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    Understory

    4.6 (170 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Understory Photos

    Business Info

    UNDERSTORY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Intimate
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Understory

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    Ube Horchata
    Mar H.

    Spacious dining area. There was only one person taking orders and serving food. Be patient. It's worth the wait. We enjoyed everything we ordered: Tortang talong and tocino; crispy chicken bowl, fries, pandesal with ube butter and the ube horchata. The bowls are deep so there's a lot more that what you see in the pictures. The java rice hiding under there is delicious! Eat the warm pandesal and ube butter as soon as it comes out. I appreciate that there are vegan options because sometimes I just don't want to eat meat . Definitely coming back!

    Jane L.

    What a great find! I flew in for work and had a meeting. My partner discovered this spot for yummy Filipino dishes and to support an employee owner business. Such a cute spot, warm and inviting. You order at the register and food is delivered to your table. Self service water station with beautiful glassware. We shared Pork Tocino with Garlic Rice, Fried Eggplant with Eggs sub white rice and add Bacon, Lumpia and Pork Tocino Sandwich with fries. Dishes took a little while to come out but it was all very tasty. Chef came out to say hello and we thanked her for cooking our meals. Great spot for a party or private event. Menu changes but there are lots of options for all eaters.

    I love the serve I got on this restaurant was a verry serve

    The food and this place I really recommended is starting from the service all the way to the end they pay attention where drinking and where you're taking home the waitress came over a few times asking ass if we need anything else that makes all the difference when you go to a restroom service

    Peg S.

    Nourishing, delicious and beautiful food (you can feel the care they put in every bite), as well as a welcoming and important community space!

    Fried Chicken Bowl with rice and slaw
    Ronni J.

    Great Place! I love that this is a co-working space + restaurant. Ordered the fried chicken bowl and it was pretty good. The place was clean the service was good. Only thing is the location, it's on international and the parking is not the best but overall a high rating

    Collective Brunch Platter
    Christy L.

    Underrated find!! I absolutely loved everything about Understory. The food was amazing, the staff were woke, and the atmosphere was devine. My mom, dad, and I shared the Collective Brunch Platter which was recommended for 2 people, but was enough to feed the 3 of us. I loved the flavor of the meats and brussel sprouts! I wish there were more waffles so we could each get a piece. My sister ordered the Papaya Veggie Burger w/ bean patty. I thought it was pretty good but she said that the patty was all burnt underneath. As for the drinks, the Tres Leches Matcha was the best. It was not too sweet and the flavors balanced perfectly! The Ube Horchata had a really strong rice flavor and was a bit grainy. My sister ordered her Strawberry Blossom without matcha or hojicha so that's why I think it tasted kinda funk. Overall, I'm so glad we stopped by and hope to come again!

    Vegan Ube Cheesecake ($12)
    Uday M.

    A belated review -- we ate here for the first time all the way back in June 2024, not realizing that they were closing their doors that same week. It was a quick shift from happy to sad, because we really enjoyed our meal. The Poblano Pasta and Fava Bean Burger were both great, and the Coconut Tart and Ube Cheesecake were worth trying also. It seems like their new location has a fresh menu so we look forward to tasting what they've come up with after all this time.

    Fun menus and menu offerings!
    Maria C.

    A truly unforgettable experience dining at Understory, their social media posts caught my attention several times and my husband and I finally had the chance to visit and organize a reunion with friends who live around the Bay Area and Sacramento. Parking is more available on 34th Ave since International Blvd is the busier street where the Fruitvale BART station is located (note: Apple Maps incorrectly redirects you to the old location so be mindful!). As it was our first time, I commented on their IG if reservations were needed but the restaurant owners replied it wasn't necessary and when we walked in, there was plenty of seating although several other guests were happily dining. We came during dinner during the final day of Oakland Restaurant Week and it was a warm welcome to see a college friend and now co-owner ushering us to a window corner near the front of the restaurant. The curated menu was fun and culturally inviting, since our group were happy Filipinos ready to order many items with familiar ingredients. The cocktails and mocktails were beautiful and delicious and the family-style entrees wowed everyone, which shouldn't be a surprise given the restaurant earned the famous James Beard award in 2022. Come during breakfast, lunch, or dinner and you will not be disappointed by the level of service and quality of drinks and dishes. Thank you for serving the community as a worker-owned business that shines beyond the meal.

    Mary T.

