiopian injera. All iconic dishes, no doubt.

But in July, a new restaurant hit the Sacramento food scene, introducing the public to a part of African cuisine many have not experienced.

It’s called AfroEatz, and it has brought the unique taste of Liberian dishes into the heart of Midtown Sacramento at 1725 I St.

Its owner, Pinky Mayson, a Liberian immigrant, opened AfroEatz with two intentions: to give her community a true taste of home, and to share Liberia’s culinary heritage with Sacramento’s diverse population.

Chefs at AfroEatz plate an order of Liberian jollof rice and chicken wings, one of the most popular dishes at the new Sacramento restaurant. Louis Byrant III, OBSERVER
Chefs at AfroEatz plate an order of Liberian jollof rice and chicken wings, one of the most popular dishes at the new Sacramento restaurant. Louis Byrant III, OBSERVER

“Liberian food is really special. There’s nothing else quite like it here,” she says. “Once people try it, they’re hooked.”

AfroEatz started five years ago, operating in a ghost kitchen as a delivery-and-pickup. That allowed Mayson and her team to test recipes, build a following, and learn in real time what Sacramentans were hungry for. The demand exceeded their imaginations. Some days, the team pushed through long hours without paying themselves.

On July 26, Liberian Independence Day, Mayson and her team finally opened a space filled with signature Liberian hospitality.

At AfroEatz, Sacramento’s new Liberian restaurant, one featured dish is Liberian jollof rice paired with whole fried fish. Louis Byrant III, OBSERVER
At AfroEatz, Sacramento’s new Liberian restaurant, one featured dish is Liberian jollof rice paired with whole fried fish. Louis Byrant III, OBSERVER

Once inside AfroEatz, you’re immediately transported. The colorful décor, wood tables and chairs, artwork, and music all mirror the feeling of being back in Liberia.

“We took our time with this place because we wanted everyone who walks through the door to feel like they’re at home,” Mayson says. “For us, it’s not just about the food, it’s about the warmth, the colors, and the sense of community, just like we grew up with in Liberia.”

That sense of community is also built into the dining experience. The restaurant encourages table sharing, inviting strangers to sit together and connect over platters of jollof rice, hearty soups, rich stews, and perfectly seasoned meat pies. It’s a direct nod to Liberian traditions of communal dining, where food isn’t just eaten, it’s shared, celebrated, and passed around with joy.

Inside the AfroEatz kitchen, chefs prepare each meal with care, cooking every dish fresh and made to order. The team prides itself on delivering the authentic flavors of Liberia one plate at a time. Louis Byrant III, OBSERVER
Inside the AfroEatz kitchen, chefs prepare each meal with care, cooking every dish fresh and made to order. The team prides itself on delivering the authentic flavors of Liberia one plate at a time. Louis Byrant III, OBSERVER

Part of what makes Liberian cuisine distinctive is the country’s history. Liberia is one of the few African nations founded by formerly enslaved Black Americans and other Black diasporic immigrants who resettled there in the 19th century. As a result, the food carries a blend of West African traditions and Southern American influences with smoky spices, slow-simmered stews, rich greens, and bold, layered tastes that feel both familiar and entirely new.

That cultural exchange lives in every pot of cassava leaf, every scoop of jollof, every bite of tender, meat pie. It’s history you can taste, with many patrons remarking that the food bursts with flavor from the very first bite.

AfroEatz is open from 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.