At understory oakland, our Restaurant experience in International Blvd, 3340 International Blvd brings together fresh flavors, thoughtful service, and a space designed for comfort. Guests appreciate our 4.80 rating across 175 reviews, along with accessible facilities and standout great service and quality.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at understory oakland
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Cook's Choice Sampler for 2.
Housemade buttermilk biscuit with choice of crispy fried chicken or vegan chicken.
Understory Burger - choice of meat/cheese + fries
Cured sweet pork, garlic rice, atchara, salad, fried egg and spiced vinegar.
Thinly sliced cured beef, garlic rice, atchara, salad, fried egg and spiced vinegar.
Tender banana blossom, fresh herbs, and a citrus dressing paired with crisp sesame rice crackers
House special vegan/gluten free ube waffles served with calamansi syrup and fruits
Potato, sweet potato, butternut squash, & brussel sprouts topped with fresh herbs and pickle red onion. Choice of lechon (pork belly), vegan pork, oyster mushrooms, or vegan longganisa.
Vegan, Dairy-Free Ube Butter
Comforting glass noodle soup in a garlic-scallion broth, finished with toasted shallots
Cook's Choice Sampler for 2.
Housemade buttermilk biscuit with choice of crispy fried chicken or vegan chicken.
Understory Burger - choice of meat/cheese + fries
Cured sweet pork, garlic rice, atchara, salad, fried egg and spiced vinegar.
Thinly sliced cured beef, garlic rice, atchara, salad, fried egg and spiced vinegar.
Tender banana blossom, fresh herbs, and a citrus dressing paired with crisp sesame rice crackers
House special vegan/gluten free ube waffles served with calamansi syrup and fruits
Potato, sweet potato, butternut squash, & brussel sprouts topped with fresh herbs and pickle red onion. Choice of lechon (pork belly), vegan pork, oyster mushrooms, or vegan longganisa.
Vegan, Dairy-Free Ube Butter
Comforting glass noodle soup in a garlic-scallion broth, finished with toasted shallots
Comforting glass noodle soup in a garlic-scallion broth, finished with toasted shallots
Fried brussels sprouts tossed with chile-tamarind glazed, topped with pomegranate
Tender banana blossom, fresh herbs, and a citrus dressing paired with crisp sesame rice crackers
Chef's Choice Dinner Platter for 2 people! Consists of 5-7 different items & dessert! Please specify modifications for meat or vegan and/or dietary preferences (gluten free/dairy free).
Understory Burger - choice of meat/cheese + fries
Fried brussels sprouts tossed with chile-tamarind glazed, topped with pomegranate
Tender banana blossom, fresh herbs, and a citrus dressing paired with crisp sesame rice crackers
Chef's Choice Dinner Platter for 2 people! Consists of 5-7 different items & dessert! Please specify modifications for meat or vegan and/or dietary preferences (gluten free/dairy free).
Understory Burger - choice of meat/cheese + fries
A classic breakfast sandwich but plant-based! housemade chickpea “egg”, trumpet mushroom "bacon", vegan cheddar, vegan mayo, pickled red onions, arugula on a dairy-free brioche bun. Make it a meal with our house salad or fries (+$4).
grilled eggplant omelette or vegan egg omelette, arugula, pickled red onion, aioli, java rice wrapped in a flour tortilla. Comes with a side of housemade habenero hot sauce. (add pork tocino or bacon +$4)
Potato, sweet potato, butternut squash, & brussel sprouts topped with fresh herbs and pickle red onion. Choice of lechon (pork belly), vegan pork, oyster mushrooms, or vegan longganisa.
Comforting glass noodle soup in a garlic-scallion broth, finished with toasted shallots
A classic breakfast sandwich but plant-based! housemade chickpea “egg”, trumpet mushroom "bacon", vegan cheddar, vegan mayo, pickled red onions, arugula on a dairy-free brioche bun. Make it a meal with our house salad or fries (+$4).
grilled eggplant omelette or vegan egg omelette, arugula, pickled red onion, aioli, java rice wrapped in a flour tortilla. Comes with a side of housemade habenero hot sauce. (add pork tocino or bacon +$4)
Potato, sweet potato, butternut squash, & brussel sprouts topped with fresh herbs and pickle red onion. Choice of lechon (pork belly), vegan pork, oyster mushrooms, or vegan longganisa.
creamy rice and oat milk blended with ube, cinnamon, and vanilla for a dreamy, lightly sweet sip (vegan & gluten free)
House made flavors: Jamaica (Hibiscus) or Seasonal Fruit (weekly rotation)
House blend of roasted Filipino chocolate and dark chocolate, cane sugar, choice of milk (whole, coconut-oat milk, or oat milk). Smoky, rich, not too sweet.