    Was excited to try this spot and my group and I shared tosilog, ube waffles w chicken, lugaw, and I had a pandan cold brew! Everything was not only beautifully presented but also tasted delicious and like a lot of thought was put into the dishes. Love the very creative drink menu and this is a good brunch option if you don't drink alcohol too. We shared everything and the lugaw was pay what you can. It felt like it took a little longer than usual for the food to come out but we didn't mind at all as we were chit chatting and enjoying the vibes. Love supporting a Filipino and worker owned spot and love that it's close to BART!

    Mango Pandan
    Patty P.

    Loved Understory when it was near old Oakland and was happy that it moved near Fruitvale BART, super close to the buses as well. Enjoyed all of the food! We tried a little of everything, papaya burger, Ukoy, short rib, lumpia, and desserts -- ube and choconut Lovely space, wonderful service, and delicious food! Check it out sometime!

    Tapsilog
    Lailan H.

    The new space in the Fruitvale is beautiful! We had a lovely family brunch during the soft opening, and everyone loved their dishes: chicken & waffles, tapsilog, pork sandwich & rice porridge all delicious. Plus the ube horchata & strong cold brew! :) Sweet staff, we love to support worker collectives! On weekends there is free parking at BART lot.

    Tortang Talong Burrito
    Jamm V.

    -- A Hidden Gem That Feels Like Home! My fiancé and I came here for breakfast and ended up coming back the same day for dinner -- that's how good it was! First off, the space is beautifully decorated with local art, each piece telling a story. The staff are warm, friendly, and make you feel right at home -- they genuinely take time to get to know you. Now the food... chef's kiss. The portions were huge (in the best way), and everything was packed with flavor. For breakfast, we had the tortang talong burrito, breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese, and bacon inside, kare kare empanada, and pandesal with ube butter. The tortang talong with a side of hot oil was perfection. The breakfast sandwich bread was soft, flavorful, and perfectly complemented the fillings. The kare kare empanada and pandesal with ube butter were to die for -- we loved them so much we ordered extras to take home. Everything is made in-house with locally sourced ingredients, and you can really taste the care that goes into it. For dinner, we tried the kare kare pasta, lechon chicken wings, and morcon -- and once again, the portions were made to share. Using palabok noodles for the kare kare is ingenious; every bite was rich and flavorful. The lechon chicken wings with their house-made Mang Tomas sauce were addicting (just add rice and I'm in heaven). And the morcon? Flavorful, tender, and packed with fillings. Their coffee is outstanding -- I tried two different kinds (pandan cold brew and tres leches matcha latte) and both were incredible. I can only imagine how amazing it will be once their liquor license kicks in and the bartenders start mixing cocktails. What really sets Understory apart is not just the food or the atmosphere, but their heart. They have a "Community Offering" program that provides food for those who can't afford it "no one turned away for lack of funds"-- a beautiful gesture that shows how much they care. We're officially fans and will 100% be back to try everything as the menu changes seasonally. Understory isn't just a restaurant -- it's an experience filled with flavor, warmth, and purpose.

    Jakina B.

    I would highly suggest going here the food is amazing and the staff are so nice drinks are on point as well you for sure won't be disappointed

    Ube butter!

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    3 months ago

    Sorry, but the 20% "service fee" keeps us from coming back here. Pay your employees a fair wage.

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    Lucky Three Seven

    4.2
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    OMG. This is definitely one of those hole-in-the-wall places that completely surprises you…read more We came here because our friend Warren recommended it, and now I understand why. It's tucked away in Oakland in a spot you might easily drive past without noticing. The setup is simple: order at the window, get a vibrating pager, then pick up your food when it's ready. They also have outdoor seating, which is perfect if you're bringing your dog along. They offer all kinds of silog meals, and honestly, before coming here, I thought all silog places were pretty much the same. While standing in line, I had no clue what to order. The special that day was the G Fire Short Ribs, and I kept going back and forth between trying something new or playing it safe. I ended up getting the pork tocino silog, and for the second dish, I almost ordered the spare short ribs. Thank God I got the G Fire Wings instead. OMG. OMG. OMG. These are hands down the BEST wings I've had in the Bay Area. The skin is crispy and crunchy, but the moment you bite in, the meat is unbelievably juicy. Seriously, when do you ever get wings that are actually juicy? Most wings are dry. Not these. The flavor, the sauce, the seasoning--everything is absolutely incredible. It's the kind of food that makes you lick every finger afterward. If it were socially acceptable to eat the bones too, I probably would have. And here's the funny thing: while I was in line, it seemed like everyone ordering was getting the G Fire Wings. Now I know why. If this place were closer to where I live, I'd be here all the time. I'm still thinking about those wings days later. The good news is we go to Oakland at least once a month for hiking and camping, and now Lucky Three Seven is officially part of the tradition. It'll either be our reward after finishing a hike or our stop before heading to camp. Thank you, Warren, for recommending this place. You absolutely nailed it. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5 (simple, casual, outdoor pet-friendly seating) Parking: Street parking; may take a little patience depending on the time of day.

