Dear lunch box Your place rocks Call ahead if you will for some hearty eats, some grill (ed) Mac n' cheese I often order Comes with a tasty garden salad on its border For seven clams Thank goodness, no Spam But a big dollop of cheesy love you'll get It will hit the spot; you'll be set PS. Need to try one of your hot sandwiches another time. read more

Chaotically entertaining and deliciously fulfilling. They have everything from soups and salads to wraps and sandwiches. I ordered their soup and salad combo, and the soup alone was enough to keep me full. Their sandwiches are also pretty sizable. Needless to say, they are quite generous in serving portions. This place is insanely busy. The line was out the door! When it was my turn to order...one of the workers sprinted out the door to wiggle his way out of a parking ticket (but to no avail) and another was swooning over a gentleman with a British accent...I was told that this was "normal." Amidst the chaos, my order came out within 10 minutes. With such spunky workers and a lively environment, I wouldn't have minded the longer wait time. Note: This isn't the best "dine-in" place since seating is limited and there isn't much table space for you to put your food on. Most people just order it to-go. read more

This place is in my regular lunch rotation (once or twice a week) since it's pretty tasty for the meat and the homestyle comfort dishes,and it's pretty darn fast. I think the owners are husband and wife. They're both great and she's especially great since she's totally friendly and helpful while keeping things moving. It's a rare combination both fast, helpful and good. The vegetables and salads are passable, but the dishes that are "home cooked" are the best. If you get a sandwich, get one of the ones with their own cooked meats (baked turkey, meatloaf, brisket, for example). If you're going to just get cold cut lunchmeats then why bother coming here, you can get that stuff everywhere. You can also get "plates" if you prefer. Stuff like lasagna and meatloaf. Yes, their soups are decent, probably better than their salads, to me. There isn't much room to eat here--mostly catering to the businesses in the neighborhood and take out. You can stay and sit at a stool along the wall if you want but most people don't. Even at their busiest during lunch when they have big crowds of people, I don't think I've ever waiting longer than 5 minutes to get my food. There are other places in the neighborhood that have good sandwiches (like Aroma Cafe), but The Lunch Box fills the void of good, fast, and relatively inexpensive when the wait at other places is much longer. read more

My husband wasn't thrilled with his brisket because it had BBQ sauce, but I loved my sandwhich read more

The Lunch Box - Cornbeef on Dutch crunch with American cheese and garlic olive spread.... Yum! - Sandwiches Near Me - Oakland, California

First timer here, so I am giving the 3 stars based specifically on my first experience here :-) Lucked up on a park across the street.Yay. People were standing out front, so I thought damn I'm gon have to wait. But whatever. Got inside and noticed it's a small place so even though people were outside, waiting, it wasn't crowded. There were so many salads and sandwiches to choose from. Great menu. You speak your order at the counter near the fridge. I went with the chef salad and balsamic dressing. There were about ten different dressings you can choose from that you have an option to either get it tossed or on the side. Toss it up for me. You give them a name to use on your ticket and edit for it to be called out. I went outside to people watch and talk with my cousin. We had a five minute conversation and then my name was called. Cool. Go back in and go to the register. When I saw my salad in the large container, I was extremely pleased. Couldn't wait to open that up and tear a patch out of it.$6.50 for that salad? That's a great deal. When I started eating it, I was satisfied with.the freshness and the amount of veggies but too much lettuce. Not a biggie but the ratio wasn't quite right. I shall return to eat a few more salads off that menu though read more

Tasty sandwiches and good customer service. Not a spot for a quiet dine-in lunch, but if you're grabbing to go, perfect. They have Dutch Crunch - which I adore! And if you are ordering for a crowd, you just might get comped an extra sandwich. They are that nice! read more

I had my order picked up for me - - so this is purely for my sandwich. One word. Puuuuurfect. It was exactly what I wanted. Hard Sour Dough, yes please. Also, the mac n' cheese, damn good. 2nd time, went in - - best Italian combo! 3rd time, delivered- - best Italian combo! read more

Awesome grab & go place. Pro: - the sandwiches are SO good - so many options, and they are all so damn good - staffs are super lovely - decent price (~$7.50) for a big sandwich Con: - line could get long read more

So good!!! This place has been on my yelp bookmark for sometime and I finally got a chance to eat there, Im hooked. The BBQ brisket is my favorite! Its never tough and it just melts in your mouth. I really want to try the fried chicken salad but I always afraid I will just be too full after my sandwich. Everyone is right about the speed, I love how they get everyone in and out. read more

