Look, I'm a man who respects the process - so I know what it means to apply yourself and deliver quality. That's exactly what Lane-e Kefa Coffee does with their food. I pedaled my bike over there this Wednesday morning, aiming to secure a proper breakfast that would actually carry me past 11 a.m. The shop is cozy, definitely on the smaller side with a few seats inside, giving it that familiar, neighborhood spot feel. It's not a sprawling, antiseptic café, and I appreciate that. I ordered the Laney Breakfast Sandwich, which features egg, fresh spinach, sliced turkey, and Swiss cheese on a toasted English muffin. What impressed me was the intentionality--this wasn't something sitting under a heat lamp, looking defeated. It was clearly made to order. The egg was seasoned right, the turkey wasn't flimsy, and the spinach added that necessary fresh bite. It was a damn good sandwich, simple as that. I paired that with the Berry Lovers Smoothie. The original recipe calls for banana, but I asked if they could swap that out for mango. My people know that mango adds a different kind of sunshine, and they executed the substitution flawlessly. It came out thick, perfectly blended--a rich mix of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and that mango kick. It was super refreshing and didn't taste like I was drinking melted ice. The service was quick and friendly, which is key on a weekday morning. Everything tasted clean, fresh, and intentionally prepared. If you're looking for high-quality breakfast fare that feels less commercial and more like something someone actually cares about, stop by. The short bike ride and the intimate seating are worth it for what comes out of that kitchen. They earned this review. read more

See all

I walked in at 7 am for my first time and I asked for a bagel with cream cheese. As in REGULAR PLAIN bagel , nothing in front of the word. He handed me my food and i walked out. As I get to the corner to eat my food I notice he gave me an EVERYTHING's bagel. I walked back inside and say excuse me you gave me an everything's bagel. I only wanted a regular bagel.He states you didn't ask while going in the register to refund me. I said oh okay that's how you do business and left. Idk what his problem was but it was hella rude and i warranted! Don't recommend this place at all. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - WEIRD OWNER! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Right next to the Lake Merritt BART station, this is a little cafe that serves the BEST breakfast sandwich, made fresh to order. I'm not even a sandwich person but I ate it up so quickly that I forgot to take a photo. I also got the matcha mango smoothie--I was skeptical because it had a bunch of fruits and vegetables but it was delicious. I was also very filling. The owner is also very sweet and lovely! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Matcha Mango Smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

5/5 Oat Late. 5/5 Egg and cheese breakfast sandwich lots of egg (I ordered no bread) Fast, friendly, chill vibe, bathroom and WiFi.

i ordered an egg bacon and swiss sandwich & a dirty chai! really quick service and sweet people. plenty of seating here! didn't see. ton of outlets but there is wifi. food was yummy and i would totally return for a pre-work breakfast. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Egg, Bacon, and Swiss Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Overall, the experience felt balanced and manageable. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the staff worked efficiently without drawing too much attention. Everything went as expected. read more

I really try to support small businesses when possible. This place makes it really hard to do that. I frequent the market next door so I was really hoping to like this place but the coffee is almost as bad as the service. I called the owner, as I was making my way to work, to nicely give feedback about my watered down coffee and he hung up on me. read more

I was recommended this place by Laney College. The owner and employees were really nice. I ordered a coffee and bagel which was perfect.

I found a jewel that Oakland can be proud to support. After popping off the BART , I saw the sign for Lane- Kefa Coffee. Walking inside, I smelled warm bread and the breakfast aromas of scrambled eggs,spinach and cheese. If I hadn't been such a piggy last night I would have order one! This man knows his way around an espresso machine. Shot of oat milk (perfect), foam (perfect) and rich , delicious, hot coffee. The place is very clean and well organized. They take pride in their business. read more

Went here to get sustenance before Jury Duty. The service is so friendly and top tier! The quality of food and drinks is pretty solid. They accommodate customizations. Overall atmosphere is really clean. I'd come back if I were to be in the area again. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Iced matcha latte with egg, spinach and Swiss breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

BEST sandwich is soooo good. I ordered a vanilla latte too which was very tasty. Service was great and the cashier was very kind. Will be back again! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This review is many years belated. I and my coworkers have been going to Seifu's place for many years. He is absolutely the kindest man. He is the owner and counter person there, all around gentleman for sure. They do get backed up sometimes, so please call ahead if you remember. Their breakfast sandwiches are huge and really ample enough for two people to share or for one to eat a little later. The last sandwich I got was a bacon, egg and Swiss on a croissant. It literally had at least seven strips of bacon! I even removed a couple of them to crumble on some scrambled eggs later that evening, seriously! They don't skimp. Many thanks, Seifu, for being here for us all these years and continued success! read more