    Street Filipino spot with a strong fry game. When you want wings, this is your spot…read more The menu is a little uneven overall. We ordered the chicken adobo plate, G-Fire wings, and pork lumpia. The wings were off the chart: hearty crunch on the outside and tender meat on the inside. The sauce tastes like honey and vinegar -- light and sweet and you come back for more. The pork in the lumpia was juicy -- maybe under-seasoned but the crispy wrapper made up for it. The steamed rice was slightly overdone in the way you don't mind when the entree is saucy. But the chicken adobo unfortunately had dried out in away that no sauce can save. Alas. When you need wings: get the rice plate and extra sauce.

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    FOB Kitchen

    FOB Kitchen

    4.2
    (750 reviews)
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    Came here on a Friday for lunch, we tried to come a few months ago but it's as closed on a Tues…read more The food was so amazing. My friend and I ordered the Pork Adobo, garlic rice , Lechon Kawali, and the Pancit. Every dish was so flavorful! We had the Baby and Junior mango drinks. Both were good The service was attentive and ambiance super chill. Will definitely be coming back! Friend already is planning to bring her out -of-town family when they come to visit early next month. It's a treat to have a Filipino food place that is so good, especially since there is not many around.

    Veggie Lumpia (7.5/10): Crispy, crunchy, and the vinegar sawsawan (dipping sauce) tasted like my…read moreown auntie made it. Lechon Kawali (8/10): This is the best lechon kawali I've ever had. Granted, I like when it's very crispy. I do wish the portions were a liiiil bit bigger. The soy sauce sawsawan for this was good too. Kabocha (6/10): The skin of the squash was so tough! I could not bite it. It was like a rock. But the coconut sauce was amazingly savory and rich. Unfortunately, the skin of the kabocha was just too tough to eat and the outer rind should have been removed. Bistek (9/10): The Picanha was a good choice. I enjoyed this contemporary take on bistek! It tasted like an elevated version of bistek, but still embraced tradition. I would definitely order this again! Mango Lemonade (7/10): Nothing too extraordinary, but it was refreshing and did the job. Palawan Sunrise (8/10): Refreshing and not overly sweet! We went around 6PM on a Sunday, and it was a small and relaxed space with beautiful Filipino inspired decor. Service was wonderful! Liliana checked on us frequently and made sure that our allergies were taken care of! Thanks, Liliana!

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    The Lumpia Company

    The Lumpia Company

    4.0
    (538 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Large group friendly

    I celebrated my birthday here and had about 50+ guests. I hired a DJ and plugged into their A/V…read moresystem. We partied until they closed. There was plenty of space with a great view! Lumpia and wings are the perfect food to eat throughout the day. Thank you, Alex! I hope Lumpia Company is around for a long time. p.s. I know this place is called Lumpia Company but their wings are must try. Highly underrated!

    The Lumpia Company failed to deliver the catering order for my kid's 1st birthday, despite the…read moreinvoice being paid in full ahead of the event. I worked with Alex to coordinate the menu and delivery, and communication was great throughout the planning process. I paid the invoice in full (over $660), but after payment, all communication stopped. On the day of the party, the food never arrived. Multiple calls, texts, and voicemails went unanswered, leaving us scrambling to order pizza for roughly 50 guests at the last minute. A couple of days later, I was finally able to get in touch with Alex. He apologized, issued a full refund, and also offered a gift card to make up for the situation. I appreciated the apology and the refund. Unfortunately, despite following up a couple of times, I never received the gift card and communication stopped again. I understand that mistakes can happen, but following through on commitments matters too. This experience was incredibly disappointing.

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    Señor Sisig

    Señor Sisig

    4.1
    (351 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Established in 2010

    This is such a cool fusion spot. As a proud filipino, I love finding places that showcase filipino…read moreflavors. I loved the decorations & design of the restaurant, especially the mural! The staff was friendly and the food came out fairly quickly. We ordered Sinigang Wings, Tosilog Burrito, the Sisig Burrito, the Calamansi-Ginger Limeade, and the Pandan Iced Tea. The Sinigang wings were good, but could use a bit more Sinigang flavor. The dipping sauce was sooooo good though. I loved the Tosilog burrito, because I am truly the biggest tocino lover. My boyfriend liked his sisig burrito, but wished the flavors were a little more filipino forward. The Calamansi-Ginger Limeade was sooooo delicious and refreshing, but I would not get the Pandan Iced tea again. Overall, I will definitely be back! I thought the food was really good, and such a fun way to enjoy some filipino fusion flavors.

