Chef Ventica Woods serves Liberian and West African dishes at Local Bites, 700 Locust St. The restaurant also offers catering, while individual service hours should be confirmed directly.
Published Aug. 3, 2026. Updated Oct. 19, 2026.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Mama Africa Food and Catering serves Liberian and West African cuisine at 700 Locust St. in downtown Des Moines, where chef and owner Ventica Woods opened her first permanent restaurant inside the Local Bites food hall in August 2026.
The menu features dishes such as jollof rice, fried plantains, cassava leaf greens, fufu and egusi, along with customizable bowls and other options. Mama Africa also continues the catering business that helped Woods introduce her cooking to customers throughout central Iowa.
The restaurant is on the lower level of the Greater Des Moines Partnership building, next to the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, with access through the downtown skywalk system.
Local Bites advertises weekday lunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mama Africa’s individual evening and weekend hours have not been independently confirmed. Customers planning a visit outside the food hall’s advertised lunch hours should contact the restaurant at 515-735-1141.
Mama Africa is inside Local Bites at 700 Locust St.
- Restaurant: Mama Africa Food and Catering
- Address: 700 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309
- Location: Local Bites food hall, lower level of the Greater Des Moines Partnership building
- Phone: 515-735-1141
- Cuisine: Liberian and West African
- Local Bites lunch hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Mama Africa evening and weekend hours: Confirm directly with the restaurant.
The Local Bites food hall has shared seating and offers dine-in and carryout options. Its central downtown location is accessible from the building’s lower level and the skywalk network.
The food hall’s published hours describe its general service schedule and should not be treated as a confirmed schedule for every individual restaurant.
Mama Africa’s menu includes jollof rice, fufu, plantains and cassava leaf greens
Mama Africa’s cooking draws on the Liberian dishes Woods grew up with, alongside other West African favorites.
Its online menu has featured jollof rice, seafood fried rice, potato greens with rice, cassava leaves with rice or fufu, and egusi with fufu.
Other listed choices include meat pies, cheesy plantains, stir-fried plantains, grilled chicken, beef, shrimp, roasted goat and lamb.
For customers who prefer a customizable meal, Mama Africa has also offered build-your-own bowls and wraps. Options have included rice, noodles or vegetables paired with grilled proteins, plantains and other toppings.
The Mama Africa menu on Toast lists individual dishes and prices, although online ordering was not accepting orders when checked on Oct. 19. Menu availability and prices may change, and an inactive ordering page does not establish whether in-person service is available.
Catering remains part of Mama Africa’s business
Before opening a permanent restaurant, Mama Africa developed a customer base through catered events, pop-up meals, festivals and appearances at the Downtown Farmers’ Market.
The business continues to offer catering for occasions such as private gatherings, celebrations and other events. Its vendor profile describes both prepared meals and catering services, including Liberian dishes such as jollof rice, roasted meat and cassava leaf stew.
Catering orders and questions about available menus can be directed to 515-735-1141. Customers may also check Mama Africa’s Facebook page for announcements and changes to service.
Ventica Woods built Mama Africa before opening the downtown restaurant
Woods, who was born in Liberia and moved to Iowa as a teenager, built her food business around recipes and flavors she knew growing up.
She began selling meals from home before expanding into catering, weddings, community events and the Downtown Farmers’ Market. Her food business eventually became a familiar presence at Des Moines festivals and pop-ups.
Mama Africa opened its first permanent restaurant on Aug. 1, 2026, at Local Bites. The opening gave customers a downtown location to seek out dishes they had previously encountered primarily through markets and catered events.
Woods’ connection to Liberian cooking is also part of her personal story. After moving to Iowa, she continued preparing familiar dishes, eventually turning that experience into a business that serves West African food in the Des Moines metro.
Related: Des Moines bakery built by a Latina entrepreneur remains a local staple.
Mama Africa can be reached at 515-735-1141
Mama Africa Food and Catering is located inside Local Bites at 700 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309. The food hall advertises weekday lunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For Mama Africa’s current individual hours, evening service, menu availability or catering arrangements, the restaurant’s contact number is 515-735-1141.
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