clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A breakfast sandwich on a poppy seed roll with an oozing fried egg on top
Estela’s breakfast sandwich
Bill Addison/Eater

16 Superior Breakfast Sandwiches in NYC

The best way to start your day

View as Map
Estela’s breakfast sandwich
| Bill Addison/Eater

It’s a very New Yorker undertaking to start one’s day with a breakfast sandwich, ubiquitously available at any corner bodega. But as with any food item, some rise above the rest. Chefs all over the city are stuffing hash browns inside, swapping bacon with garlicky salami or pernil, and upping the bread game.

Whether to nurse a hangover or as fuel for the day, a good BEC is truly the breakfast of champions. Here’s a roundup of awesome breakfast sandwiches worth getting out of bed for.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Eli's Essentials

Copy Link

Eli’s Essentials — from Zabar spawn Eli Zabar — now includes weekday breakfast at most locations at 7 a.m. Look for this Amagansett egg sandwich with bacon or ham and egg on brioche that steals the show. Other locations are at 91st and Madison, 79th and Third, and 74th and Madison.

A dramatically lit egg breakfast sandwich beside a mug of coffee Eli’s Table [Official Photo]

Sullivan Street Bakery

Copy Link

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 go a dab of scrambled egg, cooked so that the texture is superfine. Standing in for bacon is the notably unfatty fried prosciutto, which delivers an audible crunch and loads of porky — though unsmoky — flavor. It’s a petite but rich sandwich.

A compact egg and prosciutto sandwich on brioche Robert Sietsema/Eater

High Street on Hudson

Copy Link

West Village brunch spot High Street on Hudson offers three different weekday breakfast sandwiches, all served on the excellent breads of pastry chef Melissa Weller. A sage and black pepper biscuit is the foundation of one, sandwiching eggs, aged cheddar, and malted breakfast sausage, while bagels and bialys take over the other two. There’s one with pork belly, egg, cheese, and spicy mayo on a salt & pepper bagel and another with lox, egg, and scallion-chive cream cheese on an onion bialy. All are recommended.

Daily Provisions

Copy Link

Four hulking breakfast sandwiches crowd the menu alongside Union Square Hospitality Group cafe Daily Provisions’ famous crullers. The Italian packs spinach, peppers, and provolone, but there’s no going wrong with a classic BEC, which is served here with very thick-cut Berkshire bacon. Prepare for lines.

Ray's Super Deli

Copy Link

Pernil is a pork shoulder (also called a pork butt) rubbed with sofrito or some variation thereof and roasted into oblivion, or until a nice crust develops — and it’s an ideal stand-in for bacon or sausage on a breakfast sandwich. This particular item at Ray’s Deli in the West Village is fabulously gloppy and rich, with a thick slice of a pernil that has hints of oregano and garlic. Eat this sandwich for breakfast and hunger won’t hit till mid-afternoon.

A breakfast sandwich held in hand with pernil, egg, and cheese Robert Sietsema/Eater

Murray's Cheese

Copy Link

The breakfast sandwich at Murray’s Cheese in Greenwich Village, the cheese store and not the restaurant, may be the greasiest version around. The so-called breakfast melt features a runny egg, thick slices of double-smoked bacon, and fontina cheese, all put on a very thin English muffin that’s like two tiny Frisbees. Once embraced by the sandwich press, the components melt and ooze into one greasy combination.

A mega-greasy breakfast melt with egg, two slices of bacon, and fontina cheese on a pressed English muffin Robert Sietsema/Eater

Sadelle's

Copy Link

The dining room at Sadelle's is filled with diners building their own bagel sandwiches, but the Soho restaurant also offers an egg sandwich that shouldn’t be missed. Here, the classic BEC is fairly simple: two fried eggs with bacon and muenster on homemade challah. Eater critic Ryan Sutton likens the sandwich to “eating a French toast sandwich at a Texas state fair.”

