alaMar Dominican Kitchen

Name: alaMar Dominican Kitchen
Address: 100 Grand Ave Suite 111, Oakland, CA, United States, 94612
Telephone: (510) 907-7555
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

135 Reviews

$31 to $50

Caribbean

Top Tags:

alaMar is a Contemporary Dominican Kitchen located in the hip Uptown Oakland area. Bravo TV's Top Chef Season 18 Contestant, Chef Nelson German, dives deep into his Dominican culture at alaMar by offering a regional menu of foods he grew up on that his mom, grandmother, and Aunt Maritza would cook and NYC-style Dominican street foods he enjoyed as a child. German brings a unique take to family recipes with his contemporary NYC twist on traditional dishes, including his popular braised oxtail dish. There is indoor seating and a dog-friendly patio with heaters for al fresco dining. The not-to-be-missed craft cocktail program reflects Caribbean influences such as the signature Mamajuana cocktail.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 6, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Caribbean, Latin American, Comfort Food
Hours of operation
Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(510) 907-7555
Website
http://www.alamaroakland.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx or Hispanic, Women
Executive chef
Nelson German
Catering
We would love to cater your next event! We have party trays of our most popular dishes for pickup or delivery. Please email alamaroak@gmail.com for more information.
Private party facilities
We would love to host your next event at alaMar! Please email alamaroak@gmail.com for more information.

Location
100 Grand Ave, Suite 111, Oakland, CA 94612
Neighborhood
Oakland
Cross street
Valdez St
Parking details
Three Parking lots a block away from alaMar
Public transit
BART-19th and Broadway<br><br />AC Transit-Bus Stop 12
Entertainment
150 inch projector screen which we occasionally show our Golden State Warriors!
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

LatinX-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in San Francisco

Dominican Salad$13.00
Heirloom tomatoes | beet | charred brentwood maiz | toasted hazelnut | avocado mousse | sofrito vinaigrette | micro arugula
Yuca Salad$10.00
Apple | peanut | culantro | pickled red onions | Wanda’s olive chow chow
Chili Glazed Sweet Plantains$9.00
chipotle | cilantro agrodolce | “mayo-ketchup”
Braised Greens$13.00
greens | holy trinity | red kidney beans
Camarones Criolla$15.00
Gulf shrimp | holy trinity | achiote sazon | dried shrimp miso | sofrito garlic butter
Pollo Guisado Wings$12.00
sour orange | roasted tomato | achiote | maggi | pickled red onion
Fritura de Chivo$14.00
Fried goat | citrus sazon | pickled red onion | salsa mojo | burnt lime
Dominican Slow Roasted Pork Ribs$13.00
pickled cabbage | avocado mousse | “mayo-ketchup” | guava salsa roja
Chicharron de Pollo$11.00
Dominican fried chicken, tostones, sofrito lime aioli

Mains

Sancocho Vegetariano$19.00
sweet potato | brentwood maiz | gold papas | sunburst squash | shared cultures tomato miso | fried okra
Locrio de Marisco$24.00
gulf shrimp | spanish octopus | pollock | squid | squid ink | curry rice | herb salad | pickled jalapeño cabbage slaw
"Pernil" Dominican Roast Pork$21.00
dominican style roast pork, pickled red onion, sofrito garlic butter, cilantro lime aioli
"El Malecon" style Half Chicken$28.00
slow roasted dominican free-range chicken | sofrito mojo | pickled red onion | caramelized ripe plantain *Feeds 2
Braised Oxtail "Encendido"$32.00
Our alaMar Classic from Day 1! stewed butter beans | chile africano | charred pearl onion
Sancochito$25.00

Sides

Yellow Caribbean Rice$4.00
yellow caribbean rice cooked with turmeric, garlic, onion and oregano
"Habichuelas" Stewed Dominican Red Beans$5.00
dominican style beans. stewed for 3 hours with sofrito and afro latin spices.
Moro$6.00
Dominican Red Beans and Rice
Mesquite Spiral Fries$7.00
Curly fries garlic butter, Mesquite spice mix, bbq aioli
Maduros$6.00
Fried sweet Plantain
Dominican Mofongo$8.00
Green plantain | shared cultures garlic kombu miso | sofrito garlic butter
Pan Dominicano$6.00
Fresh grilled sourdough bread, garlic sofrito butter
Salchichon Longaniza$7.00
Sausage | Dominican spices | Mayo ketchup

