Fataya in Dakar: Ge'eza's Senegalese Fritters, 500 F

Fataya is a fried Senegalese pastry, on Ge'eza's menu at 500 F for two pieces. The menu describes it as locally sourced, without further detail on the exact filling. It is the most affordable snack in the house, good on its own, as a starter, or alongside a drink, served Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm, at 656 Avenue Birago Diop in Point E.

Fataya, a staple of Dakar's streets

Fataya is a fried pastry found all over Dakar's streets and shops, where it sells readily as a quick bite at any time of day. Its shape, its frying method and its place in Senegalese street food make it an easily recognisable classic across many of the city's neighbourhoods. At Ge'eza, it sits on the menu at 500 F for two pieces, noted as locally sourced.

Fataya and sambusa: two pastries, two origins

On the same menu, Ge'eza also offers the sambusa, the Ethiopian pastry, filled with meat (2,000 F for two pieces) or lentils (1,500 F for two pieces, vegan). The two snacks look alike, a fried, filled pastry, but they do not share an origin or a filling. Fataya is Senegalese, with its own recipe, while the sambusa comes from Ethiopian tradition, spiced with berbere for the meat version or filled with red lentils for the vegan one. Having both on the same menu makes it easy to compare, within the same visit, two approaches to a fried, filled pastry.

Putting together a short break

Fataya suits a short break well, between appointments or on the way out after a visit to the gallery. At 500 F for two pieces, it is the lightest option among the snacks. To go with it, a house-made juice, bissap, ginger or bouye, at 2,000 F, brings a fresh, tangy contrast to the fried pastry. For something more energising, an Ethiopian macchiato at 4,000 F also works well, particularly late morning or mid-afternoon.

When to order it

Fataya does not depend on any particular time slot: it stays on the snack menu all day, from breakfast through dinner. It is a useful option for a small hunger between meals, or to go with a coffee without committing to a full meal. Afternoon coffee and snacks in Dakar covers the full range of snacks and drinks that pair with this kind of break, for anyone planning a visit around it.

Coming to try it

For one or two people, no booking is needed; just come by during opening hours. For a group or a specific table, on the terrace for instance, it is worth booking online or writing on WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07. The full menu, snacks and drinks included, is set out on the restaurant page.