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A breakfast sandwich with thick-cut bacon and a poppy seed roll on a blue-rimmed white plate
The breakfast sandwich at Daily Provisions.
Daniel Krieger/Eater NY

13 Breakfast Sandwiches to Start Your Day

From classic sandwiches with egg and processed cheese to dressed-up BECs with bulgogi and raclette

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The breakfast sandwich at Daily Provisions.
| Daniel Krieger/Eater NY

It’s a New York undertaking to start one’s day with a breakfast sandwich, ubiquitously available at any corner bodega. As with any food item, some rise above the rest. Chefs all over the city are stuffing hash browns inside scallion pancakes, swapping bacon out for bulgogi or pernil, and upping their bread games. Whether nursing a hangover or fueling the day, a good bacon, egg, and cheese is a breakfast of champions. Rounded up here are 13 versions worth getting out of bed for.

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Between the Bagel

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Long ago, food influencers discovered that filming cross sections of the “SMB” (Seoul meets bagel) breakfast sandwich at Between the Bagel would guarantee likes. What’s not to love? Spicy bulgogi, egg, and cheese are piled onto the bagel of your choosing with kimchi slaw for a messy sandwich that’s loaded with flavor.

Sullivan Street Bakery

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Sullivan Street Bakery’s breakfast sandwich, served at room temperature, begins with a miniature brioche, nicely brushed on the top with egg wash to generate an eye-catching sheen. Between its tiny halves lies a scrambled egg. Standing in for bacon is the notably unfatty fried prosciutto, which delivers an crunch and loads of porky (though unsmoky) flavor. It’s a petite but rich sandwich.

Daily Provisions

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Four hulking breakfast sandwiches crowd the menu alongside Union Square Hospitality Group cafe Daily Provisions’ famous crullers. But there’s no going wrong with a classic BEC, which is served here with thick-cut Berkshire bacon and American cheese.

From the outside, C&B may look like just another East Village coffee shop, but the crowds (and TikTok) know what’s up. Breakfast sandwiches here come in the form of a housemade roll, stuffed with scrambled eggs, and pork belly. Bring it across the street to Tompkins Square Park with a coffee, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more New York breakfast ritual.

Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing

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Fatty pastrami is the lynchpin on this breakfast sandwich from Frankel’s, the sibling restaurant to Greenpoint hot spot Bernie’s, down the street. Chunks of spice-rubbed beef are arranged on a bed of yellow egg and American cheese on a challah roll for a sandwich that pairs well with a dab of hot sauce or mustard. Taylor ham, spinach, and bacon can be subbed in for pastrami.

A pastrami and egg sandwich.
The pastrami, egg, and cheese sandwich from Frankel’s.
Frankel’s

Thai Diner

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It’s rare that any egg dish ends up being a menu’s most memorable item. But at Thai Diner, the roti breakfast sandwiches are so good, they have us braving brunch lines. Both the meat and vegetarian versions are worth seeking out: one comes with egg, cheese, sausage, and Thai basil; the other substitutes meat for bok choy and avocado. When the egg and cheese combine, it can get a little goopy — needless to say these are breakfast sandwiches best eaten sitting down, rather than to-go.

A roti egg sandwich sits on a decorative plate over a white placemat; a brown countertop extends the length of the photo
The roti egg sandwich at Thai Diner.
Gary He/Eater NY

Harper’s Bread House

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In the midst of greater Chinatown on the traditional Lower East Side, Harper’s Bread House specializes in dan tat (egg custard tarts) and onigiri (Japanese rice balls). But a range of premade sandwiches includes ham and egg, a submarine-shaped roll made on the premises, with a porous slice of omelet layered atop for a few dollars. A simple slice of ham goes inside as well. It’s a minimalist marvel.

A thin piece of omelet with one slice of ham on a round roll at Harpers Bread House
Breakfast sandwiches at Harper’s Bread House are a bargain.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Factory Tamal

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The egg sandwich at the Lower East Side’s Factory Tamal is a messy, but very-worth-it endeavor. An over-easy egg, sage sausage, sliced tomato, and gruyere on brioche come together in spectacular form — just be careful to eat it with both hands to avoid squirted egg yolk.