House-favorite herbal tea blend: Tulsi (holy basil), hibiscus, lemon balm, lemon verbena, passion flower, Hawthorne berry, chamomile, and sweetened with agave. Hot or Iced.
Tangy, naturally fermented drink made with ripe mango, pineapple rind, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Refreshingly tart and bubbly. (vegan & gluten free)
10.5 fl oz Canned Coconut Water
Selected Coffee from Equal Exchange or Mother Tongue Coffee (Roasted in Oakland).
Selected Decaffienated Coffee from Equal Exchange or Mother Tongue Coffee (Roasted in Oakland).
White, Red, Oolong, Green, or Herbal teas sourced from 101 Tea in Fremont and Blue Willow Tea in Berkeley.
Earl Grey (Blue Willow Tea), pandan syrup, oat milk foam.
Tres Leches milk (oat milk, coconut milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, & rose water) with your choice of tea: Matcha or Hojicha (roasted green tea). Hot or Iced.
Curated Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), pandan syrup, coconut-oatmilk.
Coffee brewed with brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, orange peel. Cold version comes with orange coconut oat milk foam.
Filipino and Dark Chocolate blend, cane sugar, coffee, and your choice of milk.
A tropical play on limoncello; Calamansi(Filipino citrus), pandan, coconut water, cane sugar with Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), housemade tonic syrup and sparkling water.
A dessert as a drink! Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), pandan syrup, and Turon foam (banana, jackfruit, coconut+oat milk) with a mini fried Turon garnish. (Gluten Free version available)
Spring/Summer Seasonal Drink. Farmer's Market organic strawberries, orange blossom, choice of milk, matcha or hojicha (roasted green tea).
creamy rice and oat milk blended with ube, cinnamon, and vanilla for a dreamy, lightly sweet sip (vegan & gluten free)
House made flavors: Jamaica (Hibiscus) or Seasonal Fruit (weekly rotation)
House blend of roasted Filipino chocolate and dark chocolate, cane sugar, choice of milk (whole, coconut-oat milk, or oat milk). Smoky, rich, not too sweet.
House-favorite herbal tea blend: Tulsi (holy basil), hibiscus, lemon balm, lemon verbena, passion flower, Hawthorne berry, chamomile, and sweetened with agave. Hot or Iced.
Tangy, naturally fermented drink made with ripe mango, pineapple rind, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Refreshingly tart and bubbly. (vegan & gluten free)
10.5 fl oz Canned Coconut Water
Selected Coffee from Equal Exchange or Mother Tongue Coffee (Roasted in Oakland).
Selected Decaffienated Coffee from Equal Exchange or Mother Tongue Coffee (Roasted in Oakland).
White, Red, Oolong, Green, or Herbal teas sourced from 101 Tea in Fremont and Blue Willow Tea in Berkeley.
Earl Grey (Blue Willow Tea), pandan syrup, oat milk foam.
Tres Leches milk (oat milk, coconut milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, & rose water) with your choice of tea: Matcha or Hojicha (roasted green tea). Hot or Iced.
Curated Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), pandan syrup, coconut-oatmilk.
Coffee brewed with brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, orange peel. Cold version comes with orange coconut oat milk foam.
Filipino and Dark Chocolate blend, cane sugar, coffee, and your choice of milk.
A tropical play on limoncello; Calamansi(Filipino citrus), pandan, coconut water, cane sugar with Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), housemade tonic syrup and sparkling water.
A dessert as a drink! Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), pandan syrup, and Turon foam (banana, jackfruit, coconut+oat milk) with a mini fried Turon garnish. (Gluten Free version available)
Spring/Summer Seasonal Drink. Farmer's Market organic strawberries, orange blossom, choice of milk, matcha or hojicha (roasted green tea).
