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    The Lunch Box

    4.4 (607 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Lunch Box Takeout or Delivery

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    THE LUNCH BOX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos - The Lunch Box

    Voodoo Chips & Turkey Breast Sandwiches  (SERVED   HOT).
    Emma S.

    Had jury duty downtown today. Looked for a walkable sandwich spot and The Lunch Box popped up. Got the Turkey Breast sandwich on sliced sourdough, toasted. And a bag of Voodoo chips. Service was very prompt. Great little spot to eat right outside in the shade. Foot traffic was nice people watching.

    $13.99 for some spinach and barely any toppings
    Kara S.

    They are very very nice. But what an insane rip off. I got the large spinach salad for $13.99. It has exactly 11 kidney beans, 4 cherry tomatoes and 3 half moon cucumber slices. I thought more might be buried, but what is in the picture is all there is!And it wasn't even densely packed with spinach. I cannot fathom how they think this is an acceptable salad for that price.

    so much thick cut pastrami, slabs basically!
    Blu M.

    I LOVE THE LUNCH BOX SO MUCH. Had to say it loud for everyone to be aware. This place is incredible. No notes, just WOW. I love sandwiches, they are a comfort food and are just exquisite. Delicious, tasty, fun, filling. The Lunch Box provides everything and more that you want in a sandwich. This place reminds me of a bodega. You walk in and you just see a counter to order at, fridges with hella drinks, and racks with chips to choose from. Behind the counter is the flattop in which the cooks are cheffing up everything to order. This place is always busy during lunch time, but the wait is never too bad for your food. Your order gets taken quickly and you'll have your name called pretty fast. My go-to has always gotta be the hot pastrami. I love pastrami more than anything on a sandwich, and they do it just right here. The meat is thick cut and is so tender. You gotta try it. All sandwiches come with cheese, Cheese, Mayo, Mustard, Lettuce Tomatoes, Red Onions, and a choice of tapenade. I always go for havarti and the garlic olive tapenade. BOMBBBBB. You can also add a variety of other toppings and condiments. If I feel it, I add horseradish or hot sauce to my sandwich! The menu overall is pretty big. Everything is fresh and you can tell they put in a lot of effort when making their dishes. There is something for everyone here! If you haven't been yet, check this place out ASAP!

    Rueben
    Chad M.

    Employees took care of me and I appreciate it. My dinner planes got cancelled and I wanted to try something new. I ordered off Uber eats and they did not have a Rueben sandwich on the app. So after making a custom sandwich order, I said "if a Rueben is available I'd rather have that" they actually read the note and then delivered. Thank you very much. The food for my taste is just ok, probably 3 ish stars. But I gave an extra for the service. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs from a sandwich shop. We all know that was a mistake. So I'll just say don't do that The Rueben had really good tasting meat. Could have used more sauce and a harder toast on the bread. The rye wasn't real strong. Passable Mac salad was not my speed. Potato salad also not my speed. I wouldn't avoid the place, but I also wouldn't seek it out. I'm grateful for the great service. Modgilianis is still my rock for Sandwiches

    Tiffany M.

    Late lunch. Service was welcoming. Good selection of sandwiches. I had a veggie on rye. It was easy and tasty , but I'd go light on the carrots next time and ask that my bread is toasted well.

    Jessica K.

    House sitting in the neighborhood. Walking the block to see what's up and decided to come in for lunch. Clean inside, not a ton going on, what you see is what you get. No jndoor seat Vast menu, so many options, order how you like it. but the brisket jumped out to me. The person who took my order seemed like she knew what was up. No nonsense, and I loved it. Sandwich was made pretty quickly. I walked back to the house, and it was still hot. The one sandwich and a bag of chips was more than enough food. I couldn't even finish the whole thing. Looking forward to coming back and trying additional sandwiches.

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Had their turkey avocado wrap with extra meat. Jesus Christ. Best damn wrap I've had in a hooooot minute

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    9 years ago

    My assistant and I love the sandwiches and hot plates. The food is fresh and yummy! The pulled pork and brisket hot plates are delicious.

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great sandwiches and wraps!!! I recommend getting there early because the lines can be long, but it is well worth the wait!

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    9 years ago

    Great lunch spot in Oakland, they work as fast as they can and if you call in, they can usually have your order ready when you arrive.

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    8 years ago

    It was a good lunch but there wasn't anything about the sandwich that made it extraordinary. I will probably be back to try their wraps.