Been meaning to go here and finally did. Been here 4 times now and the first three were on POINT!! The jazzy lunch feel, personable cashier and host per se. I ordered the pastrami on a toasted seeded roll...and it was GREAT ~ the first three times. Time #4, they were out of seeded bread, didn't toast the sourdough replacement and the pastrami seemed undercooked? So for the hit and miss ~ minus one star. Still, I will be back. Gotta fill up the stamp card to get a free sandwich! :-) read more

Freshness you can see & taste!! This is my go-to shop for lunch at least twice a week. They provide fast service, take credit cards, good portions and above all, reasonable prices!! Happy Eatings!! read more

Food is okay , but the service just gets more crazy , they don't listen very well , they need a better system to handle there rush yelling at the kid at the counter and have him chase customers. Who they forgot to charge to bring them back to pay is Embarrassing... {not me but another customer } I think the kid is about 20 and the mom speaks to him as if he's 15 I would quit and say F this family business .. on top of that they argue and use profanity in front of customers , the guy even tried to fight a door dasher , hi SiR!! This is a business you do know that correct ? Speak to your customers with respect because they are who keep your doors open FYI. Overall some stuff is pretty tasty on the other hand it's not with taking a trip to the Zoo to grab lunch !!! read more

I love this place!! I love it mostly for the Roasted Turkey sandwich though. Warm, juicy turkey meat (not that deli crap) with avocado and swiss cheese! Make sure to ask for the garlic medley (that gets a 5 star all on its own). SALADS HERE ARE ALSO AMAZING (though a bit on the pricey side) The only sucky thing about this place is that it closes at 3:30. What happens when I'm craving a Roasted Turkey sandwich at 4:00?! read more

Fast and friendly! This is more like an on-the-go spot; there are a few chairs, but most people pick up their salad/sandwich and leave. Everything is made to order so you can customize your food as you please. I tried the Mediterranean salad and added chicken. Relatively basic, but it was tasty and I have nothing to complain about. Also, for those of you who are still like me and are snack fiends, they have a wide array of chips and candy. Even with a line I was in and out within 10 mins. They have a stamp card too, so don't forget to ask! Also, it's a small spot so there's only street parking. read more

Very solid sandwich. Busy, owner works the counter, is cool and fast. Knows his stuff. I came here since I was doing a meeting down the street. If I am back here, I will stop in. Good food, people and prices. read more

Had the roast beef on Dutch crunch with the olive and garlic tapenade. Good flavor, but I'm not that big of a garlic fan. Also ordered the Italian sausage on Dutch crunch which was good too. Would eat there again. read more

YES! Just found this place today and I already can't wait to go back. Great prices & I have enough leftovers for dinner! Amazing selection of drinks, chips & some candy :) The guy who took my order, who may have been the owner, was offering samples & recommended a few top sellers. I thought that was SO nice. You don't get service like that anymore. Very patient & passionate. Love this place!! read more

I've been here at least 6 or 7 times if not more because it's that good. I love their pulled pork and brisket on Dutch Crunch, both with everything on it (lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard, cheese) but no tepenade. Tastes excellent. It's literally a few steps from my job, so I love it and go there often for lunch. They have a wide variety of sandwiches and breads so you won't be disappointed when it comes to choices. My only point is that you should come before 2; then they'll probably have all the bread choices to choose from. Any later and they'll only have sliced bread left and a whole wheat roll. I've also tried their mac and cheese and meatloaf. The mac and cheese was honestly gross. Avoid at all costs. It was just nasty and tasted fake. While it looked cheesy, it had absolutely no cheese flavor. It tasted like plastic and cheap mushrooms or something. It was just bad. The meatloaf, on the other hand, wasn't your mother's meatloaf. It was really crumbly; it didn't hold a shape of a sliced piece of meatloaf, but it was still good with the gravy and potatoes it came with. Also, the other disappointment when it comes to hot plates is that they put the salad in the same take out box as the steaming hot meals, so I advise you eat immediately before the steam wilts the salad. A 5 for good sandwiches! read more

Looking for a lunch place near the office in Oakland can be difficult, especially if you don't want Vietnamese every day. I found the Lunch Box on Yelp and figured I would try it out...boy am I glad that I did. They have now become my "once a week treat" when I take myself out to lunch. I can't wait for Wednesdays! It has the true feel of a family-run business, husband and wife joke with eachother and usual customers. The style and look is also one-of--kind, and is most suitable for take out. Makes me feel like my mom and dad are making lunch before a busy day, although my mom never made food like this! It's a little crazy, but who doesn't need just a little bit of crazy in their life? read more

