Max’s Mukhaase, an African restaurant, has opened in the Safeway strip mall on the southwest corner of Alma School and Guadalupe in Mesa.
African dishes are not new to the Valley. Moroccan flavors have become trendy in recent years, and Ethiopian food found an audience at Cafe Lalibela and the late Tina’s.
Max’s Mukhaase, though, visits many more of the continent’s 54 countries. Some of the exotic dishes on the include:
- Peanut butter soup: With rice balls, a staple in central Africa.
- Red-Red (pictured): A cowpeas stew served with fried plantains, popular in Ghana.
- Banku: Boiled dough balls made from corn and cassava flour. Also from Ghana.
- Beef jollof rice: Beef skewers with seasoned rice, common in east Africa.
- Kenkey: A west African sourdough dumpling.
For those without a sense of culinary adventure, there are hamburgers and hot dog available.
Max’s Muukhaase is open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and 1-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday.