the soup line literally moves fast here. once you make your choice, the cashier automatically knows your choice and is ready to ring you up when you get to the end of the line. you then bag ur own food to go. eats:new england clam chowder (5.98) with piece of sourdough -sourdough was very good -soup, watery, semicreamy, with lots of potato and some chewy clam -better marketed as cream of potato soup. -canned soup tastes better, cheaper soup notes: -pricing varies for different soup items -tip jar at register, huh? read more

A steaming bowl of soup to chase the chilly day away. Yep. My stomach got what she wanted! While downtown Oakland has some decent eateries, I'm so glad there's one here. My favs are the split smoky pea & the chicken Mexican tortilla. Your order comes with a piece of bread. Can I have two pieces instead? More soup, please! read more

I was born in San Francisco and I know San Francisco but this place does not taste like its from San Francisco or even Oakland. Mediocre soup and sandwiches plus overpriced in Oakland. read more

OMTS Shatangi likes soup. I was cursing myself all the way back to my office for spending $6 on a big cup of soup and a piece of bread but the Italian Weedding soup is off the hizzle. Fresh ingredients. The service with a smile is appreciated as well. Shatangi told you read more

I personally like to have hot soup from SF Soup Co for lunch, because it's relatively fast and easy to get, healthy, and satisfying. A small (or regular) sized one will fill me up and warm me up. Their breads are always so inviting but I try to stay away bc it becomes a little heavy. My personal faves are the bisques (lobster or shrimp) and they give you some rice at the bottom....MMmmm... good. I know everyone raves about Mexican Tortilla but I thought it was just okay? So was the tomatoe bisque. All in all, it's a pretty average place, and a little pricey. Sometimes, it's a hit or miss. But it's fast, decent, convenient, so three stars. read more

I love this place. Their soups are good. I like how you can get a soup and bread. The salads and Pesto Turkey sandwich is sooo good. I like the Clam Chowder. I could eat here a couple of times a week but then I would get FAT. read more

I have to admit I was skeptical. Great soup from some chain-looking, Starbucks appearing, cookie cutter business lunch place? The roasted garlic and sun dried tomato soup was quite delicious, and the sourdough bread that came with it was perfect for dippin'. Hot Soup! read more

I work nearby and this is my favorite place to grab lunch! The people working there are very friendly and efficient; 95% of the time I am in and out of this place in 3 minutes, which is great when I need to get back to the office quickly. They also have a good amount of indoor seating if you want to eat your meal there. The piece of bread you receive with your soup is always soft. My favorite soups are the Southwestern Corn Chowder and the Tomato Bisque! I come here a few times per week because of the great service and the great soup. read more

I subscribed the email list and got free soup last week. I trekked a few blocks from work in the rain for this soup I had heard would be amazing. I ordered the Shrimp Bisque. Gluten free! I had actually emailed the company and asked if gluten free really meant gluten free, like the kind of gluten free that is safe for people with Celiac disease. They assured me they take precautions to prevent cross contamination and I was watching closely while I waited in line and made sure there wasn't anything sloppy about the way they handled the soup. Yeah, having Celiac disease has made me a gluten Nazi. I actually rarely eat out anymore because the risk of getting sick just isn't worth it to me, so it says a lot that I was even willing to go to the SF Soup Company at all. When I showed the guy at the check out the email on my phone saying I won a free soup he was a bit surly about the fact that I hadn't printed out the email. I thought I was being a responsible earthling by not wasting paper when I could just bring the email on my phone. Besides, the email said to just bring the email. There was no mention of printing! The soup itself was delish. I'm not sure I would pay their prices on any sort of regular, or even irregular basis, but I definitely enjoyed it for being free. Oh, and their spoon cut the side of my mouth. I did not enjoy that. read more

Omg!! I need one of these in my town! Healthy and tasty! I had the winter vegetable detox soup w kelp noodles and it was so good. The kelp noodles made the dish interesting and fun! I also had a salad. All the ingredients were so fresh. I'd eat here almost daily if it were closer. read more

