I just grabbed a coffee at the recently reopened Lightbox Cafe, and truth be told, the neighborhood deserves to know that they have CHANGED--for the better. The original ownership team is back, wiping away the last few years of dismal execution. They've returned with a food-forward focus, a customer-centered approach, and an updated interior. When they reopened, I met one of the returning owners. She walked me through the menu, and I was surprised that my assumptions based on prior experience were so wrong. Their focus includes a Mexican flair, and I went with the tacos. They were great. In the course of a week, I gained a few pounds, repeatedly indulging in their good-as-(if I had a...)-Mom's carnitas tacos. Our trading desk migrates there daily at lunchtime, and the word is spreading through our office. The absence of crowds clearly reflects the past that still hangs over the Lightbox, which is selfishly great for me. Once the real/new Lightbox moves to the front of people's minds and becomes a target for the local downtown crowd, the ability to walk in and out with three wonderful carnitas tacos in 10 minutes will be gone. I recommend the Lightbox without reservation! Oh yeah, and as a celiac, I appreciate their willingness to ensure my food is gluten-free. read more

Light box cafe is a hidden gem in the sea of sandwiches n salads. We've ordered their breakfast burritos for the team, which were super good and great salsa. But the star of the show were the tacos. I tried the carnitas, al pastor, carne asada, and a bite of the chicken. Everything was good my fav being Al pastor, and the bite of chicken was really tender! You can see in the pic how loaded and full the tacos are. 3 taco plate w rice and beans: $12.99 4 tacos no beans about $12. 100% recommend read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a HUGE disappointment today! I had a very big order we placed online - we received confirmation & even paid. Head down with my group of 10+ to be told: "Sorry we don't take online orders" We show them the confirmation text & I was told: "Sorry it's a new POS so your order doesn't exist" Not only was I getting upset but the employee gave 0 F's and wasn't even apologetic. When I asked how long would it take to get our food if I re-order we were on a strict time frame I was told "I'll help you after I make their drink" Which is not what I needed to know - I needed to know 10 minutes 20 minutes 1 hour etc ‍ Why oh why would you continue accepting orders & payments online that don't mean anything. Half my group went to Sweet Greens 2 blocks away & had their food before we even finished Re-ordering! I'll have to think multiple times before we go back. In the past - this place was great. UPDATE - And they pushed the charge through so now we're trying to receive a refund on an order they didn't fill. read more

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Stop by for some breakfast and glad i did. Very clean restaurant with great service. I got the breakfast burrito and was it good read more

The Lightbox Cafe - a burrito with a side of fruit - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious food, good variety, and friendly staff! They also cater and have beer. Nice setting/decorations. read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Breakfast special $12 - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Surprisingly good Mexican food. Selections are limited but good burritos & tacos for a downtown lunch only spot in SF. You wouldn't know it by the looks of it. Plenty of seating inside too. read more

Ambiance: spacious modern interior with bold blue and yellow coloring. Casual. Clean Seating: ample indoor seating, with at least 9 spots for booth sitting. Food: sandwiches, salads, breakfast and brunch. I ate the Turkey and cranberry sandwich and all is fresh, unique flavor, and great ciabatta bun Drink: good coffee and espresso drinks, macha. Vegan milk option is oat milk Service: order at the counter and they bring to your table. Friendly. read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Turkey sandwhich - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here with my coworkers for lunch. We had a pretty big party and they were really accommodating. I like the interior, it has that clean cafe feel. I like that all the framed photos on the walls are of lights. Lights boxed in frames... Lightbox! Haha I get it The staff was wonderful. We called in ahead of time about our large lunch order. When we got there, they already prepared the tables for us with water pitchers, cups, napkins, forks and knives! And provided us with chips and salsas too! Again, very nice friendly staff, we felt really welcomed. I had the breakfast burrito with pork sausage and bacon added on. It was the perfect size, I was full and felt like I got my moneys first. It's gonna sound odd to say this, but it tasted like a breakfast burrito. Hah what I mean by this is that instead of potatoes like you would normally find in a breakfast burrito, you get pico de gallo and avocado like you would find in a regular burrito. It can only be described as a breakfast burrito-burrito. Lightbox opened right before the lockdown. Covid delayed opening for months, and when they finally opened. The office building next to them converted to work from home. It's unfortunately, but I'm hoping Lightbox stays around! There are some really great people working here! read more

