Lisa's Radial Cafe

817 N 40th St, Omaha, NE 68131, United States
+1 402-551-2176
$$$ Cafe , Breakfast restaurant , Coffee shop , Restaurant
(1826 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

Lisa's Radial Cafe presents itself as a classic American cafe tucked into a lively corner of Omaha’s Blackstone neighborhood. Known for breakfast and lunch, it captures the straightforward, no-frills dining experience that locals appreciate when craving hearty, familiar meals. This is the kind of spot where the food feels like a reset button after an early morning or a long day, with large portions and a menu emphasizing Midwest comfort classics.

The atmosphere leans decidedly traditional and diner-like, with a mix of retro details—like bar stools that invite quick seating if there’s a wait—and a welcoming buzz throughout. The clientele is mostly locals, including families with kids, neighborhood regulars, and visitors who stumble upon it while exploring or attending local events such as the College World Series or nearby church services. Expect a friendly, down-to-earth vibe where the staff know many patrons by name, adding to the sense of community.

The menu highlights include a range of breakfast staples—eggs Benedict, blueberry pancakes, and a variety of skillets—that emphasize generous portions designed to satisfy robust appetites. For lunch, simpler, filling options like BLT and club sandwiches or smothered hamburger steaks maintain the comfort-food theme. The presence of non-pork options like turkey sausage shows a thoughtful nod to different preferences or dietary needs, rounding out an otherwise classic lineup.

Lisa's proves to be flexible with how people use it: from grabbing a quick coffee while seated at the bar, to settling in for a leisurely weekend brunch with family. The combination of solid coffee offerings and thick-cut cured ham or the signature chicken fried steak makes it a spot where hearty food and a casual environment meet. The adjoining Sweet Mags bakery offers an opportunity to extend the visit with fresh baked goods, perfect for those with a sweet tooth or grabbing a treat on the go.

Best visited mid-morning to early afternoon, especially on weekends, Lisa’s usually has a wait, but the bar seating option makes getting in a little easier. The place suits anyone looking for classic breakfast fare in a familiar setting and tends to be especially popular with families and longtime locals seeking a dependable, cozy meal in a cafe setting that nods to Omaha’s working-class food traditions.

Highlights
Serves great coffee
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Quick bite
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

6:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Tuesday

6:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Wednesday

6:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Thursday

6:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Friday

6:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday

7:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Sunday

7:00 AM - 1:00 PM

1826 Reviews
Barry and Jamie Rubeck

30 Dec 2025

Wow, what a hidden gem. Great food in fact so good we ate there twice on back to back days. Such a wonderful find for breakfast and lunch. Portions are huge. If there's a waiting list which is most likely, I encourage you to sit at the bar on the diner stools. Very retro and no wait. We'll definitely be back. Check out the bakery next door Sweet Mags..oh my goodness!!!

Joanne Smith

26 Dec 2025

We have always enjoyed this place, but I've never left a review. We used to live a few blocks away but now try to visit when we're in town. Bonus - I appreciated that there was a non-pork breakfast option (turkey sausage). Our waitress was Lisa (not THE Lisa) - my dad knows her. Super friendly and excellent service. Generous portions. Definitely a more traditional café vibe. The second photo is stuffed French toast.

Gasper Migliore

23 Dec 2025

Was in Omaha for the College World Series we found Lisa’ Radical Cafe for Sunday morning breakfast after attending church at St. Cecilia. Googled up breakfast places and found Lisa’s was around the corner. Had great reviews and seemed to be a locals place. So we head over. Had a small wait but for a good meal I don’t mind waiting. The atmosphere here really confirmed that we were in a locals place and I loved it. Our service was first class and the food was outstanding. Some can say how hard is it to screw up breakfast. Well I can say it easier than you think. But that was not the case at Lisa’s. I was on a breakfast sandwich kick and this one did not disappoint. It featured scrambled eggs homemade sausage American cheese served on a croissant. Wow it hit the spot. My friend had the peach stuffed French toast. I did not get a taste of this one I was afraid to reach across the table for fear of losing a finger. He was enjoying it just that much. Now those hash browns on my plate look like something simple to prepare. But it is hard to get the crispy just right. These were right one the spot. So good. Thank Lisa’s for such a great meal to a visitor for the annual event that consumes Omaha each summer. I plan to return to Omaha for the CWS even if my team is not in the show. We met some great locals, had some great meals, enjoyed the hospitality that Omaha and its residents and police officers showed us. If you’re in Omaha do not miss a meal at Lisa’s Radical Cafe.

Michael Foust

01 Dec 2025

A perfect American cafe breakfast. A nice rotating daily meal and wonderful staple food of the midwest. Yumminess all around from the meal, and of course great staff that makes the visit comfortable. A perfect place for breakfast!

Sylvia CS

20 Nov 2025

Hands down our Favorite breakfast spot in Omaha!! Lisa's Radial Cafe has a great staff, delicious food, and is super kid-friendly! Highly recommended (especially by our toddler)!

Chad Palmer

04 Oct 2025

Great spot for breakfast. 30 minute wait so walked next door to look at the bakery and then over to Amature Coffee. Lisa's host was friendly, our waitress was very pleasant. Reuse of old building with some culture. Stuffed French toast and "Radial Raft" was DELICIOUS! Decent prices, great spot.

Magan Artman

23 Sep 2025

I went in here earlier this week after running some errands, and it turned out to be a pretty nice spot. The place has a cozy vibe without being too quiet, and the staff were friendly in a casual kind of way. My latte was good—not the best I’ve ever had, but definitely smooth and hot. I also tried a small pastry, which tasted fresh enough. Seating was comfortable, and I liked that they had outlets near a few tables. Overall, it’s a decent café to relax for a bit or get some work done, and I’d probably come back again.

Tracy Miller

15 Sep 2025

Love this little diner! Super friendly staff! The cinnamon roll pancakes are to die for! This visit I had an excellent parmesean crusted turkey sandwich and yummy sweet potato fries!

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