An over-easy egg, sage sausage, sliced tomato, and gruyere on brioche
This shop specializing in tamales makes an exceptional breakfast sandwich.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Golden Diner

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The egg sandwich at Golden Diner is a studied affair, with soft scrambled eggs that spill off the edges of a sweet Chinese scallion milk bun. The eggs share space with processed cheese, smoky bacon, and a hamburger-sized potato cake that’s crunchy on the outside and silky on the inside.

A burger, an egg sandwich, and a can of Modelo beer share a small table.
Breakfast sandwiches are served all day at Golden Diner.
Luke Fortney/Eater NY

Win Son Bakery

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Choose from six egg sandwiches at this Taiwanese American bakery from the team behind Win Son across the street. There’s an egg and cheese made with raclette cheese, a classic BEC, a version made with pastrami beef tongue, and a veggie milk bun with radish and mushroom cake. For something unique to this Williamsburg bakery, try the bacon, egg, and cheese on a scallion pancake. Prices start at $8 and go up to $18.

Two hands holding a folded scallion pancake egg and bacon sandwich.
A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a scallion pancake.
Gary He/Eater NY

El Mananero del Sabor

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The gleaming metal cart known as El Mananero del Sabor parks in the early hours under the M tracks at Wyckoff Avenue with various breakfast dishes. The classic breakfast sandwich is made there in several interesting ways, including on a croissant (and not a bad one, either) and on kaiser rolls — not dry, but slathered with mayo and ketchup in profusion. One subs in salami for bacon and Cheez Whiz for American cheese, then presses it to combine. The result is one of the most over-the-top breakfast sandwiches around, with an extra garlicky sing from the salami, and gooey, overflowing “cheese.”

An ultra-gloppy egg sandwich with salami, and Cheez Whiz Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Court Street Grocers

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This popular sandwich shop serves various versions of breakfast sandwiches at each location, but a mainstay is the simple B+B, or soft-scrambled eggs topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, and arugula on a Balthazar ciabatta. Three of the four locations serve it: Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, and Greenwich Village.

Winner on Franklin

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Park Slope’s hit Winner Bakery recently opened this follow-up restaurant and bar in Crown Heights, a cafe with sandwiches by day and a wine bar with smaller plates by night. The shop sells a limited number of breakfast sandwiches each morning; get there early for a stacked ’wich with Chinese sausage, a slab of fluffy egg, cheddar cheese, and chili crisp.

Between the Bagel

Long ago, food influencers discovered that filming cross sections of the “SMB” (Seoul meets bagel) breakfast sandwich at Between the Bagel would guarantee likes. What’s not to love? Spicy bulgogi, egg, and cheese are piled onto the bagel of your choosing with kimchi slaw for a messy sandwich that’s loaded with flavor.

Sullivan Street Bakery

Sullivan Street Bakery’s breakfast sandwich, served at room temperature, begins with a miniature brioche, nicely brushed on the top with egg wash to generate an eye-catching sheen. Between its tiny halves lies a scrambled egg. Standing in for bacon is the notably unfatty fried prosciutto, which delivers an crunch and loads of porky (though unsmoky) flavor. It’s a petite but rich sandwich.

Daily Provisions

Four hulking breakfast sandwiches crowd the menu alongside Union Square Hospitality Group cafe Daily Provisions’ famous crullers. But there’s no going wrong with a classic BEC, which is served here with thick-cut Berkshire bacon and American cheese.

C&B

From the outside, C&B may look like just another East Village coffee shop, but the crowds (and TikTok) know what’s up. Breakfast sandwiches here come in the form of a housemade roll, stuffed with scrambled eggs, and pork belly. Bring it across the street to Tompkins Square Park with a coffee, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more New York breakfast ritual.

Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing

Fatty pastrami is the lynchpin on this breakfast sandwich from Frankel’s, the sibling restaurant to Greenpoint hot spot Bernie’s, down the street. Chunks of spice-rubbed beef are arranged on a bed of yellow egg and American cheese on a challah roll for a sandwich that pairs well with a dab of hot sauce or mustard. Taylor ham, spinach, and bacon can be subbed in for pastrami.