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Very bold move to open during a pandemic in the FiDi when most office workers are still at home. Looks like a typical FiDi sandwich & salad joint, except with some Latin flairs. I'm still really feeling that Al Pastor Pizza, which has the potential to become the next fusion food trend, if refined a bit. Spicy Havana: This was an interesting approximation of a Cubano. The crispy carnitas was actually fun standin for pernil since it added extra crunch. The ham and swiss were pretty common. The pickles were only a few small slices instead of long slices covering the whole sandwich. There were some pickled jalapeño too, which added a nice kick, but I still would have preferred more pickles. The weirdest part was that regular old white bread was used in a panini press. So, hence, why I call it an approximation of a Cubano. So not like something you'd get in NYC or Miami, but much more exciting than regular old sandwiches in the FiDi. They included a lot of different hot sauce packets (Tapatío, Cholula, Tabasco) and shockingly it was the Tabasco Green Jalapeño sauce that paired the best. Al Pastor Pizza: I have so many mixed emotions. So the al pastor was really good. Very heavily spiced and a nice firm texture. The pizza, unfortunately, tasted like mediocre frozen pizza. And it was kinda small. But the combination of al pastor and pizza (even mediocre pizza) was amazing! Like think of how much you like pepperoni or sausage pizza then multiple that 3x since al pastor is a superior pork topping! Sticky Bun: Kinda meh. Looks cool with all the pecans on top. Not that sticky actually. And not much yummy cinnamon between the roll layers. And very dry. read more

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Super bright and not great atmosphere. Not sure why they have white claws first thing the morning

The waitress, Dollie, is very nice & friendly. The staff makes sure that you're well taken care of. I pre-ordered & pick up was easy smooth. Everything I tried was delicious. Definitely coming back read more

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I put an order in online on 6/19. Received confirmation and time to pick up the order. I go to Lightbox Cafe to pick up my order and it was closed! I called the next day and the woman who answered the phone said "oh we were closed for Juneteenth!" Ok fine but then why was my online order accepted and why was I charged if you were closed. She stated that she did not deal with online orders and I needed to speak to Hugo. I left my name and number. Haven't heard back. Tried calling a few times today: first call they picked up the phone but then hung up, I called a few times after it they kept sending it straight to voicemail. I have yet to speak to Hugo nor anyone else to discuss refunding my money. I see another reviewer had the same issue of being charged but received no food. Disgraceful. read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had the spicy havana which was really filling and tasty. The potato chips were a bit soggy but it was delivery so not super unexpected.

Didn't get any pictures, I guess I was too hungry. Got the hummus avocado tomato toast and a custom vegan breakfast burrito- just ask for what you want. Very helpful and friendly stuff. Was delicious not too big. read more

Oh man....I cant wait to be able to sit inside this place and enjoy a meal! The Lightbox cafe is a welcomed view to the place it was before...I cant remember the name of it but I got chips there a couple of times... (Not impressed obviously). Seriously tho..the owner of this place put a lot of time and effort into redecorating the space. Originally suppose to open up in March...it had a 6 month delay due to Covid-19 and only made its mark to a slow but gaining crowd of people in the area. Even though I work right across the way Ive been hesitant to try it out..but since my work cafe was closed and I was super hungry..."why not today"?. Im glad I did...The staff was super friendly and clean. I will be making more trips in the future! read more

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Cute and delicious little spot in SF. Food was great, location is centrally located near the Marina. Love that they serve beer read more

wow, did i really just spend $20 pre-tip for this? maybe i got the wrong thing, and other menu items are more fittingly priced. who knows. but i feel duped by this 'meal' and am never coming back as a result. guess i will never know! read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

The people here are really nice. The inside is really clean and modern. It'll make a great place to have a nice lunch inside. Great for large groups too. They have lots of different drinks, pastries, desserts, and snacks. The lunch menu is pretty good. I got the Cesar salad with chicken and it's huge! The portions are really big. The salad was good, light and crunchy. The burrito salad was really average. It's supposed to be a popular item though? I saw that they were setting up for an outdoor party / happy hour right outside on their patio area. It's covered and private and would make a great spot for a little team event. read more

Very disappointing over several visits Burned breakfast sandwich one time Lost order another and impolite read more

