Chef Opens Detroit Restaurant After 10 Years of Pop-Up Service

Chef Ameneh Marhaba launched Little Liberia this week in Detroit's West Village. She spent a decade running pop-ups and hunting for the perfect spot. The sit-down eatery opened Thursday after soft service days last week.

The restaurant serves Liberian cuisine. Roasted goat shank appears on the menu alongside fried fish and roasted chicken, each prepared with spices and grains. Vegetarian and vegan options feature beans, rice, and fresh greens.

"Everything is grain-based and we do collard greens, we do potato greens, we do cassava leaves ... the main star is always the type of green that we use, and then it goes with rice. So it's very hardy," Marhaba said, per The Detroit News.

Marhaba said those unfamiliar with Liberian cooking will notice one thing right away. "It's not bland." She brings in spices from Africa to prepare each plate.

The chef spent 10 years perfecting her recipes through pop-ups before securing this space. She almost opened in New Center at one point, but that fell through.

Marhaba completed the ProsperUs Detroit's Entrepreneur Training Program. She received training and an $80,000 grant from Motor City Match. In 2022, she won the Comerica Hatch Detroit competition, earning professional support, training and $100,000.

"Some of the trainings I went through, the ProsperUs one in particular, helped me finish my business plan. It helped me develop a good financial projection that I needed for lending," she said. "A lot of the programs helped me get ready for the bigger picture."

The restaurant offers table service. A bar serves cocktails designed to complement the food—a mango and whiskey martini, rum-based drinks, and more.

Little Liberia opens at 3 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Reservations can be made by calling (313) 332-0423 or visiting littleliberia.com.

A grand opening celebration is being planned for the near future.