I popped into this cafe to catch a meeting before hopping on BART and I was pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly it is! The man behind the counter was so kind. He did everything to make sure my short time there was a nice one by making sure that my coffee lid was tight enough, providing me the wifi credentials when I was looking around confused, and brought my coffee to my table when I had put it down and forgotten it somewhere. It's a cozy ambiance too. The warm light, the vines on the windows, and some nice R&B made my chaotic morning so much better. I certainly wasn't expecting to write such a glowing review on my train ride to work, but this cafe has earned itself a new regular customer. read more

TLDR: This is a very welcoming place and the sandwich was delicious. I was having a pretty bad start to my day and needed something to eat quickly. This place was nearby so I placed an online order and drove over. As I'm walking in, I see (who I believe is the owner) having a conversation with a customer and it seems like they are longtime friends. Their conversation goes on for a while as I'm waiting, but I don't mind at all. I think it's really sweet. The man behind the register apologizes to the customer and says he's going to help me next. I let the man know I placed an online order and will be waiting in the restaurant. As I'm walking around, I'm noticing the art on the walls which is lovely. I then see some letters posted on the pillar from other customers thanking the restaurant for their support. Another customer walks by and again, it seems like they've known each other for a while. All in all, there were many instances that gave the impression that this is a staple location in the community. That's comforting. When my order was ready, a man from the kitchen came out and handed it directly to me. I don't remember what exactly was said, but it was so polite and basically above and beyond. I had such a warm feeling in my heart as I was leaving. Okay now the sandwich. I /planned/ to take one bite in my car before driving into work.. but it was so hard to pull away. It was delicious and exactly what I needed in that moment. I would have gone back for the service and to support this restaurant, but I will be sharing my experience to everyone in the area for the sandwich alone! I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the items on their menu and I deeply hope this place sticks around for a long time. Thank you! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - House Special Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Delicious!! Came here off a whim while in Oakland and loved everything about it. Ordered a latte, which was foamy using hand pressed espresso. -House special breakfast sandwich (5/5): one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had!! They loaded it up & did not short any of the ingredients (eggs, bacon, Swiss cheese, spinach, muffin). Be prepared, can take up to 10 minutes to prepare. Wish I lived closer, because this is the spot! If you're looking for a place with coffee shop vibes, look no further. Definitely worth a try. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - House Special Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

There's not many foods I'd go out of my way to try again, but the House Special breakfast sandwich at Lane-e Kefa is one of them. It's an English muffin stuffed with egg, spinach, swiss, bacon, and avocado. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The other menu items sounded good, and now I know that I can trust anything produced by this kitchen. Located across the street from the Lake Merritt BART station in Oakland, I was meeting someone and arrived a bit early. I decided to stop by Lane-e Kefa for coffee and breakfast. I love small shops with regulars that banter in the background. There was no line at the counter, and it felt like I was having a meal in someone's home. In a way, I'm glad I don't live near this area or commute through Lake Merritt BART everyday because I'd either get sick of eating the House Special all the time or gain a massive amount of weight from having it regularly. Next time I'm in Oakland and looking for breakfast, I'll be laser-focused on Lane-e Kefa Coffee! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - House Special - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Iced Latte for my son and iced coffee for me were both good, but what raises this place from good to great and solid 5-star is the owner/proprietor who was welcoming, attentive, hospitable...the epitome of why I prefer independently-owned shops like this to chains. In fact, we were visiting Oakland for the day, and looking for a Peets, which seems almost like a local coffee shop since it was founded in the East Bay/Berkeley. But I'm glad we found Lana-e Kefa instead - every bit as good as Peets, with the added bonus of supporting a local Oakland shop owner. I heard him talking with another customer, a regular, about being broken into - I know that burglary and theft are a problem in the Bay Area, especially parts of Oakland, and many retail chains are beginning to abandon SF and Oakland. It's not a good situation, but when those chain retailers leave, it's local, home-grown shop owners like this that will continue to serve customers. I was just visiting Oakland for the day, so I can't become a regular (I would if I lived there), but I hope local Oaklanders will support this great coffee shop and this nice man who works to serve you! read more

My man! Wonderful, devoted service --he must be the owner but he is also the one-man show here at this neighborhood place. Luckily I called my breakfast egg sandwich order in when I did. But I still had to wait almost 25 minutes behind 5 people as they all ordered fancy coffee drinks, which the owner and only coffee maker had to make and THEN hand them to the seated customers. Little dude was in the back making the savory sandwiches. That's good, but he needs to also be deployed to either man the register and take orders, or learn how to make mochas and oat-milk lattes. The egg sandwich? Better than I expected. Literally 7-8 strips of crispy bacon atop a jack cheese slice melted on what probably were 3 eggs (!) and a homemade English muffin. Do not come in here thinking you will get a puny Thomas's nooks and crannies muffin. This one is large, and so well worth the $8.95 price. Was it over the top? Yes. Should you ask for less bacon? Um, yes. Pro-tip: next door at Hometown Market, a remarkably clean and well-stocked convenience store, they've got delicious Peet's coffee cheap and the owners are super friendly. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Bulging, corpulent scrambled eggs with melted jack and a cavalcade of bacon strips on an English muffin. Egg/bacon/jack sandwich, $8.95 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Best breakfast sandwiches, BLTs, coffee and owner will most certainly learn your name! The soundtrack is always jamming too!