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    9 years ago

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    19 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    This place blessed me with the best sandwich I've had in years. I recommend to everybody!

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    16 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Bomb sandwiches and great selection of drinks and chips. Super friendly and hard working staff.

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    13 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    Page 10 of 16

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    Ask the Community - The Lunch Box

    Is there parking in the afternoon?

    We have a 10 minute parking spot in front of the business that we do our best to keep clear. Otherwise there is street parking, the parking garage is are usually full in the afternoon.

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    Brothers Deli

    Brothers Deli

    4.7
    (157 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    What a great sandwich! Chicken Pesto Panini was served hot and amazing!…read moreShop had a fun modern feel. Staff was helpful and friendly. I'm not from this area, but I'd definitely recommend to others!

    I told my companion I was craving a sandwich, which is rare, especially on Dutch crunch. He is…read morealways so good with making sure my cravings are satisfied, and after perusing Yelp, we decided to come here. We arrived at the deli on a weekend afternoon. It wasn't too busy. The deli is a nice size with a couple of benches to sit and wait for your food. You can look at the menu and order, plus grab a drink or chips. They have a nice variety of items to grab that go well with your sandwich. The service was friendly and quick. Workers were all kind, and we love that it's dog-friendly! Regarding the sandwiches, you can get a hot or cold sandwich. You can also build your own! Companion got the Hot Boy, and I went the Build Your Own route. The sandwiches are hefty, with lots of great meats and fillings, and for the price, very decent! I wish my bread were a bit more toasted and crunchier, but that's my preference. It hit the spot, and I'd be open to trying their other sandwiches. I don't often go to delis, but Brothers Deli was a nice place to try. We enjoyed it by the waterfront, which makes it a great picnic option. Find them off Park Blvd., with street and residential parking around.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Toast Flights
    Toast Flights
    Italian--chopped!

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    Italian--chopped!
    Crave Subs

    Crave Subs

    4.3
    (284 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    I don't really enjoy writing negative reviews of restaurants, especially smaller businesses but…read moretoday's visit to Crave really left a bad taste in my mouth. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants reduce the guality or quantity of their meal to cut costs while charging premium prices. I will say I didn't mind paying a few dollars more for their subs in the past. I went there today for the first time in a couple of years, ordered a regular size basic ruben sandwich (no add-ons) and was ok paying nearly $18 dollars for just the sandwich until they handed it to me. what I got was a small 6" sub. When did their subs shrink?? in this economy we are all struggling. I get it, things cost more but Craves' owner is not doing his patrons a service by charging them premiums while cutting back on the meals. If you're ok paying that much for a shrunken sub, more power to you. I l, however, will not be going back there.

    Expensive for a small sandwich and was made to the taste of cartoon character's taste instead of my…read moretaste which is weird. The veggie meat was ultra salty and the Beast sandwich had sweet strawberry jam. Did not see that on the menu and didn't correlate the names of the sandwiches to the tv characters my kids watched when they were younger until I opened up the sandwich and saw the red jam. I prefer peanut butter and jam instead of meat and jam. Only veggie was chopped lettuce and barely saw anything else. Overwhelming flavor was the jam which was squeezing out of the sandwich. Disappointed- was hoping for an impressive sandwich at this price point.

    Photos
    Chips
    Chips
    Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)
    Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)
    Patrick Star ($14.99)

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    Patrick Star ($14.99)
    Clove and Hoof

    Clove and Hoof

    4.1
    (944 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    My only question is....WHY haven't I been here sooner?! I…read morewas craving pastrami, so I looked on yelp for pastrami in the area. My mom and I came in around 2pm on Monday (8/11). It's a cute delicatessen/restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Immediately the staff was so friendly and welcoming. The woman at the register was very nice and asked if we had any questions. My mom and I shared a pastrami sandwich, Brussels sprouts, fries, and slaw. It was reasonably priced for the Bay Area. When they brought the food to the table I was shocked. Everything looked amazing and very appetizing, and the portions were much bigger than expected. Before she brought the sandwich over, she asked if we were sharing it and was so nice to split it into 2 plates for us. That was very kind for her to do. Let's start with the French fries. Omg they were perfectly crisp but still fluffy on the inside. They had so much flavor probably because of the beef tallow and had just the right amount of salt on them. There was a side of mayonnaise with the fries, and it tasted homemade. I meant to ask them if it was. It was very good lol I couldn't get enough. The poppyseed slaw was very refreshing and it was tangy and sweet. We loved that the cabbage remained crispy and it was great for a warm day. The fried Brussels sprouts were full of flavor. They were a nice balance of sweet and salty. I loved the bacon on them. The hot pastrami sandwich definitely satisfied my pastrami craving! There was just the right ratio of meat-cheese-sauerkraut-mustard-dressing. The bread tasted freshly baked as well. It was full of flavor. And the side salad that came with the sandwich was excellent. We loved the tanginess of the dressing. We were shocked that there wasn't more people inside, but also for 2pm on a Monday, it probably was just an off hour. We had so many leftovers as we both don't eat very much, but lol as soon as I got home I started eating some more of the slaw and salad. Can't wait to eat the rest for lunch tomorrow. We are already planning on coming back to try the meatballs next time and definitely trying their Indian cuisine! I'll have to bring my husband here next. Thank you guys for an amazing lunch!