Turkish Breakfast Pastry. Housemade Feta & Yogurt, dill, parsley, & sesame seeds. Vegetarian. *Contains dairy, egg, butter, & sesame
A soft & aromatic cake made with oranges & extra virgin olive oil. Vegan. *Contains wheat
Soft & chewy bar flavored with ube (filipino purple sweet potato). Not too sweet. Vegan & gluten free
Turkish Breakfast Pastry. Housemade Feta & Yogurt, dill, parsley, & sesame seeds. Vegetarian. *Contains dairy, egg, butter, & sesame
A soft & aromatic cake made with oranges & extra virgin olive oil. Vegan. *Contains wheat
Soft & chewy bar flavored with ube (filipino purple sweet potato). Not too sweet. Vegan & gluten free
1.5" Circle Sticker
1.5" Circle Sticker
Prickly Pear, soda water, jalapeño, tamarind, lime, & chili salt.
Cold brew green tea or green oolong, mango, pandan syrup, oat milk.
House made flavors: Jamaica (Hibiscus) or Seasonal Fruit (weekly rotation)
Curated Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), pandan syrup, coconut-oatmilk.
creamy rice and oat milk blended with ube, cinnamon, and vanilla for a dreamy, lightly sweet sip (vegan & gluten free)
Coffee brewed with brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, orange peel. Cold version comes with orange coconut oat milk foam.
Prickly Pear, soda water, jalapeño, tamarind, lime, & chili salt.
Cold brew green tea or green oolong, mango, pandan syrup, oat milk.
House made flavors: Jamaica (Hibiscus) or Seasonal Fruit (weekly rotation)
Curated Cold Brew Blend (Ethiopia+Mexico), pandan syrup, coconut-oatmilk.
creamy rice and oat milk blended with ube, cinnamon, and vanilla for a dreamy, lightly sweet sip (vegan & gluten free)
Coffee brewed with brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, orange peel. Cold version comes with orange coconut oat milk foam.
Hear from our valued guests
Been waiting for their fruitvale location to open up! We went during the soft grand opening and the food did not disappoint. We ordered the inasal and the kaldereta. The inasal took me back to the Philippines with that smoky char, annatto calamansi seasoning, and juicy interior. The kaldereta was some of the best I've had - tender meat with a strong umami tomato sauce. They also blessed us with the ukoy while waiting (though it wasn't very long!) and we loved it with that vinegar dip. Can't wait to come back!
I should give an honest disclaimer here: I don’t leave many reviews because I do think people only either say when they’ve experienced something phenomenal or something deeply negative and rarely report on the mundane. Unfortunately, I do fall into the former category for this, as the food here was truly phenomenal. Truly unreal. I can’t recall the last time I enjoyed a menu so much without a “but” somewhere in there. “Oh I liked the xyz dish buuuut there was too much abc…” you know the deal. I couldn’t say that about this menu. Not once. My partner and I dined in for dinner and ordered the oyster mushrooms, the lechon chicken wings, & the morcon. For drinks he had the ube horchata and I had the mango pandan. Where do I even begin? Oyster mushrooms had us nearly licking the bowl. The mushrooms themselves were perfectly cooked inside- meaty and flavorful. The batter on the oyster mushrooms was crispy and crunchy and seasoned so well and the delicious dip was our favorite dipper I think we’ve had …anywhere. We sat there trying to guess the ingredients because it tasted a little tamarind-y, a little vinegar-y, so hearty… & finally one of the amazing & talented chefs unearthed the secret: banana ketchup! I was floored. I wish I could give you all a sample of that incredible mashup. You’ll just have to come in to experience it. The lechon chicken wings were crispy and yet soooo juicy. Even the green onion garnish was so well wilted and seasoned, my partner and I both found ourselves eating every last bit. The dipping sauce for the wings was my partners favorite and we definitely found ourselves dipping some mushrooms into it when we ran out of banana ketchup! Definitely recommend!!! The morcon was a beef roulade (think: meat stuffed with fillings and then sliced into nice rounds) with *bites knuckles* the most out of this world divine heavenly tomato sauce base — I just —- I need to be swimming in it. It also came with a hearty serving of lemony cabbage and a loving
We came here for weekend brunch for the first time & found an incredibly wholesome place with sweet staff, fun vibes, and a KILLER menu. All the drinks sound (and taste) incredible, the food is delicious & beautiful (and very vegan-friendly), and perhaps most importantly, the ube butter is like crack. Holy shit - I would come here just for the pandesal + butter. And yet, the rest of the menu is also great (other highlights are the tres leches matcha - looks beautiful but be sure to stir to get the magic of oat + rice + coconut - and the vegan chicken, which is very KFC tender-esque). Can't wait to come back during the week & to bring friends!