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I used to be able to say... "yeah, I know it's overpriced soup but you get what you pay for and the quality is top notch!" I retract. Looks like 2010 is a cost optimizing year for SF Soup Company. Not a good bet, my friend, when quality is your reason for being. Sure I can go to the hole in the walls for cheap soup, but I come to SF Soup Co for delicious, big, shredded chicken pieces in Grandma Mary's Chicken Soup, or tender chunks of white meat in the Chicken Tortilla Soup. Not any more. Today I sampled the Greek Lemon Chicken and decided against it because the chunks of dark meat chicken tasted chewy and gross. So I opted for one of my go-to Daily Specials Chicken Shiitake and Bok Choy. I got back to my desk and was surprised to find that same gross dark meat chunks of chicken mixed into this tried and true standby. I'm disappointed, Soup Co! I thought my $$ was worth something to you! read more

I don't come here for the soup. Cuz soup is boring and quite frankly for pussies. I mean, if I'm eating, I want to actually eat something. I come here for their sandwiches. They are these little bundles of celophane-wrapped yummies--I imagine that they have a someone's gramma locked in the back room to make these cuz they really do taste homemade. My faves are the tuna salad and the egg salad because they put somethin in there to make them sweet and herbed. Maybe it's crack cuz I can't get enough of em. The bread is really good, too. They also havea veggie option in a wrap (kinda lame) and a hummus wrap (but the wrap is not lame for this one) which are pretty good but not like the tuna and egg morsels of goodness. If I do opt for soup, I usually get the split pea. A lot of people take issue with split pea soup--why they gotta be such haters? It's good here and one of the only soups that is actually filling. Gimme a meal, dammit. read more

What happened? My normally satisfying soup and hunk of bread became a light snack. The chicken was sparse and bread was about a third the size of what I remembered. There are plenty of other places to choose from for less $$$ (Chinatown is just a few blocks away). I will try again, perhaps the delivery truck got a flat or the bakery was on strike or chickens escaped...Don't lose me please!! read more

UPDATE: The owner reached out to me with a "I'll give you a free meal" chance. That's cool and all, but your business has actual consistency issues. I've address the closing early, the lack of options post 2pm. I give it 1 star because 0 is not an option for management/ownership, overly pricey, and just poor business. I'm only giving two stars because it's a rather clean restaurant with prompt service. Where it fell downhill for me? The salads are 75-80% lettuce/greens and 25% everything else (this including the protein). That was just a disappointment in itself. I could have gone somewhere else to get a filling and healthy meal for $13. The atmosphere in this place is practically closed down an hour before it's closing time (3pm) and not welcoming. There's no music. There's always someone sweeping up and putting up chairs well before 3pm that you would think they close at 2pm. By 2:30pm they're not even making salads anymore because they put everything away! How is that okay when the core of your food is LADLE & LEAF BUT JUST LADLE? They need some management change or concept change. Will not be returning read more

How pleased am I that we have a San Francisco Soup Company in Oakland? VERY! I LOVE soup! Love it! And often times I find myself wishing there were more eateries dedicated to soup. You can imagine how stoked I was to find out that SF Soup had a shop in downtown Oakland. Selection is great, soup is good and prices are reasonable. Long lines move quickly and service levels are just dandy! I'll be back plenty this winter season. read more

They put bacon in their clam chowder!!!! It was amazing! They're sourdough is good too! Corn chowder Was a little disappointing. It was too sweet, and felt like it would give me heartburn if I had a weaker sphincter (like my gf). Still, it's good soup, and conveniently located. read more

I love the soup here at the San Francisco Soup Company... Its pretty good for a chain restaurant with stock recipes. However, the only reason to go to this particular location is to gaze upon the beauty of the numerous females enjoying their lunch break with some tasty bread and warm soup... For that very reason, this place gets PAAAAACKED! Take my advice, grab your table first-then order your soup. And hopefully when you get back to your table all your stuff will still be there... lol read more

Big, hearty, delicious salads! I come here at least once a week for lunch. Their produce is fresh and clean and they have a great selection of add-ons and dressings. They also throw in a big chunk of sourdough bread. They also have a selection of soups, but I find them a bit too high in salt. Prices a bit high, but on par with their downtown location. The line can be long during the noon hour, so swing by around a bit before or after to beat the rush. read more

