"The Damel is both a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Downtown Oakland and a food truck on Lakeshore. It doesn’t matter which location you visit, as long as you head to one for a taste of their incredible food. The Damel serves a mix of dishes from West Africa and South America, a combination that reflects owner Oumar Diouf’s Senegalese background and time spent in Brazil and Argentina. On the menu, you’ll find things like acarajé (fried, mashed black-eyed peas) topped with shrimp or veggies and spicy okra sauce, fried plantains, dibi plates, and fresh ginger and bissap juices. I love the empanadas, from the ground beef to the creamy mushroom to the deep-fried fataya with tuna, tomato, and shrimp. The dough is light and fluffy, and these empanadas are perfect for lunch or a snack. - LC" - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway
