Carol’s African Restaurant brings Liberian cuisine and community to Brooklyn Park

A new family-owned restaurant serving authentic West African cuisine has opened in Brooklyn Park. Carol’s African Restaurant, which held its grand opening May 9, is the result of nearly a decade of hard work, family collaboration and a passion for sharing West African food with the Twin Cities. The restaurant is owned by Daniel and Jamecar Killen and named in honor of Jamecar’s mother, Carol Gbanjah, whose cooking helped inspire the business.

Before opening a brick-and-mortar location, the family operated a catering business beginning around 2017. Jamecar, her mother Carol Gbanjah and her sister Jane Gbanjah catered birthdays, weddings, baby showers and other events throughout the Twin Cities, developing a loyal following along the way.

“The dream of this business was birthed by my wife, her mother, and her sister,” Daniel said. “People loved the food, people loved them, and how they represented themselves in the community.”

As demand grew, the family began searching for a permanent location where they could serve customers year-round. Finding the right space was a priority. They wanted somewhere connected to the community that had supported them for years. When they found an available commercial space in Brooklyn Park, Daniel said he immediately knew it was the right fit.

Transforming the empty shell into a fully functioning restaurant required a significant investment of time and resources. The space needed extensive renovations, including new plumbing, electrical work, ventilation systems and kitchen infrastructure.

“It took us two years to get everything ready,” Daniel said. “There were challenges, frustrations, and setbacks along the way, but our resilience carried us through.”

While Carol’s African Restaurant specializes in Liberian cuisine, the menu also reflects flavors and traditions shared across West Africa. The family carefully selected dishes that introduce customers to the region’s food while remaining approachable for first-time visitors.

“We wanted to promote an authentic experience,” Daniel said. “But we also want to connect with the diverse world we live in and make the food inviting for everyone.”

The grand opening drew more than 200 people, many of them longtime customers and supporters built through years of catering and community involvement.

“About 90 percent of the faces that came that day were familiar faces,” Daniel said.

Both Daniel and Jamecar have deep roots in the community. Daniel, a former collegiate soccer player and Minnesota Mr. Soccer recipient, is well known throughout the local sports community. Jamecar’s years of catering community events built lasting relationships with customers across the Twin Cities. The family also became known for their hospitality. Community members would regularly gather at their home for meals, with dozens of guests attending cookouts and celebrations.

“At some point, people would call us and come to our house on a Saturday just to eat,” Daniel said. “We’d have 40 or 50 people at our house enjoying food together.”

Despite his role in helping launch the restaurant, Daniel is quick to credit Jamecar, Carol and Jane as the driving force behind the business.

“They’re the ones making sure the food meets expectations and that customers leave satisfied,” he said.

Jamecar was not available for comment.

Carol’s African Restaurant is located at 6940 Brooklyn Blvd. For more information, visit their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/people/Carols-Restaurant/61563209879888/.

Aamira Redd is a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.