Despite built-in commuter traffic, the area surrounding Oakland’s MacArthur BART station doesn’t have much of any morning eats.

Buna Babilla recognized that potential customer base, but remained wary, realizing how difficult it was to make any kind of profit at a breakfast-only restaurant. The answer: Share space within another existing restaurant.

And it’s been working out just great, Babilla says, as his breakfast sandwich-centric pop-up, Cracked, has been doing brisk business since it launched mornings inside the Chick & Tea space near the corned of 40th and Telegraph streets earlier this year.

“I knew that doing breakfast just by itself was nearly impossible,” says Babilla, a former food consultant for Filipino fast food corporation Jollibee. “But this way, I’m able to make it work; I’m doing way better than I expected. And I’m able to charge $7 for a sandwich instead of $10—I wanted to make it accessible to the working man.”

That’s a philosophy that’s reflected on Cracked’s menu, which Babilla describes as “parked between fast food and high-end breakfast sandwiches.” All made on squishy, slightly sweet Filipino pandesal bread rolls and served with a soft fried egg, sandwich options keep things simple and comforting, ranging from spam with nori and miso mayo to crispy bacon with avocado and tomato jam to pesto with grilled mushrooms and crispy parmesan. They’re designed to be portable so that commuters can eat them on the go, something that’s also reflected on the sides menu, which includes a classic McDonald’s-esque oval shaped hash brown, pastry rolls, and French toast bites served with a skewer for easy dipping.

Babilla would like to expand the menu a bit—he’s working on some new sandwiches, including one with teriyaki steak, as well as a side of deep fried cheese grits—but he’s more than content with how things have been progressing so far. So content, in fact, he’s looking to replicate the same model at other BART stations around the Bay Area, specifically in Richmond, Daly City, Hayward, and West Oakland.

“Probably doing a shared kitchen again, or maybe doing something on my own if I can find a more affordable space, but prices are just skyrocketing right now,” he says. “I’m all about the shared economy.”

Hours: 7–10:30 a.m., Mon.–Sat.

Cracked: Inside Chick & Tea, 3932 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, crackedsandwich.com.