Great wraps, great assortment of chips and drinks. The people who work there are so friendly and manage to be quick and efficient without being short with people who have never been there. Special instructions are no problem for The Lunch Box! I had the turkey avocado wrap w/ cheese and honey mustard. It's SO FLAVORFUL, I could die and go to lunch heaven right now. The wrap is soft but doesn't tear and the veggies and meat taste so fresh! Wraps are $6.25 and I could have gotten JUST the wrap and been quite satisfied, but I splurged and got a drink (sobe) and chips ("Dirty Potato chips - funky fusion"). Total was just over $10, pretty good price in my opinion. There's not a lot of room to sit and eat, maybe 6 stools at a little counter, but the atmosphere is really friendly and bustling. read more

The Spinach Salad is my jam at this place. Get the large and its enough food for next meal as well. Also, I understand that the meat sandwichs are also a solid choice via my very meat-eater coworkers. Also, THEY HAVE VERNORS! People from the Midwest will understand the significance of this. read more

Fast service, friendly staff, good food, reasonable prices. I recommend getting the dutch crunch roll for the bread, it is very good

The one thing I love about this place is its name. It actually does look like a lunchbox. It is mostly exposed shiny metal with painted red wall highlights. As you walk in you're greeted by a confidently spoken friendly female cashier. The menus on the wall are very big and there's quite a selection including such things as: sandwiches, soup, drinks, and the meal of the day (which they make only in limited quantities). To the left are two see-through refrigerators for drinks. The only seating is a counter that has bar stools. It seats about ten people, but I never see anyone eat there. It's mostly a take out place. I've only been here once but every lunch hour it's pretty busy. The time I went I ordered the meatball sandwich ($5.49). You can choose your bread, cheese, and fillers. I ordered: wheat, swiss cheese, and everything on it. The menu claims that the meatball is her relatives' recipe. The foil wrapped sandwich comes in a brown paper bag with some napkins. It is a fair size. Probably a foot long, nothing to be overstuffed by. The sandwich is served warm and if you want it cold you must ask when ordering. The meatloaf was good. Personally I could've went for a bit more pepper or something spicy in it. The filler was composed of tomato, lettuce, marinara sauce, and mustard. When I was finished, i was quite satisfied. Not the best ever sandwich I've had, but very satisfying. The only thing that would have made it killer would be something else with the sandwich. Could I hand-full of chips or a pickle? While I was eating the cashier kindly asked me how my sandwich was. I haven't been asked that in a long time, what a great cashier. After leaving I kept thinking about the sandwich. Then I realized that it reminded me a lot of Subway or Quiznos. If I had the choice of either The Lunch Box or Subway, I might Subway just because I could get a drink and chips with the meal (plus 50 cents for two cookies). read more

I am sitting at my desk after having aquired my corned beef with swiss the works minus mayo - which is still warm.. and being washed down by a Mango Madness Snapple. This is like sex on a stick only better. I haven't had a slap yo mama sandwich since I left Chicago when I was sixteen! Thank you to the Lunch Box for an excellent warm gooey sandwich that just hit the spot. Your service was quick a 10 minute wait.. you take cash and debt and your people are nice! You rock.. keep that corned beef stocked because I will be back! read more

I love this place. I work a few streets over so I come here for lunch at least once a week. I get the pulled pork sandwich, the medium caesar chicken salad, or their soups. The food is served quickly but it's so fresh and delicious. The team is always friendly and they actually talk to their customers. I love businesses like these. The Lunch Box has won my heart for sure! read more

The Lunch Box - Pulled Pork Sandwhich Yuuuum! - Sandwiches Near Me - Oakland, California

Just ordered my second sandwich in the last week and each sandwich was DAMN good. Definitely going back.

Great sandwiches, excellent service. I tried the Roast Beef, very tender and juicy, and the American is also very tasty and flavorful - both on Dutch Crunch that was fresh. read more

My first time in the Lunch Box and the place is packed, but they're getting orders out crazy fast! The service was great, very polite and relaxed. Like it wasn't forced customer service, they seemed to enjoy their jobs and that says a lot about the atmosphere of a place when you walk in. I got the bbq chicken wrap which was pretty great, like I underestimated how good it was actually going to be but they're homemade tortilla strips kinda won me over, so props to the guys on the line makin' food! Honestly guys, keep up the good work, I'll be back sometime soon read more

This was a recommendation by another yelper, told me to come here for a Reuben and I did just that, and a hot pastrami. Parking is a bit hard, since you're in downtown Oakland. Gotta work around that somehow, however you see fit, anyways to the good stuff. The Reuben was very tasty, high quality meats, really good sauerkraut and good thousand island dressings. Very well made Reuben, the thing that stood out the most was the meats, REALLY high quality. Now, the Hot Pastrami, that was something completely out of this world. Probably the best Pastrami sandwich I've ever had. Got it on a Danish Roll and loved it. Probably the best Pastrami in town, that alone was good enough for a perfect review. read more

