Lunch Stop Cafe MetroCenter

If you want a good veggie burger and fries, I would say to give this place a shot. I am always looking out for a wholesome well-​cooked veggie burger and this place fits the bill. The fries are very good too, perfectly crispy and not overly greasy. Otherwise, not many other vegetarian options that are interesting.

Disappointing. Was called for jury duty and didn’t want to go far and have to repark car. Walked 4 blocks to this highly reviewed spot. Not many good sounding choices on the menu that were vegetarian. A sandwich with a boring assortment of vegetable or a veggie burger. I asked for the spaghetti special minus the meat sauce and asked if they could put a little olive oil and cheese on the pasta. The two stars are for them doing that. It was ok. The side salad was only ok, and the garlic bread was not very good at all and I didn’t eat that. They did have a salad bar but it didn’t look very inspired.
It was comfortable in there. I was hoping to see some art but it must have been between shows as the walls were bare with just the hanging wires there.
Most of the people seemed to work in the building and ages ago my wife worked there when someone else ran the café and made killer breakfasts. It seemed like many of the people there brought there own lunches and were using the spot as a cafeteria.
The woman working the register seemed in charge and was friendly, greeting a lot of the regulars by names. She was also fast without rushing you through.

I eat breakfast and lunch here most of the week. Kay and Yong are wonderful owners and very accommodating when I have weird request, like tarter sauce and fries. The portions you receive are enough to fill two people. If it wasn’t for some of the items being so expensive, I would give them five stars.

Great little lunch joint in the form of an old school cafeteria.
Arguably one of the best croissant sandwiches in the area: smokey ham, alfalfa sprouts on light mayo, very thin slices of tomato on buttery, flakey croissant.
All the classics perfectly executed. Hats off to the chef.

The Lunch Stop Café is a fantastic place that combines great food with great service. Kay, the owner, will know your name and make you feel like a local if you come to her restaurant more than once. She’s the icing on the cake to a wonderful place.
The food is absolutely terrific and you cannot beat her prices (average meal is $ 5.5-$ 8.5). To put the prices in perspective, I often pay $ 14 in SF for meals that are not half as good. The café boast a delicious and fresh looking salad bar and there is always at least one type of soup, which is either split pea, chicken w/​rice, or vegetable. All three are excellent. From there, the café typically has a main course or special for the day. My favorite dish is her taco bowl that can be tailored to your specifications. I will typically put rice, beans, and sautéed chicken into a taco shell with tomatoes, corn, and avocado. My next favorite dish is her chicken sandwich, with french fries. Her fries are that kind of crispy that we all seek and love. Also, the chicken that Kay uses is of a high quality and the bun is always fresh and never soggy.
The final contributing factor to my review is that Kay runs a tight ship. Her restaurant is always clean, she allows you to tailor orders, and you never have to wait more than eight minutes in line.

If you need breakfast or lunch, it’s a safe bet. You won’t be knocked off your chair with the taste or quality, but it’s a decent salad bar, fries and grill. Patio seating is open, just open the sliding doors.

Excellent burgers. The breakfasts are a bargain. This place is a hidden gem! The lunch specials change daily and are very reasonable.

In «Ratatouille» by Pixar, there is a scene, towards the end, where the cynical food critic Anton Ego tastes Remy’s ratatouille stew, and with one bite is nostalgically transported to his childhood home, where there is a flashback of his mom serving him her own homemade version of ratatouille to make him feel better after a bad day. That is the feeling I get when you eat Kay’s (owner) food; it is homey, comforting, and made with love that you can taste.
Don’t let its exterior fool you, Lunch stop is hidden inside the MetroCenter building, with only one sign outside letting you know it’s there, an interior cafeteria style layout, but this place is a diamond in the rough, a hidden gem! It is a hardworking «mom and pops» owned café, and like I said earlier, Kay makes you feel so welcomed and loved, like you were family. She remembers everyone’s name the first time she meets you and the service is excellent.
For their weekly menu, they have a wide assortment of breakfast and lunch entrees and there is always a different special each day. No matter what you get, you can be confident you are getting the best quality foo, great portion sizes, and you won’t ever get stuck eating the same thing everyday, although for me personally, I could eat Kay’s breakfast panini ($ 3.95) every morning. Oh and they have a excellent full soup and salad bar on days you want to be healthy!
Lastly is there pricing: just for an example, you can get a S.F. burger (bacon, avocado, jack cheese, and the rest of the usual), fries, and a 24 oz soda for $ 7.45. I don’t know where you can get great quality food for that price! And that pricing goes for their whole menu!
The MetroCenter buliding is located right across from the Lake Merritt BART station, so whether you are in the area or taking BART to work, stop by and you will fall in love with place, just as I have.