Desserts

Tres Leches$10.00
Pudin de Pan$10.00
Maple Sweet Potato Cheesecake$10.00
Sweet potato maple cheese cake Carmel drizzle and seasonal stone fruit
Chocolate Banana Swirl Cake$10.00
Wild cherry couli with seasonal stone fruit
Raspberry Doughnut Cheesecake$10.00
Raspberry Doughnut Cheesecake, served with Raspberry Coulis
Habichuelas Con Dulce$9.00

What 135 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.4Service
4.3Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

East Bay
Lively

135 Reviews

JG
JorgeG
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great meal and service. The restaurant is quaint and the background music ads to the ambiance. A solid recommendation.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing!!! Flavor was everything! Great service, food, and ambience. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Can’t wait to go back!
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SR
StacieR
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience3
Everything was great except the bread pudding, dry and lacked flavor
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S
Stephanie
San Francisco
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Never had Dominican food and I was so delighted! We will definitely be back! Casual ambience, friendly servers and a nice downtown Oakland location!
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DD
DeeDee
San Francisco
49 reviews
vip
5.0
49 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Fabulous restaurant! Dominican food is so interesting and very delicious. I’m so glad I tried it. Will definitely go back again!
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KV
KristiV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aside from them being out of a lot of drink options, food was excellent!
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SD
SherisseD
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Highly recommend asking the server for recommendations, but I promise you that you cannot go wrong with the half chicken + rice and beans. End your meal with a cafe con leche and you will have had the perfect night.
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AF
AvisF
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Only complaint I have they were out of some dishes that I wanted to try, other than that excellent. I will be back .
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RS
RichyS
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 16, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience3
I am Dominican and I felt very happy to eat food from my homeland. The flavors were amazing and authentic, I urge anyone looking to try Dominican food in the Bay Area to stop by and try something you just don't see enough off. Definitely recommend.
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f
finebydesign
San Francisco
17 reviews
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
Food was okay but not great. The previous alaMar seafood was more enjoyable and convivial.
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TC
TCZDiningTips
San Francisco
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
I have enjoyed alaMar since it opened in Oakland. One of my favorite dishes and reasons for my continued support was the Oxtails. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed in both the Oxtails and the substitute entree, Fried goat. Were this another restaurant or my first visit, I wouldn't visit again but, since I have previous excellent experiences I will probably return at least once more.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Went to dinner before show. Saw Nelson on Bobby Flay so gave it a go. Overall good experience. All food was tasty and good portions. Wine selection small but we got nice white.
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PB
PeterB
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is wonderful. First time here, but the food is outstanding and the service attentive, prompt and so gracious. I thanked the chef at the end and he seemed genuinely touched by my praise. alaMar is doing a terrific job all around.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I am glad I chose this restaurant to celebrate my good friends bday. The ambiance reminds me of a place in the Virgin Islands where I used to live. It is cozy, simple decor, open, but vibrant. The server we had was so calm and knows the menu inside and out. He gave us just right space to enjoy the nuance and the seen. The food was the star. We ordered 1/2 chicken and whole friend Branzino for our main and they are both delicious and flavorful. For appetizers, we ordered plantains, pork ribs, and cold Dominican salad. All of which are deliciously satisfying. The price is pretty average. The amount of food was enough for 3 starving customers. I will definitely go again and will recommend it highly.
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J
Jason
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on September 11, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
The food alone is worth the trip, though our tostones arrived cold, suggesting they are not cooked to order. That's a bad look. Service was OK. Staff should introduce themselves when they come to the table, and explain that food is brought out as it is finished rather than in groups (e.g., all appetizers and then all main courses).
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s
stuball
San Francisco
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Great Dominican food which came quickly. Unfortunately out of some of the specials but overall a nice meal.
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M
Mitohondria
San Francisco
22 reviews
vip
3.0
22 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
It was fun, different and worth a try. Loved the twice fried plantains and the dip, but also got the chicken wings which had good flavor but were overcooked to me. I had the roast pork - again good flavor but overcooked. My husband really liked his oxtail stew. Side were rice and beans. Rice was bland and beans too saucy for me. It was fun once but I wouldn’t come back.
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R
Richm
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience5
It's a nice restaurant and the menu is simple, but the Caribbean dishes were unfamiliar to me and I had to do some guessing and ask questions. If you are going there, it might be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the dishes before you order. The food is good but a little bland and pricey. The service was great. I would still recommend going there just for the positive vibes, good food and fast service.
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c
cookingmdmom
San Francisco
39 reviews
3.0
39 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
The restaurant was packed as there was a fundraiser going on. They also had run out of many items on the menu by 730 when we arrived. We don’t eat meat, and it was slim pickings as far as what we could order. The main tomato salad was excellent however, the sancocho was bland , boring and all brown and color. We would’ve liked fish but we saw that they only had whole deep-fried fish and it was covered with the brown sauce as well. We had listed asparagus, which was quite tasty, and well prepared The cocktail I ordered was watery and uninteresting and the white wine was not cold enough. The decor is playful, but I recommend sitting in the lower tables since the seats have backs. The service was hectic because it was so packed and it was hard to get the attention of the servers. We might consider trying this again at a slower time.
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GA
GraceA
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
The maduros needed to be a little more ripe. Salad was outstanding. Tostones were good but portions were small. The main dish was good and portion of the meat dishes were huge.
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A
Andy
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Food was excellent. We had the asparagus, ribs, pernin(pork) and red beans and rice. Wonderful tres leches cake for dessert. They forgot my red beans and rice and then forgot my americano both of which were corrected quickly but that was the only issue. Cost them a bit on the tip but very good food and atmosphere.
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MM
MMMMM
New York Area
17 reviews
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience3