    A special unique take on the tasty fusion of Filipino and Mexican cuisine bundled up in a delicious…read moreburrito. Burritos are just so comforting. A friend of mine really wanted to check out the Rapper Artist P-Lo inspired Burrito that consists of their classic burrito topped with Sweet Longaniza, a fried egg, and their savory Stunna Sauce (fiery habenero salsa). It was damn tasty with that egg yolk dripping down the side of the burrito. Support your local business!

    Photos
    Come check out our new interior!
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    New cantina where you can enjoy sports games with our specialty margaritas, highballs, and more in hand!
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    Kitchen Story

    Kitchen Story

    4.0
    (1.4k reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    Kitchen Story is my go-to for Korean-fusion brunch in Oakland (and it's on the way home from my…read morekids dentist so always a pit stop)! Kitchen Story nails the Korean-brunch mashup better than anywhere else I've found. The Kitchen Story benedict with millionaires bacon is a standout... crispy sweet and spicy bacon with poached eggs and hollandaise over asparagus and ciabatta toast, plus a side of crispy fried Yukon potatoes. The tornado eggs with galbi fried rice with that glossy brown gravy is another favorite, and the popcorn chicken (yes, served with actual popcorn mixed in) is a fun, addictive appetizer - or my 6yo favorite dish. Don't sleep on the stuffed French toast either, loaded with fresh fruit and a nice hit of powdered sugar. A few practical notes: this place is small and popular, so weekday visits or joining the virtual Yelp waitlist before you arrive is the move if you want to avoid a long wait. They also have a big TV that made watching World Cup games here a great bonus. My favorite detail, though: at the end of the meal they bring your receipt tucked inside a little book instead of just handing you a slip of paper. Such a charming, unexpected touch that makes the whole experience feel more special. Come hungry, come early (or waitlisted), and don't skip dessert-for-breakfast options. Highly recommend.

    Amazing food. Called to reserve a table for 10 on a Saturday morning one week in advance. They were…read moreable to accommodate us. Please be aware that there may be people reserved after if you are also reserving a table. We had to leave 1.5 hrs after and they did rush us to get our orders. The food was amazing though. I didn't think any one of us had complaints. We all loved the mango margarita. I particularly enjoyed the tornado omurice, they were also able to sub tofu for beef for my friend with food restrictions.

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    Mascarpone Stuffed Deep Fried French Toast the outside was more crunchy than expected. Was a bit tough to chew.
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    Pistahan

    Pistahan

    4.1
    (385 reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$

    I'm an addict. Came to try different dishes. All delicious! I really wish I could come during the…read morebuffet because I want to order and eat everything! This visit, we had: Tortang Talong - Well done. I love how the egg is crispy. The eggplant was cooked well. Tender and it wasn't greasy. Crispy Lechon topped with Dinuguan - The dinuguan is good! Then they top it with their signature crispy lechon! Heaven!! Guinataan Kalabasa with Green Beans and Tofu - Love how crisp the green beans are and the squash is cooked perfectly with bite. Not mushy! Halo-Halo - You can't go wrong with halo halo! Theirs comes topped with ube ice cream and a slice of leche flan. Service is always with a smile!

    As other reviewers have said, it is the customer service that is severely lacking. This place is…read morenot cheap, or even affordable. We went yesterday because we had family visiting and wanted to treat them to an authentic Filipino meal. We spent over $200 and tipped well. They were happy with the food, and enjoyed the portions, but the service was pretty lacking. We were the only table there. The did not check on us at all. We had to ask for water to be refilled. When it came time to take food to go, we had to ask for the container, bags, and the right sized containers and the right sized bags. The older woman with the jet black hair was the one who rude and dismissive. When I asked her for a larger bag, she said that was the largest one. I pointed out that we gave them a very generous tip and that I see larger brown bags, but she still did not offer me one. She was very defensive, and said she thought I was referring to a plastic bag. Folks, don't make the mistake of over tipping here. You don't get the service you expect and deserve. The food is good though, but the service sucks! We spent, with the tip, about $240.

    Photos
    Buffer counter
    Buffer counter
    Pancit Bihon
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    Understory - filipino - Updated July 2026

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