Wonderful salad, refreshing, crisp, lemony dressing and just the right amount of zest I decided to mix the rest of the plate together. They supplied a side of onions & a green chile deeply marinated in vinegar followed by a red oil that was pretty mild. Delicious. The garlic tofu wasn’t overpowering and with an interesting medley of sweet, sour & hot - I chowed. The service is telepathic. The servers read my mind. Perhaps a better way to say it is, they’re highly observant and on the ball. I plan to visit again.
Great restaurant, would certainly return. Good food, amazing drinks, nice staff. The oyster mushrooms were amazing and a big portion size! Boboto was unique and delicious, and would recommend for the adventurous eater. The burger (made vegan) was good, and the fries with it were amazing (apparently they take 3 days to make!! 😱). Many vegan options. In terms of drinks, the tres leches matcha latte was one of the best drinks I’ve ever had, and the ube horchata was delicious too—but pretty grainy. The service and staff was great, they even let us stay a few mins past close. The only bad thing to say is that it’s a little pricey. Not crazy over the top, but on the higher end, especially with the +20% collective fee (unclear if you’re supposed to tip on top of that?? 🧐).
Ive been a vegan for 7 years and i love fried oyster mushrooms! The Understory did not disappoint the oystermushrooms were delicious! They also reminded me of chicken katsu its been along time but the batter was great . I will be back for more and im excited to try different things on the menu thank you so much
This spot was a safe haven during a weekend visit to the area. We stopped in here to try some of the gluten free options and ended up being here for 5 hours to hang and do some work. The staff were very friendly and said the space is welcome to community so we could stay and work as long as they were open. Cafe counter service weekdays from 9 am to 2 pm, so they won’t come to your table, you just have to get up to order- which wasn’t a big deal for us. Over the vibe is really great, with an incredible mission. Low-medium level music plays in the background so if you want to do work headphones are probably best. If we ever come back to the area, this place will be on the list. I hope this spot is supported and here for a long time. Highly recommend the Suam na Mais, it was incredible.
What an amazing experience! We were guests of a 24 person party and we were so welcomed by the staff. The staff here are incredibly helpful and friendly. The food was off the hook. The drinks were so unique. I even bought a few fun items in their curio shop. Please come and support this magical place! They are a gem for the community!
Food & drinks are DELICIOUS. But the only thing better than the food here are the people who bring so much love & creativity to everything they serve. The most amazing place in the Bay - by the people & for the people! They have cafe hours where folks can set up with their laptops, free wifi & work. They also host awesome events & do catering :)
We had a truly fantastic experience at The Understory recently. The food was absolutely incredible, and the service was amazing from start to finish. The Banana Heart Salad was a standout. It was prepared so wonderfully that it brought back memories of my grandmother’s cooking back home—it's a dish that isn't showcased enough in Filipino restaurants in the Bay Area, and I was so happy to see it on their menu. I also have to specifically call out the Pandesal with the Vegan Ube Butter. The butter was mind-blowingly good; I could have easily slurped tubs of it! Everything was served with such care and the staff were all so welcoming and attentive.
Common questions about understory oakland
understory oakland is located at Ohlone Territory, 3340 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601, United States , International Blvd, 3340 International Blvd, United States.
You can reach understory oakland by calling +1 510-315-3763.
understory oakland has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 175 customer reviews.
understory oakland features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
understory oakland features the following from the business: Identifies as Asian-owned, Identifies as Latino-owned, Identifies as LGBTQ+ owned, Identifies as women-owned.
understory oakland features the following service options: On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
understory oakland features the following highlights: Great cocktails, Great dessert, Serves local specialty.
understory oakland features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
understory oakland features the following offerings: Alcohol, Coffee, Comfort food, Halal food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Organic dishes, Private dining room, Small plates, Vegan options, Vegetarian options.
understory oakland features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
understory oakland features the following amenities: Bar on site, Gender-neutral toilets, Restroom.
understory oakland features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
understory oakland features the following crowd: Family friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists, Transgender safe space.
understory oakland features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
understory oakland features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
understory oakland features the following children: Good for kids, Has changing table(s), High chairs.
understory oakland features the following parking: Free street parking, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
Business Features
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