Food was excellent. Service was lacking. Cute place. Noisy outside
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JM
JeffreyM
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My partner and I had our monthly date night here for the first time and Loved everything about this establishment. We'll definitely be back!
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MB
MeganB
New York Area
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great first time! I’ve been wanting to try for a while. Things we loved - their cocktails, the frozen colada margarita was delicious! (but we requested they not use ice on our second round, weird to get a frozen drink that they also put ice in, makes it too watery if you don’t drink it super fast), the goat was amazing, the sauce was flavorful & the texture was great, the maduras were yummy, the shrimp was good, & oxtail entree was absolutely fabulous & the chicken entree was also good! Dishes that could be improved but weren’t bad or anything - chicken wings & the pernil pork entree, the sauces weren’t as good as the others & the pork wasn’t as flavorful & tender as the oxtail. They were ok but not outstanding like the other dishes which we loved. Service was great and everyone was very friendly! Great experience, will definitely be back & highly recommend!
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m
mathernjl
San Francisco
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Wonderful and super flavorful food. The drinks were excellent and so was the service.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Great service. V good food! I will come again thank you
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BJ
BernardJ
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great night with friends and great food. The atmosphere was great and the service was excellent.
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EK
EddieK
San Francisco
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
I wish the food would have come out hotter, temperature wise. Chicken was a little dry. The Dominican salad and oxtails were delicious! Will return to try the pernil and mofongo.
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m
msssg
San Francisco
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 13, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience3
I’ve been going to a alaMar for years now, and the food never disappoints. Last evening on July 12 me and a close gal pal of mine this was her first visit, we shared several dishes. It was a nice bonus to have the chef and owner Nelson German stop by and talk with us, which she and I regretted not taking a selfie with him before leaving.
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JS
JaisonS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Chief Nelson is definitely at it again! The food was outstanding and the ambiance takes you to Washington Heights in NYC. I would encourage any family or friends to visit and enjoy options "family style". The absolute favorite was the goat... who knew you could fry it!!?
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SL
SonyaL
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 10, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience3
The service needs to be improved by being attentive throughout the entire experience not just when the patron sits down. The first impression was incredible but as the dining experience continued the bar team didn't command the space. For example, managing the empty glassware and empty plates. The barback, who was new, was lost and not helpful to support the bartender when he was tasked to make drinks. We had several drinks but the bartender didn't keep an eye on it to see if I needed more drinks. I LOVE TO DRINK A LOT..... More busy with tasking. Spent $241.00 in total and could not justify giving a 20% tip. The food was bland and though it is THE ONLY Dominican Restaurant in the Bay it did not stand out. More of the same with the original concept.
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M
Mari17
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing unique food and service!!! Love this place. Have been there twice in the past week and plan to come back many more times. I used to live in Washington heights and the chef has put a unique spin on traditional Dominican dishes in a way that’s irresistible. Amazing drinks as well. 10 out of 10 recommend !
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SP
StevenP
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 9, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
We were lukewarm on the previous Al Mar menu; we loved this new menu!!
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BT
BigTipper
San Francisco
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Dominican food what’s more than I could’ve expected! Having been to the Dominican Republic 3 times and falling in love with the Mofongo I HAD to try this dish at alaMar & it didn’t disappoint. To be honest, I’d go as far as saying it was better than what I tried on the island in past times. The Vegetarian Sancocho is a MUST HAVE! Flavor was on point, nothing too rich or bland. Their chef & kitchen know what they’re doing back there. The bar delivered on the drinks which were well priced and balanced. My oxtail dish was worth every cent. I’m looking forward to going back and seeing how the other dishes are. Serving sizes were proportional and not too small or too large which made it guilt free ordering extra mofongo! 😁😁😁 This place is a great compliment to their sister restaurant Sobre Mesa. A more casual style but great for a date or get together with friends. They played a great selection of music from Salsa to reggaeton and Dembow!! You Must try this place out!
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RS
RalphS
San Francisco
62 reviews
vip
5.0
62 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The 2 entrees we planned to order were not available tonight. We were disappointed at first but decided to order several small plates and sides instead. I think this may have been a happy accident as we enjoyed every bite! The craft cocktails were delicious too. A very casual neighborhood vibe with lively music added to our enjoyment.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Phenomenal. Blown away by every single dish and amazing service. Will be back and will bring everyone with me!
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CL
CLCB
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 7, 2016
overall3food2service3ambience3
My salad was bland and the fruit on it was really cold, such that it made my teeth hurt. Too bad, because it sounded good on the menu.
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c
coffeebrk
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 14, 2016
overall4food4service4ambience3
Great service, good food.
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h
hungry
San Francisco
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on August 13, 2016
overall5food5service5ambience4
Delicious, delicious, delicious. We got 2 branzinos, and plates were cleaned off. Husband asked the wait staff not to take empty bucket of shrimp because, hey, there's the sauce to be mopped up by bread still!!!
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d
dinae
San Francisco
16 reviews
3.0
16 reviews
Dined on June 1, 2016
overall3food3service4ambience3
I had the pleasure of dining at alaMar when it first opened so I was eager to share it with a new business colleague. Sadly, the thrill is gone. Mid week, mid day, the place was empty, which was unexpected. That didn't bode well for the food. Many of the dishes have changed so looking at reviews isn't helpful anymore. The staff is still friendly and tried to be accommodating as one request after another had to be denied. Their menu and staff are reduced for lunch so perhaps dinner is a different experience. Lastly the food was lacking. My bowl of seafood stew can out lukewarm, not hot..at all. The broth which had the consistency of a thick gravy was pretty tasteless. A miss. My mixed green salad was pretty good, not over dressed. Just a pile of greens with no toppings or additional flavors. I'm thinking Weds. Is for the B team? I hope the new scene a block away re-motivates them.
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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from alaMar Dominican Kitchen using the Order Online button. alaMar Dominican Kitchen also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (510) 907-7555.

