The Damel

"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

"The Damel, the Afro-Brazilian counter from up-and-coming chef Oumar Diuf, is new this year. A menu sampler comes with one starter, one dibi (grilled meat), two sides (like rice and plantains), and a beignet for dessert ($20). But fans are going to go straight for those Argentinian empanadas ($20 for 6 empanadas, $40 for 12 empanadas)." - Becky Duffett

"The Damel just opened in downtown Oakland last year, bringing a multicultural mix of Senegalese, Argentinian, and Brazilian flavors to the area. The menu won’t change as he slides from his existing location at 2507 Broadway to a new location at 1312 Broadway. Fans already know and love the Argentinian empanadas, stuffed with carne or ground beef and pollo picante or spicy chicken, along with 20 other different flavors." - Becky Duffett