    I'm sure there are other good things here but I keep just getting the cheese steak. The picture…read moredoesn't do it justice. It's a warm, crunchy roll, the chopped steak and cheese are perfect, and there's a salad next to it so you can take a bite of that while you're waiting for the next bit of your sandwich to cool down. Do yourself a favor and order this in instead of carrying it out. The roll is warm and crunchy and I think too much time in a bag would make everything less delicious. (I'm sure it's still good, it's just *better* if you can eat it when it's fresh.) I swear one of these days I'll try something else on the menu.

    Photos
    Clove and Hoof
    Clove and Hoof
    Clove and Hoof

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    Star Meats

    Star Meats

    4.1
    (299 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    This review isn't based off of one interaction that I've had, but several in which I felt Star…read moreMeats customer service was non existent. Awhile back, I tried to bring as much business to Star Meat as I could because 1. it's a small business and 2. it's inside Star Grocery (which I LOVE, so it's convenient). When I would go there, there would often be 2 or 3 people behind the counter and oftentimes I would be the only customer. I felt like I had to stand there forever before anyone even acknowledged I existed. Each person would be busy doing something, but there was no "I'll be with you in 2 minutes." Finally, I went one day and there were 3 workers behind the counter chatting with each other. I was the only customer and was standing around 6 feet away from them, looking right at them. They went on with there conversation (not doing any other work) for a full 5 minutes. Finally I thought, "OK, they really don't seem to want my business, so I can go to any one of 4 other places and get what I want." That was a year or two ago. So, today I thought, why not give it another try, it's certainly convenient. Again, I'm the only customer at the counter. One guy is washing equipment and two guys are making sandwiches. I know that they know that I'm there, there are mirrors all along the back wall exactly for the purpose of seeing the customers. After around 4 minutes I think, who knows how long I'm going to be standing here. Maybe they have to make 20 sandwiches and I'll be here for a half hour. So, I left. I don't have anything like this experience at the 4 other meat counters I go to in the area. I'm totally fine waiting if I have some sense that I'm waiting for a purpose and that the worker will get to me as soon as they can. But at Star Meat, it feels like I'm more of an inconvenience than a customer. "Hi, I'll be with you as soon as I can," goes a long way.

    Discovered their sandwiches when we were having coffee next door and kept seeing ppl walk by with…read morebutcher paper pink sandwiches in their hands. Glad we were able to track them down cause their sandwiches look so basic in pics but are so darn good. The market is cool too but I'm always gonna start by bee lining it to the deli in back of the shop to order one of their daily sandwiches. They make 3 flavors each day. 18$ a pop. Delicious.

    Photos
    Brian Allen 18$ yes.
    Brian Allen 18$ yes.
    Brian Allen on the Beach
    Brian Allen on the Beach
    Brian Allen Sandwich

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    Brian Allen Sandwich
    Krispy Joe's

    Krispy Joe's

    4.6
    (72 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Want a free sandwich?…read more Complete this puzzle and it's all yours! The pastrami sandwich here is sooooo good I actually ordered two of them. This is the first place in the world that had me eating rye. I hate rye bread, and was worried because there are no substitutions, but the sandwiches here were so good and the bread didn't taste like the traditional prison food hard rye bread. You changed me Krispy Joe's, and had me eating stuff I never would have. Also, drinking stuff I never would have. I bought their chai and lemonade, both were 5 stars, and they offered me their pickle juice electrolyte drink to try. I was skeptical at first, but again they made me a believer. I hate pickle juice and pickle flavored anything in general. Yet, they converted me once again when they offered me a sample of their pickle-aid. It tasted like a mild tasting plain Gatorade. If I were still training for a marathon, I would totally buy this! Back to their amazing sandwiches. They are made with such care, dusting every sandwich that's made to order with their secret spices while toasting the meat and bread. The slaw was fresh and herbaceous. Again, made with care and craftsmanship. I am rooting for this business to expand and take over Ike's Sandwiches. I believe in you Krispy Joe's, you have my vote!