alaMar Dominican Kitchen is rated 4.6 stars by 135 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 6, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

100 Grand Ave, Suite 111, Oakland, CA 94612

Additional information

Cross street
Valdez St
Neighborhood
Oakland
Hours of operation
Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Caribbean, Latin American, Comfort Food
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Three Parking lots a block away from alaMar
Public transit
BART-19th and BroadwayAC Transit-Bus Stop 12
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx or Hispanic, Women
Executive chef
Nelson German
Entertainment
150 inch projector screen which we occasionally show our Golden State Warriors!
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.alamaroakland.com/
Phone number
(510) 907-7555
Catering
We would love to cater your next event! We have party trays of our most popular dishes for pickup or delivery. Please email alamaroak@gmail.com for more information.
Private party facilities
We would love to host your next event at alaMar! Please email alamaroak@gmail.com for more information.

Featured in

LatinX-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in San Francisco

alaMar Dominican Kitchen

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

LatinX-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in San Francisco

Starters

Dominican Salad$13.00

Yuca Salad$10.00

Chili Glazed Sweet Plantains$9.00

Braised Greens$13.00

Camarones Criolla$15.00

Pollo Guisado Wings$12.00

Fritura de Chivo$14.00

Dominican Slow Roasted Pork Ribs$13.00

Chicharron de Pollo$11.00

Mains

Sancocho Vegetariano$19.00

Locrio de Marisco$24.00

"Pernil" Dominican Roast Pork$21.00

"El Malecon" style Half Chicken$28.00

Braised Oxtail "Encendido"$32.00

Sancochito$25.00

Sides

Yellow Caribbean Rice$4.00

"Habichuelas" Stewed Dominican Red Beans$5.00

Moro$6.00

Mesquite Spiral Fries$7.00

Maduros$6.00

Dominican Mofongo$8.00

Pan Dominicano$6.00

Salchichon Longaniza$7.00

Desserts

Tres Leches$10.00

Pudin de Pan$10.00

Maple Sweet Potato Cheesecake$10.00

Chocolate Banana Swirl Cake$10.00

Raspberry Doughnut Cheesecake$10.00

Habichuelas Con Dulce$9.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does alaMar Dominican Kitchen offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is alaMar Dominican Kitchen restaurant rated?

Is alaMar Dominican Kitchen currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

LatinX-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in San Francisco