A fried egg sandwich with bacon and muenster cheese on toasted challah bread on a green-rimmed white plate Nick Solares/Eater

The price tag is hefty at $18, but Estela’s high-end breakfast sandwich is a step above. The bread is Bien Cuit’s tebirke — a pastry filled with almond cream and topped with poppy seeds — and it holds an oozy sunny-side-up egg, pancetta, and avocado. It’s a sophisticated mix of sweet and salty, and requires a knife and fork.

Estela’s breakfast sandwich on a poppy seed roll with an oozing fried egg on top Bill Addison/Eater

Harper’s Bread House

Copy Link

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 plopped down on it. A simple slice of ham goes inside as well. It’s a minimalist marvel, and ultra-cheap at just $1.25.

A thin piece of omelet with one slice of ham on a round roll at Harpers Bread House Robert Sietsema/Eater

Factory Tamal

Copy Link

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 Robert Sietsema/Eater

Golden Diner

Copy Link

The egg sandwich at newer Lower East Side 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 a hamburger-sized potato cake that’s crunchy on the outside and silky in, processed cheese, and smoky bacon.

An fluffy egg sandwich with pieces of bacon and a thick hash brown patty rests on a diner plate. Ryan Sutton/Eater

Pies 'n' Thighs

Copy Link

Southern food staple Pies N Thighs packs classic breakfast sandwich ingredients into buttery biscuits. The “banjo” option here just does that, and it’s a step up from a traditional egg sandwich, but still wonderfully simple.

King David Tacos

Copy Link

Austin-style breakfast tacos in flour tortillas are a welcome addition in the Financial District, where this breakfast cart has taken root. Options include the BPEC (bacon, potato, egg, and cheese), queen bean (refried beans, potato, egg, and cheese), and or’izo (Mexican chorizo, potato, egg, and cheese), and all are worthy. Grab extra salsa for dipping.

Two breakfast tacos on aluminum foil with green and red salsas King David Tacos [Official Photo]

El Mananero del Sabor

Copy Link

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 all 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

Court Street Grocers

Copy Link

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.

Hunky Dory

Copy Link

Chef Kirstyn Brewer’s breakfast sandwich at Hunky Dory in Crown Heights is one of the most complex egg sandwiches on this list, with textural contrast that levels up what a breakfast sandwich can be. It starts with a pillow brioche roll and comes topped with soft scrambled eggs, a buttery element that takes on the consistency of porridge. A thick sausage, a blend of pork and lamb, includes a dash of Korean chile flakes, which lends some heat. Arugula brings in peppery kick, and finally, curried onions add a headier aroma to the mix. It’s $9 without the meat, and $13 with it.

The egg sandwich at Hunky Dory is piled high with soft scrambled eggs Ryan Sutton/Eater

Eli's Essentials

Eli’s Essentials — from Zabar spawn Eli Zabar — now includes weekday breakfast at most locations at 7 a.m. Look for this Amagansett egg sandwich with bacon or ham and egg on brioche that steals the show. Other locations are at 91st and Madison, 79th and Third, and 74th and Madison.

A dramatically lit egg breakfast sandwich beside a mug of coffee Eli’s Table [Official Photo]

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 go a dab of scrambled egg, cooked so that the texture is superfine. Standing in for bacon is the notably unfatty fried prosciutto, which delivers an audible crunch and loads of porky — though unsmoky — flavor. It’s a petite but rich sandwich.

A compact egg and prosciutto sandwich on brioche Robert Sietsema/Eater

High Street on Hudson

West Village brunch spot High Street on Hudson offers three different weekday breakfast sandwiches, all served on the excellent breads of pastry chef Melissa Weller. A sage and black pepper biscuit is the foundation of one, sandwiching eggs, aged cheddar, and malted breakfast sausage, while bagels and bialys take over the other two. There’s one with pork belly, egg, cheese, and spicy mayo on a salt & pepper bagel and another with lox, egg, and scallion-chive cream cheese on an onion bialy. All are recommended.

Daily Provisions

Four hulking breakfast sandwiches crowd the menu alongside Union Square Hospitality Group cafe Daily Provisions’ famous crullers. The Italian packs spinach, peppers, and provolone, but there’s no going wrong with a classic BEC, which is served here with very thick-cut Berkshire bacon. Prepare for lines.