I normally wouldnt review a chain place like this, but I am consistently happy w/ the soups here. They have a good selection that changes (maybe rotates is the more accurate word) daily. There are a few staples and a good number that are on and off the menu. Every time I see the West African Peanut soup, I HAVE to get it. I haven't found any other place that even serves it, but I have a hard time thinking it could be significantly better elsewhere. Its like a peanuty chicken curry. Not the cheapest choice in the area, but 8 bucks for a large soup and sandwich/salad combo is reasonable to me. Great for cold days! read more

$5.50 for a regular sized soup with a hunk of sourdough bread. I like the clam chowder. I add crushed red pepper and black pepper and slather my sourdough with butter. The regular sized bowl is good for a hunger rate of 6.5 (from 1-10) The lines are long and they move relatively fast. I bought their egg sandwich and it wasn't very good. Not enough spices. Next time, I'll try the organic lentil soup. Or maybe the corn chowder. GOOD EATS!! read more

Went to Ladle & Leaf today to see if they had my favorite soup Lobster Bisque and to my surprise they did. I ordered a large and walked back to the office to eat it. To my surprise, it had a Strong Vinegar taste to it and it reminded me of some sort of pumpkin based soup and not lobster or seafood. I tried phoning them to inform them of this and got no answer. It is entirely too much money to waste. read more

I love soup. Been wanting to try this place it has several choices. I tired clam chowder and chicken soup both good. I'll be back to try more types No line. Easy in and out read more

Yum! I tend to be a big eater and was suspicious of the idea of having soup for lunch.... I was pleasantly surprised by how filling it was. I had the Chicken Tortilla Soup (always a favorite) and a half a sandwich. The soup was great - the sandwich was just so-so. I guess that's why it's not called the San Francisco Sandwich Company... read more

So I've tried the soup here and the one in SFO, and I think the soup here is better. On a cold day, what's better than healthy, delicious, low calorie soup? I use to come here for lunch, and my favorites have to be Tomato Bisque and the Mexican Chicken Tortilla soup. If you're not sure what's good, you can ask for a sample.. if the line's not too long, you can ask for them until you find the soup you like. read more

I always get the split pea with ham and they add cilantro on the top (they always ask if you'd like cilantro). It's consistent and really good! It tastes like there's not a lot of fat in it either so hopefully it is low fat. Lots of small carrots and tiny bits of tomato. The small size with a roll is a little over five dollars. Today is one of those cloudy/rainy days where soup hits the spot! I've had the tortilla chicken before too and it's very good! read more

I only order the Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup. It's sooo good, esp on cold days. It fills me up enough with the piece of bread, granted I have a big appetite too. read more

I hit the chicken chorizo and kale soup with half an egg sandwich on wheat last week. It was an experience I would gladly repeat. The egg sandwich was nothing amazing nor terrible, but the soup, wow! Delicious and filling. read more

Consistently good soup and sandwiches at a good value. I know that regardless of what I order, it'll be good. Maybe not amazing, but good. And you can't say that about a lot of competitors. read more

The chicken tortilla and Mexican wedding soups are rock-star!!!!!! You can find the daily specials and all the nutritional info on their webpage. All of the soups are made fresh. They do cost more than canned soups, but they're WAY healthier. I just wish there were more east bay locations. read more

Sometimes, when you are under the weather, you just need some Chicken Noodle Soup... I was in this state on a business trip and wandered into San Francisco Soup Co in need of some home cooked love. It did not disappoint. The soup was paired with a delicious bread and loaded with tender chicken and a garden of vegetables. Judging by the wide range of soup options available, I can see myself stopping back in for lunch while in the area to try something a little more adventurous. read more

I've tried a few different kinds of soup shared with colleagues, soups were all tasty. I like the fact that the menu has common allergen indication. I tried their bowl for the first time and it was huge, very reasonably priced. I wasn't sure what they mean by 'heavy, medium, or light' for the dressing. I chose medium and it was pretty spicy. I'll ask if it's the spice or density or something else. Hope they have more dairy free options on a bowl, may try to ask them to make one without cheese. read more

The soup is decent, but not as good as the soup at Panera (though the closest one to SF might be down in Gilroy). I had cheddar broccoli and, while good, it didn't have any of the chunks of broccoli that I like. The bread is quite nice and excellent for dipping. And I like that you can pick out which piece you want rather then have them give you whatever. And, of course, it's ridiculously convenient to anyone working around "city center." Do people actually call it that? 12th st.? That's not really accurate either... read more

