understory oakland

Ohlone Territory, 3340 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601, United States
$$$ Restaurant
(116 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Welcome to Understory Oakland, a unique gem nestled in the heart of Ohlone Territory, where contemporary cuisine meets a warm, community-focused vibe. Located at 3340 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601, this restaurant seamlessly melds diverse cultural influences into an innovative menu that's perfect for food lovers and adventurous eaters alike.

The dining atmosphere at Understory is inviting and spacious, featuring a bright, open design that exudes a sense of belonging. The staff is known for their friendliness and attentiveness, making each visit feel like a gathering among friends. You’ll find joy in exploring a variety of dishes that cater to both vegan enthusiasts and omnivores, confirming Understory as a haven for all dietary preferences.

The menu is a delightful journey that offers delicious and creatively crafted dishes. Start your day with their exceptional Suam Na Mais, a comforting dish that showcases the richness of local ingredients. When it comes to drinks, indulge in the refreshing CalaCello Coffee Tonic or savor the flavors of the Tres Leches Matcha Latte, both cleverly prepared to tantalize your taste buds. For those seeking an intriguing twist, the Pandan Cold Brew is a must-try – uniquely fragrant and refreshing, it’s a beverage that will linger long after the last sip.

Don't miss the highly praised Vegan Pork Belly that takes center stage, with several customers expressing sheer delight in its unexpectedly savory flavor. Pair this with one of the beautifully crafted salads, adorned with a delicious lemony dressing that adds the perfect zing for a light yet satisfying meal. If you’re feeling adventurous, the tasting menu offers a chance to sample a curated selection of dishes that celebrate various cultural influences – it’s a culinary adventure you won’t want to miss!

According to our delightful customers, Understory Oakland has quickly become a go-to brunch spot. Sue Flay encapsulated the experience perfectly, referencing the “amazing drinks” and “good food” while highlighting the impressively large portion sizes that guarantee satisfaction. Kira Dulaney praised the restaurant’s co-op business model, noting how it inspires an innovative menu with thoughtful culinary touches that elevate every dish.

With scores of five-star reviews flowing in, it’s clear that Understory Oakland is more than just a place to eat; it’s about community, culture, and celebration of food! So whether you’re stopping by for a casual brunch or looking to explore their unconventional dinner menu, this restaurant guarantees a delightful experience that aims to please. Embrace the creativity, indulge in the flavors, and enjoy the wholesome atmosphere at Understory Oakland – it’s a journey your palate will thank you for time and again!

Accessibility
Has wheelchair accessible entrance
Has wheelchair accessible restroom
Has wheelchair accessible seating
Service options
Offers curbside pickup
Offers delivery
Onsite services available
Offers takeout
Serves dine-in
Offerings
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves halal food
Serves happy hour drinks
Serves happy hour food
Serves organic dishes
Has private dining room
Serves small plates
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Has counter service
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar onsite
Has gender-neutral restroom
Has restroom
Crowd
Family-friendly
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Has changing table(s)
High chairs available
Parking
Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Friday

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

116 Reviews
Sue Flay

26 Aug 2025

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?? ).

Aminah Rahman

24 Jul 2025

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 heap of rice. The beef itself kept its flavor so well and wasn’t tough at all to eat. It was stuffed with what seemed like carrot, red pepper, and another item (I’m reaching for egg, but am probably wrong!). It was a really fantastic mash up of ingredients and was such a hearty dinner to have. If I could redo my dinner here last night, I would have ordered the morcon just for me and apologized insincerely to my sweet partner as I spooned up every last bit of this intensely flavorful dish. For dessert, we got their sticky rice ice cream (pictured) that was topped with some fresh fruit and herbs & served with some crunchy sweet rice. The ice cream itself was lightly salty which was perfectly paired with the sweet and tart of the fresh fruits. It was a delicious way to end the night. My partner and I split all of this, and with our two drinks (which were such winners— you can’t go wrong with a not-overly-sweet ube horchata or a mango pandan mocktail), + the added in 20%, our tab came out to $110. It was definitely enough food to keep us stuffed for the evening. Understory reopened recently in Fruitvale and I really encourage everyone and their mama to flood this spot because they really deserve every accolade. Sweetest staff, friendliest vibe, most incredible food — top to bottom— I’ve had in such a very long time. Damn good dining is soooooo back, guys.

Miranda Zhang

18 Jul 2025

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!

Lisa

01 Jul 2025

Fantastic food, staff are friendly and helpful. I love this place for brunch with plenty of options for vegans and carnivores alike. The food is delicious, creative and made with love.

Kira Dulaney

21 Jun 2025

We loved Understory in the old location, and this one is even better. It’s a beautiful open space, the food is amazing, and the server/owners are very sweet. The co-op business model leads to an innovative menu drawing from various cultures and every dish has thoughtful touches. Try the tasting menu if you can’t decide what to order - it can be ordered omnivorous, vegetarian, or vegan.

Rachel Patron

06 Jun 2025

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!

Rebecca Friedberg

03 Jun 2025

Yum! Everything we had was delish, but I was especially surprised by the tastiness of the vegan pork belly, which I added to my salad. My matcha was also delicious, and my friend’s dishes (ube waffle and eggplant omelet) were also both interesting and tasty. Can’t wait to go back and try more things!

Krishna Shastry

02 Jun 2025

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.

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