Teni East Kitchen

The story

Teni East Kitchen, Oakland – Bold Burmese Flavors, Michelin Bib Gourmand

On Oakland's Broadway, Teni East Kitchen serves the kind of food that makes you want to linger — a steady, confident express of Burmese cuisine that earned the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026 for its good quality, good value cooking.

The Menu

Start with a roti — fresh, fluffy bread with a curry dip that sets the tone. The Pea Shoot Salad is a Teni Signature: crisp cabbage, pea shoots, lime, fish sauce, and roasted nuts and seeds. "Crunchy and refreshing," as the menu notes. The Tea Leaf Kale Salad swaps in organic baby kale and fermented tea leaves for a more earthy, umami-driven bite. Gluten-free options are clearly marked, and many starters accommodate both.

Vegetable dishes are all vegan. The Coconut Veggie Curry is a warm bowl of coconut milk, bay leaves, cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms, tofu, and marble potatoes. Chickpea Tofu, made in-house, comes with a coconut garlic chili sauce. The Spicy Noodles — flat rice noodles with mixed veggies — are a simple, satisfying counterpoint.

Meat and fish dishes are where the kitchen's depth shows. Lamb Curry features slow-cooked grass-fed Australian lamb with a side of yogurt. Beef Curry also uses grass-fed beef, simmered with Yukon gold potatoes and red curry. The Crispy Spicy Catfish is a fresh fillet with tamarind balachung chili oil. There's a whole fried fish with lime chili sauce, and a seared Atlantic salmon with a side salad and vegetables. Curries like Chicken Cardamom and Coconut Bay Leaf Shrimp echo the same fragrant, layered spicing.

Desserts & Drinks

Dessert brings an Orange Saffron Almond Cake with coconut ice cream, or roti with coconut and ube ice cream. The cocktail list is playful, with names like Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery, and Totoro's Gimlet — each a well-considered mix of spirits and fresh ingredients. There are also mimosas, a solid wine list, and non-alcoholic drinks like Sparkling Calamansi Cooler and Mango Ginger Lassi.

Teni East Kitchen is a place that earns its recognition through care and consistency — Burmese cooking that feels both honest and refined.