WOW! was looking for a place to do some work and found this one. immediately walking in, the food smelled so delicious! got an iced vanilla latte- it was only $5-6 for what looks like 20oz (with syrup)! workers were very friendly and such a clean space! free wifi and plenty of seating options so great for working!! would definitely recommend!! read more

The Lightbox Cafe - inside area - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pretty good food for the price! The menu/location will be awesome for those who return back to the office. It's also good for those of us that live nearby. I enjoyed the food and the staff was nice. They did a really nice job redoing the restaurant from what it used to look like. read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Tex Mex Salad with Carne Asada and balsamic dressing. Also carne asada tacos. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Me and my fiance were visiting from the East Coast and our flight got in and we were looking for somewhere quick and cheap to grab a bite to eat. This place was absoulelty delicious. Great food with a healthy amount of choices. The workers were so friendly and helpful. And the place itself was very clean and spacious. For sure a place to check out! read more

Great lunch and happy hour spot! I love their cobb salad and bruschetta. They have Wine Wednesday and really good light bites. I'm excited to try breakfast next! read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Convenient location downtown SF. The food was fresh and very good. Service was quick and the prices were great.

Was waiting looking for a coffee shop to pass some time and came across this place. Immediately you see this cool hipster vibe to it and Went in and caught the happy hour menu. I order some impossible sliders and a cider and was only 10 bucks. Combining the price with the setting it's a must for local coffee shop connoisseurs. read more

This place has a really nice vibe!! Food is super yummy and the drinks are great! Definitely a spot that's worth to check out. read more

The Lightbox Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Quaint cafe in the Financial District. Excellent service and the owner was very personable. We ordered a croissant, avocado toast and several pastries. They were all fresh, favorable and the coffee was awesome!! read more

Really good turkey and avocado sandwich that came with chips. A little heavy on the mayo but all around good portion size and flavors.

Recently tried this spot (unfortunately they recently closed until more businesses open nearby) but it was a great experience. The food is great and each time I went there I met each of the owners who were super friendly. The food is well priced and delicious and they give a healthy portion of avocado (if it's part of your food). If it was a normal time I am sure I would have spent numerous happy hours here. Bummer to see them close so soon but I hope they reopen. read more

This spot is a bit hidden but it is so cute! They are open for outdoor dining and takeout too. I ordered a breakfast burrito and it was really delicious and an awesome price. The staff was also really nice, friendly, and had quick service. I also loved that just a couple blocks away, there is an amazing view of the Bay Bridge! I would definitely recommend to a friend. read more

me and my friends were walking around san fran and couldn't find a coffee shop that was open for some reason! we stumbled across this place, it was super clean and cute and the customer service was greater than we thought! we didn't catch her name, but the woman at the counter was so sweet to us and very outgoing, and you can tell she actually enjoys her job, which is so refreshing these days! she made our day! the food and drinks were great and affordable. read more

Burrito was pretty good, though Pico de Gallo had little kick to it. Kale salad was delish but they gave us the wrong dressing. No time to ask for a new one. Very clean and comfy space. We'll be back. read more

The staff is very nice & friendly. Pre-ordered & pick up was easy smooth. Everything I tried was delicious. Definitely coming back, recommend 100% read more

I've had most of the sandwiches here. There all amazing. Specially the spicy Havana. You can tell that everything is made fresh, I always get my coffee here read more

Amazing new cafe in the east cut/embarcadero area. They have a great variety of options including vegetarian/vegan. I had the impossible meat burrito and loved it, also looked to have great breakfast options. Nice beer/drink selection with a solid coffee menu as well. I will definitely be coming back here often. read more

This cafe is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. I highly recommend their lattes and the tasty breakfast sandwich several other reviewers mentioned. I'm definitely planning to return another time to try out their lunch offerings. This spot is an inviting space with welcoming service! read more

Great food and service. Very open environment and clean. Has outdoor seating and spaced out seating inside.

Amazing food and 5 star service! If I could give a 6 star review, I would. Our barista/ waitress was so kind :) She went out of her way to help us and was super helpful. I would 100% go there again! read more

We tried this place for the first time today and totally loved it. Their breakfast sandwich is one of the best I've ever had. Simple but delicious. I recommend ordering it with the English muffin and bacon. Their pastries were also fresh and tasty. Give this place a try. We'll definitely come back. read more