A pastrami and egg sandwich.
The pastrami, egg, and cheese sandwich from Frankel’s.
Frankel’s

Thai Diner

It’s rare that any egg dish ends up being a menu’s most memorable item. But at Thai Diner, the roti breakfast sandwiches are so good, they have us braving brunch lines. Both the meat and vegetarian versions are worth seeking out: one comes with egg, cheese, sausage, and Thai basil; the other substitutes meat for bok choy and avocado. When the egg and cheese combine, it can get a little goopy — needless to say these are breakfast sandwiches best eaten sitting down, rather than to-go.

A roti egg sandwich sits on a decorative plate over a white placemat; a brown countertop extends the length of the photo
The roti egg sandwich at Thai Diner.
Gary He/Eater NY

Harper’s Bread House

In the midst of greater Chinatown on the traditional Lower East Side, Harper’s Bread House specializes in dan tat (egg custard tarts) and onigiri (Japanese rice balls). But a range of premade sandwiches includes ham and egg, a submarine-shaped roll made on the premises, with a porous slice of omelet layered atop for a few dollars. A simple slice of ham goes inside as well. It’s a minimalist marvel.

A thin piece of omelet with one slice of ham on a round roll at Harpers Bread House
Breakfast sandwiches at Harper’s Bread House are a bargain.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Factory Tamal

The egg sandwich at the Lower East Side’s Factory Tamal is a messy, but very-worth-it endeavor. An over-easy egg, sage sausage, sliced tomato, and gruyere on brioche come together in spectacular form — just be careful to eat it with both hands to avoid squirted egg yolk.

An over-easy egg, sage sausage, sliced tomato, and gruyere on brioche
This shop specializing in tamales makes an exceptional breakfast sandwich.
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Golden Diner

The egg sandwich at Golden Diner is a studied affair, with soft scrambled eggs that spill off the edges of a sweet Chinese scallion milk bun. The eggs share space with processed cheese, smoky bacon, and a hamburger-sized potato cake that’s crunchy on the outside and silky on the inside.

A burger, an egg sandwich, and a can of Modelo beer share a small table.
Breakfast sandwiches are served all day at Golden Diner.
Luke Fortney/Eater NY

Win Son Bakery

Choose from six egg sandwiches at this Taiwanese American bakery from the team behind Win Son across the street. There’s an egg and cheese made with raclette cheese, a classic BEC, a version made with pastrami beef tongue, and a veggie milk bun with radish and mushroom cake. For something unique to this Williamsburg bakery, try the bacon, egg, and cheese on a scallion pancake. Prices start at $8 and go up to $18.

Two hands holding a folded scallion pancake egg and bacon sandwich.
A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a scallion pancake.
Gary He/Eater NY

El Mananero del Sabor

The gleaming metal cart known as El Mananero del Sabor parks in the early hours under the M tracks at Wyckoff Avenue with various breakfast dishes. The classic breakfast sandwich is made there in several interesting ways, including on a croissant (and not a bad one, either) and on kaiser rolls — not dry, but slathered with mayo and ketchup in profusion. One subs in salami for bacon and Cheez Whiz for American cheese, then presses it to combine. The result is one of the most over-the-top breakfast sandwiches around, with an extra garlicky sing from the salami, and gooey, overflowing “cheese.”

An ultra-gloppy egg sandwich with salami, and Cheez Whiz Robert Sietsema/Eater NY

Court Street Grocers

This popular sandwich shop serves various versions of breakfast sandwiches at each location, but a mainstay is the simple B+B, or soft-scrambled eggs topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, and arugula on a Balthazar ciabatta. Three of the four locations serve it: Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, and Greenwich Village.

Winner on Franklin

Park Slope’s hit Winner Bakery recently opened this follow-up restaurant and bar in Crown Heights, a cafe with sandwiches by day and a wine bar with smaller plates by night. The shop sells a limited number of breakfast sandwiches each morning; get there early for a stacked ’wich with Chinese sausage, a slab of fluffy egg, cheddar cheese, and chili crisp.

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