I'm not sure if i caught them in an off-moment or what, but my experience was pretty lousy. The only reason I'm giving two stars is that their prices are fairly affordable for a Bay Area sandwich. As far as quality of food goes, I'd give them a C-. I ordered a toasted turkey sandwich with avocado and havarti on a sweet roll. My co-worker ordered a roast beef sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayo on a french roll. A sandwich starts with the bread, and ours were pretty weak. The second issue was that both our sandwiches lacked meat, which is a cardinal sin in sandwich-making (regardless of price). The veggies were extremely low quality, and sloppily thrown on the sandwich. I miss Genoa Deli - they knew how to make a sandwich. read more

This place has brisket *and* Dutch crunch?!? Definitely a win in my book! Food is solid, service is fast and courteous, prices are reasonable. Definitely coming back here. read more

Tried the meatball sub today. Actually quite good. I really like that they toast the bread to perfection. This is becoming one of my fav sammich spots. read more

The Lunch Box - Meatball sub with provolone. - Sandwiches Near Me - Oakland, California

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After reading the menu board claiming they cook their meats in house daily I was expecting to get something special. There was nothing special with the iceberg lettuce salad I received with regular deli processed chicken meat. Very bland with not so fresh cucumbers. Not for me, I will not be back. read more

The Lunch Box - Sandwiches Near Me - Oakland, California

So disappointing....after reading all the reviews. I really wanted to like this place. Split Pea soup with baked ham (medium $3.29) - bland and watery but noticeable pieces of ham. Reuben sandwich ($5.75) - bland and light on the corn beef and sauerkraut but warm with melted cheese. Service is not fast even with 1 person ahead in line but they are extremely nice and helpful. This place caters mostly to take away customers but there are a few stools facing the wall if you want to eat in. Prices are slightly less than the competing sandwich shops but I'll happily pay more for food that has flavor and are more satisfying. read more

This is the second time I've swung by here for lunch and I'll tell you that it's worth the walk and the wait in line! First time I was feeling a little spicy so I ordered the Hot Link sandwich. I'm always looking for that special link that will bring back the memories from the old deli around the corner from my high school in SF. This one came darn close so it's get's 4 stars from me! The counter gal suggested their spicy tapenade so I said yes. It was a little too spicy but delicious all the same. The second time around I was feeling a little more health conscience so I ordered the Roasted Turkey on Seeded Sourdough. It tasted like the turkey had just came out of the oven. I usually bring my lunch to work but on those days when I feel like eating out I'll be heading back their way. They're just that good! read more

What an awesome little lunch spot! The service is friendly and awesome. They've got so much energy and spunk. Don't let a long line scare you away, they're very efficient. I had the BBQ Beef Brisket sandwich on Dutch crunch bread and it was truly perfection. As a southerner and a BBQ aficionado, this was tender and flavorful. It's not Texas smoked, but it's damn good. Add this to the long list of great eats in Oakland. read more

I came here yesterday after a company conference at Marriott. Hands down the best sandwich shop I've ever been too. I ordered the HOT LINK sandwich with Jalapeño Tapenade. Super delicious!!! I live 40 mins away and I'm about to go again today Lol. The lady was so sweet and welcoming. Love this place!! read more

Been going here ever since i moved to downtown almost 4 yeard ago. Love the owners and their food. Everything is cooked/smoked in house and you can taste how fresh all the meats are. Their reuben is delicious, both bbq meats are excellent, the meatball sandwich is a hit, and we love the asian chicken wrap. Pretty much every sandwich I've tried is BOMB! Psst add cranberry to the roasted turkey for a post-thanksgiving leftover throwback anytime of the year. read more

Seriously a solid sandwich shop. My go to sandwich is always hot Pastrami. I order it simple mustard, pepper jack cheese, and peppers or pickles. They had all my key items and I had it on a Dutch Crunch. Pastrami was an excellent balance of flavor and lean. I usually hate lean pastrami so I was surprised. Best pastrami in Northern CA. Southern CA pastrami goes to Langers. Keep killin' it Lunch Box. read more

Great sandwiches. Although it seems extremely busy inside during lunch, the wait is surprisingly short since the staff work extremely fast. I ordered the pull porked sandwich on the French bread. The bread was perfectly toasted so that it's crispy and not too hard, and the sandwich also had an abundant amount of port, lettuce, tomatoes and more. You also get a punch card where you get a free sandwich after 12 visits, which I thought was cool. I'll definitely need to come back to try out every sandwich on the menu! read more

The Lunch Box - Pulled pork sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Oakland, California