Had their chocolate croissant in the am. Pretty good. Hot chocolate off the hook!
Had their cheese burger that was pretty tasty and their fries! Great pricing. Nice place to eat for lunch or breakfast.
Great service!

This place lives in my heart. I come here often during my commute hours while waiting for my shuttle bus on the way to Alameda. It is pretty hidden since it is located inside the MetroCenter building and the only sign you have is a small sign placed on the side walk.
The name of the eatery is a bit deceiving. When you hear «Lunch Stop» you might think that they only serve lunch, but YES, they serve breakfast as well.
My review is based on the breakfast only. They have a weekly menu of daily specials that includes veggie omeletes, pancakes, french toasts, etc. My favorite is Wednesday when they have the Jumbo Croissant Breakfast Sandwich. On the other days, you can’t go wrong with the breakfast burrito or breakfast panini.
Coffee is consistently good and they also have a small espresso machine if you want to step up from the drip coffee and get an Americano.
The owners are the one who runs the place and the lady (Kay) will always remember you name, which is outstanding. They love what they do, they love to serve you and you will love this place.
Cafeteria style. Good food.

Lunch Stop Café is inside the bart office building. has a large capacity capable of holding small meetings.
menu: sammies, fries, breakfast, salad (.42/​oz) and a daily lunch special.
eats: Italian meatblls (3)sammie w/​fries (5.95)
–large fries crispy outside, soggy inside
–meatballs tender and relaively tasteless, probably from a cash & carry. (bread is)
taste is from red sauce
–doubtful meatball is homemade
crumbs:
–very friendly service, like being greeted by old friends
–sammies cheap (under $ 5)
–food average, 3 stars, value =4 stars
–bus your own tray

I come in nearly every workday — Monday thru Friday — while waiting for the Estuary Shuttle to Alameda and an immediately greeted by the warm cashier Kay. She does a great job at making people feel at home.
Overall — the prices are amazing. I usually go with the breakfast burrito for $ 3.00 plus tax — think $ 3.26 out the door, bountiful breakfast plate with 3 items for $ 3.80, or some of the daily specials like the spinach omelette, etc. The food is definitely above my expectations for the price!
I will continue coming day after day as long as I am in the area.
Listed here is a link to their menu:

I was on jury duty and desperately looking for a lunch alternative (the small café in the court only offers snacks) so I strolled down Oak st and saw a jam-​packed café. Tip: always go where the crowds are. Despite the long line I was able to get my food and less than three minutes. The owners move the line quickly but do not compromise service with a smile. The food was fantastic. Definitely way above my expectation for a cafeteria. In fact it tasted like a home cooked meal. In addition to the sandwiches and burgers, the owners seem to add some creativity to their daily specials. It was St. Patrick’s Day so I decided to get the corned beef and cabbage. Wonderful!
I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Quick affordable quality. And friendly service.

Long time Unilocal reader, first time poster. I came across a place that hasn’t had reviews, so I just couldn’t help myself! This is truly one of the hidden gems of the Bay Area! Visiting some friends, they suggested we try «Lunch Stop» which, at first, looked to be your run-​of-​the-​mill cafeteria. One where you might expect a sandwich wrapped up in some saran wrap to sit out in a refrigerated counter.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! I’m a sucker for «specials» and sometimes I get bitten in the ass by it, but I continue to live by that mantra, so that day at the Lunch Stop it happened to be falafel. I’ve been to many places that served falafel as their pride and joy dish and I hate to say it but this cafeteria in Oakland has put *many* of them to shame. It came with pita and an orzo based Mediterranean salad, all made in-​house. The falafel was perfectly crispy outside and superbly moist inside with just the perfect combination of spices. The salad could have been a larger portion and a meal by itself.
I had to ask my friends, «Is it always like this, or did I just come on an exceptionally good day?» It turns out that there are a handful of specials that run on a randomly rotating menu that range from home made meatloaf to BBQ chicken and enchiladas and apparently *all* of them are worth their price.
Needless to say, I’ll be eating here again as soon as I can.