    Finally found a good pastrami sandwich to satisfy the craving. Krispy Joes is a small coffee shop…read morein Emeryville on San Pablo Ave. that also has some delish pastrami sandwiches. You might want a cup of joe afterwards, so you don't fall into a food coma. Loved the OG sandwiche w/ pastrami, melted Swiss, coleslaw and thousand island dressing. All of their sandwiches come Jr. size and I feel like I made the right call of upgrading to the Regular (4oz.) for more meat. Going to 4oz. I feel like was the standard size of what you'd expect in a pastrami sandwich: Would definetly recommend calling ahead or preserv online. I was a walk in and waited about 15-20 minutes. But I must say, they were busy pumping out online orders. There is limited seating in the coffee shop and not really a dine-in for a group larger than 3. Would definetly recommend if you're having one of those good ole pastrami cravings.

    Photos
    Cool mural
    Cool mural
    @ifoodiejenn | The OG - hot pastrami sandwich
    @ifoodiejenn | The OG - hot pastrami sandwich
    Order area

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    Order area
    Heroic Italian

    Heroic Italian

    4.4
    (163 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    I've been here before love this place. It has indoor outdoor seating. Service is friendly. The food…read moreis great and we love the pizza here!

    We ordered via DoorDash, and I wouldn't call our experience "heroic."…read more The pinsa was very good. We got the Calabrian shrimp. We found it very tasty, but paying over $25 for this on DoorDash--certainly not worth the price even though we really enjoyed it. The spicy chicken parm sandwiches were not good. The chicken breast was flabby, and came across like it was one of those frozen cooked Tyson jobs. I would be very surprised if they actually breaded chicken breast, fried it, and made the sandwich with that. It was mushy, and the breading was like paste on the chicken. Pretty awful. They charge extra for sauce, which is a little much, given that we paid $21 for each sandwich. But we figured out pretty quickly why they do this: there was hardly any sauce on the sandwiches. And precious little cheese. We each ate half of our sandwich and figured we doctor the leftovers up the next day with a jar of Rao's and a bag of shredded Italian cheese. That helped, but nothing could save that chicken. The meatballs. We paid $15 for four, and we had high hopes, but they were so mushy that they fell apart in the sauce, and I couldn't tell what was sauce and what was meatballs. The only flavor that came across was fennel. Why any meatball should be so fennel-forward strikes me as bizarre. We got what we thought were pretty basic things, and they were fails. If an Italian place can't make a decent chicken parm sandwich nor a decent meatball, that says something. If you go, try the pinsa.

    Photos
    Inside counter
    Inside counter
    Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.
    Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.
    Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

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    Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini
    Mezzo

    Mezzo

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    (+) Giant portion, not exaggerating. My chef's salad was delicious. Poppyseed dressing and salami…read more Enjoyed the slice of wheat bread too. (+) Nostalgic, loved this place during undergrad before it burned down. It's even better now and so glad it's back in business. (+) Refreshing strawberry agua fresca. If I could have eaten more, would've also had some soup or half a sandwich. (+) Lots of seating and the patio in the back is so nice. Great layout. (+) Surprised of how nice the bathrooms situation was. Multiple individual bathrooms (I didn't even count there were so many) and a communal sink in the middle to wash hands. So efficient, less likely to wait even when crowded.. such a considerate detail of the remodel.

    Right next to UC Berkley this sandwich shop Mezzo lemme tell you this place was so BOMB and the…read moresandwiches are freaking huge (last piz for reference) it was so fresh and every bite dead ahh got better it was so so gas. I also had their pozole it was the special for the day and it was really good as well it had a lot of flavor and was a good side with the sandwich So what I got for the sandwich was the Cheese topped ciabatta roll and in my sandwich I had the following: * Turkey * Bacon * provolone cheese * Tomato * Lettuce * Alfalfa sprouts * Red onion * banana pepper * Pickles * Avocado * Mayo The service was great. I love how they make the sandwich in front of you and the ambience is great as well.

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Veggie delight salad
    Veggie delight salad
    Chef's Salad

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    Chef's Salad

    The Lunch Box - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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