Rona F.

This place ticks so many boxes for me, including a few that I didn't know I needed; delish food and FILIPINO food at that--tasty and with a unique fusion twist to some of the dishes that does not take away from their Pin@y roots but just enhances them, super friendly staff, QTPOC-centered, welcoming, clean, spacious, good music, close to my house and worker owned on top of all that!? I mean come on. Plus it's a vibrant hub for so much good community activity and activism that I just feel good spending my money here. It's not cheap but the portions are generous and the food is clearly made and served with so much love. Understory is an example of what the world could look like if we prioritized people and community care over big corporations and profit over all. Thank you Understory for showing us how beautiful this world can be!

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.