OK soup, yummy sourdough bread, I wish they had healthier selections though. What I do like is that since I joined their email list, I have received free soup twice, and for $2.00 you can get a reusable bowl that gets you a discount on the soup. For an office district lunch place, it does the trick. Sort of. read more

Always great for lunch! Quick help at an exceptional cost. I am able to park, grab lunch and be at work in 30min. Sandwiches are fresh at perfect portions. I enjoy the turkey chili topped off with cheddar cheese. Delicious chunky soups all the time! read more

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+ THE FOOD Great selection of soups and all of them are delicious. Even though the regular bowl looks small, it can be pretty filling. I usually order a half salad or half sandwich with the meal. The dressing with the spring salad is kinda too strong for my liking so I usually eat that one plain. The turkey pesto sandwich is one of my favorites. Perfect pesto flavor but not too overpowering and it's filling. + THE SERVICE Fast line! Everyone is extremely efficient here and I love it! Even when I see somewhat of a line forming, I'm not worried since everyone works quickly. - THE PRICES It is pretty expensive and the money adds up if you're going here pretty often during lunch breaks! A regular soup is already $6+ and if you add a salad or sandwich, it's another $3-4+ on top. read more

Not good. Ran in to order some clam chowder and it tasted like celery soup. Had my partner taste it before saying anything and she explained: Tastes like celery... Not good. 1 star for cleanliness and another for prompt assistance. read more

Overall, I am glad that this place is no longer one of my few lunch options. Yes, I just left work that was located at the City Center in Oakland. I don't think that a small cup of soup is worth $6, and I wish they had more healthier "traditional" soups that they kept on the menu daily. Everything is so heavy with cream and corn starch that I sometimes feel like I am lapping up baby food. Harsh, I know, but when the highlight of your workday is your lunch, I want something good. And no, I won't go to Popeye's Chicken. My favorite soup of there is the Exotic Cream of Mushroom. I only go for this if I feel like something creamy and delicious, and a piece of bread and butter with it. But, I will usually go for something vegan, such as the corn chowder or Indian lentil. Both are pretty good and are healthier for you and will give you a good frame of mind while you waste your day in the gray box. Also, I like to have some fruit with my lunch, and I think the cups of fruit here are way over priced. I will never pay over $3 for a cup of melon and 5 grapes. NEVER. But, I will pay .75 cents for an apple. Yum! read more

I come here every once in a while for a little variety. And every time I think I should know better. The food is decent but not great. A friend once found a hair in her soup, though, so you have to be extra careful. The layout is terrible. You line wraps around and runs up against the row of people sitting and eating. The area where you pick up cutlery and drinks is always backed up because there is no flow from one end to the other. The tables are filthy. They never have anyone cleaning the dining room during lunch rush. They always run out of trays and then simply wipe them down with dirty rags. And on top of that the staff is usually short and rude with customers. There are definitely much better places to go in Downtown Oakland. read more

Wow!! Amazing quality of food after leaving dreadful IRS office, came right as they opened and they were extremely polite and let us take our time. Ingredients are fresh as heck, and if that's not enough they offer extras for free to you such as silantro and blue corn chips. Two small bowls of soup which were for myself and my mother, extremely filling as they come with pick-your-own-bread, they give you the tongs and then you pick the piece of bread. Mexican Chicken Tortilla, I took a good 6" end piece of a sourdough baguette and then the gentleman(wish I got his name) offered me silantro, cheese, chips, etc. Flavor was bold and the spices tingled your tongue everytime you took a scoop. Silantro was refreshing. My mom took a split pea which came with potatoes and bacon, and the same cut of bread. Really bold flavor just like the tortilla soup. Tasted home made and extremely organic. We'll be sure to come back here next time we're at Clay! (or that IRS office. . . .) read more

This place has fast service, even with long lines, and has a good selection if you are in the downtown oakland area. Pricing is pretty decent as well. I recommend trying samples of what you think you want before getting a cup of it. My favorites are clam chowder, turkey chili, & the rainbow salad. I tried their roast beef and chicken half sandwich and they looks better than they taste. They were both very dry. read more