MUST GO ! prices are solid esp w the amount of food , super tasty & the owner + team are all the sweetest! has become a new regular for me and my friends to go to :) read more

See all

Solid little cafe for quick made-from-scratch food. Generous portions for the price. I got an egg salad salad and it was quite flavorful. You can choose either cheese or bacon. I got the bacon, which was thick and crisp. There are small green pitted olives. Was a tad salty, but hey, what do I expect with bacon and olives! ;) The salad mix had arugula and I think romaine. A little bit of tomatoes and red onions. The egg salad was a straightforward standard recipe with mayo, no extra herbs. I opted for the house dressing, which was balsamic vinegar. Nice to give it a bit of tang. Really appreciated that it went on the side. Don't get scared by the location...it's small, but nice inside. Staff is super friendly and helpful. I think the guy working the register has an eye muscle defect, so his eye contact isn't good. Looks like he's staring off into the distance. Took me a moment to realize he was talking to me! It was moderately busy for lunch, but the food came out quickly. Give it a try if you're around the area! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Egg salad salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

The breakfast sandwiches are amazing! They are so fresh and filling and a good price as well. Never disappoints. I used to go to laney, and stopped coming here for a while, I'm so glad I decided to come because they do not disappoint. The owner is really nice and the service is great. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Laney Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Stephanie Y always tells it like it is. This Jersey ex-pat raved about the House Special Breakfast Sandwich and no denying, it is fabulous! A $10 breakfast sammie is a huge with avocado, cheese, egg, spinach, and bacon heaped between a whole wheat English muffin. It's a six napkin meal! Even with a knife and fork! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Huge and delicious! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Locally owned coffee shop around Laney college and the Bart station. Very affordable price compared to most coffee shop outside. I got a medium sweetened matcha latte - $4 (very good price). Their medium latte is about $3.45. I initially wanted to try their latte, but got the matcha latte to try out at the coffee shop. I am not an matcha expert, but have tried a lot of different matcha products, from drinks to sweets. I can definitely taste the matcha powder with the foam on top. Color is light green and can taste a little matcha taste. Not the best matcha I've had, but it was alright, not too bad. Only one staff is working behind the desk. Staff is Very friendly and very fast paced. No social distancing is being enforced. Dine-in is available. Hand sanitizer is provided at the cashier area. Mask is not enforced and staff is not wearing a mask as well. (Only if you are concerned about the virus) read more

See all

The biggest breakfast sandwich made to order! Nice local spot to stop at on my commute. read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - House breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Good food, nice staff and relaxing atmosphere. My only suggestion for improvement is to open earlier as 7 AM is kinda late for early morning customers read more

A great neighborhood cafe where you can get coffee, breakfast sandwiches, pastry, salad and sandwiches. Convenient location near my job. The bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich is my favorite along with a vip of their coffee. The service is good, I'm usually in a hurry so not a lot of time for interaction. I have observed them having a steady stream of customers so that speaks volumes. read more