Ray's Super Deli

Pernil is a pork shoulder (also called a pork butt) rubbed with sofrito or some variation thereof and roasted into oblivion, or until a nice crust develops — and it’s an ideal stand-in for bacon or sausage on a breakfast sandwich. This particular item at Ray’s Deli in the West Village is fabulously gloppy and rich, with a thick slice of a pernil that has hints of oregano and garlic. Eat this sandwich for breakfast and hunger won’t hit till mid-afternoon.

A breakfast sandwich held in hand with pernil, egg, and cheese Robert Sietsema/Eater

Murray's Cheese

The breakfast sandwich at Murray’s Cheese in Greenwich Village, the cheese store and not the restaurant, may be the greasiest version around. The so-called breakfast melt features a runny egg, thick slices of double-smoked bacon, and fontina cheese, all put on a very thin English muffin that’s like two tiny Frisbees. Once embraced by the sandwich press, the components melt and ooze into one greasy combination.

A mega-greasy breakfast melt with egg, two slices of bacon, and fontina cheese on a pressed English muffin Robert Sietsema/Eater

Sadelle's

The dining room at Sadelle's is filled with diners building their own bagel sandwiches, but the Soho restaurant also offers an egg sandwich that shouldn’t be missed. Here, the classic BEC is fairly simple: two fried eggs with bacon and muenster on homemade challah. Eater critic Ryan Sutton likens the sandwich to “eating a French toast sandwich at a Texas state fair.”

A fried egg sandwich with bacon and muenster cheese on toasted challah bread on a green-rimmed white plate Nick Solares/Eater

Estela

The price tag is hefty at $18, but Estela’s high-end breakfast sandwich is a step above. The bread is Bien Cuit’s tebirke — a pastry filled with almond cream and topped with poppy seeds — and it holds an oozy sunny-side-up egg, pancetta, and avocado. It’s a sophisticated mix of sweet and salty, and requires a knife and fork.

Estela’s breakfast sandwich on a poppy seed roll with an oozing fried egg on top Bill Addison/Eater

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 plopped down on it. A simple slice of ham goes inside as well. It’s a minimalist marvel, and ultra-cheap at just $1.25.

A thin piece of omelet with one slice of ham on a round roll at Harpers Bread House Robert Sietsema/Eater

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 Robert Sietsema/Eater

Golden Diner

The egg sandwich at newer Lower East Side 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 a hamburger-sized potato cake that’s crunchy on the outside and silky in, processed cheese, and smoky bacon.

An fluffy egg sandwich with pieces of bacon and a thick hash brown patty rests on a diner plate. Ryan Sutton/Eater

Pies 'n' Thighs

Southern food staple Pies N Thighs packs classic breakfast sandwich ingredients into buttery biscuits. The “banjo” option here just does that, and it’s a step up from a traditional egg sandwich, but still wonderfully simple.

King David Tacos

Austin-style breakfast tacos in flour tortillas are a welcome addition in the Financial District, where this breakfast cart has taken root. Options include the BPEC (bacon, potato, egg, and cheese), queen bean (refried beans, potato, egg, and cheese), and or’izo (Mexican chorizo, potato, egg, and cheese), and all are worthy. Grab extra salsa for dipping.

Two breakfast tacos on aluminum foil with green and red salsas King David Tacos [Official Photo]

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 all 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

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.

Related Maps

Hunky Dory

Chef Kirstyn Brewer’s breakfast sandwich at Hunky Dory in Crown Heights is one of the most complex egg sandwiches on this list, with textural contrast that levels up what a breakfast sandwich can be. It starts with a pillow brioche roll and comes topped with soft scrambled eggs, a buttery element that takes on the consistency of porridge. A thick sausage, a blend of pork and lamb, includes a dash of Korean chile flakes, which lends some heat. Arugula brings in peppery kick, and finally, curried onions add a headier aroma to the mix. It’s $9 without the meat, and $13 with it.

The egg sandwich at Hunky Dory is piled high with soft scrambled eggs Ryan Sutton/Eater

Related Maps