Owner Desmond Tan didn't pick Oakland because it was trendy. He picked it because it made sense. Early on, he saw what was happening here: Oakland and San Francisco, like Brooklyn and Manhattan. One's got the grit, the soul, the realness. The other's got the name. Oakland got the vision.
The restaurant fits its setting — active, grounded, humble, diverse, and moving to its own rhythm. The menu stays true to what works: layered, balanced, all about flavor. Tea leaf salad, samusa soup, platha — most of these dishes have been there since day one. No reservations needed. Just show up. The food's worth it, and the people serving it actually care.