Walked and and was immediately greeted from behind the counter. She was so friendly and helpful. We grabbed a couple of drip coffees and ordered the House Special - egg, spinach, bacon, Swiss and avocado. It was not busy when we walked in and she said they would call our number if it got busy, but she would probably bring the sandwiches out to us. We took a seat and enjoyed our coffee. It was very good. I enjoyed the art on the wall and was excited it was for sale. I was tempted, but didn't buy anything... this time. While we were drinking our coffee, the place got BUSY! I was certain I'd hear our number called to pick up our food, but nope. She took the time to bring them to us. Now that's service. I thanked her profusely. The sandwich was delicious! So much bacon, lots of avocado, delicate muffin... the flavor was perfect. They are very generous with the ingredients. We don't head to Lake Merritt BART very often, but I said while we were eating, "I would definitely come here JUST for breakfast". Yes, it's worth the trip. I look forward to coming back again! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Fiancé and I came before our marriage license appointment and man are we glad we came! We came around 7:30am which there was no line and plenty of time to choose. I had gotten a Magic Mango smoothie (as seen in the picture behind the sandwich) and my fiancé got a regular latte (hand pressed espresso). We both decided to get a house special sandwich (as of 18-May-22) and it was a huge sandwich jam packed with lots of egg, spinach, bacon, Swiss cheese on a English muffin! Definitely will fill you up if you're looking for a good grab-and-go breakfast spot or sit down (like we did) and the service was excellent! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - This the House Special Sandwich (as of 18-May-22)! It came with spinach, egg, bacon, LOTS of avocado, swiss cheese on a English muffin. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Not sure of the affiliation to the original Kefa with both that and the Lane-E branding, but they have a similar line up of solid breakfast sandwiches on offer here, though the monster "Brian" breakfast sandwich (Bacon, Spinach, Egg, Avocado, & Swiss) was re-named to the "House Special" at some point (see cross-out in lower right. not my pic https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lane-e-kefa-coffee-oakland?select=XF2wYSHXZCU-3MIRbO14AQ). Name affiliations aside, they make solid breakfast sandwiches with the eggs cooked to order on the stove, not zapped in the microwave, served on a buttered English muffin. I like they have veggie options like Spinach, Egg, & Cheese for when I'm pretending to be healthy (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lane-e-kefa-coffee-oakland?select=m4yki933iQ-LcmWgr9bBmA) The sandwiches are big with the fillings overflowing the English Muffin base (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lane-e-kefa-coffee-oakland?select=7GTKMahmRfnzh5xQI3VpiQ) so either you need to work on dislocating your jaw, like a python, or be wimpy like me and eat some with a fork until the size becomes more manageable. read more

I love the sandwiches at Lane- Kefa! They are huge! I like to order the coffee too. If you are in a hurry, call and order ahead. The wait is worth it for the food, but since everything is made as you order, it usually does take 15 min to have the sandwich ready. read more

See all

What a cute spot with hole in the wall vibes. My husband and I were near Lake Merritt and decided to stop here for a quick breakfast and it definitely did not disappoint! We ordered the egg and swiss breakfast sandwich and a matcha latte. The breakfast sandwich consisted of a huge helping of eggs, melted swiss cheese, topped with fluffly warm English muffins, overall deliciousness! -1 star as the matcha latte was quite diluted. Service was quick but I did see a line forming as it became peak hours. We will definitely be back! read more

I passed by this place a million times before and never realized it's a coffee shop inside. When I walked in I was surprised on how big it is. Doesn't seem that way on the outside. Really cute spot to grab breakfast, coffee or study. I will be back again. read more

DELICIOUS! I had the BLTG sandwich. Bacon, lettuce, tomato, guacamole and I added Turkey. Soooo good! Everything tastes fresh and the toasted bread was outstanding. The bacon cooked to perfection and they give you a good amount. I've also had a couple of their breakfast sandwiches which were also very good. read more

See all

Giant breakfast bagel sandwiches. Not the fastest in the world as they make everything from scratch when you order it, recommend you call it in half hour before you arrive. read more

Had to take a 3 day training in Oakland near Lake Merritt. Came here on the first day for lunch after there were so many good reviews and decided to grab something quick. When I entered the small deli, there was a long line, but to my surprise they were quick, so it didn't bother me. Sandwich was very big! And delicious! I should have stopped after eating half but I could waste so I kept going. Worth it but I overloaded. Fast forward to next day, they remembered me!!! They asked if I wanted the same item or wanted to try something different. They probably see tons of customers a day, but for them to recognizance remember my order blew my mind! Tips, order ahead so you can arrive get your order and go. Also, ask for the beverages behind the counter as they are cold, the ones on display are hot, hmmm go figure. Breakfast sandwiches are just as tasty as lunch sandwiches! read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - BLTA, add cucumber no tomatoes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

I just had the salmon cream cheese spinach egg breakfast sandwich on dutch crunch And let me tell you it was the best breakfast sandwich I probably had in my life fresh made to order huge I'm a fan for life from coming back read more

Lane-e Kefa Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I love this place, the owner is the most pleasant person. They make a great Chai. They have caused me to get up earlier to get my morning Chai. It's a bright spot in a less-than-bright area. read more

Legit breakfast sandwiches. Friendly service. Smooth coffee. Great prices. Biggest breakfast sandwiches around and full of goodness (proper bacon, heaps of smoked salmon and spinach). Quality, not just quantity. Coffee is smooth, even black, but they have all the dairy and non-dairy milks just in case. More of a grab and go, but they do have a few spaced out tables and a couple chairs outside. Across from Lake Merritt Bart for your commuting convenience. Hit the spot just like their Fruitvale location and we'll be back again and again. read more

Nice vibe. Great customer service with eye contact and a smile. Even asked if I'd like an extra shot that had already been pulled. Presented me with a frequent flyer card. Only thing missing was the chair massage! Lol! read more